August 2016 – Page 8 – Dodger Thoughts

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By Jon Weisman

A two-run double by Justin Turner in the eighth inning and a solo homer by Yasmani Grandal in the ninth couldn’t undo the damage of 19 Colorado baserunners in a 7-3 Dodger loss to the Rockies.

The latest turn in Yasiel Puig’s story isn’t the last

In Status report, Thinking out loud, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Let’s separate Yasiel Puig’s fate as a baseball player from his fate with the Dodgers for a moment.

It’s certainly a convenient time to do it, with Puig on his way to Triple-A for the first time. He is a Dodger, and yet not a Dodger, and to say the least the baseball world is still processing it.

First comes the blame. Some say Puig had this demotion coming. Some say the Dodgers have mishandled his development. It’s easy to throw stones when there’s a free pile of ’em lining both sides of the Internet. No one’s claiming to be perfect, but no one should think it was easy.

What seems relevant to me is that it has never been in anyone’s interest to see Puig be anything less than the best he can be. That remains the case.

Maybe Puig’s next Major League game will be in another uniform. Maybe it’ll be in familiar, cozy L.A. whites before the next homestand is over. Maybe his next chapter won’t be written until 2017.

Even then, the next chapter will only be a chapter.

Starting pitching remains in flux for Dodgers

In Pitching

Rich Hill today met reporters for the first time as a Dodger.

By Jon Weisman

Though newly acquired left-hander Rich Hill is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, he will likely make a rehab start before his Dodger debut, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Hill threw a bullpen session today, and said his finger blister was much improved, according to Gurnick. He hasn’t recorded an out since July 7, when he struck out 10 in six innings for Oakland in a 3-1 victory over Houston.

The Dodgers are also giving an extra day of rest to Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir, who were originally scheduled to start Wednesday and Thursday at Colorado. Maeda will start Thursday, with Kazmir taking the mound Friday against Boston. Kazmir remained in Los Angeles rather than making the trip to Colorado.

Also in Los Angeles is Bud Norris, who left his Sunday start after two batters because of right lat soreness. Norris is receiving back treatment, and the hope is that he would start Saturday for the Dodgers, though nothing is definite.

Rank Vin Scully’s Top 20 calls in Dodger history

In Broadcasting, Dodger Stadium

By Jon Weisman

In honor of Vin Scully’s 67th and final year announcing the team’s games, the Dodgers have nominated Scully’s Top 20 calls of all-time. Now, it’s up to you to rank them.

Go to dodgers.com/vin, where you can play videos to hear all 20 calls — and then drag and drop them in order of your preference. Voting takes place through August 12.

The Dodgers will begin revealing the order of the Top 20 on August 13, starting a countdown that will end with the announcement of the fans’ choices for his top two greatest Dodger calls on Vin Scully Appreciation Night, September 23.

Dodgers send Yasiel Puig, Ross Stripling to minors

In Pregame, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Josh Reddick, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Brandon McCarthy, P

By Jon Weisman

Yasiel Puig has been sent to the minors, along with Ross Stripling, to make room on the 25-man roster for newly acquired outfielder Josh Reddick and reliever Jesse Chavez.

Rich Hill remains on the disabled list, which he is eligible to return from Thursday if he’s ready. (Technically, Hill is now the 23rd Dodger on the disabled list this year, setting a National League record.) Relief pitcher Josh Fields will also report to the minors.

The Dodgers are expected to comment later today about Puig, who is being optioned to the minors (as opposed to going on a rehab assignment) for the first time since March 26, 2013, when the team sent him to Double-A Chattanooga after his first Spring Training.

Puig’s transaction history appears below (click to enlarge):

Ping Pong 4 Purpose returns August 11 to aid Kershaw’s Challenge

In Community

Audrey Van Slyke, Eric Stonestreet, Scott Van Slyke and Clayton Kershaw at the 2015 Ping Pong 4 Purpose event at Dodger Stadium (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw’s back isn’t back, but his service for the community remains front and center.

The fourth annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose event, benefiting Kershaw’s Challenge, will take place August 11 at Dodger Stadium.

Will Ferrell will co-host the celebrity ping-pong tournament with Kershaw and his wife Ellen. The night will feature past and present Dodger players, as well celebrity guests scheduled to include Susan Sarandon, Eric Stonestreet, George Lopez, Anthony Anderson, Mike Epps, Rob Riggle, Omar Miller, Claire Holt, Troy Garity, Mario Lopez, Emily Osment, Becca Tilley, Ben Lyons, Diplo, Tyler Toffoli and Anze Kopitar.

