August 2016 – Page 2 – Dodger Thoughts

On August 28, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Cubs at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Rob Segedin, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Charlie Culberson, 2B
Brock Stewart, P

By Jon Weisman

September 1, the date that active rosters can expand to as many as 40 players, has been in the Dodgers’ sightlines for some time — the seemingly perfect quirk in the schedule to serve a team that has depth in its pitching staff but not length.

Today, Dave Roberts told reporters that the Dodgers plan to activate Louis Coleman from the disabled list before Friday’s game (Thursday is actually an off day for Los Angeles, except for the Dodgers All-Access event) and also bring back reliever Casey Fien from the minors.

That would give the Dodgers a minimum of 14 pitchers, pending more possible additions as the month progresses. A recall of Luis Avilan and Josh Fields, who pitched recently for the Dodgers, would give them 16 arms. Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Josh Ravin are on the 15-day disabled list, and so with the flick of paperwork, the pitching staff could number as many as 20.

Hopes remain for the return from the 60-day disabled list of Clayton Kershaw to the starting rotation and Alex Wood to the bullpen, and then you possibly have 22 pitchers. (That seems like a lot.) In those cases, however, someone currently on the 40-man roster would have to be displaced.

That’s why, despite his strong finish at Triple-A Oklahoma City and highly regarded prospect status, Jose De Leon — who is not on the 40-man roster yet — might not see action for Los Angeles this year. It hasn’t been ruled out, but it’s predicated on the status of the aforementioned score of pitchers.

Julio Urías strikes again in Dodger win

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Despite allowing the first three batters against him to reach base for a run, Julio Urías matched career highs with six innings an eight strikeouts, pitching the Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Cubs.

Since facing the Cubs in his second career start June 2, Urías has a 2.93 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. He also had his third career big-league hit.

For the year, Urías has fanned 10.0 batters per nine innings — the highest single-season K/9 rate in the Majors among pitchers age 20-and-under (minimum 50 innings) since Dwight Gooden in 1984, and the highest in Dodger history.

Corey Seager hit his 23rd homer to tie the game in the bottom of the first, breaking Glenn Wright’s 86-year-old franchise record for home funs (no typo) by a shortstop.

#VinTop20: No. 14, Nomo’s No-No

Previously:
No. 15, the 4+1 Game
No. 16, Don Drysdale’s streak stays alive
No. 17, Mike Piazza, Giant-slayer
No. 18, Yasiel Puig’s first slam
No. 19, Manny’s Bobbleslam
No. 20, Mark McGwire hits it way, way out

In Broadcasting, History

Between now and Vin Scully Appreciation Day on September 23, the Dodgers are revealing the results of the fan vote ranking Scully’s top 20 Dodger calls of all time, one at each home game. Here’s No. 14: Hideo Nomo’s Coors Field no-hitter.

— Jon Weisman

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Two seasons, 80 Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Dodger Stadium is the land of opportunity. In a month shy of two seasons, the Dodgers have used the equivalent of two 40-man rosters.

On Friday, Carlos Ruiz became the 80th person to play for the Dodgers since Opening Day 2015.

In case you missed it: Vinnys Vinnys everywhere

In In case you missed it, Pregame, Promotions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Cubs at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Andrew Toles, LF
Julio Urías , P

By Jon Weisman

As part of Team Photo Day on Friday, the Dodgers indulged in a fantasy — that everyone in the world could be as wonderful as Vin Scully.

Of course, there really can only be one Vin Scully, as a close examination of the above image will reveal. (Click to enlarge.)

Here are some other recent items of note …

#VinTop20: No. 15, the 4+1 Game

In Broadcasting

Between now and Vin Scully Appreciation Day on September 23, the Dodgers are revealing the results of the fan vote ranking Scully’s top 20 Dodger calls of all time, one at each home game. Here’s No. 15: the unreal end of the 4+1 Game.

— Jon Weisman

[mlbvideo id=”1099594883″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Carlos Ruiz to start tonight, Brock Stewart recalled

On August 26, 2016

In Pregame, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”1096464783″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Carlos Ruiz, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Chase Utley, 2B
Bud Norris, P

By Jon Weisman

As expected, Carlos Ruiz is in the starting lineup for his Dodger debut tonight, with Shawn Zarraga being optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Zarraga, as you can see in the video above, did enjoy the thrill of being an official Major Leaguer, however briefly. He arrived Thursday via private jet, as Michael Clair notes at MLB.com’s Cut4.

As the newest big leaguer told MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, “It was a 12-seater and it was just me and the pilot, but I got to sit next to him and that was cool.”

In addition, the Dodgers have recalled Brock Stewart from Triple-A. Stewart, who was optioned August 15 to make room for the activation of Casey Fien, threw five innings of shutout ball August 19 for Oklahoma City.

