The Los Angeles Dodgers finally took the National League West with an 8-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers exorcised a few demons from this season in the form of Madison Bumgarner and AT & T Park in San Francisco. Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers had not beaten Bumgarner or won a game in San Francisco this season.
The Dodgers also won with class. The San Francisco Giants posted a message congratulating the Dodgers on winning the National League West with a hashtag of respecttherivalry on their scoreboard after the game and Kershaw and Adrian Gonzalez gave credit to the Giants for being a good team, competing until the end, and having a good season.
Kershaw pitched one of his best games of the season, pitching a one hit shutout and striking out 13. He also had a 13 pitch at bat against Bumgarner in the fifth inning in which Kershaw fouled off pitch after pitch before grounding out to second base. In describing the at bat bat after the game Kershaw admitted that he did not stand a chance against Bumgarner but wanted to make him work. Kershaw was congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after his at bat.
Justin Ruggiano and A.J. Ellis hit back-to-back homeruns in the sixth inning to finish off Bumgarner and Kershaw closed it out and that was how the west was won. I was surprised to learn that it was the first time that the Dodgers had won three division titles in a row and winning it in San Francisco made it even better for any Dodgers fan.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Friday, September 25, 2015
Kershaw Versus Mattingly
Clayton Kershaw is a competitor and that competitive drive is what makes him one of the best pitchers in the game. Kershaw had pitched five innings against the Diamondbacks, giving up three runs but striking out nine, and throwing 80 pitches. The Dodgers were down by three runs, Kershaw was leading off the inning, and Manager Don Mattingly lifted Kershaw for pinch hitter Austin Barnes.
The Dodgers ended up scoring six runs on the strength of a Grand Slam by Chris Heisey (his first homerun of the season) but Kershaw was not happy about being pulled from the game after only five innings. Kershaw and Mattingly were seen having an animated discussion in the dugout in between innings.
Mattingly said of the discussion after the game "He doesn't ever want to come out. We just had to try to score, down three runs." Kershaw refused to comment on the discussion with Mattingly only saying It's between Donnie and I. No one else needs to know." I applaud Kershaw's decision to leave it in the dugout.
It is much easier to look at things in hindsight but in this instance I believe Mattingly made the right call. Kershaw was already up to 80 pitches, he was not having one of his better games, and the Dodgers needed to try to put some runs on the board. The Dodgers have not clinched the National League West yet. Every pitcher thinks he can get the next batter out and I would not want a guy out there that did not want to keep going. Altercations between pitchers and managers happen on a nightly basis but since it is Clayton Kershaw, there is more of a big deal made out of it.
The Dodgers ended up scoring six runs on the strength of a Grand Slam by Chris Heisey (his first homerun of the season) but Kershaw was not happy about being pulled from the game after only five innings. Kershaw and Mattingly were seen having an animated discussion in the dugout in between innings.
Mattingly said of the discussion after the game "He doesn't ever want to come out. We just had to try to score, down three runs." Kershaw refused to comment on the discussion with Mattingly only saying It's between Donnie and I. No one else needs to know." I applaud Kershaw's decision to leave it in the dugout.
It is much easier to look at things in hindsight but in this instance I believe Mattingly made the right call. Kershaw was already up to 80 pitches, he was not having one of his better games, and the Dodgers needed to try to put some runs on the board. The Dodgers have not clinched the National League West yet. Every pitcher thinks he can get the next batter out and I would not want a guy out there that did not want to keep going. Altercations between pitchers and managers happen on a nightly basis but since it is Clayton Kershaw, there is more of a big deal made out of it.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Starter By Committee
The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to their "starter by committee" approach again against the Arizona Diamindbacks as Carlos Frias pitched the first four innings giving up only one run and then he turned it over to the bullpen and multiple relievers pitched the final five innings and did not give up a run. Chase Utley and Corey Seager homered in the 4-1 win and the Dodgers reduced their magic number to five with the win. Utley's homerun lead off the game and that was the first lead off homerun of his long career. Seager hit a breaking ball just inside the right field foul pole for his third of the season.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Wood Steps Up
Alex Wood pitched the best game of his young career against the Colorado Rockies only allowing one hit in eight innings on only 78 pitches. With only a 2-0 lead and with a big lead in the National League West, Manager Don Mattingly elected not to send Wood out for the ninth inning. He sent out close Kenley Jansen to finish off the game and he gave up a hit before earning his 32nd save.
