May 2014 – Page 6 – Dodger Thoughts

[mlbvideo id=”32662043″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw came back from a 6 1/2-week absence and kept the Washington Nationals as quiet as a Sunday morning snow flurry.

He blanketed them. He turned Nationals Park into the house on the Night Before Christmas. He pitched in such a way that I wouldn’t have trouble believing that Kershaw could bound from chimney to chimney, delivering toys to every home on the globe, while also making compensatory adjustments for non-participating households.

There were nine hits against him. I’m trying to reconcile the nine hits against him. I may actually be having an existential crisis over the nine hits against him. I’m not trying to deny them, not trying to deny that in a game that was scoreless until the sixth inning, there was actual peril – the same way there was peril in not knowing whether Rudolph’s nose might conk out somewhere over Greenland.

There was even this. Comedy.

[mlbvideo id=”32655707″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Still, still, it was the way Kershaw made you feel watching him, the way from the first strike he made you feel safe and secure, that baseball was once again a gift, that the stray brushstrokes were all part of the show, that even in a busy and converging world, there can be peace.

It doesn’t stay that way. But that it circles back that way, maybe that’s enough.

May 6 pregame: About today’s starting pitcher …

In Pregame, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”31624339″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Nationals, 4:05 p.m.
Kershaw CLXXXIV: Kershawphan Black
Dee Gordon, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Drew Butera, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw. Clayton Kershaw, Clayton Kershaw, Clayton Kershaw.

Clayton Kershaw? Clayton Kershaw.

Clayton Kershaw!

So, that pretty much covers the pregame story. Just a few dangling threads before first pitch …

Kershaw is not on a specific pitch limit, Don Mattingly told reporters, and could cross the 100 mark.
Pedro Baez, who emulated Zack Greinke in giving up a hit and a home run to his first two batters Monday before settling down to pitch shutout ball (including his first MLB strikeout), went back to Chattanooga as predicted, to make room on the active roster for Kershaw.
Yasiel Puig is available to pinch-hit, as his Adrian Gonzalez, who is getting a rest day. Mattingly said he could see Gonzalez getting tired, and he did not put up a fight when resting him was discussed.
Limited to three innings and 54 pitches by Monday’s rain, Zack Greinke could come back on short rest for his next start, but there’s no current plan to do so, Mattingly said.

Viva Los Dodgers on Sunday features Mystery Bags with autographed baseballs

In Community, Promotions

By Erin Edwards

This Sunday, Viva Los Dodgers — the family-friendly pregame festival where fans can enjoy live music, player autographs and other fun activities — will feature some exciting Mystery Bags for lucky fans.

While at Viva Los Dodgers, be sure to stop by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation tent. You will find the Mystery Bag fundraiser, where for a $40 donation, you can get an official Major League baseball signed by one of 10 Dodger alumni or one of our current players.

You won’t know until you open your bag who signed your ball. Possible signatures include Andre Ethier, Zack Greinke, Nomar Garciaparra, Tommy Davis and Manny Mota.

Only 84 Mystery Bags are available. All proceeds will benefit the LADF and its programs in sports and recreation, education and literacy and health and wellness. All the programs help children and families throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Also this Sunday. Viva Los Dodgers moves to the Dodger Stadium 76 station, which has been refurbished for event use in Lot 6. A part of Dodger Stadium since the ballpark opened in 1962, the 76 station has been preserved but adapted into a flexible and nicely landscaped event space.

Looking back at Dodger triple plays

In Defense

By Jon Weisman

In Monday’s 4-0 loss to Washington, the Dodgers came within a hair of turning a triple play — a straight-arrow, around-the-horn, 5-4-3 triplet-killing.

It would have been the Dodgers fourth triple play since moving to Los Angeles. The franchise had 19 triple plays in Brooklyn, including two within eight days of each other, May 21 and 29, in its inaugural NL season of 1890 (wins No. 11 and 17 of 10,003 so far). However, the Dodgers then went without a triple play from 1949 until 1996.

In the first inning at Atlanta on June 15, 1996, Chipper Jones hit a pop fly deep behind shortstop. Juan Castro caught it, threw to Delino DeShields at second base to double up Marquis Grissom, and Grissom threw to Eric Karros at first base to triple up Mark Lemke.

Then on June 13, 1998, Los Angeles turned its second triple play, when Darren Dreifort fielded a fifth-inning bunt by Kurt Abbott that landed in front of the mound, starting a chain reaction that retired the two runners on base. One of those retired on the play was Colorado’s 23-year-old starting pitcher, Jamey Wright. The throws went from Dreifort to shortstop Jose Vizcaino to force Perez, then to Eric Young at first base to retire Abbott, and finally across the diamond to Bobby Bonilla at third base to tag out Wright.

Colorado wasn’t too happy about a triple play that wouldn’t have happened if the infield fly rule could have been applied, but the most recent Dodger triple play, on April 15, 2012, was far more controversial.

