September 2015 – Page 3 – Dodger Thoughts

Chris Hatcher (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Chris Hatcher has allowed a .529 OPS since August 31. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Pirates at Dodgers, 6:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXIX: Kershawlk the Line
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Heisey, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Maybe you groaned when Zack Greinke left Friday’s Dodger game in the eighth inning. Maybe you thought “Here we go again” when Chris Hatcher gave up an RBI single to Pittsburgh left fielder Starling Marte on his very first pitch.

But if you’ve really been paying attention lately, you might have noticed that was an aberration.

And you might not have been surprised that Hatcher came right back, buckled down and got the Pirates’ most dangerous hitter, Andrew McCutchen, to foul out, before Aramis Ramirez grounded modestly to first base.

Since September 1, the Dodger bullpen has the second-lowest WHIP (1.03) in the National League and is first in strikeout-walk ratio. These are among several encouraging signs for a relief staff that was strong in the first third of the 2015 season before slumping terribly in the middle portion.

Though not exactly like the team’s 180-degree basestealing turn (an MLB-best 34 for 43 since August 1), the Dodger bullpen seems to have evolved from a weakness into, if not an out-and-out strength, at least an adequacy.

Understandably, there’s still the fear that this could all blow up again in a minute. But to give credit where credit is due: Since the Dodgers’ disastrous 0-5 roadtrip from August 18-23, they have played 23 games. Here’s how many times the bullpen has hurt the Dodgers …

September 3: Dodgers lead 7-4 in sixth inning at San Diego, lose 10-7.
September 9: Dodgers tied 2-2 in eighth inning at Anaheim, lose 3-2.
September 15: Dodgers trail 3-1 in seventh inning vs. Colorado, lose 5-4 in 16 innings.

I’d argue that the last example shouldn’t even count: Dodger relievers allowed one run in nine innings before erstwhile starting pitcher Mat Latos gave up the 16th-inning homer to Nolan Arenado. But even including that defeat, that’s an encouraging slate.

The Dodgers are 18-5 since August 25, despite only one complete game and 72 1/3 innings from the bullpen.

How does Corey Seager do it?

By Jon Weisman

On September 18, 2015

In Postgame

#SeagerSmooth

A post shared by Los Angeles Dodgers (@dodgers) on Sep 18, 2015 at 9:06pm PDT

By Jon Weisman

Since coming to the big leagues, Corey Seager has been amazing grace.

He’s 21 years old with a .508 on-base percentage and .647 slugging percentage. He can play shortstop at 6-foot-4 (and maybe more). He has walked more than he has struck out. He has extra-base hits in more than half his games. He is hitting lefties with authority.

How. Is. This. Happening?

If you ask Seager, he isn’t quite sure himself, though we pressed him for answers after tonight’s 6-2 Dodger victory, in which he hit his second home run and the Dodgers’ record 47th by a rookie.

Seager’s blast lifts Dodgers to rookie homer record

By Jon Weisman

On September 18, 2015

In History, Midgame, Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Corey Seager’s fourth-inning home run tonight was the 47th by a Dodger rookie this year, setting a franchise record.

Dodger rookies who have homered this year include Joc Pederson (25), Alex Guerrero (11), Kiké Hernandez (6), Scott Schebler (3) and Seager (2).

The previous record was shared by the 1960 Dodgers — Frank Howard (23), Tommy Davis (11), Norm Sherry (8), Willie Davis (2), Bob Aspromonte (1), Doug Camilli (1) — and the 1958 Dodgers — John Roseboro (14), Dick Gray (9), Joe Pignatano (9), Don Demeter (5), Norm Larker (4), Ron Fairly (2), Frank Howard (1), Bob Lillis (1), Stan Williams (1).

Seager’s homer gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead, one they extended to 6-1 in the seventh. That was mighty fine for Zack Greinke, who retired 11 batters in a row after allowing a fourth-inning homer to Pirates second baseman Neil Walker. Greinke himself sacrificed, singled and doubled (and scored) in three plate appearances tonight, raising his batting average to .234.

