Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
A number of Dodgers had personal connections with José Fernández, such as Austin Barnes, Chris Hatcher and Kiké Hernández, who all played in the Marlins organization with the All-Star right-hander.
But perhaps no one in Los Angeles was closer to the Miami All-Star, who died overnight in a boating accident, than Yasiel Puig.
Charlie Culberson takes a swing in April for the Dodgers. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
By Jon Weisman
It’s incredible to imagine an entire 25-man roster of players going on the disabled list, but the Dodgers are almost there.
Chris Hatcher has become the 22nd different Dodger to go on the DL this season, with infielder Charlie Culberson called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take his roster spot.
Culberson will be at shortstop tonight in place of Corey Seager, who is missing his second straight start after coming down with a stomach virus.
According to Stats LLC, the Dodgers have tied the 2015 Mets for the National League record for most different players on the disabled list and sit five behind the 2012 Red Sox for the MLB record.
By Jon Weisman
In the Dodgers’ final inning before the All-Star Break, the best closer in the National League, Kenley Jansen, entered the game to protect a one-run lead against the fourth-place team in the National League West.
At that moment, the Dodger bullpen was several weeks into an extended resurgence that was forcing fans and media alike to unlearn everything it thought it knew about the team’s relievers. It progressed in stages, as if reversing the five stages of grief.
Dodger bullpen failures have been branded into the collective memory of recent years, the scar tissue making it nearly impossible for most to feel the moments when the relievers were doing well — which, of course, was more often than the distraught and cynical could concede.
But by the time Jansen took the mound Sunday, the bullpen’s growing success was no longer possible to ignore.
Dodger relievers lead the Major Leagues with a 2.83 ERA. They lead the Major Leagues with a 1.02 WHIP.
In fact, as Dodger broadcaster Joe Davis pointed out, the Dodger bullpen’s opponents batting average of .192 is currently the lowest in modern baseball history. The team’s WHIP is the lowest in NL history.
That’s extraordinary. And that’s not wishcasting. That’s something that has been happening. The Dodger bullpen has become the opposite of an albatross. It’s a primary reason that, despite the “I Love Lucy” chocolate conveyor belt of injuries, that Los Angeles (51-40) is on a 91-win pace and once again a team to be reckoned with.
In terms of inherited runners stranded, the Dodgers were seventh among MLB teams at 72 percent — in the upper echelon but with room for improvement. The good news — the great news — is that the improvement is already underway.
[mlbvideo id=”831429083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman
Justin Turner’s weekend of heroics continued.
Turner’s third home run in two nights brought the Dodgers’ roaring back from a 5-2 deficit in the third inning, putting them on their way to a 10-6 victory over Milwaukee.
The biggest of the 14 Dodger hits that also included homers by Howie Kendrick and Joc Pederson, Turner’s blast — his sixth homer in his past 12 starts — marked the halfway point in the Dodgers’ six-run inning, their biggest of 2016. And it salvaged a night in which starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger couldn’t make it out of the third inning.
Roberts said @MBolsinger had cramping during his outing. Labored through 2.2 IP.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) June 19, 2016
In fact, Bolsinger and Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson, childhood friends who were best men at each other’s weddings, each threw exactly 29 balls and 44 strikes in 2 1/3 innings tonight. Anderson took the loss, while Chris Hatcher, who threw 2 1/3 shutout innings, was the Dodgers’ winning pitcher.
Hatcher, who made his MLB debut as a catcher in 2010 but went 0 for 6, also picked up his first career hit, an RBI single in the third.
[mlbvideo id=”831523083″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman
It’s Milwaukee 6, Los Angeles 6 entering the ninth inning. The Dodgers came back from down 3-0 and 6-3 to tie the game. Triumph or tragedy awaits. Who’s to say which?
This game has already had plenty of both. It’s been such a weird night, I’m kind of live-blogging the rest of the way as I recap what’s already come.
