July 2015 – Page 2 – Dodger Thoughts

Zack Greinke’s streak ends at 45 2/3 innings

On July 26, 2015

Zack Greinke's scoreless streak ends at 45 2/3 innings. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/nWq49lmokf

— Jon SooHoo (@JonSooHooPics) July 26, 2015

By Jon Weisman

It was more death by paper cuts than a single crushing blow, but sadly for fans of the Dodgers and history, Zack Greinke’s consecutive scoreless inning streak ended in the third inning against the Mets today at 45 2/3 innings.

After retiring the first six hitters of the game, Greinke hit Kirk Nieuwenheis with an 0-1 fastball to start the bottom of the third. Catcher and No. 8 hitter Kevin Plawecki then lined a 1-1 fastball to center field, which — in a key moment — Joc Pederson bobbled trying to backhand for an error that allowed Nieuwenheis to reach third base with nobody out.

That was the first baserunner in scoring position against Greinke since the fourth inning July 4 (21 innings) and the first to reach third base since the first inning June 23 (37 2/3 innings)

The Dodgers played the infield in at the corners, and pitcher Jacob deGrom hit a chopper to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Gonalez fired home, but Yasmani Grandal’s tag on Nieuwenheis was a hair late.

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At first, it looked like this might invite the classic umpire reversal that benefited both Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser in their streaks. But there was no doubt looking at a replay about the call.

Despite the error, the run was earned. Assuming that Nieuwenheis would have remained at second on the Plawecki single, you also have to assume he’d go to third base on deGrom’s grounder. Subsequent fly balls by Curtis Granderson and Ruben Tejada could have scored him. Of course, we’ll never really know what happened, but that’s how it goes down officially.

Some might blame Pederson, but my guess is that Greinke blames himself for hitting Nieuwenheis with the pitch — a mistake for a pitcher who had avoided them for so long.

Nevertheless, Greinke finishes with the sixth-longest scoreless streak of all-time:

59 Orel Hershiser (1988)
58 Don Drysdale (1968)
55 2/3 Walter Johnson (1913)
53 Jack Coombs (1910)
47 Bob Gibson (1968)
45 2/3 Zack Greinke (2015)

During Greinke’s streak, opponents had a .124 batting average, .152 on-base percentage and .144 slugging percentage — while Greinke, who singled in his first at-bat today — hit .188/.188/.188.

Soon, the spotlight will turn back to Clayton Kershaw, who now has the longest active scoreless streak in baseball at 29 innings.

As we tip our hat to Greinke, here’s a final look at the wondrous run.

A second hit-by-pitch, this striking Michael Conforto with the bases loaded, led to a second run off Greinke, who finished his day with seven innings and a 1.37 ERA on the season.

Doubles by Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner and a single by Yasmani Grandal tied the game for the Dodgers in the ninth, but Juan Uribe — facing the Dodgers with his second team this week — drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th.

Zack Greinke zeroing in

By Jon Weisman

On July 26, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Mets, 10:10 a.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Andre Ethier, LF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Zack Greinke, P
Notes: The Dodgers have activated Greinke and recalled Yimi Garcia, taking the roster spots of Chih-hui Tsao and Josh Ravin, who have been optioned to Oklahoma City.

By Jon Weisman

Closer and steeper. Zack Greinke can move within tantalizing range of Orel Hershiser’s all-time consecutive scoreless inning record today, if he can withstand the pressurized attention that comes with the approach.

Actually, I’m just imagining that last part. We’ll all be tense, but Greinke will probably be the most relaxed person out there today. (That includes the rest of the Dodgers, who will be facing the National League pitcher with the lowest ERA besides Greinke’s: Jacob deGrom.)

Greinke enters today’s game with his streak at 43 2/3 innings (see the inning-by-inning breakdown here). Recapping some of the highlights:

Greinke has retired 59 of the past 64 batters he has faced.
No runner has reached third base against Greinke since the first inning June 23 — a streak of 35 2/3 innings.
No runner has reached second base against Greinke since the third inning July 4 — a streak of 20 innings.

