April 2016 – Page 5 – Dodger Thoughts

On April 9, 2016

[mlbvideo id=”580713483″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Charlie Culberson was a longshot to make the Dodgers could be optioned on any given day — unless the Dodgers keep piling up injured bodies in front of him.

But Dodger fans won’t soon forget him after he almost single-handedly rescued the team from a third straight loss to the Giants.

Carl Crawford to disabled list, Micah Johnson recalled

On April 9, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Giants, 1:05 p.m.
Kershaw XXXLIV: Kershawrace and Pete
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Trayce Thompson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Charlie Culberson, SS
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Carl Crawford has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with lower back tightness, and the Dodgers have recalled Micah Johnson from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

As Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reported Friday, Crawford has been dealing with the back issue since the middle of Spring Training.

Crawford, who has missed at least a month a season with an injury for each of the last five years, said he has had occasional lower-back issues in the past that would “flare up and cool down.” He said he is particularly puzzled because he worked over the winter and spring specifically in an attempt to avoid injuries.

“It seems like the opposite happened,” he said. “I feel terrible about that. I really tried hard to maintain my strength in the core and back and I’m still having issues.”

Crawford was 3 for 11 with two RBI in the young 2016 season, playing 17 innings in three games in left field.

Johnson is a second baseman, but he started in left field Friday with Oklahoma City for the first time in his pro career. He was 3 for 9 in Triple-A in two games, after OPSing .841 in 2015 with 28 steals in 35 attempts.

Opening Day advisory for Dodger Stadium on Tuesday: Come early, respect the neighborhood

On April 9, 2016

In Dodger Stadium, Opening Day

By Jon Weisman

Stadium and auto gates will open at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday for Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. Beat the traffic by coming to the game as early as possible, consider the many alternate transportation options and make sure you prepay your parking in advance to save time and money if you do drive.

And also, take note of the following …

The Dodgers and the Los Angeles Police Department are spreading the word that fans should not park on the Avenue of the Palms (Stadium Way) between Scott Road and Academy Road. This street will have a “No Parking” restriction from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, in order to keep all attendees safe, LAPD officers will be patrolling the area and will enact a zero tolerance policy for drinking in public or in the parks. Tailgating also is not permitted on the Dodger Stadium premises.

The Dodgers and the LAPD wish everyone a safe and fun-filled day of baseball, and ask fans to respect the neighborhood and stay safe.

Ross Stripling throws 7 1/3 no-hit innings in debut, but Dodgers lose

On April 8, 2016

By Jon Weisman

There are moments, moments that take you by surprise in their purity and beauty, moments where you’re trudging uphill with your head down and then, reaching the crest, you find the most beautiful valley unveiled before you.

On a damp, sometimes rainy night in San Francisco, in his Major League debut, with the Dodgers and their fans on his shoulders, Ross Stripling reached that wondrous, unexpected summit.

In his first Major League start — his first game above Double-A — and two years after Tommy John Surgery, the 26-year-old Stripling threw 7 1/3 no-hit innings, the most that any pitcher in his debut has taken to the clubhouse in more than 100 years.

Cruelly, the first batter after Stripling exited the game, Giants backup catcher Trevor Brown, hit a game-tying home run off Chris Hatcher, and amid a furious debate over his removal, Stripling would take a no-decision as San Francisco and Los Angeles took each other into extra innings. At the same time, it took nothing away from the rookie right-hander.

Looking at Joc Pederson’s interesting start to 2016

On April 8, 2016

In Offense, Pregame

Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Ross Stripling, P

By Jon Weisman

One of the quirks of the way the Dodgers have begun 2016 — hot enough for them to average 5.33 runs per game after their 15-0 win Opening Day — is how few walks they’ve drawn.

Los Angeles has nine walks in four games, and four regulars — Chase Utley, Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Carl Crawford — have yet to earn their first free pass. (Turner and Crawford did not start Thursday.)

Adrian Gonzalez has been the exception, with four bases on balls. Yasiel Puig, interestingly enough, not only is the lone other Dodger who has walked twice, he has but two strikeouts.

The Dodgers’ success when swinging at the first pitch has been something: 13 for 24 with three doubles and a homer. Even when they swing and don’t put that first pitch into play, the Dodgers have reached base at a .323 clip in those plate appearances, including two sacrifice flies.

That first-pitch homer was hit by Joc Pederson, who has also has two doubles among the five times he has swung at the first pitch this season. As new as the season is, Pederson has given us plenty at the plate to explore.

Vin Scully Avenue to be dedicated Monday

On April 8, 2016

In Dodger Stadium

Andrew Connorton/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Vin Scully Avenue will be officially dedicated Monday at 11:15 a.m. with a ceremony at the corner of Stadium Way and the street formerly known as Elysian Park Avenue.

The Los Angeles City Council approved the renaming of the street January 29, and following a couple of months of neighborhood processes and street beautification, the council today formalized the ordinance.

Members of the public who wish to attend should park in Lots 13/14 on Stadium Way (located just east/downhill of the main entrance to Dodger Stadium) and proceed to the entrance.

