Postgame – Page 15 – Dodger Thoughts

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By Jon Weisman

Last week was peculiar for Scott Van Slyke. Hitting .394 with a .462 on-base percentage and .606 slugging percentage through May 2, Van Slyke went 0 for 10 with five strikeouts from May 3-6, then didn’t get into either of the games over the weekend at Coors Field, where he somewhat predictably had a .985 OPS in 25 plate appearances last year.

Tonight, Van Slyke was in the lineup against Miami, not only facing a right-hander, but for the first time in his career starting in the No. 8 slot. The big outfielder made the most of it.

First, Van Slyke doubled in the fifth inning and appeared to score the Dodgers’ second run on Jimmy Rollins’ deep liner to right, only to be thwarted when Joc Pederson was doubled off first base following Giancarlo Stanton’s great catch and bullet throw.

Van Slyke then made what appeared to be the pivotal play of the game for the Dodgers, catching Adeiny Hechavarria’s bases-loaded liner with one out in the seventh inning and throwing out Christian Yelich at home to perserve a 1-1 tie.

In the bottom of that same inning, Van Slyke singled, went to second on a Yelich error and this time came around to score for real, on a redemptive single to center by Pederson.

Then, after Yelich stunned Dodger reliever Yimi Garcia with a two-run homer in the ninth — the first runs allowed by Dodger relievers at home in their last 38 1/3 innings — Van Slyke came through again.

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The come-from-behind, 5-3 walkoff victory gave the Dodgers a 21-10 record — 14-2 at home — and a season-high five-game lead in the National League West. Already, it’s the Dodgers’ fourth walkoff victory at home in 2015, and in all four of those games they were either trailing at one point or never led.

* * *

It would be wrong to let this game go by without tipping our cap to this play by old friend Dee Gordon.

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Dodgers’ finishing kick boots Rockies

By Jon Weisman

On May 10, 2015

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw had a snakebit fourth inning today and couldn’t get out of the sixth, but the Dodgers again asserted their late-inning strength to come away with a 9-5 victory at Colorado.

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After Kershaw allowed five runs in the fourth, Adrian Gonzalez’s bases-loaded double tied the game in the top of the fifth. Gonzalez had two doubles against lefty Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa.
Replacing Kershaw with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Pedro Baez struck out Rockies star Troy Tulowitzki. In his past seven outings, Baez has a 0.00 ERA and stranded all eight inherited runners, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out nine in 7 1/3 innings.
Reserve utilityman Kiké Hernandez started the eighth inning with a single, and after an A.J. Ellis sacrifice, super-reserve utilityman Justin Turner (batting for Baez) hit his fifth homer in 52 at-bats this season. That started a four-run inning that was capped by Gonzalez’s sacrifice fly to short.
Rookie lefty Adam Liberatore retired all four batters he faced. Incredibly, Liberatore has now faced 27 batters in his MLB career and retired 26 of them.
Yimi Garcia finished things up by striking out the last two batters of the game. Garcia (0.63 ERA) has faced 52 batters this season, allowing four singles and four walks while striking out 23.

Joc Pederson had three of the Dodgers’ 10 walks, while Jimmy Rollins (who scored on the sac fly to short), Howie Kendrick and Chris Heisey also reached base three times apiece. With 14 doubles and 29 RBI, Gonzalez is tied for the National League lead in both categories.

The Dodgers (20-10) extended their NL West lead to a season-high 4 1/2 games.

Pederson out-Piazzing Piazza as Dodgers dump Giants

By Jon Weisman

On April 27, 2015

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

In 1993, perhaps the most impressive rookie hitter in Dodger history, 24-year-old Mike Piazza, had a .354 on-base percentage and .520 slugging percentage in April.

In 2015, 23-year-old Joc Pederson has a .458 on-base percentage and .556 slugging percentage in April.

And also, this:

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Pederson, born barely four months before Piazza made his Major League debut in 1992, again rewarded the Dodgers’ faith in him entering this season, hitting a double and a home run Monday (before adding his requisite walk) in Los Angeles’ 8-3 victory over San Francisco.

Even accounting for the small benefit Pederson has gained from batting eighth, it grows harder almost by the day to deny the impact he can have on a game. It was Pederson who kept the Dodgers from falling behind, Pederson who had the biggest hit of their four-run third inning, Pederson who delivered the big insurance run in the sixth.

