Postseason – Page 10 – Dodger Thoughts

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By Jon Weisman

On Friday, Don Mattingly was hit hard for not replacing Clayton Kershaw with J.P. Howell in the seventh inning.

Tonight, in the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory over St. Louis in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, Mattingly got almost as much grief when he replaced Zack Greinke with Howell.

Howell, whom it seems safe to say is in a slump after being at the top of his game for nearly the entire regular season, gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Matt Carpenter, the batter he would have faced with the bases loaded if Kershaw had been pulled one batter sooner.

It showed pretty starkly why Mattingly was reluctant to give up on his best pitcher in Game 1.

Matt Kemp, grinder

In Postgame, Postseason

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By Jon Weisman

This was big. It was loud in here tonight. We continue to grind.

I just continue to grind. This is where I want to be. Last year, it was tough, battling the injuries, but I came back strong, I kept grinding, my teammates were behind me, my family was behind me, we kept grinding and here we are now.

This was big right here. On this stage, in the playoffs, this was a must win for us, we needed this. Gonna continue to grind, go to St. Louis and get two more wins.

We told each other when J.P gave up that home run, we’re gonna back him up. We were gonna find a way to win this game. That’s what good teams do. We back each other up when we make mistakes. We just keep on going.

— Matt Kemp

A.J. Ellis’ bat comes to life

In Health/injuries, Postseason, Pregame

For more Saturday photos, visit LA Photog Blog.

Cardinals at Dodgers, 6:37 p.m.
Cardinals
Matt Carpenter, 3B
Jon Jay, CF
Matt Holliday, LF
Matt Adams, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Yadier Molina, C
Kolten Wong, 2B
Randal Grichuk, RF
Lance Lynn, P

Dodgers
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

As odd as it might be in October, A.J. Ellis is in his best physical shape of the year.

That helps account for the smashing game he had in Friday’s National League Division Series opener.

Ellis singled in the second and third innings, pounded a two-run homer in the sixth that at the time seemed to put the game away, and then even started the Dodgers’ near-comeback in the ninth with his fourth hit of the game.

The night gave Ellis a .450 on-base percentage and .722 slugging percentage in 41 career postseason plate appearances.

Don Mattingly discussed the 33-year-old catcher’s season before tonight’s game …

Closing out Game 1, moving on to Game 2

In Bullpen, In case you missed it, Pitching, Postseason

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By Jon Weisman

Over in the far-off reaches of the American League, the Detroit Tigers bullpen has been absolutely battered. In both his playoff games, Detroit manager Brad Ausmus has been ripped for removing a pitcher too soon.

Neither of those occasions came with Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Neither of them came in an inning that began after Clayton Kershaw had retired 16 of his last 17 batters with eight strikeouts, using only 74 pitches over that stretch and 81 in the game to that point.

I’m sympathetic to the argument that by the time nemesis Matt Carpenter came to bat in the seventh inning of Friday’s loss to the Cardinals, 21 pitches later, Kershaw was on thin ice. But I’m having trouble believing that anytime before that, Don Mattingly would have received less criticism for turning the final seven, eight or nine outs of the game to middle relief that has been darkly questioned all year long.

That’s not at all to say the bullpen would have failed, though the walk and home run surrendered by Pedro Baez to his first two batters was not reassuring — and J.P. Howell, who would have faced John Jay with the bases loaded in the seventh if many had had their way, allowed a leadoff single to Jay in the ninth.

It’s simply that between 1) a Kershaw that was allowing singles but also striking batters out, or 2) a fresh Howell or Baez, not only is the choice basically a tossup, but choosing the bullpen is betting against the player that has come through more often than any other pitcher in the game.

Put more bluntly: Imagine the reaction if Clayton Kershaw was in the dugout, having thrown 102 pitches on eight days’ rest, if and when the Dodgers lost their lead.

No one knows better than Kershaw that he didn’t come through. But if you think that he was destined to fail, or if you think he can’t win in the playoffs, or if you don’t think he can come back in his next start from the rare adversity that strikes, I don’t know what pitcher you’ve been watching all this time.