[mlbvideo id=”20659155″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

At the time, I wrote about the debate over this triple play at Dodger Thoughts.

You’ll feel better when …

In Bullpen

By Jon Weisman

… Dodger relievers stop walking opposing batters at rates we haven’t seen, as my grandmother would say, in a dog’s age. More specifically, since before the team’s last World Series title.

Dodgers offer $5 parking in Lots 13, 14 next homestand

In Dodger Stadium, Transportation/parking

By Jon Weisman

For the upcoming May 8-14 homestand featuring games against the Giants and Marlins, fans can park in Lots 13 and 14 along Stadium Way near Elysian Park Avenue for $5 per game.

The $5 fee is available in advance and the day of the game on a first-come, first-served basis. The special offer is being made on a trial basis.

Lots 13 and 14 are located across the street from each other on Stadium Way, adjacent to the Los Angeles Fire Department training center, a short walk east of the main Elysian Park Avenue-Gate A entrance to Dodger Stadium. (Click map at right to enlarge.) The lots will open to the public at the same time as the other Dodger Stadium parking lots. A free shuttle will be available for disabled fans.

“We have added this parking availability to provide our fans with another savings option that offers easy in and out access and is a 10-to-15 minute walk to the stadium,” said Dodger president and CEO Stan Kasten. “By parking in lots 13 and 14, fans can avoid some of the traffic entering and exiting the stadium lots before and after games.

“We continue to experiment with ways to improve access to Dodger Stadium. The more drivers that park in lots 13 and 14, the fewer the cars that will enter the Dodger Stadium lots through the auto gates and it will help in our ongoing efforts to ease traffic congestion.”

May 5 pregame: Pedro Baez and position switches

In Bullpen, Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”31519061″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Nationals, 4:05 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Miguel Olivo, C
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Continuing their efforts to fill their bullpen with healthy and rested arms, the Dodgers have called up righty reliever Pedro Baez from Double-A Chattanooga, optioning Sunday starter Stephen Fife to Albuquerque.

The news comes one day before the Dodgers’ expected activation of Clayton Kershaw from the disabled list.

Baez, looking to make his MLB debut, has a 2.84 ERA in 12 2/3 innings for the Lookouts, though he hasn’t been striking out batters at his customary rate in the early going. Having averaged 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings last season in the minors, Baez has eight whiffs so far this season. He last pitched Friday, throwing two shutout innings with two strikeouts.

As many of you know, Baez began his pro career as a third baseman before making a Kenley Jansen-like conversion to pitching. Below: Cary Osborne’s story for the March 2014 Dodger Insider magazine on position switches in the farm system (click to enlarge).

Video: Yasiel Puig’s 10 greatest catches

In Defense

[mlbvideo id=”32602833″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Yasiel Puig is day to day after hitting the wall in an all-out attempt to reel in Jeff Baker’s game-winning drive Sunday for Miami. Though he didn’t make the catch, it was a spectacular effort, and hardly the first time the spiritual descendant of Pete Reiser has gone mano-a-fenco or thrown his body into a spectacular catch.

Below, I’ve compiled what I believe to be the 10 greatest catches of Puig’s 11-month Major League career. It’s a pretty nice highlight reel in a short amount of time — especially because I’ve saved the throws for another day.

Shrine of the Eternals honors Rachel Robinson, Don Zimmer

In History

By Jon Weisman

Rachel Robinson and Don Zimmer have been elected to the Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals, along with former Cardinal legend Dizzy Dean.

The Reliquary is an organization “dedicated to fostering an appreciation of American art and culture through the context of baseball history,” and the Shrine serves as its Hall of Fame.

May 4 pregame: The Gordian Knot at second base finds a Gordonian solution

On May 4, 2014

In Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”32589679″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Marlins, 10:10 a.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Stephen Fife, P

By Jon Weisman

There’s a lot to be impressed with from Dee Gordon’s tour de force in Saturday’s game – the hit after hit, the steal after steal. The greatest play might be his dive to the left of second base and snap throw to third base to nab Casey McGehee.

But looking at the clip of highlights above, I think the most astonishing play might be when Gordon beat out a grounder to first base. Literally to the base. And yes, Garrett Jones’ momentum carried him into foul territory in order to field the ball, but still – it was a ground ball to first base.

Look where Jones is when the ball goes into his glove. Would you ever, in a million years, think Gordon is going to make it from the batter’s box to first base in time to be safe?

According to Fangraphs this morning, Gordon has been the ninth most valuable player in the Major Leagues so far this season and the third most valuable second baseman. He is the No. 1 baserunner in baseball. He has 19 stolen bases – no other Major Leaguer has more than 12. He has more stolen bases than 13 teams. He has even been above average with the glove.

Second base was supposed to be the Dodgers’ problem position. Wow.

