Louis Coleman – Dodger Thoughts

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Yasiel Puig will be back in the Majors for the Dodgers’ September stretch run, joined by catcher-infielder Austin Barnes and pitchers Louis Coleman, Josh Fields and Josh Ravin.

Padres at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Julio Urías, P

Since he was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 2, Puig played in 24 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with a .422 on-base percentage, .605 slugging percentage, five homers and nine walks against 11 strikeouts.

“For us, Yasiel’s done everything that was asked of him,” Dave Roberts said today in an interview with MLB Network about Puig, who will start tonight. “As we talked through things, we felt ultimately that he makes us better, with him keeping his end of the deal. It’s all about Yasiel becoming a better person, a better teammate, but also helping the Dodgers with baseball games.”

Yasiel Puig on his return: "It feels a little strange, but I'm glad to be given the opportunity." pic.twitter.com/sCzX3l0054

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 2, 2016

Said Puig to reporters this afternoon: “I earned the demotion to Triple-A. I feel that I’m now a better person, and I’m here to show it.”

Puig has a .320 on-base percentage, .386 slugging percentage and .706 OPS this season for the Dodgers. Between his return from the disabled list and his trip to the minors, he had a .390 OBP while slugging .440.

He joins a Dodger outfield that has Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson, Josh Reddick, Andrew Toles, Kiké Hernandez and (though mainly an infielder) Rob Segedin.

Andre Ethier, who has played three nights in a row in rehab games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (including seven innings in right field Thursday), might not be far behind.

The 26-year-old Barnes wraps up his second season in Oklahoma City with a .380 on-base percentage, .443 slugging percentage and 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts, along with 43 walks against 53 strikeouts. In brief action with the Dodger this year, Barnes is 3 for 23 with three walks and a double.

Coleman pitched four shutout innings in rehab outings from August 22-30, allowing five hits while walking none and striking out six. With the Dodgers, he has a 3.70 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 37 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings. He had made six straight scoreless appearances before going on the disabled list August 3 with right shoulder fatigue.

Fields has pitched two innings for Oklahoma City since he was optioned August 23. He had allowed five earned runs and 18 baserunners in 9 2/3 innings as a Dodger since his August 1 acquisition from Houston.

Placed on the disabled list August 15 with right triceps inflammation, Ravin pitched in one rehab inning August 30 for Rancho Cucamonga, allowing a hit and a run with a strikeout. He has two shutout innings with the Dodgers this year.

Luis Avilan, a winning pitcher Wednesday thanks to Toles’ grand-slam heroics, was only temporarily on the team as the 26th man for the second game of the doubleheader, and officially returned to Triple-A today. Because he was optioned August 25, he isn’t eligible for a permanent recall until Sunday.

So as they start September, the Dodgers have 15 pitchers and 15 position players on their active roster — with more to come.

Farm Fresh: De Leon’s 13K carry OKC to playoffs

By Jon Weisman

On August 28, 2016

In Minor leagues

[milbvideo id=”1109273483″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

While Brock Stewart was having his career-best Major League game in Los Angeles, Jose De Leon was firing up some heroics of his own.

De Leon struck out 13 with no walks in 7 2/3 shutout innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City, which clinched the Pacific Coast League American Northern Division title in a 6-1 victory over Colorado Springs.

In 41 2/3 innings over his past six starts, De Leon has a 1.30 ERA with 46 strikeouts.

How much will Dodgers fatten roster in September?

By Jon Weisman

On August 28, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Cubs at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Rob Segedin, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Charlie Culberson, 2B
Brock Stewart, P

By Jon Weisman

September 1, the date that active rosters can expand to as many as 40 players, has been in the Dodgers’ sightlines for some time — the seemingly perfect quirk in the schedule to serve a team that has depth in its pitching staff but not length.

Today, Dave Roberts told reporters that the Dodgers plan to activate Louis Coleman from the disabled list before Friday’s game (Thursday is actually an off day for Los Angeles, except for the Dodgers All-Access event) and also bring back reliever Casey Fien from the minors.

