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 …
Tag: Kike Hernandez (Page 4 of 4)
By Jon Weisman
Kiké Hernandez is nothing if not a man of personas. And if we know nothing else, we know he’s not nothing.
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Dodgers at Pirates, 5:08 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Wood, P
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Wood, P
By Jon Weisman
Since taking two days off to regroup during last weekend’s series against the Angels, and then returning in the bottom third of the batting order, rookie outfielder Joc Pederson has seen some progress.
Pederson has resembled the player he was in April, when he was bringing solid defense and walking all the time but hitting one home run in his first 11 games. This past week, Pederson has two singles, a double and eight walks in 23 plate appearances with five strikeouts, so while the slugging percentage is languishing at .267, the on-base percentage is at .478.
In July, Pederson walked four times the entire month, struck out 31 times and slugged .258.
Kiké Hernandez has cushioned the effect of Pederson’s post-July struggles, with a .421 OBP and .606 slugging since July 1.
The Dodgers are still a few days away from activating third baseman Justin Turner, Don Mattingly told reporters.
Kiké Hernandez is 14 for 41 with five doubles, two triples, a homer and three walks against left-handed starting pitching this season. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Mets at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Soctt Van Slyke, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Mike Bolsinger, P
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Soctt Van Slyke, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Mike Bolsinger, P
By Jon Weisman
It’s more like a bug bite than a debilitating injury, but the Dodgers could be happier, healthier and heartier facing left-handed starters this year.
Going into today’s game against left-handed Mets rookie Steven Matz, the Dodgers are 7-8 (.467) against southpaw starters in 2015, compared with 39-28 (.582) against righties.
In those eight losses, the Dodgers have scored a combined 14 runs. Three of those eight losses have come in games started by San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner, who has a 1.31 ERA against Los Angeles in 2015.
In their seven wins against lefty starters, the Dodgers have scored 35 runs (five per game).
Lefty starters have held the Dodgers to a .668 OPS, as opposed to their .783 OPS against righty starters. Confounding expectations, Dodger right-handed batters have hit better against righties than lefties in 2015.
Yasiel Puig (1.082 OPS) and Kiké Hernandez (1.034 OPS) have been the Dodgers’ best hitters against lefty starters this year, which helps explain why Hernandez is batting leadoff today. Joc Pederson is starting in the No. 7 spot for the first time since April, though his OPS against lefty starters (.875) is third on the team, ahead of Scott Van Slyke (.744).
One problem for the Dodgers is that the typical No. 3 and No. 4 hitters, Justin Turner (.559) and Adrian Gonzalez (.601) have not done well in their small samples against lefty starters this year. The right-handed hitting Turner’s career platoon splits actually favor him against right-handed pitching (.681 OPS vs. all lefties, .816 OPS vs. all righties).
Further, Dodger catchers A.J. Ellis, Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes are 7 for 44 with two doubles and no home runs against southpaw starters this year (.204 slugging percentage), though Ellis does have 10 walks to give him a .356 on-base percentage.
Even Alex Guerrero only has a .239 on-base percentage against left-handed starters, though he has two homers in 45 at-bats.
One other piece of trivia: The Dodgers have one stolen base all season against a left-handed starter, and that was by Zack Greinke.
Today, we launch a new Dodger Insider feature, which will take select magazine stories and blog posts and display them on a whole new level. For our inaugural effort, click above and let Matthew Mesa take you into the fascinating, living-on-peel’s-edge world of Kiké Hernandez and the Rally Banana.
— Jon Weisman
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By Jon Weisman
Clayton Kershaw had a snakebit fourth inning today and couldn’t get out of the sixth, but the Dodgers again asserted their late-inning strength to come away with a 9-5 victory at Colorado.
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- After Kershaw allowed five runs in the fourth, Adrian Gonzalez’s bases-loaded double tied the game in the top of the fifth. Gonzalez had two doubles against lefty Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa.
- Replacing Kershaw with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Pedro Baez struck out Rockies star Troy Tulowitzki. In his past seven outings, Baez has a 0.00 ERA and stranded all eight inherited runners, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out nine in 7 1/3 innings.
- Reserve utilityman Kiké Hernandez started the eighth inning with a single, and after an A.J. Ellis sacrifice, super-reserve utilityman Justin Turner (batting for Baez) hit his fifth homer in 52 at-bats this season. That started a four-run inning that was capped by Gonzalez’s sacrifice fly to short.
- Rookie lefty Adam Liberatore retired all four batters he faced. Incredibly, Liberatore has now faced 27 batters in his MLB career and retired 26 of them.
- Yimi Garcia finished things up by striking out the last two batters of the game. Garcia (0.63 ERA) has faced 52 batters this season, allowing four singles and four walks while striking out 23.