As for the struggles of the 2014 bullpen itself …

Kershaw: ‘It’s an awful feeling to let your teammates down’

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By Jon Weisman

The postgame interview with Clayton Kershaw added awkwardness to injury, as he led a swarming media contingent in search of room to breathe, starting at his locker, moving just outside the clubhouse, then near an unused stairwell in the adjacent hallway.

Downcast, Kershaw was asked if he was in shock after a 6-1, sixth-inning Dodger lead had become a 10-9 defeat. But surprise had nothing to do with the responsibility he felt.

“I’m not in shock,” Kershaw said. “I feel terrible. It’s an awful feeling to let your teammates down.

Skyfall

In Postgame, Postseason

By Jon Weisman

The sky, like the game, didn’t know what color to be.

An afternoon that had been so bright and so cathartic turned into a night so humbling, so fast.

Retiring 16 batters in a row between solo home runs in the first and sixth innings, Clayton Kershaw was painting poetry. And the Dodger offense, put on edge again by another plunking by a St. Louis pitcher, responded gloriously, reaching base 13 of the 26 times they came to the plate against Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, struggling from the first inning to his fifth and last, to build a 6-2 lead in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

A.J. Ellis with hit after hit after hit, including a two-run home run. Matt Kemp with three hits. Yasiel Puig on base four times. Carl Crawford, Hanley Ramirez busting through with two hits apiece.

Then day turned into night, and blue turned into black.

Renewing the cycle of insanity

In Postseason, Thinking out loud

By Jon Weisman

Most postseason games since last World Series appearance
44 Oakland A’s (1990)
39 Atlanta Braves (1999)
39 Los Angeles Dodgers (1988)

Today, the Dodgers will move past Atlanta for the most National League playoff games since last appearing in the World Series. In 11 days or less, they could pass Oakland for the most in the Majors.

This, to say the least, is a sword with at least two edges. It sure beats sitting at home and watching year after year, as the Dodgers did between 1989 and 1995 or between 1997 and 2003. But the so-close-yet-so-far treatment can be just punishing.

Nearly five hours before today’s NLDS first pitch against the Cardinals, the tension is higher than it’s been since last October. This isn’t a do-or-die game, as much as you might want it or as frustrating as it might be to lose it. No team is dead in a five-game series after one game. Yet already, you can probably feel your knots are in knots. Every pitch is impossibly fraught with importance.

Here in Los Angeles, the Lakers used to make this look easy, automatic. After of decades of disappointment, the Kings have found the glory. For the past 25-plus years, the Dodgers and their fans have pined for it.

You don’t wave a wand. You win by executing the most mundane tasks at the most important times. You place a bat on a ball, you locate a pitch, you position a defender within millimeters of the right spot, or you lose.

It is irrational to have such enormous hopes and dreams ride on margins so infinitesimal. And yet, here we go. Again.

Dodgers release NLDS roster

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers will go with eight relievers and a bench of five players on their 2014 National League Division Series roster.

Here’s how it breaks down:

Starting pitchers (4): Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dan Haren

Relief pitchers (8): Pedro Baez, Scott Elbert, Carlos Frias, J.P. Howell, Brandon League, Kenley Jansen, Brian Wilson, Jamey Wright

Starting lineup (8): A.J. Ellis, Adrian Gonzalez, Dee Gordon, Hanley Ramirez, Juan Uribe, Carl Crawford, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp

Reserves (5): Drew Butera, Andre Ethier, Miguel Rojas, Justin Turner, Scott Van Slyke

Clayton Kershaw is fired up — but not because of you-know-what

On October 2, 2014

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By Jon Weisman

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

“Why doesn’t anybody ask me what it feels like to win?”

Clayton Kershaw hasn’t had to field many questions lately about his negatives. Since the end of May, the only game he has lost was one in which he went nine innings, walked none and struck out 11.

