The first two weeks of the Los Angeles Dodgers season has had its ups and downs and its disappointments and surprises. They are 8-5 with an early one game lead over the San Francisco Giants who they have already played seven times. The starting pitching behind Clayton Kershaw and Kenta Maeda has been inconsistent, the bullpen has been shaky at times, and the first two outings of Ross Stripling's career have been a surprise although he does not have a win to show for it. Kershaw has gotten off to a good start with a 2-0 record with a 1.64 ERA but I am almost disappointed when he gives up a run. I would also have to list Maeda has a bit of a surprise as he has inly allowed one earned run in his first 19 innings. Kenley Jansen has gotten off to a great start with five saves in his first five games and he has not allowed a run.
The Los Angeles Dodgers offense has also been up and down. Regulars Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick are just now working their way back into the lineup and that should help the Dodgers as they are fifth in the league in runs scored, averaging five runs a game, but their has been a power shortage as the Dodgers only have eight homeruns in 13 games. Yasiel Puig (.356) and Enrique Hernandez (.400 with two homeruns off Madison Bumgarner) off both gotten off to hot starts at the plate. Corey Seager has gotten off to an OK start but I was hoping he would just blow the National League away with his skills. Injuries to Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke has opened the door for Trayce Thompson to get some playing time.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
The Right Call
Rookie Manager Dave Roberts made his toughest decision of the young season against the San Francisco Giants. Rookie pitcher Ross Stripling had a no hitter through 7 1/3 innings even though he had walked four and gave up a run. Stripling is two years removed from Tommy John surgery and was making his major league debut. He made 100 pitches and Dave Roberts called the decision to remove Stripling a "no brainer." He cited Stripling's health and the fact that it is a long season. After the game, Stripling admitted that he was getting tired.
There is a lot of fans and baseball purists that believe that Stripling should have been allowed to try to finish the no hitter. Whether or not to remove a pitcher or not while he is pitching a no hitter has been long debated and is often included in the discussion of baseball's unwritten rules or "the code." Ross Stripling had the opportunity to make baseball history as well by pitching a no hitter in his major league debut.
I believe that Roberts made the right call and it would be less of an issue if the Dodgers would have held on to win the game. Stripling left in the bottom of the eighth inning with a 2-1 lead and the Dodgers lost 3-2 in ten innings. That is just the first decision by Roberts in a season full of decisions that will be second guessed by fans and the media.
There is a lot of fans and baseball purists that believe that Stripling should have been allowed to try to finish the no hitter. Whether or not to remove a pitcher or not while he is pitching a no hitter has been long debated and is often included in the discussion of baseball's unwritten rules or "the code." Ross Stripling had the opportunity to make baseball history as well by pitching a no hitter in his major league debut.
I believe that Roberts made the right call and it would be less of an issue if the Dodgers would have held on to win the game. Stripling left in the bottom of the eighth inning with a 2-1 lead and the Dodgers lost 3-2 in ten innings. That is just the first decision by Roberts in a season full of decisions that will be second guessed by fans and the media.
Friday, April 8, 2016
The Fifth Starter
Rookie Ross Stripling won the job as the fifth starter in Spring Training and he gets the first start of his career tonight against the San Francisco Giants. Stripling beat out Carlos Frias and Zach Lee for the fifth starter's job and he is only two years removed from Tommy John surgery. He only has 48 minor league starts under his belt and has never pitched above AA.
According to mlb.com's pipeline, Stripling is the #16 ranked prospect in the Dodgers system. The scouting report on him lists a fastball with cutting action reaching up to 93 mph, a curveball and slider with break on both, and a changeup that he needs to develop confidence in.
According to mlb.com's pipeline, Stripling is the #16 ranked prospect in the Dodgers system. The scouting report on him lists a fastball with cutting action reaching up to 93 mph, a curveball and slider with break on both, and a changeup that he needs to develop confidence in.
Landing With A Thud
The Los Angeles Dodgers out of this world pitching came crashing to earth with a thud in a 12-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants last night. Alex Wood gave up five runs in five innings and then the relievers came on to give up seven runs in three innings. The only reliever who did not get lit up like a Christmas tree was Louis Coleman who pitched one and one-third innings and only gave up a walk.
Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, and Joc Pederson all remain on a tear for the Dodgers. Pederson was given a vote of confidence by Manager Dave Roberts in spring training and he hit his first homerun and now has five runs batted in in the first four games. Gonzalez his batting .500 with four RBI's and Puig is batting .533 with two triples. The Dodgers are averaging almost eight runs a game in the early going.
Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, and Joc Pederson all remain on a tear for the Dodgers. Pederson was given a vote of confidence by Manager Dave Roberts in spring training and he hit his first homerun and now has five runs batted in in the first four games. Gonzalez his batting .500 with four RBI's and Puig is batting .533 with two triples. The Dodgers are averaging almost eight runs a game in the early going.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Maeda Goes One Up
Kenta Maeda of the Los Angeles Dodgers one upped Clayton Kershaw and Scott Kazmir in his first start for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maeda matched Kershaw and Kazmir shutout inning for shutout inning but he also hit a solo homerun in his second career at bat. He pitched six shutout innings, scattered five hits, struck out four, and did not issue a walk. He only threw 84 pitches, 57 of those were strikes.
Maeda may be the key to the Dodgers championship hopes this season. Maeda is slight of build weighing in at slightly over 150 pounds and he carries a large part of the burden for the Dodgers in replacing Zack Greinke. The scouting report given by former major league pitcher and Fox analyst C.J. Nitkowski on Foxsports.com on 1 January 2016 says that Maeda has a five pitch arsenal with his two best pitches being a fastball with his out pitch being a slider. He also throws a two seam fastball and an occasional curve and changeup. He will also have to adjust to pitching every five days rather than once a week like he did in Japan. It will be interesting to see how he will hold up to the grind of a 162 game major league season.
Maeda may be the key to the Dodgers championship hopes this season. Maeda is slight of build weighing in at slightly over 150 pounds and he carries a large part of the burden for the Dodgers in replacing Zack Greinke. The scouting report given by former major league pitcher and Fox analyst C.J. Nitkowski on Foxsports.com on 1 January 2016 says that Maeda has a five pitch arsenal with his two best pitches being a fastball with his out pitch being a slider. He also throws a two seam fastball and an occasional curve and changeup. He will also have to adjust to pitching every five days rather than once a week like he did in Japan. It will be interesting to see how he will hold up to the grind of a 162 game major league season.
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Kazmir Comes Through
I have to admit, I had my doubts about Scott Kazmir all the way through spring training. He got lit up in his first couple of spring training starts and the way Dodgers pitchers were going down with one injury or another, I thought the Dodgers may have to trade for more starting pitching. He started pitching better towards the end of spring training and being a veteran pitcher, he seems to have been able to flip the switch. I know that one great regular season outing is just the beginning of a long season but Kazmir took a step towards easing my doubts. Kazmir came as close as he could come to matching Clayton Kershaw's opening day performance allowing only one hit in six innings with five strikeouts and no walks. He only threw 75 pitches and 49 of those were strikes.
The Dodgers offense was not the offensive juggernaut that it was in the first game but they are never going to be confused with the 1927 New York Yankees. Yasiel Puig needed to get a strong start to the season and he has done just that. He hit his second triple in two games, driving in the first two runs of the game and scored the final run when Carl Crawford drove him in.
New Manager Dave Roberts moves have been minimal in his first two games. With the pitching the Dodgers have had in the first two games, he hasn't had to make many decisions. Outside of inserting a few pinch hitters, making a few pitching changes to keep the bullpen sharp, and inserting Trayce Thompson as a defensive replacement, the Dodgers are almost managing themselves. The offense has scored 18 runs in two games, the pitching has two shutouts and has only allowed six hits.
The Dodgers offense was not the offensive juggernaut that it was in the first game but they are never going to be confused with the 1927 New York Yankees. Yasiel Puig needed to get a strong start to the season and he has done just that. He hit his second triple in two games, driving in the first two runs of the game and scored the final run when Carl Crawford drove him in.