Update: Greinke left the game after allowing a single and walk to start the eighth. With one out, Starling Marte singled home a run off Chris Hatcher, raising Greinke’s ERA from 1.60 to 1.65. But Hatcher got a huge out by getting Andrew McCutchen to foul out, and when Aramis Ramirez grounded out, the Dodgers retained a 6-2 lead.

Hatcher made 3 great pitches, gave up a hit and got two outs.

— Jared Massey (@JaredJMassey) September 19, 2015

Update 2: Kenley Jansen closed out the victory with a four-batter save, lowering the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the National League West to nine. In San Francisco, Madison Bumgarner gave up two runs (one earned) in eight innings and left trailing, 2-0. The Giants had one inning left to rally.

Update 3: San Francisco lost, reducing the Dodgers’ magic number to eight with 16 games to play.

Howie Kendrick, hurt against Pittsburgh, returns against Pittsburgh

By Jon Weisman

On September 18, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Pirates at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Corey Seager, SS
Chris Heisey, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

After a 34-game absence to recover from a hamstring injury, second baseman Howie Kendrick has been activated from the disabled list — though he is not in the starting lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Pirates.

Coincidentally, Kendrick’s most recent game was at Pittsburgh. That was on August 9, when Kendrick was hurt trying to beat out an infield single in the top of the fifth inning. The injury came during one of Kendrick’s hottest streaks of the season: 19 for 48 with two walks, three doubles and two homers, for a .420 on-base percentage and .583 slugging percentage.

For the year, Kendrick has a .341 OBP and is slugging .418.

Wood’n it be nice for Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On September 16, 2015

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Alex Wood absolutely sparkled for the Dodgers tonight, using only 78 pitches to complete eight shutout innings and allowing only one baserunner — a two-out, second-inning single by Kyle Parker. Wood struck out five, never needing more than 13 pitches in an inning, and retired the final 19 batters he faced.

In his past three starts, Wood has sandwiched 15 shutout innings around 1 2/3 innings in which he allowed six earned runs.

Wood is the fourth Dodger pitcher to throw eight innings of one-hit ball this year, following Mike Bolsinger (May 23), Clayton Kershaw (June 6) and Zack Greinke (July 9). That ties a 50-year-old franchise record, essentially — the 1965 Dodgers also had four pitchers who threw eight innings and didn’t allow more than one hit, if you include Sandy Koufax’s perfect game.

Kenley Jansen, the only Dodger reliever not used in Monday’s 16-inning game, entered the game at exactly the two-hour mark. Eight minutes and one more hit later, it was over, and the Dodgers had reduced their magic number to clinch the National League West to 10 with a 2-0 victory over the Rockies. A.J. Ellis’ homer and Corey Seager’s single drove in the Dodger runs.

‘Weird’ lineup features youngest Dodger cleanup hitter in more than 50 years

By Jon Weisman

On September 16, 2015

In Pregame

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Austin Barnes, 2B
Chase Utley, 1B
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Chris Heisey, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

Even by the Dodgers’ ever-fluctuating standards, this is not the usual starting lineup.

Don Mattingly himself called it “weird,” and said he knew it would be that way by the time he left Dodger Stadium and the 16-inning marathon behind in the wee hours of the night. Among others, Mattingly was looking to rest Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner, who each played the entire game. And the Dodgers are still battling several injuries, including players not on the disabled list such as Scott Van Slyke and Jose Peraza.

Let’s take a look at tonight’s lineup, one through nine:

Austin Barnes, 2B: Taking it from the top, this is the 25-year-old catcher’s first MLB game batting leadoff or at second base. In the minors, Barnes has played 150 games at second base, though none since 2014. He is the first Dodger to play catcher, third base and second since Trent Hubbard in 1998-99, and the first to do it in the same season since Derrel Thomas in 1980. Barnes’ RBI single Tuesday lifted his on-base percentage as a Dodger to .375 in 25 plate appearances.
Chase Utley, 1B: In 13 seasons, the 36-year-old Utley has 31 career games (24 starts) at first base, most recently August 10 for the Phillies at Arizona. In 220 1/3 innings, he has been charged with one error.
Justin Ruggiano, LF: Ruggiano has become a familiar face in left field, and has a .393 OBP/.846 slugging percentage in 28 plate appearances as a Dodger, even after following his leadoff double Tuesday with six consecutive outs. But this is only his 11th career start as a No. 3 hitter, and first since April 9, 2014 for the Cubs against Pittsburgh.
Corey Seager, SS: Seager is batting cleanup in his 13th Major League game. Other Dodgers, most recently Yasiel Puig, Scott Van Slyke and even John Lindsey, have batted cleanup sooner, but the Dodgers haven’t had a starting cleanup hitter younger than Seager (21 years, 142 days) since Derrell Griffith (20 years, 294 days) in 1964. Before Griffith, there wasn’t a younger starting Dodger cleanup hitter since Duke Snider in 1947. With Jimmy Rollins still unable to play defense for several days, Seager will continue to see action.
A.J. Ellis, C: Ellis’ start in the No. 5 slot Tuesday was his first in nearly two years. He hasn’t started back-to-back days as a No. 5 hitter since May 14-15, 2013.
Alex Guerrero, 3B: Guerrero, who has a single, double and walk in seven plate appearances this month, is starting at third base for the 14th time this year and first time since August 8 at Pittsburgh.
Chris Heisey, RF: Ruggiano, Seager and Heisey (who had RBI in the seventh and 11th innings Monday) were the only three Dodgers to play all 16 innings. None was in the organization three weeks ago.
Joc Pederson, CF: Pederson, who had reached base in nine consecutive starts before going 0 for 2 Monday, has played 87 percent of the Dodgers’ innings in center field this year. Only Gonzalez (90 percent) has a higher percentage of the team’s innings at one position in 2015.
Alex Wood, P: In Wood’s Major League debut on May 30, 2013, he batted third, entering the game in Justin Upton’s slot in a ninth-inning double switch.

Dodgers played out in 16 innings

By Jon Weisman

On September 16, 2015

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

It was the longest Dodger game played in 8 1/2 years, with the most players they’ve ever played, and nearly the most raindrops they’ve ever played through, and it didn’t play out well for Los Angeles.

Mat Latos, the 28th Dodger of the game, allowed a one-out, 16th-inning home run to Nolan Arenado, and after trailing 3-1 in the seventh and 4-3 in the 11th, the Dodgers finally fell to the Rockies, 5-4.

Colorado tied the MLB record for players used in a game with 30, set by Oakland on September 19, 1972, and the combined 58 players by the two teams is a new record. Latos gave up the homer one batter after he broke a team record by becoming the Dodgers’ 11th pitcher of the game.

The Dodgers hadn’t played more than 14 innings since losing in 15 innings to St. Louis on July 29, 2009, and hadn’t played 16 innings since they beat San Diego in a 17-inning game, April 29, 2007.

Guess what – @OrelHershiser has aged a year in this game. Happy birthday, Orel!

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 16, 2015

The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the National League West decreased to 11, thanks to Cincinnati’s wild, 10-inning, 9-8 victory at San Francisco.

It’s a walk in the park for Corey Seager — so far

By Jon Weisman

On September 15, 2015

In Pregame

Corey Seager has nine singles, eight walks and six doubles in his first 11 games. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Corey Seager, SS
Chris Heisey, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

With all the injuries and position flexibility the Dodgers have, it’s not exactly a tough decision for Don Mattingly to put a player with a .543 on-base percentage and .676 slugging percentage in the starting lineup — even if that player is only 21 years and 11 MLB games old.

Sooner or later, the recoveries of Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins could complicate life for Corey Seager’s manager, but I think we’d all register that as a good problem to have.

If and when everyone’s healthy (we should be so lucky), Seager’s going to have opportunities to play, thanks to 1) his ability to play shortstop and third base, 2) Justin Turner’s ability to play third, second and first, 3) the need/desire to give days off to everyone and 4) that talent.

Oh, that talent.

That being said, we all know that Seager can’t maintain a 1.219 OPS or .469 batting average on balls in play. When Seager’s first setback at the plate comes, how severe and prolonged will it be? And how soon? September? October? April?

Other than the massive proportion of his success, nothing Seager has shown has been particularly surprising — his poise, his swing, his dexterity, his power — except for this:

In Double-A last year, it took Seager 35 games and 38 strikeouts before he got his eighth walk.
In Triple-A this year, it took Seager 31 games and 21 strikeouts before he got his eighth walk.
In MLB this month, it took Seager 11 games and four strikeouts before he got his eighth walk.

