Zack Greinke – Page 6 – Dodger Thoughts

For more images from Friday, return to LA Photog Blog.

Dodgers at Angels, 1:10 p.m.
Justin Turner, SS
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Andre Ethier, DH
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Chris Heisey, RF
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Darwin Barney, 2B
(David Huff, P)

By Jon Weisman

Zack Greinke said he felt fine after his rough outing in the Dodgers’ 8-4 loss to San Francisco on Friday, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, which is all that really matters.

Greinke used up his 76 pitches in 3 2/3 innings. An ill-timed error by Carl Crawford, in which he misjudged a high fly, let the first two of five runs in.

The veteran righty will next pitch in a minor-league game Wednesday, Gurnick tweeted. That would put Greinke on six days’ rest for his scheduled regular-season debut April 7.

Greinke did complete this nifty 3-6-1 double play with a nice stretch at first base.

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A few more links:

Kenley Jansen gets his walking boot off Tuesday, tweets Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. Jansen added that he is aiming for a May 1 return to action.
The Dodger infield defense looks like it will fulfill its offseason promise, writes Dylan Hernandez of the Times.
At Beyond the Box Score, Matt Goldman looks at what Justin Turner might sustain from his breakout 2014 season and what might regress.
Chris Heisey’s Spring Training struggles at the plate are the result of having his mechanics out of whack early on and perhaps trying too hard to compensate, writes J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News.

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

In case you missed it: Back against the wall … in March

By Jon Weisman

On March 12, 2015

In In case you missed it

For more photos from Wednesday, visit LA Photog Blog.

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By Jon Weisman

Yasiel Puig certainly didn’t look uncomfortable in center field Wednesday, at least until he collided with the wall.

And sure, I held my breath as his back smacked, but all was well.

Puig not only continues to look both athletic and smart in the outfield, he helped get the Dodgers going on offense by beating out an infield single and later avoiding a sure force at third base to load the bases.

He’ll still draw howls every time he makes a mistake, but don’t be surprised if those mistakes come farther and farther apart.

Meanwhile …

Zack Greinke, who allowed five baserunners in two innings of Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to Chicago, feels healthy but said he was experimenting with his slider, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. “I’ve been trying to make the slider better than last year, but it hasn’t worked,” Greinke said. “I’m trying to figure if I keep trying or go back to last year’s. I’m trying everything. It looks good, but I’m giving up more hits than normal.”
Here’s what Julio Urias had to say after allowing three singles and a sacrifice fly, via J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News: “It looks like a bad outing on paper, but I look at it as a good outing because it’s something I can work on,” Urias said through an interpreter. “My confidence is absolutely there. I want to work on the slider, the changeup as well, locating pitches in the zone.”
The four batters Urias faced (Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, Miguel Montero and Chris Coghlan) are a combined 38 years older than the 18-year-old pitcher.
Non-roster lefty reliever David Huff has impressed Don Mattingly, according to Gurnick. “He’s got a lot of weapons, a clean delivery and he handles everything well,” Mattingly said. “He’s really interesting.”
The Dodgers used five former first-round picks on the mound in Wednesday’s game: Greinke, Huff, Zach Lee, Chris Reed and Chris Anderson, who took the loss after allowing a run on a walk, single and sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Darnell Sweeney has been working closely with Davey Lopes this spring, writes Ari Kaye for MLB.com.
Former Dodger reliever Peter Moylan signed an unusual deal with Atlanta, notes Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Moylan, who is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, will be a Rookie League player-coach in 2015 with an invite to Spring Training as a Major Leaguer in 2016.

In case you missed it: The youngest prospect

By Jon Weisman

On March 7, 2015

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

For more photos from Friday, visit LA Photog Blog.

Dodgers at Indians, 12:05 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, DH
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Andre Ethier, DH
Juan Uribe, 3B
Scott Schebler, RF
Darnell Sweeney, CF
(Mike Bolsinger, P)

By Jon Weisman

Looks like Louis Mattingly was told he’s not starting … but Mom and Dad don’t seem discouraged about his long-term potential.

