The Dodgers-Giants is one of baseball's greatest rivalries. Baseball fans can talk Red Sox-Yankees all they want but for me, it's the Dodgers and the Giants. The rivalry, to a certain extent, has been based on geography. The Dodgers and the Giants rivalry followed the teams from New York to California in the late 1950's.
The Dodgers can never seem to get by the San Francisco Giants, especially over the course of the past six or seven years. The Giants have been a thorn in the Dodgers side since Bobby Thomson's "shot heard round the world" in 1951. Joe Morgan's homerun off of a hanging slider by Dodgers Reliever Terry Forster in the final game of the 1982 season that gave the Atlanta Braves the National League West championship was another heartbreaking moment for the Dodgers.
Blood has been shed on the field and in the parking lot between the Dodgers and the Giants. Who can ever forget the bat wielding Juan Marichal of the Giants and the bleeding John Roseboro of the Dodgers in 1965. The beating the Giants fan got in the parking lot by the two Dodgers fans. No fan deserves a beating for sporting his team's colors no matter where he is at. Yasiel Puig and Madison Bumgarner have had a war or words over the past couple of seasons.
The Dodgers started out this season's version of the rivalry by getting swept by the Giants on the road in three games and slightly atoned for that at home in the past three games by winning two of the three. The teams two best pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner, have squared off twice already. Both were well pitched games, both won by the Giants, 2-1. Unfortunately, four of the Giants eight wins on the season have came against the Dodgers.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Monday, April 27, 2015
Max Scherzer And The DH
Max Scherzer, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, hurt himself while batting the other night. He has spent his entire career in the American League and after hurting himself, immediately came out as a proponent for the Designated Hitter in the National League.
This debate has gone on since Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees stepped to the plate as the first Designated Hitter in the American League in 1973. I am against the DH in the National League. From the time you first pick up a baseball, you are taught to throw, hit, and catch. It is all part of the game. Most players do not master all of the elements of the game and it is very rare that a player is classified as a "five tool" player.
If Max Scherzer did not want to hit, he should have signed with another team in the American League. There are several good hitting pitchers out there, including Zach Greinke of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fernando Valenzuela, Rick Rhoden, Don Robinson, Terry Forster, and Orel Hershiser were all good hitting pitchers. They all realized they could help themselves at the plate and more than the occasional sacrifice bunt. Rick Wise hit two homeruns while pitching a no-hitter and Rick Camp of the Atlanta Braves, a terrible hitting pitcher, hit an extra inning homerun to win a game and was probably the highlight of his career.
The DH has extended the career of some great players, Frank Thomas, Joe Carter, and Jorge Bell all come to mind. Harold Baines who spent pretty much his entire career as a DH, probably will not warrant serious consideration for the Hall of Fame for that reason. I do not think being a DH has hurt the legacy of any of these players, but I think the DH should be left in the American League.
This debate has gone on since Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees stepped to the plate as the first Designated Hitter in the American League in 1973. I am against the DH in the National League. From the time you first pick up a baseball, you are taught to throw, hit, and catch. It is all part of the game. Most players do not master all of the elements of the game and it is very rare that a player is classified as a "five tool" player.
If Max Scherzer did not want to hit, he should have signed with another team in the American League. There are several good hitting pitchers out there, including Zach Greinke of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fernando Valenzuela, Rick Rhoden, Don Robinson, Terry Forster, and Orel Hershiser were all good hitting pitchers. They all realized they could help themselves at the plate and more than the occasional sacrifice bunt. Rick Wise hit two homeruns while pitching a no-hitter and Rick Camp of the Atlanta Braves, a terrible hitting pitcher, hit an extra inning homerun to win a game and was probably the highlight of his career.
The DH has extended the career of some great players, Frank Thomas, Joe Carter, and Jorge Bell all come to mind. Harold Baines who spent pretty much his entire career as a DH, probably will not warrant serious consideration for the Hall of Fame for that reason. I do not think being a DH has hurt the legacy of any of these players, but I think the DH should be left in the American League.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
The Dodgers And A Slugfest
The Los Angeles Dodgers and slugfest are two words you normally don't hear in the same sentence. The Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres last night 11-8 so I guess that qualifies.
Adrian Gonzalez hit his 6th homerun, all against the Padres, and Andre Ethier and Juan Uribe also hit homeruns. In my last post, I wrote about how it was time for Alex Guerrero to replace Juan Uribe and Uribe goes out and hits a homerun. Alex Guerrero drew a walk in an at bat as a pinch hitter.
