Team: Los Angeles Dodgers Burning Question How can DeJon Watson improve on what is already a stellar Minor League system? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Well, the Dodgers' system certainly wasn't broke when Terry Collins was the farm director. Los Angeles was one of the top-tier systems, producing quality player after quality player. So when Collins went to Japan to manage this winter, it only seemed natural that someone internal would take his place. Not the case. The Dodgers went outside the system and brought in Watson, who had been the director of professional scouting in Cleveland. Watson, who has also served as a scouting director in Cincinnati, has a big shadow to fill in Collins. But the way Watson sees it, the transition to his regime as the club's resident player development guru will be a seamless one. "We're not recreating the wheel here," Watson said. "We have a quality staff here. We've had one-on-one meetings with each guy to try and address what we're doing with each kid. If we keep doing that, we'll continue to progress. "The difference for me is that this is the people side of the business. We have 150 people and their families we're dealing with, and you have to be able to understand each and every player and maximize their potential. That only enhances the players, and if we can do that it makes us stronger." So does that philosophy translate into an improvement? Time will tell. But Watson certainly brings a fresh set of eyes and a great deal of energy to the position. He admits he's still familiarizing himself with some of the names and faces of the players at the lower levels in the system. But that's all part of the learning curve and growth period that comes any time a club brings in someone from another organization. Watson's skill set is scout-based, so he believes that will be a plus and make any such learning curve smaller. He knows how to evaluate talent. Now, though, he has to evaluate people. "As a scout you have the ability to evaluate," said John Mirabelli, the assistant general manager in Cleveland and Watson's former boss. "And I think that puts him ahead of the entry-level farm director. I think it was a good hire." So far, Watson seems to be off to a good start. Watching him interact with the Minor League coaching staff and players Thursday morning, one had the sense that he was already comfortable. He knew the players, talked with a great deal of knowledge about their strengths and weaknesses while offering smiles and handshakes to many who got close enough for a greeting. There's been a great deal of change in recent years in this organization, from personnel to the fact that the Dodgers will be moving to Arizona for Spring Training in the near future. Watson is part of that change, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a clear eye on what the objective is. "This is a club that had seven rookies on its playoff roster last year," Watson said. "The base is here. We have another core group of players coming through the system now. Our challenge is to make sure they are prepared and can execute when the time comes." Other News of the Day LHP Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers' top pick in last year's draft, has followed up a successful Gulf Coast League season (2-0, 1.95 ERA in 37 IP) with an impressive spring. Watson said the youngster showed up in great shape and hasn't been awed by his surroundings. Kershaw has been working on getting a better feel for his changeup, though that will require little more than some simple refinement. "He had a solid mix when he came in, so it's just a matter of cleaning up his pitches, refining what he brought with him because this guy's stuff is pretty good," Watson said. ... SS Ivan De Jesus, Jr. is coming off a January in which he was named the Puerto Rican Winter League's Rookie of the Year. He's carried that effort right into Spring Training and has been strong in all areas. He's gotten a chance to play with the big club, going 4-for-13 (.308) with a pair of RBIs in seven games. "He's shown that he can slow the game down," Watson said. "He's able to make the plays in the hole and he has a solid approach to hitting. ... C Carlos Santana moved behind the plate during the Instructional League, making the switch from third base. While he was an adequate third baseman last year in Ogden and Vero Beach, Watson and Co. think he'll make a fine backstop. "He's a pretty good athlete," Watson said. "He's got an above-average arm and a real chance to play." #ques_include {width:300px;float:right;margin-left:5px;} #ques_content {border-top:1px solid #4C8CA8;border-left:1px solid #4C8CA8;padding-left:5px;} .ques_schedule {margin-top:5px;font-size:11px;} .ques_dates {font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:#999;} 
