2014 Spring Training Cactus League Reports – Dodgers vs. A’s
2014 Spring Training Cactus League Reports – Dodgers vs. A’s
Our 2014 spring training coverage continues from Arizona, reviewing the teams for the Cactus League. This is where you can see half the teams in baseball and be able to draw strong conclusions for wagering purposes on season win totals.
We continue our coverage from Phoenix, where the Los Angeles Dodgers visited Oakland.
The Game: Clayton Kershaw has set the bar very high as the best pitcher in baseball, which made it so shocking when he gave up five runs in the third inning on three walks and two hits. He looked very uncomfortable, which prompted thoughts of fatigue after so many innings a year ago. After the game Kershaw said this, “It’s not fun to deal with,” said Kershaw. “Physically, I feel great. I don’t have any excuses. I don’t know, searching for answers right now. I know it’s Spring Training, it doesn’t matter, but it matters to me.”
It looks like Andre Either has lost weight and is faster and quicker in the outfield and Dee Gordon has added 15-20 pounds and playing more purposeful in the field and at the plate. He pulled a pitch into the leftfield corner and was able to showcase his blazing speed for a triple.
Oakland won the game 7-3 and did so in their usual fashion, taking full advantage of the opposing teams mistakes. They took Dodger pitchers deep into counts, fouled off numerous two-strike pitches and either walked or generated base hits.
A’s starter A.J. Griffin allowed two runs on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts in his two-inning performance and has dropped 15 pounds and his cutter from a year ago.
Left-handed specialist Sean Doolittle was the sharpest pitcher of the day, making lefty hitters Andre Either and Adrian Gonzalez take ugly swings in getting them out.
If you are not an Oakland fan (OK, I understand there are not many), you read it here, top prospect SS Addison Russell is the real deal after being a first round pick out of high school. A long time baseball writer told me Russell is a stud and just needs to tidy up a few points of his game and will enjoy a long big league career.
Dodgers Prospects: The only team truly from Los Angeles in baseball is the wagering choice to be World Series champions at virtually every sportsbook with futures odds.
Having three bats like Hanley Ramirez, Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig is a great place to start and if Matt Kemp can finally regain his health, the Dodgers should be able to win 93 or more times (oddsmakers pegged 93 wins).
It’s not like L.A. is free from questions, with Carl Crawford and Either finding ways to the disabled list and Kemp is not a sure thing to be the same player he was prior. Also, third base and second base will probably be platoon positions unless someone steps forward.
Skipper Don Mattingly has to feel comforted to be able to throw out Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu as his top three pitchers and having experienced former aces Josh Beckett, Dan Haren and possibly Jack Billingsley to fill the back of the rotation is comforting.
With closer Kenley Janson and secondary closer or setup man Brian Wilson, the bullpen is stacked.
This will be are only look at the Dodgers as their spring training is cut short venturing to Australia to face division rival Arizona to open the season on March 23rd and 24th.
A’s Assessment: Oakland has won two straight AL West titles and amassed 190 wins in the process. There is little reason to suggest the Athletics will not surpass the oddsmakers total of 88.5 wins and end up with 90+ triumphs again.
The starting pitching is not only the best in the division; it’s among the finest in the American League. Sonny Gray and Jarrod Parker are not household names but to serious baseball bettors and fantasy players, they are familiar with their talents along with others in a stellar five-man rotation.
Adding Jim Johnson as a ready-made closer from Baltimore makes for one of the best and versatile bullpens in The Majors.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson might see some regression after finishing fourth in the MVP balloting, however, Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick figure to have better years and this versatile squad will be manipulated by manager Bob Melvin, who has settled in and understands what Billy Beane can do in finding players either with multiple skills or a very specific skill, which helps this team win games consistently.
By Doug Upstone of Sports Watch Monitor
