October 12th, 2019 at 10:00 am 
by 0799291000348 Being disappointed over the Dodgers’ first-round loss to the Washington Nationals in the 2019 National League Division Series is to be expected. The players, coaches, owners, front office personnel, baseball analysts, and fans had lofty expectations for this year’s team – nothing but a third consecutive World Series appearance was acceptable.
But some fans have seemingly lost their minds, starting with the infantile behavior of the so-called ‘fan’ who was having drivers run over a Clayton Kershaw jersey as they exited the Dodger Stadium parking lot after last Wednesday’s season-ending loss.
(Video courtesy of @LZGranderson)
Over the last two days, some fanatics have gone so far as to advocate trading Corey Seager and / or Cody Bellinger and signing soon-to-be free agents Gerrit Cole (Astros starting pitcher) and Anthony Rendon (Nationals third baseman), regardless of the cost or length of contract. As the late great Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Enberg might say: “Oh My!”
The Dodgers have a number of important roster decisions to be made, starting with their own free agents and bolstering the bullpen. But blowing-up the young core of a team that just won a franchise-record-setting 106 regular-season games is pure nonsense. This team needs a tune-up, not an overhaul.
The 2020 team will have a healthy Alex Verdugo returning as a regular outfielder, young pitchers Julio Urias, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin ready to step into the starting rotation, and Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year Gavin Lux ready to become the Dodgers everyday second baseman.
Based on Fangraphs Weighted Runs Created (wRC+) and Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Bellinger ranks in the top 5 offensive players in the game and is a Gold Glove-caliber defensive player at three positions (right field, first base, and center field).
Seager, who was returning after a year rehabbing from Tommy John and hip surgeries, was statistically equivalent to fellow shortstops Francisco Lindor, Javier Báez and Trea Turner in WAR, and wRC+. Before his elbow and hip injuries, Seager won the Silver Slugger Award in two consecutive seasons and led all major league shortstops with 13.3 WAR, ranking fifth during that period behind only Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, José Altuve, and Kris Bryant.
Bellinger and Seager are core building blocks for the Dodgers, not trade bait. Both should be signed to contract extensions sooner rather than later, assuring that they will be Dodgers for the foreseeable future.
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Posted in 
I was appalled when I heard about that jersey thing. Good thing for him I didn’t see him doing this. He’d have ‘Goodyear’ embedded on his forehead.
Maybe that jersey thing was somewhat out of line and unnecessary. But the fact is this team is built to win in a division that is nowhere near the caliber of teams that reach the PS. But this core group and for that matter the entire team along with its manager are not built to handle a PS or even be competitive when October comes. What I saw based on this year’s NLDS is a team that had its flaws totally exposed and for me that means they are not as good as some have made them out to be.
So you believe that Dodgers should trade Seager and / or Bellinger?
Well, I might consider dealing Seager for the right return, maybe an impact RHB, after all Dodgers are too left handed heavy and one reason why Roberts has to shuffle the lineup around. Yes, Seager had a great September, but he just may be injury prone, (not talking about those surgeries he had in 2018) and we have others who can play a solid SS, Lux , Taylor. IDK, but I am not suggesting Bellinger in any deal but Seager really tanked in the PS . But in fairness, this Dodger team is and was not built for the PS and after watching some of the other PS games, I am glad Dodgers won’t have to be further humiliated any more this year. Pitching and offense combined was NOT good enough to compete in this NLDS and I knew that long before the regular season was even close to being concluded.
You never known what will happen in these post seasons. Sometimes they don’t resemble, in any way, the past regular season. It seems like once the postseason starts, everything starts all over again. I may be wrong, but the Dodgers, even when they win the World Series, never look as good in the post season as they do in the regular season.
Like they sat, Wait’ll next year!!!!
What the front office needed to do in the off season was probably to be determined by wether they won the WS or not.
If they did then they would have a starting rotation something like;
Buehler, Kershaw, May, Gonsolin and Urias.
But they didn’t,and that rotation lacks 2 playoff ready starters. One or more of them might have a great year but it’s a big maybe. So they do need to get another quality starter either by trade or free agency. And maybe a hitter.
Agree they need a real right-handed rbi bat and a starting pitchers.
No doubt the 2020 roster will have a number of new faces, including another starting pitcher (or two). There remains a good chance of a reunion between Dodgers and Ryu, and Hill might be willing to take a significantly reduced contract to come back in the bullpen. I agree, another right handed hitter would be ideal with AJ Pollock going elsewhere.
I agree Bellinger and Seager should be signed long term.
Bellinger is elite. Once he matures, he will learn not burn so much energy in the 1st half and have something left for the post season. His PS at bats mostly showed mental fatigue.
Seager is another elite player who is still recovering from 2 surgeries. We will see the full strength Seager next season.
I do not have any idea why Kershaw has not aged well (he is not even that old). Next year he will hopefully be the Dodgers number 4 in the PS, with Buehler number 1 and 2 of Gonsolin, May, Urias, for 2 and 3. IF the Dodgers can sign Cole, he would be the perfect number 2.
The out look for the Dodgers is brighter than ever. Lots of wins to come.