Pregame – Page 13 – Dodger Thoughts

On September 28, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Chase Utley, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Sidelined since August 30 with hamstring issues, Kiké Hernandez has been activated from the disabled list by the Dodgers.

Hernandez is not in tonight’s starting lineup, but seems likely to be there Tuesday when the Dodgers face Madison Bumgarner.

The 24-year-old has a .350 on-base percentage and .492 slugging percentage in 201 plate appearances for Los Angeles this year. In his busiest stretch, he played 20 games (18 starts) from August 8-30 and OBPed .400 while slugging .545.

Dodgers-Giants at Rockies-A’s, 1 p.m.

On September 27, 2015

[mlbvideo id=”504621983″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Chris Heisey, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

Five minutes before the Dodgers get their first pitch from the Rockies today, the Giants will get theirs from the A’s in Oakland. It’s a scoreboard-watching fiesta. One good outcome for Los Angeles clinches a tie for the National League West title. Two good outcomes lock it up outright.

Regardless of what happens today, the Dodgers are scheduled to begin their next series in San Francisco on Monday with Zack Greinke facing Jake Peavy, followed by Clayton Kershaw against Madison Bumgarner on Tuesday.

Kiké Hernandez could be activated from the disabled list before Monday’s game, and the Dodgers are also hopeful that Adrian Gonzalez will be back in the lineup after resting a pinched nerve in his back. Don Mattingly also told reporters today that the team is being cautious with Corey Seager, who tripled in Saturday’s 8-6 defeat but whose legs seem to be an issue.

Tonight, Sunday or San Francisco?

On September 26, 2015

In Postseason, Pregame

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

We’re truly on the watch now. With the magic number to clinch the National League West down to two, the Dodgers could be division champions once they throw their final pitch tonight.

The Dodgers should have an idea of how imminent a clinch is before they take the field in Colorado tonight. San Francisco is playing Oakland in a 1:05 p.m. game, with none other than Barry Zito making the start for the A’s against old teammate Tim Hudson. An Oakland victory ensures no worse than a tie for the NL West title for Los Angeles, but Zito gave up four runs in his first two innings to put the A’s in a 4-0 hole.

In any case, the Dodgers need two of four outcomes involving themselves and the Giants to go their way this weekend, in order to have things wrapped up before their plane touches down in San Francisco for next week’s four-game series. The four teams play simultaneously Sunday.

What we know for sure already is that the NL West champion will play the NL East champion in one National League Division Series beginning October 9, while the NL Central champion plays the NL Wild Card in the other NLDS. That’s because neither the Dodgers nor the Mets, nor any other team outside the Central, can finish with the best record in the NL.

What remains to be seen is which coast will host the opening two games of the East-West NLDS. It will begin in New York unless the Dodgers can finish ahead of the Mets, who won the season series between the two teams, four games to three, the day that Zack Greinke’s 45 2/3-inning scoreless streak ended.

But just to avoid counting any chickens or other fowl, there’s this: NLDS Game 1 will take place in San Francisco if the Giants finish 9-0 or 9-1, and the Dodgers finish 0-9 or 1-9, and the Mets finish 0-9, and the Nationals finish 10-0.

Joc Pederson looks to extend Coors Field homer streak

On September 25, 2015

Joc Pederson watches his three-run home run off Christian Friedrich of the Rockies on June 1. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 3B
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

This probably won’t shock you, but the Dodgers’ .949 OPS at Coors Field this year is their highest at any ballpark.

By comparison, the Dodgers have a .747 OPS at Dodger Stadium.

It will be interesting to see how Joc Pederson (1.417 OPS at Coors Field) does this weekend. You might recall that the center fielder homered in all four games the Dodgers played in Denver from June 1-3. Since then, Pederson has eight homers in 282 at-bats.

No other Dodger has homered more than once in the Dodgers’ first six games at Coors, but the team has a .402 on-base percentage and .548 slugging percentage there in 2015, with 24 extra-base hits and 31 walks.

An efficient Carlos Frias pushed Dodgers closer to division title

On September 24, 2015

In Bullpen, Pregame

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 12:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXL: Kershawlliver’s Travels
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Heisey, CF
Scott Schebler, RF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

We expected superb pitching Wednesday by the Dodgers — we just didn’t expect it like this.

While Zack Greinke nursed his sore calf muscle, Carlos Frias and five relievers combined to deliver one of the top pitching performances of the year for Los Angeles, in a 4-1 victory over Arizona that helped lower the National League West magic number to five.