So, how are the Dodgers making room for Stewart on the roster this weekend? They have optioned Kenta Maeda — yes, that’s right — to the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers, whose season concludes on Sunday. That means he can be recalled immediately after that day, without a 10-day waiting period.

As Dave Roberts said today, the plan is that Julio Urías will start for the Dodgers on Saturday and Maeda will take the mound Monday in Colorado, leaving Sunday as TBD.

Arrive early for Beatles Night tonight

On August 26, 2016

In Promotions

A quick reminder that Beatles Night at Dodger Stadium is tonight, preceding the Dodgers’ 7:10 p.m. game against the National League-leading Chicago Cubs. Fans are encouraged to arrive early …

You will be able to take their own picture in front of the above Dodger-ized Abbey Road photo in the Right Field Plaza.
Select fans who arrive early will be invited onto the field to play Beatles Trivia — the winner gets to throw the ceremonial first pitch.
Beatles tribute band “The Fab Four” will perform prior to the game, beginning at approximately 6 p.m.

The Dodgers are offering a ticket package that includes a ticket to the game and a co-branded Beatles/Dodger 50^th Anniversary Beach Towel. Ticket packages can be purchased exclusively at dodgers.com/beatles.

— Jon Weisman

Perhaps for the last time, Vin Scully takes us into the ninth inning of a no-hit attempt

In Postgame

Vin Scully in the booth at Dodger Stadium, earlier this month. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Vin Scully is the king of calling no-hitters, after all. So, nearing the climax of his farewell season, maybe the baseball gods felt it was time for one more for the road.

At the end of a head-spinning day at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers were nealry no-hit for the third time in the past two seasons and the second time at Dodger Stadium in the past 362 days, with Matt Moore coming one out shy of completing the feat in a 4-0 San Francisco Giants victory.

Below, you’ll find some of the words Scully shared with us, in the twilight of his magical career.

#VinTop20: No. 16, Don Drysdale’s streak stays alive

In Broadcasting, History

Between now and Vin Scully Appreciation Day on September 23, the Dodgers are revealing the results of the fan vote ranking Scully’s top 20 Dodger calls of all time, one at each home game. Here’s No. 16: Don Drysdale’s consecutive scoreless inning streak seemed in jeopardy when a confusing and controversial call took place …

— Jon Weisman

[mlbvideo id=”1095691683″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Why the Dodgers pursued Carlos Ruiz

(Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Andrew Friedman, on the decision to trade A.J. Ellis to Philadelphia in a deal for Carlos Ruiz (via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com):

“It was a tough decision on a personal level,” Friedman said. “From a baseball standpoint, we felt Carlos fit our team extremely well. I can go on and on about A.J. and his attributes and what he brings to a team, and if Carlos didn’t possess similar things, we wouldn’t have made the move. In terms of leadership ability, ability to call a game and run a pitching staff, Carlos rates extremely well in those things and has experience in what he brings to the lineup against left-handed pitching, which (we) focused on as an area we wanted to improve.”

Read the entire story here.

— Jon Weisman

Shawn Zarraga to back up at catcher tonight, while Scott Van Slyke is moved to 60-day DL

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Rob Segedin, RF
Charlie Culberson, 2B
Ross Stripling, P

By Jon Weisman

With Carlos Ruiz not arriving from the Phillies until Friday, Shawn Zarraga will come from Triple-A Oklahoma City tonight to serve as the Dodgers’ backup catcher.

Scott Van Slyke, who went on the 15-day disabled list August 9, has been moved to the 60-day DL to make room for Zarraga on the 40-man roster, which means Van Slyke will be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.

Relief pitcher Luis Avilan has been optioned to Oklahoma City to make room on the 25-man roster for Zarraga.

In addition, Rob Segedin has been reinstated from the paternity list after missing Wednesday’s game, and will start tonight in right field.

The 27-year-old Zarraga would be making his Major League debut if he gets in the game tonight. He has a .348 on-base percentage this year in a season split between Oklahoma City and Double-A Tulsa. Los Angeles acquired him in December 2014.

Oklahoma City’s Austin Barnes, normally next in line for the Dodgers at catcher, has been sidelined since Tuesday after getting hit by a pitch in the hand.

Also: With an eye toward a September return, Andre Ethier begins his rehab assignment tonight with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

A.J. Ellis talks about his farewell from Dodgers

A.J. Ellis spoke to reporters shortly after receiving the news of being traded to Philadelphia. The audio can be played above.

— Jon Weisman

Thank you, @AJEllis17! #ThankYouAJ pic.twitter.com/7JQMgWF8P6

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 25, 2016

A.J. Ellis heads to Phillies in Carlos Ruiz trade