Justin Turner – Page 9 – Dodger Thoughts

If our calculations are correct, when this guy hits 88 miles per hour… pic.twitter.com/rj4ipMooAW

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 27, 2014

Cardinals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, LF
Andre Ethier, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Miguel Rojas, SS
Josh Beckett, P

By Jon Weisman

Five weeks and two days after pulling up lame while running to second base in the ninth inning in Flushing, Juan Uribe is back in the Dodger starting lineup.

Carlos Triunfel, 2 for 7 with a home run as a Dodger, was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. The move was an endorsement of the near-term prognosis of Hanley Ramirez, who is missing his third start in a row tonight with irritation in the acromioclavicular joint of his right shoulder and saw Dr. Neal ElAttrache today.

Uribe has a .331 on-base percentage and .454 slugging percentage this year — along with the third-best UZR/150 among National League third basemen — but has played only 34 innings in the past 49 days because of hamstring issues.

The bulk of the Dodgers’ innings at the hot corner during that time went to Justin Turner, who had a .405 OBP and slugged .524.

Ramirez, meanwhile, is sidelined with a 10-game hitting streak intact, during which he has had a .415 OBP and .556 slugging.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, the Dodgers are fourth in the NL in Wins Above Average at shortstop and second at third base. According to Fangraphs, the Dodgers are third in the league at third base and second at shortstop.

No no-no, but yes on the greatness for Kershaw

By Jon Weisman

On June 24, 2014

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Not intending at all to knock down the no-hit magic, but was Clayton Kershaw that much less impressive in his follow-up tonight at Kansas City?

Seven Royals reached base against the Dodger lefty, two of them in the fourth, two again in the seventh, all with nothing more than a 1-0 lead. And seven were stranded.

It won’t go down in history, but it will go down as the latest moment of greatness for Kershaw.

Kershaw has a way of putting to rest the kind of doubts that can crop up among even his biggest supporters, myself among them when he came out for the eighth after a heavy-duty seventh that required him to escape a two-on, one-out jam while passing the 100-pitch mark. In that eighth inning, Kershaw found yet another gear, retiring the Royals in order on six pitches, including his eighth strikeout.

In doing so, he made it possible for the Dodgers’ lone run to that point in the game stand up, a run that came thanks mainly to the first batter of the game.

Justin Turner, making his first leadoff start of the year, took Royals starter Danny Duffy to 11 pitches before tripling to right-center, then scored three batters later on an Adrian Gonzalez force out. (Yasiel Puig helped keep the inning alive by narrowly beating out an infield grounder for a single.)

In the ninth inning, the Dodgers bookended their offensive efforts with a walk by Gonzalez and singles by A.J. Ellis and pinch-hitter Andre Ethier, giving themselves a 2-0 lead and sending Kershaw to rest with the following line: eight innings, six hits, one walk, eight strikeouts. Since May 17, Kershaw has thrown 50 innings with a 1.26 ERA and 66 strikeouts against 30 hits and six walks. His past 21 innings have been scoreless.

Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth to save the Dodgers’ victory, improving their record to 43-36 and Kershaw’s to 8-2. Despite missing more than a month of the season, this is the earliest in his career that Kershaw has been credited with eight wins, showing once again that wins march to the beat of their own drummer.

Then again, so does Kershaw.

Kershaw first P since Tommy Greene in 1991 to throw at least 8 shutout innings in first start after a no-hitter (via @MLBNetwork)

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) June 25, 2014

Kershaw lowers ERA to 2.24, now first on Dodgers and third in NL with 72 1/3 innings (needs 79 to qualify).

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) June 25, 2014

Kershaw’s pursuit of Johnny V ended on something of a high pitch. (Via @brooksbaseball) pic.twitter.com/76xLulnkDF

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) June 25, 2014

The phenom’s curse

By Jon Weisman

On June 2, 2014

In History, Pregame

Sunday’s Jon SooHoo photo highlights can be found at LA Photog Blog.

White Sox at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CLXXXIX: Kershawnnie Get Your Gun
Chone Figgins, 2B
Matt Kemp, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, CF
Justin Turner, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

“I talked about this with Rickey Henderson. Rickey Henderson could do so many things, it’s almost a curse sometimes, because we always ask for more. Yasiel hits .350 — now we want him to be a perfect basestealer. He does that — now we want him to do this. With all that talent, you think there’s still more there, and at times, we ask a lot.”

