![Image-1[85]](http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-185.jpg)
Yasiel Puig’s diving catch in the second helped Scott Kazmir retire the first six batters he faced.
Well, thanks for the lovely meal, Scott Kazmir.
Kazmir hadn’t served past the seventh inning in seven previous starts for the Dodgers, but he was everything but the after-dinner mint tonight, coming out out short of his third career complete game in a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals.
Corey Seager has given Justin Turner and the rest of the Dodgers reason to smile. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
By Jon Weisman
Have you all noticed what Corey Seager’s been doing lately?
It almost feels like there’s been a media blackout on the 22-year-old shortstop, which might not be a bad thing. But just to make sure you’re up to speed, here’s a bulletin: Seager is producing.
Since April 22, he has a .403 on-base percentage and .522 slugging percentage (.925 OPS) in 77 plate appearances. He now has a .770 OPS on the season, and that might understate his value.
Feliz dia de las Madres!
Te amo Mama! pic.twitter.com/jcFB4jhXh1— Adrián González (@Adrian_ElTitan) May 8, 2016
By Jon Weisman
Mother’s Day brunch meets the Dodgers with this morning’s game at Toronto.
Howie Kendrick, who has already started at second base, third base, left field and designated hitter for the Dodgers this year, takes the field at first base today. Kendrick has 573 1/3 career innings at first base, though none since 2011. He started 44 games there during his rookie season in 2006.
Ross Stripling takes the mound for the Dodgers on seven days’ rest. After going a total of 13 1/3 innings in his first two starts, he has gone 13 2/3 in his past three.
Mike Bolsinger, whose slot Stripling took in the starting rotation, threw 46 pitches (30 strikes) in his first rehab start of the year Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, walking none and striking out three. He pitched three shutout innings before surrendering two runs in his fourth.
And with that, Happy Mother’s Day! Start with this piece by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com on Corey Seager’s mom Jody, and go from there …
Left-handed hitters Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Carl Crawford
By Jon Weisman
When is a platoon not a platoon? According to Dave Roberts, when it isn’t quite a platoon.
Though the Dodgers have leaned heavily on lefty-righty matchups in constructing their offense this season, Roberts explained today some of the distinctions that he sees.
“Certain guys, their out pitch is a changeup,” Roberts said. “Certain lefties, it’s a breaking ball. So when typically, it’s a breaking ball is their best secondary, then it’s harder for the left-on-left — the visual. Guys that have a changeup as an out pitch, typically the left-handers can handle them more. There are other components to it as well.”
Corey Seager is congratulated by third-base coach Chris Woodward. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
By Jon Weisman
The injuries woes that have bedeviled the Dodgers at Coors Field returned Friday during a 7-5 loss to the Rockies.
Starting pitcher Scott Kazmir developed an issue with his left thumb, while reliever Yimi Garcia had to leave in the middle of a difficult inning with right bicep soreness, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
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.
Kenta Maeda pitched six shutout innings for the second straight game. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
By Jon Weisman
Dave Roberts preached faith in the Dodger bullpen after its latest tough outing.
For the third time in the past four games, Dodger relievers surrendered a lead, with Pedro Baez and Chris Hatcher each allowing home runs in a 4-2 loss today to Arizona in the Dodger Stadium home opener (recapped by MLB.com).
With his team at 4-4 after eight games, Roberts said it was too early to contemplate changes to the bullpen.
By Jon Weisman
It wasn’t the offensive display of 27 hours earlier, but the Dodgers still delivered when needed to win their second straight game over the Padres to start the season.
Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
A historic day for the Dodgers began with something between a hunch and an observation by new manager Dave Roberts.
Chase Utley isn’t the Dodgers’ permanent leadoff hitter. He was simply the kind of hitter, based on his long history in the game, whom Roberts thought might do well batting first against Tyson Ross on Opening Day.
Coming up to start the 2016 season, Utley fell behind 1-2, worked the count to 3-2, and then stroked a simple, solid, sinking drive to left-center at which Jon Jay dove fruitlessly, good for a double.
No. 2 hitter Corey Seager, with almost none of Utley’s past but potentially all of his future and more, then boomed a double off the left-field wall on the fly, and it was on.
How on, we had no idea.
Their 15-0 victory (recapped by MLB.com) was the largest Opening Day shutout by any team in Major League history, according to Elias, breaking a 105-year-old record set by the Pirates at Cincinnati on April 12, 1911, 14-0.
“That first inning really set the tone for us,” Roberts said after the game. “After that, guys kept having good at-bats.”
The dominant performance created this cavalcade of conquest …
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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.
By Jon Weisman
As the Dodgers returned home from their wanderings in the desert, they took another step toward finalizing their Opening Day roster — with other steps remaining to go before Saturday morning deadline.
Dodger manager Dave Roberts said that Alex Guerrero remains at Camelback Ranch and will begin the season on the disabled list
“He had an MRI that showed minimal damage, but now we at least understand the discomfort and the pain he’s having in his knee,” Roberts said. “I really don’t know what the specifics were — I talked to the training staff, and whatever verbiage they used, it kind of validated some of the pain he’s been having.”
In other developments:
Adam Liberatore has struck out 11 in nine Cactus League innings this year.
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:
[mlbvideo id=”565381383″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
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 …
Yasmani Grandal homers March 18 against Arizona.
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:
Clayton Kershaw makes his MLB debut on May 25, 2008.
By Jon Weisman
Clayton Kershaw is somehow 28 years old today, which is only slightly more believable than my youngest son turning 8 years old Sunday. My guess is that Kershaw isn’t renting a game truck this morning, though what do I know?
Anyway, just for fun, here are the youngest Dodgers to make their MLB debuts in the 2000s, with their ages at the time.
*First game of the 2000s — actually debuted June 24, 1998, at 19 years, 78 days
**Made MLB debut September 7, 2004 with Yankees, at 20 years, 211 days
Julio Urias, who was optioned to the minor leagues Thursday, turns 20 on August 12 this year. If he gets his big-league callup before then, he will move ahead of Jackson.
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.
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