Here are the targets left for Greinke:

43 2/3 Rube Waddell (1905)
44 Ed Reulbach (1908)
45 Sal Maglie (1950)
45 Doc White (1904)
45 Cy Young (1904)
45 1/3 Carl Hubbell (1933)
47 Bob Gibson (1968)
53 Jack Coombs (1910)
55 2/3 Walter Johnson (1913)
58 Don Drysdale (1968)
59 Orel Hershiser (1988)

Here are some links to check out before today’s game:

Joe Posnanski tells a classic Greinke story at his website.
A deep analytical dive on Greinke and Clayton Kershaw from Scott Spratt of Baseball Info Solutions.
Orel Hershiser’s take, via Mark Saxon at ESPN Los Angeles: “In my whole career, I never threw the ball better than Zack Greinke. Never,” Hershiser said. “I never threw with his velocity, I never threw with his change of speeds, I never was able to execute as many pitches as he can on any given night to both sides of the plate. On any given night in my career, I haven’t ever thrown the ball better than Clayton Kershaw. These guys are just better.”
Hershiser also spoke to Bill Plunkett of the Register. “Yeah, it’s kind of interesting that it’s come full circle, that there’s a possibility I’ll be sitting in the same chair that he (Drysdale) was sitting in during my streak,” Hershiser said. “Things have changed. It’s a completely different culture when it comes to media. It’s a different generation we’re living in.
We’re 111 days into the regular season. Only Bob Gibson in 1968 had a lower ERA at a similar point than Greinke’s 1.30, notes David Pinto of Baseball Musings.
Greinke is bucking conventional wisdom by reducing the difference in speed between his fastball and changeup, writes Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs.
Yasmani Grandal’s impact on Greinke’s streak is studied by Mike Petriello at MLB.com.

Healing (and dealing?) Dodgers use rotation cushion as flotation device

By Jon Weisman

On July 25, 2015

In Pitching, Pregame

Zack Greinke reunites with Clayton Kershaw and Jimmy Rollins in New York today (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

New dad Zack Greinke reunites with Clayton Kershaw and Jimmy Rollins in New York today.

Dodgers at Mets, 4:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 1B
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Zach Lee, P
Notes: Ian Thomas was optioned to Oklahoma City to make room for Lee. Also, Adrian Gonzalez has had a stiff neck but might be able to play tonight.

By Jon Weisman

When only moments ago, it seemed, the Dodgers couldn’t find a starting pitcher to save their lives, they might get to enjoy a bit of an overflow over the coming 10 days.

And that’s before entertaining the possibility of whom they might acquire in trade before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Zack Greinke has arrived in New York and is set to put his 43 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings on the line in Sunday’s game, with Brett Anderson — who had a successful bullpen session today — lined up after Monday’s off day for Tuesday’s homestand opener against Oakland.

Clayton Kershaw (29 consecutive scoreless innings) will pitch Wednesday against the A’s on five days’ rest. Then, after another off day, the Dodgers could come back with Greinke on Friday — hours after the trade deadline — against the Angels on four days’ rest.

But the Dodgers also have Mike Bolsinger, who last pitched July 22 in Atlanta, to mix in.

With yet another off day August 3, the Dodgers don’t really need a fifth starter again until August 8. By that time, if they were to still need someone, Carlos Frias could be ready to come off the disabled list, or the Dodgers could turn back to Zach Lee, Ian Thomas, Brandon Beachy or another minor-leaguer.

In any case, by August 8, the current setup might already be a distant memory.

In short, the dark times in the rotation might soon be a thing of the past. Bolsinger, Kershaw and Thomas built a bridge over the storm waters, and Lee today could finish the job.

Zach Lee to make MLB debut for Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On July 25, 2015

In Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

One day after Ian Thomas made his first Major League start, an even more anticipated first will come for the Dodgers.

Zach Lee, who was taken in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft and signed four years and 49 weeks ago, will take the mound for the first time for Los Angeles.

Here’s the writeup on Lee from when he was drafted. Now 23, Lee has made the steady progression from Rookie ball to Triple-A, not without setbacks, including a month on the sidelines this year with a nerve irritation. But he carries a 2.36 ERA and 1.08 WHIP from Oklahoma City in his back pocket as he makes his debut against the Mets.

