The Los Angeles Dodgers arrive at the All Star break 11 games over .500 and 6 1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West, still within striking distance. Considering all of the injury problems the Dodgers have had and the problems they have had fielding a starting rotation, the Dodgers are not in bad shape to make a run at the Giants.
The Dodgers have used 12 different starter pitchers this season. They have used a combination of rookies, cast offs, and fringe pitchers to find that fifth starter they have been missing all season. Injuries increased the need for starting pitching to force the Dodgers to trade for Bud Norris. Brandon McCarthy and Hyun Jin-Ryu have finally returned from injuries and when Clayton Kershaw comes back in a couple of weeks, the Dodgers will finally have a full compliment of major league starting pitchers for the first time all season.
The Dodgers offense has been inconsistent all season as they are 12th in the National League in batting average at .241 and ninth in runs scored. Injuries have also taken their toll on the Dodgers. Andre Ethier was injured in Spring Training has not played at all, Yasmani Grandal has been battling injuries for most of the season, Scott Van Slyke was injured early and has never got going, and Yasiel Puig has had his usual stint on the Disabled List. Carl Crawford was a shadow of his former self and was released still being owed $35 million. Alex Guerrero never lived up to the hype when he was signed out of Cuba and was released as well as the Dodgers decided to clean house and gain some productivity.
Rookie Corey Seager has been as good as advertised as he leads the team in almost every offensive category. He leads the team in batting average at .297, homeruns with 17, and is third on the team in runs batted in with 42. Fellow rookie Trayce Thompson, acquired via trade in the off season, has flashed some power with 13 homeruns and is second on the team in stolen bases with five. Veterans Chase Utley and Howie Kendrick have manned second base admirably, Adrian Gonzalez has lost his power stroke but is still tied with fellow veteran Justin Turner for the team lead in RBI's with 44.
The Dodgers are still in contention for the National League West title and if they can't chase the San Francisco Giants down are in line for a Wild Card berth. Injured Dodgers are slowly making their way back into the lineup and the starting rotation setting the Dodgers up for a strong second half run.
Showing posts with label Brandon McCarthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brandon McCarthy. Show all posts
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Sometimes They Come Back
"Sometimes They Come Back" was the title of a short story by Stephen King which seemed appropriate considering the nature of the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation over the past month or so. Brandon McCarthy and Hyun Jin-Ryu made their long awaited return from very long stints on the Disabled List. McCarthy was out for over a year because of Tommy John surgery and only pitched 23 innings in 2015 posting a 3-0 record. Ryu missed all of 2015 and half of 2016 due to arm problems of various kinds.
They both returned over the course of the past week with very different results. McCarthy has won both of his post-Tommy John starts but only pitching five innings in each start (outside of Kershaw that is about all the Dodgers starters average anyway), only giving up three runs, but getting the win in each game. Ryu got shelled in his return giving up six runs in four and two-thirds innings but after a season and a half, I am sure there was quite a bit of "mound rust" going on even though he had made several rehab starts in the Dodgers minor league system.
They both returned over the course of the past week with very different results. McCarthy has won both of his post-Tommy John starts but only pitching five innings in each start (outside of Kershaw that is about all the Dodgers starters average anyway), only giving up three runs, but getting the win in each game. Ryu got shelled in his return giving up six runs in four and two-thirds innings but after a season and a half, I am sure there was quite a bit of "mound rust" going on even though he had made several rehab starts in the Dodgers minor league system.
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.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Was There Ever Any Doubt?
Clayton Kershaw was named as the Opening Day Starter for the sixth season in a row. Was there ever any doubt that Kershaw was going to get the opening day nod? I am hard pressed to see who is going to follow Kershaw after opening day. Ryu will not be back until May, McCarthy will not be back until after the all star break, nobody knows what Kenta Maeda can do, and Alex Wood might be the Dodgers "X" factor. Newly signed Scott Kazmir will be penciled in as the #2 starter, and Brett Anderson will be the #3. Maeda might be the only right handed pitcher in the mix.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
....And The Rest Of The Starting Pitchers
Manager Don Mattingly and the Los Angeles Dodgers have had to cobble together the back end of the starting rotation made up of rookies, cast offs, and veterans acquired by trade after Hyun Jin-Ryu and Brandon McCarthy went down early in the season. The Dodgers ran the gamut of pitchers from veteran arms, young arms, and rebuilt arms from the scrap heap to the independent leagues and all walks of the professional baseball community. It seems like everyone had the opportunity to nail down those last two starting spots from Scott Baker and Brandon Beachy to Ian Thomas and Zach Lee.