After hitting into five double plays in their first seven innings against Tim Lincecum this year — including a pair of line-drive first-inning twin killings last week and this — the Dodgers finally unloaded on the Giants righty in the third, following a walk with four singles and Pederson’s double to right to take a 4-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Brett Anderson was cruising with two out in the fifth, having retired eight batters in a row and 13 of 16 overall (aided by his own first-inning double play, an 8-6-3 of beauty that began with Pederson’s running catch in deep center), but then Anderson suddenly ran aground. He walked Brandon Crawford on a full-count pitch, gave up three consecutive hits and was chased from the game, just like that.

Angel Pagan’s RBI infield single off Carlos Frias cut the Dodger lead to 4-3, and a walk to Buster Posey loaded the bases. But Justin Maxwell, who has come from relative oblivion to cause the Dodgers all kinds of trouble this year — including a diving catch robbing Jimmy Rollins of what would have been two RBI in the second inning — grounded out on a comebacker, and the Dodgers escaped the inning.

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Then in the bottom of the sixth, Pederson knocked his third homer of the season to double the Dodgers’ comfort room, before walking in the eighth to help set up Justin Turner’s three-run pinch-hit homer that busted things wide open.

The period where pitchers adjust to Pederson and he has to adjust back certainly awaits, but considering that there was supposed to be a learning curve for the rookie outfielder and that any offense he was to provide at the outset of the season would be gravy, it’s hard not to reiterate how impressive he’s been.

“We just think Joc’s gonna keep improving,” manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s got a really good eye, and he’s going to strike out less as time goes on as he sees pitchers and knows how they’re attacking him and how to set himself up. I think he’s gonna get better.”

Reflections on a rough loss

By Jon Weisman

On April 23, 2015

In Postgame

For more images from Wednesday, visit LA Photog Blog – here and here.

By Jon Weisman

Disappointment infused with a sense of injustice? That’s not an easy way for Dodger fans to go to bed. Here’s a look at Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to San Francisco after a cleansing view of “The Americans” season finale and a night’s sleep …

The ‘not-their-night’ game

By Jon Weisman

On April 22, 2015

In Postgame

For more photos from Tuesday, visit LA Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

There’s no honor in blaming luck for a loss, and in fact, the San Francisco Giants displayed a surfeit of skill in their 6-2 victory Tuesday over the Dodgers.

San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford’s RBI bunt single in the third and acrobatic double-play launch in the sixth, followed by rightfielder Justin Maxwell’s diving catch into the wall in foul territory and two-run homer in the eighth — when stuff like that happens, victory often follows.

At the same time, I don’t think it’s shameful to point out that this wasn’t the Dodgers’ luckiest night. Adrian Gonzalez lined into an unassisted double play (one of four twin-killings the Dodgers hit into). Yasiel Puig might have been robbed of an at-bat by a catcher’s interference non-call. And above all, there was this:

Tizzy of a timeline turns it up for Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On April 19, 2015

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

There’s so much going so well with the Dodgers that it’s hard to now where to begin, but I want to focus on a 23-minute stretch about midway through Sunday’s game.

2:41 p.m.: With the bases loaded, two out and the Dodgers leading, 2-0, in the bottom of the fifth, the red-hot Adrian Gonzalez fouls out.
2:44 p.m.: Brandon McCarthy, who had walked two batters in his first 17 innings of the season, free-passes pinch-hitter Rafael Ynoa on five pitches leading off the top of the sixth.
2:47 p.m.: Charlie Blackmon strokes a vintage hit-and-run single to left field, putting runners at the corners with sluggers Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki coming next.

Just give baseball six minutes, and it gives you the whirl. Like a thumb to the nose, we were humbled with how quickly fortunes can turn. Six-game winning streak, sizzling hitters, authoritative pitching can vanish just like that.

