As a Los Angeles Dodgers fan and a baseball fan, you have to be excited about the potential of shortstop Dee Gordon. In last nights game against the San Diego Padres, he got on base 5 out of 6 times via 3 hits and two walks, doubled, stole 3 bases, and drove in AJ Ellis with the winning run in the 11th inning.
Good things happen when he is on base and the Dodgers haven't had this an exciting of a leadoff hitter in forever and he is still learning the game. He did not really start playing baseball until late in his high school career. He was a relatively high draft pick but it was all based on potential. It looks like the Dodgers scouts and brass made a good call on this one.
Andre Ethier has also gotten off to a hot start. 6 RBI's in 3 games and most of his at bats have produced screaming line drives. A 3-0 start is a good way to start the season and Aaron Harang goes for the sweep this afternoon.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Chad Billingsley
Chad Billingsley got off to an extremely strong start to the 2012 season by pitching 8 1/3 innings of shutout baseball against the San Diego Padres last night. He struck out 11 and walked 1.
The big knock against Billingsley has always been his consistency. He has usually started strong and faltered after the All-Star break. This was the kind of start he needed and hopefully will answer a lot of questions Dodgers fans had about whether he can finally harness his potential. He put in the work this spring without really getting any results but now it counts.
He had a rocky spring training and even spoke of scrapping his cutter altogether. He slightly altered his motion to give him more balance and consistency and it looked like it all came together last night. The cutter and slider were consistent and sharp into the 8th inning and he maintained his velocity of 90-93 MPH into the 9th.
Andre Ethier also had a strong performance against the left-handed starter for the Padres, doubling and tripling and driving in 4 runs. He was really driving the ball. There was questions in the spring about whether Ethier would possibly sit against left-handed pitching this season after he struggled last season against lefties. Manager Don Mattingly sat James Loney last night.
The Dodgers are 2-0 and the two newest additions, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang are up next, and a sweep would be really sweet.
The big knock against Billingsley has always been his consistency. He has usually started strong and faltered after the All-Star break. This was the kind of start he needed and hopefully will answer a lot of questions Dodgers fans had about whether he can finally harness his potential. He put in the work this spring without really getting any results but now it counts.
He had a rocky spring training and even spoke of scrapping his cutter altogether. He slightly altered his motion to give him more balance and consistency and it looked like it all came together last night. The cutter and slider were consistent and sharp into the 8th inning and he maintained his velocity of 90-93 MPH into the 9th.
Andre Ethier also had a strong performance against the left-handed starter for the Padres, doubling and tripling and driving in 4 runs. He was really driving the ball. There was questions in the spring about whether Ethier would possibly sit against left-handed pitching this season after he struggled last season against lefties. Manager Don Mattingly sat James Loney last night.
The Dodgers are 2-0 and the two newest additions, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang are up next, and a sweep would be really sweet.
Friday, April 6, 2012
The Los Angeles Dodgers Take The Opener
The Los Angeles Dodgers took the opener from the San Diego Padres last night 5-3. Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw had the flu and pitched three scoreless innings before being taken out of the game. He also had the first Dodgers hit of the season.
I hope the Dodgers offense was not in midseason form. They scored their first two runs on bases loaded walks in the top of the fourth inning. Leadoff man Dee Gordon struck out three times but hit a deep drive that Padres centerfielder Cameron Maybin misplayed into a three base error and later scored the Dodgers third run. Matt Kemp hit a homerun in the top of the eighth to seal the deal for the Dodgers.
Dee Gordon's defense was impressive. He displayed a strong arm on two different occasions. The first was on Cameron Maybin's slow bouncer to the left of short in the bottom of the first. The second was on a deflection off the hip of pitcher Josh Lindblom that went up the middle. Gordon made a diving stop and then made a strong throw to nail the runner by half a step.
The Dodgers pitching was average. Clayton kershaw gutted it out through three innings, giving way to Josh Lindblom who threw two scoreless innings and picked up the win. Shaky innings by Mike MacDougal and Kenley Jansen let the Padres hang around. Jansen gave up Maybin's bomb in the eighth that drove in two. Javy Guerra came in to close it out and get his first save of the season.