But as predicted, the memories of his National League Championship Series Game 6 defeat at St. Louis have swamped those of the 0.47 postseason ERA he had last year going into that game. And as the quote up top shows, it didn’t take long for him to grow a little impatient with that particular line of interrogation at today’s media session.

The loss stung, and he has studied it, but it is not fuel for his fire. The fire within burns on its own.

“I guess the experience of it more than anything,” is what Kershaw took from the 2013 postseason.

“I had some successes in the postseason last year,” he said. “I had some good starts. I had a bad one to end the season. I kind of use both of those. But as far as motivation, I don’t need any extra motivation. I haven’t won a World Series yet — that’s plenty.”

Hyun-Jin Ryu cleared to start NLDS Game 3

On October 2, 2014

In Health/injuries, Postseason

By Jon Weisman

Hyun-Jin Ryu reported no ill effects from his simulated game Wednesday, and Don Mattingly today announced him as the starting pitcher for National League Division Series Game 3 in St. Louis on Monday.

Mattingly said that there would be no pitch limit beyond the usual “100-110” for Ryu, who came back from a similar shoulder issue in May and threw 89 pitches over six innings in New York.

Ryu himself told reporters today that he feels better now than he did for that New York start.

Mattingly also confirmed that Dan Haren is scheduled to start Game 4, though the rest of the world is mindful that Clayton Kershaw pitched the first and fourth games of the 2013 NLDS. Neither Mattingly nor Kershaw, of course, would engage in any discussion that he might step in this year, but Kershaw did acknowledge that “last year I was fine with it” physically.

In addition, Mattingly said that the Dodgers are “98-99 percent” done determining their NLDS roster, but discussions were not finished. He did say that pitchers Kevin Correia and Chris Perez have been told they won’t be on it.

Right field, Dodger Stadium, 3:37 p.m.

On October 1, 2014

In Dodger Stadium, Postseason

By Jon Weisman

This was the view from the warning track in right field at 3:37 p.m. Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, exactly three days before the first pitch of the 2014 National League Division Series between the Dodgers and the Cardinals.

Come Friday, the ballpark will be empty of sprinklers but full of intensity and fans, waving towels, while that sun slowly drops like a magnum fly ball. The current forecast, by the way, is for a high of 97 degrees.

Standing in the field, even in sunglasses, I found it hard to believe that our lifegiving sun wouldn’t prove a death-defying experience for the game’s right fielders, but a chipper Matt Kemp said Tuesday that defense wouldn’t be an issue. Offense was another matter.

“You can see the ball in right field,” Kemp said. “It’s seeing the ball at the plate, which is important to scoring runs. So you know, I’m going to swing with my eyes closed and see what happens.”

As you can see in the photo above, shadows won’t have crossed the Dodger Stadium infield at first pitch. But you’ll see them lurking off the third-base line, ready to creep and make facing Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright that much more perilous or paralyzing.

“You know, honestly, I don’t get why we play during the shadow times, but it’s one of those games,” Kemp said. “But both teams got to do it — we’ve got to find a way to win.”

The top myths about the 2014 Dodgers

On September 30, 2014

In Offense, Postseason, Status report

By Jon Weisman

With the MLB playoffs comes the national spotlight for the Dodgers. With the national spotlight comes the attempts to tell the story of the Dodgers by those who only have a passing acquaintance to them, to those who only have a passing acquaintance with them.

So for the benefit of baseball’s fans and media galaxy-wide, here are three storylines that are sure to be shared about the 2014 Dodgers — and the reasons why they are largely bogus.

Dodgers-Cardinals NLDS Game 1 and Game 2 times set

On September 29, 2014

The Dodgers will open postseason play against the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at 3:37 p.m. Friday, with Game 2 set for 6:37 p.m. Saturday.

NLDS Game 1 is sold out. Extremely limited tickets are available for Game 2.

Fox Sports 1 will televise Game 1; MLB Network will televise Game 2. Both games will be aired on ESPN Radio and KLAC AM 570.