New Manager Dave Roberts moves have been minimal in his first two games. With the pitching the Dodgers have had in the first two games, he hasn't had to make many decisions. Outside of inserting a few pinch hitters, making a few pitching changes to keep the bullpen sharp, and inserting Trayce Thompson as a defensive replacement, the Dodgers are almost managing themselves. The offense has scored 18 runs in two games, the pitching has two shutouts and has only allowed six hits.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Run Support
The Los Angeles Dodgers gave Opening Day starter Clayton Kershaw a month's worth of run support to the tune of 15 runs in the 15-0 rout of the San Diego Padres. Kershaw has often been the victim of lack of run support in his career but he was staked to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning and the Dodgers were just getting warmed up setting a few Opening Day records along the way. The 15-0 shutout win were the most runs scored in a shutout in Opening Day history.
The Dodgers used 37 year old second baseman Chase Utley in the leadoff spot and he had three hits and drove in two, rookie shortstop Corey Seager had a double that drove in the first Dodgers run, and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and drove in three as he continued to torment his original team. Catcher A.J. Ellis also drove in three, two of those coming on a bouncer over a Padres drawn in infield in a five run sixth inning.
Kershaw was outstanding as he only gave up one hit and a walk in seven innings pitched and struck out nine. He improved his Opening Day record to 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA, one point behind Rick Mahler's Opening Day record of 0.92.
Dave Roberts did not have to do much managing in his managerial debut. The best move he made was pulling Kershaw after seven innings and 96 pitches. I believe the only way Kershaw is left out there is if he had a no-hitter going. Roberts did get some of the younger players in the game as Austin Barnes got in an inning at second base but had no fielding chances and outfielder Trayce Thompson doubled in a run in his only at official at bat and scored two runs.
The Dodgers used 37 year old second baseman Chase Utley in the leadoff spot and he had three hits and drove in two, rookie shortstop Corey Seager had a double that drove in the first Dodgers run, and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and drove in three as he continued to torment his original team. Catcher A.J. Ellis also drove in three, two of those coming on a bouncer over a Padres drawn in infield in a five run sixth inning.
Kershaw was outstanding as he only gave up one hit and a walk in seven innings pitched and struck out nine. He improved his Opening Day record to 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA, one point behind Rick Mahler's Opening Day record of 0.92.
Dave Roberts did not have to do much managing in his managerial debut. The best move he made was pulling Kershaw after seven innings and 96 pitches. I believe the only way Kershaw is left out there is if he had a no-hitter going. Roberts did get some of the younger players in the game as Austin Barnes got in an inning at second base but had no fielding chances and outfielder Trayce Thompson doubled in a run in his only at official at bat and scored two runs.
Monday, April 4, 2016
An Injury Depleted Roster
The Los Angeles Dodgers are starting the season with ten players on the Disabled List including three starting pitchers- Brandon McCarthy, Brett Anderson, and Hyun-Jin Ryu- and three starting position players- left fielder Andre Ethier, second baseman Howie Kendrick, and catcher Yasmani Grandal.
All of the injuries allowed some rookies to open the season with the Dodgers. The Dodgers opening day roster includes three rookies- shortstop Corey Seager, outfielder Trayce Thompson, and Ross Stripling who earned the role of the Dodgers fifth starter. Non-roster invitee utilityman Charlie Culberson also made the roster with a solid spring at the plate and he showed the ability to play multiple positions. A late addition to the Dodgers pitching staff, reliever Louis Coleman also made the roster as it was decided to option left hander Luis Avilan to AAA Oklahoma City. Coleman was signed right as camp opened.
All of the injuries allowed some rookies to open the season with the Dodgers. The Dodgers opening day roster includes three rookies- shortstop Corey Seager, outfielder Trayce Thompson, and Ross Stripling who earned the role of the Dodgers fifth starter. Non-roster invitee utilityman Charlie Culberson also made the roster with a solid spring at the plate and he showed the ability to play multiple positions. A late addition to the Dodgers pitching staff, reliever Louis Coleman also made the roster as it was decided to option left hander Luis Avilan to AAA Oklahoma City. Coleman was signed right as camp opened.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)