Justin Turner – Page 5 – Dodger Thoughts

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.

Season ends for Dodgers in narrow Game 5 defeat

By Jon Weisman

On October 15, 2015

In Postgame, Postseason

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

It was a brutal, bloody game of King of the Mountain, a struggle, a scrambling boulder climb between two foes, toe-to-toe, claw to claw, slipping and soaring.

The clock ticked, baseball’s clock of outs counting down in its own unique measure. And when the final one drained away, one team stood.

The New York Mets will advance to play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, having beaten back the Dodgers to win the deciding Game 5 of the National League Division Series, 3-2.

Despite knee issues, Turner expected to start Thursday

By Jon Weisman

On October 14, 2015

In Health/injuries

By Jon Weisman

In Game 4 of the 1988 National League Championship Series at New York, the final Dodger run was driven home by Kirk Gibson.

In Game 4 of the 2015 National League Division Series at New York, the final Dodger run was driven home by Justin Turner.

Similarities between Gibson and Turner go beyond that piece of trivia, as well as their lack of a clean shave (in Turner’s case, an extreme lack). Gibson had an intensity that isn’t imitated outwardly by the easy-going Turner, but the latter’s inner drive to be a critical player on the Dodgers’ championship drive is unmistakable.

And like Gibson famously did in 1988, Turner is increasingly seeming to carry the Dodgers without the cooperation of both his legs.

NLDS Game 3 lineups: Rollins in for Seager

By Jon Weisman

On October 12, 2015

In Postseason, Pregame

Dodgers at Mets, 5:37 p.m.
TV: TBS (Beginning on TNT if Cubs-Cardinals game runs long)

Mets
Curtis Granderson, RF
David Wright, 3B
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Lucas Duda, 1B
Travis d’Arnaud, C
Wilmer Flores, SS
Juan Lagares, CF
Matt Harvey, P

Dodgers
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Brett Anderson, P

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Jimmy Rollins will start at shortstop in place of Corey Seager in Game 3 of the National League Division Series tonight in New York.

Rollins will team with second baseman Howie Kendrick up the middle. With the appeal of his suspension yet to be heard, Chase Utley is eligible off the bench for the Dodgers.

Seager has a double and four strikeouts in eight at-bats for the Dodgers in the NLDS. He has fielded solidly, including an over-the-shoulder catch in Game 2, but no doubt has never played in as heated an atmosphere — on the field or in the surrounding stands — as is likely to be present at Citi Field this evening.

Beyond the slide — how the Dodgers came back

By Jon Weisman

On October 10, 2015

In Postseason

Howie Kendrick slides safely into home ahead of the tag by the Mets’ Travis d’Arnaud.

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers went nearly 16 innings without the lead in their National League Division Series showdown with the Mets, and though their deficit was only a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning tonight, that run seemed like a mountain to climb.

After allowing solo home runs to Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto in the second inning, Zack Greinke did wonder if the Dodgers would scale the summit, as they ultimately did in a 5-2 victory.

Dodgers rally in controversial seventh to even NLDS

By Jon Weisman

On October 10, 2015

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

For nearly seven innings, it was another nail-biting pitchers’ duel, a rush of speed chess with the Dodgers again one move behind.

And then, the Dodgers flipped the board, suddenly and violently.

A four-run inning, lit aflame by Chase Utley’s takeout slide of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada at second base, lifted the Dodgers to a 5-2 victory in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, evening the matchup at one win apiece.

Tejada suffered a broken right fibula on the play, which we discuss at length in a separate story.

The strange September for Dodger cleanup hitters

By Jon Weisman

On September 29, 2015

In Pregame

Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 p.m.
Kershaw CCXLI: Kershawverest
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Ruggiano, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

In what has become an undoubtedly weird September for the Dodgers, this might be the weirdest fact of all.

The Dodgers have as many sacrifice bunts from cleanup hitters this month as home runs.

Justin Turner’s ninth-inning bunt Monday, which did lead to the tying run before the 3-2, extra-inning loss, was the first sacrifice by a Dodger No. 4 hitter in nine years and the second of the 21st century.

Once upon a time, sacrifices by Dodger cleanup hitters weren’t rare. Go back long enough, and you’ll find 78 games in which Zack Wheat bunted a runner over while batting fourth. But it was prevalent among the Boys of Summer (Jackie Robinson — 48 games), the Go-Go Dodgers of the ’60s and even more recent years.

Steve Garvey bunted from the cleanup spot 16 times. Heck, even Pedro Guerrero did it thrice.