That would give the Dodgers a minimum of 14 pitchers, pending more possible additions as the month progresses. A recall of Luis Avilan and Josh Fields, who pitched recently for the Dodgers, would give them 16 arms. Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Josh Ravin are on the 15-day disabled list, and so with the flick of paperwork, the pitching staff could number as many as 20.

Hopes remain for the return from the 60-day disabled list of Clayton Kershaw to the starting rotation and Alex Wood to the bullpen, and then you possibly have 22 pitchers. (That seems like a lot.) In those cases, however, someone currently on the 40-man roster would have to be displaced.

That’s why, despite his strong finish at Triple-A Oklahoma City and highly regarded prospect status, Jose De Leon — who is not on the 40-man roster yet — might not see action for Los Angeles this year. It hasn’t been ruled out, but it’s predicated on the status of the aforementioned score of pitchers.

Coleman, Liberatore head to DL, Toles optioned — Urías, Fields and Stewart recalled

By Jon Weisman

On August 3, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Kiké Hernández, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Brock Stewart, P

By Jon Weisman

A flurry of moves have been made by the Dodgers before tonight’s game in Colorado.

Louis Coleman (right shoulder fatigue) and Adam Liberatore (left elbow inflammation) have been placed on the disabled list. For Liberatore, the transaction is retroactive to July 30.

Joining the Dodgers from Triple-A Oklahoma City are pitchers Julio Urías and newly acquired Josh Fields. In addition, outfielder Andrew Toles has been optioned to Oklahoma City to make room for tonight’s starting pitcher, Brock Stewart.

How the revitalized bullpen keyed Dodgers’ surge

By Jon Weisman

On July 13, 2016

In Bullpen

By Jon Weisman

In the Dodgers’ final inning before the All-Star Break, the best closer in the National League, Kenley Jansen, entered the game to protect a one-run lead against the fourth-place team in the National League West.

At that moment, the Dodger bullpen was several weeks into an extended resurgence that was forcing fans and media alike to unlearn everything it thought it knew about the team’s relievers. It progressed in stages, as if reversing the five stages of grief.

Hooray — they actually held a lead for once.
All right, I’ve stopped throwing things every time a reliever comes in.
I know this won’t last, but thank you for at least being adequate.
Hmm. Some of these guys are actually pretty good.
I don’t want to jinx this. But … wow.

Dodger bullpen failures have been branded into the collective memory of recent years, the scar tissue making it nearly impossible for most to feel the moments when the relievers were doing well — which, of course, was more often than the distraught and cynical could concede.

But by the time Jansen took the mound Sunday, the bullpen’s growing success was no longer possible to ignore.

Dodger relievers lead the Major Leagues with a 2.83 ERA. They lead the Major Leagues with a 1.02 WHIP.

In fact, as Dodger broadcaster Joe Davis pointed out, the Dodger bullpen’s opponents batting average of .192 is currently the lowest in modern baseball history. The team’s WHIP is the lowest in NL history.

That’s extraordinary. And that’s not wishcasting. That’s something that has been happening. The Dodger bullpen has become the opposite of an albatross. It’s a primary reason that, despite the “I Love Lucy” chocolate conveyor belt of injuries, that Los Angeles (51-40) is on a 91-win pace and once again a team to be reckoned with.

In terms of inherited runners stranded, the Dodgers were seventh among MLB teams at 72 percent — in the upper echelon but with room for improvement. The good news — the great news — is that the improvement is already underway.

Hearing issue doesn’t affect Louis Coleman on mound

By Jon Weisman

On June 22, 2016

In Pregame

Louis Coleman has (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Right-handed batters have a .520 OPS against Louis Coleman in 2016. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Trayce Thompson, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Julio Urias, P

By Jon Weisman

In each issue of Dodger Insider magazine, we spend a little time talking with a player about their off-field lives: favorite movies, hobbies and the like.