Catcher A.J. Ellis continued his second half resurgence, hitting his sixth homerun of the season, a solo shot in the second inning. Ellis has batted .270 over his last 30 games also hitting all six of his homeruns. He has settled into a backup role behind starter Yasmani Grandal but Ellis playing time has increased down the stretch.
Catcher A.J. Ellis continued his second half resurgence, hitting his sixth homerun of the season, a solo shot in the second inning. Ellis has batted .270 over his last 30 games also hitting all six of his homeruns. He has settled into a backup role behind starter Yasmani Grandal but Ellis playing time has increased down the stretch.
The Magic Number
The Dodgers reduced their "magic number" to clinch the National League West to eight games. I read somewhere the other day that major league baseball now wants it called the "elimination number". I am guessing that the power brokers in baseball wants to disassociate itself from the word "magic."
Baseball is magic. It is a sleight of hand, the hidden ball trick, making the impossible catch or the impossible throw. Baseball is getting the winning hit or squeezing the final out and winning the championship. Baseball is Bobby Thomson's homer, Willie Mays catch, Fernando Valenzuela and "Fernandomania", the Red Sox winning the World Series, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, the latest rookie to take baseball by storm. Baseball is all of that and more. Baseball is magic and baseball has always been all about the numbers. Baseball needs to leave the "magic number" alone.
Baseball is magic. It is a sleight of hand, the hidden ball trick, making the impossible catch or the impossible throw. Baseball is getting the winning hit or squeezing the final out and winning the championship. Baseball is Bobby Thomson's homer, Willie Mays catch, Fernando Valenzuela and "Fernandomania", the Red Sox winning the World Series, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, the latest rookie to take baseball by storm. Baseball is all of that and more. Baseball is magic and baseball has always been all about the numbers. Baseball needs to leave the "magic number" alone.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Two Games In One
The Dodgers played 16 innings against the Rockies and the bullpen did an outstanding job only giving up two runs in 10 innings of work. Unfortunately one of those was the winning run in the 16th inning. That is the good thing about having an expanded roster is that you can use every player at your disposal without fear of running out of players. Mat Latos gave up the losing run. He has not been getting many innings as a starter so the Dodgers thought they would try him in relief but pretty much got the same result. Starter Brett Anderson had another solid start, only giving up two earned runs in six innings after coming out of his last start with tightness in his calf.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Back Where He Was Drafted
Outfielder Justin Ruggiano returned to the Dodgers in early September, being acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners. Ruggiano was drafted by the Dodgers in the 25th round in 2004. He was traded to Tampa a few years later and that was really when his major league odyssey started. He played in the Tampa, Houston (he was never called up to the major league roster), Miami, Chicago Cubs, Seattle, and finally back to the Dodgers. Six major league organizations in seven seasons. Ruggiano is an end of the season rental for the Dodgers that has some pop in his bat and some major league experience.
Ruggiano had his best season with the Miami Marlins in 2013 when he hit 18 homeruns and had 50 runs batted in. His stat line for the Dodgers so far is 8 for 19 with three homeruns and ten runs batted in. He has already helped the Dodgers win a couple of games with his bat. The Dodgers acquired Ruggiano because of the rash of injuries they have had and also needed a right handed bat coming off the bench. This is a low risk gamble that has paid off for the Dodgers.
Ruggiano had his best season with the Miami Marlins in 2013 when he hit 18 homeruns and had 50 runs batted in. His stat line for the Dodgers so far is 8 for 19 with three homeruns and ten runs batted in. He has already helped the Dodgers win a couple of games with his bat. The Dodgers acquired Ruggiano because of the rash of injuries they have had and also needed a right handed bat coming off the bench. This is a low risk gamble that has paid off for the Dodgers.
