June 2016 – Page 4 – Dodger Thoughts

Strasburg-Kershaw showdown at Dodger Stadium

On June 20, 2016

Matt Hazlett (Getty Images)/Jill Weisleder (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCLVII: Kershawriots of Fire
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Here on this broiling first day of summer, Dodger Stadium showcases a red-hot pitching duel between Clayton Kershaw and Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg is in his seventh big-league season, and he’s on his way to it being his finest: 2.90 ERA (2.83 FIP), 1.07 WHIP and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

Kershaw, of course, has redefined remarkable: 1.58 ERA (1.64 FIP), 0.66 WHIP and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, plus that majestic 19.0 strikeout-walk ratio.

So far, the Nationals and Dodgers are each 13-1 when Strasburg and Kershaw start this season.

Dusty’s Trail: A return to Baker’s Field

By Jon Weisman

On June 20, 2016

In Celebrities, History, Publications

By Jon Weisman

It’s been 40 years since Riverside native Dusty Baker made his debut in a Dodger uniform. He has also spent 40 seasons in the Major Leagues — 19 as a player (including eight with Los Angeles) and 21 as a manager, including this year’s debut season helming the Washington Nationals.

Zach Lee traded to Seattle for infielder Chris Taylor

By Jon Weisman

On June 19, 2016

In Transactions

Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Chris Taylor, a 25-year-old shortstop who has been OPSing .845 for Seattle’s Triple-A team in Tacoma, has been acquired by the Dodgers in exchange for pitcher Zach Lee.

Taylor has a .387 on-base percentage and .457 slugging percentage this season. In 256 career big-league plate appearances with the Mariners, he has twin .296 on-base and slugging percentages. The 2012 fifth-round draft pick out of Virginia has also played second and third.

Lee, the Dodgers No. 1 draft pick in 2010 and a two-time minor-league pitcher of the year for the organization, has a 1.49 WHIP and 4.89 ERA in 73 2/3 innings this season for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 57 strikeouts.

The 24-year-old Lee made one start for Los Angeles, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Mets on July 25. He ended up pitching 725 innings in the organization, dating back to 2011.

Hernández delivers a Father’s Day he’ll never forget

By Jon Weisman

On June 19, 2016

In Postgame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Kiké Hernández’s father, you might have heard by now, is battling cancer. For Hernandez to hit a home run, on Father’s Day, is pretty much all the story anyone would need on this day.

The fact that Hernández’s home run, the first of his career as a pinch-hitter, stopped a shutout and tied the game for the Dodgers in the bottom off the eighth inning, well, that’s just a gift for the rest of us.

“I don’t think I have any words to describe it,” Hernández told AM 570’s David Vassegh after the game. “I still have a little bit of goose bumps from it, and it was a little bit hard not to cry running the bases. I woke up this morning, and I was thinking about the same thing: I probably won’t start, but if I get a pinch-hit at-bat, it’s kind of like a movie. … I’m sure my dad loves every bit of it.”

Hernández’s homer set the stage for another pinch-hit RBI, Yasmani Grandal’s bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth, to give the Dodgers a 2-1 victory over Milwaukee.

Dodgers recall Carlos Frias, option Mike Bolsinger

By Jon Weisman

On June 19, 2016

In Pregame, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Brewers at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Carlos Frias has been called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to bring a fresh arm to a tired Dodger pitching staff, with Mike Bolsinger being optioned down.

This move materialized as a likely possibility when Frias didn’t make a scheduled long-relief appearance Saturday, shortly before Bolsinger struggled to get seven outs.

Frias presumably could take Bolsinger’s turn in the rotation, but could be needed out of the bullpen first. In the past seven days, Dodger relievers have needed to face 96 batters, an average of 13.7 per day. The Dodgers have an off day Thursday, when Bolsinger was next scheduled to start.

Turner, Dodgers have got that bounce

By Jon Weisman

On June 18, 2016

In Dodger Stadium, History, Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Justin Turner’s weekend of heroics continued.

Turner’s third home run in two nights brought the Dodgers’ roaring back from a 5-2 deficit in the third inning, putting them on their way to a 10-6 victory over Milwaukee.

The biggest of the 14 Dodger hits that also included homers by Howie Kendrick and Joc Pederson, Turner’s blast — his sixth homer in his past 12 starts — marked the halfway point in the Dodgers’ six-run inning, their biggest of 2016. And it salvaged a night in which starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger couldn’t make it out of the third inning.

Roberts said @MBolsinger had cramping during his outing. Labored through 2.2 IP.

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) June 19, 2016

In fact, Bolsinger and Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson, childhood friends who were best men at each other’s weddings, each threw exactly 29 balls and 44 strikes in 2 1/3 innings tonight. Anderson took the loss, while Chris Hatcher, who threw 2 1/3 shutout innings, was the Dodgers’ winning pitcher.

