September 2014 – Page 6 – Dodger Thoughts

Month: September 2014 (Page 6 of 6)

Dodgers open 2015 season at home April 6

On September 8, 2014

Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Hopefully celebrating a World Series title, the Dodgers are scheduled to open the 2015 Major League season at home against San Diego on Monday, April 6.

The Opening Day comes more than two weeks later and a hemisphere further north than the 2014 season opener, March 22 in Australia. It’s the latest Opening Day for the Dodgers since 2009.

The Dodgers will bookend their 2015 season by also ending it at home against San Diego, on Sunday, October 6.

Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 will bring the Dodgers back home after a rare absence this year. They will play Seattle, as teams from the American League West becomes the Dodgers’ opponents on the 2015 interleague slate.

Los Angeles will be on the road for Mothers’ Day on May 10, but home for Memorial Day on May 25 against the Braves, Fathers’ Day on June 21 against the Giants and for Independence Day on July 4 against the Mets.

One of the Dodgers’ longest roadtrips is a 10-gamer from June 22-July 1 against the Cubs, Marlins and Diamondbacks. That’s followed by a 10-game homestand July 3-12 against the Mets, Phillies and Brewers, leading into the All-Star Break. Then the Dodgers are on the road again for another 10 games, July 17-26, against the Nationals, Braves and Mets.

The Dodgers have 13 homestands in 2015, two more than this year’s 11. The opening and season-ending three-game series against the Padres are the only contests in two abbreviated homestands. There’s also a five-game homestand June 17-21 against the Rangers and Giants and July 28-August 2 against the A’s and Angels.

Los Angeles’ shortest roadtrip of the year is a three-gamer to Arizona, April 10-12.

In April, the Dodgers have four off days in the first four weeks of the season, but then play 29 of 31 days in May and 29 of 30 days in June. Then in the second half, the Dodgers have a nice sprinkle of off days in July, August and early September, but race to the finish with games on the final 17 days in a row.

Click on the image below to enlarge the 2015 Dodger schedule.

Gone Guys: Gonzalez, Dodgers blast their way to victory

By Jon Weisman

On September 7, 2014

In History, Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

For the first five innings, the Dodgers were being no-hit. Before the next two innings were over, Oliver Perez was throwing at Andre Ethier (one might have concluded) because the Dodgers were hitting too many home runs.

There were three homers in all, two of them three-run blasts in back-to-back innings by Adrian Gonzalez, who became the first Dodger since Eric Karros in 1993 to hit two trifecta round-trippers. (Cody Ross, a Dodger opponent today, had a three-run home run and a grand slam for Los Angeles in 2006, in his final start with the team).

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Fortunes change, don’t ya know? It’s all about piling up more good than bad. And that is what the Dodgers have done in 2014.

Saturday, I interviewed Dodger general manager Ned Colletti for the print edition of Dodger Insider, and I asked him if there had been a defining moment for the 2014 Dodgers. He didn’t immediately see one, acknowledging at least so far that this year, the team was more methodical than dramatic. That lack of drama has come to be considered a strike against the Dodgers, as if the pennant race were a beauty contest rather than a measurement of which team has the most victories at the end of season.

Today, the Dodgers moved 19 games about .500, tied with Washington for the best in the National League.

But those insisting on an observable spark certainly have to like what they saw from the Dodgers this afternoon, when, after waiting until the sixth inning to gather kindling, they lit a fire. Dee Gordon broke up Trevor Cahill’s no-hitter with a one-out double, Hanley Ramirez walked, and Gonzalez absolutely smashed a ball over the fence in to dead center.

Though this won’t qualify as a late-inning clutch hit, it was a huge one, and comes a day after Gordon’s tiebreaking RBI single in the bottom of the eighth Saturday. Yes, Virginia, this team does come through.

An inning later, it was the same trio. Perez walked Gordon, then Ramirez reached base on an error by shortstop Cliff Pennington. Gonzalez hit his third home run of the past 21 hours and second homer of the year off a lefty, giving him his seventh 100-RBI season of his career and matching his 2013 total as a Dodger. And then for good measure, Matt Kemp hit his 19th of the year. (This article seems timely.)

