With all of the issues the Dodgers are facing off the field, it is hard to believe the Dodgers are playing .500 baseball. They are coming off a 3-3 road trip to Chicago and Florida, but they essentially gave two of those games away, one to Chicago when the relief pitching imploded and one to Florida when the defense booted the game. A 5-1 road trip really would have been sweet.
Jonathan Broxton has already lost his closers job twenty games into the season (which really came as no surprise) but a combination of Vicente Padilla and Hong-Chih Kuo as the closers? Padilla can't stay off the Disabled List, Kuo has about as brittle an arm as I have ever seen and I hope the Dodgers have a Plan C they can fall back on. Padilla did get his first save against the Marlins the other night and Kuo had a rocky rehab outing in Class A the other night that has most everyone questioning whether he is anywhere close to being ready to come back.
Casey Blake joined Rafael Furcal on the Disabled List (not really a surprise either) and it is believed that he will be out for probably about a month. The Dodgers called up Russ Mitchell to replace him on the roster with Aaron Miles probably getting the majority of the starts at Third Base.
My player Xavier Paul got claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates (I think they just wait around for the Dodgers to release players) and I hope he gets some playing time in the Pirates outfield. Paul's "replacement" Jerry Sands is off to a so-so start to his major league career but he has not provided the power so far that the Dodgers really need. I am hoping it will come later.
Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are both rolling and it is good to see. Now if we can get a couple of more hitters to join them (James Loney please stand up- he has made it above the Mendoza line) maybe the Dodgers can have a kick-ass homestand.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
What A Mess
Alot has happened in Dodger world since my last post and not much of it has been focused on the field. Major League Baseball taking over the day-to-day operations of the Dodgers would have to top the list. Commissioner Bud Selig's concern was whether the Dodgers could function on a daily basis with Frank McCourt in charge. This almost immediately followed an announcement that Frank McCourt had been given a $30 million loan just to make payroll for the month.
It looks like the divorce between Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball is going to end up in court as well and it may even be uglier than his matrimonial divorce. It seems that a closed door meeting was held between Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball and Frank McCourt decided to take his cause up with the members of the press which has always been a baseball no-no.
From the reports I have read, it seems that former Dodger great Steve Garvey is trying to put together a group to buy the team and that has to be better than it is now. What is going on now is bad for baseball and bad for the Dodgers.
It looks like the divorce between Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball is going to end up in court as well and it may even be uglier than his matrimonial divorce. It seems that a closed door meeting was held between Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball and Frank McCourt decided to take his cause up with the members of the press which has always been a baseball no-no.
From the reports I have read, it seems that former Dodger great Steve Garvey is trying to put together a group to buy the team and that has to be better than it is now. What is going on now is bad for baseball and bad for the Dodgers.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Introducing Jerry Sands, Leftfield, #47
The Dodgers recalled Outfielder/First Baseman Jerry Sands yesterday and he was in the starting lineup against the Atlanta Braves last night. He was only ten games into his inaugural AAA season but he was still wearing pitchers out. The Dodgers brass thought it was time and they really had nothing to lose. The offense is going nowhere, they need some kind of spark, and it will generate some excitement among the fans.
The Dodgers threw him in there against a tough right-hander, Tim Hudson. He more than held his own, doubling in his first at-bat, a sacrifice fly in his second, and this illicited a brushback pitch from Hudson in his third. Yeah, there was some intent behind that. I am glad that veteran Ted Lilly was pitching because he returned the brushback favor against Nate McClouth. If Kershaw or Billingsley had been on the mound, I don't know if Sands would have received that sort of protection. He did strike out his last two at-bats but I would deem his debut a success. It also helped that the Dodgers won, 4-2.