* * *

From the Dodger press notes:

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Gordon is the first Dodger in the modern era (since 1900) with five or more hits and three or more steals in a game. Since 2000, only seven Major Leaguers have had such games, last occurring on Aug. 26, 2008, when Jimmy Rollins went 5-for-7 with three steals, a double, a homer and three RBI for the Phillies vs. the Mets. Carl Crawford, who hit the game-winning two-run homer last night, accomplished the feat on May 24, 2006 for Tampa Bay at Toronto, going 5-for-5 with four steals, five runs scored, a homer and two RBI.

Domination and redemption

On May 3, 2014

In Postgame

[mlbvideo id=”32585911″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

What can you say about Dee Gordon? He goes 5 for 6 with two RBI and three steals, while also making a huge defensive play.

And what can you say about Brandon League? Is he on the Juan Uribe redemption path? On a night the Dodgers were trying to buy Kenley Jansen another day of rest, League stepped in after Brian Wilson, Chris Withrow and Chris Perez couldn’t hold a 7-2 lead, and shut out Miami in the 10th and 11th innings of a 9-7 Dodger victory. League has now thrown 11 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

And while we’re at it, what can you say about Carl Crawford? Coming off the bench in the midst of a terrible slump, he blasted a two-run homer in the top of the 11th to lift give the Dodgers to victory one day before they face Marlins ace Jose Fernandez.

No, it wasn’t a walk in the park after Yasiel Puig’s titanic three-run homer. It was another extra-inning slog for a weary team. But that’s baseball – comedy, tragedy and triumph all rolled into one.

May 3 pregame: Is it getting easier for Ethier?

On May 3, 2014

In Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”32512049″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Marlins, 4:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Miguel Olivo, C
Paul Maholm, P

By Jon Weisman

Andre Ethier has delivered a bit more offense of late, going 7 for 15 with two doubles and three walks in his past five games.

The next step for Ethier would be to show some power. He has one homer (and no other extra-base hits) in his past 60 at-bats, April 19 against Arizona.

Ethier gets the start in left field today, with Matt Kemp in center. There’s no mystery of who is in right field: Yasiel Puig is starting his 13th consecutive game there.

Carl Crawford begins the game on the bench for the 13th time in 31 games this year. Crawford, who had a .905 OPS in April a year ago, had a .501 OPS when the calendar changed to May this year and is now down to .471 with a 1-for-9 start to the month.

Perhaps most strange: Crawford is 3 for 29 (with two walks and a sacrifice fly) since his last strikeout. His batting average on balls in play in that time is .100.

Tales of Tommy Lasorda

On May 3, 2014

In History

By Jon Weisman

You can’t deny that Tommy Lasorda is a storyteller like no other.

In his life-spanning interview for SportsNet LA’s “Connected With … Tommy Lasorda,” which premieres tonight at 8 p.m., Lasorda spins some of his favorites, starting with his childhood.

“I worked on the railroad when I was 15 years old,” Lasorda said. “I did a man’s job. I worked 10 hours a day, 55 cents an hour. Now I told ’em I was 18, but they kept saying, ‘You’ve got to show us proof that you’re 18,’ and I told them that the church that I was baptized in burned down and the birth certificates were no longer there. I kept getting them off, getting them off, until my father said, ‘Wait a minute — your brother Tommy’ — I had a brother prior to me, he was 2 years old and he died, and he was born in 1925. I’m born in 1927. I take his birth certificate. Now all of a sudden I’m 18 years old.”

May 2 pregame: Shutout relief is Wright on

On May 2, 2014

In Bullpen, History, Pregame

Dodgers at Marlins, 4:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, CF
Miguel Olivo, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Chone Figgins, 3B
Josh Beckett, P

By Jon Weisman

Unsung hero of the Dodgers’ Thursday nightcap victory — Jamey Wright.

The 39-year-old shut out Minnesota from the ninth inning through the 11th, scattering a single and a walk and lowering his 2014 ERA to 2.70. It was the longest stint of his Grover Cleveland-esque Dodger career.

The list of recent Dodger relievers who have thrown at least three shutout innings is an interesting one. Before Wright, Chris Withrow was the only Dodger to do it since 2010, when Jeff Weaver and Ronald Belisario did it in the same game. Weaver accomplished the feat four times in all in 2009.

The last time a Dodger pitched four innings of shutout relief was June 2, 2010, when Travis Schlichting did so in the game won by a Garret Anderson walkoff single in the 14th.

But the longest shutout relief stint in Dodger history was turned in by Orel Hershiser, who put zeroes on the scoreboard from the 14th inning through the 20th in the June 3, 1989 game at Houston, which ended in the 22nd with a two-strike, two-out single by Rafael Ramirez off third baseman-turned-relief pitcher Jeff Hamilton.

Hyun-Jin Ryu goes on disabled list