Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Kike Hernandez (Page 2 of 4)

Dodgers play righty vs. righty card against Chatwood

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On June 6, 2016

In Hitting, Pregame

Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Trayce Thompson, RF
Adrian González, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Scott Van Slyke, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

If you’re wondering why Dave Roberts chose to rest left-handed hitters Chase Utley and Joc Pederson against right-handed Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood, it’s mainly because right-handed batters have had more success against him.

This year, righties have an .788 OPS against Chatwood, while lefties are at .579. The split was even more pronounced in 2014, before Chatwood had the Tommy John surgery that forced him out of action in 2016. Chatwood has returned this year to lead Colorado starters with a 2.99 ERA.

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Dodgers pitch three-hitter but lose in Chicago

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On June 1, 2016

In Postgame

Image-1[132]

By Jon Weisman

In their past three games against each other, Elias Sports told us today, the Dodgers and Cubs became the first pair of teams in Major League history to play three consecutive games with a no-hitter or one-hitter:

There was Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter in the final meeting between the teams last year, plus back-to-back one hitters, one by each team, Monday and Tuesday.

Tonight, offense ran wild. Chicago exploded for three hits, while the Dodgers went bananas and got four. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the team with fewer hits won.

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Dodger loss stands to Reese’n

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On May 9, 2016

In Postgame

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

5.9.16 Retired Numbers Pin Series - Pee Wee Reese presented by 76It looked like the Dodgers and Scott Kazmir might be buried early by the Mets, but two assists in the third inning by left fielder Kiké Hernandez kept New York’s lead to three after three. Trayce Thompson’s 340-foot homer to right field in the fourth cut the deficit to a single run, but the Dodgers drew no closer and, after an unearned run in the sixth, fell to the Mets, 4-2.

Vin Scully told the story tonight of Pee Wee Reese speaking to Jackie Robinson after Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in 1951. “There’s one thing that I’ll never understand,” Reese said. “That this game hasn’t driven me crazy.”

— Jon Weisman

Kiké Hernandez goes bananas from the first pitch in Dodger win over Giants

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On April 15, 2016

In Postgame

[mlbvideo id=”592370683″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

Last year, it was Kiké Hernandez, folk hero.

This year, it might be Kiké Hernandez, hero.

As if going 8 for 20 with a .955 OPS weren’t enough to start the season, Hernandez made himself the centerpiece of Chavez Ravine (aside from Jackie Robinson, of course) with two homers, a double and a huge catch in the first four innings of the Dodgers’ 7-3 victory over San Francisco, a win that put Los Angeles alone in first place in the National League West.

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Depth charge: Trayce Thompson and Kiké Hernandez off to fast starts

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On April 15, 2016

In Bench, Offense

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

When a foul ball fractured the leg of starting left fielder Andre Ethier in March, knocking him out of action for approximately three months, his position fell primarily to Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke.

By the time the Dodgers played their first home game, Crawford and Van Slyke were on the disabled list as well. But the Dodgers have thrived in left field, thanks largely to the fast starts of Trayce Thompson and Kiké Hernandez.

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Dodgers can’t save Maeda’s strong start

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On April 12, 2016

In Bullpen, Postgame

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

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.

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Alex Guerrero to begin season on disabled list

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On March 31, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

IMG_3549

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Chase Utley, 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
Corey Seager, SS
Scott Kazmir, P

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:

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In case you missed it: Dodgers option Liberatore, hone in on bullpen

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On March 29, 2016

In Bullpen, Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Postgame, Pregame, Spring Training, Transactions

Adam Liberatore has struck out 11 in nine Cactus League innings this year.

Adam Liberatore has struck out 11 in nine Cactus League innings this year.

Dodgers at Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Chase Utley, 2B
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Ross Stripling, P

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:

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In case you missed it: Ex-Dodger moves forward from tragedy

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On March 27, 2016

In Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Pregame, Spring Training

[mlbvideo id=”565381383″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Reds at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Trayce Thompson, CF
Chase Utley, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Rob Segedin, 1B
Austin Barnes, 2B
Charlie Culberson, SS
Kenta Maeda, P