Lee signed with the Dodgers on the same day as 11th-round draft choice Joc Pederson: August 16, 2010.

The Dodgers will announce a corresponding roster move later today.

Dodger offense showcasing homer power

By Jon Weisman

On July 24, 2015

In Offense

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By Jon Weisman

For the first time since 2008, the Dodgers have seven players with at least 10 home runs, thanks to Jimmy Rollins hitting his 10th in tonight’s 7-2 victory over the Mets.

Yasiel Puig, who hit his sixth tonight, and Howie Kendrick (seven) are also on pace to reach double digits, which would give the Dodgers a franchise record-tying nine players with at least 10 homers.

The 2004 Dodgers are the only such team, with Adrian Beltre, Milton Bradley, Alex Cora, Juan Encarnacion, Steve Finley, Shawn Green, Jose Hernandez, Paul Lo Duca and Jayson Werth.

Justin Turner hit his 13th home run tonight, along with two doubles, to tie a career high with eight total bases. The Dodgers had at least 25 total bases for the 10th time this year.

Ian Thomas steady in first Dodger start

By Jon Weisman

On July 24, 2015

In Midgame

Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

Trite but true: The Dodgers’ 13th starting pitcher of the season brought good luck tonight.

Backed by six runs in the first three innings, Ian Thomas had a successful first Major League start for the Dodgers, leaving for a pinch-hitter in the top of the sixth with a 6-1 lead.

Thomas didn’t inspire confidence from the get-go tonight. He started with two balls against Curtis Granderson before getting a full-count groundout to third, then went 3-0 to Ruben Tejada before allowing a single to left.

But with a 72 mph curveball, Thomas induced an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play from Daniel Murphy, and from that moment on, whether it was coincidence or confidence, the 28-year-old rookie took charge.

Thomas allowed only two more baserunners over his next four innings, while striking out five. He finally conceded a run in the fifth inning on a bloop double and two groundouts, but by that time, he was firmly in control.

Though 32 of his 81 pitches were called balls, Thomas walked none, and of the 17 Mets that he faced, four hit the ball into the outfield.

Zack Greinke expected to pitch against Mets this weekend

By Jon Weisman

On July 24, 2015

In Pregame

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Dodgers at Mets, 4:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Austin Barnes, C
Ian Thomas, P

By Jon Weisman

It’ll soon be back to work for Zack Greinke.

The new dad (though not this kind of new dad) is expected to be back in New York this weekend to start for the Dodgers either Saturday or Sunday, manager Don Mattingly told reporters today.

In other starting-pitching news for the Dodgers, Brett Anderson passed all his tests today to avoid the disabled list. Mattingly indicated that the Dodgers still might give Anderson extra rest for his left Achilles tendon and delay his next start until Tuesday.

Either way, assuming Greinke has no issues with returning to the Large Apple, the Dodgers would only need to call up at most one starter for this weekend’s games against New York. Speculation is strong that Zach Lee will be that pitcher.

If so, Lee would become the Dodgers’ 14th starting pitcher this year, after Ian Thomas becomes No. 13 tonight while making his first MLB start. Not since 1964 have the Dodgers used 13 starting pitchers, and not since 1952 have they used 14. Given the possibility of a trade before the season’s over, it seems likely that the 2015 Dodgers will use more starting pitchers than any team in franchise history except the World War II-era 1944 team, which used 19.

For a while today, it appeared that both scheduled starting pitchers would be scratched because of babies being born, but even though his wife reportedly went into labor, left-hander Jon Niese remains tonight’s scheduled starting pitcher for the Mets.

Alex Guerrero is making his first start for the Dodgers since July 10. Guerrero has reached base once in his past 18 plate appearances and hasn’t homered in 61 at-bats since his game-winning grand slam June 2 in Colorado. He has a .175 on-base percentage and .180 slugging percentage in that span.

Update: Kiké Hernandez has replaced Guerrero in the lineup. Guerrero was scratched because of back stiffness.

Congrats to the Greinkes on their baby boy!

By Jon Weisman

On July 24, 2015

In Transactions

https://twitter.com/Wilsysmommy/status/624673217119031296
Zack and Emily Greinke became proud parents of Bode Nicholas Greinke at 8:22 p.m. Thursday. Their son is listed on the family roster at 19 inches and six pounds, five ounces. The Dodgers send their happiest congratulations!

