Jon Weisman – Page 26 – Dodger Thoughts

On October 7, 2016

In Postseason, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Today, the Dodgers’ National League Division Series roster officially became what they unofficially indicated it would be Tuesday. Here’s how it looks from a lefty-righty standpoint:

Kershaw says he feels less pressure to carry Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

A day ahead of his National League Division Series start, a smiling Clayton Kershaw looked relaxed at his Q&A with reporters — and admitted he’s feeling more relaxed as well.

He owes that relative levity to the all-hands-on-deck Dodgers, who showed in 2016 that they can win even with their ace sidelined from late June until September with a herniated disk. Calling this the “most complete” team he has been on, Kershaw said he doesn’t feel he needs to carry the Dodgers by himself.

“I think in the past I’ve definitely felt that pressure more,” Kershaw said, heading into his fourth straight postseason and the sixth of his career. “But this year’s been a little bit different for me, just as far as having to watch on the sidelines for two months (and) understanding how good our team is. … I think it’s really kind of hit home for me a little bit, as I’ve come back, that I can definitely be a part of this and definitely help and definitely be a factor in winning — but I don’t have to be the factor.

“Obviously I have a job to do and I understand that,” he added, “but … we’re such a team that I feel like I can rely on those guys and, likewise, they can rely on me. It’s just a different feeling than I’ve had in the past.”

As usual, questions about whether Kershaw will start a potential Game 4 on three days’ rest have begun before he has even thrown his first Game 1 pitch. Among the follow-ups: Did the time off to rest his back deliver a side benefit of resting his arm?

Andrew Toles to start NLDS Game 1 in left field

By Jon Weisman

Though the Dodgers haven’t announced their full starting lineup for Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday, Dave Roberts did tell reporters today that Andrew Toles will be the left fielder.

In case you missed it: Pre-NLDS news and notes

In Awards, In case you missed it, Postseason

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Tomorrow really is just a day away. Friday’s opening game of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Nationals comes in about 24 hours, depending on when exactly you’re reading this.

Here’s what been percolating …

Purging the ghosts of Dodger postseasons past

In History, Postseason

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

This is exorcism time.

Though it has been nearly 28 years since the Dodgers last reached the World Series, they have come tantalizingly close — closer than you might realize. The list of turning points — any one of which might have redirected the Dodgers from a title — doesn’t merely boggle the mind. It jengas the mind. It gnip-gnops the mind.

In all, there have been four National League Division Series (1996, 2006, 2014, 2015) and three National League Championship Series (2008, 2009, 2013) that might have gone the Dodgers’ way if not for a single play. There are 17 such plays captured below, and that’s not even an all-inclusive list.

Perhaps by confronting this chamber of horrors at once, we can spiritually move the Dodgers forward …

Andrew Friedman, Dave Roberts explain Dodgers’ NLDS roster choices

In Front office, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers faced several hard choices in coming up with their 25-man roster for the National League Division Series — and to some extent, the specific matchup with the Washington Nationals served as a tiebreaker.

Dodgers’ NLDS roster essentially set

In Postseason, Transactions

At dusk, the Dodgers were in a workout ahead of their Wednesday flight to Washington D.C. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Though the Dodgers haven’t officially revealed their 25-man roster for the National League Division Series, Dave Roberts answered the remaining questions about the final spots today before the team’s final pre-NLDS workout in Los Angeles.

Here’s how it shakes out, pending any last-minute changes:

Washington D.C. weekend weather looks … interesting

As Hurricane Matthew makes its way up the Atlantic this week, it’s unclear — to take an extremely narrow view of things — how it will impact the Dodgers’ first two games in the National League Division Series at Washington. But with a 40 percent chance of rain already forecast for Saturday, everyone might need to brace themselves for at least a delay.

It’s funny (now) — when I was living in Washington D.C. in 1992-93, I got tickets for a game in Baltimore at Camden Yards that turned out to be called because of a hurricane. Driving home, the storm was blinding, and in retrospect it was crazy for me to have even tried to go in the first place. And then I got a flat tire. That night nearly destroyed me.

Oh well — here’s hoping for the best.

— Jon Weisman

How lefty Grant Dayton found the feel in 2016

In Profiles

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Grant Dayton is a 28-year-old rookie who had a 9.26 for Triple-A Oklahoma City last summer.

Since then, something wicked this way came.

Making his Major League debut July 22, Dayton has a 2.05 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings for Los Angeles, putting him on everyone’s shortlist for the postseason roster. It’s not exactly something one would have easily predicted 12 months ago.

“I don’t know what happened to me last year, to be honest,” Dayton said during the Dodgers’ last homestand. “I was having a great year, and then I got traded. And then I lost feel for all my pitches. It was definitely mental, but I have no idea why it happened.

“Looking back on it, I don’t know if I’d be here if it didn’t happen.”

Adam Liberatore to have surgery, return in 2017

In Health/injuries

By Jon Weisman

Adam Liberatore, who had a 0.85 WHIP and 0.61 ERA before the All-Star Break but 1.95 WHIP and 9.45 ERA after, is expected to undergo an arthroscopic left elbow debridement Tuesday, which should allow him to return for the 2017 season.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the operation in Los Angeles on Liberatore, who set a franchise record July 9 with his 24th consecutive scoreless appearance. Alex Wood recently returned to action after a similar procedure in July.

Liberatore was placed on the disabled list August 3 (retroactive to July 30), and pitched 9 1/3 innings in 14 games thereafter with a 9.64 ERA and 18 baserunners.

Clayton Kershaw in the playoffs: Myth and reality

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Hi — welcome to our annual attempt to kill the myth that Clayton Kershaw always fails in the postseason.

Last year, Kershaw pitched 13 2/3 innings in the National League Division Series with a 2.63 ERA, losing a 3-1 decision in Game 1 before winning Game 4 by the same score on three days’ rest.

In eight playoff starts since 2013, Kershaw has six quality starts — including all three times he has pitched on three days’ rest — and allowed one earned run or less in four of the eight.

We covered this ground already this year, but this seems like the right time for a reminder. What follows is from our May 24 piece: Postseason Kershaw: Do you remember only the bad, or also the good?

Times for NLDS Games 1 and 2 announced

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Nationals will begin Friday in Washington at 2:38 p.m. Pacific Time, with Game 2 to follow Saturday at 1:08 p.m. PT.

The NLDS opener matches Clayton Kershaw against Max Scherzer, with Rich Hill opposing either Tanner Roark or Gio Gonzalez in Game 2.

Both games will air nationally on Fox Sports 1.

The other NLDS matchup, between the Cubs and either the Mets or Giants, will have the late games both nights, beginning at 6:15 p.m. PT Friday and 5:08 p.m. PT Saturday from Chicago.

Orel Hershiser to get second look for Hall of Fame

In Awards

By Jon Weisman

Dodger pitching great Orel Hershiser is one of five former Major Leaguers who will be considered for Hall of Fame election this winter.

Former Dodger manager Davey Johnson and coach Mark McGwire are also among the 10 names on the Today’s Game Era ballot that will be reviewed and voted upon December 5 at the Baseball Winter Meetings in National Harbor, Maryland, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced today.

Vin Scully’s farewell words