September 2016 – Page 6 – Dodger Thoughts

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On September 18, 2016

In History

Today is the 10th anniversary — unbelievably — of the greatest game at Dodger Stadium this century, the 4+1 Game. To celebrate the occasion, here’s a sneak peak from this week’s Dodger Insider magazine tribute to Vin Scully, in which we relive the night through his words.

— Jon Weisman

Early bird Dodgers get the win, 3-2

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers scored two runs with their first three batters tonight — and didn’t do much after that — but it was enough for a 3-2 victory over Zack Greinke and Arizona, reducing Los Angeles’ magic number to clinch the National League West to 12.

Anderson thrives, Oklahoma City stays alive in PCL

In Health/injuries, Minor leagues

We will take it! 3-2 OKC on a Will Venable single! ⬇️7️⃣#ITFDBOKC pic.twitter.com/6ETaAY9q1s

— OKC Dodgers (@okc_dodgers) September 17, 2016

By Jon Weisman

After Brett Anderson pitched five strong innings, Triple-A Oklahoma City scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to rally for a 4-2 victory over El Paso in Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League finals.

Stewart to start Saturday, rehab continues for vets

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Though it’s not as dramatic as it was in July and August, when seemingly every start was up for grabs, the Dodgers did have some small tweaks and tidbits to share this afternoon about their starting pitching.

Brock Stewart will make Saturday’s start at Arizona instead of previously announced Bud Norris, according to Dave Roberts, who said Stewart was getting the nod based on “the way he’s thrown” in his recent outings. Norris will remain available out of the bullpen.

Two Vin Scully covers next week for Dodger Insider

In Publications

Here’s a sneak peek at the cover of Dodger Insider magazine for September 19-24. This will be distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation.

As is the case with the Special Commemorative Edition that will be given at the ticket gates to the first 50,000 fans September 25, the September 19-24 edition has been dedicated to celebrating the life and career of Vin Scully. The main difference is the September 25 edition will have the special commemorative cover. Existing subscribers will receive the September 25 commemorative issue.

Looking forward to you getting your copy …

— Jon Weisman

As streaks end, Dodgers go down Hill

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

When Rich Hill struck out Brandon Drury in the second inning tonight, that gave him 27 consecutive outs — the final batter he faced September 3, plus all 21 on September 10 and the first five Diamondbacks this evening.

The next hitter, former Dodger minor-leaguer Kyle Jensen, homered. In his 21st inning as a Dodger, Hill had given up his first run.

Things started to unravel slowly after that. Arizona scored another run in the third inning, then sported a Big 5 in the fifth against Hill and Louis Coleman, on their way to a 7-3 victory over Los Angeles.

Hill was charged with four earned runs for the first time in 2016. Coleman, who hadn’t allowed a run or inherited run since July 22, was hit with both, the topper being a three-run homer by 18-game veteran Mitch Haniger.

Down 7-1 in the seventh, the Dodgers scored twice with nobody out, but their next nine hitters were retired. Chase Utley, who had reached base his first four times up, made the final out.

Rich Hill has allowed one hit to his past 50 batters

In Pregame

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Andre Ethier, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Rich Hill, P

By Jon Weisman

Not only does Rich Hill enters tonight’s start against Arizona having retired 22 batters in a row, but the last 50 batters against Hill are 1 for 47 (an Alexei Ramirez single) with two walks.

Since he first took the mound for the Dodgers on August 24, opponents are 6 for 63 (.095) with the two walks and no extra-base hits — and, of course, no runs. Hill has struck out 20 of the 65 batters he has faced.

Hill’s batting average on balls in play for those three starts is .140, so he’s due for some regression — as if you didn’t know. But including his Oakland games, Hill has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his 2016 starts.

Joey Curletta goes to Phillies in Ellis-Ruiz deal

In Transactions

The Dodgers have completed the Carlos Ruiz-A.J. Ellis trade by sending minor-leaguer Joey Curletta to the Phillies as the player to be named later.

The 22-year-old outfielder had an .834 OPS and 13 homers in 77 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and .652 OPS with four homers in 29 games with Double-A Tulsa this year.

Curletta was a sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft.

— Jon Weisman

Found in translation: Dodgers push to make U.S. adjustment easier for international players

Read the entire story by clicking here.

In International, Minor leagues, Publications

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodger minor-leaguer and Dominican Republic native Luis DePaula spoke at a local elementary school, as part of the Dodgers’ transitioning program.