Hatcher, who made his MLB debut as a catcher in 2010 but went 0 for 6, also picked up his first career hit, an RBI single in the third.

[mlbvideo id=”831523083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

How did Turner turn his season around?

By Jon Weisman

On June 18, 2016

In Hitting, Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”828797183″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Brewers at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernández, RF
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

It’s been two weeks since Dave Roberts offered his diagnosis of what was holding back Justin Turner’s offense.

“When I know Justin is at his best, (it’s) when he’s elevating to the pull side,” Roberts said. “For me, right now there’s too many balls in the air the other way. The contact point’s a little deep, (and) he might be getting underneath the baseball a little bit.

“When you’re not getting hits, it’s kind of a natural move to try to see the ball longer. It’s just a natural move to back the baseball up a little bit … but sometimes it can be a little bit counter-productive.”

In 12 games (11 starts) since that moment, Turner is 15 for 45 with three walks, three doubles and five homers, including the pair he hit Friday before he won the game with a walkoff single in the 10th inning. The 31-year-old is third in the National League in wins above replacement in that time and tied for second in home runs.

As for whether Turner is elevating to the pull side? You be the judge. Here’s his spray chart since June 4 …

What kind of a teammate is Julio Urías?

By Jon Weisman

On June 17, 2016

In Pregame

https://twitter.com/LosDodgers/status/743906979999940608

Brewers at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Will Venable, RF
Julio Urías, P

By Jon Weisman

For a couple hours every five days, Julio Urías takes the mound under the spotlight, standing alone on the mound.

For the remaining 118 hours of each cycle through the Dodger starting rotation, (for however long he’s in it this season), the teenage rookie is just another Dodger teammate, spending his days and nights with players who are anywhere from three to 18 years older.

“That’s where that confidence has to come through — and has,” Dave Roberts said.

So what’s he been like?

In case you missed it: Old glove, new Kershaw

By Jon Weisman

On June 17, 2016

In Draft, Health/injuries, In case you missed it

By Jon Weisman

In this video clip, Vin Scully talks about how new Dodger outfielder Will Venable is using an actual old glove of Dave Roberts from 2005, seen above.

[mlbvideo id=”822737883″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
Here are some more notes and news from the past week …

Cali Ann’s getting a sibling. Clayton and Ellen Kershaw have a second baby on the way, due in November. Andy McCullough of the Times has the news in this Father’s Day-themed interview with Kershaw, which talks at length about the softening effect parenthood has had on the Dodger ace.
Monday’s nationally televised series-opener (ESPN) against the Washington Nationals figures to match Stephen Strasburg (2.90 ERA) against Clayton Kershaw (1.58 ERA). I’m not into win-loss records, but even a cynic like me about them finds it a little glamorous that the two pitchers are a combined 20-1. Reminder: Strasburg is four months and one day younger than Kershaw.
The Dodgers officially announced the signing of the following draft picks: shortstop Errol Robinson (sixth round), right-hander Andre Scrubb (eighth round), right-hander Dean Kremer (14th round), outfielder Darien Tubbs (16th round), third basemen Brock Carpenter (20th round), right-hander Jeff Paschke (22nd round), second baseman Brandon Montgomery (26th round) and catcher Steve Berman (31st round).
Ross Stripling gave a progress report to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com regarding his current hiatus from game action.
Chad Billingsley said he hasn’t given up, but the former Dodger right-hander, who hasn’t thrown a competitive pitch in 11 months, told Bruce Hefflinger of the Defiance Crescent-News (his hometown newspaper) that it was “most likely” that his career was over.
Scott Radinsky, the one-time Dodger reliever who is the Angels’ bullpen coach, is thankfully recovering from April open-heart surgery after a big scare.
Former Dodger catcher Tim Federowicz was designated for assignment by the Cubs.

Scully, Dodgers remember victims of Orlando tragedy

By Jon Weisman

On June 17, 2016

In Dodger Stadium, Farewells

[mlbvideo id=”823429083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Flags flew at half staff Thursday at Dodger Stadium in tribute to the victims of the mass murder early Sunday morning in Orlando. Before Thursday’s game, Vin Scully led those in attendance at Dodger Stadium into a moment of silence. Here is the text of what he said:

Urías starts tonight, but for how much longer?

By Jon Weisman

On June 17, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pitching

By Jon Weisman

Tonight’s starting pitcher, Julio Urías, has thrown 58 professional innings this season. Dave Roberts said Thursday that the plan was to give Urias two more starts, then evaluate.

Most interpreted this as Roberts saying that Urías would be shut down in the manner of Ross Stripling, who hasn’t pitched in a game since May. To be clear, though, that wasn’t stated explicitly by Roberts, who simply said, “we’ll go from there.”