Brandon McCarthy got the win but gave up 6 runs in 5 innings, including three more homeruns. McCarthy has been almost Bert Blyleven-esque in his ability to give up homeruns this season. He gave up four in an earlier game this season in which he was also the winner. Reliever Chris Hatcher finally got his ERA under 10 (9.95 to be exact) by giving up a run in the ninth inning. It was a good game to let some of the bullpen some work in with a lead they could play with.
Adrian Gonzalez hit his 6th homerun, all against the Padres, and Andre Ethier and Juan Uribe also hit homeruns. In my last post, I wrote about how it was time for Alex Guerrero to replace Juan Uribe and Uribe goes out and hits a homerun. Alex Guerrero drew a walk in an at bat as a pinch hitter.
Brandon McCarthy got the win but gave up 6 runs in 5 innings, including three more homeruns. McCarthy has been almost Bert Blyleven-esque in his ability to give up homeruns this season. He gave up four in an earlier game this season in which he was also the winner. Reliever Chris Hatcher finally got his ERA under 10 (9.95 to be exact) by giving up a run in the ninth inning. It was a good game to let some of the bullpen some work in with a lead they could play with.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Changing Of The Guard
Don Mattingly has most always deferred to his veterans when it comes to playing time. The start of this year saw a notable exception when Mattingly went with Joc Pederson over the veteran Andre Ethier. Now Mattingly is faced with another tough decision and that is to replace Juan Uribe at Third Base with Alex Guerrero.
Uribe has one RBI in 40 at bats. Alex Guerrero has 4 homeruns and 12 RBI's in 19 at bats. The knock on Guerrero when the Dodgers signed him for mega millions out of Cuba was his defense. I don't recall Uribe being the second coming of Brooks Robinson throughout his 15 year career either. Uribe is in his fifth year with the Dodgers and his production has been spotty at best. The Dodgers need some offense and Guerrero seems like the best option.
Uribe has one RBI in 40 at bats. Alex Guerrero has 4 homeruns and 12 RBI's in 19 at bats. The knock on Guerrero when the Dodgers signed him for mega millions out of Cuba was his defense. I don't recall Uribe being the second coming of Brooks Robinson throughout his 15 year career either. Uribe is in his fifth year with the Dodgers and his production has been spotty at best. The Dodgers need some offense and Guerrero seems like the best option.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Break Out The Bats
I was surprised to learn that the Los Angeles Dodgers are leading the National League in homeruns with 17 after yesterday's three homeruns against the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers have played 9 of their 12 games in Chavez Ravine and it has never been known as a hitter's park. Adrian Gonzalez has hit 5 of the 17 but those all came in the first three games.
All of the homeruns have contributed to the Dodgers 7 game winning streak with a big three game series in San Francisco against the Giants coming up. I don't care if it is 12 games into the season, any series against San Francisco is big. Especially since San Francisco is the defending World Series Champs.
All of the homeruns have contributed to the Dodgers 7 game winning streak with a big three game series in San Francisco against the Giants coming up. I don't care if it is 12 games into the season, any series against San Francisco is big. Especially since San Francisco is the defending World Series Champs.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Lights Out Relief
I gave the Dodgers relievers a hard time when the season first started but they redeemed themselves in the three game sweep of the Seattle Mariners. The Dodgers relievers pitched 12 innings and only gave up one run. Yimi Garcia got credit for two of the three wins. Pedro Baez and Joel Peralta have yet to be scored upon this season and Peralta is 2 for 2 in Save Opportunities.
The Dodgers starters have not exactly been pitching deep into games and six of the Dodgers relievers have appeared in 5 of the 9 games the Dodgers have played thus far. Don Mattingly has always been a firm believer in getting all the use he can out of his bullpen but I believe the relievers have been burned out by season's end.
The Dodgers starters have not exactly been pitching deep into games and six of the Dodgers relievers have appeared in 5 of the 9 games the Dodgers have played thus far. Don Mattingly has always been a firm believer in getting all the use he can out of his bullpen but I believe the relievers have been burned out by season's end.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Another Walk Off Win
The Dodgers had another 6-5 walk off win against the Seattle Mariners last night. This time it was a broken bat single to Right Field off Seattle closer Fernando Rodney by Howie Kendrick. Alex Guerrero hit a pinch hit two-run homer in the 4th inning (his second) and Andre Ethier hit his first home run of the year. The top four spots in the Dodgers lineup all had two hits and the Dodgers had 12 for the game.