Bode is exactly six months younger than Cali Ann Kershaw, for you potential matchmakers out there.

— Jon Weisman

Dodgers recall Josh Ravin

By Jon Weisman

On July 24, 2015

In Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Josh Ravin has been called up by the Dodgers for the third time, taking the roster spot temporarily vacated by expectant father Zack Greinke.

Ravin has a 2.33 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 38 strikeouts in 27 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City this year. With the Dodgers, he has allowed five runs on 11 hits and a walk in seven innings, striking out nine.

After pitching two shutout innings in the Dodgers’ 11-inning victory June 14 over San Diego (the day Joc Pederson made his catch at the wall of Justin Upton’s drive), Ravin allowed runs in three consecutive appearances. He last pitched for Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

Greinke can be on the paternity list for a maximum of three days. Ian Thomas is starting today for the Dodgers, who haven’t announced their Saturday or Sunday starters.

Notes on the Dodgers’ remaining schedule

By Jon Weisman

On July 24, 2015

In Schedule

By Jon Weisman

Just thought I’d pass along some observations about the Dodgers’ remaining 2015 regular season schedule.

Both the Dodgers’ August 9 game at Pittsburgh and the August 30 game against the Cubs will start at 5:08 p.m. Pacific and be shown on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

When the Dodgers finish their weekend series against the Mets, they’ll have played 100 games this season: 50 at home, 50 on the road.

The upcoming five games against the A’s (July 28-29) and Angels (July 31-August 2) are the Dodgers’ only home games in a 27-day stretch between July 13 and August 9.

The Dodgers have two long-distance trips left in the 2015 regular season: August 4-9 (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) and August 21-27 (Houston and Cincinnati).

From August 28 through the end of the regular season on October 4, the farthest east that the Dodgers will go will be Arizona and Colorado.

During that period, the Dodgers will play 38 games in the final 40 days of the season. Of those 38 games, 16 will be against teams that currently have winning records (Cubs, Giants, Angels, Pirates, Giants).

The Dodgers have seven games remaining against the second-place Giants: at Los Angeles from August 31-September 2, and in San Francisco from September 28-October 1.

As of this moment, the Dodgers have played two more games than the Giants. Here’s how that will resolve:

Giants play July 27, Dodgers are off. Dodgers +1
Both teams are off July 30. Dodgers +1
Giants play August 3, Dodgers are off. Even
Giants off August 10, Dodgers play. Dodgers +1
Giants play August 17, Dodgers off. Even
Giants play August 20, Dodgers off. Giants +1
Both teams are off August 24, September 10 and September 17. Giants +1
Giants are off September 21, Dodgers play. Even

Here’s a bit more about the Giants’ schedule. Starting on August 6, they play 26 consecutive games against teams that are currently in playoff position and have better records than San Francisco.

August 6-9: at Chicago (four)
August 11-12: vs. Houston (two)
August 13-16: vs. Washington (four)
August 17-19: at St. Louis (three)
August 20-23: at Pittsburgh (four)
August 25-27: vs. Chicago (three)
August 28-30: vs. St. Louis (three)
August 31-September 2: at Los Angeles (three)

In their 29 final games from September 3 on, the Giants’ four home games against the Dodgers are their only games against winning teams.

Clayton Kershaw flirts with Perfection, Perfection still won’t commit to a relationship, but Scorelessness remains true

By Jon Weisman

On July 23, 2015

In Postgame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

That was very real, and nearly spectacular.

You know it had to be, considering that the consolation prize was a 3-0 shutout for Clayton Kershaw, extending this year’s scoreless streak to 29 consecutive innings.

Numerous people joked before tonight’s game that the no-hit watch for Kershaw tonight should begin in the top of the first, considering the offensively challenged Mets lineup he was facing. But pretty soon, it wasn’t any joke at all.

For six spellbinding innings, using only 62 pitches, Kershaw owned New York, setting down the first 18 batters in a row, and the possibility that he would merely retire each remaining Mets batter one more time — for his second year in a row with a no-hitter, this time with a perfect cherry on top — seemed entirely realistic.