Chase Utley’s first start at third a Dodger milestone

By Jon Weisman

On September 21, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Chase Utley, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Corey Seager, SS
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

After weeks of preparation for this potentiality, Justin Turner’s knee soreness and Howie Kendrick’s return from the disabled list have launched Chase Utley into his first career game at third base.

More than 300 people have played third base for the Dodger franchise. Utley, who is 36 years and 278 days old, is the oldest Dodger ever to play his first career game at third, according to the Baseball-Reference.com Play Index.

Bill Russell was 36 years, 239 days old when he played third base for the initial time in his Dodger career, on June 17, 1985.

“We’ve been working towards this,” Don Mattingly said of Utley, adding that coach Tim Wallach felt that Utley’s latest workout at third was his best. “We don’t worry about him — he knows how to play, he knows where to be. … So tonight’s the right night.

Turner was to have an MRI today to get more definitive information about his condition, but results weren’t immediately available. With shortstop Jimmy Rollins nearing a return to availability on defense, Corey Seager could also pick up time at third base if Turner remains sidelined. Kiké Hernandez is also progressing, and will go to Camelback Ranch to get some at-bats.

Ailments sideline Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner

By Jon Weisman

On September 20, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Pirates at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

Two weeks since Jimmy Rollins has been able to play shortstop, one day after Howie Kendrick returned to second base from a five-week absence, the Dodgers also face renewed health concerns at first and third base.

Adrian Gonzalez is day to day with back stiffness, Don Mattingly told reporters today, and Justin Turner is hobbled by soreness in his left knee. Steve Bourbon of MLB.com has more on Turner.

In case you missed it: Adrian Gonzalez the sportsman

By Jon Weisman

On September 15, 2015

In Awards, History, In case you missed it

[mlbvideo id=”479901783″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

During the day Monday, Adrian Gonzalez was named the Dodgers’ nominee for the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award, which honors “a player who best represents the game through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.”

Lately, Gonzalez has needed to display a great deal of sportsmanship alongside athleticism to come away foul balls. First there was the one in Chicago involving a Wrigley Field fan holding a baby. Then came Monday night’s fifth-inning foul ball, which Gonzalez caught despite a Boston-capped fan nearly tearing Gonzalez’s glove off.

Gonzalez not only came away triumphant on that play, he made a nifty defensive stab to record the final out of the Dodgers’ 4-1 victory over the Rockies.

Clayton Kershaw won the award in 2012, and Jimmy Rollins shared the honor with Paul Konerko in 2014.

Here are some other bits and bunts …

[mlbvideo id=”479743483″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Chef Dave Pearson, who passed away Saturday, received a tribute Monday before the National Anthem.
According to Stats LLC (via the Dodgers’ public relations department), the Dodgers’ 35-10 (.778) record in home games decided by three or fewer runs is currently the second-best in MLB history, behind only the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers (35-9, .795).
Called upon to save Monday’s game with Kenley Jansen requiring a day off, Chris Hatcher did the trick, lowering his ERA to 1.35 since coming off the disabled list August 15. In 13 1/3 innings, he has struck out 16 and allowed 13 baserunners.
Yasmani Grandal ended his 0-for-36 (with eight walks) slump Monday with two hits, which themselves followed a sacrifice fly.
Fan voting has begun for the Esurance MLB Awards. Dodger nominees include Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw for Best Major Leaguer and Best Starting Pitcher (Kershaw won both in 2014), and Joc Pederson for Best Rookie. Many more categories will follow between now and when voting ends November 13. (Five different groups of voters — fans, members of the baseball media, club front-office personnel, former MLB players and Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) members — each count for 20 percent of the total.) T
The Institute for Baseball Studies is presenting, “The Dodgers Come to Los Angeles: Politics and Pennants in Paradise,” featuring Andy McCue and Wes Parker, at 7:00 p.m. September 27 at Villalobos Hall on the campus of Whittier College.
Justin Turner, nominated for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award last week, is now a finalist, representing the National League West. Kershaw won last year.
I’ve seen some hard foul balls in my time, but I’m amazed this one Monday didn’t do some real damage to someone.

[mlbvideo id=”479778483″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

In case you missed it: Vin Scully’s bobblehead says hi

By Jon Weisman

On September 10, 2015

In In case you missed it, Other teams, Postseason, Promotions

[mlbvideo id=”467022583″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

My wife has been perpetually perplexed that to her ears, I pronounce the word “ketchup” as if it were “catchup.” So with that in mind, let’s ketchup on some Dodger news …

Shoulder sidelines Yasmani Grandal

By Jon Weisman

On August 25, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Reds, 4:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Alex Wood, P

By Jon Weisman

Yasmani Grandal is not expected to start before Thursday at the earliest because of an ailing left shoulder, Don Mattingly told reporters today.

