New deal for Hendrickson
I wonder how you feel about the brand new deal that Mark Hendrickson has just gotten from the Dodgers.
My first impression was that I hated it. Boy, I hated keeping him on the roster altogether in the first place. I really did, especially that the Dodgers already have a long-relief specialist in either Brett Tomko, RHP or Hong-Chi Kuo, LHP, who will most likely be this season rotation's odd man out.
And then I started thinking about it. While it's true that:
At this price, I might want him (as if I had anything to say) to stick to his new-found gimmicks and pitch out of the bullpen, though. Mark sees his role outherwise, unfortunately:
We'll see, but my take is we've gotten ourselves a serviceable, though hardly spectacular reliever who will be hard pressed to repeat his last year bullpen numbers, but who has no right to belong to the starters, even if he bounced back from horrendous numbers as a starter last year. Overall, a very limited role, 'cause should a starter go down, Kuo and Tomko would be the guys I'd go to before I call Hendrickson's number.
But that's me. And what do you think?
My first impression was that I hated it. Boy, I hated keeping him on the roster altogether in the first place. I really did, especially that the Dodgers already have a long-relief specialist in either Brett Tomko, RHP or Hong-Chi Kuo, LHP, who will most likely be this season rotation's odd man out.
And then I started thinking about it. While it's true that:
"Hendrickson received a raise [to 2.925 USD] from a 2006 salary of $1.95 million",which is hardly justified, given his overall level of play for the Dodgers last year (notwithstanding his last month in relief and the play-offs), the deal is NOT outrageous by any means. Just look what other ML relievers with not much better numbers last year got in the free agent market this offseason.
At this price, I might want him (as if I had anything to say) to stick to his new-found gimmicks and pitch out of the bullpen, though. Mark sees his role outherwise, unfortunately:
"The way my situation unfolded last year and the fact they've signed some veterans to help the staff, I know there's a surplus of starters. But I'm confident I can win a spot in the rotation. I've always been a starter and I'm approaching the spring like I'm going to start. At the end of last year, I felt I could have done more, but my role was limited to short stints."He might have "always" been a starter on a poor Tampa Bay team, but I just don't see him beating out on the likes of LHP Randy Wolf or RHP Brad Penny this year. Unless, Hendrickson knows something we don't and there's a imminent deal that would rid us of one starter (Penny?)
We'll see, but my take is we've gotten ourselves a serviceable, though hardly spectacular reliever who will be hard pressed to repeat his last year bullpen numbers, but who has no right to belong to the starters, even if he bounced back from horrendous numbers as a starter last year. Overall, a very limited role, 'cause should a starter go down, Kuo and Tomko would be the guys I'd go to before I call Hendrickson's number.
But that's me. And what do you think?
posted by Harry | 7:37 AM
1 Comments:
Marcin,
I read you loud and clear. Unfortunately, I have had a couple of family emergencies recently which has taken me away from the computer. I check my emails, but have received none from you.
Let me know what you need me to do in posting. I do best with a regular schedule with some special assignments. It is easier for me to remember to post things like daily updates if there are certain days I always do. Give me the word my friend.
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