Dodgers starter David Huff just lasted four innings, gave up four runs, including two more Mariners home runs, but the Dodgers relief pitching followed with a solid five innings of relief only giving up one run, including 1 1/3 innings by Chris Hatcher. Yimi Garcia pitched the final inning to get his second win of the season.
Dodgers starter David Huff just lasted four innings, gave up four runs, including two more Mariners home runs, but the Dodgers relief pitching followed with a solid five innings of relief only giving up one run, including 1 1/3 innings by Chris Hatcher. Yimi Garcia pitched the final inning to get his second win of the season.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
A Single Wins It
The Dodgers survived an onslaught of four Seattle Mariners long balls last night to win it on a bases loaded, walk off single by Alex Guerrero in the bottom of the tenth inning.
A Dodgers player also had another Major League first. Pitcher Brandon McCarthy became the first pitcher to strike out ten batters, have no walks, and allow four home runs. McCarthy allowed all five Mariners runs in seven innings but Dodgers relievers pitched three scoreless innings with Yimi Garcia picking up his first win on the season.
Yasiel Puig hit his second home run of the season among his three hits, Joc Pederson drove in two, and Guerrero drove in two including the game winner.
A Dodgers player also had another Major League first. Pitcher Brandon McCarthy became the first pitcher to strike out ten batters, have no walks, and allow four home runs. McCarthy allowed all five Mariners runs in seven innings but Dodgers relievers pitched three scoreless innings with Yimi Garcia picking up his first win on the season.
Yasiel Puig hit his second home run of the season among his three hits, Joc Pederson drove in two, and Guerrero drove in two including the game winner.
Monday, April 13, 2015
The Cuban Connection
The Dodgers used their Cuban pipeline to bat their way to a 7-4 win in Arizona yesterday. Cuban born Yasiel Puig and Alex Guerrero hit their first homeruns of the season and Yasmani Grandal had two hits and scored two runs. Geurrero also drove in four as part of a three hit performance and Rookie Centerfielder Joc Pederson had three hits and hit his first homerun of the season as well.
The Dodgers had a 7-0 lead heading into the ninth inning behind seven scoreless innings from Zach Greinke and one inning from Pedro Baez. Paco Rodriguez started the ninth inning and got one out and was credited with giving up one run, Chris Hatcher came in a gave up three runs, sending his ERA into the stratosphere at over 33. He did manage to get the second out in amongst the fireworks, and Joel Peralta got the final out and earned his second save. It took three pitchers and 46 pitches to get the final three outs in order for the Dodgers to secure the 7-4 win.
The Dodgers had a 7-0 lead heading into the ninth inning behind seven scoreless innings from Zach Greinke and one inning from Pedro Baez. Paco Rodriguez started the ninth inning and got one out and was credited with giving up one run, Chris Hatcher came in a gave up three runs, sending his ERA into the stratosphere at over 33. He did manage to get the second out in amongst the fireworks, and Joel Peralta got the final out and earned his second save. It took three pitchers and 46 pitches to get the final three outs in order for the Dodgers to secure the 7-4 win.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
My Kingdom For A Relef Pitcher
The Los Angeles Dodgers need someone in their bullpen to step into the closer's role until Kenley Jansen gets back. J.P. Howell took the loss last night after allowing a walk off single in the tenth inning in the Dodgers 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks last night. A single, a wild pitch, and a steal of third base sandwiched around an out gave the Diamondbacks the win.
With the exception of allowing a three run homer to Paul Goldschmidt, Dodgers starter Brett Anderson pitched a solid game in his first start. Yimi Garcia pitched two innings of scoreless relief and Joel Peralta also pitched a scoreless inning.
Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs and Yasmani Grandal hit his first Homerun as a Dodger to account for all of the Dodgers runs.
With the exception of allowing a three run homer to Paul Goldschmidt, Dodgers starter Brett Anderson pitched a solid game in his first start. Yimi Garcia pitched two innings of scoreless relief and Joel Peralta also pitched a scoreless inning.
Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs and Yasmani Grandal hit his first Homerun as a Dodger to account for all of the Dodgers runs.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
A Gon
"For the first time in major league history" was a great way to see the Dodgers headlines start off this morning especially when it involved homeruns rather than errors made or something like that. The headlines were referring to Adrian Gonzalez's three home runs in the Dodgers 7-4 win over the Padres last night making for a total of five in the first three games. Some math genius quickly figured that Gonzalez is on a pace to hit 270 homeruns on the season. I would love to see the Vegas or mathematical odds on that happening.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Defense And Relief Pitching
The two biggest upgrades the Dodgers made this offense was in their defense and in their relief pitching and both led to the demise of the Dodgers in their 7-3 loss to the San Diego Padres last night. The combination of Yasmani Grandal at Catcher, Jimmy Rollins at Shortstop, Howie Kendrick at Second Base, and Joc Pederson in Centerfield was supposed to shore up the Dodgers defense. It is only one game, it is the beginning of the season, and what took place last night is an aberration to what will happen the rest of the season.
Zach Greinke gave up 2 hits and 1 run in his six innings in his 2015 debut and then the relief pitching followed with an uninspired 3 innings of work allowing 6 runs, only 3 earned, and Chris Hatcher faced 4 batters in the ninth inning and did not record an out as the Padres put the game away.
Rollins made two errors in a game for the first time in almost five seasons and Grandal made the third Dodgers error of the night in the ninth inning that sealed the Dodgers fate.
The Dodgers also made several mental errors last night that cost them. Jimmy Rollins getting thrown out at third and Yasiel Puig not appearing to know how many outs their were on a one out fly ball that allowed Derek Norris to take Third Base. Like I said it is still early in the season and I believe those are what most coaches like to call "coachable" moments.
The Dodgers offense was Adrian Gonzalez. He had three of the Dodgers seven hits, drove in two of their three runs including his second homerun in as many games, and is off to a great start, the kind of start the Dodgers needed him to have. He can put the Dodgers on his back and carry them for a while until somebody else gets hot.
Zach Greinke gave up 2 hits and 1 run in his six innings in his 2015 debut and then the relief pitching followed with an uninspired 3 innings of work allowing 6 runs, only 3 earned, and Chris Hatcher faced 4 batters in the ninth inning and did not record an out as the Padres put the game away.
Rollins made two errors in a game for the first time in almost five seasons and Grandal made the third Dodgers error of the night in the ninth inning that sealed the Dodgers fate.
The Dodgers also made several mental errors last night that cost them. Jimmy Rollins getting thrown out at third and Yasiel Puig not appearing to know how many outs their were on a one out fly ball that allowed Derek Norris to take Third Base. Like I said it is still early in the season and I believe those are what most coaches like to call "coachable" moments.
The Dodgers offense was Adrian Gonzalez. He had three of the Dodgers seven hits, drove in two of their three runs including his second homerun in as many games, and is off to a great start, the kind of start the Dodgers needed him to have. He can put the Dodgers on his back and carry them for a while until somebody else gets hot.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Joc Pederson's Opening Day
Joc Pederson got the start in Centerfield for the Los Angeles Dodgers home opener against the San Diego Padres yesterday and by all accounts, he was pretty impressive. He went 1 for 3 with a double, stole third base, and lead off with a walk that preceded Jimmy Rollins three run homer that won the game. He also made a tumbling catch of a sinking Will Middlebrooks line drive into the right centerfield gap in the top of the sixth inning that saved extra bases.
The Dodgers have not had a Rookie of the Year winner since Todd Hollandsworth in 1996. Eric Karros started a five year Dodgers run of Rookie of the Year winners in 1992, followed by Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi, and Hideo Nomo. Pederson was a 30/30 man last year but the Dodgers players that have passed through Albuquerque have had a history of posting video game like stats that do not translate well to Dodger stadium.
The Dodgers have not had a Rookie of the Year winner since Todd Hollandsworth in 1996. Eric Karros started a five year Dodgers run of Rookie of the Year winners in 1992, followed by Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi, and Hideo Nomo. Pederson was a 30/30 man last year but the Dodgers players that have passed through Albuquerque have had a history of posting video game like stats that do not translate well to Dodger stadium.
The Battle Of The Trades
The Dodgers won their home opener last night over the San Diego Padres 6-3 in what I would call the "Battle of the Trades." Matt Kemp won the first couple of rounds but Jimmy Rollins won the game with a big blast, a three-run homer, in the bottom of the eighth inning. Yasmani Grandal, Kemp's trade partner, never got in the game.
