Clayton Kershaw came to the rescue again as he pitched the best game of his young career, a two-hit shutout of the Florida Marlins. The Dodgers offense actually put eight runs on the board so Kershaw actually got to focus on pitching. He even got in on the 17 hit Dodgers action, going 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Alot of the Dodger roster that has been on the Disabled List this year led the Dodgers attack. Names like Rafael Furcal (a Homer and two RBI's), Casey Blake (two RBI's), Dioner Navarro (a couple of hits and an RBI), and Jay Gibbons (three hits) finally appeared in the boxscore in a positive fashion rather than on the Disabled list.
The Dodgers got some further good news when it was announced that Marcus Thames, Vicente Padilla, and Hong Chih-Kuo were ready to start rehab assignments. The bullpen did take another hit when Kenley Jansen was placed on the Disabled List.
Manager Don Mattingly and Matt Kemp were not around to see the end of the game as they got tossed for arguing balls and strikes. I am happy to see that kind of fire and passion from both of them and I loved the way Mattingly stood up for his player. Now I am hoping some pieces will start clicking and they can get a good winning streak going.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Walk-Off Magic Of Their Own
The Dodgers had a little bit of walk-off magic on their own last night and its about time. They beat the Florida Marlins 3-2 on Dioner Navarro's pinch-hit single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth that plated the winning run. The Florida Marlins had added an extra infielder to try to keep anything from going through.
This is Dioner Navarro's second go around with the Dodgers and the value of a solid back up catcher cannot be underestimated through the long major league season. Navarro is a decent defensive catcher and being a switch-hitter is an added bonus. Some catchers have made nice long careers out of being a backup. Funny man and journeyman catcher Bob Uecker comes to mind.
Rubby De La Rosa blew his first save opportunity but did pick up the win last night so I'll take the win. One of his pitches hit 99 MPH on the radar gun. James Loney hit his second homerun of the season and Andre Ethier hit his fifth. They were both solo homeruns and God knows we wouldn't want anybody on the team to hit a three-run homer or get a key hit with some runners in scoring position.
This is Dioner Navarro's second go around with the Dodgers and the value of a solid back up catcher cannot be underestimated through the long major league season. Navarro is a decent defensive catcher and being a switch-hitter is an added bonus. Some catchers have made nice long careers out of being a backup. Funny man and journeyman catcher Bob Uecker comes to mind.
Rubby De La Rosa blew his first save opportunity but did pick up the win last night so I'll take the win. One of his pitches hit 99 MPH on the radar gun. James Loney hit his second homerun of the season and Andre Ethier hit his fifth. They were both solo homeruns and God knows we wouldn't want anybody on the team to hit a three-run homer or get a key hit with some runners in scoring position.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Beginning Of The Rubby De La Rosa Era
The Rubby De La Rosa Era has begun for the Los Angeles Dodgers as he pitched an inning in the 5-4 victory over the Houston Astros last night. He struck out two and walked none.
I did not believe he would be called up until September but the cast of rag arms the Dodgers call a bullpen necessitated the move. I was able to see him pitch in a couple of games in Spring Training this year and what I saw I was very impressed with. Several writers have made the comparison to a young Pedro Martinez when he started out with the Dodgers and I just hope Ned Colletti doesn't trade him for a has been who will only be with the Dodgers for a season or less.
Another rookie, longtime Dodger farmhand Javy Guerra, got the save in last nights game. He is the seventh different Dodger to get a save this year and I don't know if that is a record or not but it is bound to be getting close.
De La Rosa has been projected as a starter and I believe that is where he will end up but right now, none of the Dodgers starters are pitching bad enough to be benched. However, three of the five starting pitchers are in their mid-30's, and this could be an audition for next season.
I did not believe he would be called up until September but the cast of rag arms the Dodgers call a bullpen necessitated the move. I was able to see him pitch in a couple of games in Spring Training this year and what I saw I was very impressed with. Several writers have made the comparison to a young Pedro Martinez when he started out with the Dodgers and I just hope Ned Colletti doesn't trade him for a has been who will only be with the Dodgers for a season or less.
