Pedro Baez – Dodger Thoughts

Best of the 2010s:
The All-Decade Dodgers

On September 30, 2019

Raymond Gorospe/MLB.com

We have nearly reached the end of the ’10s, and though selections of the Dodgers’ all-decade team should probably wait until after the 2019 World Series, these few days of relative calm before the storm of the postseason seemed like a good time to reveal them. Nothing is likely to affect these choices between now and then (although I’m fascinated by the idea that something could).

Most challenging was having to deal with five legitimate candidates for the four openings at outfield/first base. Catcher was nearly a toss-up, and second base yielded its own surprise.

Here we go …

What does it actually mean
to demote a closer?

By Jon Weisman

On August 23, 2019

In Bullpen, Dodgers

Kenley Jansen celebrates his most recent save, on August 6, with Will Smith.
(Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

If Kenley Jansen is no longer the most dominant pitcher in the Dodger bullpen, then it follows that Kenley Jansen should no longer be the Dodgers’ closer.

Right?

Well, maybe. But the answer isn’t as simple as it would seem.

The Dodger pitching pecking order for the stretch run

By Jon Weisman

On September 13, 2018

In Bullpen, Dodgers, Pitching

Ross Stripling remains an X factor on the Dodger pitching staff. (Ryan Meyer/MLB.com)

Considering what a mess the Dodger bullpen was a month ago, seemingly undermining every strong effort the starting pitchers made, you might be surprised to see the Los Angeles pitching staff has coalesced more than a little bit. The relief corps still won’t frighten any opponents (yet), but there is some order in the court.

Honestly, this staff can do the job in a vacuum — the question will be, can it do the job in a tornado?

Pedro Baez — yes, Pedro Baez — shows why he belongs

By Jon Weisman

On September 4, 2018

In Bullpen, Dodgers

Someday soon, Pedro Baez will give up a run — a meaningless run or a critical run — and Twitter will erupt anew with demands for his release and querulous queries of how he could possibly still be on the Dodgers?

Dodger bullpen runs deep heading into NLDS

By Jon Weisman

On October 7, 2016

In Bullpen, Pregame

Kenley Jansen and Joe Blanton (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

NLDS Game 1
Dodgers at Nationals, 2:38 p.m.

Dodgers
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andrew Toles, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

Nationals
Trea Turner, CF
Bryce Harper, RF
Jayson Werth, LF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Anthony Rendon, 3B
Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
Danny Espinosa, SS
Pedro Severino, C
Max Scherzer P

By Jon Weisman

Any Dodger game that starts with Clayton Kershaw on the mound ideally ends with Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

But with seven relievers who have performed strongly down the stretch, the Dodgers can be as aggressive with their playoff bullpen as they have been in years.

Of the six relievers the Dodgers would use to preserve a lead, none had a September ERA higher than 2.00, and only Joe Blanton had a September WHIP above 1.03.

Kenley Jansen, of course, is the primary candidate for the ninth inning, and if necessary could be drawn into the eighth inning. This year, Jansen entered six games in the eighth and saved five of them.

In the set-up roles, the Dodgers can mix and match righties Joe Blanton, Pedro Báez and Josh Fields with lefties Grant Dayton and Luis Avilán, with Ross Stripling held back for extra innings.

That means even if Kershaw only goes six innings, the Dodgers could go batter-to-batter against a Washington starting lineup that goes R-L-R-L-R at the top.

Rare start off for Adrian González

By Jon Weisman

On September 7, 2016

In Pregame

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carlos Ruiz, C
Rob Segedin, 1B
Charlie Culberson, 2B
Brock Stewart, P

By Jon Weisman

Adrian González gets a rare break from the starting lineup tonight for the series finale against Arizona.

González had started 33 consecutive games and has played in 84 in a row (starting 80) entering tonight.

In those 84 games, he has an .815 OPS with 12 home runs and 21 doubles. In the past 33, his numbers are even stronger: .927 OPS with eight homers and 10 doubles.

González leads the Major Leagues in games since 2006 with 1,723, which is 31 more than his closest competitor, Robinson Cano. The only games he has missed this year took place May 17-19 against the Angels and June 1 against the Cubs.

Dodgers recall Casey Fien, option Pedro Baez

By Jon Weisman

On August 30, 2016

In Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Rob Segedin, 1B
Carlos Ruiz, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Charlie Culberson, SS
Andrew Toles, CF
Rich Hill, P

By Jon Weisman

Casey Fien has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Dodgers, who have optioned Pedro Baez to Double-A Tulsa.

Baez has been on the Dodger active roster all season — he’s seventh on the team in innings pitched and second behind Joe Blanton among relievers.