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 …

  • Zach Lee held serve in his challenge with Carlos Frias to start in the first week of the 2016 season. In the Dodgers’ 5-4 victory Saturday over the White Sox, Lee (pitching 4 2/3 innings) got two more outs than Frias, but allowed two more runs. Oddly, Lee had no walks or strikeouts.
  • Wrote Ken Gurnick of MLB.com: “Some will speculate that because Frias faced the Giants recently, Lee will get that first start, rather than have Frias face the same hitters again. San Francisco’s lineup Friday night included Buster Posey, Hunter Pence and Brandon Crawford.”
  • Under the radar, Kiké Hernandez (hit by a pitch near his oblique Sunday), Alex Guerrero (knee) and Yimi Garcia (knee) have gone days without playing as they try to let various sore spots heal.
  • However, Gurnick indicates that Corey Seager is nearing a return to Major League action after playing defense in a minor-league game Saturday.
  • Scott Kazmir’s abdominal issues weren’t abominable – it turns out, they were cramps.
  • Prospect watchers got a thrill when 20-year-old Cody Bellinger and 21-year-old Willie Calhoun hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning off MLB veteran Dan Jennings. Each player reached base twice in the game.
  • Justin Turner walked, doubled and singled in his three plate appearances, and now has a Cactus League on-base percentage in the .700 club.
  • Play-by-play announcer Joe Davis is not only spending his first season with the Dodgers in 2016, he and his wife Libby are having their first baby this summer. Congrats!
  • It was Dodger Pride night Saturday at Staples Center with the Kings.

Andre Ethier to miss 10-14 weeks with fracture

By

On March 22, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Arizona Diamondbacks

Dodgers at Royals, 6:05 p.m.
Carl Crawford, DH
Chase Utley, 2B
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Kiké Hernandez, SS
A.J. Ellis C
Trayce Thompson, LF
Rob Segedin, 1B
Rico Noel, RF
(Alex Wood, P)

By Jon Weisman

The second X-ray was radioactive and then some for Andre Ethier.

When Ethier fouled a ball off his right shin Friday, initial x-rays were negative. But after he showed no improvement over subsequent days, a follow-up CT scan revealed a right tibia fracture.

He won’t need surgery, but he is expected to need between 10 and 14 weeks to recover, which puts him out until at least approximately June, or approximately a third of the regular season.

Ethier, who turns 34 on April 10, played in 142 games last year and hasn’t played in fewer than 130 since 2006, his rookie year. He had an .842 OPS and 137 weighted Runs Created in 2015.

Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke are the most obvious choices to pick up Ethier’s innings in left field, with Trayce Thompson — who starts for the Dodgers in tonight’s Cactus League game against the Royals — the leading option from the farm system. The 25-year-old Thompson OPSed .896 with 144 wRC+ in 135 plate appearances when he debuted with the White Sox last summer.

Kiké Hernandez is the last Dodger to start in left field in a game that counted — Game 5 of the 2015 National League Division Series — and could also see time there once Corey Seager returns to action at shortstop.

A year ago, Crawford was coming off a hot finish to 2013, and Ethier was expected to be the fourth outfielder, only to step forward when Crawford struggled with injuries. This year, Crawford and others will have the opportunity to step up for a fallen starter.

Are Dodgers dodging the leadoff inquisition?

By

On March 10, 2016

In Offense, Pregame, Spring Training

Just seeing if you're paying attention. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Just seeing if you’re paying attention. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers at A’s, 12:05 p.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Andre Ethier, DH
A.J. Ellis, C
Trayce Thompson, CF
Charlie Culberson, 3B
Rico Noel, RF
(Kenta Maeda, P)

By Jon Weisman

Earlier this week, MLB.com, the Times, the Register, True Blue L.A. and ESPN.com all wrote about how the Dodgers don’t expect to have a full-time leadoff hitter in 2016.

“It’s still wide-open,” Dave Roberts said, according to Bill Plunkett of the Register. “It might change but I don’t foresee a designated leadoff guy – versus left, versus right, versus any type of pitcher – because any day is different, any pitcher is different. So whatever I feel is the best, which makes the most sense for that night or day, we’ll do.”

For some reason, this seems to get under the skin of some fans, who correlate a consistent presence atop the order with winning. And to be sure, if you’ve got guy who posts a .400 on-base percentage against all pitching and doesn’t have redwoods for legs, that’s a good head start toward victory.

But you’re not doomed if you don’t have that person, and it doesn’t serve anyone to pretend that you do. Whatever advantage might be derived from stubbornly batting the same player in the same batting slot, regardless of who the opposing pitcher is, is surely bettered by creating the best matchups.

