Pregame – Page 26 – Dodger Thoughts

How to avoid a meltdown

On July 25, 2014

By Jon Weisman

There are things that are true, and there are things that people think that are true. Here’s an attempt to separate one from the other, as we head into the weekend series between the Giants and the Dodgers.

• The Giants ride on the wings of seraphim, while the Dodgers are a dysfunctional timebomb.
We had a welcome respite from this dichotomy while the Dodgers rallied from their 9 1/2-game deficit in the National League West, but once the Giants went back ahead in the race by two games in two days, it didn’t take long for this angle to return. Why even play the games?

• The Giants own the Dodgers this year.
This year, San Francisco has won seven of the first 10 games they have played against the Dodgers. Last year, Arizona won seven of the first 10 games they played against the Dodgers. Does anyone still think Arizona owned the Dodgers?

The New York Mets won 10 of 11 from the Dodgers in the 1988 regular season. Does anyone still think the Mets owned the Dodgers?

Nobody owns anybody.

P.S. In those first 10 games against the Giants this year, Clayton Kershaw has started once.

• The Dodgers need a sweep.
If the Dodgers win two out of three, they’ll be a half-game behind San Francisco with 56 games remaining in their season and reversed the momentum between the two teams. A sweep would be lovely, but it’s hardly do-or-die.

• The Dodgers need to win two out of three.
If the Dodgers only win one game, they’ll be 2 1/2 games behind San Francisco with 56 games left. They’ll look like the second-best team in the division, especially if San Francisco wins the series against the best of the Dodger rotation.

But reverse the positions. If the Dodgers took two of three at home from the Giants and led by 2 1/2 games with 56 remaining, would you think that the race was over? Heck, if the Dodgers led by 2 1/2 games with five or six games remaining, would you think the race was over?

• Surely the Dodgers must win at least one out of three.
This is false for the reasons alluded to above, but I’ll concede that if Zack Greinke, Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu can’t do enough to keep the Dodgers from being swept, the Dodger fan base will turn into this:

Andre Ethier poised to become HBP champ

By Jon Weisman

On July 23, 2014

In Pregame

Andre Ethier tied the Los Angeles Dodger record for career HBPs with this plunking on June 13. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Andre Ethier tied the Los Angeles Dodger record for career HBPs with this June 13 plunking. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers at Pirates, 4:05 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Matt Kemp, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Carl Crawford, LF
Miguel Rojas, SS
Drew Butera, C
Dan Haren, P

By Jon Weisman

This week seems like as good as any to post a list of the Dodgers’ all-time leaders in hit by pitches. One list features the expected — the other, perhaps, a surprise.

The Plunkers
154 Don Drysdale
82 Henry McIntire
79 Jeff Pfeffer
74 Chan Ho Park
73 Nap Rucker
70 Dazzy Vance
65 Orel Hershiser
62 Don Sutton
56 Burleigh Grimes
53 Ramon Martinez
49 Charlie Hough
45 Oscar Jones
43 Chad Billingsley
40 Darren Dreifort
38 Jeff Weaver

Drysdale’s spot on the chart might be the least surprising piece of trivia you’ll see for some time, but even Drysdale would have to tip his hat to McIntire, who hit a better nearly every other game for Brooklyn (179 games in all). And Park amassed his total in even fewer innings than McIntire.

The Plunkees
73 Zack Wheat
72 Jackie Robinson
52 Andre Ethier
52 Alex Cora
47 Carl Furillo
43 Ron Cey
41 Willie Davis
39 Whitey Alperman
37 Lou Johnson
37 Jake Daubert
36 Bill Russell
35 Mark Grudzielanek

Yep, that’s Andre Ethier quietly bruising his way up the list — with his next HBP, he’ll become the franchise’s all-time leader in Los Angeles. Ethier tied Cora when Chase Anderson nailed him on June 13, immediately after a Matt Kemp home run. Ethier earned 25 percent of his total in one season — 2009, while Cora set the Los Angeles single-season record with 18 in 2004.

Wheat got his Dodger-leading total in 18 seasons; Robinson came within one despite playing only 10 years in Brooklyn. Cora, somewhat amazingly, averaged an HBP every 13.1 games, while Sweet Lou was soured every 10.5 games as a Dodger.

* * *

Dodger team historian Mark Langill is a participant in this ESPN 30 for 30 documentary short, “The High Five.” It’s a story that most Dodger fans know very well, but it never hurts to revisit.

Ties go to the NL

By Jon Weisman

On July 21, 2014

In Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”34680341″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Pirates, 4:05 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Justin Turner, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Andre Ethier, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P
Note: Josh Beckett is expected to be activated from the disabled list to start Tuesday.