Here are some more notes and news …

Don Mattingly told reporters today that reliever Mike Adams is days away from being “game ready,” but he looks good so far.
“Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke looked sharp Friday,” writes AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, “facing hitters for the first time this spring. Perhaps more importantly, he came away from his live batting practice session pain free.”
Ned Colletti shared his thoughts with Bill Dwyre of the Times about his new role with the Dodgers — paraphrasing Jim Murray in the process. “I think he wrote one time,” Colletti said, “that things can get like riding a tiger. We’re afraid to get on, and once we’re on, we’re afraid to get off.”
Of the four players since 1970 who have played at least 300 games at both shortstop and the outfield, two have played for the Dodgers: Derrel Thomas and Hubie Brooks. Hanley Ramirez could become the third, as Doug Miller of ESPN Insider notes.
Sunday’s Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic featuring Texas Christian, Vanderbilt, UCLA and USC will have more than 15 top draft prospects, writes David Hood of True Blue L.A.
Minnie Minoso was the Latin Jackie Robinson, suggests Allen Barra at Sports on Earth. Barra then goes on to argue for Minoso’s Hall of Fame worthiness based on his on-field performance.

[mlbvideo id=”41709783″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Meanwhile, at Dodger Stadium: T-minus one month pic.twitter.com/yFeErgqrSc

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 6, 2015

In case you missed it: Brandon Beachy, shadow-pitching

By Jon Weisman

On February 24, 2015

In History, In case you missed it

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

For more photos from today, visit LA Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

All my bags aren’t packed, I’m not ready to go. (Reference lost on anyone under 40 …)

Today’s short stack:

Andre Ethier talked to reporters today after meeting with Andrew Friedman, Farhan Zaidi and Don Mattingly about his prospects for 2015 in the Dodger outfield. Ken Gurnick has more at MLB.com, while Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports adds his own perspective.
Zack Greinke had his first 2015 Spring Training bullpen session, which Gurnick covers here.
Mike Petriello of Dodgers Digest uses Julio Urias as a launching pad to look back at Adrian Beltre’s Dodger career and the implications of calling a player up in his teens. (Side note: As big a booster as I always was of Beltre, not even I realized his 2004 season might have been the greatest combination of offense and defense in Dodger history.)
We touched on this subject recently, but Historic Dodgertown posted a piece on “Dodgertown and the Integration of Major League Baseball Spring Training” by Jerald Podair. Some great history within.

In case you missed it: Juan Uribe in the house

By Jon Weisman

On February 21, 2015

In Health/injuries, In case you missed it

For more images from today, visit LA Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

Well, now that Uribear is here, the party can really start …

Zack Greinke had a planned lubricating injection in his right elbow. Greinke, who has already thrown five bullpen sessions, had the procedure done as a precaution, as Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.
Today’s health log also includes new reliever Joel Peralta, who had right shoulder discomfort in a bullpen session two weeks ago, Gurnick notes, but was checked out by a doctor plans to resume playing catch Sunday.
In addition, Don Mattingly said today that non-roster submariner Ben Rowen, recovering from thoracic surgery, is on a reduced workload.
Brandon Beachy and Farhan Zaidi spoke to reporters today about the latter signing the former. Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. has quotes, including this:

“We’re going to be conservative with it because it’s his second one and we have an investment in him not just for 2015 but 2016 as well,” Zaidi said. “We’re hoping he’ll be ready to go midseason, All-Star break, in that range, but that’s just a guess. His timeline will be determined by how well he progresses.”
Mattingly told reporters today that he doesn’t expect to see Julio Urias pitch for the Major League club in 2015.
The Dodgers have the No. 1 lineup in baseball, according to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, and the No. 3 pitching staff.
Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson both review analytics but exploit them in different ways, writes J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News.
It’s Spring Training, but McCarthy is in midseason Twitter form.

the first day at a new job is always scary but thankfully I had a shower with my co-workers to look forward to and that took the edge off

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) February 21, 2015

Brett Anderson, Clayton Kershaw share 10-year history

By Jon Weisman

On January 21, 2015

In Minor leagues, Pitching

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For an update on Brett Anderson’s offseason progress, read Ken Gurnick’s story at MLB.com.