Jerry Sands is also a marketing man's dream. The most obvious is to cue up "Enter Sandman" by Metallica everytime he comes to the plate, get commmercial spots out of that, and develop a whole marketing campaign from that. The Dodgers could use that kind of excitement. Alot of that is based on the fact that Sands will be successful and not turn into the next Greg Brock or Billy Ashley but based on his success and work habits at the lower levels of the minor leagues, he won't have a problem with that.
The Dodgers threw him in there against a tough right-hander, Tim Hudson. He more than held his own, doubling in his first at-bat, a sacrifice fly in his second, and this illicited a brushback pitch from Hudson in his third. Yeah, there was some intent behind that. I am glad that veteran Ted Lilly was pitching because he returned the brushback favor against Nate McClouth. If Kershaw or Billingsley had been on the mound, I don't know if Sands would have received that sort of protection. He did strike out his last two at-bats but I would deem his debut a success. It also helped that the Dodgers won, 4-2.
Jerry Sands is also a marketing man's dream. The most obvious is to cue up "Enter Sandman" by Metallica everytime he comes to the plate, get commmercial spots out of that, and develop a whole marketing campaign from that. The Dodgers could use that kind of excitement. Alot of that is based on the fact that Sands will be successful and not turn into the next Greg Brock or Billy Ashley but based on his success and work habits at the lower levels of the minor leagues, he won't have a problem with that.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Matt Kemp
Matt Kemp personally broke the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-game losing streak yesterday with a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth against the St. Louis Cardinals. Jonathan Broxton should cut him a check for saving his ass from a loss. Kemp has been on a tear since the beginning of the season and he has never started out a season this hot.
Andre Ethier and he are carrying the Dodgers offense. James Loney is a non-factor but with his .150 average but to take a positivist view of the situation, he is outhitting pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Hiroki Kuroda and their .125 averages. Blake DeWitt is not looking so bad now after the start Juan Uribe has had. Jamey Carroll is off to a career best start at age 37. Casey Blake needs to invest in the Bengay company. The three-headed monster in left has turned into a tri-headed statue, and the catchers are not hitting their weight.
I don't even want to talk about the pitching. Outside of Clayton Kershaw (he did have the bad start against the Cardinals), the pitching has been almost non-existent. Hong-Chih Kuo went on the Disabled List and now they do not even have a left-hander in their bullpen. They brought up Ramon Troncoso to replace him rather than Scott Elbert or one of the left-handed veterans they have in Albuquerque.
No one else may be hitting the panic button but I am perilously close. They are 7-9 heading into a series with the Atlanta Braves and they always seem to kick the Dodgers ass, at least for the last several years.
Andre Ethier and he are carrying the Dodgers offense. James Loney is a non-factor but with his .150 average but to take a positivist view of the situation, he is outhitting pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Hiroki Kuroda and their .125 averages. Blake DeWitt is not looking so bad now after the start Juan Uribe has had. Jamey Carroll is off to a career best start at age 37. Casey Blake needs to invest in the Bengay company. The three-headed monster in left has turned into a tri-headed statue, and the catchers are not hitting their weight.
I don't even want to talk about the pitching. Outside of Clayton Kershaw (he did have the bad start against the Cardinals), the pitching has been almost non-existent. Hong-Chih Kuo went on the Disabled List and now they do not even have a left-hander in their bullpen. They brought up Ramon Troncoso to replace him rather than Scott Elbert or one of the left-handed veterans they have in Albuquerque.
No one else may be hitting the panic button but I am perilously close. They are 7-9 heading into a series with the Atlanta Braves and they always seem to kick the Dodgers ass, at least for the last several years.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Kershaw The Giant Killer
Clayton Kershaw pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants last night in the Dodgers 6-1 victory. That runs his string against the Giants to 23 2/3 innings without giving up a run. Its about time the Dodgers had a Giants killer.
The victory came at a price as Rafael Furcal broke his thumb sliding into third base on a steal and is lost for 4 to 6 weeks probably longer. Every Dodger fan had to know this was going to happen sooner or later this season. In the six seasons Furcal has been with the Dodgers, he has only played two that have been injury free.