For the current homestand, Louis Coleman stepped up, and among other things, the Dodger reliever mentioned that he has been deaf in his right ear for several years. J.P. Howell, who was nearby during the interview, confirmed this, but Coleman emphasized that it doesn’t affect his pitching.

Read more in this excerpt from the magazine …

Avilan, Bolsinger called up — Tsao to disabled list, Stripling optioned

By Jon Weisman

On May 23, 2016

In Bullpen, Transactions

Ross Stripling pitched three shutout innings Sunday. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Ross Stripling, whose season began with 7 1/3 no-hit innings April 8 in San Francisco, pitched three shutout innings Sunday in his relief debut. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Regrouping after throwing 582 pitches in three games at San Diego — and losing one of their pitchers to the disabled list in the process — the Dodgers are bringing up two fresh arms for their pitching staff.

Dodgers bring up Chin-hui Tsao, option Mike Bolsinger

By Jon Weisman

On May 19, 2016

In Postgame, Pregame, Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Angels at Dodgers, 7:05 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Howie Kendrick, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Trayce Thompson, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carl Crawford, DH
(Ross Stripling, P)

By Jon Weisman

Mike Bolsinger will return to the minor leagues after making a spot start Wednesday for the Dodgers, with reliever Chin-hui Tsao joining the roster from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Tsao, who turns 35 in June, has a 3.31 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 14 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings this season, and has been unscored upon in his past eight appearances.

Last year, returning to the Majors after an eight-year absence, Tsao pitched seven innings for the Dodgers, with a 2.84 ERA in his first four games before allowing six runs in two-third of an inning July 25 against the Mets. He also doubled in his only at-bat.

Making his first MLB start in nearly eight months and his first since recovering from a March oblique injury, Bolsinger went 4 1/3 innings and was charged with two earned runs in the Dodgers’ 8-1 loss to the Angels, allowing nine of the 21 batters he faced to reach base, while striking out two.

A meaningful tribute to Louis Coleman’s grandfather

By Jon Weisman

On April 27, 2016

In Farewells, Thinking out loud

Louis Coleman stands during introductions at the Dodgers’ home opener April 12. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Harold Louis Coleman Sr.

By Jon Weisman

As you know, Louis Coleman’s grandfather, Harold Louis Coleman Sr., passed away last week. That’s about all we knew about the Dodger reliever’s need to go on bereavement leave.

But thanks to a column by Coleman’s uncle, Billy Watkins, in Jackson, Mississippi’s Clairon-Ledger, we now know much more.

Watkins’ piece is not only a reflection on his own uncle, but a reflection on our priorities, our choices and our lives.

… I asked Uncle Harold a few years ago something about my maternal grandfather, who I loved deeply. Uncle Harold was one of the few still alive who knew the answer and the only one I felt comfortable asking about it. Understand, it wasn’t concerning anything illegal or shameful. It was merely something I wanted to know about my grandfather.

“I’ll tell you,” Uncle Harold said to me. “But you have to drive to Schlater to hear it.”

It was his way of inviting me to come see him.

I never made that trip. So whatever he would have said to me was lowered with him into the black Delta earth late Saturday afternoon.

My ignorance, arrogance and apathy haunt me. …

Billy Watkins

Watkins also wrote this passage on Louis Coleman (that is, Harold Louis Coleman III):

… Hal and Kathy’s son, Louis, spoke at the funeral.

Louis is a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. I read on the team website the night before: “Louis Coleman has been placed on the bereavement list following the death of his grandfather. Also, the Dodgers called up … ”

One line. I wish all Dodger fans could’ve heard Louis’ tribute. He didn’t dance around the fact that his “Pappy” was “always right” and, at times, not the easiest person to get along with. He called him “a man’s man.”

Louis Coleman pitching Monday against the Marlins, in his first game back after bereavement leave. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

“But he had a way of making things simple,” Louis said. “I used to throw at a tater sack hung across a barbed wire fence when I was growing up. That was my target.”