By Jon Weisman

You could say there are some close divisional races in the National League:

West
.551 54-44 San Francisco
.550 55-45 Los Angeles

Central
.545 54-45 Milwaukee
.545 54-45 St. Louis

East
.552 53-43 Washington
.551 54-44 Atlanta

Pittsburgh (52-46) and Cincinnati (51-47) are within 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 games of the NL Central lead, meaning that eight teams can call themselves top contenders for the five playoff spots in the NL.

* * *

Here’s the updated list of all-time pitcher leaders in stolen bases for the Dodgers in Los Angeles, courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com:

Dodger scoring drought isn’t permanent, but it’s a long one

By Jon Weisman

On July 20, 2014

In Offense, Pregame

Dodgers at Cardinals, 5:05 p.m.
Kershaw CXCVII: Kershawckford Files
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Andre Ethier, RF
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers will score again.

I know it doesn’t look like the Dodgers will score again, but the Dodgers will score again. Because teams always score again.

But, it has been a bit of a dry spell for the offense.

Los Angeles has gone seven straight games without scoring more than three runs, one of their longest streaks since the team last won a World Series in 1988.

11 June 26-July 6, 1989 (2-9)
9 July 23-August 1, 2003 (2-7)
8 September 4-13, 2012 (1-7)
8 June 23-30, 2012 (1-7)
8 July 21-29, 2010 (5-3)*
8 August 19-26, 2008 (1-7)
8 May 8-15, 2002 (3-5)
8 June 7-15, 1992 (2-6)
7 July 9-19, 2014 (3-4)
7 August 9-15, 1997 (3-4)
7 July 7-11, 1992 (2-5)
7 April 28-May 10, 1992 (1-6)
7 April 11-17, 1989 (2-5)

*From July 21-27, 2010, the Dodgers scored 11 runs in six games — and went 5-1, thanks to four shutouts plus a 3-2 win.

Behind Clayton Kershaw tonight, the Dodgers could conceivably go 4-4 in eight low-scoring games, though of course they’d welcome an offensive explosion as a change of pace.

Are the Dodgers getting a more rested Paco Rodriguez for the stretch?

By Jon Weisman

On July 18, 2014

In Pitching, Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”31198271″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Cardinals, 5:15 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Andre Ethier, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Dan Haren, P

By Jon Weisman

One big concern with Paco Rodriguez in 2013 was whether he was burned out by the time September arrived. That was the conclusion almost everyone seemed to draw when his otherwise sterling season fell apart with a 5.68 ERA and 2.211 WHIP in the regular season’s final month, followed by a rough and abbreviated postseason.

Cause or correlation, it made me curious how much more rested Rodriguez will be after this year’s All-Star Break compared to last year. (Note: MLB and minor-league work is combined here.)

Saturday’s 1-0 walkoff sacrifice fly was the second in L.A. Dodger history

By Jon Weisman

On July 13, 2014

In History, Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”34543357″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Padres at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Miguel Rojas, SS
Hyun-Jun Ryu, P

By Jon Weisman

Saturday brought the 159th 1-0 victory in the 57 seasons of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but also something much more unusual than that.

A.J. Ellis provided the 13th 1-0 Dodger victory in which the winning run came in by sacrifice fly, and the first since June 3, 2009 (Casey Blake). Before that was the June 28, 2008 game (Blake DeWitt) that the Dodgers won with no hits.

Saturday also marked the first time the Dodgers had won, 1-0, on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly since May 29, 1992 (Todd Benzinger) at Wrigley Field.

But not for 25 years had the Dodgers had a walkoff sacrifice fly in a 1-0 victory, not since May 1, 1989.

Scott Van Slyke starts against righty for second day in a row

By Jon Weisman

On July 11, 2014

In Pregame

Padres at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Miguel Rojas, SS
Drew Butera, C
Dan Haren, P

By Jon Weisman

Scott Van Slyke is making his second consecutive start in center field with a right-handed pitcher on the mound tonight, in large part because of lingering physical issues for Andre Ethier.

Van Slyke has a .409 on-base percentage and .545 slugging percentage this season. Most of that production has come against lefties (.442/.683), but he has improved enough of late against righties to bring his OBP and slugging to .375 and .410. Van Slyke has two homers against righties this month.

Ethier had an OBP and slugging of .400 and .636 in 35 plate appearances from June 24-July 4, before going 0 for 10 in his last three games. Against righties, Ethier is at .318/.402, far off his career numbers against northpaws of .384/.510.