By Jon Weisman

So, 2015 won’t be the first time that Brett Anderson and Clayton Kershaw are teammates.

Turn the clock back about 10 years, and the new Dodger lefty and the standout Dodger lefty found themselves on the Team USA 18-and-under squad.

In case you missed it: Yasiel Puig asks, ‘Did you see?’

By Jon Weisman

On January 17, 2015

In In case you missed it

Do you see ? He was safe because he hit the cutoff men haha #baseball #mlb #littleleaguer #niceday #goodtime

A post shared by @yasielpuig (@yasielpuig) on Jan 15, 2015 at 7:57pm PST

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers avoided salary arbitration hearings this year, making deals with A.J. Ellis, Chris Heisey, Kenley Jansen, Juan Nicasio and Justin Turner. The team hasn’t had a salary-arbitration hearing since Joe Beimel’s in 2007 and hasn’t lost one since Terry Adams in 2001.

Elsewhere …

The footballiest Dodger games of all time

By Jon Weisman

On January 7, 2015

In History, Other sports

Jamey Wright celebrates a Dodger touchdown in their 17-0 victory over San Francisco in September. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

I’m not the world’s biggest football fan anymore, but it still amuses me when the Dodgers go up by a touchdown, so to speak. (Less so when they’re losing by a touchdown.)

With football playoffs in gear and the Dodgers offseason having one of its quieter weeks — though Jimmy Rollins will be making an appearance at Dodger Stadium at 4 p.m. today, airing live on SportsNet LA and Dodgers.com — I thought it’d be fun to check out the Dodger games that looked the most like football scores. (The NFL and AAFC Brooklyn Dodgers not included.)

If one other person finds pleasure out of this, it will have been worth my while. (I’m counting on you, Eric Stephen.)

Zack Greinke was a Giant-killer in 2014

By Jon Weisman

On December 9, 2014

In Pitching

By Jon Weisman

It didn’t get very much press in 2014, but Zack Greinke had an absolutely dominant season against the World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers’ biggest December deals of the 2000s

By Jon Weisman

On December 1, 2014

In History, Transactions

Magic Johnson welcomes Zack Greinke to the Dodgers on December 11, 2012. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Magic Johnson welcomes Zack Greinke to the Dodgers in December 2012. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Numerous Dodger fans are on the edge of their seats waiting for the team’s next big move. That might or might not come in December, a month that has brought huge transactions in some years but relative tranquility in others. Here’s a look at the biggest Dodger transactions of December that have taken place in the 21st century:

November doings: Greinkes in New York, Kershaw’s Challenge in Dallas

By Jon Weisman

On November 7, 2014

In Celebrities, Community, Social media

By Jon Weisman

In between winning awards, the Dodgers’ top two pitchers have kept busy this week.

Zack Greinke is in New York for tonight’s Gold Glove award ceremony, and his wife Emily has shared pictures on Instagram of their travels to Rockefeller Center and “Jersey Boys” on Broadway.

Down in Dallas, Clayton and Ellen Kershaw hosted the city’s first Kershaw’s Challenge event Thursday, featuring guest musician Clay Walker, and there are photos of the event from Instagram as well.

Adrian Gonzalez, Zack Greinke win Gold Gloves

By Jon Weisman

On November 4, 2014

In Awards, Defense

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Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Adrian Gonzalez and Zack Greinke have each won their first Gold Gloves as Dodgers.