As a member of the Kansas City Royals in 2011, Louis earned his first save at Yankee Stadium in New York and his first win at Fenway Park in Boston.

“And to this day, if I can’t find my control, I can hear Pappy saying, ‘Just hit the tater sack.’ ”

A little more than 48 hours after delivering that talk, Louis was back with the Dodgers, back on the mound in a one-run game against the Miami Marlins in the seventh inning. Louis was perfect. Three up, three down. He struck out slugger Giancarlo Stanton for the third out. I came out of my recliner and pumped my fist. …

You can read the entire piece here. Thanks to Watkins’ longtime friend, Dodger senior vice president of planning and development Janet Marie Smith, for forwarding it to me.

Dodgers exchange Luis for Louis

By Jon Weisman

On April 25, 2016

In Transactions

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Yasmani Grandal, 1B
Trayce Thompson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Charlie Culberson, SS
Ross Stripling, P

By Jon Weisman

Louis Coleman is returning from his bereavement leave to the Dodger bullpen, with Luis Avilan returning to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Coleman, who last pitched April 19, has allowed four runs, four hits and four walks in five innings for the Dodgers, with three strikeouts.

Avilan pitched in all three games the Dodgers just played in Colorado. He struck out the only batter he faced Friday, gave up a hit (and a run) among the two batters he faced Saturday and allowed two hits and two walks (one intentional) against four batters Sunday.

Carl Crawford is expected to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday, Dave Roberts said today.

Baez recovering, but Coleman bereaving

By Jon Weisman

On April 21, 2016

In Bullpen, Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Braves, 9:10 a.m.
Kershaw CCXLVI: Kershawll We Dance?
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Trayce Thompson, RF
Kiké Hernandez, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Charlie Culberson, 3B
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

“Right” said Pedro Baez, or something to that effect, the morning after an Adam Liberatore midgame warmup pitch Wednesday accidentally struck the right-handed reliever in the head.

Baez played catch in the outfield today and told reporters today that he feels fine, though Dave Roberts said in his pregame chat that the team hadn’t determined if Better Off Ped is available to pitch today.

However, the Dodgers have called up southpaw Luis Avilan from Triple-A Oklahoma City, because Louis Coleman has been placed on the bereavement list following the passing of his grandfather.

Avilan, who had a rough Spring Training, has thrown six shutout innings so far this season in the minors, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out nine. Left-handed batters are 1 for 9 against him with two walks and three strikeouts.

He’ll boost a Dodger bullpen that has been taxed over the past two nights and that will be hoping for a reprieve today with Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Number of pitches Dodger relievers have thrown since Monday’s off day:

33 J.P. Howell (10 Tuesday, 23 Wednesday)
31 Joe Blanton (12 Tuesday, 19 Wednesday)
24 Yimi Garcia (six Tuesday, 18 Wednesday
16 Chris Hatcher (16 Wednesday)
13 Adam Liberatore (nine Tuesday, four Wednesday)
13 Louis Coleman (13 Tuesday)
13 Kenley Jansen (13 Wednesday)

Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia clinch spots on 25-man roster

By Jon Weisman

On April 1, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Spring Training, Transactions

Yimi Garcia and Pedro Baez in October 2015. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Carl Crawford, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Corey Seager, SS
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Ross Stripling has been named the Dodgers’ No. 5 starter and will take the mound April 8 at San Francisco, Dave Roberts announced, adding that Carlos Frias will be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

We’ll have more on Stripling shortly in a separate post. In the meantime, here are some more news and notes …

Read More

No, not everyone got hurt: 2016 Spring Training stars

By Jon Weisman

On March 28, 2016

In Spring Training, Status report

By Jon Weisman

One week from Opening Day, it’s safe to say that injuries have dampened Spring Training for the Dodgers this year, like picking the wrong line at Philippe’s 30 minutes before game time. If there’s an upside, it’s that aside from the injuries, there’s been a feast for the baseball senses. Nearly everyone on the field is meeting or exceeding expectations. Here are some of the brightest (and, knock on wood) healthiest lights at Camelback Ranch this month:

In case you missed it: Bolsinger won’t start opening week

By Jon Weisman

On March 22, 2016

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

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By Jon Weisman

Before tonight’s 3-1 loss to Kansas City, Andrew Friedman confirmed suspicions that Mike Bolsinger’s oblique injury would knock him off track for an opening-week start.

