Pregame – Page 9 – Dodger Thoughts

Kershaw looks to cure what ALs Dodgers

On May 7, 2016

Dodgers at Blue Jays, 10:07 a.m.
Kershaw CCXLIX: Kershaw-ish
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Carl Crawford, DH
(Clayton Kershaw, P)

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers are 1-2 to start interleague play, 2-8 in their past 10 games and 14-15 on the season.

Enter Clayton Kershaw.

Today, Kershaw appears in his 100th game since the beginning of the 2013 season, a run that began with his Opening Day shutout (and eighth-inning, tiebreaking home run) against the Giants.

In 713 innings over his past 99 games, Kershaw has a 1.92 ERA with 826 strikeouts. This is what his average start in that time looks like: 7 1/3 innings, five hits, 1.7 runs (1.5 earned), 1.3 walks, 8.3 strikeouts.

Joc Pederson’s quiet offensive surge

By Jon Weisman

On May 6, 2016

In Pregame

get in emmmmm #Defense

A post shared by Joc Pederson (@yungjoc650) on May 5, 2016 at 5:59pm PDT

Dodgers at Blue Jays, 4:07 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, DH
Joc Pederson, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
(Kenta Maeda, P)

By Jon Weisman

Joc Pederson isn’t just about tight man-to-man defense, as seen in the above video.

Under the radar and near the bottom of the batting order, Pederson is quietly reducing fears about his offense after last season’s post-June slump.

Overall in 2016, the 24-year-old has a .386 on-base percentage (.403 against right-handed pitching) with a .500 slugging percentage, .380 weighted on-base average and 137 weighted runs created.

Dodgers suspend Erisbel Arruebarrena

By Jon Weisman

On May 4, 2016

In Pregame, Transactions

Erisbel Arruebarrena watches Corey Seager in a 2015 Spring Training game. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Erisbel Arruebarrena watches Corey Seager turn a double play in a 2015 Spring Training game. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers at Rays, 4:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, DH
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Trayce Thompson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Corey Seager, SS
Charlie Culberson, 3B
(Alex Wood, P)

By Jon Weisman

For the second year in a row, the Dodgers have suspended infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena.

Dodger director of player development Gabe Kapler confirmed the suspension, which was for repeated failure to comply with the terms of his contract.

Arruebarrena was signed in February 2014. A defensive whiz, he went 8 for 41 with a double, three walks and 17 strikeouts for the Dodgers that season, and was 2 for 4 as the shortstop the day of Josh Beckett’s no-hitter.

How soon will Dodgers find right path on offense?

By Jon Weisman

On May 3, 2016

In Hitting, Pregame

Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Rays, 4:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, DH
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Trayce Thompson, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Charlie Culberson, SS
(Scott Kazmir, P)

By Jon Weisman

Beginning tonight, the Dodgers face two left-handers in their short sojourn to Tampa Bay.

So of course, I’m going to start things off by talking about their hitting against right-handers.

Why? Because lack of offense is on every Dodger fan’s mind these days, and a big part of the struggle is that the Dodgers’ righty-on-righty hitting has gone off a cliff.

Los Angeles ranks last among the 30 MLB teams with a .544 OPS by their right-handed batters against right-handed pitchers. That’s the baseball equivalent of shooting free throws like Shaquille O’Neal.

While the Dodgers platoon quite a bit, righty-on-righty still accounts for 33 percent of their plate appearances this season. So while their lefty hitters have been strong against right-handed pitching (.802 OPS), the righty batters have been dragging them down.

The good news is that this is so far out of the norm that it isn’t likely to continue. (Click below to enlarge …)

Dodgers dig deep for homestand finale

By Jon Weisman

On May 1, 2016

In History, Pregame

Yasiel Puig and Dave Roberts prior to Saturday’s game

Padres at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXLVIII: Kershawt. Elsewhere
Yasiel Puig, RF
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Trayce Thompson, CF
Corey Seager, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Behind Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers take the field today trying to stave off the longest winless homestand in franchise history.

According to Stats LLC, via the Dodgers’ public relations department, the Dodgers have had six winless homestands at Dodger Stadium, but none longer than three games. In Brooklyn, the longest winless homestand was four games in 1893.