The two most logical choices to replace Furcal are Rookie Ivan DeJesus Jr or veteran Juan Castro. If its DeJesus, Jamey Carroll will probably slide over to play shortstop and if its Castro, he will probably take over at short. Only 10 games in and the Dodgers are already playing with a makeshift infield. Casey Blake has missed the last couple of games because of a thigh bruise suffered against the Padres.
They lose alot on offense with Furcal being out and I don't believe that Castro or Carroll are the long term answers, even for a couple of months. Carroll is better offensively and Castro is the better defensive shortstop. This is why I am hoping that DeJesus can step in and take over.
The victory came at a price as Rafael Furcal broke his thumb sliding into third base on a steal and is lost for 4 to 6 weeks probably longer. Every Dodger fan had to know this was going to happen sooner or later this season. In the six seasons Furcal has been with the Dodgers, he has only played two that have been injury free.
The two most logical choices to replace Furcal are Rookie Ivan DeJesus Jr or veteran Juan Castro. If its DeJesus, Jamey Carroll will probably slide over to play shortstop and if its Castro, he will probably take over at short. Only 10 games in and the Dodgers are already playing with a makeshift infield. Casey Blake has missed the last couple of games because of a thigh bruise suffered against the Padres.
They lose alot on offense with Furcal being out and I don't believe that Castro or Carroll are the long term answers, even for a couple of months. Carroll is better offensively and Castro is the better defensive shortstop. This is why I am hoping that DeJesus can step in and take over.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Panic Button
I have seen several different articles on the internet saying that it is not time to hit the panic button yet when it comes to the Dodgers offense. It is still early in the season and the Dodgers are 5-4 but my hand is poised right over the panic button.
This is a different Dodgers team. They are more aggressive on the basepaths (Kemp is 6-6 in stolen bases) but they are still not hitting with runners in scoring position and they are still not hitting for power. Maybe Don Mattingly hasn't put his stamp on the team yet but this is the same pattern they followed last season. That is why I am near the panic button.
I do not think a trade of any of the Dodgers core players (Kemp, Ethier, or Loney) would help the situation any. What worries me is what Gm Ned Colletti would trade them for. They are not exactly running over with talent at the minor league level, either.
This is a different Dodgers team. They are more aggressive on the basepaths (Kemp is 6-6 in stolen bases) but they are still not hitting with runners in scoring position and they are still not hitting for power. Maybe Don Mattingly hasn't put his stamp on the team yet but this is the same pattern they followed last season. That is why I am near the panic button.
I do not think a trade of any of the Dodgers core players (Kemp, Ethier, or Loney) would help the situation any. What worries me is what Gm Ned Colletti would trade them for. They are not exactly running over with talent at the minor league level, either.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Where is the Offense?
The Los Angeles Dodgers got shutout last night for the second time this season. This time to the Colorado Rockies 3-0 in the first game of a short two game series. It was the Dodgers first road game of the year.
Clayton Kershaw took his first loss of the season. He gave up 3 runs in 6 innings pitched including 2 long homeruns. Jhoulys Chacin, a former Asheville Tourist and current Dodger killer, pitched 7 innings of shutout baseball.
Where is the offense? After 6 games, the leading hitter on the Dodgers is centerfielder Matt Kemp with a .313 average. This early in the season someone should have an astronomically high average and they still only have one homerun. Casey Blake coming off the Disabled List in a day or two will not make that big of a difference.
Rookie Manager Don Mattingly needs to figure out how to manufacture a few runs until some bats warm up. Joe Torre never could figure out how but maybe "Donnie Baseball" can. Hit-and-Runs, stolen bases, taking the extra base, anything is bound to be better than averaging 2.6 runs per game.
The Dodgers do not have much speed in the lineup. The only base stealing threats the Dodgers have are Rafael Furcal and Matt Kemp although Tony Gwynn Jr. did go 6-6 in the Cactus League. They need to figure out something.