Perez then smacked Ethier in the back (making him the Dodgers’ all-time leader in HBPs with 53), and when umpire Laz Diaz warned both benches, that didn’t sit well with Don Mattingly and Monday’s starting pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, both of whom were ejected. Thankfully, Kershaw isn’t pitching against Arizona again this year, which saves us the worry about him retaliating and getting thrown out himself.

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Since August 29, San Francisco has won six of its past eight games. If the Giants don’t win tonight in Detroit, they’ll have gained no ground on the Dodgers in that stretch.

The Dodgers’ top position player of the second half: Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez or Justin Turner

By Jon Weisman

On September 7, 2014

In Pregame

For more photo highlights from Saturday, visit LA Photog Blog.

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Andre Ethier, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Yasiel Puig, CF
Drew Butera, C
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw is in a league of his own, but Matt Kemp’s second-half offensive surge made me wonder whether he’s the Dodgers’ most valuable player since the All-Star Break — at least among position players.

According to Fangraphs, Kemp has been the Dodgers’ top offensive player since the All-Star Break, though the site continues to downgrade his defense significantly. I struggle with the idea that enough action has come to Kemp in the outfield to have that much of an impact on his overall worth, but I do trust the stats more than my anecdotal observations.

In any case, with the caveats of small sample size, moving to right field has helped Kemp (the following are full-season stats):

UZR/150 in center field: -33.4
UZR/150 in left field: -38.2
UZR/150 in right field: -15.4

Fangraphs makes Adrian Gonzalez No. 1 in Wins Above Replacement in the second half for the Dodgers. Gonzalez ranks below-average defensively but only just so, and his second-half offense quietly just about matches up with Kemp’s:

Gonzalez: .391 OBP, .534 slugging, 156 wRC+
Kemp: .378 OBP, .574 slugging, 164 wRC+

But here’s a twist for you. If you tweaked this discussion from the Dodgers’ most valuable position player of the second half to the Dodgers’ best position player of the second half, the answer might well be Justin Turner.

Turner’s offense matches Kemp’s — .432 OBP (astonishing), .474 slugging, 163 wRC+ — and his defense surpasses both Kemp and Gonzalez. In fact, if Turner weren’t forced to play out of position at times, his defense for the 2014 season would be above average:

UZR/150 at third base (384 innings): 0.8
UZR/150 at second base (85 2/3 innings): 0.4
UZR/150 at shortstop (72 innings): -24.8
UZR/150 at first base (19 innings): -13.8

Not to say that Turner’s performance might not decline if he played every day like Gonzalez and Kemp (that’s Don Mattingly’s contention, by the way), but per unit of playing time, Turner has generated the highest WAR on the Dodgers in the second half.

Gonzalez: 1.7 WAR in 184 plate appearances
Kemp: 1.1 WAR in 185 plate appearances
Turner: 1.2 WAR in 111 plate apperances, pro-rated to 2.0 WAR in 184.5 plate appearances

Thanks to Turner and Juan Uribe, who is the Dodgers’ top defensive regular and fourth on the team in WAR in the second half, third base has led the way among the Dodgers’ non-pitchers in helping the team hold onto the lead in the National League West.

Dodgers add speedy outfielder Bernadina to bench

By Jon Weisman

On September 6, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 6:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers added an extra outfielder and perhaps more importantly, a pinch-runner, in bringing up Roger Bernadina from Triple-A Albuquerque.

The 34th player on the active roster, the 30-year-old Bernadina has stolen 59 out of 71 bases (83.1 percent) in a 539-game Major League career, as well 204 out of 261 (78.2 percent) in the minors. A reserve with the Isotopes this year who started the year with Cincinnati, Bernadina had a .380 on-base percentage and .351 slugging percentage in 71 plate appearances.

Bernadina has also played more than 1,000 innings in center field in his career. He was signed to a minor-league deal in July.

Speaking of center field, Yasiel Puig is suffering from a stomach ailment, according to manager Don Mattingly, who moved Joc Pederson back into the starting lineup. Mattingly said that the Dodgers would learn later today whether Puig would be available off the bench.

