Pregame – Page 21 – Dodger Thoughts

Pederson pops up — to leadoff, that is

On April 29, 2015

Prediction: @yungjoc650 starts in seven different spots in the batting order during the 2015 regular season.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 25, 2015

For photos from Tuesday, visit LA Photog Blog – here and here.

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Juan Uribe, 3B
Zack Greinke, P
Notes: Don Mattingly told reporters that Carlos Frias would start Friday’s game against Arizona and Scott Baker would start Saturday. In addition, Brandon McCarthy confirmed to reporters he will undergo Tommy John surgery Thursday, with Dr. Neal ElAttrache performing the operation.

By Jon Weisman

Five weeks ago, I tweeted out the above prediction about Joc Pederson roaming the Dodger batting order. With more than five months to go in the season, I’m nearly halfway there.

Pederson, whose batting prowess this season was discussed here Sunday and Monday, has been moved up from the Nos. 7 and 8 spots to leadoff for tonight’s game.

Frankly, I was tempted to bet Pederson would go nine for nine, figuring it wasn’t out of the question that he might bat ninth in an American League park, but the Dodgers don’t play a road interleague game until June 15 at Texas, and I figured Pederson’s days at the bottom of the order would be over by then.

Pederson enters tonight sixth in the National League in weighted on-base average (wOBA, .428) and fourth in OPS (1.014). As noted Sunday, his stats would be impressive even accounting for the walks he has drawn batting eighth with the pitcher on deck.

Will he ever reach the in-between spots of the order? Based on the Dodgers’ ever-changing roster and needs, and whether he gets increased playing time against southpaws, I wouldn’t rule it out.

Five other players tonight – Jimmy Rollins (second), Howie Kendrick (third), Adrian Gonzalez (fourth), Yasmani Grandal (seventh) and Juan Uribe (eighth) – are also in new lineup slots for 2015. Don Mattingly commented to reporters this afternoon that there has been input from the front office toward the Dodgers’ efforts to come up with an ideal lineup configuration. (Mattingly added that he feels Grandal has been pressing.)

Mattingly said he informed Rollins of drop from leadoff by text. Rollins responded "OK. Cool". No emojis, Mattingly said. #Dodgers

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 29, 2015

Despite its difficulties against Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, the Dodger offense is hardly in crisis, ranking first in the NL in wOBA and weighted runs created (wRC+) by a wide margin. But it is an oddly stratified offense through 20 games, with none of tonight’s starters offering an OPS between .680 and .880.

In short, as far as 2015 is concerned, there isn’t really an average player in that lineup.

The reality, however, is that these extreme differences will smooth out over time, and the lineup changes don’t make that much of a difference as you might believe. In fact, this gives me a chance to offer a sneak preview of an article examining batting orders in the May edition of Dodger Insider magazine, written by Mike Petriello of Dodgers Digest. (Click each image below to enlarge.)

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Brandon McCarthy speaks about torn UCL

By Jon Weisman

On April 27, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

For images from Sunday, visit LA Photog Blog.

Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Andre Ethier, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

A thousand sighs for this piece of news.

Brandon McCarthy and the Dodgers received the worst possible report today about his injured right elbow, learning that the 31-year-old righthander has a torn ulnar collateral ligament that will almost certainly require Tommy John surgery.

With the operation, McCarthy figures to be sidelined until approximately July 2016.

“For the next couple of hours, I’ll keep talking it through and I’ll talk to the doc when he gets here,” McCarthy said this afternoon, “but it certainly (points) in one direction, and I don’t want to be one of those guys who plays out the string for a few months, only to waste everybody’s time.”

Puig, Peralta head to DL, while McCarthy awaits MRI

By Jon Weisman

On April 26, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

For more images from Saturday, visit LA Photog Blog — here and here.

Dodgers at Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Andre Ethier, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Justin Turner, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Scott Baker, P

By Jon Weisman

There’s not likely to be any update until at least Monday on the condition of Brandon McCarthy, who reported elbow tightness during his five-inning outing Saturday, after he undergoes an MRI.

But two other Dodgers have been placed on the 15-day disabled list today: Yasiel Puig (for the first time in his career) and Joel Peralta. Coming from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take their roster spots are pitchers Carlos Frias and Scott Baker. The latter, as previously discussed, is starting today’s game.

Brandon League will move to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Baker on the 40-man roster.

As for today’s starting lineup, Howie Kendrick — who had played every inning this season — will begin today on the bench alongside Juan Uribe and the injured Yasiel Puig.

