Transactions – Page 22 – Dodger Thoughts

On August 5, 2014

In Health/injuries, Transactions

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CC: Kershawt Tub Time Machine
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Matt Kemp, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

For the second day in a row, a Dodger reliever has gone on the disabled list.

Paco Rodriguez was placed on the disabled list today (retroactive to August 4) with a Teres Major strain, the same injury that sidelined Clayton Kershaw from late March into early May.

Pedro Baez has been called up from the Albuquerque bullpen to replace Rodriguez on the roster. Baez, who has pitched in two games for the Dodgers this year, most recently pitched a shutout inning for the Isotopes on August 2 against Tacoma.

In Rodriguez’s most recent outing, he threw two shutout innings with two strikeouts against the Cubs on Sunday. If you don’t mind tossing out the April 30 game in which he allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning to the Twins, Rodriguez has 1.74 ERA in 12 other appearances with 10 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings against 10 baserunners. Rodriguez also stranded all six inherited runners this year.

Dodgers place Chris Perez on disabled list, bring up Carlos Frias

On August 4, 2014

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Matt Kemp, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Righty reliever Chris Perez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Dodgers, who have called up Carlos Frias from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Frias is a starting pitcher for the Isotopes who at a minimum would seem in position to take the long relief role of Paul Maholm, who today was transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day. The 6-foot-4 24-year-old is in line to make his MLB debut.

Frias had a 3.05 ERA and 1.31 WHIP for Albuquerque in June but finished July with a 6.05 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.

The Dodger bullpen has thrown 163 pitches in its past two games, though it will hopefully get a lighter load with Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw pitching the next two nights.

Paco Rodriguez called up, three regulars sit

On August 2, 2014

For highlights from Friday’s game, visit LA Photog Blog.

Cubs at Dodgers, 6:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Justin Turner, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Matt Kemp, RF
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Carl Crawford, LF
Drew Butera, C
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P

By Jon Weisman

Paco Rodriguez is at Dodger Stadium today, having been called up to take the roster spot of Paul Maholm, who is heading to the disabled list with a torn right ACL.

Three other Dodgers — Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and A.J. Ellis — are resting or nursing injuries and taking a break from the starting lineup.

Among other things, Justin Turner is making his first start at first base since May 30, 2013 with the Mets — although he did play innings 9-20 there on June 8 the same year.

Rodriguez pitched an inning for Albuquerque on Friday, retiring all three batters he faced on grounders. He allowed five runs on 12 baserunners in six innings for the Isotopes in July.

Will Kershaw repeat as NL Pitcher of the Month?

On August 1, 2014

In Awards, Dodger Stadium, Food, Pregame, Transactions

For more highlights from Thursday’s game, visit LA Photog Blog.

Cubs at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Matt Kemp, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Dan Haren, P

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw was as unsurprising a winner as they come of National League’s Pitcher of the Month honors in June. And in July, he hardly declined.

Thanks to a 1.07 ERA last month, Kershaw is the first pitcher to have an ERA under 2.00 through the end of July in back to back seasons since Greg Maddux in 1994-95, notes Lee Sinins at Gammons Daily.

The lefty’s current 2014 ERA is better than Sandy Koufax’s best (1.73) and coming within range of the 98-year-old franchise record, 1.58 by Rube Marquard in 1916.

To be clear, Kershaw already set the Dodger record for adjusted ERA in a season last year, a record he is on pace to smash this year.

Kershaw’s July ERA was somehow only fourth in Major League Baseball but first in the NL. Interestingly, Kershaw also has a close match in the American League with the same initials, as Carson Cistulli of Fangraphs notes.

So, what about July in the NL?

Kershaw led the league in ERA (1.07), just ahead of San Diego’s Tyson Ross (1.10) and the Mets’ Jacob deGrom (1.39).
He was tops in WAR (1.4), followed closely by deGrom, Ross and Zack Greinke.
He was first in innings (42), edging Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (41 2/3) and Ross (41).
Things shift a bit when you look at FIP (fielding-independent pitching). Kershaw (2.06) is fourth, fairly far behind deGrom (1.43), Greinke and Ross.
And how about this? July’s NL leader in xFIP is none other than Hyun-Jin Ryu (2.19), with Greinke second and Kershaw sixth (2.52). Ross, deGrom and Washington’s Stephen Strasburg occupy the spots in between.
Strikeouts per nine innings? Kershaw (9.21) was seventh, with Greinke (10.60) just ahead of deGrom (10.58) and Ross (10.54), followed by Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto, Ryu and Strasburg.

As you can see, it’s a tight race. There’s a statistical case for deGrom, except for the fact that he threw 32 1/3 innings, 23 percent fewer than Kershaw. (Note that this same argument was used in reverse against Kershaw when it came time to pick the NL’s All-Star Game starting pitcher.) Ryu only pitched 28 1/3 innings in July.

The top challenger to Kershaw for July NL Player of the Month honors is Ross. I would pick Kershaw, by a nose, but in my mind, it’s enough of a tossup that it really comes down to whether the powers that be want to spread the wealth around. For those curious about NFL drafts, can a player refuse a draft pick nfl? Visit nfldraftbuzz.com to find out.

No matter what happens this month, Kershaw has bigger fish to fry, individually (Cy Young race, anyone?) as well as his drive to lead the Dodgers to a title.

* * *

Other news and notes …

Scott Elbert remained in the Dodger organization after clearing waivers and accepting an assignment to Albuquerque. In addition, Erisbel Arruebarrena was returned from Rancho Cucamonga to Albuquerque, and is serving a five-game suspension for his role in the recent brawl there. Brian Cavazos-Galvez, a 12th-round draft pick in 2009, was released, according to the MLB.com report.
At Gammons Daily, Alec Dopp takes an analytics look at Matt Kemp’s two-month surge.