Frankie Montas at Spring Training in February, post-surgery. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
By Jon Weisman
Frankie Montas, the fireballing right-hander acquired with Trayce Thompson and Micah Johnson from the White Sox, has been a mostly forgotten man since he had rib resection surgery February 12.
But Montas threw two innings Thursday in an extended Spring Training game Thursday at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers said, and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Double-A Tulsa.
A potential starter or reliever, the 23-year-old struck out 108 in 112 innings with a 2.97 ERA for Double-A Birmingham, before striking out 20 in a 15-inning trial with the White Sox. In his last appearance of 2015, he struck out seven in four innings of one-run ball October 4.
Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
Sometimes on Twitter, I will post complimentary information about the Dodger bullpen, like this …
No good deed goes noticed: Dodger bullpen has 14 straight scoreless innings, holding opponents to 3-for-43 hitting w/14 strikeouts.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 18, 2016
Or maybe it will be about an individual reliever, such as this tidbit about Chris Hatcher …
Since August 1 (including playoffs), @handlebars41 has a 1.69 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 12.8 K/9.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 18, 2016
This is not me saying that the Dodger bullpen is perfect, that it will never allow another run for the rest of our lives and that we should look for a picture of a smiling Hatcher on a box of Bullpen O’s in the cereal section of our local supermarket.
It’s simply that during the period shown, the bullpen is doing a great job, and that’s worth pointing out — given the feeding frenzy that takes place when one or more relievers doesn’t succeed.
Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
Chris Hatcher’s paternity leave lasted all of 24 hours, as he is back today with the Dodgers, who have optioned Austin Barnes to Oklahoma City.
The move gives the Dodgers an eight-man bullpen, and more specifically allows them to keep Adam Liberatore as a second left-hander for the time being.
Barnes is 2 for 15 with two walks and six strikeouts in the young season, starting three games at catcher as well as Thursday’s at second base.
Los Angeles will go with a four-man bench, which tonight features switch-hitter Yasmani Grandal and left-handed hitters Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Chase Utley.
Howie Kendrick is the only player in tonight’s lineup who did not start against Madison Bumgarner when he and Clayton Kershaw faced off six days ago.
Welcome to the world,
Jensen Thomas Hatcher 7 lb 5 oz, 20", 1:04 pm. Mom and baby are doing great. pic.twitter.com/cRMukv8e5p— Chris Hatcher (@handlebars41) April 14, 2016
By Jon Weisman
With Chris Hatcher going on paternity leave (Congrats!) shortly before or after 1:04 p.m. today, Adam Liberatore has been called up by the Dodgers from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The 28-year-old Liberatore, who most recently threw 33 pitches on Tuesday, walked two and struck out eight in four scoreless, hitless innings in the minors to start the season. He made his MLB debut for the Dodgers on April 17 last year, and allowed no runs or inherited runs in 13 of his first 15 appearances (0.71 WHIP) before finishing his rookie season with a 4.25 ERA.
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.
Mike Bolsinger has allowed two runs in nine Spring Training innings. (Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers)
By Jon Weisman
Mike Bolsinger shone in the spotlight for the Dodgers, while Scott Kazmir and Hyun-Jin Ryu had interesting days behind the scenes.
Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
This week of the Dodgers Love L.A. tour (presented by Bank of America) is all about the community … almost.
There’s one other tiny aspect of it, largely unnoticed and not all that important, but meaningful just the same.
For the first time in the new year, a Dodger player puts on his uniform. Getting custom branded uniforms just like this is easy if one knows a reputable supplier.
That moment, just a few days before Punxsutawney Phil reveals himself, turns on the pilot light for the coming season.
“It was a long season last year, had some ups and downs,” Dodger reliever Chris Hatcher said. “As I’ve gotten longer into baseball, the shorter the offseason gets. This year, I’m raring and ready to go. Putting the jersey on, it pushes it a little closer and in your mind, you’re tightening it up a little bit.”
Putting on the Dodger whites today was particularly special for some players, such as 24-year-old right-hander Jharel Cotton, who did so for the first time as an official Major League member of the 40-man roster.