Let’s look at the Dodgers’ potential leadoff hitters, casting a wide net …

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Yasiel Puig’s 96 mph fastball — from right field

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On February 27, 2016

In Defense, Outfield

Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Just how strong is Yasiel Puig’s arm?

This week at MLB.com, MLB Statcast analyst Mike Petriello wrote about the top outfield arms in baseball. His methodology in brief appears at the end of this post. I followed up by asking Statcast for some numbers specific to the Dodgers, and here’s what I got:

  • 96.0 mph — Yasiel Puig
  • 90.8 mph — Joc Pederson
  • 90.5 mph — Scott Van Slyke
  • 88.5 mph — Alex Guerrero
  • 88.2 mph — Kiké Hernandez
  • 87.7 mph — Andre Ethier
  • 79.7 mph — Carl Crawford

Puig was 2.6 mph behind Houston’s Jake Marsinick, the top outfield arm in the Majors. Here’s a 99.4 mph throw that Puig made at Houston in August:

[mlbvideo id=”404268183″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

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In case you missed it: Sandy salute

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On February 26, 2016

In In case you missed it, Transactions

Los Angeles Dodgers workout

By Jon Weisman

Though the legendary Sandy Koufax no longer has a formal role with the Dodgers, as Ken Gurnick of MLB.com writes, that doesn’t mean he can’t stop by Camelback Ranch for a nice hello.

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In case you missed it: Putting the sock back in Joc

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On February 24, 2016

In In case you missed it, Spring Training


By Jon Weisman

The full Dodger squad, minus newly signed Yaisel Sierra, fell into place on what appeared to be a beautiful day a Camelback Ranch. Here’s the latest news and notes …

  • There’s few Spring Training pieces more timely than a systematic look at what went wrong for Joc Pederson in the second half of 2015. Bill Plunkett of the Register talked to Pederson and several people within the Dodger organization for his story.
  • Chase Utley’s hard edge as a competitor doesn’t leave much room for friendships with rivals, but when he’s on your side, there are few better, according to this profile by Andy McCullough of the Times. “I went from being scared to death of him,” A.J. Ellis said, “to loving being his teammate.”

Greg Maddux helping me play sports. Via @jon.soohoo

A post shared by Brett Anderson (@brettanderson46) on

  • New special assistant to president of baseball operations Greg Maddux is spending all of Spring Training at Camelback, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Before taking that position, Maddux received an inquiry from his former Braves colleague, Dodger president and CEO Stan Kasten, about whether he might want to be part of the Dodger managerial search last fall.
  • Eric Gagne is also at Camelback as a guest instrutor, notes Gurnick.
  • The Dodgers said it earlier this winter, after the trade with the Reds and White Sox that did not bring Todd Frazier to Los Angeles, but today it was reiterated by Dave Roberts that the team plans for Justin Turner to remain at third base and Corey Seager at shortstop in 2016, rather than moving around the diamond. Kiké Hernandez is currently the backup shortstop.
  • Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. has a humorous recap of Brandon McCarthy’s throwing session today.
  • MLB is hosting an its annual Honorary Bat Girl Contest, “which will recognize one fan from each MLB club who has been affected by breast cancer and has demonstrated a commitment to battling the disease.” Dodger pitcher Scott Kazmir will be one of the guest judges. Entries are being taken through April 14. Click for more details.
  • How does the Dodger video production team set up shop at Camelback? Very quickly, and with lots of hashtags …

Dodgers offseason update from Andrew Friedman

By

On November 9, 2015

In Front office

Tommy Lasorda, one of the people not interviewing for the Dodger managerial opening, with Andrew Friedman. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Tommy Lasorda, who is not interviewing for the Dodger managerial opening, speaks with Andrew Friedman in August. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

OK, so the Dodgers have no new manager or head trainer yet, no new free-agent signings or trades to announce, nothing locked down for the coaching staff.

But with the MLB General Managers meetings underway today through Thursday, Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spoke to reporters to provide an offseason update. Here’s a sample of what was said …

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Attendance

1991-2013
Dodgers at home: 1,028-812 (.558695)
When Jon attended: 338-267 (.558677)*
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* includes road games attended

2013
Dodgers at home: 51-35 (.593)
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Note: I got so busy working for the Dodgers that in 2014, I stopped keeping track, much to my regret. 

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