Overall, the Dodgers’ six-game losing streak is their longest since an eight-gamer from May 1-10, 2013. That was the year the team came back with a 42-8 run to win the National League West and reach the National League Championship Series.

Dodgers hold team meeting before batting practice

By Jon Weisman

On April 29, 2016

In Health/injuries, Hitting, Managing, Pregame

New series starts today. Let's go! pic.twitter.com/mi9MndQb4V

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 29, 2016

Padres at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

In the wake of their four-game losing streak, the Dodgers held a closed-door meeting at 3:30 p.m. in the clubhouse that Dave Roberts said essentially addressed the same issues he brought up after Thursday’s game.

“You just got to get back to the fundamentals and trying to play clean, crisp baseball and play every pitch,” Roberts said. “I think that there are signs of that. … Whether we’re winning games or not winning games, I still think there’s a process that needs to be in place, and you just don’t want things to get away from you. So right now, it’s kind of hit the reset button a little bit.”

Among other issues, Roberts has the sense that Dodger batters are pressing at the plate.

“You know, it’s funny — I think it’s just guys are trying too hard,” he said. “And you hear it all the time when guys aren’t swinging well, that guys want to do it so bad, it’s a little bit, ‘Try a little less hard.’ Because guys just start swinging the bat, and you start coming out of the strike zone.”

One thing not addressed in today’s meeting was the 80-game suspension of former Dodger infielder Dee Gordon that was announced late Thursday. Reaction to that news is amply covered at a number of sites, but Roberts echoed the feeling of many.

Maeda faces Marlins, Ichiro, Fernandez, history

By Jon Weisman

On April 28, 2016

In International, Pregame

Kenta Maeda meets Ichiro on Monday. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Kenta Maeda brings his 0.36 ERA to his fifth start of his MLB career, and he’ll face Miami ace Jose Fernandez on the mound and childhood hero Ichiro Susuki in the lineup.

Among pitchers with at least 30 innings before April 30, Fernando Valenzuela holds the top two spots for lowest ERA: 0.20 in 1981 and 0.21 in 1982. The lowest that Maeda’s ERA could get tonight would be 0.26 if he throws a shutout, which would put him fifth all-time in March/April behind Walter Johnson (0.24 in 1913) and Ray Sadecki (0.25 in 1968).

Yimi Garcia isn’t progressing

By Jon Weisman

On April 27, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers

Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
Trayce Thompson, CF
Scott Kazmir, P

By Jon Weisman

The trouble with Yimi Garcia’s pitching arm remains localized in his bicep, Dave Roberts said this afternoon, but so far there’s been no progress for the 25-year-old righty since he went on the disabled list April 23.

“Not a whole lot of improvement,” Roberts said. “He’s disappointed, because after not picking up a baseball for three or four days, you’d expect that to kind of subside. … I don’t know when he’s going to pick up a baseball.”

Garcia has a career 3.12 ERA (120 ERA+) with 81 strikeouts in 75 innings for Los Angeles.

As for the active members of the Dodger bullpen behind Scott Kazmir tonight, all should be available for action, with the possible exception, I would expect, of Louis Coleman, who threw 10 pitches Monday and 20 Tuesday. J.P. Howell has also worked the past two games, but with only nine pitches combined.

As he indicated Tuesday, Roberts is looking for an improved performance from Kazmir, who pitched six shutout innings in his Dodger debut but has allowed 14 runs in 13 innings since.

“No. 1 is fastball command, and No. 2 is to see how his changeup is, because that’s been his best secondary pitch, and over his last couple of starts, he hasn’t really been able to get the depth and finish hitters with it,” Roberts said. It’s a swing-and-miss pitch, so I think if his change is good, presenting it as a strike and having the depth, then he’ll be in a good place.”

Carl Crawford officially activated, will start tonight

By Jon Weisman

On April 26, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXLVII: Kershawg Day Afternoon
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Carl Crawford has been activated from the 15-day disabled list, with Zach Lee returning to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Crawford started (but didn’t finish) the Dodgers’ first three games of the 2016 season and pinch-hit in the fourth, going 3 for 11 with a double.