Mattingly said he chose Pederson over Andre Ethier for defensive reasons, adding that he loves Ethier and knows that being relegated to the bench is not a great situation for him, but that there are only so many spots available.

Josh Beckett out for 2014, delays retirement decision

By Jon Weisman

On September 5, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame

LOS ANGELES DODGERS VS PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, CF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Justin Turner, 2B
Juan Uribe 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Dan Haren, P

By Jon Weisman

Josh Beckett confirmed today that he won’t play again this season, but he said he wouldn’t decide whether or not to retire until the offseason.

Beckett told reporters today he is not able to get back on the field without surgery to repair a torn labrum and a lesion in his left hip, and said he would probably have the surgery regardless of whether he plays again.

If Beckett, who is a free agent after this season, does come back, he said he didn’t expect to be ready for Spring Training. He delayed having surgery in the hopes that he might be able to come back this season without it.

The Dodgers would have gladly taken a healthy Beckett. It might seem like a distant memory now, but less than three months ago, Beckett was a National League All-Star and Comeback Player of the Year candidate, with a 2.26 ERA, and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings in the first half of the season, not to mention a lil’ no-hitter May 25 at Philadelphia.

It was hard not to admire Beckett for how he rallied from his injury-riddled 2013 season that limited him to 43 1/3 innings, or how hard he worked in between every start just to get himself ready for the next. But the hip condition is the culmination of 2,051 big-league innings of wear and tear, dating back to his MLB debut at age 21.

Beckett, who has a 2003 World Series Most Valuable Player award to go with a 3.88 ERA (111 ERA+) for his career and a 3.39 ERA (108 ERA+) in 202 innings as a Dodger, was self-deprecating about his achievements.

“Even leading up to this year, I had it in the back of my mind that this could be my last year,” he said. “I did well for a pretty good stretch there. Like I told (MLB.com reporter) Ken Gurnick in Spring Training, ‘I’m just on the back end of a mediocre career.”

* * *

Don Mattingly told reporters the Dodgers have reset their rotation since Thursday’s off day, with Hyun-Jin Ryu and Zack Greinke following Dan Haren tonight against Arizona, and then Clayton Kershaw and Ramon Hernandez beginning the next series against San Diego.

Carlos Frias remains a candidate for a start but does not have one scheduled at this point.

Mattingly was also questioned again on his decision to wait until A.J. Ellis was at third base before pinch-running for him in the 10th inning of Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to Washington. Mattingly reiterated that he didn’t want to go down to his last catcher but felt compelled to only once Ellis reached position to score on a sacrifice fly.

The manager added that had Drew Butera gotten hurt later in the game, when the Dodgers were out of position players, Justin Turner (then playing shortstop) would have had to catch.

Vin Scully receives Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award

By Jon Weisman

On September 5, 2014

In Awards

By Jon Weisman

MLB commissioner Bud Selig’s farewell tour arrived at Dodger Stadium today, where he spoke first to Dodger employees and then to the media. But of most interest to Dodger fans was his presentation of the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award to Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully.

Scully is the 14th recipient of the award, created in 1998 to recognize accomplishments and contributions of historical significance. Most recently, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was given the honor during the 2013 World Series. Scully is the second non-player to be recognized, joining a fellow member of the Dodgers family, Rachel Robinson, who was honored in 2007 for advancing the legacy of her husband, Jackie Robinson.

“In my judgment, there has never been anyone better behind the mic,” Selig said to Scully. “It’s a pleasure for me, many a night when I’m home, going from game to game, and I’ll tell you this, just hearing your voice makes me feel better.”

Earlier, the Dodgers presented Selig with a quartet of original Dodger Stadium seats, autographed by Scully, Sandy Koufax, Tommy Lasorda and Fernando Valenzuela, as well as a check for $50,000 to Stand Up to Cancer, ahead of that organization’s benefit tonight, which Selig is attending.

Tilting at windmills with the bases loaded

By Jon Weisman

On September 4, 2014

In Offense

By Jon Weisman

“Want to defeat the Dodgers? Let them load the bases.”