“We’re still trying to take care of him,” Dodger manager Don Mattingly said of Ethier. “He’s still having soreness all over the place … some leg issues and some other issues. We’re just trying to make sure, going into the (All-Star) break, hopefully we get him out of that. And on the back side of that, Scotty’s playing well.”

Neither Van Slyke nor Ethier has looked particularly dextrous in center field except for balls hit at or in front of them.

“I just think in general, Andre doesn’t seem to have the same energy (he normally has),” Mattingly said. “He just hasn’t felt good, body-wise. … It’s just lots of little things, and one thing is the building block to another, and to compensate you’ve got another issue.”

Carl Crawford, like Matt Kemp, is not considered a center-field option for Mattingly, who did say that Crawford would get a start this weekend (in left).

Joc Pederson, meanwhile, is back in the Triple-A Albuquerque lineup, going 4 for 7 with a double, triple and walk in his first two games. All three outs he has made have been strikeouts.

* * *

Other notes from Mattingly:

Today’s action will determine Saturday’s starter. There’s an increased possibility Paul Maholm will start Saturday if not needed tonight. Otherwise, the Dodgers could be looking at a Red Patterson callup.
Justin Turner is improving and is expected to get numerous this weekend at-bats for the Dodgers at their Arizona facility.
Chone Figgins had a heavy day Thursday, was a little sore today but is progressing.

So, Kenley Jansen has thrown eight pitches in July

By Jon Weisman

On July 10, 2014

In Pregame

Padres at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CXCVI: Kershawll About Eve
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

A closer’s workload can always fluctuate, and rarely can you see it illustrated better than the example of Kenley Jansen.

We’re on the 10th day of July, and Jansen has thrown all of eight pitches this month, retiring all three batters he faced July 3 at Colorado. The only other late-inning, small lead the Dodgers have had in July was when Cleveland scored three runs in the eighth inning July 2.

Second-half rotation depends on Kershaw’s All-Star usage, Beckett’s health

By Jon Weisman

On July 9, 2014

In Pitching, Pregame

Dodgers at Tigers, 10:08 a.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Andre Ethier, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Miguel Rojas, SS
(Zack Greinke, P)

By Jon Weisman

Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to pitch his last game before the All-Star Break on Thursday. But Kershaw might not start the Dodgers’ first game after the All-Star Break on July 18, eight days later.

Don Mattingly told reporters in Detroit today that if Kershaw pitches two innings in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, that he would not open the Dodgers’ post-break schedule in St. Louis.

Whether that will happen remains to be seen.

Josh Beckett heading to disabled list

By Jon Weisman

On July 8, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Tigers, 4:08 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Miguel Rojas, SS
(Hyun-Jin Ryu, P)

By Jon Weisman

Amid his banner comeback season, there’s been increasing concern about general wear and tear on Josh Beckett, concern that was only exacerbated when he went aggravated his left hip on the basepaths Sunday in Colorado.

Today, the Dodgers announced that Beckett is heading the disabled list with a left hip impingement. Because of the All-Star Break, Beckett might miss only one scheduled start, the one Saturday at home against San Diego. Assuming the Dodgers reset their rotation after the break, Beckett could return to make a start July 22 at Pittsburgh.

The Triunfel-Arruebarrena hula

By Jon Weisman

On July 6, 2014

In Farewells, Health/injuries, Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”34330959″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Miguel Rojas, 2B
Josh Beckett, P

By Jon Weisman

Erisbel Arruebarrena, 5 for 16 with a walk at the plate and as smooth a fielder as you’ll see at shortstop, didn’t have a long stay on the Dodger active roster this time around.

Two days after his recall, Arruebarrena went on the disabled list with a right hip flexor strain, and the Dodgers brought back Carlos Triunfel to take his place.

Don Mattingly told reporters that the injury happened sometime during Arruebarrena’s first at-bat Friday.

Meanwhile, Carl Crawford went 1 for 2 in a four-inning appearance with Albuquerque last night.

* * *

Earl Robinson, who made his Major League debut with the Dodgers in their first year in Los Angeles, died at the age of 77, according to the Dodgers’ public relations department. Robinson, who went to Berkeley High School and then attended California, went 3 for 15 with a walk for the Dodgers, and later played three seasons for Baltimore.

Dodgers closing in on Brewers for NL best record — and other notes

By Jon Weisman

On July 5, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”34290327″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers at Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Andre Ethier, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Miguel Rojas, 2B
Dan Haren, P

By Jon Weisman

Heading into today’s game, the 50-39 Dodgers are two games (.024) behind Milwaukee for the best record in the National League, their closest point since they were 12-7 on April 20.

Atlanta, winner of eight straight, is a half-game behind the Dodgers.

Let’s do this pregame notebook-style …

Kershaw’s streak gets biggest test at Coors Field

By Jon Weisman

On July 4, 2014

In Pregame

Happy birthday, America! You are beautiful: pic.twitter.com/YlxnhrXon7

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 4, 2014

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10 p.m.
Kershaw CXCV: Kershawppalachian Spring
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Andre Ethier, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Talking about Clayton Kershaw breaking Orel Hershiser’s scoreless inning record might just be a novelty at this point, but it would get more serious if he could get past the hitting-friendly environment of Coors Field tonight.

Seven shutout innings today, for example, would put Kershaw at 35, a top-five streak in Dodger history, tied with Don Sutton (1972) and Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and behind only Hershiser’s 59 in 1988 and Drysdale’s 58 in 1968.

Dan Szymborski of ESPN Insider has a lengthy analysis of the challenge facing Kershaw, and doesn’t put it out of the realm of possibility. Here’s his conclusion:

Dodgers going for it with Ramirez, but call up Arruebarrena anyway

By Jon Weisman

On July 3, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Hanley Ramirez tested his calf before today’s game in Colorado and apparently passed the test, because he’s in the starting lineup for the Dodgers.

Today was the last day Ramirez could be put on the disabled list and be ready to be activated for the first game after the All-Star Break on July 18. Of course, that’s not to say that Ramirez couldn’t go on the disabled list a day from now and come off July 19.

In any case, the Dodgers have switched up their sixth infielder, sending down Carlos Triunfel after his disappointing performance Wednesday and calling up Erisbel Arruebarrena, the defensive whiz who now has a .410 on-base percentage with Albuquerque.

Arruebarrena had three singles, a double and a walk for a .357 on-base percentage in 14 plate appearances in his first stint with the Dodgers.

The Rockies, meanwhile, made their own big move, activating third baseman Nolan Arenado, who had been on the disabled list since last playing May 23. Colorado was 26-22 when Arenado went on the DL (with an .823 OPS and Gold Glove glove) and was 10-27 since.

Without Puig, Gonzalez, Uribe and Ramirez in lineup, Wednesday becomes the day of rest

By Jon Weisman

On July 2, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame

For photo highlights from Tuesday’s action, check out the LA Photog Blog.

Indians at Dodgers, 12:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
Andre Ethier, CF
Matt Kemp, LF
Clint Robinson, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Miguel Rojas, 3B
Carlos Triunfel, SS
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P

By Jon Weisman

It’s a long season, and players need their days off. And every once in a while — particularly at a 12:10 p.m. game after a labored loss the night before — more than one player gets one.

That’s the story behind today’s Dodger starting lineup, which does not include Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez or Juan Uribe — nor Hanley Ramirez, who has only started one game since June 23.

Dodger manager Don Mattingly was, you could say, taunted by reporters before today’s game about the lineup, which features three players who until recently were regulars at Albuquerque.

“It’s a winning lineup today,” he responded, though not in a tone that seemed to ignore the potential offensive challenges.

“There were a number of guys that needed a day,” Mattingly added. “We’ve really been going hard. Twelve o’clock game, it’s just hard to keep firing guys out there. I need some energy.

“You see just a difference in at-bats, you see them get impatient. You see guys just get tired, chasing, making mistakes at the plate.”

Uribe had a planned day off, part of the ongoing effort to manage his durability, while Ramirez is getting probably one more day before the Dodgers fish/cut bait on whether to put him on the 15-day disabled list. The Dodgers’ first game after the All-Star Break is July 18, meaning that if they want him activated by then, he would need to go on before Thursday’s game at Colorado. Mattingly recognizes that having him only available in spot duty is far from ideal.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Pregame (Page 26 of 32)

How to avoid a meltdown

Andre Ethier poised to become HBP champ

Ties go to the NL

Dodger scoring drought isn’t permanent, but it’s a long one

Are the Dodgers getting a more rested Paco Rodriguez for the stretch?

Saturday’s 1-0 walkoff sacrifice fly was the second in L.A. Dodger history

Scott Van Slyke starts against righty for second day in a row

So, Kenley Jansen has thrown eight pitches in July

Second-half rotation depends on Kershaw’s All-Star usage, Beckett’s health

Josh Beckett heading to disabled list

The Triunfel-Arruebarrena hula

Dodgers closing in on Brewers for NL best record — and other notes

Kershaw’s streak gets biggest test at Coors Field

Dodgers going for it with Ramirez, but call up Arruebarrena anyway

Without Puig, Gonzalez, Uribe and Ramirez in lineup, Wednesday becomes the day of rest

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