July 2015 – Page 5 – Dodger Thoughts

On July 12, 2015

In All-Star Game

Clayton Kershaw co-hosted a clinic for youth from the Dream Center on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

Brewers at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw is back where he belongs.

With Washington right-hander Max Scherzer pitching today, the National League All-Star team has added Kershaw to its active roster for Tuesday’s game.

This is Kershaw’s fifth consecutive year on the All-Star Team, putting him in this company when it comes to consecutive years with All-Star appearances:

9 Pee Wee Reese (1946-54)
8 Roy Campanella (1949-56)
8 Steve Garvey (1974-81)
7 Gil Hodges (1949-55)
7 Duke Snider (1950-56)
6 Ron Cey (1974-79)
6 Sandy Koufax (1961-66)*
6 Jackie Robinson (1949-54)
6 Fernando Valenzuela (1981-86)
5 Don Drysdale (1961-65)*
5 Mike Piazza (1993-97)
5 Dixie Walker (1943-47)
*Note: There were two All-Star Games in 1961 and 1962.

Here’s Kershaw’s All-Star history:

2011: David Ortiz strikeout, Robinson Cano groundout, Alex Avila groundout
2012: Adrian Beltre groundout, David Ortiz single, Mike Napoli single, Curtis Granderson groundout, Asdrubal Cabrera walk, Ian Kinsler flyout
2013: J.J Hardy flyout, Mike Trout flyout, Dustin Pedroia flyout
2014: Adam Jones foul out, Josh Donaldson strikeout, Salvador Perez groundout

Total: Four innings, 0.00 ERA, 15 batters, two hits, one walk, two strikeouts.

Kershaw is joining Adrian Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal, Zack Greinke and Joc Pederson to form the Dodgers’ first All-Star quintet since 1995.

Brandon Beachy goes four innings in MLB return

In Health/injuries, Midgame

By Jon Weisman

Three cheers for Brandon Beachy, who no longer has to say his last Major League game was August 20, 2013.

The 28-year-old right-hander officially put his second Tommy John surgery behind him, going four innings and throwing 78 pitches tonight, before being replaced at the start of the fifth inning by Chin-hui Tsao.

His fastball ran between 88-93 mph, with his slider at 82-85 mph.

Beachy was touched up for three runs in the third inning, allowing a leadoff single to pitcher Taylor Jungmann after five foul balls and two outs later, long doubles to the left-field wall that Andre Ethier got near but couldn’t glove. (On the first, the ball ricocheted off the wall, then Ethier’s knee, then into the stands, and was ruled a ground-rule double.)

Watching Beachy, the one thing that was hard not to notice was how few swinging strikes he had. In those 78 pitches, Brewer batters swung and missed at three, taking 10 for called strikes, compared with 19 fouls and 14 put in play. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful step forward for a pitcher who has certainly put in countless hours toward making it back.

Update: Beachy was mostly unhappy with how he pitched, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com …

“I was really excited to get out there and I’m really disappointed now,” said Beachy. “It’s not the way I pictured it for 23 months, but it is what it is. It took me way too long to get settled in. I’ve just got to be better than that.

“I fought to get the ball today and didn’t back that up the way I wanted. That’s where my disappointment is.”

Said Don Mattingly: “A little bit rusty for me. But you can also see what’s there, if he gets his command where he needs it. You see the stuff there.”

Matt West designated for assignment

In Pregame, Transactions

Almost time. #ITFDB pic.twitter.com/yxfTM2DiBs

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 12, 2015

Brewers at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Andre Ethier, LF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Brandon Beachy, P

By Jon Weisman

To make room on the Dodgers’ 25-man and 40-man rosters for the activation of Brandon Beachy, the Dodgers optioned Josh Ravin to Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated Matt West for assignment.

West has a near-perfect ERA when you combine his Double-A and Dodger stints, though at Triple-A, his ERA was 7.20, allowing 30 baserunners in 20 innings with 14 strikeouts.

The Dodgers’ acquired West on May 4.

In case you missed it: Two openings in NL All-Star starting outfield

In All-Star Game, In case you missed it, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

Greetings. A few quick morning notes …

St. Louis has confirmed that Matt Holliday will join fellow National League All-Star electee Giancarlo Stanton on the sidelines for the All-Star Game, leaving two outfield spots open in the starting lineup alongside Bryce Harper that will go to two of these four: Andrew McCutchen, A.J. Pollock, Justin Upton, Joc Pederson.

