February 2018 – Dodger Thoughts

The reign in pain: Justin Turner making HBP history

On February 27, 2018

One other thread in the Andre Ethier legacy is that he is the all-time Los Angeles Dodger leader in times being hit by a pitch, with 58. But at the rate Justin Turner has been going, Ethier’s reign might not last the year.

Last year, the Dodger third baseman set a single-season franchise record with 19 HBPs, breaking Alex Cora’s previous and literal mark of 18. (Cora also held the Los Angeles career mark before Ethier.) That gave Turner 46 plunkings as a Dodger, putting him within 12 of Ethier — and Turner has averaged 14 HBPs over the past three seasons.

Andre Ethier waits at the gate

By Jon Weisman

On February 27, 2018

In Dodgers, Life

The last official hit by the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 came from Andre Ethier, whose RBI single to right field in the sixth inning of Game 7 of the World Series put him on base for the 1,994th time in his regular-season and postseason career.

For this Spring Training, Ethier remains delayed at the gate with players still waiting to board major-league teams this year. What’s worse is that he’s not even in Group A or Group B. He’s camped out with his luggage near the Sbarro stand, hoping for a middle seat at best.

No … just, no …

By Jon Weisman

On February 27, 2018

In Life

This isn’t even about the serial comma, which has a subjective argument that can support it even if the objective argument doesn’t hold up. This, from the current New Yorker profile on Donald Glover, is just an abomination.

Previewing Brothers in Arms …
Part Two: The Two Emperors

By Jon Weisman

On February 26, 2018

In Books, Brothers in Arms, Dodgers

Associated Press

In this week’s preview teasing the May 1 release of Brothers in Arms: Koufax, Kershaw, and the Dodgers’ Extraordinary Pitching Tradition (pre-order now!), we come to two pitchers that you’ve heard a little bit about and then some: Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. It’s possible that more words have been written about those two than any other hurlers in Dodger history. So what could Brothers in Arms possibly offer?

Clayton Kershaw a convert to shifting — but not pitch clocks

By Jon Weisman

On February 24, 2018

In Defense

Screenshot: Gammons Daily

Clayton Kershaw, I think it’s safe to say, was a shifting cynic when aggressive defensive maneuvering took center stage a couple years back. Speaking with David Vassegh in this interview that ran Friday on AM 570, Kershaw conceded that he had come around to embrace defensive shifts (which always made sense) …

Bring back the baseball boogie

By Jon Weisman

On February 23, 2018

In Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Now I remember.

Now I remember what a long offseason feels like.

Previewing Brothers in Arms …
Part One: The Kings of Brooklyn

By Jon Weisman

On February 19, 2018

In Books, Brothers in Arms, Dodgers

Hi again. Next in this series of teases for the May 1 release of Brothers in Arms: Koufax, Kershaw, and the Dodgers’ Extraordinary Pitching Tradition (pre-order now!) is a preview of “Part One: The Kings of Brooklyn,” focusing on the beginnings of the Dodger pitching tradition and running through the man who finished off the franchise’s first World Series title.

Why I stand proudly against the serial comma

By Jon Weisman

On February 17, 2018

In Life, Writing

Every so often — frankly, all too often — I find myself drawn into a doozy of a debate on Twitter about the serial comma. Yes, really.

Also known as the Oxford comma, it’s specifically the comma that follows the penultimate item in a series: for example the second comma in “songs, tunes, and ditties.”

Usually, the serial comma is completely unnecessary, and consequently it’s almost completely absent from newspapers and nearly as much from magazines, outside of Old School holdouts like The New Yorker. (Not so much in books, I should note.)

Nevertheless, several people I respect, like and esteem are fervent advocates on Twitter, Facebook and the like for the serial comma, putting me in the odd, strange and divisive position of having to explain why I don’t want extraneous, supercilious and clunky punctuation in my writing.

Rather than re-explaining my position again and again on Twitter, I decided to put it here once and for all, so that I can simply point to this post and move on.

Lindsey Jacobellis: ‘I could be upset, but where is that going to get me?’

By Jon Weisman

On February 16, 2018

In Life, Other sports

Lindsey Jacobellis in 2010

Eight years ago minus a day, I wrote the post “Why Lindsey Jacobellis rocks,” pouring out my joyful respect for how Jacobellis’ fun-loving response in the face of immense Olympic disappointment floored me in the best way.