Clayton Kershaw took his first loss of the season. He gave up 3 runs in 6 innings pitched including 2 long homeruns. Jhoulys Chacin, a former Asheville Tourist and current Dodger killer, pitched 7 innings of shutout baseball.
Where is the offense? After 6 games, the leading hitter on the Dodgers is centerfielder Matt Kemp with a .313 average. This early in the season someone should have an astronomically high average and they still only have one homerun. Casey Blake coming off the Disabled List in a day or two will not make that big of a difference.
Rookie Manager Don Mattingly needs to figure out how to manufacture a few runs until some bats warm up. Joe Torre never could figure out how but maybe "Donnie Baseball" can. Hit-and-Runs, stolen bases, taking the extra base, anything is bound to be better than averaging 2.6 runs per game.
The Dodgers do not have much speed in the lineup. The only base stealing threats the Dodgers have are Rafael Furcal and Matt Kemp although Tony Gwynn Jr. did go 6-6 in the Cactus League. They need to figure out something.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Taking It To The Giants
It was a great opening weekend for the 2011 Major League Baseball season. Homeruns were flying out of ballparks left and right (the Texas Rangers hit 11 homeruns in 3 games and the New York Yankees hit 9 in 3 games) and then there is the Los Angeles Dodgers. One Homerun by Matt Kemp in 4 games They are still 3-1 but I would like to see a few more longballs from them. How fast can Jerry Sands be called up?
The Dodgers won last nights game in large part to some "creative" outfield play by Aubrey Huff. His Giants teammates thought so much of his play, they fashioned a "chalk" outline of his prone body on the outfield grass in warmups before the game. This was based on his play from the night before when he actually managed to catch two balls hit to him. After last night's game, I bet the team will murder his glove and the police will find its lifeless, leather body in a dumpster near Chavez Ravine with the fingers cut out.
The Dodgers did come out of the series with the Giants at 3-1 (I'll take that any day) but they only scored 13 runs in those 4 games (7 of those last night). They had some timely hits in the 7th inning when they scored 4 runs. Matt Kemp is still swinging a hot bat and Rafael Furcal had a couple of more hits.
The relief pitching is turning into a bit of a sore spot. Kuo seems to be having a hard time finding the strike zone, Matt Guerrier didn't fare much better (2 BB in 2/3 of an inning and one of those walks was with the bases loaded) and evidently the Dodgers have to have at least a 2 run lead before they can bring Jonathan Broxton into the game although he did pick up his third save last night.
The Dodgers won last nights game in large part to some "creative" outfield play by Aubrey Huff. His Giants teammates thought so much of his play, they fashioned a "chalk" outline of his prone body on the outfield grass in warmups before the game. This was based on his play from the night before when he actually managed to catch two balls hit to him. After last night's game, I bet the team will murder his glove and the police will find its lifeless, leather body in a dumpster near Chavez Ravine with the fingers cut out.
The Dodgers did come out of the series with the Giants at 3-1 (I'll take that any day) but they only scored 13 runs in those 4 games (7 of those last night). They had some timely hits in the 7th inning when they scored 4 runs. Matt Kemp is still swinging a hot bat and Rafael Furcal had a couple of more hits.
The relief pitching is turning into a bit of a sore spot. Kuo seems to be having a hard time finding the strike zone, Matt Guerrier didn't fare much better (2 BB in 2/3 of an inning and one of those walks was with the bases loaded) and evidently the Dodgers have to have at least a 2 run lead before they can bring Jonathan Broxton into the game although he did pick up his third save last night.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Pedestrian Lineup
New Manager Don Mattingly decided to rest as many regulars as he could last night and the result was a 10-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants. The loss drops them to 2-1 on the season and they go after the series win tonight on ESPN2.