Down The Stretch
Clayton Kershaw got his 14th win of the season against the Colorado Rockies, giving up one run in seven innings, and lowered his ERA to 2.12. That win preserved the Dodgers seven and a half game lead over the San Francisco Giants with 19 games left to play. That means that Kershaw and Greinke will pitch at least six of those games.
Several of the Dodgers rookies are getting some quality time in the pennant race down the stretch. Scott Schebler, Corey Seager, Jose Perraza (injured and lost for the season), and Joc Pederson (although he has been starting since the season opener I don't really consider him a rookie anymore) have played a major role and given the Dodgers lineup a boost of energy since the beginning of September. Schebler hit his third homerun against the Rockies, Seager is batting well over .400, and Pederson is starting to find his stroke again after sinking to a season low of .210 at one point.
Most of these players are auditioning for roles next season as the Dodgers have several starters whose contracts are up at the end of the season. The Dodgers have not had a youth movement among position players like this in several seasons as it has taken them a while to rebuild their farm system into the power it once was.
Several of the Dodgers rookies are getting some quality time in the pennant race down the stretch. Scott Schebler, Corey Seager, Jose Perraza (injured and lost for the season), and Joc Pederson (although he has been starting since the season opener I don't really consider him a rookie anymore) have played a major role and given the Dodgers lineup a boost of energy since the beginning of September. Schebler hit his third homerun against the Rockies, Seager is batting well over .400, and Pederson is starting to find his stroke again after sinking to a season low of .210 at one point.
Most of these players are auditioning for roles next season as the Dodgers have several starters whose contracts are up at the end of the season. The Dodgers have not had a youth movement among position players like this in several seasons as it has taken them a while to rebuild their farm system into the power it once was.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
The Rookies Get Their Day
The Los Angeles Dodgers started four rookies (five if you include the starting pitcher Joe Wieland) in their series finale with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Scott Schebler started in left field and hit his second homerun to lead off the game, Corey Seager at shortstop, Joc Pederson in centerfield, and Austin Barnes got the start at catcher. The rookies got three of the Dodgers four hits in the 3-2 loss and Joe Wieland pitched four innings and gave up two runs in his second start of the season.
The loss did not cost the Dodgers anything in the standings as the San Francisco Giants also lost so the Dodgers maintained their 8 1/2 game lead in the National League West with 24 games to play.
The loss did not cost the Dodgers anything in the standings as the San Francisco Giants also lost so the Dodgers maintained their 8 1/2 game lead in the National League West with 24 games to play.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Kershaw Vs. The Angels
Clayton Kershaw is back in Cy Young form. He picked up another win versus the Angels but he wasn't as sharp as he normally is. He threw 106 pitches and only 66 strikes. He only walked two batters so he made the pitches count when he needed them to, striking out eight. The lack of sharpness made have had something to do with his 132 pitch, 95 strike outing against the San Francisco Giants in his last start.
Kershaw only has an above average fastball in today's major leagues, topping out at about 94 or 95 miles per hour with pretty good movement. He does have a knee buckling curve that he changes speeds on and a decent changeup. He also throws an occasional slider with pretty good bite to it. His ability to keep the hitters off balance is one of the keys to his success and helps to account for his high strikeout totals. Now if he would only start throwing a knuckleball....
Kershaw only has an above average fastball in today's major leagues, topping out at about 94 or 95 miles per hour with pretty good movement. He does have a knee buckling curve that he changes speeds on and a decent changeup. He also throws an occasional slider with pretty good bite to it. His ability to keep the hitters off balance is one of the keys to his success and helps to account for his high strikeout totals. Now if he would only start throwing a knuckleball....
A Learning Process
The Dodgers thought highly enough of top prospect Corey Seager to insert him into the lineup down the stretch in the heat of a pennant race. It is a trial by fire and his bat has been everything the Dodgers thought it would be to this point in his career but baseball as rookie in a pennant race is a trial by fire. He is batting .381 with four doubles in the first week of his career with four Runs Batted In and he also has three two hit games.
