Orlando Hudson
Hudson's red hot start to the 2009 season made those who predicted that his offense would suffer away from Chase Field look foolish (including me). Unfortunately, he slowly but surely regressed over the course of the year, all the way down to a line of .283/.357/.417/.774, which was closer to what many projected in the first place.His wOBA on the year of .342 ranked 12th among all qualified second basemen in the major leagues, which accurately reflects his offensive skills as above average for his position. Despite his late season struggles, his early value to to the team was immense, and it's a shame that many people will probably overlook it.
Defensively, he rated as -2.9 UZR/150 and 4.2 PM/1350, which puts him somewhere around fringe average to above average defensively. A larger look at recent history seems to confirm this as a fair evaluation, and my personal eye test doesn't have any qualms with it either. Hudson could be flashy at times, especially on balls in the air and ranging to his left, but he struggled with balls that would force him to throw with momentum going away from the bag, and he seemed tentative on applying tags to runners.
In the end, Hudson's solid season ended with a borderline insulting permanent benching for the duration of the playoffs. However, despite his seat on the pine during his first ever postseason appearance, he took it like he did everything else this year: as a professional.
The way he handled his benching set an example in professionalism for both the upcoming kids and the rest of the team. Many lauded Juan Pierre this year for rededicating himself, but it took him over two years to stop whining to the press, demanding trades, and moping around the dugout. To me, if they wanted to make an example of anybody, Hudson was the one they should have looked to. Hudson took his benching like a man from the moment it was announced to the end of the season. Perhaps he'll let his true feelings be known in this coming off-season, but he knew better than to distract a team with his selfish wants during a playoff run, and that alone is worth some type of acknowledgment in this world of self absorbed athletes. At the very least, having O-Dog on the Dodgers was a pleasure.
Overall, I wouldn't mind having Hudson back for a similar contract with guaranteed money, but that's probably a pipe dream now, as he will seek a better contract and a team that won't bench him at a whim.
Ronnie Belliard
Belliard was acquired in a trade by the Dodgers, and it wasn't one that I liked at all. Nevertheless, he hit an amazing .351/.398/.636/1.034 with a .443 wOBA in his limited time as a Dodger. Of course, those numbers were powered by unsustainable BABIP and HR/F rates, but he did produce for the team.It wasn't likely production though, and the Belliard everybody saw in the playoffs is closer to reality. The stance that his game tying single in Game 2 of the NLDS fully justified the trade is fine by me, but the reality of Belliard's overall postseason performance is that he did little to contribute to the "hot hand" logic.
As for next year, I hear a few suggestions around these parts to retain Belliard, but i'm not sure that's what the Dodgers need. He's a free swinger, has marginal power, is batting average dependent, is fringe average defensively, and below average on the bases. I guess it's better than going into the season hoping for a miracle, but it's certainly not something anybody should feel good about.
Mark Loretta
He was horrid this year. Seriously..232/.309/.276/.585 from a guy who is paid primarily to hit is not good.
Like Belliard though, he came up big in Game 2 of the NLDS with the game winning hit, so it's hard to complain. Still an idiotic move, but hard to complain.
As for next year, thanks but no thanks.
Tony Abreu
He was never given a chance to prove himself with the Dodgers, and I have a bad feeling that dealing him to the Diamondbacks for an unnecessary piece in Jon Garland could haunt this team as soon as 2010.
