Spring Training – Dodger Thoughts

Comparing Dodgers-Giants remaining schedules

On August 17, 2016

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Phillies, 4:05 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Josh Reddick, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Scott Kazmir, P

By Jon Weisman

In the words of “Evita,” “So what happens now?”

The flip side of the Dodgers’ 97-day climb from eight games out to first place in the National League West is their tenuous hold on the spot.

The Giants scored twice in the first inning of their game this afternoon against Pittsburgh and twice again in the third, putting them on track to pull back within a virtual tie with the Dodgers by the time Chase Utley steps up to bat for the first time tonight.

Update: Pittsburgh came back with six runs in the fifth inning and held on for a 6-5 victory, putting the Dodgers up by a game in the division heading into this evening.

If there’s an Olympic event that describes the remaining NL West pennant race, maybe it’s the 400-meter hurdles — two rivals running alongside each other, with their own individual roadblocks to surpass, but ultimately boiling down to a straight-up duel.

The morning of August 23, San Francisco and Los Angeles will each have 38 games remaining. Remarkably, nine of them — nearly 25 percent — will be against each other.

Six of those will be in Los Angeles, although the advantage for the first might be with the Giants, who will have an off day August 22 to make the short trip from the Bay Area, while the Dodgers can’t head home until after they finish a 9:35 a.m. PT game three time zones away in Cincinnati.

When you compare and contrast the remaining schedules for each team, you find the similarities are more pronounced than the differences …

Pretend time is over

By Jon Weisman

On April 2, 2016

In Pregame, Spring Training

Dodgers at Angels, 6:05 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Yasiel Puig, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Joc Pederson, CF
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Austin Barnes, C
(Alex Wood, P)

By Jon Weisman

Dave Roberts told reporters this afternoon that he expects the Dodgers to announce their Opening Day 25-man roster after tonight’s exhibition season finale.

That roster for Monday’s opener doesn’t figure to include Yasmani Grandal or Howie Kendrick, both of whom seem destined for the disabled list, with activation on or before the Dodgers’ home debut April 12.

One interesting tibdit: Austin Barnes, who can back up at second and third base as well as catcher, might stay with the team even after Grandal is activated, Roberts said.

Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia clinch spots on 25-man roster

By Jon Weisman

On April 1, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Spring Training, Transactions

Yimi Garcia and Pedro Baez in October 2015. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Carl Crawford, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Corey Seager, SS
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Ross Stripling has been named the Dodgers’ No. 5 starter and will take the mound April 8 at San Francisco, Dave Roberts announced, adding that Carlos Frias will be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

We’ll have more on Stripling shortly in a separate post. In the meantime, here are some more news and notes …

Read More

Corey Seager busy in return to action

By Jon Weisman

On March 31, 2016

In Baserunning, Postgame, Spring Training

[mlbvideo id=”569589083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

The fates didn’t waste any time throwing the business at Corey Seager in his first Dodger game in nearly three weeks.

Scott Kazmir finishes Spring Training safe at any speed

By Jon Weisman

On March 31, 2016

In Pitching, Spring Training

By Jon Weisman

Scott Kazmir began tonight’s Freeway Series opener against the Angels with his two-seam fastball running between 88 and 90 mph in the first inning.

Then, with two outs and two strikes on C.J. Cron, Kazmir hit 92 with a fastball that Cron fouled into A.J. Ellis’ glove for strike three.

The speed bump wasn’t a coincidence.

In case you missed it: Camelback farewell beckons …

By Jon Weisman

On March 30, 2016

In In case you missed it, Pregame, Spring Training

Last day @CamelbackRanch. #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/W9qNFzQVDq

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 30, 2016

Indians at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Rob Segedin, 3B
Charlie Culberson, SS
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

On the final day of Cactus League play at Camelback Ranch for 2016, here are some Dodger tidbits …

Though he remains hopeful that Yasmani Grandal will be on the Opening Day roster Monday, Dave Roberts told reporters today that A.J. Ellis would catch Clayton Kershaw.
Roberts didn’t leak his entire Opening Day batting order, but predicted Justin Turner-Adrian Gonzalez would be in the three-four slots, and that Chase Utley (playing second base in place of Howie Kendrick) might lead off. For what it’s worth, Utley has OPSed .892 this spring.
Corey Seager remains scheduled to start Thursday in the Dodgers’ Freeway Series opener.
Trayce Thompson, Charlie Culberson, Rob Segedin and Austin Barnes should see action in the Freeway Series, but Rico Noel, Elian Herrera and Brandon Beachy won’t.
Hyun-Jin Ryu had a full bullpen session scheduled for today and should begin facing hitters at Camelback next week. All players on the disabled list are to be at Dodger Stadium for Opening Day, however.
Scott Kazmir provides an interesting touchstone for Julio Urias in this Ken Gurnick MLB.com story. Kazmir was 20 when he made his big-league debut for Tampa Bay, whose director of baseball development at the time was Andrew Friedman.
Don Newcombe told Ron Cervenka of Think Blue L.A. that running is the key for a pitcher to stay healthy.
MLB players and coaches can now have iPads in the dugout during games. Roberts said his staff might take advantage, but that he was more likely to stick with paper.