When you get shutout there can't be too many offensive stars but Andre Ethier did go 3-4 and Jamey Carroll went 2-4. My man Xavier Paul went 1-3 and Hector Gimenez did get his first major league hit. Ivan DeJesus Jr. is off to a rough start in his career as he went 0-3 last night with 2 more strikeouts (0-7 with 5 strikeouts in his two starts- Jamey Carroll is back starting tonight at Second Base) and he made a throwing error. It should be a fairly short trip back to Albuquerque.
The pitching was just as bad. Ted Lilly didn't make it through the 5th inning and Kenley Jansen gave up more runs last night (1 IP, 4 ER) than he did his whole rookie season. Reliever Lance Cormier did get in some work (3 IP, 1 ER) and he had the best showing of all of them.
When you get shutout there can't be too many offensive stars but Andre Ethier did go 3-4 and Jamey Carroll went 2-4. My man Xavier Paul went 1-3 and Hector Gimenez did get his first major league hit. Ivan DeJesus Jr. is off to a rough start in his career as he went 0-3 last night with 2 more strikeouts (0-7 with 5 strikeouts in his two starts- Jamey Carroll is back starting tonight at Second Base) and he made a throwing error. It should be a fairly short trip back to Albuquerque.
The pitching was just as bad. Ted Lilly didn't make it through the 5th inning and Kenley Jansen gave up more runs last night (1 IP, 4 ER) than he did his whole rookie season. Reliever Lance Cormier did get in some work (3 IP, 1 ER) and he had the best showing of all of them.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Off To A Good Start
The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a 2-0 start after a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants last night. The Dodgers capitalized on a couple of errors by the defending World Series Champions.
The offensive stars for the Dodgers were Rafael Furcal who went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Matt Kemp who was also 2 for 4 with an RBI on a ground-rule double in the third inning. Rookie Ivan DeJesus got the start at second base but he had a rough major league debut as he went 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts and a walk. Also making their Dodger debuts were Aaron Miles (1-4 with a run scored) and Hector Gimenez got an appearance as a pinch-hitter. He grounded to Giants pitcher Sanchez who promptly booted the ball and allowed Aaron Miles to score. The Dodgers were 2-7 with RISP.
First Base Coach and former Dodger great Dave Lopes has tried to instill some aggressiveness in the Dodgers on the basepaths working with the team daily during Spring Training. It was a point of emphasis and Matt Kemp became his special project. It seems to be paying off so far. Matt Kemp went from first to third last night on a groundout to third basemen Pablo Sandoval and has shown much better awareness in the first two games. Rafael Furcal had a little rougher day on the bases as he was picked off first and was caught stealing.
The Dodgers' pitching was solid if not spectacular. Chad Billingsley only made one bad pitch but it resulted in the first major league homerun by rookie First baseman Brandon Belt and drove in three. Billingsley left the game behind 3-1 but he eventually did get credit for his first win of the season. Blake Hawksworth vame in and quickly loaded the bases on 2 hits and a walk but struck out Buster Posey to put them away. Matt Guerrier also got in his first appearance as a Dodger giving up one hit in his inning of work. Jonathan Broxton came in to shut the Giants down and get his second save in as many games. This is a vast improvement for Broxton over last year. In appearances covering 2 2/3 innings against the Giants last year, Broxton gave up 6 runs, had an 0-3 record with 2 blown saves. He made last nights appearance with the Giants short and sweet, only needing 9 pitches to finish them off.
The offensive stars for the Dodgers were Rafael Furcal who went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Matt Kemp who was also 2 for 4 with an RBI on a ground-rule double in the third inning. Rookie Ivan DeJesus got the start at second base but he had a rough major league debut as he went 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts and a walk. Also making their Dodger debuts were Aaron Miles (1-4 with a run scored) and Hector Gimenez got an appearance as a pinch-hitter. He grounded to Giants pitcher Sanchez who promptly booted the ball and allowed Aaron Miles to score. The Dodgers were 2-7 with RISP.