After Greinke and Kershaw, the oft-injured Brett Anderson has managed to stay healthy and productive this season and hold down the third spot in the rotation. The Dodgers eventually settled on Mat Latos and Alex Wood for their final two starters. Mat Latos gets another opportunity in the rotation, facing the Chicago Cubs tonight and this might be his last opportunity as the Dodgers head into the stretch with a 2 1/2 game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
The Dodgers can expand their roster to 40 players on September 1 and if Latos has another bad outing, I look for the Dodgers to insert Mike Bolsinger back into the rotation. He was by far the most successful of the Dodgers open pitching tryouts throughout the balance of the season.
After Greinke and Kershaw, the oft-injured Brett Anderson has managed to stay healthy and productive this season and hold down the third spot in the rotation. The Dodgers eventually settled on Mat Latos and Alex Wood for their final two starters. Mat Latos gets another opportunity in the rotation, facing the Chicago Cubs tonight and this might be his last opportunity as the Dodgers head into the stretch with a 2 1/2 game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
The Dodgers can expand their roster to 40 players on September 1 and if Latos has another bad outing, I look for the Dodgers to insert Mike Bolsinger back into the rotation. He was by far the most successful of the Dodgers open pitching tryouts throughout the balance of the season.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Taking A Chance
This past offseason, the Dodgers took a big chance when they signed left handed starter Brett Anderson to a one year, $10 million contract. Now it is looking like the most important signing of the off season. Anderson was slated to be the #5 starter when the season began but due to season ending injuries to Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy, he has been boosted to the #3 slot in the rotation. Backup Catcher A.J. Ellis said after last night's seven inning, one run performance against the Diamondbacks that Anderson had often pitched like a #1 or #2.
The oft-injured Anderson has already started more games this season than he has since 2010, his second season with the Oakland A's, and has as many wins, five, as staff ace Clayton Kershaw and a better ERA than Kershaw, 3.00 versus 3.20. Anderson has overcome a variety of injuries since 2010 including a Tommy John surgery but it looks like this $10 million gamble is paying off for the Dodgers and looking like a bargain.
The oft-injured Anderson has already started more games this season than he has since 2010, his second season with the Oakland A's, and has as many wins, five, as staff ace Clayton Kershaw and a better ERA than Kershaw, 3.00 versus 3.20. Anderson has overcome a variety of injuries since 2010 including a Tommy John surgery but it looks like this $10 million gamble is paying off for the Dodgers and looking like a bargain.
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.
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.
Friday, September 20, 2013
A Nice Day For A Swim
The Dodgers locked up the National League West yesterday with a 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The celebration started on the field when Skip Schumaker secured the last out in Left Field in the bottom of the ninth inning, continued in the Dodgers locker room with the popping of champagne and some dance moves by Yasiel Puig, and then carried over to the swimming pool that sits beyond the right Center Field fence in the Diamondbacks park. Some of the Dodgers were jumping into the pool (fully clothed)and splashing around and jumping back out. Evidently the Diamondbacks had asked them not to do this before the game and the Dodgers probably would not have even thought about it until the Diamondbacks asked them not to. The big story should be the Dodgers won the National League West not that they went swimming. Some of the Diamondbacks took exception to the swim, most notably Willie Bloomquist, and referred to it as a "classless" act. Reliever Brandon McCarthy responded on Twitter that the Diamondbacks needed to work on what would win them the National League West next season rather than what the Dodgers did after the Dodgers won the West this season. William L. Marcy, a Senator from New York, first said in 1832 "to the victor belongs the spoils." The Dodgers won and can celebrate however they would like to and at least they did it with style. I hope Willie Bloomquist enjoys watching the Dodgers in the playoffs.
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