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Los Angeles Dodgers 2014 Hitting and Pitching Projections

By Steven 'Nash' Olan

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Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Man, were the Los Angeles Dodgers a topic of much conversation last season? Not only did they have the high expectation of their seemingly All-Star roster, but the emergence of Yasiel Puig gave them the lion’s share of attention.

So with this off-season being tame — to put it lightly — what can we expect from the New York Yankees of the West in 2014?

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Crackerjack Fantasy Options: Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, A.J. Ellis

Puig: Yasiel Puig is one hyped player. He was a human highlight reel last season with his surreal displays of athleticism. However, that may be his undoing, as he petered off towards the end of the 2013 season. People may reach for him only to find he doesn’t add up just yet.

Gonzalez: Adrian Gonzalez is about as solid an option as you will find.  A little past his prime, he will still put up terrific numbers for a 1B and is worth taking anytime after round 4.

Hanley: One of the most physically gifted men to play baseball.  Although his elite MVP number seasons are well behind him, Hanley Ramirez is still a very intriguing option at SS where pretty much every player is a gamble these days.

Kemp: speaking of former MVP’s, or near MVP’s, we have Matt Kemp. It’s hard to believe that he has just fallen apart physically at such a rapid rate. But there you have it, he is a big name injury risk that I am not sure what to expect from, even if healthy all season.

Crawford: I am just not a fan of Carl Crawford and going forward I don’t see much reason to change my tone on him.  He just doesn’t offer that much now that his legs are old. Without the chance of 40 steals he just isn’t much to be excited about.

Ellis:  A.J. Ellis will be a decent pick up late in drafts at catcher as he will see consistent at-bats and can produce well enough. Just don’t reach for him.

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Crackerjack Fantasy Options: Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-jin Ryu, and Kenley Jansen

Kershaw: Clayton Kershaw is elite with a capital E! So, he’s Elite. Many experts are even saying he is a reasonable pick as high as 5 in drafts because

  1. He is worth it.
  2. The hitters you’d take there have a lot of question marks.

Greinke: Zack Greinke is a great pitcher, but he does have a habit of getting hurt in some less than conventional ways. Whether it is playing pickup basketball with friends or trying to tackle Carlos Quentin, he may see some time on the DL.

Ryu: Hyun-jin Ryu is a solid option at pitcher and should be a relatively overlooked in drafts. I am high on Ryun because he should be a very cheap or late round option.

Jansen: Kenley Jansen is absolutely an elite option at closer, he might strike out more batter than some of the Minnesota Twins starters, even if they amass 175 innings.

Fantasy Star: Hanley Ramirez

Mostly because of his position, Hanley Ramirez should still be considered a fantasy star.

He is still pretty dynamic in what he offers and is in the heart of a good lineup, and it’s a great lineup if everyone stays healthy.

  • Fantasy Bust: Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp still seems to warrant a first round pick, and I just can’t bring myself to take that chance.  Say what you will about playing it safe, but that strategy wins me money every year and I don’t plan on changing now.

  • Prospect Watch: Joc Pederson

Everything I read about Joc Pederson says he is a kid to watch.  Sadly he plays in the Dodgers farm system and is blocked not just by the 3 everyday guys but also the fourth outfielder — Andre Ethier. However, if the Dodgers trade one of those outfielders away, it will only be a matter of time before Joc gets his chance to play in the show, and he can make good on that chance.

Fantasy Sleeper: Alexander Guerrero

Alexander Guerrero is slated as the everyday 2B for the Dodgers to start the season. He is penciled in as the 8th batter for now, but with as many question marks that are in front of him, I doubt he bats that low all year. If he can get to 5th or 4th then we could have some real break out production on our hands.

All in all, the Dodgers are a weird team that will go a long way because of their pitching.  If the bats join the party then these guys have a real shot to offer a good dozen fantasy studs. Now don’t get too carried away in drafts with Dodger players, there are too many concerns on most these guys to reach for them.  Just play it safe and let them fall into your lap and you will be a happy camper.

Further Reading

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