So, sit down and prepare yourself for what came next …

2:49 p.m.: Gonzalez pops out to short.
2:52 p.m.: Tulowitzki hits a comebacker to McCarthy, who turns to start a 1-6-3 inning-ending double play.
2:54 p.m.: Rockies reliever Scott Oberg enters and takes his warmup pitches.
2:56 p.m.: Howie Kendrick hits a 411-foot homer to dead center.
2:59 p.m.: Andre Ethier walks.
3:01 p.m.: Justin Morneau reaches up for Scott Van Slyke’s foul pop-up between home and first, and the ball bounces off the back of his glove for an error.
3:02 p.m.: Van Slyke hits a 400-foot homer to left.
3:04 p.m.: Joc Pederson hits a 416-foot homer to right center.

In less than the time it takes to get through a sitcom, the Dodgers turned a melodrama into a laugher, and ultimately a 7-0 final for their seventh straight victory.

Scott Oberg is the first pitcher ever to allow three homers to the Dodgers without getting at least two batters out. http://t.co/e7aTA41gXP

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 19, 2015

The Dodgers had seven doubles, one shy of the team’s Los Angeles record but plenty to help them take a firm lead among National League teams, to go with their top ranking in adjusted OPS, OPS, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. The three homers also gave them 17 to push them past the Phillies for the top spot in that category.

Gonzalez’s season-long hitting streak came to an end, but the Dodgers racked up 14 hits without him — 10 for extra bases, including three doubles by Turner and a homer and two doubles for Van Slyke.

The Dodgers have 10 extra-base hits at home for the first time since The 4+1 Game (they had 13 in that one) http://t.co/vIwcf19KvP

— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) April 19, 2015

Meanwhile, Dodger pitching held the NL’s No. 2 offensive team to six runs in three games, with McCarthy separating himself from the homerific woes of his first two starts. Threat in the sixth inning aside, the tall righty cruised through six innings on 92 pitches, striking out six to give him 25 in 18 innings this year. Only Clayton Kershaw has more among MLB pitchers.

Adam Liberatore pitched two perfect innings and Juan Nicasio a shutout ninth to extend the Dodger bullpen’s homestand dominance to 20 1/3 innings with one run allowed (on 14 baserunners) and 28 strikeouts.

Quite a half-hour, quite an afternoon, quite a homestand. The Dodgers next travel to San Francisco to play the Giants, who trail them by six games in the NL West after two weeks.

Long lineup fuels latest comeback

By Jon Weisman

On April 14, 2015

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Fernando Rodney, it would seem, is welcome at Dodger Stadium.

On August 9, 2013, Rodney was on the mound when the Dodgers completed a comeback from a 6-0 seventh-inning deficit, scoring four times in the ninth inning off the righty to top Andrew Friedman’s Tampa Bay Rays.

Tonight, the Dodgers completed their second consecutive walkoff comeback win and fourth comeback victory in eight games of the 2015 season, rallying past Rodney and the Seattle Mariners, 6-5.

It’s bizarre that the Dodgers have let opponents score in the first inning six times this season. It’s bizarre that the Dodgers have won four of those games.

If you ask me, it’s less about the oft-cited strength of character or grit, and more about the subtle relentlessness of the Dodger lineup, which has threats in every spot, especially off the bench.

Once more, the reserves kicked in. Alex Guerrero had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the fourth. Andre Ethier homered (his first since June 29) in the sixth. And Justin Turner led off the ninth with a single, and though he was later eliminated between third and home on a fielder’s choice, his hit set up the final two runs, driven home by Howie Kendrick’s line single to right.

The first four batters in the Dodger lineup — Rollins, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Kendrick — each had two hits.

After David Huff allowed two homers and four runs in a four-inning spot start, Juan Nicasio walked three to enable Seattle to extend its lead by a run to 5-3 in the fifth, but after that, the Dodger bullpen shut the Mariners down, with Chris Hatcher and Yimi Garcia retiring the final seven batters. Garcia got the win for the second night in a row.

‘Rero my hero

By Jon Weisman

On April 13, 2015

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

It’s the old story — they’re ready to write you off, and then you write yourself back in.

Alex Guerrero, who went from potential 2014 starting second baseman to potential 2015 castoff, has done nothing this year but make the case that he belongs.

No single factor dominates Dodger loss

By Jon Weisman

On April 11, 2015

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

So rather quickly, the Dodgers’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to Arizona on Friday was characterized as the latest chapter in that ongoing pulp series, The Bullpen Fails!