Yasmani Grandal, who is 4 for 7 with two walks and two doubles (1.524 OPS) in this series, is batting cleanup. Grandal is fifth among NL catchers in WAR.

Justin Turner, who is starting in the No. 5 slot of the batting order for the second time as a Dodger, has reached base eight times this season — four of those a week ago today.

Dodgers add Sergio Santos to bullpen

By Jon Weisman

On April 24, 2015

In Pregame, Transactions

For more images from Thursday, visit LA Photog Blog — here and here.

Dodgers at Padres, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers’ latest roster move is to add righty Sergio Santos to the bullpen, while sending Mike Bolsinger back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

A veteran of 180 Major League games as a reliever, Santos began the 2015 season in Triple-A with eight strikeouts against eight baserunners in 4 2/3 innings.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Santos, the Dodgers designated newly acquired Xavier Cedeno for assignment. Santos is the fifth player to fill the 40th spot on the 40-man roster since David Huff came up to start April 14 against Seattle. One of those players, Daniel Corcino, was outrighted to Double-A Tulsa.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ starting pitcher for Sunday’s series finale against the Padres is still officially listed as “TBD.”

Join this year’s 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run at Dodger Stadium

By Jon Weisman

On April 23, 2015

In Community, Dodger Stadium, Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”36677365″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Giants, 12:45 p.m.
Justin Turner, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

We haven’t yet mentioned this year’s New Balance Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run ((presented by your SoCal Honda Dealers), scheduled for September 13 at Dodger Stadium.

Registration is open at dodgers.com/run: $40 for the 5K or 10K and $25 for the Kids Fun Run. The first 2,000 to register for the 5K or 10K will get a voucher for a free Dodger game ticket.

All proceeds benefit the LADF, and there are incentives for those who join in the fundraising. For more information, visit the official site.

Kershaw vs. Bumgarner tonight … and then comes tomorrow

By Jon Weisman

On April 22, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 p.m.
Kershaw CCXIII: Kershaw vs. the Volcano
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Justin Turner, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Chris Heisey, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Tonight’s Giants-Dodgers game brings the marquee pitching matchup of the young 2015 baseball season in Clayton Kershaw vs. Madison Bumgarner, and the potential for grand irritation among the Los Angeles fanbase if the Dodgers lose.

It’s funny — I’m absolutely looking forward to the game and confident in the Dodgers’ chances. Bumgarner has been good against the Dodgers, but no one dominates an opponent like Kershaw has with the Giants. And while Kershaw has had a few rocky moments in 2015, Bumgarner (5.29 ERA) has been worse.

But the potential of a loss to a rival tonight, of putting another feather in the World Series MVP’s cap and trying to avoid a sweep Thursday afternoon with a minor-league callup (signs pointing to Mike Bolsinger) on the hill, would be plenty to turn the Dodger dial to grrrrr.

Why am I trafficking in these negative thoughts? Isn’t that part of the game, really? If there were no consequences to a loss, we wouldn’t care that much in the first place.

The challenge is not to avoid fear, but to face it … and then never invest too much importance to it.

You can almost see the Dodgers synthesizing these strands in tonight’s lineup. They’re taking the Bumgarner challenge seriously enough to call up Chris Heisey and start eight right-handed position players, including Justin Turner making his third start as a Dodger at first base (he got plenty of work there in March). Yet if the worst happens, they’ll have given Adrian Gonzalez and Joc Pederson a night off so that they can be fresh for Thursday’s sunshine affair. Face the fear, and look beyond.

And by all means, enjoy this fantastic early season event.

A cute start

By Jon Weisman

On April 21, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

The 2015 Dodgers are the 14th team in franchise history to start the season with a 9-3 record. Oddly, none of those teams have won a World Series.

Won National League: 1947, 1952, 1974, 1977
Won NL West: 1983, 2004, 2009
Second in NL: 1942
Third in NL: 1943, 1957
Second in NL West: 1972, 2012
Fourth in NL West: 1969

On the other hand, the 2015 Giants are the eighth team in franchise history to start the season with a 4-10 record. None of those teams won a World Series, either. (The 1951 Giants, who started 2-12, reached the World Series — the details escape me — but lost.)