Lindsey Jacobellis is my new role model. She threw herself into competition at a level few of us could possibly emulate, sacrificed so that she might be the best, and when that failed to yield the ultimate prize, instead of curling up in the fetal position, she had the self-esteem and presence of mind to appreciate the greatness of the effort and the joy of what she was part of, win or lose. I want my kids to be like her.

Four years later at Sochi, Jacobellis crashed and finished seventh overall. This video illustrates where Jacobellis’ state of mind was heading into 2018. To say the least, I was eager to see what would happen to her this time around.

So, what am I doing?

By Jon Weisman

On February 14, 2018

In Blogging, Life, Thinking out loud

Mood: blurry

A few of you — and I do mean a few, given that many readers have understandably moved on — might have seen the handful of posts here over the past couple of weeks and wondered, is Dodger Thoughts back?

And the answer to that is yes. And no. And I’m not sure.

At 39, Chase Utley can still be more than an on-field coach

By Jon Weisman

On February 13, 2018

In Dodgers, Transactions

Dave Roberts and Chase Utley in April 2017 (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Here’s something that might surprise you, because it surprised me — Chase Utley actually hit the ball well for the better part of 2017.

Brothers in Arms prologue: Dazzy Vance and the days before the Dodgers pitching tradition began

By Jon Weisman

On February 12, 2018

In Books, Brothers in Arms, Dodgers, Pitching

Dazzy Vance (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

Hi there! To get you warmed up for the May 1 release of Brothers in Arms: Koufax, Kershaw, and the Dodgers’ Extraordinary Pitching Tradition (pre-order now!), from time to time I want to share some behind-the-scenes tidbits about, for lack of a better phrase, “The Making of Brothers in Arms.” Think of these as if they were the DVD extras. Ideally, you’ll find them of interest even without the book in your hands.

Bringing back the Miracle
on Ice — and on VCRs

By Jon Weisman

On February 11, 2018

In Entertainment, Life, Other sports

Well, this was a good time — and really fun to play out on Twitter over the course of the weekend. In case you missed it there, I’m bringing it here. Keep scrolling …

In January 1980, we got our first VCR. About a month later, I set up a recording for what sounded like might be an interesting hockey game. pic.twitter.com/DJTq1P4xLK

— Jon Weisman (@jonweisman) February 11, 2018

Dodger trades, from simple
to screwball

By Jon Weisman

On February 9, 2018

In Dodgers, Transactions

So by all appearances, Matt Kemp — the once prodigious if not prodigal son –is going to Spring Training at Camelback Ranch, and it got me wondering about how complicated is the composition of the Dodger roster.

Follow @dodgers_tradition
on Instagram

By Jon Weisman

On February 6, 2018

In Brothers in Arms, Dodgers, Social media

As another means of keeping you updated and spreading good cheer about my upcoming book — Brothers in Arms: Koufax, Kershaw, and the Dodgers Extraordinary Pitching Tradition — I’ve created a new Instagram account with the handle @dodgers_tradition. There, I plan to share not only book-related news, but fun historical tidbits, behind-the-scenes extras and more about the Dodgers to get you excited not only about the book but the upcoming baseball season. Enjoy!

Dodger Thoughts

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

Month: February 2018 (Page 1 of 2)

The reign in pain: Justin Turner making HBP history

Andre Ethier waits at the gate

No … just, no …

Previewing Brothers in Arms …
Part Two: The Two Emperors

Clayton Kershaw a convert to shifting — but not pitch clocks

Bring back the baseball boogie

Previewing Brothers in Arms …
Part One: The Kings of Brooklyn

Why I stand proudly against the serial comma

Lindsey Jacobellis: ‘I could be upset, but where is that going to get me?’

So, what am I doing?

At 39, Chase Utley can still be more than an on-field coach

Brothers in Arms prologue: Dazzy Vance and the days before the Dodgers pitching tradition began

Bringing back the Miracle
on Ice — and on VCRs

Dodger trades, from simple
to screwball

Buy ‘The Catch: A novel’

Buy ‘Brothers in Arms’

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