Corey Seager made his first two errors of his career, both on ground balls, against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim leading to one unearned run. Seager's defense was the question mark in his game coming through the minors leading many to speculate that he would end up at third base. Seager is a big shortstop standing 6'4" but Cal Ripken was a big shortstop and he managed to carve a Hall of Fame career for himself. If he continues to hit like this, I can live with the occasional error.
Corey Seager made his first two errors of his career, both on ground balls, against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim leading to one unearned run. Seager's defense was the question mark in his game coming through the minors leading many to speculate that he would end up at third base. Seager is a big shortstop standing 6'4" but Cal Ripken was a big shortstop and he managed to carve a Hall of Fame career for himself. If he continues to hit like this, I can live with the occasional error.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Scott Van Slyke Carries A Big Bat
"I'd rather be lucky than good", a quote attributed to Hall of Fame Pitcher Lefty Gomez, should be the Dodgers battle cry for the rest of the season.
The Dodgers won the first game of their season against their local rivals from the American League, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Scott Van Slyke carried the big bat with four hits and four Runs Batted In. Two of those hits barely left the infield as his two RBI double deflected off the pitchers glove and barely made the outfield grass but he ended up on second base with his second double of the game. The four hits were a career high for Van Slyke and the four RBI's matched a career high.
Zack Greinke held on long enough to get the win, his 16th, and the Dodgers improved their National League West lead to 8 1/2 games over the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers won the first game of their season against their local rivals from the American League, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Scott Van Slyke carried the big bat with four hits and four Runs Batted In. Two of those hits barely left the infield as his two RBI double deflected off the pitchers glove and barely made the outfield grass but he ended up on second base with his second double of the game. The four hits were a career high for Van Slyke and the four RBI's matched a career high.
Zack Greinke held on long enough to get the win, his 16th, and the Dodgers improved their National League West lead to 8 1/2 games over the San Francisco Giants.
Monday, September 7, 2015
The Baseball Gods
"I'd rather be lucky than good." Lefty Gomez, New York Yankees
The Baseball Gods smiled on the Dodgers yesterday afternoon. Andre Ethier was at bat in the top of the seventh inning with the bases loaded and two outs. Ethier hit a ground ball to San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Vincent who promptly fired the ball over the first baseman's head and down the right field line. That cleared the bases and eventually helped the Dodgers to a 5-1 win.
The Dodgers took three out of four from the Padres and maintained their 7 1/2 game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West. It is too early to start talking magic numbers but the Dodgers only have 26 games left.
Starter Brett Anderson pitched a solid game to improve his record to 9-8 but left in the sixth inning due to a cramp. This is the first relatively healthy season Anderson has had in about five seasons. In any playoff scenario, I believe Alex Wood would get the nod as the third starter over Anderson.
The Baseball Gods smiled on the Dodgers yesterday afternoon. Andre Ethier was at bat in the top of the seventh inning with the bases loaded and two outs. Ethier hit a ground ball to San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Vincent who promptly fired the ball over the first baseman's head and down the right field line. That cleared the bases and eventually helped the Dodgers to a 5-1 win.
The Dodgers took three out of four from the Padres and maintained their 7 1/2 game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West. It is too early to start talking magic numbers but the Dodgers only have 26 games left.
Starter Brett Anderson pitched a solid game to improve his record to 9-8 but left in the sixth inning due to a cramp. This is the first relatively healthy season Anderson has had in about five seasons. In any playoff scenario, I believe Alex Wood would get the nod as the third starter over Anderson.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Cory Seager's Major League Debut
Introducing Number Five, Shortstop Corey Seager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I have been waiting on Seager to make his major league debut since the day the Dodgers drafted him. He was such a highly regarded prospect but the Dodgers have had a lot of highly regarded prospects over the years that have turned into suspects. These players never quite lived up to the hype. Some got in a little bit of time in the majors and some did not. The names of Outfielder Billy Ashley and Pitcher Greg Miller come to mind.
Seager went two for four with two runs scored and two Runs Batted In against the San Diego Padres in his debut and followed that up with a two for five performance with an RBI in his second game. This is Seager's audition to be the starting Shortstop next season as Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, and the newly acquired Chase Utley are all free agents after the season. Seager is off to a good start.