Valuable as he’s been, it doesn’t stand to reason that Major League pitchers would be more afraid of Seager than the guys in the Pacific Coast League, yet there you are — so far. Over the weekend, Mattingly offered these thoughts, relayed by J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News.

It’s also true that Seager hasn’t faced 11 Jake Arrietas in his MLB career. Garrett Richards and James Shields were the best of the bunch, and Seager went 1 for 6 against the pair with a single, no walks and two strikeouts.

One of these days, Seager is going to strike out two or three times in a game. One of these days, the blank pages of the “Book on Corey Seager” will start to be filled in, and just like Yasiel Puig, just like Joc Pederson — heck, just like Mike Trout — we’ll be waiting to see how well and how fast Seager adjusts. He’ll have an 0-for-9, or a 1-for-15, and if it comes in a crucial series, patience will be stretched like a rubber band from here to New York.

“They’re still learning me, and I’m still learning them,” Seager told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. “Right now I’m getting pitches I can handle, and they’re falling in. I imagine soon they’ll start changing, and I’ll have to make the adjustment.”

What’s so beguiling about Seager is how firmly he makes you believe that when the time comes, he will figure it all out.

In case you missed it: Adrian Gonzalez the sportsman

By Jon Weisman

On September 15, 2015

In Awards, History, In case you missed it

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By Jon Weisman

During the day Monday, Adrian Gonzalez was named the Dodgers’ nominee for the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award, which honors “a player who best represents the game through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.”

Lately, Gonzalez has needed to display a great deal of sportsmanship alongside athleticism to come away foul balls. First there was the one in Chicago involving a Wrigley Field fan holding a baby. Then came Monday night’s fifth-inning foul ball, which Gonzalez caught despite a Boston-capped fan nearly tearing Gonzalez’s glove off.

Gonzalez not only came away triumphant on that play, he made a nifty defensive stab to record the final out of the Dodgers’ 4-1 victory over the Rockies.

Clayton Kershaw won the award in 2012, and Jimmy Rollins shared the honor with Paul Konerko in 2014.

Here are some other bits and bunts …

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Chef Dave Pearson, who passed away Saturday, received a tribute Monday before the National Anthem.
According to Stats LLC (via the Dodgers’ public relations department), the Dodgers’ 35-10 (.778) record in home games decided by three or fewer runs is currently the second-best in MLB history, behind only the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers (35-9, .795).
Called upon to save Monday’s game with Kenley Jansen requiring a day off, Chris Hatcher did the trick, lowering his ERA to 1.35 since coming off the disabled list August 15. In 13 1/3 innings, he has struck out 16 and allowed 13 baserunners.
Yasmani Grandal ended his 0-for-36 (with eight walks) slump Monday with two hits, which themselves followed a sacrifice fly.
Fan voting has begun for the Esurance MLB Awards. Dodger nominees include Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw for Best Major Leaguer and Best Starting Pitcher (Kershaw won both in 2014), and Joc Pederson for Best Rookie. Many more categories will follow between now and when voting ends November 13. (Five different groups of voters — fans, members of the baseball media, club front-office personnel, former MLB players and Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) members — each count for 20 percent of the total.) T
The Institute for Baseball Studies is presenting, “The Dodgers Come to Los Angeles: Politics and Pennants in Paradise,” featuring Andy McCue and Wes Parker, at 7:00 p.m. September 27 at Villalobos Hall on the campus of Whittier College.
Justin Turner, nominated for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award last week, is now a finalist, representing the National League West. Kershaw won last year.
I’ve seen some hard foul balls in my time, but I’m amazed this one Monday didn’t do some real damage to someone.

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Dodgers platoon a lot, but not the most

By Jon Weisman

On September 15, 2015

In Analysis, Offense

Andre Ethier (Jill Weisleder) and Scott Van Slyke (Jon SooHoo)

By Jon Weisman

By now, you should be accustomed to the Dodgers pursuing the platoon advantage at nearly every opportunity, whether through their starting lineups or mid-game pinch-hitting.