“Just seeing him jump around and want to be back with the guys and be an active player again, it’s exciting, and we look forward to getting him back in the lineup,” Dave Roberts said.

Roberts talked about how Crawford would fit into an increasingly crowded rotation in left field, with Howie Kendrick, Trayce Thompson and Kiké Hernandez.

“It’s kind of one of those high-class problems,” Roberts said. “We’ve talked about depth, and this is kind of where it’s showing its head a little bit in that now there’s different options, and guys have to be unselfish. Today, it’d be great to get Howie back in there, but for me I’m going to give him a day and get him back in there tomorrow.”

Roberts later added that optimally, Crawford would start three or four times a week.

“We’ve seen there’s a propensity to get injured,” Roberts said. “I think for me, even in the beginning of the season, you saw I took him out just to kind of keep him off his feet, and so the idea of running him out there until he breaks is not something I believe in, so I just try to kind of conserve as much as possible and use that depth.”

Lee was with the big-league club for four games but did not pitch.

Never-an-All-Star Kenley Jansen off to dominant start

By Jon Weisman

On April 24, 2016

In Pregame

Dodgers at Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Trayce Thompson, LF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

Remarkable in one sense — and yet sadly understandable in another, given his relative anonymity outside of Los Angeles — Kenley Jansen has never been to an All-Star Game.

This year — look out.

Not only does Jansen, who celebrated his 150th career save Saturday, lead the Major Leagues in saves with eight, he has done so with authority. He has faced 29 batters and retired 26 of them, allowing two singles and a double while striking out nine and walking none.

No one has scored on his watch. Facing those 29 batters, he has had exactly 29 pitches called balls.

When a Coors Field game becomes a ‘Coors Field game’

By Jon Weisman

On April 22, 2016

In Pregame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Scott Kazmir, P

By Jon Weisman

That chamber of chills and thrills known as Coors Field hosts the Dodgers for three games in the next 48 hours.

Not without good reason, we think of the Colorado Rockies’ home field as the nuclear test site where ERAs go boom. But how common have those explosions been?

Here’s the breakdown of how the Dodgers’ breakdowns in Denver:

Runs scored at Coors Field by the Dodgers and Rockies, 1995-2015

Basically, the teams each break into double digits once or twice per year, no more than thrice, except in 1996, when the Rockies score 10 or more runs in four different games against Los Angeles. That’s not so extraordinary. It’s about the same as the amount of games in which a team has been held to two runs or fewer.

The thing that makes Coors Field Coors Field is the number of games in the high single digits — somewhere around half of the total for each team. The Dodgers and Rockies have scored at least six runs in more than half the games they have played at Coors.

So, be ready for some scoring — not necessarily an insane amount, but just enough to make you uncomfortable. That’s Coors Field for you.

Baez recovering, but Coleman bereaving

By Jon Weisman

On April 21, 2016

In Bullpen, Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Braves, 9:10 a.m.
Kershaw CCXLVI: Kershawll We Dance?
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Trayce Thompson, RF
Kiké Hernandez, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Charlie Culberson, 3B
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

“Right” said Pedro Baez, or something to that effect, the morning after an Adam Liberatore midgame warmup pitch Wednesday accidentally struck the right-handed reliever in the head.

Baez played catch in the outfield today and told reporters today that he feels fine, though Dave Roberts said in his pregame chat that the team hadn’t determined if Better Off Ped is available to pitch today.

However, the Dodgers have called up southpaw Luis Avilan from Triple-A Oklahoma City, because Louis Coleman has been placed on the bereavement list following the passing of his grandfather.

Avilan, who had a rough Spring Training, has thrown six shutout innings so far this season in the minors, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out nine. Left-handed batters are 1 for 9 against him with two walks and three strikeouts.