Last year, Urías threw 80 1/3, and the year before, a career-high 87 2/3. Even in the unlikely event of two complete games, Urías would still be at 76 innings on the year. Two six-inning outings would put Urías at 70. Presumably, Urías can go incrementally above the 80-plus inning range that he has previously reached.

So the question would be whether it makes sense to use all those innings now, while the Dodgers wait for the return of Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood from the disabled list (and longer down the road, Brett Anderson). Or do they have Urías take the break, and the ramp him up again in the second half of the season, when the rotation might be more crowded — not that there couldn’t be other setbacks.

Dodgers tied trailing trumped in the ninth

By Jon Weisman

On June 16, 2016

In Midgame

By Jon Weisman

It’s Milwaukee 6, Los Angeles 6 entering the ninth inning. The Dodgers came back from down 3-0 and 6-3 to tie the game. Triumph or tragedy awaits. Who’s to say which?

This game has already had plenty of both. It’s been such a weird night, I’m kind of live-blogging the rest of the way as I recap what’s already come.

Van Slyke homer sets up win for Kershaw, record-tying save for Jansen

By Jon Weisman

On June 15, 2016

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

You’ve got Clayton Kershaw on the mound. You just want that big hit.

With two out in the sixth inning, 10 Dodgers had reached base, but that critical blow remained but a dream.

Then, Scott Van Slyke made Dodger wishes come true, following singles by Adrian Gonzalez and Howie Kendrick with a 405-foot, three-run homer to left to give the Dodgers their first lead. Kershaw made it stand up for his 7 1/3 innings and 11 strikeouts, and Joe Blanton and Kenley Jansen closed the doors and windows for a 3-2 Dodger victory at Arizona.

Dodger all-time save leaders
161 Eric Gagne
161 Kenley Jansen
129 Jeff Shaw
127 Todd Worrell
125 Jim Brewer

For Jansen, it was his 161st career save, tying the Dodger franchise record set by Eric Gagne. Jansen’s first career save was July 25, 2010, to protect a win for … Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw struck out at least 10 and walked no more than one, for the ninth time this season. Curt Schilling holds the MLB record with 13 such games in 2002.

Seager cracks top five in All-Star Game vote at SS

By Jon Weisman

On June 15, 2016

In All-Star Game

By Jon Weisman

Corey Seager’s five-homer weekend against Atlanta gave him enough of a voting boost to move into the top five at shortstop for the National League All-Star team.

Seager continues to lead NL shortstops in wins above replacement and has taken over the lead in weighted runs created. He trails Colorado’s Trevor Story by two in home runs and .003 in weighted on-base average.

As was the case a week ago and the week before that, Adrian González appears in the top five in the balloting for first base. (Pitchers aren’t part of the fan vote). The current NL voting for the remaining positions:

Clayton Kershaw’s eccentric experience at Chase Field

By Jon Weisman

On June 15, 2016

In Pregame

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 12:40 p.m.
Kershaw CCLVI: Kersh Off the Boat
Kiké Hernández, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Trayce Thompson, RF
Adrian González, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Chase Field has been a mixed bag for baseball’s best pitcher.

Clayton Kershaw pitches there today for the first time since April 11, 2015, when Arizona scored in four different innings — five earned runs in all — in what was his roughest outing of the season.

It was Kershaw’s worst performance since May 17, 2014, when he was knocked out with seven runs in 1 2/3 innings — also at Chase Field.

In between, however, Kershaw one of his vintage starts, striking out 10 while allowing only an unearned run over eight innings at Chase on August 27, 2014.

Overall, Kershaw has a 3.90 ERA in 67 career innings at Arizona. Exactly half of his 12 appearances there have been quality starts, and the Dodgers are 5-7 in those games. On the seven occasions Kershaw has allowed more than one run at Chase, the Dodgers are 1-6.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Month: June 2016 (Page 4 of 8)

Strasburg-Kershaw showdown at Dodger Stadium

Dusty’s Trail: A return to Baker’s Field

Zach Lee traded to Seattle for infielder Chris Taylor

Hernández delivers a Father’s Day he’ll never forget

Dodgers recall Carlos Frias, option Mike Bolsinger

Turner, Dodgers have got that bounce

How did Turner turn his season around?

What kind of a teammate is Julio Urías?

In case you missed it: Old glove, new Kershaw

Scully, Dodgers remember victims of Orlando tragedy

Urías starts tonight, but for how much longer?

Dodgers tied trailing trumped in the ninth

Van Slyke homer sets up win for Kershaw, record-tying save for Jansen

Seager cracks top five in All-Star Game vote at SS

Clayton Kershaw’s eccentric experience at Chase Field

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