That’s the headline of Bill Chuck’s story at Gammons Daily today, and one that many Dodger fans will nod in agreement to.

The Dodgers have the worst offense in baseball with the bases loaded. It’s unmistakable, and it’s beyond frustrating — it feels like not being able to take candy from a baby that really shouldn’t be having the candy in the first place.

I’ve argued for a couple of months that while this is all true, bases-loaded situations are such a small fraction of a team’s at-bats with men on base and runners in scoring position that it’s not worth obsessing over.

Bases loaded: 109 plate appearances, .193 on-base percentage, last in the National League
Runners in scoring position: 1,484 plate appearances, .357 on-base percentage, first in the National League

Which stat is more important? The one that occurs less than once a game, or the one that occurs more than 10 times per game?

But today, here’s a different way to look at the Dodgers with the bases loaded, inspired by Chuck’s piece. Let’s see how the team does, batter-by-batter.

The mic drops

Dan Haren, 1 for 1 with a three-run double
Darwin Barney, 1 for 1 with a two-run single

The decent

Miguel Rojas and Justin Turner, 2 for 6 combined with an HBP and seven RBI (.429 OBP)
Andre Ethier, 3 for 9 with a triple and eight RBI (.333 OBP)
Adrian Gonzalez, 4 for 12 with two sacrifice flies and nine RBI (.286 OBP)
Juan Uribe, 3 for 9 with four RBI (.333 OBP)

The A.J.

A.J. Ellis, 0 for 1 with an HBP, two sacrifice flies and four RBI (.250 OBP)

The indecent

Hanley Ramirez, 2 for 12 with a walk and five RBI (.231 OBP)
Carl Crawford, 1 for 5 with one RBI (.200 OBP)
Yasiel Puig, 0 for 7 with a walk and one RBI (.125 OBP)
Dee Gordon, 0 for 10 with two sacrifice flies and three RBI (.000 OBP)
Scott Van Slyke, 0 for 3 with one RBI (.000 OBP)
Drew Butera, 0 for 4 (.000 OBP)
Matt Kemp, 0 for 9 (.000 OBP)

There are some awful results there, from the Dodgers’ second baseman, shortstop and entire starting outfield. Kemp, Puig, Crawford and Van Slyke are 1 for 24 with a walk and three RBI.

But if anything ever cried out for small sample size warnings, it’s this.

Gordon leads the laggards with 12 bases-loaded plate appearances this season. Twelve, out of 574 plate appearances overall. Two percent. Maybe there’s a problem with Gordon’s approach. Or maybe 12 trips to the plate aren’t enough to judge.

In the past three seasons, Kemp has had three singles in 20 at-bats with the bases loaded. In the three seasons before that, he was 12 for 33 with five home runs, a .366 on-base percentage. .848 slugging percentage and 47 RBI.

There’s a difference between being bad and being hopeless. The Dodgers have been bad with the bases loaded. But as memorable as the failures have been, the opportunities have scarce, and it’s a situation that can easily turn itself around. Even in September.

Through they’re underachieving in this area, clearly they’re excelling in many others. Given that the Dodgers are in first place in the NL West, maybe — just maybe — batting with the bases loaded isn’t the be-all and end-all of baseball.

Frias peppy for Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On September 3, 2014

In Uncategorized

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By Jon Weisman

I’m mulling a longer post about today’s surreal game, but in the meantime, I didn’t want Carlos Frias’ performance to get lost in the shuffle.

Expectations were modest for Carlos Frias today, but they weren’t non-existent. It wasn’t like he was going to throw nine innings, but he wasn’t supposed to have to battle to survive every batter.

Suffice it to say, Frias gravitated toward the high end of fulfillment.

The 24-year-old righty became the first Dodger since Hong-Chih Kuo, seven years and 360 days ago, to throw six shutout innings in his first Major League start, according to Elias Sports.

Going toe to toe with a top starter in Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann, Frias allowed three hits and a walk in the first three innings, then retired the final 10 batters he faced and finished with four strikeouts, throwing 77 pitches. Only one runner from the National League East-leading Nationals made it to scoring position.