A few pregame notes:

Today, as the Dodgers’ public relations department noted in the press notes, is the 125th anniversary of the Dodgers’ first NL victory, 7-6 over the Boston Braves.
Dodger minor-league teams lead all of baseball with a collective .705 winning percentage (31-13) entering today’s action.
Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t struck out in his past 36 plate appearances, the longest current streak without a strikeout in the Majors, according to MLB Network. Gonzalez still has more homers (five) than strikeouts (three) this season.
San Francisco starting pitcher Tim Lincecum pitched seven shutout innings at San Diego in his 2015 debut April 10, then allowed three runs in five innings at home against Colorado on April 15.
Chris Heisey joined the Dodgers in San Francisco today, but was not activated for tonight’s game. Yasiel Puig has been declared healthy enough to start in the Giants series. It’s possible, as Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. speculated, that Heisey could be activated to face Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner on Wednesday.
One flaw for the Dodgers in the young season has been the stolen base. Los Angeles has been thrown out on seven of 13 attempts.

Dodger bullpen locking it down

By Jon Weisman

On April 19, 2015

In Bullpen, Pregame

Rockies at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Brandon McCarthy, P

By Jon Weisman

You’re looking at the performance of the Dodger bullpen at home this week. The offense has carried the Dodgers, scoring at least five runs in every game, but by not making news at the end of the game, the bullpen is worthy of its own headline.

On the current homestand, Dodger relievers have held opposing batters to a .105 batting average, .190 on-base percentage and .123 slugging percentage in 63 plate appearances. In 17 1/3 innings, they have given up one run, on six walks, six singles and a double — while striking out 25.

The bullpen is also well-rested heading into today’s series finale with Colorado. No reliever has worked consecutive days since Wednesday. Only one has thrown more than 20 pitches in a game since Tuesday, and that was Pedro Baez, who has had three days off since throwing 25 pitches. With another off day Monday, all relievers should be primed for the team’s first trip to San Francisco next week.

It hasn’t hurt that they’ve been efficient. Since Wednesday, the bullpen has completed 9 1/3 innings on 134 pitches, or 14.4 pitches per inning.

Admittedly, Dodger relievers won’t remain quite this dominant — a 0.52 ERA is asking a but much — and the off days will become far less frequent, but they do have a couple of things to look forward to: getting a little more length out of their starting pitchers, and the return in the next few weeks of Kenley Jansen.

So, how was your week? pic.twitter.com/S0ajvWhYHn

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 19, 2015

Dodger offense pounding away

By Jon Weisman

On April 17, 2015

In Offense, Pregame

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXII: Kershawrk Tank
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

As Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the start that will either launch or evaporate the “What’s wrong with Clayton Kershaw?” questions, it’s worth taking a moment to note how much the offense has keyed the Dodgers’ 6-3 start.

A dozen days into the National League season, Los Angeles leads the NL in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, home runs and weighted on-base average (wOBA).

According to Fangraphs’ Offense stat, the Dodgers are truly dominant, coming in at 13.8, with the No. 2 team (San Diego) nearly 50 percent lower and 12 out of 15 teams in negative territory.

It’s not only Adrian Gonzalez, though he has definitively led the way. Joc Pederson, Howie Kendrick, Yasiel Puig and Jimmy Rollins are off to above-average starts, along with Alex Guerrero, Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke off the bench. (Puig is missing his third straight start, by the way, with a tender hamstring.)

The Dodgers have scored at least five runs in six of nine games in 2014 (winning all six) and at least three runs in all but one. They’re averaging 4.6 runs per game.

The Dodgers’ Fast Burn All-Stars

By Jon Weisman

On April 15, 2015

In Pregame

Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers

Mariners at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Yasmani Grandal, C
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

This post is anything but a critique of Alex Guerrero, whose potential legitimacy as a Major Leaguer I have championed this year — in fairly lonely fashion until this week, really.

But even though Guerrero has started the season by going 5 for 12 with a double and two home runs in his first four games, the heated demands on Twitter to push him into the starting lineup — as if it were a crime to question the rush to coronation — got me wondering about other Dodger hot starters.

So, here’s an All-Star team of Dodgers who went wild in their first games of the year, then didn’t quite live up to that promise. We’ll even raise the stakes to 10 games played — more than twice the duration of Guerrero’s hot launch.

C — Kevin Pasley, 1976 (6 for 16, three walks, .911 OPS)
1B — Tracy Woodson, 1987 (6 for 21, one homer, .924 OPS)
2B — Elian Herrera, 2012 (12 for 33, three doubles, .887 OPS)
SS — Luis Maza, 2008 (8 for 20, one homer, 1.005 OPS)
3B — Andy LaRoche, 2007 (6 for 23, 12 walks, .818 OPS)
LF — Jerry Sands, 2012 (8 for 31, five doubles, .753 OPS)
CF — Mike Ramsey, 1987 (11 for 33, .765 OPS)
RF — Jason Repko, 2005 (8 for 26, three homers, 1.092 OPS)
P — John Ely, 2010 (Elymania)

Every one of these guys did or have done more in their baseball careers than 99.9 percent of the world — Sands, for that matter, was at it again this past week, starting 2015 with Cleveland by going 5 for 13 with two doubles. Some were productive for weeks, maybe even a couple of months. Sometimes it was injuries, rather than ability, that got in the way. But excitement soon gave way to retreat.

Alex Guerrero might well be a starting third baseman someday, and it will be thrilling if he is, but a certain amount of healthy skepticism is probably useful. Believe me, I have to remind myself of that sometimes. In the meantime, everyone can be happy he’s been so productive off the bench, part of the crew helping keep the Dodgers in every game.

Notes on the Dodger bullpen, heading into a bullpen game

By Jon Weisman

On April 14, 2015

In Bullpen, Health/injuries, Pregame

Yimi Garcia has retired 16 of 19 batters in 2015, striking out eight. (Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers)

For more images from Monday, visit LA Photog Blog.

Mariners at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
David Huff, P

By Jon Weisman

With the Dodgers looking at five innings max from David Huff tonight, here’s the state of the seven-man bullpen behind him after seven games. (I’m using the handy chart at Dodgers Digest for reference on the pitch counts.)

A few things to note:

No Dodger reliever has worked three consecutive days this season.
None has thrown more than 30 pitches in one game.
Yimi Garcia has been used the most so far: 81 pitches over the first eight days of the regular season. He threw 15 pitches on Opening Day and 28 pitches the following game. He then received two days off before and after his next outing (23 pitches on April 10). He threw 15 pitches against the Mariners on Monday.
Famous last words: The Dodger bullpen hasn’t allowed a home run in 20 innings this season (85 plate appearances).
Opponents are hitting .244/.298/.295 against the bullpen (even with a .373 batting average on balls in play).
The Dodger bullpen has a 1.20 WHIP and 12.2 K/9.
Chris Hatcher brings us the rare 29-run difference between his ERA (33.75) and his FIP (4.48).
Then there’s Paco Rodriguez, who has a 9.00 ERA and a -3.02 FIP. Yes, that’s negative 3.02. He is also averaging 27 strikeouts per nine innings … through one inning this season.
Joel Peralta’s 1.13 FIP is only fifth-best on the team.
The guess here is that Don Mattingly will try to stay away from Pedro Baez and Peralta, each of whom pitched Sunday and Monday, though neither is necessarily unavailable for a short outing tonight. J.P. Howell and Juan Nicasio are the most rested.

As for tonight’s lineup, Yasiel Puig is being held out as a precaution to protect his left hamstring, though he could be available to pinch-hit off the bench. Starting third baseman Juan Uribe and reserve Justin Turner are ready to go, Don Mattingly said.

In the background, Mattingly said Kenley Jansen and Hyun-Jin Ryu are progressing in their rehabs without any setbacks. Mattingly indicated that Jansen was feeling so good that they might need to put the reins on him.

"Kenley – we're going to need to hold him back a little bit. He's feeling really good … make sure we let process play out." – Mattingly

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 14, 2015

Turner, Uribe injuries not serious

By Jon Weisman

On April 12, 2015

In Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”69583083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andre Ethier, LF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

There were encouraging reports on Justin Turner and Juan Uribe a day after each were injured, minutes apart, in Saturday’s 6-0 Dodger loss, but Alex Guerrero will make his first Major League start.

Uribe is available off the bench today if needed (though unlikely to be used), while Turner is expected back for the upcoming series against the Mariners.

With Guerrero, Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal in the lineup, it is believed to be the first time the Dodgers will have started three Cuban-born players.

Saturday marked the 28th time the Dodgers have been two-hit since 2000.

Dodgers look to keep 239-game streak alive

By Jon Weisman

On April 11, 2015

In Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”68060383″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 5:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXI: Kershawlicon Valley
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Tonight, the 2-2 Dodgers put a 239-game streak of not having a losing record on the line.

Since winning 7-5 in 14 innings at Arizona on July 10, 2013, part of their historic 42-8 spree, the Dodgers have been at least .500 or better (allowing for the past two Opening Days, when they were 0-0).

Los Angeles didn’t spend a day in 2014 below .500, and has won six consecutive times in the past 21 months when a loss would have given them a losing record, including Monday and Wednesday.

Andre Ethier and Justin Turner make their first starts of 2015 tonight. So far this season, the Dodger bench (including A.J. Ellis, making his second start this evening) has a single by Turner and two intentional walks in 15 plate appearances. Alex Guerrero and Darwin Barney have yet to play in a game.