He had a superb July, pitching 14 2/3 shutout innings with 14 strikeouts, though he allowed three inherited runs to score July 30. However, though he has maintained his strikeout rate in August, Baez has allowed 23 baserunners in 12 innings with a 7.50 ERA this month.

Fien has a 3.80 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 23 2/3 innings as a Dodger, including 1 2/3 shutout innings this month. The Dodgers expect to add at least one other right-hander later this week with the anticipated return of Louis Coleman from the disabled list.

Pedro Baez’s practically perfect July

By Jon Weisman

On July 27, 2016

In Bullpen, Pregame

Rays at Dodgers, 12:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Chris Taylor, 2B
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Brandon McCarthy, P

By Jon Weisman

It might be easier to get a camel through the eye of a needle than to convince a Dodger fan that Pedro Baez is pitching well.

Making the case that Baez has been extraordinary? Oh, dear — heaven forfend.

But the facts speak for themselves. In July, Baez has faced 39 batters. Three have reached base, on a double and two walks. More than 30 percent of the 39 have struck out.

Baez has allowed a .077 on-base percentage and .054 slugging percentage this month. He has stranded all five runners he has inherited. His ERA is 0.00.

Dodgers hang on after Norris’ 6 1/3 shutout innings

By Jon Weisman

On July 26, 2016

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Bud Norris began his Dodger career July 1 by throwing six innings of two-hit shutout ball. That seemed like a nice thing to do, so why not a sequel?

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.

Three homers? Yes, many for Yasmani

By Jon Weisman

On July 8, 2016

In Postgame

[mlbvideo id=”910896983″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
[mlbvideo id=”911374283″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
[mlbvideo id=”912231183″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

There was no grand slam, but three slams that were grand for Yasmani Grandal.

Grandal became the third Dodger catcher ever to hit three homers in a game, joining Roy Campanella (1950) and Mike Piazza (1996), in the Dodgers’ 10-6 victory tonight over San Diego.

Grandal added a bunt single and a line-drive single, finishing the night with five hits and six RBI, becoming the third catcher in MLB history to have at least five hits in a game with three homers. The previous two: Walker Cooper of the Reds in 1940 and Victor Martinez of the Indians in 2004.

For good measure, Grandal also had a great throw to nail Wil Myers attempting to steal second base.

[mlbvideo id=”911484483″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

"So there are many, many ways to spread the parsley around the fish, and Grandal knows every one." – Vin

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 9, 2016

All this despite taking a foul ball to the jaw midway through the game.

Dodgers tied trailing trumped in the ninth

By Jon Weisman

On June 16, 2016

In Midgame

By Jon Weisman

It’s Milwaukee 6, Los Angeles 6 entering the ninth inning. The Dodgers came back from down 3-0 and 6-3 to tie the game. Triumph or tragedy awaits. Who’s to say which?

This game has already had plenty of both. It’s been such a weird night, I’m kind of live-blogging the rest of the way as I recap what’s already come.

Unlikely comeback meets unhappy ending

By Jon Weisman

On May 28, 2016

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

In more than 100 years, no reliever had ever entered the ninth inning of a game against the Dodgers with a four-run lead, blown the lead and won the game.

But that’s what happened when the Mets’ Jeurys Familia gave up a bases-loaded walk to Yasmani Grandal and a three-run double to Chase Utley (the latest memorable moment for Utley) – then emerged the winning pitcher on Curtis Granderson’s home run off Pedro Baez, 6-5.

Via Baseball-Reference.com, the closest equivalent was September 27, 2011, when Arizona’s Micah Owings started the 10th inning of a 1-1 game against the Dodgers and allowed five runs before the Diamondbacks scored six in the bottom of the inning off Blake Hawksworth and Javy Guerra, capped by a Ryan Roberts grand slam.

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

Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Pedro Baez (Page 1 of 3)

Best of the 2010s:
The All-Decade Dodgers

What does it actually mean
to demote a closer?

The Dodger pitching pecking order for the stretch run

Pedro Baez — yes, Pedro Baez — shows why he belongs

Dodger bullpen runs deep heading into NLDS

Rare start off for Adrian González

Dodgers recall Casey Fien, option Pedro Baez

Pedro Baez’s practically perfect July

Dodgers hang on after Norris’ 6 1/3 shutout innings

How the revitalized bullpen keyed Dodgers’ surge

Three homers? Yes, many for Yasmani

Dodgers tied trailing trumped in the ninth

Unlikely comeback meets unhappy ending

Baez recovering, but Coleman bereaving

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

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