He received a no-decision for his efforts, but lowered his ERA from 5.65 to 3.98 and his WHIP from 1.05 to 0.93.

Nearly-an-iron man Matt Kemp gets rare rest day

By Jon Weisman

On September 3, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame

For more Tuesday photo highlights, visit LA Photog Blog.

Nationals at Dodgers, 12:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Tim Federowicz, C
Carlos Frias, P

By Jon Weisman

Matt Kemp, who leads Dodger outfielders in games played despite not leading at any of the three positions, ends a streak of 40 consecutive games in the starting lineup today.

It’s getting harder to remember when there was active concern about Kemp’s fragility. During that 40-game run, Kemp has had a .380 on-base percentage and .580 slugging percentage.

He has actually played in 50 consecutive games and started 83 of the Dodgers’ past 86 games, since Carl Crawford went on the disabled list May 28, with an .842 OPS in that time.

And Dodger manager Don Mattingly indicated that he is counting on Kemp for the pennant drive.

“I think today for me is an energy day,” Mattingly said. “He kind of looked a little heavy-legged in Sunday’s day game. He’s been going hard for us, and honestly hasn’t played this many games in a couple of years. I feel like this is kind of his last chance to get a breather.”

Kemp has played 128 games this season, after playing 106 and 73 the previous two seasons.

* * *

Making his debut as a Major-League starter today, Carlos Frias isn’t on a specific pitch limit, but Mattingly said that the team’s goal is to get five innings from the 24-year-old righty and then evaluate from there.

Mattingly said he doesn’t manage differently or make changes more aggressively with the post-September 1 expanded bullpen, and that the extra men mainly function as a way to avoid using primary relievers in a blowout.

At the same time, it’s not clear that Pedro Baez qualifies as an “extra” anymore, given his baptism to date (1.84 ERA in 14 2/3 innings), and Yimi Garcia pitched two shutout innings Monday in a game the Dodgers nearly tied in the ninth.

Mattingly also said that Paco Rodriguez had an encouraging bullpen session Tuesday and might be close to a simulated game, and that signs are more encouraging that he’s closer to a return. However, though Josh Beckett played catch Tuesday, signs for his return were no more encouraging than they have been.

Tim Federowicz makes his first start for the Dodgers since June 12, and Mattingly confirmed that Federowicz’s familiarity catching Frias in Albuquerque this summer played a role in the decision.

Dodgers get some runs in their stalking of Nationals

By Jon Weisman

On September 2, 2014

In Defense, Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Throwing out Matt Kemp at home in the bottom of the fourth inning emboldened the Washington Nationals, who then threw on wings of wax too close to the sun.

The Dodgers broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth with some beyond-daring baserunning, then added a two-run Juan Uribe homer in the sixth to give Clayton Kershaw more than enough support for a 4-1 victory Wednesday.

After Kershaw singled to start the inning, he dared to go from first to third on Dee Gordon’s single to center fielder Bryce Harper. Harper’s throw was offline, which led third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to try to nail Gordon at second base, a fool’s errand if there ever was one.

One out later, with runners then on second and third, Adrian Gonzalez grounded to the hole at short. Ian Desmond bobbled it as Kershaw crossed the plate, then nearly pierced the sky with a wild throw home that freed Gordon to score.

It was weird, wild stuff, man.

Kershaw, who became the only Dodger besides Sandy Koufax to reach the 200-strikeout mark for five consecutive seasons (Koufax did it for six, from 1961-66), once again managed the near-impossible, lowering his already ant-high ERA, from 1.73 to 1.70. He gave up a second-inning single and walks in the first and third innings, before retiring 12 in a row until Bryce Harper hit a two-out homer just before the seventh inning stretch.

The Dodger Insider cover boy allowed one more hit before leaving after eight innings with eight strikeouts, throwing 108 pitches.

Mo’ne Davis lights up Dodger Stadium

By Jon Weisman

On September 2, 2014

In Celebrities

Mo’ne Davis showing Dodger Stadium how it’s done … https://t.co/qkncuLEmk3

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 3, 2014

By Jon Weisman

We’ve seen a lot of great first pitches at Dodger Stadium, but not sure any of them popped quite like tonight, when Little League World Series sensation Mo’ne Davis took the mound.

