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.

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.

Baseball Tradition

One of the things I love about baseball is the tradition of the game. Dodgers rookie Scott Schebler got his first major league hit last night on the first pitch he ever saw in the Majors. Cardinals starter and right hander threw a fastball that was running away from him and Schebler hit a line drive between third base and shortstop for a single. The Cardinals immediately threw the ball in and tossed it to Dodgers third base coach Alonzo Bundy and he passed it on to the dugout for Schebler to keep the ball he hit for his first major league hit. Dodgers Hall Of Fame announcer Vin Scully commented that hopefully Schebler had "10 or 15 more years" of those left in him.

Two Teams

Take away two teams from the Los Angeles Dodgers season thus far and the Dodgers would be having a great season. The Dodgers cannot seem to get past the San Francisco Giants or the St. Louis Cardinals. If the Dodgers do get as far as the post season, they will more than likely be dealing with both of those teams. In the Dodgers defense, everyday seems to bring a new injury or a new personnel issue.

Outfielder Scott Schebler is the latest player to make his major league debut as Scott Van Slyke hit the Disabled List. Schebler went 1 for 3 last night. Schebler has hit at every minor league stop he has been at and hit with some power but he has struggled at AAA Oklahoma City this season.

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.

Baseball Is Back

The Los Angeles Dodgers opened up their Spring Training with a 6-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox yesterday. The wins and losses are not really important at this point, it is about getting ready for the season.

It is also an opportunity for the Dodgers prospects and rookies to work with the Major Leaguers and hopefully see how it is done. Veteran Shortstop Jimmy Rollins seems to want to assume an active leadership role with the team and he brings years of experience over from the Phillies.

Several of the Dodgers top prospects saw action in yesterday's game and none of the top prospects, with the exception of Joc Pederson, are expected to make the team out of camp. Scott Schebler, O'Koyea Dickson who hit the Dodgers lone home run, Austin Barnes, Darnell Sweeney, Alex Guerrero, Pederson, Corey Seager, and Kyle Jensen all got in some at bats. Guerrero and Pederson both went 2 for 2 and it is important that Pederson get off to a good start even though it is only Spring Training. He needs to build some confidence and show the top brass that he is ready to be in the Outfield mix.