Carlos Frias, Zach Lee and Brandon Beachy are the leading possibilities for making that start on April 8, though Julio Urias conspiracy theorists will note that the teenage lefty threw three “impressive” innings in a minor-league game, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

What else can I tell you?

Pedro Baez struck out all four batters he faced, giving him 11 this spring against three walks. Half of Baez’s 22 outs have been whiffs.
Alex Verdugo didn’t enter the game until the bottom of the seventh – and doesn’t turn 20 until May 15 – but still made an impression. In the bottom of the eighth, he made a sliding stop of a double to the gap and threw to second baseman Charlie Culberson, who fired home to catcher Austin Barnes for an out. Verdugo followed that with a double in the top of the ninth.
Joc Pederson had a streak of 12 straight plate appearances with a hit or strikeout end when he grounded out to third in the fourth inning. Pederson, who also lost a six-game hitting streak tonight, was 5 for 12 with seven strikeouts in that little run.
Louis Coleman allowed his third hit of March but struck out his 10th batter while completing his seventh scoreless inning. He hasn’t walked anyone.
Chris Young held the Dodgers hitless for 4 1/3 innings, but was still charged with a run. Young walked his last batter, Rob Segedin, and reliever Scott Alexander gave up an RBI double to his first batter, speedy Rico Noel.
Four Dodgers played complete games tonight: Segedin at first, Noel in right, Kiké Hernandez at short and Trayce Thompson in left field.

[mlbvideo id=”561420183″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Alex Wood threw 62 pitches in a four-inning stint. Above, Rick Honeycutt talks about Wood.
Clayton Kershaw not only came out of a car accident unscathed, he posed for pictures with the pair who collided with him. Doug Padilla of ESPN.com has more.

Whatever you think of the Dodgers’ luck right now, there’s this: Clayton Kershaw came out of a car accident unscathed.

Checking in on the Dodger bullpen

By Jon Weisman

On March 18, 2016

In Bullpen, Pregame, Spring Training

Louis Coleman warms prior to his Spring Training debut March 4 for the Dodgers at Surprise, Arizona.

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m.
Andre Ethier, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Chase Utley, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Trayce Thompson, CF
Brandon Beachy, P

By Jon Weisman

For all the speculation about who the fifth starting pitcher in the Dodger rotation will be, there hasn’t been a ton of talk about the back end of the bullpen.

Let’s do a quick refresher of the remaining candidates for the (presumably) seven relief spots:

Read More

Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Louis Coleman (Page 1 of 2)

Dodgers recall Puig, Barnes and Fields, activate Coleman and Ravin

Farm Fresh: De Leon’s 13K carry OKC to playoffs

How much will Dodgers fatten roster in September?

Coleman, Liberatore head to DL, Toles optioned — Urías, Fields and Stewart recalled

How the revitalized bullpen keyed Dodgers’ surge

Hearing issue doesn’t affect Louis Coleman on mound

Avilan, Bolsinger called up — Tsao to disabled list, Stripling optioned

Dodgers bring up Chin-hui Tsao, option Mike Bolsinger

A meaningful tribute to Louis Coleman’s grandfather

Dodgers exchange Luis for Louis

Baez recovering, but Coleman bereaving

Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia clinch spots on 25-man roster

No, not everyone got hurt: 2016 Spring Training stars

In case you missed it: Bolsinger won’t start opening week

Checking in on the Dodger bullpen

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