The crowd, which began to roar as Davis was being introduced and before she even emerged from the Dodger dugout, then saw what Dodger catcher Drew Butera called the hardest ceremonial first pitch he had caught. I have to say, it was just really cool to experience.

Davis is a featured guest of an upcoming episode of “The Queen Latifah Show” and was joined by the Queen herself tonight.

See Davis show off her first-pitch form and other photos below.

Joc Pederson’s start in center is not a changing of the guard

By Jon Weisman

On September 2, 2014

In Pregame, Transactions

For more Monday photo highlights, visit LA Photog Blog.

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCV: Kershawstbusters
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

After placing Joc Pederson in the starting lineup in center field tonight, Dodger manager Don Mattingly made it clear — in case it wasn’t — that slumping Yasiel Puig’s job wasn’t in jeopardy.

“This time of year, I don’t think Yasiel has to prove he can do it,” Mattingly said. “We know he can do it … it’s more what can we do to get him back.”

Puig is in a 2-for-32 struggle with seven walks, and has not homered since July 31 (though he did blast a long out in San Diego that would have been a homer many other places). His only extra-base hit since August 15 was a pop-fly sun double.

Mattingly said that there was a sink-or-swim case to be made for Puig playing through the slump, but in part because this is his first 162-game MLB season, there’s also a thought that breaks from the lineup could help.

“Yas continues to struggle,” Mattingly said. “We’re hoping to give him a day here and give him a chance to work it out.”

But again, Mattingly tried to stop speculation that the Dodger outfield roles were wide open.

“I do think competition’s healthy, as long as it’s about winning games,” Mattingly said. “I don’t want to turn the apple cart over … I want to keep the harmony here. For tonight, this is the best lineup.”

Mattingly didn’t deny that he was excited to see what Pederson could do and happy to see him get opportunities, but added that those feelings weren’t unique to Pederson.

“With all the young guys, I think you’re always excited,” Mattingly said. “Same as we are about Pedro Baez and Carlos Frias, these guys that come up and throw the ball well.”

And yet, he did note that with Pederson, “you could tell right away he had that little swagger, little confidence.” He added that there was agreement throughout the organization that Pederson was the best defensive center fielder on the team.

* * *

As expected, three players optioned by the Dodgers in the final week of August — Erisbel Arruebarrena, Frias and Miguel Rojas — have rejoined the team now that the minor-league seasons are over in Albuquerque and Rancho Cucamonga. Frias is slated to start Wednesday’s day game/series finale against Washington.

Dodger Insider magazine — September edition

By Jon Weisman

On September 2, 2014

In Publications

By Jon Weisman

The subject of three different stories, including a look at his National League Most Valuable Player candidacy, Clayton Kershaw graces the cover of the September issue of Dodger Insider magazine — which also boasts a feature you’ll want to hang onto for some time to come.

“Take a Number” is a 15-page special section offering the history behind every Dodger uniform number from 00 to 99, with all kinds of information historical and trivial.

Who was the greatest player to wear No. 6, Steve Garvey or Carl Furillo? Who wore No. 39 before Roy Campanella — and after? What is the all-time best Dodger team by numbers? All that and more can be found in this detailed feature. (Preview the first two pages by clicking the image at the bottom of this post.)

Overall, there are more than two dozen stories in this edition of Dodger Insider — the biggest of the year — including a feature on how deeply Zack Greinke is a student of the game, the myth and reality behind new defensive stats, inside-the-game and historical stories, photos, games for all ages and much more.

Buy it at Dodger Stadium or by going to dodgers.com/magazine. The digital version of the issue should be available next week.

Even the best hit bumps in the road

By Jon Weisman

On September 2, 2014

In Status report

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Point of parliamentary procedure
On Monday, the Giants completed their May 22 suspended game against Colorado by winning, 4-2. This would seem to mean that the Dodgers’ trailed by 10 games on June 7-8 this year, meaning that they rallied from an even greater hole than in 2013.