By Jon Weisman

In a recent piece for Dodger Insider magazine by Bob Harkins, we look at the extra steps the Dodgers are taking to ease transition of international players into the organization. An excerpt:

… The Dodgers are aggressive about helping their international signees as soon as they arrive at their academy in the Dominican Republic, Campo Las Palmas, and also every step of the way as they move into the minor leagues.

The education efforts go well beyond English lessons, as some players, typically ages 16-18 when they arrive, haven’t attended school since they were 10. They live and breathe baseball, but there is much to learn before suddenly being thrust into the American culture.

“These guys are developing life skills beyond just the cultural acclimation part,” Dodger senior manager of player development Matt McGrath said. “For us, it’s as much developing them as men as it is culturally or language-wise.

“We’re trying to make them stronger men, give them the ability to communicate across languages with teammates. That makes everybody better. That’s the ultimate goal of what we’re trying to do.” …

Harkins begins the story by talking with Juan Castro, whom the Dodgers first signed 25 years ago, to illustrate the evolution from then to now.

* * *

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 wish to subscribe for 2017 can do so at dodgers.com/magazine.

Triple-A Oklahoma City on the brink in PCL finals

In Minor leagues

By Jon Weisman

Despite three hits apiece from Kyle Farmer and Drew Maggi, Triple-A Oklahoma City dropped their second straight game in the Pacific Coast League finals, losing 10-4 to El Paso and falling within one game of elimination in their best-of-five series.

Oklahoma City tied the game at 2-2 in a bizarre top of the fourth that featured four El Paso errors and two runners thrown out on the basepaths. The Chihuahuas’ Carlos Asuaje homered off Chase De Jong to give El Paso the lead for good.

The remaining three games of the series, as needed, will be played at Oklahoma City beginning Friday, with Brett Anderson taking the Game 3 start.

Clinton 16, Great Lakes 6: In the opener of the best-of-five Midwest League Finals, DJ Peters (2 for 2, two walks) hit a three-run homer in the first inning for Single-A Great Lakes, but the Loons never recovered after allowing eight runs in a fourth inning that included three errors and three wild pitches. Great Lakes pitchers had 10 walks and eight wild pitches in the game.

Brendon Davis and Jake Henson each added two hits for Great Lakes.

Kershaw nearly perfect in second September stint

Clayton Kershaw in the first inning at Yankee Stadium today, when the sun still glowed. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

As Clayton Kershaw showed he was ready to reign over New York, the only problem was how much it rained over Clayton Kershaw.

In his second start since returning from the disabled list, Kershaw threw five shutout innings — the first four of them perfect — despite being interrupted by two separate rain delays, in a game ultimately won by the Dodgers in the ninth, 2-0.

Dodgers escape from New York, 2-0

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

Scoreless for 17 innings, the Dodgers left Yankee Stadium as winner of tonight’s game, winners of this week’s series and holders of a five-game lead in the National League West.

Struggles against lefties: A sample-size issue?

In Offense, Pregame

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Dodgers at Yankees, 1:05 p.m.
Kershaw CCLX: Kershawtlanta
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Andre Ethier, DH
Joc Pederson, CF
Andrew Toles, LF
(Clayton Kershaw, P)

By Jon Weisman

There’s always something you can worry about. The bullpen used to be the Big Glum, unless it was the offense, or the starting pitching, or all the injuries.

Now, it seems nothing is more vexing for the Dodgers than their struggles against left-handed pitching.

That was the dominant theme after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to CC Sabathia and the Yankees, leaving the Dodgers 18-20 when a southpaw starts against them this year, compared with 63-43 when a northpaw noshes.

“Every time we get a left-hander, we feel good about it and are optimistic, but it has been a tough year against left-handed pitching,” Dave Roberts said, according to Doug Padilla of ESPN.com. “The numbers, obviously, as they say, don’t lie. We have to look back at the video with C.C., but it seemed like he kept us at bay and off balance and we didn’t get very many good swings against him. Regardless, we have to find a way to produce baserunners and ultimately runs.”

It’s certainly noticeable that the Dodgers have the Majors’ worst offense against lefties by nearly every measure, from a .294 on-base percentage to 73 weighted runs created, though I’m not convinced that a record near .500 in 38 games sample spells doom.

2017 Dodgers schedule: All you need to know