I hope the Dodgers offense was not in midseason form. They scored their first two runs on bases loaded walks in the top of the fourth inning. Leadoff man Dee Gordon struck out three times but hit a deep drive that Padres centerfielder Cameron Maybin misplayed into a three base error and later scored the Dodgers third run. Matt Kemp hit a homerun in the top of the eighth to seal the deal for the Dodgers.
Dee Gordon's defense was impressive. He displayed a strong arm on two different occasions. The first was on Cameron Maybin's slow bouncer to the left of short in the bottom of the first. The second was on a deflection off the hip of pitcher Josh Lindblom that went up the middle. Gordon made a diving stop and then made a strong throw to nail the runner by half a step.
The Dodgers pitching was average. Clayton kershaw gutted it out through three innings, giving way to Josh Lindblom who threw two scoreless innings and picked up the win. Shaky innings by Mike MacDougal and Kenley Jansen let the Padres hang around. Jansen gave up Maybin's bomb in the eighth that drove in two. Javy Guerra came in to close it out and get his first save of the season.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
A New Beginning
It is time for the 2012 season to begin and that is what this season is: A New Beginning. The Dodgers finally have new owners in place as a group headed by Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2 Billion. That is hard to type much less say.
With the ownership question out of the way, I look for the Dodgers to be more active next off season in the free agent market. This years roster has already been set as it was announced the other day that relief pitcher Josh Lindblom and shortstop Justin Sellers nabbed the last two roster spots. Lindblom will probably be sent back to Albuquerque when Ted Lilly comes off the Disabled List on April 14th and the Dodgers need a fifth starter. My man Josh Fields did not make the roster has he really went in the tank the last two or three weeks of Spring Training and his batting average really took a nose dive. Justin Sellers had a solid spring and earned the last infield spot although I do believe Fields offered more versatility and more power off the bench.
With the ownership question out of the way, I look for the Dodgers to be more active next off season in the free agent market. This years roster has already been set as it was announced the other day that relief pitcher Josh Lindblom and shortstop Justin Sellers nabbed the last two roster spots. Lindblom will probably be sent back to Albuquerque when Ted Lilly comes off the Disabled List on April 14th and the Dodgers need a fifth starter. My man Josh Fields did not make the roster has he really went in the tank the last two or three weeks of Spring Training and his batting average really took a nose dive. Justin Sellers had a solid spring and earned the last infield spot although I do believe Fields offered more versatility and more power off the bench.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Jerry Sands
Jerry Sands got sent down to the minors yesterday which really surprised no one with the kind of numbers he has posted this spring. It is the best move for him and for the Dodgers right now because he really needs some steady at bats. Getting spot duty and at bats off the bench at the major league level may hinder his development right now.
I am really rooting for Jerry Sands. He came out of Catawba College which is only a little over an hour away from me so I guess you could call him a local product. He came up with a lot of hype last year but only produced two homeruns in a May call up. He was sent back down in June but he really tore it up in a September audition and gave the Dodgers and their fans up for the power hitters future.
When I see what Jerry Sands has done so far in the minors and his brief career in the pros, it reminds me of Billy Ashley. He was the wunderkind of the 1990's for the Dodgers but in his brief career with the Dodgers he only posted 25 homeruns, 77 Runs Batted In, and a .233 Batting Average spread out over 6 seasons. He finished his career with the Boston Red Sox. He was just never able to translate his minor league power to the major league level.
Here's hoping that Jerry Sands can figure it out in Albuquerque and gets a legitimate chance in Los Angeles sometime this season.
I am really rooting for Jerry Sands. He came out of Catawba College which is only a little over an hour away from me so I guess you could call him a local product. He came up with a lot of hype last year but only produced two homeruns in a May call up. He was sent back down in June but he really tore it up in a September audition and gave the Dodgers and their fans up for the power hitters future.
When I see what Jerry Sands has done so far in the minors and his brief career in the pros, it reminds me of Billy Ashley. He was the wunderkind of the 1990's for the Dodgers but in his brief career with the Dodgers he only posted 25 homeruns, 77 Runs Batted In, and a .233 Batting Average spread out over 6 seasons. He finished his career with the Boston Red Sox. He was just never able to translate his minor league power to the major league level.