By Jon Weisman

At their peak this season, the Dodgers led the Giants in the National League West by 5 1/2 games, on August 12. Five days later, that lead was down to 2 1/2 games after a three-game sweep by Milwaukee, and for some, the roof was caving in.

Ten days later, the lead was back up to 4 1/2 games.

Now, the Dodgers’ lead in the NL West is down to two games, and again, some look up at the ceiling and find it’s hanging a bit low. Maybe this time they’ll be right; maybe it’ll continue to drop and drop until it collapses all around us.

But there isn’t a team in baseball that doesn’t have a house that needs retrofitting from time to time.

Washington – the only team in the NL with a better record than the Dodgers, by the way – was swept by last-place Philadelphia one week ago.
Milwaukee, which looked like kings of the league after sweeping the Dodgers, is 3-9 since and on a six-game losing streak.
St. Louis has popped into first in the NL Central with a three-game winning streak … that immediately followed a four-game losing streak.
Kansas City, the underdog delight when it caught and passed Detroit in the AL Central, has lost six of its last nine and all of its three-game lead.
Those Tigers are now tied for first place, but only after weathering a 10-17 run.
The Angels became the best team in baseball with a 15-4 run … right after losing three straight to the Dodgers and then two of three to the struggling Red Sox.
Remember how awful it was that the Dodgers lost two of three to the Cubs? Two weekends ago, maybe the most underrated team in the big leagues, Baltimore, lost three straight to the Cubs.

And then, of course, are the San Francisco Giants, who the national media handed the NL West title to before summer had started. On June 8, they were 42-21. Then on August 25, 27 wins and 41 losses later, they were 69-62.

They win eight straight games, still trail the Dodgers, and now they’re invincible? I’m not quite convinced.

Look, I know that rushing to judgment is irresistible. You see it all the time – people will give up on a game after a bad two innings, so why wouldn’t they give up on a season after a bad couple of losses? The Dodgers trailed the Diamondbacks by 9 1/2 games last year and rallied – that didn’t stop any number of folks from deciding this season was over two months ago. The Dodgers trailed the Nationals in the seventh on Monday, 6-2, then were one Joc Pederson foul ball away from a magical comeback.

I’ve never really known what you gain from the absolute pessimism – it’s one thing to lower expectations, another to eliminate them entirely. But clearly, it’s a thing.

All I can say is this: Baseball is an inherently streaky game, so much so that the 2014 Dodgers’ lack thereof (one winning streak longer than three games, no losing streaks longer) stands out as a true oddity. Los Angeles is 7-8 in its past 15 games, which as lowpoints go, is pretty good.

Over the past week, no doubt, the Giants have been better than the Dodgers. Over the coming weeks, who knows? Enjoy the pennant race.

Pederson, Guerrero among initial roster expandees

By Jon Weisman

On September 1, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Nationals at Dodgers, 5:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Yasiel Puig, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Roberto Hernandez, P

By Jon Weisman

Joc is in the house.

In addition to Alex Guerrero, Tim Federowicz and Yimi Garcia, highly touted prospect Joc Pederson, fresh off his mega-season at Triple A, has joined the Dodgers on the first day of expanded rosters.

Pederson and Garcia, who had a 3.10 ERA with 69 strikeouts against 81 baserunners in 61 innings, will be making their Major League debuts if and when they enter a game.

Guerrero played in both Australia games for the Dodgers, striking out in his only at-bat. He ended his first Triple-A season with a .364 on-base percentage, .613 slugging percentage and 15 home runs.

Federowicz, 8 for 61 with three doubles, three walks and a homer as a Dodger earlier this season, OPSed .938 for Albuquerque.

The Dodgers also activated reliever Chris Perez from the disabled list.

Update: The Dodgers designated Carlos Triunfel for assignment to make room for Pederson on the 40-man roster.

Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Month: September 2014 (Page 6 of 6)

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Mo’ne Davis lights up Dodger Stadium

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Dodger Insider magazine — September edition

Even the best hit bumps in the road

Pederson, Guerrero among initial roster expandees

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