Grandal, Kendrick set to begin rehab assignments

In Health/injuries

Hopefully, Howie Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal will soon be moving in the right direction for the Dodgers. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Still aiming to return to the active roster by the time the Dodgers have their home opener Tuesday, catcher Yasmani Grandal and infielder Howie Kendrick were placed on rehab assignments beginning tonight, as Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Weather is affecting Grandal’s game for Triple-A Oklahoma City at Nashville, but hopefully he gets underway in that time zone before Kendrick’s game starts for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Gurnick adds some detail from Dave Roberts about the different assignments.

… He said Grandal was sent to Triple-A because of the higher level of pitching competition. Grandal has had fewer at-bats while healing than Kendrick because of the difference in their injuries.

Kendrick will be the designated hitter in one game, “a game at third and a couple at second” base. Grandal played in a simulated game Wednesday. …

Giants needed to walk before running over Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

When Alex Wood took the mound to start the bottom of the fifth inning today at San Francisco, he had a 4-0 lead and a 31-inning scoreless streak by Dodger pitching behind him.

One of the unsung aspects of that streak was that the Dodgers had gone 23 straight innings without walking a batter. Wood had done his part, zipping through his first four innings with first-pitch strikes to 14 of the 15 batters he had faced. Three Giants had hits in three different innings, but each was stranded without much drang, let alone any sturm.

For whatever reason, when Wood began pitching in the fifth, he lost command. His first three pitches to Brandon Crawford missed, and then after getting two called strikes, Wood missed badly for what became the Dodgers’ third walk of the season.

Kelby Tomlinson, pinch-hitting for Jake Peavy, then laid down a bunt that died on the grass just inside fair territory. Suddenly, for the first time all season, a Dodger opponent had two on with none out.

On such little events do seasons make their first pivot.

Youth baseball and softball parade days coming to Dodger Stadium

In Promotions

Click the image above for more information.

Don Drysdale memorabilia available at auction

In History

By Jon Weisman

More than 160 items from the personal memorabilia collection of Dodger legend Don Drysdale are available for auction through April 23 at SCP Auctions.

The collection dates back to Drysdale’s playing days at Van Nuys High. The Hall of Famer died on July 3, 1993 in Montreal while working for the Dodgers as a broadcaster.

The auction has come under some controversy, though it is sanctioned by Drysdale’s widow, Ann Meyers Drysdale.

“We thought this through as a family and decided it was time to share Don’s most prestigious awards and memorabilia with the fans and the collecting community,” she said. “Plus, it provides us with a great opportunity to give back to many of the causes that were near and dear to Don’s heart.”

Dodgers sign up for San Francisco treatment

In Pregame

Dodgers at Giants, 1:35 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Kiké Hernandez, 3B
Austin Barnes, C
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

So, after sweeping the Padres in straight sets — 15-love, 3-love, 7-love — it won’t necessarily be strawberries and cream today for the undefeated, unscored-upon Dodgers.

Despite dropping a one-run decision Wednesday at Milwaukee, the San Francisco Giants come into play today with a 131 adjusted OPS (just below the Dodgers’ 137). Their fans will carry the focused energy of their own home opener and the fond memory of going 8-2 in 2015 against the Dodgers at AT&T Park, as well as the burning desire to avenge three straight years of National League West runner-up status, 2014 World Series title aside.

You had to be made of stone encased in brick under a cement umbrella not to enjoy the Dodgers’ 25 unanswered runs in San Diego the past three games — a Major League record to start the season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, breaking a record set by the 1974 Dodgers. But in baseball’s never-ending soliloquy, “What Haven’t You Done for Me Lately,” my guess is that for many Dodger fans, the season starts again today.

Yasiel Puig off to spectacular start, while Dodgers tie shutout record

On April 6, 2016

[mlbvideo id=”576899283″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

It’s so like that Yasiel Puig to lurk in the shadows.

The big story right now, after tonight’s 7-0 victory over San Diego (recapped by MLB.com), is that the Dodgers are the first team since the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals to begin a season with three consecutive shutouts.

But the Dodgers have also scored 25 runs in the process, and Puig has played a powerful part.

So to recap: Puig this year has 9 batted balls. 7 are above 100 mph. 8 are above 98 MPH. Good lord.

— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) April 7, 2016

His eighth-inning home run, matching Kenta Maeda for the team lead, exclamationed this opening salvo from Puig: 6 for 10 with two walks, two triples, the home run and a hit-by-pitch. That’s .600/.692/1.300/1.992 if you’re tracking at home.

As joyful as the results are, it’s the execution to all fields that’s been eye-opening. Here’s the rundown of his first three games …

Kenta Maeda steals his own spotlight

On April 6, 2016

In Midgame

[mlbvideo id=”576652683″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Tonight, Kenta Maeda did to the Padres what no hitter could do against Kenta Maeda: Round the bases.

Maeda, Stripling to join rare group of 26-and-older starting pitchers to debut with Dodgers