Here's hoping that Jerry Sands can figure it out in Albuquerque and gets a legitimate chance in Los Angeles sometime this season.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Dodgers Preview On The MLB Network
I just had a chance to watch the MLB Network's preview of the 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers. The Baseball Prospectus and the MLB Network predicted the Dodgers would just be average this year. The Baseball Prospectus predicted a 78-84 finish and in last place in the National League West. Mitch Williams and Larry Bowa predicted a few games over .500 finish and 3rd place in the National League West.
A lot of variables go into a major league season with injuries probably being the number one variable. The Cincinnati Reds have already lost newly signed closer Ryan Madson for the season due to an elbow injury. No one can predict how San Francisco Giants Catcher Buster Posey will bounce back from his leg injury.
The Dodgers have come out of Spring Training relatively injury free with the exception of Blake Hawksworth and Matt Guerrier and the normal pulls and tweaks. The position players are all coming out relatively intact and that is a good sign.
The Dodgers 25 man roster was virtually set going into camp with the exception of a reserve outfield and infield position and a couple of bullpen spots. They have Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw leading the charge and I believe they can win the National League West. They will have to win with what they have coming out of Spring Training. There is not much available from the minors so any major injuries and the season could go down the tubes quickly.
This is year number two of Don Mattingly's reign as Dodgers skipper and they finished strong last year and it would be great to start out fast and get to the All-Star break within about 5 games of first place.
A lot of variables go into a major league season with injuries probably being the number one variable. The Cincinnati Reds have already lost newly signed closer Ryan Madson for the season due to an elbow injury. No one can predict how San Francisco Giants Catcher Buster Posey will bounce back from his leg injury.
The Dodgers have come out of Spring Training relatively injury free with the exception of Blake Hawksworth and Matt Guerrier and the normal pulls and tweaks. The position players are all coming out relatively intact and that is a good sign.
The Dodgers 25 man roster was virtually set going into camp with the exception of a reserve outfield and infield position and a couple of bullpen spots. They have Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw leading the charge and I believe they can win the National League West. They will have to win with what they have coming out of Spring Training. There is not much available from the minors so any major injuries and the season could go down the tubes quickly.
This is year number two of Don Mattingly's reign as Dodgers skipper and they finished strong last year and it would be great to start out fast and get to the All-Star break within about 5 games of first place.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Fields And Sullivan
Two Non-Roster Invitees making a good impression thus far in Spring Training are Josh Fields and Corey Sullivan. Fields is a natural Third Baseman, being drafted and coming up thru the Chicago White Sox organization and Sullivan is an Outfielder that came up thru the Colorado Rockies organization.
Both are long shots to make the team but both have displayed the versatility to play multiple positions. Fields has logged some innings at First Base as a possible backup/platoon for James Loney and Sullivan has played all three outfield positions.
I like Fields as the alternative to Adam Kennedy as the backup at the corners bcause he is younger and has more pop in his bat. Kennedy is a left-handed bat coming off the bench and he can also play the middle infield positions if the need arises.
Unless Jerry Sands falls completely on his face, the outfield rotation is set with Juan Rivera, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Tony Gwynn Jr., and Jerry Sands. Sullivan is a left-handed bat but he is fighting an uphill battle and the recently added Matt Angle also adds some depth.
Both are long shots to make the team but both have displayed the versatility to play multiple positions. Fields has logged some innings at First Base as a possible backup/platoon for James Loney and Sullivan has played all three outfield positions.
I like Fields as the alternative to Adam Kennedy as the backup at the corners bcause he is younger and has more pop in his bat. Kennedy is a left-handed bat coming off the bench and he can also play the middle infield positions if the need arises.
Unless Jerry Sands falls completely on his face, the outfield rotation is set with Juan Rivera, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Tony Gwynn Jr., and Jerry Sands. Sullivan is a left-handed bat but he is fighting an uphill battle and the recently added Matt Angle also adds some depth.
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