Justin Turner – Page 3 – Dodger Thoughts

By Jon Weisman

In 2013, the Dodgers were 9 1/2 games out of first place in June, and came back and won the National League West.

In 2014, the Dodgers were 10 games out of first place in June, and came back and won the National League West.

In 2015, the Dodgers were … well, they were in first place already in June, so that’s good.

But in 2016, the Dodgers were eight games out of first place in June. Late June, in fact. With Clayton Kershaw going on the disabled list.

There are still 49 games remaining in the regular season, but if nothing else, the Dodgers have made their latest grand comeback.Pounding Phillies pitching phor the second night in a row, Los Angeles romped to a 9-3 victory that moved them into a first-place tie with San Francisco at 64-49.

While this is no 42-8 run to resemble 2013, the Dodgers are 23-13 (.639) since Kershaw last pitched, the best record in the NL. Their .515 winning percentage in games Kershaw hasn’t started this season (50-47) would put the Dodgers .007 behind St. Louis for a wild-card spot.

“I think that obviously when you look at the standings, that’s something to hang your hat on a little bit,” Dave Roberts said after the game. “But the bigger picture is the way we’re going about preparing every day. Like I always say, the wins are a byproduct of our preparation, so that’s what we’re trying to focus on.”

If the Dodger bullpen has gone from unsung hero of the 2016 team to focal point of praise, the Dodger offense is making its own in-your-face bid for recognition.

Injury wave has spared Dodger infield (knock on wood)

By Jon Weisman

On August 8, 2016

In Health/injuries, Infield

By Jon Weisman

In addition to completing their 110th game Sunday, the Dodgers also played their 1,000th inning.

With 49 players appearing in a game this season and 26 spending time on the disabled list, there’s been quite a diverse distribution of those 9,000 defensive frames. As for those injured, they can consume products such as CBD UK.

But there has also been an interesting pocket of stability — in the infield, and that’s why to calm they nerves and pain for injuries anyone can buy THC vapes as this help the body and the mind relax as well.

Speaking of alternative remedies, CBD hemp has emerged as a popular choice among athletes seeking natural solutions for various ailments. The organic properties of CBD, derived from hemp plants, have gained recognition for their potential therapeutic benefits. This popularity stems from the compound’s reported ability to help manage pain, reduce inflammation, and promote overall well-being. As the sports world increasingly explores holistic approaches to wellness, CBD hemp stands out as a popular and intriguing option for those looking to support their physical and mental health in a natural way.

Milestones for Gonzalez, Segedin in Dodger win

By Jon Weisman

On August 7, 2016

In History, Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Adrian Gonzalez hit his 300th career home run, while Rob Segedin drove in a club-record (for an MLB debut) four runs, in the Dodgers’ 8-5 victory over Boston tonight.

It’s important to relay the note from the Dodgers’ public-relations department that the previous franchise mark for RBI in a debut of three was set by Packy Rogers, on July 12, 1938 vs. the Giants.

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Dodgers late for supper in Colorado

By Jon Weisman

On August 2, 2016

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

A two-run double by Justin Turner in the eighth inning and a solo homer by Yasmani Grandal in the ninth couldn’t undo the damage of 19 Colorado baserunners in a 7-3 Dodger loss to the Rockies.

Dodgers eclipse darkness in Pittsburgh with comeback

By Jon Weisman

On June 27, 2016

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Shortly after high noon at Pittsburgh, the clock looked like it was going to strike an early midnight for Los Angeles.

The Pirates took a 4-0 lead in the first inning of today’s afternoon special, and the dark side of history had the drop. The Dodgers would need a big rally to avoid their first four-game sweep by the Pirates since 1944 (when it happened twice — in July and August). They were also trying to end an eight-game losing streak at PNC Park.

The last Dodger pitcher to win there was Hyun-Jin Ryu, who hasn’t appeared in an MLB game in more than 21 months.