Don Mattingly told reporters today that Carl Crawford would get his first day off Sunday, with Ethier starting in his place.

The Dodgers lead the National League in home runs and walks and are second in OPS.

Clayton Kershaw, starting tonight, needs three strikeouts to pass Orel Hershiser for the No. 5 spot on the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout list in Los Angeles.

L.A. Dodgers strikeout leaders:
2,696 Sutton
2,283 Drysdale
2,214 Koufax
1,759 Valenzuela
1,456 Hershiser
1,454 Kershaw
(via @dodgersPR)

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 11, 2015

Dodgers have 32 K in 27 innings, 700K on Instagram

By Jon Weisman

On April 10, 2015

In Pregame

Thank YOU for making us the first @MLB club to hit 700k followers on @Instagram.

A post shared by Los Angeles Dodgers (@dodgers) on Apr 10, 2015 at 1:13pm PDT

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

There’s been so much focus on the Dodger hitting in this season’s first week, I thought I’d pass along a wee pitching note: Los Angeles is averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings as a team through three games.

Paco Rodriguez leads the Dodgers with a sleek 27.0 K/9. Brandon McCarthy (16.2) is tops among the guys with more than one inning under their belts.

It’s not quite 700K, like the Dodgers’ Instagram following, but it’s a nice start.

Kershaw’s troubles on 0-2 counts extremely rare

By Jon Weisman

On April 7, 2015

In Pitching, Pregame

For more images from Monday, visit LA Photog Blog.

Padres at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Last year, Clayton Kershaw got ahead 0-2 on 211 hitters and allowed only 27 to reach base, including three doubles, a triple and two homers (.116 batting average, .128 on-base percentage, .169 slugging percentage).

That’s a .297 OPS, or nearly 30 percent below the 2014 National League average OPS of .421 on 0-2 counts.

One of the flukes from Kershaw’s Opening Day — and there’s little reason to think it was anything more than a Ripley’s — was that three of the 10 batters he had 0-2 reached base, on the Wil Myers leadoff hit-by pitch and doubles by Clint Barmes and Matt Kemp. The first and the third of those contributed to all three runs the Padres scored.

“I just didn’t put a lot of guys away,” Kershaw told reporters after the game. “I got ahead on a few guys and wasn’t able to finish it off.”

Maybe the most interesting aspect of Kershaw’s day was that his most challenging inning was a scoreless one. San Diego hitters fouled off 18 Kershaw pitches in the game — but 10 of those came in the fourth inning, including six with two strikes. Kershaw threw 24 pitches that inning before retiring the side, then gave up what were the go-ahead runs in the fifth.

Dodger manager Don Mattingly credited the Padres’ tenacity.

“Guys are fighting,” Mattingly said. “They’re not gonna just come in here and give up. These are Major League players. There’s a lot of talent. To be honest with you, when you put a team that ends up in last and a team that ends up in first side by side, a lot of times it’s gonna be a lot of close games in there. It’s just not that easy.”

Had Juan Uribe been able to throw out Derek Norris with two out in the fifth inning, Kemp’s two-run double wouldn’t have happened. Mattingly said that Uribe and the Dodgers knew Norris could run, but that Uribe didn’t have a good grip on the ball when he was readying to throw.

“He kind of double-pumped it, double-tapped it … and it takes that split-second longer,” Mattingly said.

Not that Kershaw was holding Uribe responsible.

“They gave me the lead, and I wasn’t able to hold it,” Kershaw said. “A little bit disappointed with that, but you know what, we got some clutch hits.”

And in any case, Kershaw was probably being too hard on himself. Six of the other seven hitters that he had 0-2 in the count struck out.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Pregame (Page 21 of 32)

Pederson pops up — to leadoff, that is

Brandon McCarthy speaks about torn UCL

Puig, Peralta head to DL, while McCarthy awaits MRI

Dodgers add Sergio Santos to bullpen

Join this year’s 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run at Dodger Stadium

Kershaw vs. Bumgarner tonight … and then comes tomorrow

A cute start

Dodger bullpen locking it down

Dodger offense pounding away

The Dodgers’ Fast Burn All-Stars

Notes on the Dodger bullpen, heading into a bullpen game

Turner, Uribe injuries not serious

Dodgers look to keep 239-game streak alive

Dodgers have 32 K in 27 innings, 700K on Instagram

Kershaw’s troubles on 0-2 counts extremely rare

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