Here’s how the candidates rank in wins above replacement among NL outfielders: Pollock third, McCutchen fourth, Pederson fifth, Upton 11th.

On Friday, Pederson singled, then later doubled in the game-winning run in the Dodgers’ 3-2 comeback victory over Milwaukee.
Though a starter for almost his entire career, Andre Ethier is moving up the Dodgers all-time pinch-hitting charts. His two-run, pinch-hit, game-tying single in the seventh inning Friday gave him 27 career pinch-hit RBI, good for 11th place and one away from a three-way tie with Rick Monday, Mitch Webster and Ken McMullen for eighth place.

Ethier also has the 10th-highest on-base percentage (.394) among pinch-hitters in Dodger history (minimum 50 plate appearances). Arky Vaughan is first at .461.
In his first appearance since having elective cosmetic eye surgery, Julio Urias retired six of seven batters Friday for Rookie League Arizona, allowing an infield single while striking out three. “He hovered around 93-94 mph, topped out at 97 and saw his off-speed stuff drop into the low-80s,” wrote William Boor for MLB.com. (Hector Olivera also played in the game and went 0 for 3.)
Dodger Double-A catcher and MLB Futures Game participant Kyle Farmer is the subject of a nice profile by Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.
Workloads for MLB starting pitchers are no longer declining, according to a subscription-only piece from Bill James that was excerpted by Rob Neyer at Fox Sports’ Just a Bit Outside:

… What is happening at this time is not relievers taking innings away from starting pitchers so much as it is relievers taking innings away from other relievers. The batters faced per game by relievers are declining, at this point, only because we switch more rapidly from one relief pitcher to another.

Actually, the historical trend toward fewer innings for starting pitchers appears to be over. Major league starting pitchers pitched more innings (and more innings per start) in 2014 than they did in 1999—fifteen years earlier. There is no decline in innings pitched by starting pitchers occurring at this time; if anything, the numbers are increasing.

In the year 2003, major league relievers pitched more innings than they did in 2014. However, in 2003 they pitched those 14,720 innings in 12,958 relief appearances. In 2014 the innings were down to 14,622—but the games were up to 14,461.
Finally, this … speaks for itself.

Um, @Cindyluellis, are you watching this? @IntentionalTalk pic.twitter.com/ZFjLEET6mz

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 10, 2015

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Good feedback on @IntentionalTalk cameo except from LAD Strength Coach @bdmac23 who met me back at my locker with a new nutritional plan.

— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) July 10, 2015

Before Chin-hui Tsao, there was Vicente Romo

In History

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By Jon Weisman

Chin-hui Tsao’s appearance and win in Friday’s 3-2 victory over Milwaukee, after eight years away from the Major Leagues, has reminded me of two-time Dodger pitcher Vicente Romo, who made his MLB debut for the Dodgers with one inning on April 11, 1968, then didn’t throw his next inning with Los Angeles until May 28, 1982.

In between, Romo pitched for four MLB teams — but he’s really better known as a legend in Mexico. From his Baseball-Reference.com biography:

Vicente Romo had the greatest career in the history of the Mexican Pacific League. He won a record 182 games in the LMP. Additionally he is the all-time league leader in ERA (2.38), strikeouts (2,038), complete games (178) and starts (364) during 24 years there. He pitched the first LMP perfect game and had a 17-win, 1.07 ERA in 1967-1968.

Romo also did a fine job in summer games, winning another 182 games in the Mexican League and 45 more in other leagues, for 409 wins counting his performance in winter leagues. …

… Vicente retired with a 182-106 record and 2.49 ERA in the Mexican League. Despite spending nine full seasons in the US, he ranked (as of 2000) in the top 10 all-time in the Mexican League in strikeouts (1,857, 5th-best), shutouts (52, tied for third) and complete games (179, 7th). His ERA is the best among pitchers with over 2,000 innings, a solid .17 ahead of #2 George Brunet. In winning percentage his .632 is third-best among pitchers with over 2,000 innings, trailing only Rafael Garcia (.645) and Andres Ayon (.633). In addition to being the top pitcher in the history of Mexico’s winter league, Romo has a reasonable case as the best pitcher in the Mexican League as well. He was voted into the Salon de la Fama in 1992. …

As the 39-year-old teammate of 21-year-old countryman Fernando Valenzuela in 1982, Romo had a 1.38 ERA in his first 13 innings with the Dodgers. He finished his Dodger career with an ERA of 2.95, and ultimately pitched in Mexico until he was 43. He was elected to the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.