Grandal is third on the Dodgers with 140 weighted runs created (wRC+), but he is 3 for 30 with five walks and no extra-base hits in his past 35 plate appearances. Mattingly said there is worry the shoulder condition is altering Grandal’s swing.

The 26-year-old catcher isn’t expected to go on the disabled list, especially with rosters expanding one week from today. But it will mean more work than usual for A.J. Ellis, who is quietly posting his best averages at the plate (.356 on-base percentage, .360 slugging percentage) since 2012.

The Dodgers need improvement from several players as they look to win their first game since August 16. During the current five-game losing streak …

Justin Turner is 1 for 18 with two walks and two errors.
Jimmy Rollins has a single, double and homer in 22 plate appearances.
Adrian Gonzalez has four singles and a walk in 20 plate appearances.
Scott Van Slyke, Carl Crawford and Alex Guerrero are a combined 1 for 28 with one walk.

Rollins’ third-inning home run six days ago at Oakland is the Dodgers’ most recent four-base hit.

https://twitter.com/DodgerInsider/status/636271626946940928https://twitter.com/DodgerInsider/status/636274568764657664

Alex Wood, who takes the mound today for the Dodgers, has been charged with exactly three runs on five hits with three walks in each of his past three starts.

Mat Latos pitched a five-inning simulated game Monday, and is scheduled to start Saturday against the Cubs, with Brett Anderson, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw taking the starts between now and then. Juan Nicasio, as noted Monday, has been activated from the disabled list.

Live-blog: Farhan Zaidi speaks about Chase Utley trade and state of the Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On August 19, 2015

In Front office, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

In the wake of tonight’s acquisition of Chase Utley, Dodger general manager Farhan Zaidi spoke on a conference call with reporters. Here are some selected quotes …

Dodger fantasy football breeds strange tweetfellows

By Jon Weisman

On August 18, 2015

In Other sports

Soooo who did it best?! #dodger #FantasyFootball pic.twitter.com/EHUugbgina

— Alex Wood (@Awood45) August 18, 2015

The Dodgers held their annual fantasy football draft Monday, an event that seems to beg for wider media coverage, if these tweets above and below are any indication.

— Jon Weisman

https://twitter.com/redturn2/status/633547774693236736

@redturn2 @Dodgers well the important thing is you had fun at least

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) August 18, 2015

This is what I did during the Dodgers fantasy football draft. pic.twitter.com/On7y8zCbV8

— Brett Anderson (@BAnderson3737) August 18, 2015

@AJEllis17 THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO LIVE FOR RIGHT NOW AJ PLEASE DON'T POKE FUN

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) August 18, 2015

Understood…..just felt Jameis Winston in 3rd round was a reach…. https://t.co/o8ekilP8Ld

— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) August 18, 2015

Dodgers clear Justin Turner for landing

By Jon Weisman

On August 13, 2015

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Wave him home, @redturn2. pic.twitter.com/okHYDdQaSH

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2015

Reds at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Mat Latos, P

By Jon Weisman

Fresh from moonlighting with Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson at Southwest Airlines this morning, Justin Turner has been activated from the disabled list.

Turner, who has been sidelined since July 26, is available off the bench today and expected to start Friday, according to Don Mattingly.

Jose Peraza, who tripled and walked in seven plate appearances, has been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Technically, Turner has reached base in 10 consecutive games (July 12-26), going 17 for 37 with a .487 on-base percentage and .757 slugging percentage in that time.

Below, here are more tweets from today’s Dodger-Southwest promotion.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Justin Turner (Page 5 of 9)

Jansen, Turner, Grandal, Van Slyke, Hatcher, Avilan officially retained for 2016

Season ends for Dodgers in narrow Game 5 defeat

Despite knee issues, Turner expected to start Thursday

NLDS Game 3 lineups: Rollins in for Seager

Beyond the slide — how the Dodgers came back

Dodgers rally in controversial seventh to even NLDS

The strange September for Dodger cleanup hitters

Chase Utley’s first start at third a Dodger milestone

Ailments sideline Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner

In case you missed it: Adrian Gonzalez the sportsman

In case you missed it: Vin Scully’s bobblehead says hi

Shoulder sidelines Yasmani Grandal

Live-blog: Farhan Zaidi speaks about Chase Utley trade and state of the Dodgers

Dodger fantasy football breeds strange tweetfellows

Dodgers clear Justin Turner for landing

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