On 570, Vin Scully will be on the air for the first three innings and last three innings of every Dodger playoff game, including road games. Charley Steiner and Rick Monday will handle the middle innings.

Jaime Jarrin, Fernando Valenzuela and Pepe Yniguez will deliver the Spanish-language radio broadcasts on KTNQ AM 1020.

Times for the remaining NLDS game(s) will be announced later this week.

— Jon Weisman

NLDS first look: Breaking down the Cardinals

On September 28, 2014

LOS ANGELES DODGERS AT ST.LOUIS CARDINALS

The arc of the NL playoffs points to Hyun-Jin Ryu making a start in St. Louis.

By Jon Weisman

Well, the opponent sure looks familiar, but things aren’t quite the same.

Starting Friday, the Dodgers will have a second consecutive postseason showdown against the St. Louis Cardinals. Here’s a quick first look at how the Cardinals shape up against the Dodgers heading into the 2014 National League Division Series:

Cardinal offense

Statistics through Saturday:

Yadier Molina, C: Molina was sidelined from July 10 through August 29, but still managed to deliver a .333 on-base percentage in 445 plate appearances, a slight decline from his .359 OBP in 2013. His power took a steeper drop, from a .477 slugging percentage last year to .386 in 2014.
Matt Adams, 1B: This is really Adams’ first full-time season, and he had a .321 on-base percentage while slugging .455 in 525 plate appearances. But he had a serious platoon split: .851 OPS vs. righties, .528 OPS vs. lefties. Allen Craig, Adams’ main alternative, was sent to Boston in the John Lackey trade.
Kolten Wong, 2B: Wong, who turns 24 on October 10, managed a .294 OBP in 430 plate appearances. Former Dodger Mark Ellis was the primary backup, but the 37-year-old struggled to a .253 OBP and .213 slugging in 202 plate appearances.
Jhonny Peralta, SS: Imported from Detroit, Peralta had a .336 OBP and .443 slugging with 21 home runs and 38 doubles. He was adequate against righties (.751 OPS) and strong against lefties (.879 OPS).
Matt Carpenter, 3B: Truly a thorn in the Dodgers’ side since 2013. Remember that endless 11-pitch at-bat in Game 6 of the NLCS that precipitated Clayton Kershaw’s downfall? It was no fluke — Carpenter led the NL this year in pitches per plate appearance (4.37), as well as walks (95). Moving from second base to third base for St. Louis this year, Carpenter’s power went down (from an MLB-leading 55 doubles in 2013 to 33 this year), but he remains a tough out.
Matt Holliday, LF: A veteran of the Dodger-Cardinal playoff battles, Holliday had a .370 OBP while leading St. Louis in OPS (.811). In the second half of the season, his OPS was .882.
John Jay, CF: Like Carpenter and Holliday, Jay boasts a .370-plus OBP, boosted not insignificantly by an NL-high 20 hit-by-pitches. Also grabbing playing time in center is defensive standout Peter Bourjos, who only had a .297 on-base percentage but hit a game-tying, two-run home run off Clayton Kershaw on July 20.
Randal Grichuk, RF: Right field has been a bit of a grab bag for St. Louis since the Craig trade, though Craig himself was hardly lighting it up. Jay sometimes moves over to right when Bourjos is in center. Grichuk, 23, is OBP-challenged but has shown some power with 10 extra-base hits in 106 at bats. He appears to have supplanted 22-year-old Oscar Taveras, who with a .598 OPS hasn’t been much of an answer.
Daniel Descalso, UT: What appears to be a fairly meek Cardinals bench is led by Descalso, who has a .333 OBP while slugging .310. He reached base 16 times as a pinch-hitter, but that was in 54 plate appearances (.302 OBP).

Summary: St. Louis does get on base at a decent rate (.321 OBP, fourth in the NL), but the Cardinals are 10th in the league in slugging percentage and 15th in home runs. Carpenter, Holliday and Peralta lead an offense that doesn’t appear that strong top to bottom, but its peskiness remains a threat.

Dodgers to open playoffs against Cardinals

On September 28, 2014