Posted on 15 March 2011. Tags: Bench Coach, Bob Schaffer, Center Fielder, Coach Bob, Dodgers, Don Mattingly, Far Cry, getting, Joe Torre, John, Kemp, Larry Bowa, Matt Kemp, Ned Colletti, Paparazzi, Perrotto, Pop Singer, Refocused, Rihanna, Staff Manager, Third Base Coach, Two Guys, Unfiltered, Warp, Yardbarker
GLENDALE—Few, if any, major-league players had a more tumultuous 2010 season than Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp.
General manager Ned Colletti publicly criticized his indifferent fielding early in the year. Bench coach Bob Schaffer and third base coach Larry Bowa, two guys who put the “old” in old school, both confronted Kemp about his lackadaisical effort at other points in the season. Then there was also the case of Kemp becoming a favorite of the paparazzi because of his relationship with pop singer Rihanna.
Kemp was worth just 2.4 WARP last season, a far cry from his 6.9 mark of 2009. As one Dodgers’ official remarked midway through the year: “Matt is more interested in being famous than being a good ballplayer.”
The Dodgers hope that Kemp can get his career back on track this season, in part, because of changes to the coaching staff. Manager Joe Torre retired at the end of last season and successor Don Mattingly decided not to retain Scha…
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Posted on 09 March 2011. Tags: American League Central, back, Bp, Edwin Jackson, Gavin Floyd, Jake Peavy, John, John Danks, July 14, Latissimus Dorsi, Mark Buehrle, Mdash, Mlb, Mucle, Padres, Peavy, Perrotto, Right Hander, Spring Training, Tigers, Two Spring, Unfiltered, Warp, White Sox
SCOTTSDALE—The White Sox were expecting an ace when they acquired Jake Peavy from the Padres at the trading deadline in 2009. Instead, at least to this point, they have gotten something much less as the right-hander managed only 20 starts and 3.2 WARP because of injuries.
However, if Peavy continues to pitch like he has in his first two spring training outings, the White Sox might have a bona fide No. 1 starter to front a potentially strong rotation that includes left-handers Mark Buehrle and John Danks and righties Edwin Jackson and Gavin Floyd. And that might just give the White Sox the edge over the Twins and Tigers in what figures to be a tight American League Central race.
All is going well in Peavy’s recovery from season-ending surgery last July 14 to repair a detached latissimus dorsi mucle in the back of his right shoulder. While the White Sox are projective Peavy to return in late April, he believes he will be ready to begin the season in the rotation.
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