First Base Coach and former Dodger great Dave Lopes has tried to instill some aggressiveness in the Dodgers on the basepaths working with the team daily during Spring Training. It was a point of emphasis and Matt Kemp became his special project. It seems to be paying off so far. Matt Kemp went from first to third last night on a groundout to third basemen Pablo Sandoval and has shown much better awareness in the first two games. Rafael Furcal had a little rougher day on the bases as he was picked off first and was caught stealing.
The Dodgers' pitching was solid if not spectacular. Chad Billingsley only made one bad pitch but it resulted in the first major league homerun by rookie First baseman Brandon Belt and drove in three. Billingsley left the game behind 3-1 but he eventually did get credit for his first win of the season. Blake Hawksworth vame in and quickly loaded the bases on 2 hits and a walk but struck out Buster Posey to put them away. Matt Guerrier also got in his first appearance as a Dodger giving up one hit in his inning of work. Jonathan Broxton came in to shut the Giants down and get his second save in as many games. This is a vast improvement for Broxton over last year. In appearances covering 2 2/3 innings against the Giants last year, Broxton gave up 6 runs, had an 0-3 record with 2 blown saves. He made last nights appearance with the Giants short and sweet, only needing 9 pitches to finish them off.
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Home Opener
The home opener for the Dodgers went about like I expected it to. Great pitching from Clayton Kershaw, not much offense from the Dodger bats despite putting several men on base (1 for 11 with Runners In Scoring Position), and a shaky 9th inning from closer Jonathan Broxton but he still got the save. All of this added up to a win over the devending World Series Champion San Francisco Giants so I shouldn't complain.
Clayton Kershaw pitched an outstanding game. 7 Innings pitched, 4 weak hits allowed, 9 strikeouts, 1 base on balls, and 0 runs. He left with a 1-0 lead. He had a serious slider working, his fastball hit 95 mph on ESPN's radar gun, and he almost didn't need his change or his curve but they were effective as well.
Hong-Chih Kuo came on to pitch the eighth inning and he had some control issues when he first came into the game but came out of it unscathed. Broxton came in to close it out and he really looked shaky. He hit 97 mph on the radar gun but after he gave up the line drive homer to Pat Burrell with one out, it appeared like he lost confidence in his fastball. He threw slider and after slider to rookie Brandon Belt before he finally got him on a weak lineout to end the game.
Matt Kemp impressed me in this game. He singled, drew three walks, exhibited great patience in the process, stole a base, and scored both Dodger runs. Buster Posey of the Giants thought he could catch Matt Kemp napping on third base and tried picking him off and promptly threw the ball down the left field line, allowing him to score the first run. Maybe he has turned the corner, amped up his awareness, and has his head in the game to match his raw skills.
Clayton Kershaw pitched an outstanding game. 7 Innings pitched, 4 weak hits allowed, 9 strikeouts, 1 base on balls, and 0 runs. He left with a 1-0 lead. He had a serious slider working, his fastball hit 95 mph on ESPN's radar gun, and he almost didn't need his change or his curve but they were effective as well.
Hong-Chih Kuo came on to pitch the eighth inning and he had some control issues when he first came into the game but came out of it unscathed. Broxton came in to close it out and he really looked shaky. He hit 97 mph on the radar gun but after he gave up the line drive homer to Pat Burrell with one out, it appeared like he lost confidence in his fastball. He threw slider and after slider to rookie Brandon Belt before he finally got him on a weak lineout to end the game.
Matt Kemp impressed me in this game. He singled, drew three walks, exhibited great patience in the process, stole a base, and scored both Dodger runs. Buster Posey of the Giants thought he could catch Matt Kemp napping on third base and tried picking him off and promptly threw the ball down the left field line, allowing him to score the first run. Maybe he has turned the corner, amped up his awareness, and has his head in the game to match his raw skills.
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