Yimi Garcia – Page 3 – Dodger Thoughts

In case you missed it: Power to the people

On March 25, 2015

In Bullpen, Health/injuries, Offense, Spring Training

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By Jon Weisman

Back on Valentine’s Day, Cary Osborne made the case that the Dodgers should have at least as much power in 2015 than they had in 2014. While the regular season will tell the tale, so far Spring Training has done little to undermine the theory.

With four homers today in their 9-5 victory over San Diego, the Dodgers extended their MLB lead in exhibition tater trots with 37, seven more than the Kris Bryant-led Chicago Cubs.

Yasiel Puig started things with a monster blast that bounced off the wall in front of the Dodger clubhouse building in the first inning (following, it should be noted, a prime piece of small ball by Jimmy Rollins, who bunted for a base hit).

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Joc Pederson, Justin Turner and Scott Van Slyke followed with round-trippers.

Prediction: @yungjoc650 starts in seven different spots in the batting order during the 2015 regular season.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 25, 2015

Andre Ethier and Alex Guerrero, sharing the No. 7 slot in the order and left field, combined to go 3 for 4, including two doubles for Ethier.

Also from today …

The Dodgers might not have a designated closer while Kenley Jansen is on the disabled list, writes Bill Plunkett of the Register, and while some like David Aardsma argue differently, Jansen himself suggests that the idea of a ninth-inning mindset is overblown:

“That’s how you start to (confuse) yourself,” Jansen said. “If you’re going to start thinking about eighth or ninth or whatever, you’re going to mess yourself up.

“Let me tell you something – guys come in the sixth, seventh inning with guys on base, game on the line. That’s harder than what I have to do, going out there with a clean (ninth) inning. Sometimes they (deserve) the save because I get a clean inning.”
After today’s seven-pitcher bullpen game, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com takes stock of the relievers. Yimi Garcia, among others, continues to turn heads.
Stan Conte spoke to Tom Verducci of SI.com about the Dodgers’ new partnership with Kitman Labs to help prevent injuries.

“The idea,” continued Conte, “is that you set these marks and if a player is having an issue with a lack of motion or lack of strength—and we know that because we can measure it two or three times per week—the program will alert you that this guy is declining in this area, and maybe you should take a look at him. We always talk about players who don’t tell you when they’re hurt, or they don’t know the difference between pain and an injury. Well, if we have the right system biometrics can tell us there is a slight decline before he gets injured.”
Don’t miss out on your Dodgers mini plan …

OPEN HOUSE: This Friday from 9am-6pm. Get a @MagicJohnson Bobblehead with Mini Plan purchase:http://t.co/bhqd58yycB pic.twitter.com/aiA0zoZVub

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 25, 2015

In case you missed it nightcap: Up, down and away

By Jon Weisman

On March 16, 2015

In In case you missed it, Transactions

Those home runs had me like: pic.twitter.com/sYf8Sc47pk

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 16, 2015

By Jon Weisman

Today’s resounding comeback victory — 10-5 after trailing 4-0 — didn’t forestall Austin Barnes, O’Koyea Dickson or Erisbel Arruebarrena being optioned to minor league camp after the game.

Here are some notes and news to take in before bedtime …

It’s a fantabulous night for a moondance, and for reading this Eric Nusbaum profile at Vice Sports about “The Likable, Unlikely Career of Juan Uribe.”
Zack Greinke went back to his old slider grip during an outing today that he considered an improvement, reports True Blue L.A.’s Eric Stephen, who adds an interesting quote from Greinke about the Alamo and Ozzy Osbourne.
Chad Gaudin hasn’t pitched in the Majors since 2013, but count him among the relievers making a strong bid to be a factor in the bullpen this year, writes Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Gaudin pitched a perfect sixth inning today, striking out Stephen Vogt and Mark Canha.
Yimi Garcia, who threw a scoreless inning today, has retired 13 of 15 batters he has faced this spring.
New commissioner Rob Manfred visited the Dodgers today, as Gurnick notes, and part of the conversation was the long-overdue return of the All-Star Game to Los Angeles. No MLB team has gone longer without one than the Dodgers, who last hosted in 1980.
The official dedication of the Charley Steiner School of Sports Communication at Bradley will be held March 31.
Two oldie but goodie former Dodgers each signed minor-league deals today: 37-year-old Rafael Furcal with the Royals and 38-year-old Randy Wolf with the Blue Jays.
At ESPN.com, Anna McDonald writes about how Major League Baseball is dealing with anxiety and depression among its players.

If you care about such things or just like how they look, the Dodgers' 8-2-4 record so far in March translates to a .714 winning percentage.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 16, 2015

Nearly-an-iron man Matt Kemp gets rare rest day

By Jon Weisman

On September 3, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame

For more Tuesday photo highlights, visit LA Photog Blog.