Ross Stripling falters near finish but stays on radar

By Jon Weisman

On March 29, 2016

In Pitching, Postgame, Spring Training

Ross Stripling in February (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Ross Stripling had an interesting day today — not as interesting as the 11-9 final score of the Dodgers’ loss to the Padres would suggest — but interesting nonetheless.

In case you missed it: Dodgers option Liberatore, hone in on bullpen

By Jon Weisman

On March 29, 2016

In Bullpen, Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Postgame, Pregame, Spring Training, Transactions

Adam Liberatore has struck out 11 in nine Cactus League innings this year.

Dodgers at Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Chase Utley, 2B
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Ross Stripling, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers are down to two left-handers in their Major League bullpen after optioning Adam Liberatore to the minors following the team’s 5-4 victory Monday over Texas.

The question now is, will they go down to one?

Since we last checked in on the bullpen, it has been whittled in predictable fashion, leaving the following:

After 19 MLB seasons, Jamey Wright retires

By Jon Weisman

On March 28, 2016

In Pregame, Spring Training, Transactions

Love this guy!

A post shared by Jamey Wright (@thejameywright) on Mar 7, 2016 at 6:32am PST

Rangers at Dodgers 7:05 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Austin Barnes, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Charlie Culberson, 2B
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

If it was a longshot for Jamey Wright to make a comeback with the Dodgers at age 41, what a sweet longshot it was.

Wright, who allowed 16 baserunners in 6 2/3 Cactus League innings, announced today that he was retiring from baseball, after 19 Major league seasons and nearly 23 years after signing his first professional contract. He had a chance to say goodbye to the sport with his eyes wide open.

No, not everyone got hurt: 2016 Spring Training stars

By Jon Weisman

On March 28, 2016

In Spring Training, Status report

By Jon Weisman

One week from Opening Day, it’s safe to say that injuries have dampened Spring Training for the Dodgers this year, like picking the wrong line at Philippe’s 30 minutes before game time. If there’s an upside, it’s that aside from the injuries, there’s been a feast for the baseball senses. Nearly everyone on the field is meeting or exceeding expectations. Here are some of the brightest (and, knock on wood) healthiest lights at Camelback Ranch this month:

In case you missed it: Ex-Dodger moves forward from tragedy

By Jon Weisman

On March 27, 2016

In Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Pregame, Spring Training

[mlbvideo id=”565381383″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Reds at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Trayce Thompson, CF
Chase Utley, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Rob Segedin, 1B
Austin Barnes, 2B
Charlie Culberson, SS
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

I hope you don’t have to read a tougher story than this today: Former Dodger reliever Javy Guerra spoke to J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News about the twin horrors of losing his brother and sister in the past two years.

Here’s what’s happening around the Dodgers …

Zach Lee held serve in his challenge with Carlos Frias to start in the first week of the 2016 season. In the Dodgers’ 5-4 victory Saturday over the White Sox, Lee (pitching 4 2/3 innings) got two more outs than Frias, but allowed two more runs. Oddly, Lee had no walks or strikeouts.
Wrote Ken Gurnick of MLB.com: “Some will speculate that because Frias faced the Giants recently, Lee will get that first start, rather than have Frias face the same hitters again. San Francisco’s lineup Friday night included Buster Posey, Hunter Pence and Brandon Crawford.”
Under the radar, Kiké Hernandez (hit by a pitch near his oblique Sunday), Alex Guerrero (knee) and Yimi Garcia (knee) have gone days without playing as they try to let various sore spots heal.
However, Gurnick indicates that Corey Seager is nearing a return to Major League action after playing defense in a minor-league game Saturday.
Scott Kazmir’s abdominal issues weren’t abominable – it turns out, they were cramps.
Prospect watchers got a thrill when 20-year-old Cody Bellinger and 21-year-old Willie Calhoun hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning off MLB veteran Dan Jennings. Each player reached base twice in the game.
Justin Turner walked, doubled and singled in his three plate appearances, and now has a Cactus League on-base percentage in the .700 club.
Play-by-play announcer Joe Davis is not only spending his first season with the Dodgers in 2016, he and his wife Libby are having their first baby this summer. Congrats!
It was Dodger Pride night Saturday at Staples Center with the Kings.