For example, Andre Ethier has exactly 400 plate appearances this year, and 359 (92 percent) have come against right-handed pitching. For Carl Crawford, it’s 84 percent.

It got me wondering whether the 2015 squad might be the platooningest team in baseball this year, or in Dodger history. The answer is no, though it has been a while since the Dodgers have had such heavy platoon usage.

Compared with the rest of the Major Leagues, the Dodgers rank fourth in platooning … in a very wide scale. (Click chart to enlarge.)

Of course, these stats can be skewed by how often a heavily right-handed-hitting team faced left-handed pitching across 162 games, but you can get a ballpark idea of what teams are emphasizing.

As for Dodger history … the 1965 Dodgers, which debuted the switch-hitting infield of Wes Parker, Jim Lefebvre, Maury Wills and Jim Gilliam, are the all-time franchise leaders in this category since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958. That team had left vs. right or right vs. left almost exactly 75 percent of the time.

The 2015 Dodgers are at 62.3 percent, which ranks 17th on the list — but No. 2 in the past 20 years, trailing only the 2004 Dodgers (64.8 percent). In an average game, this year’s Dodgers will have 23 platoon-advantage plate appearances and 14 at a disadvantage.

Right-handed hitters Howie Kendrick (357 plate appearances), Justin Turner (292) and Yasiel Puig (230) have faced the most righties from the same side, while Adrian Gonzalez (151) and Joc Pederson (110) are tops the opposite way. The Dodgers only have 400 left-on-left plate appearances in their 143 games this year, an average of 2.8 per game.

Seven of the top 10 platooning squads in Los Angeles Dodger history came along between 1961-1971, all under manager Walter Alston. The other three came from 1990-92, under Tom Lasorda. Perhaps oddly, despite the rise of sabermetrics in mainstream acceptance, no Dodger teams outside of 2004 and 2015 crack the top 20 in platoon advantage.

A total of 20 Los Angeles Dodger teams have spent the season at a platoon disadvantage, including the 2014 Dodgers, which faced same-sided pitchers 53.6 percent of the time. Registering lowest on the platoon scale were the 1982 Dodgers, who were at a disadvantage 59.7 percent of the year.

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Ruggiano’s surprising September is all about timing

By Jon Weisman

On September 14, 2015

In Pregame

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXIX: Kershawse Party
Joc Pederson, CF
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Schebler, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

You’d think it would be a little late in the game for a 33-year-old with 12 seasons as a professional to surprise anyone.

“I think at this point, people have the book on me,” Justin Ruggiano acknowledged today. “I don’t think I’m catching anyone off guard.”

Maybe we should be conditioned to expect the unexpected.

After doubling on the first pitch of Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Arizona and later knocking a single, Ruggiano is 8 for 19 with a 1.053 slugging percentage as a Dodger. That’s right — he’s averaging at least a base per at-bat.

Though he has hit as many as 18 homers in a season (2013 with the Cubs), Ruggiano hasn’t stopped looking to improve. Significantly, that includes his first fortnight as a Dodger.

“I think the moment you become a non-improving player is the moment you’d be out of the game,” Ruggiano said today. “There’s always something to be done. Since I’ve come over here, I’ve worked on a timing mechanism with the hitting coaches that has really helped me stay on the ball and kind of clear up my vision of the ball. And I think that’s actually contributed to a lot of the success I’ve had the past two weeks.”

Remembering ’65: Dodgers hit rock bottom

By Jon Weisman

On September 14, 2015

In History, Remembering '65

By Jon Weisman

As the second week of September began in 1965, the Dodgers had spent all but 17 days of the season atop the National League standings, and never trailed by more than a single game.

That meant nothing a week later.

Magic number of 13: So far away, yet so close

By Jon Weisman

On September 13, 2015

In Status report

By Jon Weisman

San Francisco’s Giants could finish their 2015 season on a 22-game winning streak, and the Dodgers would still win the National League West by playing .650 ball over the final three weeks.

That’s what it means for the Dodgers to have a magic number of 13 to clinch the division on September 13, after Zack Greinke pitched eight shutout innings in today’s 4-3 victory over the Diamondbacks.

San Francisco swept the Padres over three games this weekend to move from 8 1/2 back of Los Angeles to 7 1/2, with 19 games remaining on the Giant schedule. But the Giants still face some appropriately giant odds.