Gonzalez, who earned two Gold Gloves with San Diego and one with Boston, had 12 defensive runs saved, tops in the NL and 50 percent more than runners-up Justin Morneau and Matt Adams. Gonzalez also tied for first among NL first basemen in assists with 118 and led in putouts with 1,318.

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Greinke, known for years as one of the most athletic pitchers in baseball, followed up his Silver Slugger-winning 2013 season by beating out teammate Clayton Kershaw for the Gold Glove. Greinke led all NL pitchers in putouts with 28 and was a narrow second behind Miami’s Henderson Alvarez in range factor. He was also tied for third in defensive runs saved with five (Kershaw led with seven).

[mlbvideo id=”34627923″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Update: Gonzalez praised Greinke on a conference call with reporters after the awards were announced.

“We have a bunch of pitchers that can really field their position,” Gonzalez said. “Zack is one of them – he’s shown since he’s been here that his athletic ability is incredible. He can do anything – he’s a guy you can put at any position on the field and he’s going to do a good job with it. He’s a guy who has an incredible feel for the game. When he’s pitching he positions us – tells us exactly where he wants us.”

I asked Gonzalez if fielding skills were easier to maintain than hitting skills as his career marched on.

“The best way to describe it is nobody’s hitting the ball any harder (when you’re on defense),” he said. “Pitchers are pitching the ball a lot harder compared to when I first came up.”

“Defensively, I think, experience plays a bigger role. Learning how to position yourself, knowing where to be, not relying as much on pure athleticism and pure range. Wally (bench coach Tim Wallach) does a great job of positioning me.”

Gold Glove finalist Uribe best pick to win prize

By Jon Weisman

On October 23, 2014

In Awards

Congratulations to the #Dodgers FOUR #RawlingsGoldGlove Award finalists! Most from any team in the National League! pic.twitter.com/UALeJAVvHK

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 23, 2014

By Jon Weisman

This should be the year of the Uribear.

Adrian Gonzalez, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Juan Uribe and Zack were named finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, with winners to be announced November 4.

Each position has three finalists. Greinke and Kershaw are up against Adam Wainwright of St. Louis for the NL pitcher Gold Glove. Gonzalez is against Adam LaRoche of Washington and Justin Morneau of Colorado, while Uribe has competition from Nolan Arenado of the Rockies and Pablo Sandoval of San Francisco.

Going strictly by advanced stats, Uribe would be the Dodgers’ top candidate. Despite a couple of injury issues this year, Uribe dominated NL third basemen statistically. (Click chart to enlarge.)

Whoever’s pitching, Matt Carpenter is hammering

By Jon Weisman

On October 4, 2014

In Managing, Pitching, Postseason

[mlbvideo id=”36752407″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

On Friday, Don Mattingly was hit hard for not replacing Clayton Kershaw with J.P. Howell in the seventh inning.

Tonight, in the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory over St. Louis in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, Mattingly got almost as much grief when he replaced Zack Greinke with Howell.

Howell, whom it seems safe to say is in a slump after being at the top of his game for nearly the entire regular season, gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Matt Carpenter, the batter he would have faced with the bases loaded if Kershaw had been pulled one batter sooner.

It showed pretty starkly why Mattingly was reluctant to give up on his best pitcher in Game 1.

Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Zack Greinke (Page 6 of 9)

In case you missed it: Greinke has one of those nights

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

In case you missed it: Back against the wall … in March

In case you missed it: The youngest prospect

In case you missed it: Brandon Beachy, shadow-pitching

In case you missed it: Juan Uribe in the house

Brett Anderson, Clayton Kershaw share 10-year history

In case you missed it: Yasiel Puig asks, ‘Did you see?’

The footballiest Dodger games of all time

Zack Greinke was a Giant-killer in 2014

The Dodgers’ biggest December deals of the 2000s

Adrian Gonzalez, Zack Greinke win Gold Gloves

Gold Glove finalist Uribe best pick to win prize

Whoever’s pitching, Matt Carpenter is hammering

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