The Dodgers needed 105 pitches to dispatch the Diamondbacks, their fifth-best total for a nine-inning game in 2015. Even more impressively, Dodger pitchers had 28 pitches called for balls in the entire game, their second-best mark in 2015.

You know how you try to avoid three-ball counts? The Dodgers had four innings in which they didn’t throw a total of three balls.

Setting the tone was Carlos Frias. Pitching on two days’ rest, Frias used 43 pitches over his four innings, retiring every batter aside from the obligatory Paul Goldschmidt home run.

“Obviously, they had a few first-pitch swings,” Don Mattingly said this morning, “which you understand with a guy like him, you don’t really want to get deep in the count with that cutter/slider he throws and the way his ball moves.”

Fewest pitches, nine-inning game, 2015 Dodgers
92: September 16 (Wood 78, Jansen 14)
99: May 23 (Bolsinger 92, Jansen 7)
101: June 5 (Anderson 88, Nicasio 13)
104: July 23 (Kershaw 104)
105: September 23 (Frias 43, Thomas 12, Baez 16, Avilan 15, Hatcher 8, Jansen 11)
Source: Baseball-Reference.com

But Mattingly said Frias had a “Go get outs” mentality that was just right for Wednesday’s outing.

“When you have to go through (A.J.) Pollock and Goldschmidt and those guys in their order, they’ve got some tough hitters — it tells you he’s got the stuff to make it tough on those guys,” Mattingly said. “Even though Goldschmidt gets him, he made some guys look not that great.

“His stuff’s really good. Can he kind of — I shouldn’t say ‘keep focus,’ because he’s focused — for me a better (question) for him is can he stay settled down enough so that he’s making pitches, not just throwing?”

Assuming Greinke returns for his next scheduled start Monday in San Francisco, Frias has become a darkhorse candidate to play a more prominent role in the Dodger bullpen this year.

How many roads must a team walk down, before they call it a team?

On September 23, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Status report

Jon SooHoo/ Los Angeles Dodgers

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carlos Frias, P

By Jon Weisman

The Giants pitched three straight shutouts in May, and the Dodgers’ season was over. That’s what I was told.

The Dodgers lost five straight on the road in Oakland and Houston, and their season was over. That’s what I was told.

There were two no-hitters in nine days, and the Dodgers’ season was over. That’s what I was told.

So my question is, now that the Dodgers have lost four straight and lead the National League West by six games with 12 to play, what are people worried about? I mean, the season’s been over since May. Over and over and over.

Or is it that the season wasn’t over then, or then, or then, and isn’t over now?

Losses and injuries — the latest being Zack Greinke’s sore right calf, forcing him out of tonight’s start — don’t look pretty. There’s certainly a scenario for the season to end sooner than Dodger fans want it to. I get impatience. I get insecurity. Personally, I’m still hoping the division is wrapped up before the Dodgers even set foot again in San Francisco.

But just consider this a friendly reminder not to assume the worst. Because in case you haven’t noticed, this has been a pretty resilient team.

Dodgers order an Adam Liberatore for late pick-me-up

On September 22, 2015

In Pregame, Transactions

Adam Liberatore (center) joined Mike Bolsinger and Joc Pederson on a coffee run June 25 outside Wrigley Field. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers).

Adam Liberatore (center) joined Mike Bolsinger and Joc Pederson on a coffee run June 25 outside Wrigley Field, as Dave Strumpf filmed for SportsNet LA. (Jon SooHoo).

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Heisey, CF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

Rookie reliever Adam Liberatore has been brought up to Los Angeles to give the Dodgers another lefty option out of the bullpen for the stretch run.

Liberatore had been with Triple-A Oklahoma City since shortly after the All-Star Break. This is the third time he has been recalled in 2015.

From April 17-May 30, Liberatore had allowed only three runs and 10 baserunners in 14 innings, with 14 strikeouts. Thereafter, he maintained his strikeout rate, but allowed 10 runs and 21 baserunners in 12 innings.

In Triple-A, the 28-year-old allowed 29 baserunners in 21 2/3 innings, striking out 18. He last pitched in a game September 11, when he threw his sixth consecutive scoreless inning.

In other bullpen news, with a baby due at any moment, right-hander Jim Johnson will be soon be away from the team on paternity leave, Don Mattingly said.

Chase Utley’s first start at third a Dodger milestone

On September 21, 2015

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Chase Utley, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

After weeks of preparation for this potentiality, Justin Turner’s knee soreness and Howie Kendrick’s return from the disabled list have launched Chase Utley into his first career game at third base.