In the top of the seventh, the imminent magic moment was popped, when Curtis Granderson lined an 0-2 pitch to right field for the Mets’ first baserunner.

One out later, Wilmer Flores hit a bloop to right for a second hit, and not only was the perfect game gone, but suddenly in jeopardy were Kershaw’s shutout streak and his slim 1-0 lead — provided by Jimmy Rollins’ third-inning, 420-foot homer off Bartolo Colon to right center.

With the pressure on, Kershaw stepped up to strike out John Mayberry Jr. and retire Eric Campbell on a slow grounder to short.

In the eighth, Lucas Duda defied a shift with a leadoff single to right field for the third hit off Kershaw, but was picked off moments later. Then, a bases-loaded walk by pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo and Yasiel Puig’s sacrifice fly tripled the Dodgers’ lead in the ninth inning and widened Kershaw’s tightrope.

Retiring the side in order in the ninth, Kershaw finished with 11 strikeouts on 104 pitches (79 for strikes). He went to ball 3 twice in the game.

For the first six innings, two plays threatened to disrupt Kershaw’s perfect game. With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Kershaw had his only full count, to Mets catcher Anthony Recker (.279 on-base percentage). Kershaw’s pitch hit the lower border of the strike zone for the whiff.

In the bottom off the fifth, Campbell struck out swinging, but the ball bounced away from Dodger catcher Yasmani Grandal, and it was immediately clear this would be a tough play at first. Grandal raced to retrieve the ball and fire it on one hop to Adrian Gonzalez, who dug it out to record the out by an eyelash.

Days after Zack Greinke had a streak of 28 batters in a row retired, Kershaw retired 25 in a row before Granderson’s hit.

In addition to the scoreless inning streak, we’re left with the following numbers for Kershaw:

Kershaw is the first MLB pitcher with three straight games of at least 10 strikeouts and no runs or walks allowed.
In 11 starts since May 23, Kershaw has a 1.21 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
In his past 16 July starts, Kershaw has a 0.89 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 9.5 K/9.
Kershaw has combined with Greinke to pitch 56 innings this month. They have allowed one run, for a 0.16 ERA.

Soon-to-be-a-dad Zack Greinke back in Los Angeles

By Jon Weisman

On July 23, 2015

In Uncategorized

By Jon Weisman

Originally scheduled to start for the Dodgers on Friday, Zack Greinke left the team early this morning to be with his wife for the imminent birth of their first child, for which we send our very best wishes.

At this particular moment in time, it’s unclear who will be the starting pitcher for the Dodgers in each of their next three games in New York after tonight.

Greinke could conceivably (pun not intended but welcomed) return to the Dodgers before their series against the Mets is over.

Brett Anderson worked out today without his walking boot, throwing and doing agility drills, and is almost certain to avoid the disabled list, but whether he pitches Sunday remains undecided — especially if that’s the day Greinke is able to rejoin the team.

(No one asked me, but with Sunday’s game being the end of a cross-country road trip, the sensible thing might just be to let Greinke rest at home with his newborn and take the mound for the next homestand opener Tuesday against Oakland. Of course, these aren’t necessarily sensible times, and I can understand wanting a guy with 43 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings to get out there as soon as possible.)

Anderson said he will throw a bullpen session Friday that will help determine whether he is able to take his turn Sunday on four days’ rest.

Whatever happens with those two, the Dodgers still need a starter at least for Friday. Ian Thomas, called up to be the long man out of the bullpen, might be one candidate. The Dodgers will also add a pitcher Friday, when Greinke is officially on paternity leave (maximum of three days).

Carlos Frias is scheduled for a rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, and is not a candidate to start for the Dodgers this weekend. Relief pitcher Chris Hatcher, by the way, will also make a rehab appearance for Rancho on Friday.

This will all sort itself out soon enough, but for now, it’s a whirlwind.

Clayton Kershaw: 0.96 ERA in past 15 July starts

By Jon Weisman

On July 23, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Mets, 4:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXIX: Kershawnt-Man
Joc Pederson, CF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

When the weather gets hot, so does Clayton Kershaw.

