Chemistry

In today's statistic-crazed baseball world, the statistics whizzes have yet to come up with a method in which to measure team chemistry. The Dodgers traded an important ingredient in that team chemistry yesterday when they traded backup catcher A.J. Ellis to the Philadelphia Phillies for backup catcher Carlos Ruiz. Ellis statistics have dropped off the past several seasons, hitting below the Mendoza line in two of the past three seasons, but his value to the team cannot be measured. He was drafted by the Dodgers out of Austin Peay State University in the 18th round in 2003 and this was his sixth season at the major league level.

Ellis was one of ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw's best friends on the team and I was stunned when I first saw the report that the Dodgers had traded Ellis. Baseball is a business but there are role players on every team that are revered for being great teammates and great for team chemistry.

The trade made good baseball sense. Ruiz brings a lot more to the plate offensively and the Dodgers have struggled from the right side of the plate this season. The San Francisco Giants are stacked with left handed starters and Andrew Friedman made a move that would help the team out as they go for the National League West title.

A.J. "Speedy" Ellis

Baseball keeps statistics for everything. They have lists for the greatest and the worst and everything in between. Catcher A.J. Ellis of the Los Angeles Dodgers stole his first career base against the Tampa Bay Rays in yesterday's 3-1 loss. Ellis had gone 1,904 plate appearances and 1,605 at bats without a stolen base. That was the fifth most in major league baseball history without stealing a base. It was a clean steal too. Ellis had a great jump and the throw went through into centerfield but I think he nay have had that base stolen. Manager Dave Roberts has obviously been working with Ellis on his stolen base technique. Bob Uecker always trumpeted the fact that he never stole a base but he only had 731 at bats in his career. You have to love statistics like those.

The Whiff N' Poof Express

Several years ago in the comic strip BC, the manager of the caveman baseball team was asked what the nickname was of his batting lineup a la "The Murderer's Row" of the 1927 New York Yankees. The manager's reply was "The Whiff and Poof Express." I thought of that comic strip when I was glancing at the Los Angeles Dodgers offensive statistics for the 2016 season.

In their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Los Angeles Dodgers had three players out of their starting eight regulars that by the end of the game were hitting below the infamous "Mendoza Line", a term used to describe a level of futility in major league hitters. Outfielder Enrique Hernandez finished the game at .198, fellow outfielder Scott Van Slyke at .185 (although he did hit the game winning three-run homerun), and Catcher A.J. Ellis at .187. Granted all three of those players have spent the majority of the season coming off the bench, spot starting, or on the Disabled List.

The overall statistics don't lie. A team batting average of .231 good for 12th in the National League, On Base Percentage of .307 good for 11th, 13th is Slugging Percentage at .376, ninth in Runs Scored with 277 good for a little over 4.1 a game, and they are eighth in strikeouts and in homeruns. Those middle of the pack statistics lead to a record of a little over .500 and lagging behind in the National League West.

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.

Winning With Class

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.

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.

Kershaw's First Shutout

Clayton Kershaw pitched one of his best games of the season against the Phillies, going the distance in the shutout and striking out 13. Kershaw gave up eight hits but he was really snapping off the curveball when it counted. 123 pitches in the complete game, 82 for strikes. There are times when you can throw too many strikes.

The game was also his statement for the "at large" bid for the last spot on the National League All-Star team. Most fans want to look at his record of 6-6. The fans have not taken into consideration his 1.53 ERA over his last nine starts, he leads the league in strikeouts, and the lack of run support he has received.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been killing his old team the Phillies, hitting a three run homer, and driving in five of the Dodgers 17 runs they have scored in the series. Catcher A.J. Ellis rocketed above the Mendoza line (.215) with three hits, and his first homerun of the season, a two run shot.

Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw pitched one his best games of the season last night against the Atlanta Braves in the Dodgers 8-0 win. Kershaw was staked to a 6-0 lead after the 4th inning and Adrian Gonzalez drove in his 1,000 and 1,001 RBI's with a two run homer in the 5th. Kershaw struck out 10 and didn't walk anyone in 7 innings of work. A.J. Ellis even had a hit and drove in his second run of the season. He is now batting a robust .133.

The Backup Catcher

The backup Catcher has had a valuable role on a baseball team since the beginning of baseball. Catching is physically the toughest job on a baseball team. Foul tips, the constant squatting behind the plate, the now rare home plate collision, and blocking pitches in the dirt takes it's toll on any catcher. That is what makes a backup Catcher so valuable. Being a great hitter is not a necessity for a backup. Being able to call a good game, handle a pitching staff, throw out the occasional baserunner, and play solid defense is all a backup catcher needs to do to cement his roll on the team.

The backup catcher probably does need to bat higher than the .116 which is what Dodger backup Catcher A.J. Ellis is currently hitting. That is barely over half of the infamous Mendoza Line. This is after he batted .191 last year as the primary starter. Starter Yasmani Grandal and his .291 average is on the seven day concussion disabled list so Rookie Austin Barnes got the call from AAA Oklahoma City and went 1 for 3 in his debut on Sunday.