— Don Mattingly, on Yasiel Puig

Van Slyke, Kershaw put on a show in ‘Opening Day Victory’

By Jon Weisman

On March 22, 2014

In Postgame

[mlbvideo id=”31623501″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

In a weirdly joyful way, Scott Van Slyke was the starter, Clayton Kershaw provided the middle relief and Chris Perez, Brian Wilson and Kenley Jansen were together the closer.

For fans of the theater, it made for a nice play in three acts, this 3-1 Opening Day victory (recapped here by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com) by the Dodgers over Arizona.

Overture

“It has been a marvelous week. The weather has been splendiferous.” – Vin #Dodgers

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 22, 2014

Read More

In case you missed it: International Date Line edition

By Jon Weisman

On March 18, 2014

In In case you missed it, Minor leagues

By Jon Weisman

Did Monday go by in a blur for you? It sure did for the traveling Dodgers, who were on a plane the entire time before landing in Australia on what for them was Tuesday morning. (Add 18 hours to the current time to know what time it is there.)

While the Dodgers are away, be sure to follow @Dodgers on Twitter for regular updates from our man on the scene, Josh Tucker. And also check in on the Dodger Photog Blog, featuring our very own eyes in Sydney, Jon SooHoo. In his first two posts, the Dodger team photographer chronicles the Dodgers’ arrival in Sydney and at the Sydney Cricket Grounds.

Ken Gurnick is also leading MLB.com’s coverage of the team Down Under, as you’ll see down under these introductory paragraphs.

In the meantime, here’s what’s been happening while you were sleeping, eating, doing laundry or otherwise going about your domestic business.

Read More

Post-Arizona status report for the Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On March 17, 2014

In Analysis, Spring Training, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

There’s definitely a weird feeling to this Spring Training interregnum between Arizona and Australia — not that it won’t feel even weirder next week, when the Dodgers follow their two regular season games Down Under with four off days and then a pair of Freeway Series exhibitions against the Angels.

Nevertheless, with no game action until the Dodgers scrimmage against Team Australia on Thursday, and the Dodgers having set their 30-man travel squad for Sydney, this does seem like an appropriate time to take a little bit of stock.

Read More

March 14 pregame: Kershaw’s careful curveball

By Jon Weisman

On March 14, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pitching, Pregame

[mlbvideo id=”31524827″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Dodgers vs. Cubs, 1:05 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, CF
Justin Turner, 3B
AJ Ellis, C
Miguel Rojas, SS
Josh Beckett, RHP

By Jon Weisman

Above, my favorite play of Spring Training to date: Justin Turner to Red Patterson on the fly …

Below, news and links aplenty …

Clayton Kershaw didn’t throw a single curveball with a three-ball count in 2013 and has done so only once since 2010, writes Cory DiBenedetto in a short analysis for Gammons Daily. Kershaw also hasn’t allowed a home run on his curveball — on any count — in the past four seasons. (In case you’re wondering, the famous “Public Enemy No. 1” curve came on a 1-2 count.)
Sam Demel and Kershaw are the scheduled starters for Saturday’s split-squad games. Both games are at Camelback Ranch, though the night game against the White Sox is technically a road game. For Kershaw, it will be his last game action before the regular season begins March 22 in Australia.
ESPN’s Future Power Rankings, which “attempt to measure how well each team is set up for sustained success over the next five years,” place the Dodgers third among MLB teams, behind Boston and St. Louis. A year ago, ESPN had the Dodgers eighth, which at the time struck me as too low given the team’s burgeoning resources.
Related: The Dodgers have the best “core five” in the game, according to David Schoenfield of ESPN.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw, Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez

This group could be even better than it was in 2013 with full seasons from Ramirez and Puig. Greinke was so dominant over his final 16 starts (1.57 ERA) that he’s a reasonable Cy Young candidate behind his best-starter-in-baseball teammate. The fifth player on the list could be Gonzalez or Matt Kemp or even third starter Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Manny Mota, who has graciously passed his No. 11 jersey to Erisbel Arruebarrena, remembers Roberto Clemente in this interview with Lyle Spencer of MLB.com.
Stan Conte spoke in some detail about injury prevention and predicting injuries at the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics Conference on Thursday. J.P Hoornstra of the Daily News has details, and Christina Kahrl of ESPN.com has more as well.
Don Mattingly is back in camp today after two days away on bereavement leave.
Yasiel Puig went 4 for 10 in intrasquad play Thursday — he starts in right field today.
Scheduled to follow Josh Beckett, who is testing a sprained right thumb, on the mound today are Jose Dominguez, Paco Rodriguez, Javy Guerra, Chris Withrow and Jamey Wright.
Red Patterson pitched 3 1/3 shutout innings for the Dodgers on Thursday, but Seth Rosin finally gave up his first earned run. If you’re keeping track, Patterson has a 0.93 ERA this spring, while Rosin is at 1.64.
Rosin still leads the staff in strikeouts (12) and is tied with Hyun-Jin Ryu for the most innings (11).
Brandon League talked about his spring to Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. Stephen also gets Mattingly’s thoughts on League’s progress.
Brett Tomko, 41 next month and seven seasons removed from his Dodger days, is going to Kansas City on a minor-league deal, a week after the Royals parted ways with a Dodger teammate of Tomko’s, Brad Penny.
Tim Newcomb of SI.com presents a vision of the ballpark of the future. Pretty pictures.
Thursday in Jon SooHoo.

In case you missed it: Diving Dee

By Jon Weisman

On March 4, 2014

In Health/injuries, History, In case you missed it

[mlbvideo id=”31433797″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

I don’t have any special insight into where Dee Gordon stands in the competition for playing time at second base (as well as backing up center field), though I don’t feel he’s done much to hurt himself. At a minimum, I can say I’ve really enjoyed watching him this spring.

Gordon went 0 for 1 today but had a couple of nice diving stops, including the inning-ending play shown above.

Meanwhile, Justin Turner has quietly been going about his business of attempting to cement a spot on the roster. Turner started at short today and had this grab.

[mlbvideo id=”31432045″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]

The Dodgers suffered their first home loss of Spring Training 2014, falling 4-1 to Seattle, with Los Angeles’ only run coming on a home run by minor-leaguer Trayvon Robinson. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com has the recap.

In other news …

Tommy John surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Everything happens for a reason!

— Ross Stripling (@RossStripling) March 4, 2014

Fears about pitching prospect Ross Stripling were confirmed: He will be having Tommy John surgery Wednesday, reports Gurnick. Stripling injured himself throwing batting practice February 21, but still pitched in a game February 26.
A couple of notes on Australia via Ernest Reyes of Blue Heaven: A history of baseball in Australia from John Thorn and a report on the conversion of the Sydney Cricket Grounds to baseball from MLB field and facilities coordinator Murray Cook.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports likes the Dodgers chances in the National League West — a lot.
Former Dodger Bill Buckner is retiring from baseball. He has been a Single-A hitting coach in the Cubs’ organization.
Some upcoming SportsNet LA programming:
- Wednesday, 10 p.m.: “Talkin’ Blue: State of the Dodgers”
- Saturday, 10 p.m.: “Connected With…Adrian Gonzalez”
- March 14, 8 p.m.: “Connected With…Ned Colletti”
- March 21, 8:30 p.m.: “Talkin’ Blue: Dodger Pitchers”
- March 26, 8 p.m.: “Connected With…Stan Kasten”
- March 31, 8:30 p.m.:“Talkin’ Blue: 2014 Season Preview”
- April 1, 8 p.m.: “Connected With…Brian Wilson”
Today in Jon SooHoo includes son and father combo Scott and Andy Van Slyke.

Dodgers add Justin Turner to mix

By Jon Weisman

On February 5, 2014

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers just signed this guy over here in the top hat.

Justin Turner has inked a minor-league contract with the Dodgers that comes with an invite to Major League camp. The 29-year-old has played all four infield positions in his five-year MLB career, mostly at second and third, most recently producing a .319 on-base percentage and .385 slugging in 214 plate appearances last year with the Mets.

Turner joins a group including Dee Gordon, Justin Sellers, Miguel Rojas, Brendan Harris and Chone Figgins vying for time in support of the 2014 Dodger infield.

Note: The photo was not taken today.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Justin Turner (Page 9 of 9)

Juan Uribe is back in time, but Carlos Triunfel is outatime

No no-no, but yes on the greatness for Kershaw

The phenom’s curse

Van Slyke, Kershaw put on a show in ‘Opening Day Victory’

In case you missed it: International Date Line edition

Post-Arizona status report for the Dodgers

March 14 pregame: Kershaw’s careful curveball

In case you missed it: Diving Dee

Dodgers add Justin Turner to mix

Buy ‘The Catch: A novel’

Buy ‘Brothers in Arms’

‘Brothers in Arms’ coverage

Instagram

Twitter

Recent posts

Other writing by Jon

Archives

Commenting guidelines

Attendance