The big lefty not only brings a 20-inning scoreless streak into tonight’s game against the Mets, but also an awesome recent history of July dominance.

Kershaw has made 15 consecutive quality starts in the month of July, dating back to his last July outing of 2012, and they’ve hardly been cheap. It’s been a day short of three years since Kershaw didn’t go seven innings in a July start, and he has allowed three runs in only two of the 15 games.

He has pitched shutout ball in seven of his past 15 July starts, and overall has an ERA of 0.96 in 122 innings across that set of games. (In his past 10 July starts, his ERA is 0.68 in 82 innings.)

Here’s the score by innings against Kershaw in those 15 games combined:

221 113 201 — 13

With 14 and 13 strikeouts in his past two games, Kershaw has a chance to become the first National League pitcher ever to strike out at least 13 in three games in a row. Pedro Martinez did this twice for the Boston Red Sox in 1999 (May 1-7-12, September 4-10-15).

Kershaw is the first Dodger to strike out at least 13 this two times in a row since Chan Ho Park in 2000, and he is the first MLB player to do this with no walks since Dwight Gooden in 1984. He is already the only pitcher in more than 100 years to strike out at least 13 in a game twice in a row with no walks or runs allowed.

Tonight’s opponent, the Mets, is the last team to score on Kershaw — on Wilmer Flores’ RBI single in the fourth inning July 3, following a John Mayberry double and a wild pitch. That is the only RBI against either Kershaw or Zack Greinke this month.

Analysis: Going deep on Adrian Gonzalez going deep

By Jon Weisman

On July 22, 2015

In Analysis, Offense

By Robert Tagorda

When Adrian Gonzalez made the All-Star team earlier this month, it capped a prodigious first half in which he batted .283/.355/.520 with 18 home runs. But it also recognized a longer trend of elite production — one that reflected a return of his power.

Over the past calendar year, Gonzalez has amassed a .395 weighted on-base average, following the likes of Mike Trout, Buster Posey and Jose Bautista in the Major League top eight. He has created 58 percent more runs than the average hitter. If we adjust for park and league factors, we can say that he’s been the fifth-most productive batter over his last 640 plate appearances.

Throughout this timeframe, Gonzalez has done well in many aspects of the hitting game, but his power numbers have really stood out. While his .369 on-base percentage has ranked 19th among qualified hitters, his 34 home runs have placed him in the top 10, and his .559 slugging percentage has cracked the top five. In the National League, only Giancarlo Stanton, Nolan Arenado, and Bryce Harper have exceeded his .255 isolated power.

So it’s evident that, since last year’s Midsummer Classic, Gonzalez has slugged with the best of them. But is it just a temporary surge? Or does it represent a more enduring reemergence of his power?

July 22, 2009: Relive Manny’s Bobbleslam

By Jon Weisman

On July 22, 2015

In History

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Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Hey, it’s not a five-year or 10-year anniversary, but with a free afternoon, why not celebrate the sixth anniversary of Manny Ramirez’s bobbleslam? It was good enough to key the Boxscore of the Month for Dodger Insider magazine in July.

By the way, that last sentence in the blurb below about starting pitchers not batting eighth since 2009? That was true until this month, when Yimi Garcia did so July 6.

— Jon Weisman

Dodger Thoughts

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

Month: July 2015 (Page 2 of 8)

Zack Greinke’s streak ends at 45 2/3 innings

Zack Greinke zeroing in

Healing (and dealing?) Dodgers use rotation cushion as flotation device

Zach Lee to make MLB debut for Dodgers

Dodger offense showcasing homer power

Ian Thomas steady in first Dodger start

Zack Greinke expected to pitch against Mets this weekend

Congrats to the Greinkes on their baby boy!

Dodgers recall Josh Ravin

Notes on the Dodgers’ remaining schedule

Clayton Kershaw flirts with Perfection, Perfection still won’t commit to a relationship, but Scorelessness remains true

Soon-to-be-a-dad Zack Greinke back in Los Angeles

Clayton Kershaw: 0.96 ERA in past 15 July starts

Analysis: Going deep on Adrian Gonzalez going deep

July 22, 2009: Relive Manny’s Bobbleslam

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