I don't know if the Dodgers are shopping for a backup Catcher or not but it will be interesting to see what happens around the trade deadline.

Prospects In Oklahoma City

Several of the Los Angeles Dodgers top prospects have made it to AAA Oklahoma City. One of the Dodgers top prospects, starting pitcher and #13 ranked Zach Lee, is off to a strong start with a 4-2 record and a 2.70 ERA with a strikeout to walk ratio of 3 to 1.

Top prospect Corey Seager got the call to Oklahoma City a few weeks ago from AA Tulsa where he got off to a .375 average with 5 homeruns in 80 at bats. At 21 years old, is the second youngest player in the Pacific Coast League. He has played both Third Base and Shortstop at Oklahoma City and he is still feeling his way around batting in the mid .270's with 5 RBI's.

#7 ranked prospect, Second Baseman Darnell Sweeney, provides an element of speed that the Dodgers are missing from this year's team. He has 17 steals in 34 games and can play both the infield and outfield although he is seen as primarily a second baseman.

#8 prospect, Outfielder Scott Schebler has not hit for a high average this season but he does have 6 homeruns and has hit in every league he has been in since being drafted by the Dodgers in the 26th round of 2010. With the Dodgers crowded outfield, he might be a trade possibility at the trade deadline this season.

#11 prospect Austin Barnes was acquired by the Dodgers from the Miami Marlins in the Dee Gordon trade and is one of those rare players that has played both Catcher and Second Base. He is batting in the mid .270's with 3 homeruns and 4 stolen bases and if anything happens to A.J. Ellis or Yasmani Grandal, may get the call at some point this season.

Spring Training Is Finally Here

The Pitchers and Catchers for the Los Angeles Dodgers reported to Camelback Ranch-Glendale this past Thursday with the first workouts on Friday. Reigning National League MVP and Cy Young Award Winner Clayton Kershaw threw 30 pitches to Catcher A.J. Ellis and was reportedly "unimpressed" by his workout. I don't know too many pitchers that are impressed by their first workout of the season.

Newcomer Brett Anderson got in his first workout for his new team and tested out his surgically repaired back. Injuries have robbed him of the majority of five of his six seasons.

One notable absence was that of Closer Kenley Jansen. He had foot surgery this past week and will miss the first two to three months of the season. Spring Training hadn't even started yet and the Dodgers have already been hit by a major injury. The Dodgers are reportedly going to look from within the organization to replace him and use a Bullpen by committee approach.

The Road To 20 Wins

Clayton Kershaw was not as sharp against the Chicago Cubs yesterday when he got his 20th win as he has been in the last three months. The Dodgers staked him out to a quick 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Cubs cut that lead in half in the bottom of the first inning. Kershaw's control wasn't quite what it normally is and his pitch count was very high. He threw 100 + pitches in his 5 innings of work and had at least two Cubs on base in every inning. Kershaw's final stat line was 5 innings, 3 earned runs, 9 K's, and 3 BB's. In most any other game he has pitched, Kershaw probably would have left the game with at the very least, a no decision. The Dodgers hitters had his back in this game. Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig hit three run homers, Dee Gordon had two hits in his 7th straight game, and Catcher A.J. Ellis hit two homeruns after only hitting only one all season long. Kershaw improved his record to 20-3 with a 1.80 ERA and he is only the third Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher (Sandy Koufax and Claude Osteen are the others) to post more than one 20 win season. Kershaw's accomplishment was made more difficult this season by the fact that he missed five weeks at the beginning of the season.

The Dodger Record Books

Los Angeles Dodgers records are hard to break. Clayton Kershaw ran his scoreless innings streak to 36 with 8 more shutout innings in the Dodgers 9-0 win over the Colrado Rockies last night. The 36 inning scoreless streak is only the third longest in Dodger history behind Orel Hershiser's 59 and Don Drysdale's 58. Kershaw improved his record to 10-2 and his ERA to 1.85. He even went 2 for 4 at the plate and drove in his first run on the season. He was leaving nothing to chance. Yasiel Puig hit his 12th homerun and Scott Van Slyke hit his 8th in support of Kershaw. Dee Gordon, Andre Ethier, and A.J. Ellis all had 3 hits among the Dodgers 19 hits and Gordon stole his 41st base. The win gave the Dodgers a 1 1/2 game lead on the San Francisco Giants with the All-Star break getting close.

A Hit (By Pitch) And A Win

Los Angeles Dodgers Catcher A.J. Ellis took a Wade Davis cutter off the arm with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in last nights 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals. That is what Bob Uecker used to refer to as "taking one for the team." Whatever works. The offensive stars for the Dodgers were Second Baseman Dee Gordon, 4 for 5 with his MLB leading 9th triple, 2 runs scored, and his 40th stolen base, Yasiel Puig, 2 for 5 those being a triple and an RBI double, and Matt Kemp hit his 8th homerun. Dodgers starter Dan Haren did not make it long enough to pick up the win as he went 4 1/3, giving up all 4 KC runs, including 2 homeruns. Jamey Wright came in in relief and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win (3-2) and Brian Wilson pitched a scoreless 9th inning to get his first save in more than two years. Kenley jansen had pitched in 4 out of the last 5 games so he was unavailable. Scott Van Slyke, playing First base, snared a Lorenzo Cain line drive with one out and the tying run on second and doubled the runner off to end the game.