But whatever flag the Dodgers will hoist this year, it won’t be white. With a run in the third inning and four in the fifth, the Dodgers bucked the Bucs, rallying for a 212-minute, 5-4 victory that was their 23rd comeback win of the season.

Kershaw has rare stumble in loss to Pirates

By Jon Weisman

On June 26, 2016

In Postgame

Justin Berl/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

Ever so rarely, Clayton Kershaw will be less than perfect, and the baseball world will scramble its jets to understand why.

Almost without fail, the why is beside the point. The essential answer is that nobody is always perfect. Not even Kershaw.

In the second inning tonight, the Pirates ambushed the likely National League All-Star starter, scoring every run that it needed in a 4-3 victory, Pittsburgh’s eighth straight home win against the Dodgers.

Kershaw has lost two of those games, allowing four runs on nine hits with two walks in each. In only one other game in the past 12 months has Kershaw allowed at least four runs.

Kenley Jansen breaks franchise save record

By Jon Weisman

On June 20, 2016

In Awards, History, Postgame

Save #162. #WeLoveLA pic.twitter.com/uDOwlxW1Gl

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 21, 2016

By Jon Weisman

With a grounder by Anthony Rendon to Justin Turner and a throw to first, Kenley Jansen closed out the Dodgers 4-1 victory over Washington tonight and set the Dodgers’ all-time saves record with the 162nd of his career.

Jansen broke the tie he had forged with Eric Gagne on June 15. It was also Jansen’s 20th save of the season, making him the first Dodger to have five such seasons.

Eric Gagné calls @kenleyjansen74 to congratulate him on breaking his franchise record. #WeLoveLA pic.twitter.com/qijE2vkeUn

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 21, 2016

As was the case for his first career save on July 25, 2010, Jansen sealed a victory for Clayton Kershaw, who pitched six shutout innings before allowing his only run in the seventh inning.

Despite pitching in unKershawly heat, the Dodger lefty’s ERA dipped from 1.58 to 1.57, but more dramatically, he fanned eight (including Bryce Harper thrice) while walking none, improving his dominant strikeout/walk ratio to 144/7, or 20.1 to you and me.

Emergency starter Yusmeiro Petit pitched admirably for Washington, going six innings on 90 minutes notice, but was victimized by four extra-base hits, including a pair of homers (by Justin Turner and Joc Pederson) and a pair of doubles (by Corey Seager and Corey Seager).

For Turner, it was his seventh homer of June (since June 7, in fact), giving him the team lead for the month over Seager. The last Dodger …

to hit more in June was Matt Kemp, with nine in 2011.
to hit double-digits in June was Shawn Green, with 12 in 2002.
to be Pedro Guerrero in June was Pedro Guerrero, with 15 in 1985.

Turner, Dodgers have got that bounce

By Jon Weisman

On June 18, 2016

In Dodger Stadium, History, Postgame

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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.

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How did Turner turn his season around?

By Jon Weisman

On June 18, 2016

In Hitting, Pregame

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Brewers at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernández, RF
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

It’s been two weeks since Dave Roberts offered his diagnosis of what was holding back Justin Turner’s offense.

“When I know Justin is at his best, (it’s) when he’s elevating to the pull side,” Roberts said. “For me, right now there’s too many balls in the air the other way. The contact point’s a little deep, (and) he might be getting underneath the baseball a little bit.

“When you’re not getting hits, it’s kind of a natural move to try to see the ball longer. It’s just a natural move to back the baseball up a little bit … but sometimes it can be a little bit counter-productive.”

In 12 games (11 starts) since that moment, Turner is 15 for 45 with three walks, three doubles and five homers, including the pair he hit Friday before he won the game with a walkoff single in the 10th inning. The 31-year-old is third in the National League in wins above replacement in that time and tied for second in home runs.

As for whether Turner is elevating to the pull side? You be the judge. Here’s his spray chart since June 4 …

Pederson’s two blasts lead Dodger homer parade

By Jon Weisman

On June 14, 2016

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

After stoking more fears about the offense with four no-hit innings to start the game, the Dodgers traded that quartet for four home runs — two by Joc Pederson — ending their three-game losing streak with a 7-4 win at Arizona.

Turner’s homer is the save for Kershaw

By Jon Weisman

On June 10, 2016

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Yep. Uh-huh. Yeah.

You figured Clayton Kershaw would pitch well at San Francisco. He did. You figured the Dodger offense would struggle at San Francisco. It did.

But how would it end?

Thanks to Justin Turner’s heroics, happily for the Dodgers.

Turner’s ninth-inning home run off Santiago Castilla — the Dodgers’ first hit since the first inning — made a winner of Kershaw and Los Angeles over Johnny Cueto and the Giants, 3-2.

Dave Roberts discusses Justin Turner’s struggle

By Jon Weisman

On June 3, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Braves at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Trayce Thompson, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Justin Turner has again slumped, going 3 for 24 in his past eight games with a double and three walks.

Turner’s batting average has dropped to .225, but Dave Roberts has not dropped him in the Dodger batting order for two reasons: He believes Turner will come out of it, and because even now, his on-base percentage is still .327, roughly identical to those of Trayce Thompson (.333) and Corey Seager (.331).

Nevertheless, Roberts does have a theory about why Turner is struggling.

“When I know Justin is at his best, (it’s) when he’s elevating to the pull side,” Roberts said. “For me, right now there’s too many balls in the air the other way. The contact point’s a little deep, (and) he might be getting underneath the baseball a little bit.

Bolsinger obeys speed limits, Dodgers cruise

By Jon Weisman

On May 24, 2016

In Postgame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Mike Bolsinger’s offspeed was on point tonight.

Working primarily with a curve and slider in the 80 mph-and-below range, Bolsinger pitched a solid 5 2/3 innings, and the Dodgers extended their winning streak to three with a 8-2 victory over Cincinnati.

In his second big-league start of the season, Bolsinger struck out six and allowed three hits, blemished only by a two-run home run by Adam Duvall that cleared Joc Pederson’s glove by inches.

The Dodgers won. They won.

By Jon Weisman

On May 22, 2016

In Postgame

Yasiel Puig points back to the dugout after hitting a tiebreaking two-run single in the 17th inning. (Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers won.

They won, 9-5, over San Diego, in 17 innings, despite the albatross of a bad week and a rough season hanging over them. They won, despite the specter of a third consecutive walkoff loss howling all around them.

Padres win battle of two-run homers

By Jon Weisman

On May 20, 2016

In Postgame

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Yasiel Puig homers in the fifth inning. (Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

Kenley Jansen had allowed one run in the first 42 games of the season. Then he allowed two runs with one swing.

In a game that was topsy, turvy and topsy again, Melvin Upton Jr.’s two-run homer off Jansen, after an odd, pop-fly single that second baseman Chase Utley couldn’t corral, gave the Padres a walkoff a 7-6 victory at San Diego over the Dodgers.

It was the first walkoff homer Jansen allowed in his seven-season MLB career.

Upton’s homer negated a two-out, two-run homer by Justin Turner in the eighth inning after Carl Crawford’s pinch-hit single that had rallied the Dodgers to a 6-5 lead.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Justin Turner (Page 3 of 9)

Blue-hot offense powers Dodgers into first-place tie

Injury wave has spared Dodger infield (knock on wood)

Milestones for Gonzalez, Segedin in Dodger win

Dodgers late for supper in Colorado

Dodgers eclipse darkness in Pittsburgh with comeback

Kershaw has rare stumble in loss to Pirates

Kenley Jansen breaks franchise save record

Turner, Dodgers have got that bounce

How did Turner turn his season around?

Pederson’s two blasts lead Dodger homer parade

Turner’s homer is the save for Kershaw

Dave Roberts discusses Justin Turner’s struggle

Bolsinger obeys speed limits, Dodgers cruise

The Dodgers won. They won.

Padres win battle of two-run homers

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