Home Run Derbier Joc Pederson brings ticket discount for August 2 game against Angels

In Promotions, Tickets

To celebrate Joc Pederson in the Home Run Derby, the Dodgers are offering $5 — and maybe more — off select seats for the Dodgers-Angels game on August 2.

For every round that Pederson advances in Monday’s Home Run Derby, fans can claim an additional $5 off, for a maximum of $20 off on selected tickets in the right-field pavilion, infield reserve, reserve MVP and executive club level.

The August 2 game is also Cap Day, when the first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a cap presented by Security Benefit.

The sale goes live at 8 p.m. Monday, following the Derby, and will run through 5 p.m. Wednesday or while supplies last.

Visit dodgers.com/HRJoc for more information.

— Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw falls short in Final Vote, but will he still go to All-Star Game?

In All-Star Game

By Jon Weisman

Despite a great effort from his supporters — which he acknowledged in a rare tweet — Clayton Kershaw finished third in the MLB All-Star Final Vote, with Carlos Martinez of St. Louis earning the bid to the All-Star Game.

Ending Twitter hibernation to thank everyone who voted for me! Very cool to see the turn out regardless of the results!

— Clayton Kershaw (@ClaytonKersh22) July 10, 2015

Count me among those unconvinced that Kershaw won’t be in Cincinnati for the Midsummer Classic next week. With the other pitcher in the Final Vote competition, Johnny Cueto, scheduled to start on Sunday, Kershaw is a clear first alternate should any of the existing 14 pitchers on the squad drop out. (Not that Kershaw should be in this limbo in the first place.)

For that matter, after some amount of doubt earlier this week, Washington righty Max Scherzer now is also scheduled to pitch Sunday, which could affect not only his potential selection as a starter over the Dodgers’ Zack Greinke, but his presence on the roster altogether.

In general, there’s usually a good bit of roster shuffling before the first pitch Tuesday. There’s an argument that Kershaw would benefit from the rest, but as far as I’m concerned, if he wants to go, then I want him to go. And he has been clear that he’d appreciate going.

#Dodgers Clayton Kershaw on Final Vote results: "You always want to go to All-Star Game so, yeah, there's a little disappointment there."

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 10, 2015

“You always want to go,” Kershaw told Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles this week. “You never know — it might not ever happen again. I said that last year, and, if I make it this year, I’ll say it again.”

Dodgers are Beachy keen for Saturday

In Pregame

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Brewers at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Alex Guerrero, LF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

After some hawing and some hemming, Don Mattingly confirmed this afternoon that Brandon Beachy would start for the Dodgers on Saturday — his first Major League start since August 20, 2013.

Mattingly said the organization was satisfied that Beachy is physically ready to take this next step in his comeback, but waited to confirm that he was mentally ready. Through conversations, Mattingly said the team determined that Beachy “absolutely” was.

“We can’t do anything more to get him more ready for this first start,” Mattingly said of Beachy, who arrived in the clubhouse today.

Brandon Beachy on being ready to return to MLB: "Yeah, I think I'm ready to compete." #Dodgers

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 10, 2015

Among other things, this will be Beachy’s third career game at Dodger Stadium, where he has allowed two runs in 12 1/3 innings while striking out 13.

Beachy is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. When he came back after the first operation, he allowed 10 runs in 10 innings over his first two starts, then two runs over 14 innings in his next two.

Dodgers claim Preston Guilmet, designate Chris Reed for assignment

In Minor leagues, Transactions

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Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers have claimed right-handed reliever Preston Guilmet from Tampa Bay and optioned him to the minors, but the bigger news for prospect watchers is that to make room for him on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles has designated 2011 first-round draft choice Chris Reed for assignment.

Reed, who was the 16th player taken overall in the ’11 draft, was converted to relief this year after pitching as a starter from 2011-14. His combined totals in Double-A and Triple-A this year were a 5.97 ERA with 1.59 WHIP against 5.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

The 25-year-old left-hander from Cleveland High School in Reseda and Stanford reached his peak in the organization with Double-A Chattanooga in 2014 (3.22 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 7.6 K/9).

Guilmet, 27, has 21 innings of Major League experience with a 6.43 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7.7 K/9. In Triple-A this year, he has a 1.84 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. The Dodgers are his third organization this year, after the Rays claimed him from the Blue Jays on May 13.