How To Celebrate

The Dodgers had to put Catcher A.J. Ellis back on the 15-Day Disabled List when he sprained his ankle during the celebration following Josh Beckett's no-hitter. It was a game Ellis did not even play in. They had to bring Tim Federowicz (5 hits in 46 at bats before he was sent down) back up from Albuquerque and Drew Butera becomes the starter by default. Butera is leading the Dodgers Catchers with a .222 average and 2 Homeruns. Ellis was only batting .170 with 1 homerun and 12 RBI's at the time of his injury but his defense and his ability to call a game are indispensable. Celebrations over great games, great finishes, and championships are a part of baseball tradition and history but you shouldn't get hurt when you didn't even play in the game. Call it bad luck or a bad choice but this is A.J. Ellis's second stint on the DL this season.

Trading Places

I think all the Dodgers do any more is trade one starter for another on the Disabled List. Matt Kemp comes off the DL and A.J. Ellis goes on; Clayton Kershaw goes on and Josh Beckett comes off. It is not a good pattern to have and the trades are pretty unfair. I don't even think Ned Colletti would make most of these deals. Well, with the exception of A.J. Ellis for Matt Kemp. I think anyone would make that deal. The Dodgers are off to a 6-3 start but the big bats, with the exception of Matt Kemp's two homers the other night, have not really come alive yet. Dee Gordon is off to the best start of his short but uninspired career and even hit a homerun last night. The Dodgers middle relief has been lights out while their closers have been lit up but I can't complain too much with a 6-3 record. I am just glad baseball is back.

Kershaw Rolls On

The Clayton Kershaw train rolled on in the first game of the NLDS last night in the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves last night. He struck out 12 in 7 innings giving up only one run. Brian Wilson and kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless inning a piece to finish it out for the Dodgers. The Dodgers scored the first 5 runs of the game in the first four innings before the Braves could get on the board. The big blow was a two run bomb to Centerfield by Adrian Gonzalez off Braves starter Kris Medlen in the third inning. Catcher A.J. Ellis had two doubles and a RBI and Hanley Ramirez, Mark Ellis, and Skip Schumaker also drove in runs. There was an article in the USA Today about the electric but sometimes erratic play of Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig yesterday but last night it was all electric. He hustled from first to third on a single to center and he doubled off Braves baserunner Gattis with a catch and throw from Right Field. You cannot doubt Puig's natural ability or his enthusiasm for the game.

Two More To Go

The Dodgers won their 15th road game in a row over the St. Louis Cardinals last night 3-2. Zach Greinke went 6 1/3 innings and gave up 2 runs to get the win (9-3). He also drove in what proved to be the deciding run with a 7th inning single, giving him a .405 Batting Average. He shouldn't have wasted his time in the American League. Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis drove in the other two runs in the 4th inning. Yasiel Puig was back in the lineup and went 1 for 4 with a run scored but he did strikeout twice. Paco Rodriguez came on and pitched the last two innings for his second save on the season. Rodriguez has only given up one run since June 5th. Kenley Jansen needed a day off.

Sweeping The Cubbies

The Dodgers did not exactly knock the cover off the ball (2 hits, 1 run) but it was still enough to win 1-0 and improve their road winning streak to 14 games. Catcher A.J. Ellis drove in Hanley Ramirez with the the games only run and Rookie starter Stephen Fife (4-3) pitched 5 1/3 innings in his return from the Disabled List to get the win. Kenley Jansen closed the door by striking out the side in the ninth and earned his 17th save. Chris Withrow continued his strong pitching in middle relief with 1 2/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 2.51 on the season in 11 games and 14 1/3 innings. It seems that Withrow has been on the Dodgers top prospect list since he was drafted in the First Round, #20 overall in the 2007 player draft. He had been mostly a starter in his minor league career until being converted to a full-time reliever this season in Albuquerque. The more the wins pile up, it seems the longer the Disabled List gets. The Dodgers lost Hanley Ramirez to a shoulder injury making a defensive play in the 7th inning. In the Cubs series, they lost Yasiel Puig and Ramirez and they lost Matt Kemp in the series before. They move on to St. Louis next.

Can I Get A Little Run Support?

I would love to see what Clayton Kershaw's record would be if he could get a little bit of run support. As it is, He pitched 8 shutout innings against the New York Yankees last night, striking out 5 and scattering 5 hits, and lowering his ERA to 1.87. The Yankees scored 3 runs in the top of the ninth, only one earned, and Ronald Belisario absorbed the loss (4-6). Yankees starter and former Dodger Huroki Kuroda, matched Kershaw pitch for pitch and the Dodgers only had 6 hits of their own, 2 each by Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis. The Dodgers move on to play the Chicago Cubs next.