J.P. Howell didn’t deliver what the Dodgers needed in the bottom of the 10th, sandwiching two walks around a wild pitch, then giving up a game-winning single to Ender Inciarte that thwarted the Dodgers’ five-man infield (highlighted by Yasiel Puig at third).

Without ignoring how much everyone wants perfection from every reliever, every inning, putting all the blame on the bullpen is kind of crazy after Yimi Garcia and Joel Peralta struck out six in three scoreless innings, retiring nine of 10 batters.

Nor do I want to single out Howell, who had a 1.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through his first 46 innings last season, for villainy. The Dodger offense went scoreless in five innings against the Diamondbacks’ relievers. Starting pitcher Brett Anderson pitched well, but made a mistake to the one guy you can’t make a mistake to, Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt.

If this were football, we’d have to wait a week to put the loss behind us. Thankfully, it’s baseball, and we’re back tonight, with Clayton Kershaw on the mound no less.

Yes, they lost, but this was still great

By Jon Weisman

On April 8, 2015

In Postgame

For more photos from Tuesday, visit LA Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

Despite the Dodgers losing by four runs, Tuesday’s game was not without its highlights, starting with Vin Scully’s narrative about beards in 2015.
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Dodger defense will see better days after 7-3 defeat

By Jon Weisman

On April 7, 2015

In Defense, Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Three sighs, and the Dodgers were out.

Adrian Gonzalez is hitting like a man possessed in his first two games of 2015 and Zack Greinke was practically untouchable in his season debut, but the Dodgers are 1-1, thanks to a three-error performance by their defense tonight that figures to be uncharacteristic.

After a 30-minute rain delay, San Diego topped Los Angeles, 7-3, scoring its first four runs thanks to shortcomings by the Dodger defense.

Racing in on a wet outfield, Carl Crawford’s diving attempt failed to corral Justin Upton’s sinking liner in the first inning, allowing it to scoot past for an RBI triple. Padres 1, Dodgers 0.
Jimmy Rollins lost his balance while backpedaling for a seventh-inning Yangervis Solarte pop-up, dropping the ball to allow Yonder Alonso to score. Combined with a second-inning miscue on a grounder, it was Rollins’ first two-error game since August 10, 2010. Padres 2, Dodgers 2.
With two on and one out and in the top of the eighth, Will Middlebrooks flied to Yasiel Puig, who caught the ball flat-footed. Derek Norris tagged up and went to third base, then scored on an Alonso single. Padres 3, Dodgers 2.
In the ninth, after Clint Barmes singled, Cory Spangenberg reached base when Yasmani Grandal bobbled his bunt and then made a desperate throw into Spangenberg’s back. Barmes advanced to third, then scored on a single by Wil Myers. Padres 4, Dodgers 3.

The Padres would tack on three more runs to effectively put the game out of reach. San Diego won by four, scoring three unearned runs, plus the first inning tally that was questionably if officially earned.

“Errors are gonna happen,” Don Mattingly said. “The field – there was a little rain – but I think guys for the most part would say the field didn’t have a lot to do with it. Plays we have chances to make, we don’t make.”

Puig, as he so often does, recovered from his setback in impressive ways, making a difficult catch of a foul by Upton for the second out of the ninth. And the Dodgers were twice resilient, rallying from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits before the dam burst in the ninth.

Leading the way was Gonzalez, who became the first Major League player since Ray Jablonski in 1956 and second ever to have a single, double and home run in each of his first two games of the season. Gonzalez is 6 for 9 with a hard liner to third in his first at-bat of 2015. His sixth-inning double and eighth-inning homer each tied the game.

The Dodgers’ eight doubles in their first two games also ties a Los Angeles record set in 1995.

Deuces wild? Adrian Gonzalez has two singles, two doubles and two homers (and two strikeouts) in two games.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 8, 2015

On the mound, Zack Greinke was fairly mesmerizing. After allowing a two-out hit to Matt Kemp in the first before Upton’s triple, Grienke held the next 18 Padres hitless with one walk. The bullpen didn’t fare nearly as well, with six relievers combining to allow nine hits over the final three innings.

Storytime theater ends happily for Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On April 6, 2015

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Opening Day at Dodger Stadium usually makes for a good story. But it’s hard to remember one when there was so much story.

Game 1 of 162 wasn’t merely a contest between the two top contenders in the National League West, it was a full-throated battle for narrative.

Matt Kemp took the early lead in the bid for headlines, Clayton Kershaw threatened to sneak his way back in, and Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick and the Padres’ defense all had their moments in the sun (literally and figuratively). For good measure, you had Hanley Ramirez threatening to show up the Dodgers, hitting two home runs out in a far-off time zone.

But standing large-font triumphant at the end of the day were Jimmy Rollins, the Dodger bullpen and ultimately, the Dodgers themselves.

Los Angeles did its fans the big favor of sending them home with a 6-3 victory over San Diego — and plenty of tales to tell.

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The good, the bad and the unusual in a 7-5 loss

By Jon Weisman

On March 18, 2015

In Postgame, Spring Training, Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

There was plenty of action in today’s 7-5 Dodger loss to the Cubs, but the marquee attraction in the “Have You Seen This Before?” Department was … no, not Sergio Santos’ four-strikeout inning, but the fact that he had a 1-3 strikeout on a pitch that caromed back to him before he threw the batter/runner out at first.

What dreams may come …

By Jon Weisman

On March 5, 2015

In Postgame, Spring Training

What dreams may come … http://t.co/DbLPIv7Z3q pic.twitter.com/2CJiTCR2Zv

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 6, 2015

By Jon Weisman

Look, it’s not like I haven’t been burned. Here’s an all-what might-have-been lineup of Dodger prospects from the past 10 years:

Jason Repko, CF
Delwyn Young, RF
Andy LaRoche, 3B
Jerry Sands, 1B
Joel Guzman, SS
Blake DeWitt, 2B
Xavier Paul, LF
Tim Federowicz, C
Jon Meloan, P

I’m not criticizing them — each fulfilled a dream (I really mean that), even if they didn’t fulfill all dreams.

Then Clayton Kershaw finishes his first exhibition inning of 2015 today by dropping a straight echo of his teenage Public Enemy No. 1 on Jose Abreu, and I’m reminded, it’s OK to believe.

Outfield competition front in center as Cactus League opens

By Jon Weisman

On March 4, 2015

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

On the first day of Cactus League play, Joc Pederson had two hits while playing designated hitter. Andre Ethier struck out twice while playing center field, but he probably wouldn’t have minded that much if he had made a diving catch at the warning track.

Well, there’s always the next game.

“Just a tough play,” Ethier told Phil Rogers of MLB.com. “It’s one where you have to make a break on it, try to keep an eye on the ball the best you can, not lose it. I got there, just didn’t bring it in.”

Said Don Mattingly: “As we get into spring, he catches that ball all day long.”

Despite losing to the White Sox, 6-4, it was a pretty eventful day in general for the Dodgers. Most of the action came after the starters were pulled …

O’Koyea Dickson hit the Dodgers’ first homer of the exhibition season, turning on a ball at his knees and pulling it over the wall in left.
Alex Guerrero had two hits off the bench, playing third base.
Corey Seager and Darnell Sweeney each singled and walked.
Jimmy Rollins went 1 for 2, but fellow newcomers Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes each went 0 for 2.
Juan Nicasio was the domino that fell over after Ethier’s near-miss, allowing three runs in the third inning.
Carlos Frias allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, but struck out five. Batting average on balls in play: .750.
Sergio Santos, Adam Liberatore and Josh Ravin each pitched a perfect inning. Liberatore struck out two.
The Dodgers had the tying runs on base with none out in the ninth after singles by Sweeney, Guerrero and Seager scored their fourth run, but Kyle Jensen flied out, Kiké Hernandez struck out and Scott Schebler grounded out.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Postgame (Page 15 of 21)

Walkoff wallop: Scott Van Slyke delayed but not denied

Dodgers’ finishing kick boots Rockies

Pederson out-Piazzing Piazza as Dodgers dump Giants

Reflections on a rough loss

The ‘not-their-night’ game

Tizzy of a timeline turns it up for Dodgers

Long lineup fuels latest comeback

‘Rero my hero

No single factor dominates Dodger loss

Yes, they lost, but this was still great

Dodger defense will see better days after 7-3 defeat

Storytime theater ends happily for Dodgers

The good, the bad and the unusual in a 7-5 loss

What dreams may come …

Outfield competition front in center as Cactus League opens

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