Among other things, in addition to being the magic number, 13 is also the number of games the Dodgers have remaining against sub-.500 teams: six against Colorado, four against Arizona and three vs. San Diego.

The Dodgers can’t coast to the finish. However, if the Dodgers play .500 ball down the stretch (10-10), San Francisco has to go 17-2 to catch Los Angeles and force a one-game playoff.

There’s even a decent chance the NL West race will be over before September 28, rendering the feared four-game Dodger-Giants series in San Francisco meaningless. Over the next two weeks, the Dodgers play 10 games against sub-.500 teams. Win seven of those 10, throw in one measly victory over the Pirates next weekend (with Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw potentially pitching), and the Giants would have to go 8-4 just to be alive when the Dodgers land in San Francisco.

Dodgers call up one minor-leaguer, acquire another

By Jon Weisman

On September 13, 2015

In Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

Two more transactions were made by the Dodgers before today’s game: calling up infielder Ronald Torreyes from Triple-A Oklahoma City and acquiring minor-league catcher Jack Murphy from Toronto to provide a fast resolution to the Darwin Barney trade.

Torreyes, who turned 23 on September 2, made his MLB debut in the fifth inning of today’s game, replacing Jose Peraza at second base. He had a .340 on-base percentage and .388 slugging percentage in 13 games with Oklahoma City, along with a .348 OBP and .410 slugging with Double-A Tulsa.

Los Angeles designated Barney for assignment June 12 to make room for Torreyes on the 40-man roster upon his acquisition.

The 27-year-old Murphy, drafted out of Princeton by the Blue Jays in 2009, is not on the 40-man roster. He had a .309 OBP and .315 slugging for Double-A New Hampshire in 2015.

Don Mattingly also told reporters today that Carlos Frias is traveling back to Los Angeles with the team and could be activated from the disabled list this week.

Update: Torreyes doubled in his first Major League at-bat, joining Jose Peraza, Corey Seager, Scott Schebler, Austin Barnes and Carlos Frias as Dodgers who got their first hits in 2015.

Joc Pederson’s solid September

By Jon Weisman

On September 13, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m.
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Jose Peraza, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Mostly lost amid the Corey Seager hoopla is that his wizened teammate, 23-year-old Joc Pederson, is finishing his season strong.

Pederson has a .436 on-base percentage and .531 slugging percentage in September, good for a .967 OPS — his best in a calendar month since April. Over the past week, he is 7 for 14 with a homer, double and walk, while striking out four times.

Plate discipline? Since August 1, Pederson has walked 28 times and struck out 29, compared with 62 walks/125 strikeouts from April through July (including four walks and 31 strikeouts in July alone). Of his seven walks this month, one has been with two out and the pitcher on deck.

For those concerned about Pederson’s batting average, it’s at .313 in September. Already, he has 10 hits this month, four more than he had in all of August, when he batted .120.

Pederson is having better luck on balls in play, with a .364 BABIP in September (by far his highest since April) compared with a .143 BABIP in August. Split the difference between those BABIPs and make it .254 for both months, and Pederson’s batting average would have been .180 in August and .250 in September.

The center fielder is in the starting lineup today against Arizona left-hander Patrick Corbin, his first start against a southpaw since facing San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner on September 1, when Pederson hit two hard flyouts and then homered.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Month: September 2015 (Page 3 of 6)

Taking the panic out of the Dodgers’ improved bullpen

How does Corey Seager do it?

Seager’s blast lifts Dodgers to rookie homer record

Howie Kendrick, hurt against Pittsburgh, returns against Pittsburgh

Wood’n it be nice for Dodgers

‘Weird’ lineup features youngest Dodger cleanup hitter in more than 50 years

Dodgers played out in 16 innings

It’s a walk in the park for Corey Seager — so far

In case you missed it: Adrian Gonzalez the sportsman

Dodgers platoon a lot, but not the most

Ruggiano’s surprising September is all about timing

Remembering ’65: Dodgers hit rock bottom

Magic number of 13: So far away, yet so close

Dodgers call up one minor-leaguer, acquire another

Joc Pederson’s solid September

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