Reigning Cy Young And National League MVP Clayton Kershaw got the start for the Dodgers and he went 6 innings and gave all three San Diego runs, all driven in by ex-Dodger Matt Kemp. Kershaw struck out 9 but his big problem was location. When Kemp hit the two run double, Kershaw threw a fat pitch right down the middle. The inning would have been over except for the fact that Third Baseman Juan Uribe "lollygagged" his way to a ground ball and allowed Derek Norris to reach first base when it should have been the third out.
The Dodgers relievers- Yimi Garcia, Joel Peralta, and Chris Hatcher- pitched three innings of one hit baseball after Kershaw left the game. Peralta got the win and Chris Hatcher got the save after hitting the first batter he faced. Hatcher did not have a good Spring but it looks like he is going to get the opportunity to close until Kenley Jansen comes off the Disabled List.
Reigning Cy Young And National League MVP Clayton Kershaw got the start for the Dodgers and he went 6 innings and gave all three San Diego runs, all driven in by ex-Dodger Matt Kemp. Kershaw struck out 9 but his big problem was location. When Kemp hit the two run double, Kershaw threw a fat pitch right down the middle. The inning would have been over except for the fact that Third Baseman Juan Uribe "lollygagged" his way to a ground ball and allowed Derek Norris to reach first base when it should have been the third out.
The Dodgers relievers- Yimi Garcia, Joel Peralta, and Chris Hatcher- pitched three innings of one hit baseball after Kershaw left the game. Peralta got the win and Chris Hatcher got the save after hitting the first batter he faced. Hatcher did not have a good Spring but it looks like he is going to get the opportunity to close until Kenley Jansen comes off the Disabled List.
Monday, April 6, 2015
The Opening Day Roster
The Dodgers went 16-11 with 8 ties this spring. There are no real surprises on the Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day Roster. None of the Dodgers twenty non-Roster invitees made the Roster.
The Dodgers are going with four starting pitchers and seven relievers until a fifth starter is needed sometime in May. The two left handed Relievers they decided to go with were J.P. Howell and Paco Rodriguez even though non-Roster invitee Adam Liberatore pitched in 11 games without giving up a run. Rodriguez had a good camp and the experience factor may have won out. Pedro Baez and Yimi Garcia are two rookie right handed relievers that made the staff. Recently acquired Chris Hatcher may get the first crack at the Closer's role until Kenley Jansen comes back sometime in early May. Hatcher did not have a good camp with an ERA over 8.
Rookie Centerfielder Joc Pederson cemented his hold on the starting job as he tied for the team lead with Infielder Enrique Hernandez in home runs with 6 and he batted .338. Andre Ethier also had a good spring but the Dodgers are looking to deal him but it may be closer to the trade deadline before he can be moved. The Dodgers are going to carry five outfielders going into Opening Day but Scott Van Slyke can also play First Base. Darwin Barney and Alex Guerrero both made the team as backup infielders, Barney for his glove and Guerrero for his bat.
Enrique Hernandez and off season acquisition Outfielder Chris Heisey were both sent down. Hernandez had a solid spring but he can be an every day player in AAA and Heisey did not help himself out any by batting .100 this Spring. Left hander David Huff had a decent spring but was sent down to get in some innings until the Dodgers need a fifth starter in a couple of weeks.
The Dodgers are going with four starting pitchers and seven relievers until a fifth starter is needed sometime in May. The two left handed Relievers they decided to go with were J.P. Howell and Paco Rodriguez even though non-Roster invitee Adam Liberatore pitched in 11 games without giving up a run. Rodriguez had a good camp and the experience factor may have won out. Pedro Baez and Yimi Garcia are two rookie right handed relievers that made the staff. Recently acquired Chris Hatcher may get the first crack at the Closer's role until Kenley Jansen comes back sometime in early May. Hatcher did not have a good camp with an ERA over 8.
Rookie Centerfielder Joc Pederson cemented his hold on the starting job as he tied for the team lead with Infielder Enrique Hernandez in home runs with 6 and he batted .338. Andre Ethier also had a good spring but the Dodgers are looking to deal him but it may be closer to the trade deadline before he can be moved. The Dodgers are going to carry five outfielders going into Opening Day but Scott Van Slyke can also play First Base. Darwin Barney and Alex Guerrero both made the team as backup infielders, Barney for his glove and Guerrero for his bat.
Enrique Hernandez and off season acquisition Outfielder Chris Heisey were both sent down. Hernandez had a solid spring but he can be an every day player in AAA and Heisey did not help himself out any by batting .100 this Spring. Left hander David Huff had a decent spring but was sent down to get in some innings until the Dodgers need a fifth starter in a couple of weeks.
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