He’ll boost a Dodger bullpen that has been taxed over the past two nights and that will be hoping for a reprieve today with Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Number of pitches Dodger relievers have thrown since Monday’s off day:

33 J.P. Howell (10 Tuesday, 23 Wednesday)
31 Joe Blanton (12 Tuesday, 19 Wednesday)
24 Yimi Garcia (six Tuesday, 18 Wednesday
16 Chris Hatcher (16 Wednesday)
13 Adam Liberatore (nine Tuesday, four Wednesday)
13 Louis Coleman (13 Tuesday)
13 Kenley Jansen (13 Wednesday)

Trivia: Who was the last Dodger with a complete game and save in the same season?

By Jon Weisman

On April 20, 2016

In History, Pregame

Dodgers at Braves, 4:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Ross Stripling, P

By Jon Weisman

I don’t really have a timely hook for the trivia question I’m posting here, other than the fact that tonight’s starter, Ross Stripling, could conceivably become the next answer — and that Thursday’s starter, Clayton Kershaw, really should someday.

But I was just curious: Who was the last Dodger pitcher to get a complete game and a save in the same season?

Alex Wood seeks more than just a homecoming

By Jon Weisman

On April 19, 2016

In Pregame

Alex Wood has seven quality starts in 14 total starts with the Dodgers since being acquired in July. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers at Braves, 4:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

When Thomas Wolfe’s “You Can’t Go Home Again” was published in 1940, it flew in the face of Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, which forced players into homecomings year after year.

Then again, Wolfe had died two years earlier, so by that point, he really couldn’t go home again.

Anyway, the return of University of Georgia alum and former Braves lefty Alex Wood to Atlanta tonight is front of mind for the 24-year-old pitcher, as these stories Mike DiGiovanna of the Times and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com indicate.

“I’ve had it circled on my calendar for a while,” Wood said, according to Gurnick. “I’m excited about it, have a lot of family coming in for it, my friends. That’s where I lived. It’ll be fun, for sure.”

Dustin Nosler of Dodgers Digest takes the opportunity to reconcile the apparent contradiction between Wood’s increased velocity and decreased strikeout rate in 2016.

“Wood is making up for the lack of strikeouts by getting a lot of ground balls,” Nosler wrote. “He’s seventh in the majors with a 63.2 percent ground ball rate. He’s also getting some of the softest contact of any starter (35 percent).”

Crisscrossing Corey Seager and Joc Pederson

By Jon Weisman

On April 17, 2016

In Pregame

Giants at Dodgers, 5:05 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Corey Seager connected for a huge hit in the eighth inning Saturday, a two-run home run off Javier Lopez that was the first the San Francisco southpaw had allowed to a left-handed batter in nearly two years.

It was huge because it put the Dodgers within one run (in a game that they ultimately lost by 90 feet, leaving the tying run on third in a 4-3 defeat). It was also huge personally for Seager, who had gone 47 plate appearances this season without hitting a homer.

Seager now has a .292 on-base percentage, .422 slugging percentage and .714 OPS, which might be lower than some expected but is more than fine for a 21-year-old shortstop with a world of potential.

No one, to my knowledge, has called for Seager to be sent to the minors to regroup. The same can’t be said for Joc Pederson, who has been taking grief for much of the season — even though Pederson’s averages (.306 OBP, .424 slugging, .730 OPS) are higher, as are his exit velocities compared to Seager’s, according to Brooks Baseball.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Pregame (Page 9 of 32)

Kershaw looks to cure what ALs Dodgers

Joc Pederson’s quiet offensive surge

Dodgers suspend Erisbel Arruebarrena

How soon will Dodgers find right path on offense?

Dodgers dig deep for homestand finale

Dodgers hold team meeting before batting practice

Maeda faces Marlins, Ichiro, Fernandez, history

Yimi Garcia isn’t progressing

Carl Crawford officially activated, will start tonight

Never-an-All-Star Kenley Jansen off to dominant start

When a Coors Field game becomes a ‘Coors Field game’

Baez recovering, but Coleman bereaving

Trivia: Who was the last Dodger with a complete game and save in the same season?

Alex Wood seeks more than just a homecoming

Crisscrossing Corey Seager and Joc Pederson

Buy ‘The Catch: A novel’

Buy ‘Brothers in Arms’

‘Brothers in Arms’ coverage

Instagram

Twitter

Recent posts

Other writing by Jon

Archives

Commenting guidelines

Attendance