Another rookie, longtime Dodger farmhand Javy Guerra, got the save in last nights game. He is the seventh different Dodger to get a save this year and I don't know if that is a record or not but it is bound to be getting close.
De La Rosa has been projected as a starter and I believe that is where he will end up but right now, none of the Dodgers starters are pitching bad enough to be benched. However, three of the five starting pitchers are in their mid-30's, and this could be an audition for next season.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Losing A One-Hitter
In spite of all of the offensive talent that the Dodgers have, the Dodgers are only going to go as far as the starting pitching takes them. Chad Billingsley threw a one-hitter last night and lost 1-0. The Dodgers only mustered 4 hits against a pitcher and relievers I have barely heard of.
I honestly believe they have some offensive talent. Ethier, Kemp, and Loney all qualify as offensive talent although I will readily admit that Loney's hitting as been downright offensive to this point in the season. In his defense, he did hit his second double of the season last night.
Although the Dodgers teams of the early and mid-1960's are a little bit before my time, I heard my father talk about them enough to where I feel like I watched them. Those teams were pretty much pitching, defense, and alot of low scoring, one run games.
I believe this Dodger team will be comparable to those teams. I don't believe Kershaw and Billingsley will ever be compared to Koufax and Drysdale but the tough, one run games will make the comparisons valid. For that matter, Ted Lilly is no Claude Osteen either.
I honestly believe they have some offensive talent. Ethier, Kemp, and Loney all qualify as offensive talent although I will readily admit that Loney's hitting as been downright offensive to this point in the season. In his defense, he did hit his second double of the season last night.
Although the Dodgers teams of the early and mid-1960's are a little bit before my time, I heard my father talk about them enough to where I feel like I watched them. Those teams were pretty much pitching, defense, and alot of low scoring, one run games.
I believe this Dodger team will be comparable to those teams. I don't believe Kershaw and Billingsley will ever be compared to Koufax and Drysdale but the tough, one run games will make the comparisons valid. For that matter, Ted Lilly is no Claude Osteen either.
Juan Castro
Juan Castro has more Dodger lives than a cat. They brought him up from AAA Albuquerque on Friday and sent rookie infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. down so he could play everyday. DeJesus only played in 16 games, going 6 for 31 with one RBI.
This makes the fourth time that Castro has joined the Dodgers and I wonder what the all-time record is? He is a solid, if not spectacular defensive player, and I can see him being a late inning defensive replacement and getting a few spot starts. He is not going to knock the cover off the ball so this move made sense a long time ago.
Jerry Sands is still hanging with the Dodgers and getting alot of starts but he is barely hitting above the Mendoza line, has only shown warning track power, and he may be the next in line to get sent back down for more seasoning. I have only got to see him play a few times this year but from what I have seen, everything he hits goes to right field. I am not a big fan of is bat position when he is at the plate so they may need to tinker with his swing over the course of the next off-season.
I am pulling for DeJesus and Sands to make it more than anyone because I long for the days when the Rookie of the Year Award was almost synonymous with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers minor league system has slipped several notches but I believe the talent level has increased over the past couple of years. Now if we can only get GM Ned Colletti to keep from trading them away.
This makes the fourth time that Castro has joined the Dodgers and I wonder what the all-time record is? He is a solid, if not spectacular defensive player, and I can see him being a late inning defensive replacement and getting a few spot starts. He is not going to knock the cover off the ball so this move made sense a long time ago.
Jerry Sands is still hanging with the Dodgers and getting alot of starts but he is barely hitting above the Mendoza line, has only shown warning track power, and he may be the next in line to get sent back down for more seasoning. I have only got to see him play a few times this year but from what I have seen, everything he hits goes to right field. I am not a big fan of is bat position when he is at the plate so they may need to tinker with his swing over the course of the next off-season.
I am pulling for DeJesus and Sands to make it more than anyone because I long for the days when the Rookie of the Year Award was almost synonymous with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers minor league system has slipped several notches but I believe the talent level has increased over the past couple of years. Now if we can only get GM Ned Colletti to keep from trading them away.
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