More than 300 people have played third base for the Dodger franchise. Utley, who is 36 years and 278 days old, is the oldest Dodger ever to play his first career game at third, according to the Baseball-Reference.com Play Index.

Bill Russell was 36 years, 239 days old when he played third base for the initial time in his Dodger career, on June 17, 1985.

“We’ve been working towards this,” Don Mattingly said of Utley, adding that coach Tim Wallach felt that Utley’s latest workout at third was his best. “We don’t worry about him — he knows how to play, he knows where to be. … So tonight’s the right night.

Turner was to have an MRI today to get more definitive information about his condition, but results weren’t immediately available. With shortstop Jimmy Rollins nearing a return to availability on defense, Corey Seager could also pick up time at third base if Turner remains sidelined. Kiké Hernandez is also progressing, and will go to Camelback Ranch to get some at-bats.

Ailments sideline Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner

On September 20, 2015

Pirates at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

Two weeks since Jimmy Rollins has been able to play shortstop, one day after Howie Kendrick returned to second base from a five-week absence, the Dodgers also face renewed health concerns at first and third base.

Adrian Gonzalez is day to day with back stiffness, Don Mattingly told reporters today, and Justin Turner is hobbled by soreness in his left knee. Steve Bourbon of MLB.com has more on Turner.

Howie Kendrick, hurt against Pittsburgh, returns against Pittsburgh

On September 18, 2015

Pirates at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Corey Seager, SS
Chris Heisey, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

After a 34-game absence to recover from a hamstring injury, second baseman Howie Kendrick has been activated from the disabled list — though he is not in the starting lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Pirates.

Coincidentally, Kendrick’s most recent game was at Pittsburgh. That was on August 9, when Kendrick was hurt trying to beat out an infield single in the top of the fifth inning. The injury came during one of Kendrick’s hottest streaks of the season: 19 for 48 with two walks, three doubles and two homers, for a .420 on-base percentage and .583 slugging percentage.

For the year, Kendrick has a .341 OBP and is slugging .418.

‘Weird’ lineup features youngest Dodger cleanup hitter in more than 50 years

On September 16, 2015

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Austin Barnes, 2B
Chase Utley, 1B
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Chris Heisey, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

Even by the Dodgers’ ever-fluctuating standards, this is not the usual starting lineup.

Don Mattingly himself called it “weird,” and said he knew it would be that way by the time he left Dodger Stadium and the 16-inning marathon behind in the wee hours of the night. Among others, Mattingly was looking to rest Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner, who each played the entire game. And the Dodgers are still battling several injuries, including players not on the disabled list such as Scott Van Slyke and Jose Peraza.

Let’s take a look at tonight’s lineup, one through nine:

Austin Barnes, 2B: Taking it from the top, this is the 25-year-old catcher’s first MLB game batting leadoff or at second base. In the minors, Barnes has played 150 games at second base, though none since 2014. He is the first Dodger to play catcher, third base and second since Trent Hubbard in 1998-99, and the first to do it in the same season since Derrel Thomas in 1980. Barnes’ RBI single Tuesday lifted his on-base percentage as a Dodger to .375 in 25 plate appearances.
Chase Utley, 1B: In 13 seasons, the 36-year-old Utley has 31 career games (24 starts) at first base, most recently August 10 for the Phillies at Arizona. In 220 1/3 innings, he has been charged with one error.
Justin Ruggiano, LF: Ruggiano has become a familiar face in left field, and has a .393 OBP/.846 slugging percentage in 28 plate appearances as a Dodger, even after following his leadoff double Tuesday with six consecutive outs. But this is only his 11th career start as a No. 3 hitter, and first since April 9, 2014 for the Cubs against Pittsburgh.
Corey Seager, SS: Seager is batting cleanup in his 13th Major League game. Other Dodgers, most recently Yasiel Puig, Scott Van Slyke and even John Lindsey, have batted cleanup sooner, but the Dodgers haven’t had a starting cleanup hitter younger than Seager (21 years, 142 days) since Derrell Griffith (20 years, 294 days) in 1964. Before Griffith, there wasn’t a younger starting Dodger cleanup hitter since Duke Snider in 1947. With Jimmy Rollins still unable to play defense for several days, Seager will continue to see action.
A.J. Ellis, C: Ellis’ start in the No. 5 slot Tuesday was his first in nearly two years. He hasn’t started back-to-back days as a No. 5 hitter since May 14-15, 2013.
Alex Guerrero, 3B: Guerrero, who has a single, double and walk in seven plate appearances this month, is starting at third base for the 14th time this year and first time since August 8 at Pittsburgh.
Chris Heisey, RF: Ruggiano, Seager and Heisey (who had RBI in the seventh and 11th innings Monday) were the only three Dodgers to play all 16 innings. None was in the organization three weeks ago.
Joc Pederson, CF: Pederson, who had reached base in nine consecutive starts before going 0 for 2 Monday, has played 87 percent of the Dodgers’ innings in center field this year. Only Gonzalez (90 percent) has a higher percentage of the team’s innings at one position in 2015.
Alex Wood, P: In Wood’s Major League debut on May 30, 2013, he batted third, entering the game in Justin Upton’s slot in a ninth-inning double switch.