“Perhaps the main reason behind Kemp’s lofty in-play average since the beginning of June has been his ability to generate ideal trajectories at a higher frequency, increasing his 25.6% line-drive rate from April-May to 29.6% from June to July (third-highest in baseball in that span). …

For Kemp, whose line-drive rate has improved some despite actually hitting pitches ‘hard’ less frequently since the beginning of June, this fact bodes well for his current production moving forward if he continues to produce line drive trajectories, coupled with his ability to decipher between balls and strikes on the inner-half of the plate.”
Don Sutton told a Vin Scully story to Ron Cervenka of Think Blue L.A.
USA Today ranked Dodger Stadium No. 2 in Major League Baseball for food options.

In case you missed it: Dodgers designate Scott Elbert for assignment

On July 30, 2014

[mlbvideo id=”21924469″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Scott Elbert will be 29 next month, and he has spent the past 10 years in the Dodger organization since being drafted in the first round in 2004. On Tuesday, the Dodgers designated Elbert for assignment, temporarily halting his bid to come back from multiple surgeries since his last Major League appearance in August 2012.

Elbert’s rehab this summer has taken him to Ogden, Rancho Cucamonga and Albuquerque, together adding up to 12 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts while allowing nine hits and seven walks. In his final two Major League seasons with the Dodgers, Elbert had a 2.32 ERA from 2011-12 with 63 strikeouts in 66 innings against 54 hits and 27 walks.

Elbert could return to the Dodger organization if he isn’t traded, clears waivers and accepts a minor-league assignment.

Dodgers option Darwin Barney to Albuquerque, send Jonathan Martinez to Chicago

On July 30, 2014

The Dodgers have optioned newly acquired Darwin Barney to Triple-A Albuquerque and completed their trade for the infielder by sending Single-A Great Lakes right-hander Jonathan Martinez to the Cubs.

The 20-year-old Martinez has a 3.47 ERA in 19 starts this year, with 91 strikeouts in 106 1/3 innings against 129 baserunners.

— Jon Weisman

Dodgers acquire infielder Darwin Barney from Cubs

On July 28, 2014

[mlbvideo id=”34344353″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers have picked up defensive specialist Darwin Barney and cash considerations from the Cubs, in exchange for a player to be named later or (not to be redundant) cash considerations.

Barney had a .265 on-base percentage and .328 slugging percentage in 217 plate appearances for the Cubs this season and has a career OBP of .290. A second baseman with brief experience at short and third, the 28-year-old Barney won a Gold Glove in 2012 and shares the MLB record with 141 consecutive errorless games at second.

According to Fangraphs, Barney has been the No. 1 defensive second baseman in the National League this year with a UZR/150 of 15.5.

Dodgers activate Beckett, option Rodriguez

On July 22, 2014

In Health/injuries, Transactions

[mlbvideo id=”34688073″ 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
Josh Beckett, P

By Jon Weisman

Josh Beckett has officially come off the disabled list and will start for the Dodgers today, with Paco Rodriguez returning to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Making his first start since July 6 after spending the minimum 15 days on the DL because of a left hip impingement, Beckett is fourth among National League pitchers in ERA (2.26) and opponents’ batting average (.203). He has pitched shutout ball in four of his past six starts, though his last before the DL totaled only five innings in Colorado.

In 12 starts since May 8, Beckett has a 1.92 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 75 innings against 80 baserunners, averaging 6 1/3 innings per start.

Rodriguez pitched back-to-back games July 18-19 on his recent callup, retiring the four batters he faced with 16 pitches, on three fly balls and a strikeout.

Justin Turner activated from disabled list

On July 18, 2014

The Dodgers activated Justin Turner from the disabled list before tonight’s game at St. Louis and optioned Carlos Triunfel.

Turner has been out since June 28 with a left hamstring strain. He has a .406 on-base percentage and .513 slugging percentage in 128 plate appearances since May 1.

— Jon Weisman

In case you missed it: Things are looking up for Corey Seager

On July 13, 2014

In Minor leagues, Transactions

Corey Seager at today’s Futures Game. (Ben Platt/MLB.com)

By Jon Weisman

A big moment for Corey Seager — his appearance at this year’s MLB Futures Game today — grew bigger with the news that he has been promoted to Double-A Chatanooga.

Bill Shaikin of the Times has more in an interview with Seager, who lined out to right and was hit by a pitch in the game. Seager is sticking around Minnesota to watch his brother Kyle, the Seattle infielder, play in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game.

Seager had a .411 on-base percentage and .633 slugging percentage with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, after going .246/.320 in a late-season debut there last year. This year, he has 34 doubles and 18 homers in 80 games.

Meanwhile, Rancho teammate Julio Urias at 17 became the youngest player in Futures Game history. He pitched a perfect inning on 14 pitches, striking out one.

“The Dodgers’ lefty was 92 to 95 with an above-average curveball and great rhythm to his delivery,” wrote Keith Law of ESPN.com. “He rotates his hips well, both to hide the ball and to generate arm speed the safer way by using his lower half.”

Elsewhere …

Dodgers activate Carl Crawford, designate Clint Robinson for assignment

On July 10, 2014

[mlbvideo id=”34321787″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Carl Crawford’s ankle-induced exile from the Dodger active roster has ended after 43 days, as the left fielder was activated today.

Josh Beckett heading to disabled list

On July 8, 2014

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.

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

On July 3, 2014

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.

Turner to the disabled list, Ramirez back to the bench