@lakings, you look good. I mean, really good. #GKG Join us for Kings Night at Dodger stadium on August 12! Visit Dodgers.com/Kings for more information.

A post shared by Los Angeles Dodgers (@dodgers) on Mar 26, 2016 at 9:57pm PDT

Many happy returns for Vin, Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On March 25, 2016

In Postgame, Spring Training

https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/713574906013687808

By Jon Weisman

Well, the Dodgers sure treated Vin Scully right tonight in his 2016 exhibition debut, with the exception of giving him some drama.

Before the game was half over, Scully had a “deuces wild,” a “butter and egg man” and “out from me to you” – not to mention a whopping Dodger victory.

Vin Scully goes back to work

By Jon Weisman

On March 25, 2016

In Broadcasting, Pregame, Spring Training

Photos by Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Giants at Dodgers, 7:05 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Chase Utley, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Austin Barnes, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Rob Segedin, 3B
Charlie Culberson, SS
Carlos Frias, P

By Jon Weisman

Vin Scully arrived at Camelback Ranch this afternoon, ahead of his first broadcast of his last season behind the mic for the Dodgers.

Scully will do tonight’s game against the Giants, then return to Southern California and do the two Freeway Series games against the Angels at Dodger Stadium (March 31-April 1), before settling in for Opening Day at San Diego on April 4.

In case you missed it: Grandal’s return delayed

By Jon Weisman

On March 24, 2016

In In case you missed it, Pregame, Spring Training

Yasmani Grandal homers March 18 against Arizona.

Dodgers at Indians, 7:05 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, DH
A.J. Ellis C
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Elian Herrera, 2B
Trayce Thompson, LF
(Clayton Kershaw, P)
Update: Howie Kendrick was scratched shortly before first pitch with left calf tightness and is day to day.

By Jon Weisman

Yasmani Grandal will remain out of the Dodger lineup until at least Sunday, Dave Roberts told reporters today.

An MRI showed no muscle damage in Grandal’s sorearm, tweeted Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A., but the Dodgers are taking a precautionary approach with their starting catcher, who told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo that if it were up to him, he would play.

Of course, it became apparent toward the end of last season that Grandal is pretty much the Black Knight when it comes to pain tolerance. Today, Bill Plunkett of the Register noted that Grandal caught Kenta Maeda’s bullpen session, though he let another catcher throw the ball back to the mound.

Grandal has played in eight Cactus League games, with his most recent start coming Sunday.

Here are some other pregame notes:

Andre Ethier won’t be allowed to put any weight on his fractured right leg for six weeks, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
Corey Seager batted in a minor-league game today, going 0 for 4. He did not play defense in the game.
In his third inning of a minor-league game today, Cuban pitching prospect Yadier Alvarez was clocked by two scouts at 100 mph, said J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News.
National columnist Peter Gammons has an extended piece on the Dodgers at GammonsDaily.
Fangraphs writer Dave Cameron addresses concerns that the Dodgers aren’t taking Clayton Kershaw’s prime seriously enough.
On Saturday, the Kings will host Dodgers Pride Night at 7 p.m. at Staples Center. Fans are invited to purchase a ticket package that includes a ticket to the game and a commemorative Dodgers Pride Night long-sleeve shirt that will be redeemed at the game. Visit lakings.com/dodgers for more details.

In case you missed it: Maeda rolls after getting a bit rocked

By Jon Weisman

On March 21, 2016

In In case you missed it, Postgame, Spring Training, Transactions

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

It’s hard not to like what Kenta Maeda has brought to the U.S. so far.

Same with Justin Turner, even if the journey isn’t quite so far.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Category: Spring Training (Page 1 of 13)

Comparing Dodgers-Giants remaining schedules

Pretend time is over

Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia clinch spots on 25-man roster

Corey Seager busy in return to action

Scott Kazmir finishes Spring Training safe at any speed

In case you missed it: Camelback farewell beckons …

Ross Stripling falters near finish but stays on radar

In case you missed it: Dodgers option Liberatore, hone in on bullpen

After 19 MLB seasons, Jamey Wright retires

No, not everyone got hurt: 2016 Spring Training stars

In case you missed it: Ex-Dodger moves forward from tragedy

Many happy returns for Vin, Dodgers

Vin Scully goes back to work

In case you missed it: Grandal’s return delayed

In case you missed it: Maeda rolls after getting a bit rocked

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