“It’s coming up really quick,” Cotton said. “I just got done playing ball in November, and it’s already Spring Training. I’m ready to go — I’m excited.”
Added to the thrill for Cotton was getting the opportunity to hang with his teammates, before the season starts.
“It’s a blessing,” he said. “It’s my first time seeing them. It’s been a long offseason for them. I’m just ready to be in the clubhouse and share (moments) with them.”
If this was admittedly just one moment in time for Hatcher, Cotton and the Dodgers, it was a moment of a lifetime for the people they met, including those members of the Wounded Warriors Project who previously wore uniforms of an entirely different kind.
Sporting an Andre Ethier jersey, East Los Angeles native Jonathan Nunez was effusive about the lunch he shared with the Dodgers at City Hall, after joining the team in attending today’s Vin Scully Avenue vote.
“It’s a great honor and a great privilege to not only be associated with the Wounded Warrior Project, but to be alongside these great gentlemen from the Dodgers organization,” said Nunez, who was most thrilled to see past Dodgers including Maury Wills, Eric Karros and Orel Hershiser. “It means the world because it feels they haven’t forgotten about us, and they recognize what we have done for our country.”
Nunez has been involved with Wounded Warriors for six months, as he aims to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder after serving separate tours for the Marine Corps in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“I have seen progress, not only in the way I cope but how I cope,” Nunez said. “I’ve been introduced to veterans with similar problems, and we’ve picked our brains for lack of better words as far as how to deal with our various disorders. We’ve built a network, and because of that I’ve seen a growth in how I act, how I not only deal with my disorders but how I move forward with them.”
And at the end of the day, meeting men and women like Nunez is what meant the most to Hatcher.
“We go out there and play 81 games in front of all of these people,” Hatcher said. “Not very often do we get a chance to get out in the community and socialize with people.”
By Jon Weisman
He was a top Dodger from August through October, but did you notice?
It’s OK if you didn’t. Chris Hatcher understands.
After spending the middle two months of the season on the disabled list with an oblique injury, the Dodger reliever had a 1.31 ERA for the rest of the season, striking out 26 in 20 2/3 innings while allowing 20 baserunners.
Hatcher topped that off by pitching 3 2/3 hitless innings in the National League Division Series against the Mets, retiring 11 of the 12 batters he faced.
Considering all the grief he took for his subpar first half (6.38 ERA, 1.52 WHIP), you might think Hatcher would feel cheated for attention over the final three months. But in a phone interview last week, I stepped to the plate with a question about that second-half success, and he whiffed me.
“I wouldn’t really call it success,” Hatcher said. “I would call it doing my job. Obviously, I didn’t do it several times this year, (though) I did it more so than not.
By Jon Weisman
Six key arbitration-eligible players from the 2015 Dodgers — Luis Avilan, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Hatcher, Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner and Scott Van Slyke — have all been tendered contracts for the 2016 season.
None were a surprise, but the Dodgers had to make it official by 9 p.m. tonight or let them become free agents.
Any one of the sextet could still go to salary arbitration, but the Dodgers haven’t been to an arbitration hearing since Joe Beimel in 2007 and haven’t lost since Terry Adams in 2001.
Previously this week, the Dodgers signed A.J. Ellis and Joe Wieland for 2016.
By Jon Weisman
It’s no secret that this will be another offseason of change for the Dodgers.
Already, manager Don Mattingly and vice president of medical services Stan Conte have departed. Five days after the World Series ends — sometime before November 10 — free agency begins. And you never know what the trade market will bring or take away.
The winter months will address several issues facing the Dodgers. But whatever happens will still leave several questions that won’t be answered until we’re well into the 2016 season.
Among them, these:
What happens when three old friends in crisis fall into an unexpected love triangle? In The Catch, Maya, Henry and Daniel embark upon an emotional journey that forces them to confront unresolved pain, present-day traumas and powerful desires, leading them to question the very meaning of love and fulfillment. The Catch tells a tale of ordinary people seeking the extraordinary – or, if that’s asking too much, some damn peace of mind.
Thank You For Not ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén
