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.

Scattered And Smothered

I had to borrow this headline from the Waffle House menu. Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up 11 hits but only 2 runs in 5 1/3 innings in yesterday's 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs but he hung around long enough to get his 10th win on the season. The Dodgers offense was led by Nick Punto's 2 RBI's and Yasiel Puig, who was on base 4 out of the 5 times he was at the plate. He had 2 singles, a walk, and was hit by a pitch and drove in a run. Puig also threw himself all over Wrigley Fields' outfield grass making one sliding catch, barely missed on an all out sprint into the right center field gap in which the ball popped out of his glove, and a missile of a throw from right field to Juan Uribe at third that almost nailed a sliding Junior Lake. A lot of people in baseball and in the press are questioning Puig's attitude and his respect for the game but you really cannot question his effort between the foul lines. He is raw and he makes his share of mistakes but the potential is unlimited. Manager Don Mattingly and Second Baseman Mark Ellis were not around to see the end of the game as they got tossed by Home Plate Umpire Alan Porter for arguing balls and strikes in the top of the fourth inning. Porter's strike zone was inconsistent all game and he called Ellis out on a pitch that was outside. Even the Cubs announcers commented that Porter gave Ellis a quick hook and Mattingly even a quicker one. In Mattingly's argument with Porter in defense of Ellis, the replays looked like Porter and Mattingly came in contact with each other. It looked to me like Porter initiated the contact. I am sure Major League Baseball's League Office will be taking a look at that one.

Beatin' The Yankees

I love watching the Dodgers beat the Yankees. I don't even care if it is in Spring Training. I still remember how much grief I took in the 6th and 7th grades in 1977-78 when the Yankees beat the Dodgers in those two World Series. I got a small measure of revenge in 1981 when the Dodgers got their measure of revenge but it wasn't as sweet because it was a strike-shortened, tainted victory. Mark Ellis hit a "duck snort" (a phrase used by White Sox announcer Ken "Hawk" Harrelson) over Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Dodgers a 3-2 win over the Yankees. Andre Ethier singles and stole second base allowing for Ellis' heroics. The Dodgers are 10-1 since the All Star break. Zach Greinke went 7 innings and only gave up two runs but closer Kenley Jansen got the victory by pitching a scoreless ninth. Juan Uribe hit the only homer for the Dodgers, his 6th.

I Can't Wait To Get On The Road Again

I had to borrow from the lyrics of music icon Willie Nelson as the Dodgers won their 10th straight road game, their most since 1954, and two shy of the franchise record of 12 in a row set in 1924. They beat the Toronto Blue Jays last night 8-3 in 10 innings as Mark Ellis hit his 5th homerun, a two run homer in the top of the 10th and Yasiel Puig followed with his 9th homerun. The Dodgers tacked on two more runs on an Andre Ethier double to win going away. Ethier had 4 hits and Puig 3 to lead the Dodgers offense. Brandon League (5-3) got the win for the second game in a row. I hate to see the Dodgers leave Toronto. They scored 32 runs in 3 games and the ball seemed to jump out of the Rogers Centre. The Dodgers won the final two games in come from behind fashion.

Mounting A Comeback

The Dodgers trailed the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 after 6 innings last night but came roaring back to secure a 10-9 win in gaining their fifth victory in a row. Jerry Hairston, Jr., and Andre Ethier hit solo home runs for the Dodgers and Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in the 8th inning that gave the Dodgers the lead. Chris Capuano had another subpar start for the Dodgers (4 1/3, 5 runs), Carlos Marmol, pitching in his first game as a Dodger, came in and poured gasoline on the fire (1 2/3, 3 runs), but Brandon League (2/3, 0 runs) pitched long enough to get the win (4-3). Kenley Jansen came in to nail down his 12th save but made it interesting by giving up a run on 2 hits and a walk in the 9th. Mark Ellis, Ethier, and Gonzalez all drove in 3 for the Dodgers. By adding Carlos Marmol to the roster, the Dodgers added another reliever that is very shaky on his best day. The Dodgers are in a pennant race now and I hope they are not betting the race on the chance that Marmol and Brandon League can regain their form from a couple of years ago.

The Kershaw Leap

In Football there is the Lambeau Leap and in Baseball, there is now the Kershaw Leap. In the top of the fifth inning with the Dodgers holding a commanding 9-1 lead, one of the Washington Nationals hit a screaming line drive towards third base. Nick Punto, all 5'9" of him, leaped high into the air to snag the line drive. The replay showed Clayton Kershaw leaping high into the air at the same time Punto did like he was going to catch the line drive himself. His eyes were glued on Punto the entire time and it was like he was willing Punti to catch the ball. That kind of passion displayed by Kershaw was just a natural display of a desire to win in a game, for all practical purposes, that was already over. He dispalyed that same sort of passion when he struck out twice, swinging at bad pitches. The Dodgers scored 7 runs in the top of the second on the strength of a lead off solo home run by Matt Kemp his 5th, fresh off the Disabled List, and a three-run home run by Hanley Ramirez, his 10th, both off hanging sliders from Nationals' starter Jordan Zimmerman. Matt Kemp ended up 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's, but twisted his ankle making the final out of the top of the 9th. It was a meaningless play in what ended up being a 9-2 win and now Kemp is going to miss even more time. Clayton Kershaw (9-6) pitched 7 innings, allowing 2 hits (both long, solo home runs by ex-Dodger Jayson Werth) and struck out 9 with no walks. Kemp, Carl Crawford, and Mark Ellis all had three hits and Kemp and Ramirez had 3 RBI's a piece. The Dodgers handed Jordan Zimmerman his first home loss on the season.

Capuano Catches The Fever

Chris Capuano came through with a great start last night (6 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 0 runs, and 8 K's) to keep the Dodgers hot streak alive and well. He improved his record to 3-6. Mark Ellis provided almost all of the offense for the Dodgers going 3 for 4 with 4 RBI's from the leadoff position. Its seems like a different player is coming through for the Dodgers every night. The Dodgers are 16-3 since June 22, the best record in the majors over that span, and are 46-45 on the season.

A Four Game Winning Streak

The Dodgers beat the Giants last night 6-5 and extend their winning streak to 4 games. A four game winning streak is great but more importantly, it has come against the National League West. Ex-closer Brandon League tried his best to blow a three-run lead in the ninth inning but Paco Rodriguez got the final two outs for his first save on the season. The last out came on the catch of the year by Matt Kemp, in his first game back from the Disabled List. Stephen Fife got the win (2-2) with 6 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs. The offense was led by Mark Ellis (4th homerun) and Hanley Ramirez (5th Homerun). Yasiel Puig put up an 0 for 4 but you can't expect him to do it every game. Mark Saxon of ESPNLosangeles.com reports that this is the deepest and healthiest the Dodgers have been all season with the exception of Outfielder Carl Crawford who is still about two weeks from returning. As hot as Yasiel Puig has been, Crawford may have a hard time getting his job back.

The Disabled List Gets Longer

The Dodgers placed Second Baseman Mark Ellis on the Disabled List making him the 9th Dodger to hit the Disabled List in the season's first 30 games. To put it in monetary terms, there are $60 million worth of Dodgers drawing paychecks and rehabbing. Six of the nine are pitchers (Chris Capuano just came off the DL) and three of those were slated to be in the starting rotation- Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly. We quickly discovered after two starts that Zach Greinke was not signed to be a Linebacker or an MMA fighter, Everyone in Dodger Land with the exception of maybe Chad Billingsley and the Dodger brass, knew that his elbow was going to fall apart after a few starts, and I think Ted Lilly has spent more time with the Dodgers on the Disabled List than he has on the field. Stephen Fife was called up from Albuquerque to replace Chad Billingsley and went on the Disabled List after one start. If I was a starting pitcher at Albuquerque and the Dodgers tried calling me up, I believe I would tell them "Hell no! I am staying here. Going to Los Angeles would not be good for my health." Shortstop Hanley Ramirez did make it on to the field for four games before he tore his hamstring. Throw in Scott Elbert and Shawn Tolleson and the Disabled List roster is set.

Clayton Kershaw Does It Again

I would hate to think that Clayton Kershaw has to throw a shutout every time he takes the mound for the Dodgers this season but that has been the case thus far. He pitched 7 shutout innings against the Pirates on Saturday night in his second start of the season extending his scoreless innings streak to 16 and Mark Ellis drove in the lone run in the third inning to give him all the run support he would need. Matt Kemp went hitless for the fourth time in 5 games but I am sure he will snap out of it. I remember the year, I believe it was somewhere around 1980 or '81, that Ron Cey, Steve Garvey and I believe it may have been Dave Lopes that all started the season in something like 1 for 20 slumps. Carl Crawford is the only Dodger that has really been hot at the plate hitting .438 to this point. The Dodgers go for the sweep against the Pittsburgh pirates tomorrow with Hyun Jin-Ryu on the mound in his second start of the season.

An Opening Day For The Record Books

Clayton Kershaw accomplished something on Opening Day that had not been accomplished since Bob Lemon of the New York Yankees in 1953. He pitched a shutout against the San Francisco Giants and hit the go ahead homerun in the bottom of the eight inning off San Francisco reliever George Kontos to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. It was a blast that cleared the Centerfield fence and was only his second extra base hit in 261 career at bats. The Dodgers added three more in the bottom of the eighth to win 4-0. Kershaw struck out 7, walked none, and threw a very economical 94 pitches. His curveball was off the charts. Is it to early for me to start campaigning for Kershaw for Cy Young/MVP of the National League? Carl Crawford and Mark Ellis led the way with two hits a piece and who needs a bullpen? Magic Johnson was a visible presence at the game and he is the face of the new Dodgers ownership. He was excited at Kershaw's homerun and was all over ESPN's highlights.