Joc Pederson had three of the Dodgers’ 10 walks, while Jimmy Rollins (who scored on the sac fly to short), Howie Kendrick and Chris Heisey also reached base three times apiece. With 14 doubles and 29 RBI, Gonzalez is tied for the National League lead in both categories.
The Dodgers (20-10) extended their NL West lead to a season-high 4 1/2 games.
Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers
For more photos from Monday, visit LA Photog Blog.
Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXIV: Kershawl Blart: Mall Cop 2
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Justin Turner, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Alex Guerrero, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P
Kershaw CCXIV: Kershawl Blart: Mall Cop 2
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Justin Turner, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Alex Guerrero, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P
By Jon Weisman
Carl Crawford has joined fellow outfielder Yasiel Puig on the disabled list with a right oblique strain, and infielder-outfielder Kiké Hernandez has been called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Crawford injured himself during his second-inning triple Monday, on the swing, telling Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. today that it was a “bad tear.” He has a .260 on-base percentage and .408 slugging percentage in 50 plate appearances this season. Crawford had an even slower start (.224/.278) in April 2014, but finished last season at .339/.429.
The 23-year-old Hernandez had a .321 OBP and slugged .421 in 134 plate appearances during his MLB debut in 2014. With Oklahoma City in 2015, Hernandez was at .219/.254, thanks largely to a 1-for-29 slump from April 12-20.
For more photos from Saturday, visit LA Photog Blog.
By Jon Weisman
Here it is: the Dodgers’ Opening Day 25-man roster …
Starting pitchers (4): Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Brandon McCarthy, Brett Anderson
Relief pitchers (7): Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia, Chris Hatcher, J.P. Howell, Juan Nicasio, Joel Peralta, Paco Rodriguez
Catchers (2): A.J. Ellis, Yasmani Grandal
Infielders (7): Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins, Juan Uribe, Darwin Barney, Alex Guerrero, Justin Turner
Outfielders (5): Carl Crawford, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke
Disabled list (4): Brandon Beachy, Kenley Jansen, Brandon League, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Chris Withrow
As evidenced by the ninth-inning homer that Kiké Hernandez hit tonight, giving the Dodgers an unreal eighth tie of Spring Training, the Dodgers are sending a lot of talent back to the minors. Hernandez alone hit six home runs during Spring Training.
Chris Heisey, David Aardsma, David Huff, Adam Liberatore and Sergio Santos were also among the last cuts.
“We feel very strongly we sent down some Major League players,” Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told reporters after the game. “To have that depth is key.”
In the bullpen, the Dodgers kept three relievers who had options remaining — Baez, Garcia and Rodriguez — at the expense of others with more big-league experience, giving them five relievers age 30 or under. Though they released Dustin McGowan earlier this week, the Dodgers lost no other talent at the roster deadline, so their stockpile of relievers remains — and that’s with Jansen, League and Withrow potentially returning at various times later this year.
Liberatore, who struck out nine in 10 1/3 scoreless innings this spring while allowing seven baserunners, was a particularly close call, but as with so many of these players, he’ll likely have his chance. That the 27-year-old hasn’t made his MLB debut yet worked against him for Opening Day, said Friedman, who valued the younger Rodriguez’s experience for the start of the season.
Rodriguez not only matched Liberatore’s scoreless spring, he struck out 13 in 10 2/3 innings. But as the Dodgers have maintained all along, it’s about more than just numbers.
“Paco probably generated some of the worst swings out of hitters this camp,” said Friedman. “Lib will get his chance.”
Mike Adams, who appears to be contemplating retirement, is technically reassigned to minor-league camp, according to Friedman.
Left unsaid for now is who will be the Dodgers’ fifth starter come April 14. Because that date comes less than 10 days after the start of the season — and the start of his option this year to the minors — Joe Wieland could fill that role only if he replaces a player who goes on the disabled list. A player not currently on the 40-man roster, such as Huff, could have his contract purchased for a spot start if the Dodgers make room for him.
Also delayed: Paring the Dodger bench. The Dodgers will begin the season with 11 pitchers and 14 position players, but by mid-April, the Dodgers figure to go with a 12-man pitching staff. Barney, who has done nothing but impress since becoming a Dodger last year, nevertheless stands as a player who could spend time in the minors, however briefly, if no other moves are made.
In my 14 seasons blogging about the Dodgers (I’m staring at that “14” in disbelief), this is the deepest team they have brought to Opening Day. Not every question has been answered, but no team has ever been bulletproof. The bench and farm system are as rich as they’ve been since, well, the 1900s. Even starting the season with their No. 3 starter and No. 1 reliever on the disabled list, it’s striking how much talent the 2015 Dodgers have to draw from up and down the line.
Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Justin Turner, 1B
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Chris Heisey RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kike Hernandez, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
(Chris Anderson, P)
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Justin Turner, 1B
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Chris Heisey RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kike Hernandez, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
(Chris Anderson, P)
By Jon Weisman
We’re down to the final fortnight before Opening Day. Starting to feel it?
Here’s a big set of links from this morning and the weekend …
- Alex Guerrero is not only making a case for a reserve role in 2015 but a starting role in 2016, as Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles points out.
- Guerrero’s roster spot could come at the immediate expense of Kike Hernandez (though, if the Dodgers keep an extra position player, perhaps not). Ken Gurnick writes at MLB.com about Hernandez, who has homered in three straight games.
- Hernandez, who starts again today, has been a busy guy. He leads the Dodgers in Cactus League play in defensive innings with 74, and should tie or pass Joc Pederson — who has a scheduled off day today — for the lead in plate appearances. Pederson has 42 plate appearances, Hernandez 40.
- Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson are each pitching in minor-league games for their next turns in the Dodger rotation — McCarthy today (in part because the Dodgers are facing opening-week opponent Arizona), Anderson on Tuesday (an off day for the big-league club).
- Don Mattingly told reporters the Dodgers will have a bullpen game Wednesday, with Clayton Kershaw pitching again Thursday, working on five days’ rest after his last tooth-rattling start.
- Chris Hatcher, who got rocked a bit Sunday, retiring one of five batters, gets a chance for redemption with his first back-to-back appearance of Spring Training today, pitching behind McCarthy in the minor-league game. Joel Peralta, who turns 39 today, is also doing making his first consecutive-days gambit.
- The Dodgers have the ninth-best collection of MLB talent at catcher, writes Mike Petriello of Fangraphs, which kicked off its annual position rankings today.
- Don Newcombe is at Camelback Ranch this week and will throw out the first pitch before Friday’s sold-out game against the Giants.
- Aaron Miller, the Dodgers’ 2009 first-round draft pick who attempted to convert from pitching to the outfield, has retired at 27, reports Gurnick. We included Miller, who had an .826 OPS for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga last year, in our May 2014 Dodger Insider magazine story about Dodger minor-leaguers making position switches.
- In case you need a refresher, Dustin Nosler of Dodgers Digest charts where the major national prospect rankings placed the Dodgers’ up-and-comers.
- A lengthy roster of the talent at Dodger minor-league camp was posted by Eric Stephen at True Blue L.A.
- Bookmark this one: Official MLB historian John Thorn has a timeline of baseball integration dating back to 1820 at Our Game, starting with the slave Henry Rosecranse Columbus Jr. playing baseball in Kingston, New York.
- A keen analysis of how well pitchers do (or don’t) recover from Tommy John surgery is provided by Jon Roegele at the Hardball Times. “The most recent data suggest that one out of two major league pitchers who has Tommy John surgery will throw fewer than 100 innings the rest of his big league career,” Roegele concludes.
- Fangraphs has tweaked the way it calculates Wins Above Replacement, taking into account such factors as ability to avoid double plays and advancement on wild pitches and passed balls.
- Let’s get promotional. Promotional …
Big group outing? Dodger Stadium can handle it. Group tickets start as low as $10. Details: http://t.co/YqJvSpLnuI pic.twitter.com/A1HzcikkVh
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 23, 2015
April 15: Jackie Robinson Replica Jersey presented by Bank of America. Tickets: http://t.co/DnxWhL8Fl6 #42 pic.twitter.com/fe9XDcGNRs
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 23, 2015
By Jon Weisman
The Dodgers’ annual Spring Training Ping Pong Tourney is underway. Whom do you pick?
And now, to wrap up the weekend …
- Alex Guerrero, who to this Neanderthal observer looked smooth taking balls at third base today, will be one of the most difficult roster decisions the Dodgers face in March. Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com spoke to Guerrero and Don Mattingly about the situation.
- The versatile Kike Hernandez was poised to try to play all nine defensive positions in a single game for Triple-A Oklahoma City (in the Astros organization), only to be thwarted by success, writes J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News. Hernandez also spoke to Sanchez about how his winter Caribbean Series experienced primed him for Spring Training.
- Carl Crawford has operated out of the center of attention this spring, but Dylan Hernandez of the Times catches up with him in this feature.
- It’s a hard start to the year for Chicago and baseball, which lost Ernie Banks in February and now today, Minnie Minoso.
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By Jon Weisman
In the wee hours, Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Freidman discussed Wednesday’s exchange of players with the Marlins and Angels. Above is some video, below are some excerpts …