A ninth-round pick in the 2009 draft, Guilmet has earned league All-Star recognition at every level during his minor league career.

Zack Greinke’s adjusted ERA is better than Bob Gibson’s in 1968

In History, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

In 1968, Bob Gibson famously had a 1.12 ERA that was baseball’s lowest in more than 50 years.

Right now, adjusted for park and era factors, Zack Greinke is better.

At right, you can see where Greinke stands among the greatest adjusted ERAs (ERA+) of all time, according to Baseball-Reference.com. (Click to enlarge the chart.)

The next-closest Dodger doesn’t come until Roger Craig (205 ERA+, 1959), in 46th place. Clayton Kershaw’s best single-season ERA+ was 194 last year, and Sandy Koufax’s was 190 in 1966 (77th).

Of course, Greinke has only thrown 123 1/3 innings so far this year. Gibson threw 304 2/3 in 1968, and adjusted ERA doesn’t factor in that level of durability.

Greinke has been boosted by a career-low .235 opponents’ batting average on balls in play, and in his 17 starts, he has allowed nine hits total with runners in scoring position (.203 on-base percentage, .224 slugging percentage).

Read more about Greinke’s unbelievable exploits in 2015 in Thursday night’s post.

Zack Greinke finishes historic first half with 1.39 ERA, 35 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings

In History, Midgame

Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

Remarkable.

Breathtaking.

With his eight shutout innings against the Philadelphia Phillies tonight, extending his scoreless inning streak to 35 2/3 innings, Zack Greinke has the lowest ERA at the All-Star Break by a pitcher with at least 100 innings since 1968.

In the past 47 years, Greinke’s 1.39 ERA at the end of the so-called first half is surpassed only by Bob Gibson (1.06), Luis Tiant (1.24) and Don Drysdale (1.37). Major League Baseball lowered the pitcher’s mound the following season.

Other than those three legends, you have to go back to World War II to find a hurler with a lower first-half ERA than Greinke’s: Red Munger’s 1.34 in 1944.

Greinke’s scoreless inning streak is now the fourth-longest in Los Angeles Dodger history, behind Orel Hershiser’s MLB-record 59, Drysdale’s 58 and Clayton Kershaw’s 41 last year.

It says something that not until the seventh paragraph am I mentioning that Greinke has retired 36 of the past 37 batters he has faced, starting with the final 12 New York Mets on Independence Day.

Tonight, Ryan Howard’s leadoff single in the second inning removed the drama of a no-hitter or perfect game, which would have been considerable considering Greinke shut down every other batter, throwing a svelte 94 pitches. Greinke has now seen 125 hitters during the streak, allowing 10 singles, three doubles and three walks while striking out 31.

Only two players during the streak have reached third base — none in the past 27 2/3 innings. Greinke has pitched 12 consecutive innings without allowing a runner into scoring position.

Zach Lee enters Saturday conversation

In Pregame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Phillies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andre Ethier, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

I feel badly spending time on speculation, because we’ll know soon enough which pitcher will start Saturday for the Dodgers.

But I figured I might as well pass along the news that a) Brandon Beachy is going to make another rehab start this weekend for Triple-A Oklahoma City, and b) 2010 first-round draft choice Zach Lee has been mentioned as a possibility to make his Major League debut.

Don’t run any farther with it than that: Lee, after all, has only pitched in two games since being sidelined for more than a month with a circulation problem in his right middle finger, and neither of those starts were even at Triple-A. He pitched five innings in each, however, making it possible that he could come up and take some innings in the Dodgers’ second-to-last game before they take five days off.

Before his June intermission, Lee had a 2.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings in 10 starts for Oklahoma City.

Inside Zack Greinke’s scoreless streak

In Pitching

Back on July 4, Zack Greinke’s ERA was way above 1.50. (Juan Ocampo)

By Jon Weisman

In 27 2/3 innings across four starts since June 18, facing exactly 100 batters, Zack Greinke has allowed …

zero runs
two runners to reach third base
three walks
three extra-base hits
10 runners to reach scoring position
a .156 batting average
a .190 on-base percentage
a .188 slugging percentage
a 7.7 strikeout-walk ratio

Pending his start tonight against the Phillies, Greinke (1.48 ERA) could become the first MLB pitcher to have an ERA below 1.50 before the All-Star Break since Roger Clemens in 2000, the first NL pitcher since Bob Knepper in 1981 and the first Dodger since Don Drysdale in 1968.

Puig, Pederson fight through July drought