The Dodgers Off Season

The Dodgers big splash this off season was the signing of two starting pitchers. Zack Greinke, the prize of the free agent pitching class and $147 million in salary, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, a left-handed starting pitcher from South Korea and a $61 million investment. They also signed infielder Skip Schumaker away from the St. Louis Cardinals. He is a left-handed bat and will compete for playing time at Second Base with incumbent Mark Ellis. The Dodgers off season was prefaced during 2012 by several big trades that set the team up for this year. Outfielder and reclamation project Carl Crawford never stepped onto the field last year for the Dodgers, Hanley Ramirez will be moved back to his natural position of Shortstop, Adrian Gonzalez will look to regain his power stroke after only hitting 3 Homeruns after his trade to the Dodgers, and right-handed starting pitcher Josh Beckett who had a 2-3 record with a sub-3.00 Era after the trade. The Dodgers have 8 starting pitchers on their roster right now and if Chad Billingsley and his elbow are healthy, it looks like Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, and oft-injured Ted Lilly are the odd men out and depending on what happens over the course of Spring Training, might be traded before the beginning of the season. Shane Victorino and left-handed reliever Randy Choate were the big free agent losses for the Dodgers but they were quickly replaced. Victorino did not relish the thought of being a part-time player and if Scott Elbert cannot make it back from his second elbow surgery of the off season, Choate may be a bigger loss than the fans might think.

An Important Road Trip

The Dodgers won all three series on their 10-game road trip and went 7-3 and put themselves back in first place in the National League West. Chad Billingsley won his sixth straight decision in impressive fashion last night with 7 innings of shutout baseball versus the Atlanta Braves. Mark Ellis was the offensive star hitting a bases loaded double in the top of the ninth inning to seal the deal. They face the Giants at Dodger stadium tonight. I do not think it is a series that will decide the NL West right now but the Dodgers cannot afford to get swept and give the Giants any kind of momentum either. The Dodgers have who they want opening the series tonight in Clayton Kershaw. He faces off against Madison Bumgarner, a really tough, young left-hander. I have a Madison Bumgarner bobblehead courtesy of the Hickory Crawdads from a couple of years ago and if I thought it would help the Dodgers, I would turn it into a voodoo doll and start sticking pins in it but I will settle for a couple of Matt Kemp homeruns. A grand slam from Hanley Ramirez would be nice as well.

Making A Statement

Yesterdays 10-0 win over the San Francisco Giants is the kind of statement I was talking about. The Dodgers got solid pitching from Chad Billingsley (7 1/3 IP, 0 runs), power from Matt Kemp (a two-run homer), and ESPN Sportscenter making highlight defense from Andre Ethier. That leaves the Dodgers one game back of the Giants in the National League West. Hanley Ramirez is 6 for 16 with 6 RBI's since the trade and the trade seems to have energized the rest of the Dodgers as well. The Dodgers did roll out a different batting order last night. Mark Ellis batted leadoff with Andre Ethier batting second against a lefty Barry Zito. Manager Don Mattingly was hoping to get Ethier jump started by hopefully getting him better pitches to see batting in front of Kemp and Ramirez. He went 0 for 4 with a run scored. Nathan Eovaldi got a win in his first start with the Miami Marlins as well. I really hated to see him go but the Dodgers needed bats.

Five In A Row

The Dodgers have surged to five wins in a row including a sweep of the New York Mets. In Sunday's finale against the Mets I thought the Dodgers bullpen (and James Loney's glove and hands) had blown another one when the Mets tied it at 3 in the bottom of the ninth. Don Mattingly pushed all of the right buttons in extra innings. Pinch hitters Matt Treanor and Adam Kennedy drove in two runs a piece in the top of the 12th and rookie Josh Wall got the win with a scoreless inning of relief in his major league debut. Wall has been appearing on the Dodgers top prospects list in Baseball America since 2006 and he has always been projected as a starter. This is his first year as a closer and he was leading Albuquerque in saves when he was called up. The Dodgers opened the series with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 5-3 win as Chad Billingsley (5-9) came off the Disabled List and gave up one run in 6 innings for the win. Luis Cruz struck the big blow with a three-run homer in the 2nd inning and Mark Ellis drove in the other two.

Ned Colletti's Whiff 'N Poof Express

I remember seeing a BC comic strip one time where a sports reporter was interviewing the manager of the BC baseball team and he asked him if his teams lineup had a nickname like "Murder's Row" or the "Gas House Gang". The BC manager replied yes, he did, they were called the "Whiff 'N Poof Express".

That comic strip reminded me of Ned Colletti's free agent acquisitions in the past several years. This years crop of Catcher Matt Treanor, and infielders Mark Ellis, Adam Kennedy, and Jerry Hairston, Jr. are all at the tail end of their careers and are all utility men at best. Mark Ellis and Adam Kennedy are probably going to be penciled in as starters at Second and Third Base, respectively, and Catcher Matt Treanor may end up being the starter at Catcher.

Colletti's track record with these signings is not too good and I can use last years signing of Marcus Thames and Jay Gibbons as a reference point. I can only hope that someone emerges from the non-roster invitees or the minor leagues to take over a few positions.