The evening’s top honoree will be Dennis Gilbert, the former agent and founder of the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation.

Pennant Race Ticket Plan unveiled for stretch run

In Tickets

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

As we head into the final two months of the regular season, the Dodgers are offering a special Pennant Race Ticket Plan at dodgers.com/welovela.

Live-blog: Farhan Zaidi talks post-deadline Dodgers

In Outfield, Status report, Transactions

New guys. #WeLoveLA pic.twitter.com/pikYuDV3sq

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 1, 2016

By Jon Weisman

Farhan Zaidi is speaking to reporters today about the state of the Dodgers after today’s three trades that yielded Rich Hill and Josh Reddick, Jesse Chavez and Josh Fields, at the cost of Jharel Cotton, Grant Holmes, Frankie Montas, Mike Bolsinger and Yordan Alvarez. We’ll live-blog his comments as they come, beginning shortly after 3:30 p.m. …

Dodgers acquire Josh Fields from Astros

In Health/injuries, Transactions

Josh Fields (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

In another Deadline Day move, the Dodgers acquired right-handed reliever Josh Fields from the Astros for minor-league first baseman Yordan Alvarez.

To make room Fields on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers moved Hyun-Jin Ryu to the 60-day disabled list. If healthy, Ryu is eligible to come off the disabled list after the first week of September.

Mike Bolsinger traded for Jesse Chavez

In Transactions

Jesse Chavez (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

In an exchange of right-handed pitchers, the Dodgers have acquired Jesse Chavez and cash considerations from the Toronto Blue Jays for Mike Bolsinger.

Chavez, who turns 33 on August 21, has a 1.28 WHIP and 4.57 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings this year for Toronto. The previous two seasons, he pitched mostly as a starter for Oakland, with a 3.83 ERA from 2014-15.

The 28-year-old Bolsinger had a 4.27 ERA in 137 innings with the Dodgers over the past two seasons, highlighted by a 2.83 ERA in his first 16 games with Los Angeles last year.

Dodgers acquire Josh Reddick, Rich Hill

In Transactions

Josh Reddick (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Rich Hill (Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

With less than three hours remaining in the 2016 non-waiver trade deadline, the Dodgers have made their first move. It might not be their only one.

The Dodgers have acquired left-handed hitting outfielder Josh Reddick and left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, in exchange for minor-league right-handers Jharel Cotton, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas.

The 29-year-old Reddick has a career-high .368 on-base percentage and 124 OPS+ this year in 272 plate appearances for Oakland. (He missed five weeks after fracturing his left thumb on a slide May 19.) His 121 weighted runs created is 12th among MLB right fielders.

Against right-handed pitching, Reddick has a .955 OPS this season.

Hey @RealJoshReddick you should ask to still be #22.

— Brett Anderson (@BAnderson3737) August 1, 2016

Hill has had an unusual career. At age 36, in his 12th Major League season, he has only 576 big-league innings to his name. He actually is on the disabled list right now, dating back to July 20, because of a blister issue. He also missed pitching in June because of a left groin strain.

However, when healthy in 2016, he has dominated, throwing 76 innings in 14 starts with a 2.25 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Man of the People: Adrián González gives his all to L.A.

Read the entire story by clicking here.

In Publications

By Jon Weisman

Since his much publicized two starts off June 26-27 in Pittsburgh, Adrián González’s production has been on the rise. Over his past 27 games, the 34-year-old first baseman has a .421 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage and .921 OPS.

At the same time, González’s power in the Dodger community is as high as ever. That’s the thrust of Cary Osborne’s cover story for the most recent Dodger Insider magazine. Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín explains why:

“Not since the days of Fernando Valenzuela have we had somebody who makes an impact … like Adrian has,” Jarrín said. “It took him just a few weeks for the community to get behind him because he’s a professional. The baseball fans respect his responsibility — the way he prepares himself to play. And outside the diamond he’s a real gentleman. He goes out to the community. I am so glad to see that because the community needs heroes, and he has become, after Fernando, the hero that we expected of him.”

Beginning this year, the Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) with a new edition available each homestand plus one in October, 13 issues total. It is distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation. Dodger Insider magazine includes news, features, analysis, photos, games, stadium information and more. Fans who still wish to subscribe can do so at dodgers.com/magazine.

Video: Vin Scully on E:60