Seager went two for four with two runs scored and two Runs Batted In against the San Diego Padres in his debut and followed that up with a two for five performance with an RBI in his second game. This is Seager's audition to be the starting Shortstop next season as Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, and the newly acquired Chase Utley are all free agents after the season. Seager is off to a good start.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Kershaw Shuts The Door
It seems like every time Clayton Kershaw pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he establishes a first or something that has only been done once or twice. In the final game against the San Francisco Giants, he struck out 15 hitters, the first time in modern baseball history that a pitcher has struck out at least 14 hitters in back-to-back games. He now has a career high 251 strikeouts in only 194 innings. More important than the "first" pitching feat was the fact that he beat the Giants for the first time this season. He threw 132 pitches, 95 for strikes. Ordinarily, Don Mattingly would not let him throw this many pitches but closer Kenley Jansen had pitched in back-to-back games and I don't think Don Mattingly trusted the sweep of the Giants in someone else's hands.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Giant Slayers
Zack Greinke matched Madison Bumgarner pitch for pitch and Rookie Joc Pederson hit a Bumgarner fastball in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Dodgers to a 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants and a 5 1/2 game lead in the national League West. I am surprised that Pederson started against Bumgarner because of the agonizing slump he has been in but Mattingly's "hunch" paid off. That and the fact Kike Hernandez is hurt. The Dodgers much beleaguered bullpen shut the door, Luis Avialn finishing out the eighth inning on seven pitches and Kenley Jansen nailing down his 28th save.
Pederson had been in a 6 for 63 slump but he decided to employ one of the oldest hitting strategies of "see the ball. Hit the ball" and it paid off against one of the toughest left hands in the league. It was only the second homerun a left handed batter had hit off Bumgarner all season and only the fourth homerun Pederson has hit off a left hander.
Pederson had been in a 6 for 63 slump but he decided to employ one of the oldest hitting strategies of "see the ball. Hit the ball" and it paid off against one of the toughest left hands in the league. It was only the second homerun a left handed batter had hit off Bumgarner all season and only the fourth homerun Pederson has hit off a left hander.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Taking Down The Giants
The Dodgers are in first place in the National League West, they are playing in Chavez Ravine, and should be favored to win this series. However, the Giants have owned the Dodgers this season. The Dodgers won game one 5-4 in 14 innings and as much grief as I have given the bullpen, they pitched seven innings of one run baseball. Chris Hatcher pitched his longest, and best, outing of the year. He pitched three innings of shutout baseball but he did make it exciting, giving up three hits but he held tough. That game was Hatcher's to win or lose and he won it.
Zach Greinke is the Dodgers MVP but first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is quietly having another very good season. He leads the Dodgers in homeruns and RBI's and is batting about .290. He is the most consistent hitter the Dodgers have and has come up big in clutch situations all year.
The Dodgers have been no hit twice in the past nine days and they face the ace of the Giants staff Madison Bumgarner. After being no hit twice in the past nine days, I am hoping the baseball gods smile on the Dodger bats and bring them to life. I do not know if it is possible to "sit on" a slider but that is Bumgarner's out pitch. The Dodgers counter with Zack Greinke but he has not been as dominant as he was about a month ago. He always seems to raise his level of pitching against the other teams ace so it's ace vs. ace.
Zach Greinke is the Dodgers MVP but first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is quietly having another very good season. He leads the Dodgers in homeruns and RBI's and is batting about .290. He is the most consistent hitter the Dodgers have and has come up big in clutch situations all year.
The Dodgers have been no hit twice in the past nine days and they face the ace of the Giants staff Madison Bumgarner. After being no hit twice in the past nine days, I am hoping the baseball gods smile on the Dodger bats and bring them to life. I do not know if it is possible to "sit on" a slider but that is Bumgarner's out pitch. The Dodgers counter with Zack Greinke but he has not been as dominant as he was about a month ago. He always seems to raise his level of pitching against the other teams ace so it's ace vs. ace.
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