Nationals at Dodgers, 12:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Tim Federowicz, C
Carlos Frias, P

By Jon Weisman

Matt Kemp, who leads Dodger outfielders in games played despite not leading at any of the three positions, ends a streak of 40 consecutive games in the starting lineup today.

It’s getting harder to remember when there was active concern about Kemp’s fragility. During that 40-game run, Kemp has had a .380 on-base percentage and .580 slugging percentage.

He has actually played in 50 consecutive games and started 83 of the Dodgers’ past 86 games, since Carl Crawford went on the disabled list May 28, with an .842 OPS in that time.

And Dodger manager Don Mattingly indicated that he is counting on Kemp for the pennant drive.

“I think today for me is an energy day,” Mattingly said. “He kind of looked a little heavy-legged in Sunday’s day game. He’s been going hard for us, and honestly hasn’t played this many games in a couple of years. I feel like this is kind of his last chance to get a breather.”

Kemp has played 128 games this season, after playing 106 and 73 the previous two seasons.

* * *

Making his debut as a Major-League starter today, Carlos Frias isn’t on a specific pitch limit, but Mattingly said that the team’s goal is to get five innings from the 24-year-old righty and then evaluate from there.

Mattingly said he doesn’t manage differently or make changes more aggressively with the post-September 1 expanded bullpen, and that the extra men mainly function as a way to avoid using primary relievers in a blowout.

At the same time, it’s not clear that Pedro Baez qualifies as an “extra” anymore, given his baptism to date (1.84 ERA in 14 2/3 innings), and Yimi Garcia pitched two shutout innings Monday in a game the Dodgers nearly tied in the ninth.

Mattingly also said that Paco Rodriguez had an encouraging bullpen session Tuesday and might be close to a simulated game, and that signs are more encouraging that he’s closer to a return. However, though Josh Beckett played catch Tuesday, signs for his return were no more encouraging than they have been.

Tim Federowicz makes his first start for the Dodgers since June 12, and Mattingly confirmed that Federowicz’s familiarity catching Frias in Albuquerque this summer played a role in the decision.

Pederson, Guerrero among initial roster expandees

By Jon Weisman

On September 1, 2014

In Health/injuries, Pregame, Transactions

Nationals at Dodgers, 5:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Yasiel Puig, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Roberto Hernandez, P

By Jon Weisman

Joc is in the house.

In addition to Alex Guerrero, Tim Federowicz and Yimi Garcia, highly touted prospect Joc Pederson, fresh off his mega-season at Triple A, has joined the Dodgers on the first day of expanded rosters.

Pederson and Garcia, who had a 3.10 ERA with 69 strikeouts against 81 baserunners in 61 innings, will be making their Major League debuts if and when they enter a game.

Guerrero played in both Australia games for the Dodgers, striking out in his only at-bat. He ended his first Triple-A season with a .364 on-base percentage, .613 slugging percentage and 15 home runs.

Federowicz, 8 for 61 with three doubles, three walks and a homer as a Dodger earlier this season, OPSed .938 for Albuquerque.

The Dodgers also activated reliever Chris Perez from the disabled list.

Update: The Dodgers designated Carlos Triunfel for assignment to make room for Pederson on the 40-man roster.

March 4 pregame: Ten reassigned from Major League camp

By Jon Weisman

On March 4, 2014

In Pregame, Spring Training, Transactions

Mariners vs. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Andre Ethier, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Juan Uribe, 3B
Clint Robinson, 1B
Justin Turner, SS
Chone Figgins, 2B
(Brian Wilson, P)

By Jon Weisman

The first round of springtime reassignments took place this morning. Pedro Baez, Nick Buss, Stephen Fife, Yimi Garcia and Jarret Martin were optioned to minor-league camp, while Sam Demel, Griff Erickson, Daniel Moskos, Chris O’Brien and Chris Reed were reassigned to minor-league camp.

It all amounts to the same thing; the difference has to do with being on the 40-man roster vs. being a non-roster invitee.

As previously announced, today is a bullpen day while the Australia unbound Zack Greinke gets his calf back on track. Scheduled to follow Brian Wilson are Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez, Jamey Wright and Chris Withrow.

Carl Crawford returns to the defensive end of things today, in left field.

Item from the Dodger press notes: “Scott Van Slyke’s father, Andy, will be in uniform for Seattle this afternoon as he enters his first season as the Mariners’ first base coach.”

And in other news this morning, Ted Lilly, who threw his last Major League pitch for the Dodgers on June 4, has been hired by the Cubs as a special assistant in the front office, writes Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Yimi Garcia (Page 3 of 3)

In case you missed it: Power to the people

In case you missed it nightcap: Up, down and away

Nearly-an-iron man Matt Kemp gets rare rest day

Pederson, Guerrero among initial roster expandees

March 4 pregame: Ten reassigned from Major League camp

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