Five Questions with Xavier Paul MiLB.com: If you could have dinner with one person from history, living, dead or fictional, who would it be? XP: Jackie Robinson, mainly because of what he did for the game of baseball, but especially what he did for minority athletes. Not just blacks, but Latinos and all minorities. He broke the barrier. But it's more than what he did on the field. It's what he did away from the field as well. He didn't just touch baseball, he touched all walks of life and made an impact. MiLB.com: Having said that, how special is it to play here at Vero where Robinson played more than 50 years ago? XP: I remember when I first signed with the Dodgers, how privileged I thought I was to be playing on the same field Robinson and those other great men walked on as well. I'm privileged every day. There's a lot of pride in wearing this jersey; living and playing in the same atmosphere that Jackie did 50 years ago. MiLB.com: Who's the biggest character you've met so far in your career? XP: That's an easy one. Tommy Lasorda. He's a guy that, if he's 100 yards away, you know he's in the area. You can hear him a mile away. Tommy is a guy who always likes to help the players. He always has something positive to say, but he does give constructive criticism when need be. Coming from a guy like him, it's great. He's the most joyful person I've ever met. He has more energy than anyone I've ever come across. MiLB.com: What's the last book you read? XP: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. It's a book about everyday trials and triumphs in life. It has guidelines to help you understand the problems everyday life brings. MiLB.com: What do you like to do when you're not playing ball? XP: Hunt and fish. I'm a Louisiana bayou guy. I do a lot of hunting and fishing, I'm always off trying to get a 10-point buck or a 30-pound red fish. I got a nine-point buck this year so I'm getting close. Lasting Impression For now, no one is snickering about Preston Mattingly the way they did on draft day when the Dodgers surprised most folks and grabbed the son of the former American League MVP in the supplemental round. Mattingly won't turn 20 until this summer so there's still plenty of time and room for him to grow. But if what he did last summer in the Gulf Coast League is any indication, then the folks in Los Angeles should have a solid contributor on their hands. Mattingly hit. 290 with 29 RBIs in 186 at-bats. He also stole 12 bases, but like most youngsters, struck out (39) far more often than he walked (nine). Defensively, his skills aren't as polished. Again, though, he's young and another year or two at shortstop won't hurt, even if the Dodgers ultimately decide to move him to another position. "For me, Mattingly has made the biggest strides in the shortest period of time at shortstop," Watson said. "He looks good. He's solid and he's going to be a fun kid to watch and grow in this game. He's like a basketball player who handles the ball a lot. He has great awareness and every day he seems to be gaining more and more knowledge of how to play shortstop. I'm looking forward to watching the progress he's going to make." Off the Beaten Path It's a shame to think the Dodgers won't be here in a few years. Vero Beach is such a special place, almost a moment frozen in time. There's such a remarkable throwback feel to the whole facility and it's not even as if they are trying to go retro. They were retro before there was a retro simply because the place hasn't changed all that much over the last 50 years. The thought that Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Gil Hodges roamed these grounds as players makes you stop and think with every step. Vero is wonderful in and of itself, but the Dodgers being here makes it that much more special. Pulling into the lot today and seeing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' logo on the gift shop was a bit of a shock. It was sad too, and not because it's the Devil Rays. It would have been sad if it were the Mets', Yankees' or Red Sox's logo were on the building. There are some things that aren't meant to change, but progress is inevitable. It's difficult to imagine, though, what the press room will look like without the pictures of Cey, Russell, Lopes and Garvey or what the grounds will look like without the signposts acknowledging Dodger legends like Vince Scully and Drysdale. And who's going to be racing around in a golf cart, ushering people out of the way like Lasorda. Nostalgia and history are such a big part of this game and when the Dodgers pack up and head to Arizona, they'll be taking a lot of that with them. Parting Shots How can you not like what the Dodgers have built the last few seasons. Their Minor League system is as good as any in baseball and if you need any proof of that, just check out how many rookies were on their roster last season during the playoffs. The foundation for a great run has been laid. So just sit back and watch over the next few seasons as the players continue coming up through the pipeline to help make Los Angeles one of the most talked-about franchises in the game. Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
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