December 13th, 2014 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka When the Dodgers new brain trust traded Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres early Thursday morning, they did so for a variety of reasons – the very least of which was to appease Dodger fans. In fact, Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten came right out and admitted this
“I have told [Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi] not to concern themselves with the business aspects, like ticket buying,” Kasten told L.A. Times Dodgers beat writer Bill Shaikin on Thursday. “Their job is to make the best team we can have, both for this year and the long term. We will take care of the business stuff.”
Dodgers President President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has been given carte blanche by President and CEO Stan Kasten to make the team better – regardless of what fans may think.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
But is this really a snub to Dodger fans? Kasten doesn’t see it this way. In fact, Kasten sees it as the exact opposite, whether Dodger fans realize it or not.
“I think fans are going to respond if we give them a good team,” Kasten told Shaikin. “We think the changes we have made and the changes we still have hopes of doing this winter will give us a really good team and a great chance to win, starting with the division and hopefully more than that.”
It’s obvious that it was the trading of Matt Kemp and Dee Gordon, two of the Dodgers biggest fan favorites, that prompted Kasten’s comments – one need only to look at the number of Kemp and Gordon jerseys at any Dodger game to see just how popular these two were. But trading Matt Kemp and his nine-year .292 career batting average and 182 home runs for a three-year, once PED suspended .245 / 24 HR career hitting catcher has done something that may have an unexpected and unintended outcome on another extremely popular Dodger player – that of Dodgers top outfield prospect Joc Pederson.
It’s no secret that Dodger fans see the extremely popular 22-year-old Palo Alto native as the wave of the future in the Dodgers (still) overcrowded outfield, and with good cause – Pederson put up insane numbers at every level of the minor leagues in his brief five-year minor league career (.302 / .405 / .524 for an outstanding .929 OPS with 84 home runs and 271 RBIs). But upon his highly anticipated September 1 call-up to the Dodgers, @yungjoc650 (as he is known as on Twitter) struggled horribly – no doubt the result of him pressing too hard. In his 38 MLB plate appearances, Pederson went 4 for 28 (.143) with zero home runs, nine walks and 11 strikeouts, and yet he is expected to be one of the three starting outfielders on opening day 2015 at Dodger Stadium. Talk about pressure.
In his very first at-bat as a Dodger, Pederson was immediately thrust into a tremendous pressure-filled ‘Cinderella Story’ situation where he pulled a potential game-winner just foul. “I pulled off it a little bit. You can’t miss that one,” said Pederson, who eventually struck out to end the game.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Realistically, there is very little reason for concern (or at least there should be) that Pederson will make the adjustment from Triple-A to the big leagues – if for no other reason than he has done so at every level in his minor league development; in fact, he said so himself after his first week with the Dodgers.
“I’m getting pitched a little different than I did in the minor leagues,” said Pederson. “It’s a little adjustment period but it will come with time. I’m not worried about it, I definitely put up a lot worse numbers in the minor leagues in 17 at-bats.”
The bottom line is that the Dodgers new front office regime has every reason to believe that Joc Pederson will be every bit as good offensively (and far better defensively) as was Matt Kemp. He sure as hell better be because the Dodgers pretty much just bet the farm that he will.
No pressure here.
Posted in 
RT @Think_BlueLA: New: The burden of proof is now on Joc Pederson – as is the pressure – http://t.co/NwfPErlUKa #Dodgers @yungjoc650
I wouldn’t blame Pederson if he feels pressured, because if you ask me they are expecting a lot from a player who didn’t look close to major league ready in his September call up but based on his minor league career numbers it looks like we have a lot to look forward to.
RT @Think_BlueLA: New: The burden of proof is now on Joc Pederson – as is the pressure – http://t.co/NwfPErlUKa #Dodgers @yungjoc650
As I stated before, I truly believe Joc will get a pass from the fans for the short term anyway, due to him being a rookie and all. If Grandal doesn’t produce I still say he will feel it more than Joc due to his direct connection to Kemp.
But being the ever eternal optimist that I am, both guys will come out gang busters for the first couple of months, and all this talk will be moot! GO DODGERS!!
If things don’t go right, the blame has to be on Friedman, he’s the one that sacrificed Kemp and Gordan.
That’s probably the most ridiculous thing you have ever said, Joe.
Ron, This piece on Joc P. got me thinking back to the 1982 off-season, when an incredibly popular Dodger, Steve Garvey, was allowed to walk away as a free agent and was coincidentally signed by San Diego. Greg Brock, his highly touted replacement with amazing AAA numbers, never was fully embraced by the fans. I think Brock pressed a lot to try to live up to the lofty expectations and as Garvey’s replacement. I’m thinking Pederson is in the same position, and he will feel the pressure, especially if he gets off to a slow start.
Pederson’s game is much different than Brock’s, especially on the defensive end. But it’ll be foolish for fans to expect Joc to come out and smack 25+ homers and drive in 90. Unfortunately, I think there will be those that have that expectation of him. I really hope that fans give the kid a chance and don’t expect Matt Kemp type numbers that he produced in the second half of 2014.
It isn’t just simply ‘pressing’. On top of the major difference from facing AAA pitching and Major League pitching he also wasn’t starting everyday. Baseball is a game of routine and when those routines are broken it can take a little time to readjust. To not be able to get consist ABs when you are trying to get up to speed against that type of pitching will result in some struggles. He never really got to settle in. Give him a full Spring knowing that CF is his to lose and 3-5 ABs a game and I guarantee you see the Joc you expected. I saw his transformation first hand when he was with the Quakes. He went from being a pretty good playing to absolutely locked in and the face of the team in just a couple months, and that was with Puig on the team.
You’ll see. He will make the lose of Kemp a lot easier to swallow. Just give him some time…and consistentcy.