It’s a walk in the park for Corey Seager — so far

On September 15, 2015

Corey Seager has nine singles, eight walks and six doubles in his first 11 games. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Justin Ruggiano, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Corey Seager, SS
Chris Heisey, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

With all the injuries and position flexibility the Dodgers have, it’s not exactly a tough decision for Don Mattingly to put a player with a .543 on-base percentage and .676 slugging percentage in the starting lineup — even if that player is only 21 years and 11 MLB games old.

Sooner or later, the recoveries of Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins could complicate life for Corey Seager’s manager, but I think we’d all register that as a good problem to have.

If and when everyone’s healthy (we should be so lucky), Seager’s going to have opportunities to play, thanks to 1) his ability to play shortstop and third base, 2) Justin Turner’s ability to play third, second and first, 3) the need/desire to give days off to everyone and 4) that talent.

Oh, that talent.

That being said, we all know that Seager can’t maintain a 1.219 OPS or .469 batting average on balls in play. When Seager’s first setback at the plate comes, how severe and prolonged will it be? And how soon? September? October? April?

Other than the massive proportion of his success, nothing Seager has shown has been particularly surprising — his poise, his swing, his dexterity, his power — except for this:

In Double-A last year, it took Seager 35 games and 38 strikeouts before he got his eighth walk.
In Triple-A this year, it took Seager 31 games and 21 strikeouts before he got his eighth walk.
In MLB this month, it took Seager 11 games and four strikeouts before he got his eighth walk.

Valuable as he’s been, it doesn’t stand to reason that Major League pitchers would be more afraid of Seager than the guys in the Pacific Coast League, yet there you are — so far. Over the weekend, Mattingly offered these thoughts, relayed by J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News.

It’s also true that Seager hasn’t faced 11 Jake Arrietas in his MLB career. Garrett Richards and James Shields were the best of the bunch, and Seager went 1 for 6 against the pair with a single, no walks and two strikeouts.

One of these days, Seager is going to strike out two or three times in a game. One of these days, the blank pages of the “Book on Corey Seager” will start to be filled in, and just like Yasiel Puig, just like Joc Pederson — heck, just like Mike Trout — we’ll be waiting to see how well and how fast Seager adjusts. He’ll have an 0-for-9, or a 1-for-15, and if it comes in a crucial series, patience will be stretched like a rubber band from here to New York.

“They’re still learning me, and I’m still learning them,” Seager told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. “Right now I’m getting pitches I can handle, and they’re falling in. I imagine soon they’ll start changing, and I’ll have to make the adjustment.”

What’s so beguiling about Seager is how firmly he makes you believe that when the time comes, he will figure it all out.

Ruggiano’s surprising September is all about timing

On September 14, 2015

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXIX: Kershawse Party
Joc Pederson, CF
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Schebler, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

You’d think it would be a little late in the game for a 33-year-old with 12 seasons as a professional to surprise anyone.

“I think at this point, people have the book on me,” Justin Ruggiano acknowledged today. “I don’t think I’m catching anyone off guard.”

Maybe we should be conditioned to expect the unexpected.

After doubling on the first pitch of Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Arizona and later knocking a single, Ruggiano is 8 for 19 with a 1.053 slugging percentage as a Dodger. That’s right — he’s averaging at least a base per at-bat.

Though he has hit as many as 18 homers in a season (2013 with the Cubs), Ruggiano hasn’t stopped looking to improve. Significantly, that includes his first fortnight as a Dodger.

“I think the moment you become a non-improving player is the moment you’d be out of the game,” Ruggiano said today. “There’s always something to be done. Since I’ve come over here, I’ve worked on a timing mechanism with the hitting coaches that has really helped me stay on the ball and kind of clear up my vision of the ball. And I think that’s actually contributed to a lot of the success I’ve had the past two weeks.”

Joc Pederson’s solid September

On September 13, 2015