Despite putting forth his best performance in his young career on Sunday, Matt Magill is the odd man out in LA, as he's been sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room for the returning Ted Lilly. Lilly will soon rejoin the rotation, which gets more and more southpaw by the minute.
With an off day coming on Thursday, it's unknown if Lilly will even be needed to make a start anytime soon. If the Dodgers do skip him, then he's looking at possibly May 28 against the Angels as his next one. That will give him about a week of long relief out of the bullpen.
Lilly's only made two starts this year. His first one was good (5 IP, 1 ER, 7 K vs. the Mets), and his second one not so good (3 IP, 4 ER, 2 K vs. the Rockies). He hasn't appeared since that April 29 start against the Rox. He last pitched in a rehab game with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.
As for Magill, he can leave LA knowing that he showed definite signs of improvement based on his last start. He still has a ways to go, so sending him back down isn't too surprising. Walks are still a concern, as he has 13 in four starts, but he did strikeout eight against the Braves. With the way these guys fall like flies, don't be surprised if he's back soon.
Showing posts with label Lilly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lilly. Show all posts
Monday, May 20, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Injuries, injuries, and more injuries continue to hammer the Dodgers
Just when you thought the Dodgers might finally be getting somewhat healthy again, add Hanley Ramirez to the list of the people we won't be seeing for awhile... again.
Playing in only his fourth game since returning from the DL with a torn thumb ligament, Ramirez hurt his hamstring trying to go first to third on a single, and had to be helped off the field. How bad was it? Don Mattingly compared it to Matt Kemp's injury to last year, which we all know completely derailed his season.
Ouch.
As a Lakers' fan as well, the Dodgers make that team look healthy. I never thought I'd see anything quite like I watched this winter and spring with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Steve Blake, Jordan Hill, and Jodie Meeks all going down at one point or another. And that's not to mention Dwight Howard never really being healthy, either.
But, I was wrong. The Dodgers are already looking like an infirmary unit a mere 28 games into the season. Do the math, and you'll see that only 17% of the season has been played. Here's what Mattingly and the Dodgers have had to endure this season:
Zach Greinke (broken collarbone, out two months)
Chad Billingsley (Tommy John surgery, out one year)
Scott Elbert (left elbow surgery, return unknown)
Ted Lilly (strained rib cage, return unknown)
Chris Capuano (strained left calf, will return soon)
Stephen Fife (right shoulder bursitis, return unknown)
Shawn Tolleson (lower back surgery, out 3-5 months)
Now you can add in Ramirez to miss another chunk of time after missing about a month with his thumb injury. Plus there's Adrian Gonzalez getting scratched in recent games with leg and neck injuries. Mark Ellis is nursing a sore quad, and could quite possibly be heading to the DL. Carl Crawford is working through a hamstring strain and has missed three games, but did pinch-hit on Friday.
Kemp hasn't missed a game this year, but has only one homer and five doubles. In other words, it's obvious that he's trying to work through the bad shoulder that he had surgically repaired last season. Very Dwight Howard-like it seems. Commendable that he's playing, but a concern that the numbers aren't close to what they could be.
Any team that goes through injuries like this is bound to struggle some. But for a team that has a sky-high payroll and expectations, and a paper-thin bench, the Dodgers feel the sting of these injuries even more. I can tell you this: nobody feels sorry for them. They traded for the big names last season, signed a couple of big names this offseason, and practically declared this season World Series or bust. So far, bust is winning.
At some point, you would hope, the Dodgers will get healthy bodies back on the field at once. Maybe not completely healthy, but more than they are right now. I guess all they can do is try to hold serve and pray nothing else goes wrong. Can you imagine if guys like Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen also go down? Yikes. Can't help but wonder now.
Playing in only his fourth game since returning from the DL with a torn thumb ligament, Ramirez hurt his hamstring trying to go first to third on a single, and had to be helped off the field. How bad was it? Don Mattingly compared it to Matt Kemp's injury to last year, which we all know completely derailed his season.
Ouch.
As a Lakers' fan as well, the Dodgers make that team look healthy. I never thought I'd see anything quite like I watched this winter and spring with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Steve Blake, Jordan Hill, and Jodie Meeks all going down at one point or another. And that's not to mention Dwight Howard never really being healthy, either.
But, I was wrong. The Dodgers are already looking like an infirmary unit a mere 28 games into the season. Do the math, and you'll see that only 17% of the season has been played. Here's what Mattingly and the Dodgers have had to endure this season:
Zach Greinke (broken collarbone, out two months)
Chad Billingsley (Tommy John surgery, out one year)
Scott Elbert (left elbow surgery, return unknown)
Ted Lilly (strained rib cage, return unknown)
Chris Capuano (strained left calf, will return soon)
Stephen Fife (right shoulder bursitis, return unknown)
Shawn Tolleson (lower back surgery, out 3-5 months)
Now you can add in Ramirez to miss another chunk of time after missing about a month with his thumb injury. Plus there's Adrian Gonzalez getting scratched in recent games with leg and neck injuries. Mark Ellis is nursing a sore quad, and could quite possibly be heading to the DL. Carl Crawford is working through a hamstring strain and has missed three games, but did pinch-hit on Friday.
Kemp hasn't missed a game this year, but has only one homer and five doubles. In other words, it's obvious that he's trying to work through the bad shoulder that he had surgically repaired last season. Very Dwight Howard-like it seems. Commendable that he's playing, but a concern that the numbers aren't close to what they could be.
Any team that goes through injuries like this is bound to struggle some. But for a team that has a sky-high payroll and expectations, and a paper-thin bench, the Dodgers feel the sting of these injuries even more. I can tell you this: nobody feels sorry for them. They traded for the big names last season, signed a couple of big names this offseason, and practically declared this season World Series or bust. So far, bust is winning.
At some point, you would hope, the Dodgers will get healthy bodies back on the field at once. Maybe not completely healthy, but more than they are right now. I guess all they can do is try to hold serve and pray nothing else goes wrong. Can you imagine if guys like Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen also go down? Yikes. Can't help but wonder now.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
An updated look at the rotation candidates
As we currently stand, there are 13 games left in Spring Training. Here's another look at how the rotation is shaping up, as the battle for the fifth starter heats up.
Clayton Kershaw
2-2, 19 IP, 20 K, 4 BB, 3.79 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
Kershaw recently took a liner off of his calf, but as usual, wasn't affected at all. Rumor has it he's pretty good. 'Nuff said.
Zack Greinke
0-0, 5 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, 3.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
Obviously, this hasn't been the start to his Dodger tenure that Greinke has hoped for. On the good side, his elbow injury appears to be minor, with the only setback being that he might not be ready for his first start. After that, he appears good to go. With the money he makes, the Dodgers will take every precaution necessary, especially since they have plenty of other starters who can plug a gap in the meantime.
Chad Billingsley
0-1, 7 2/3 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 7.04 ERA, 1.96 WHIP
The numbers are high, but the good news is that he's even pitching at all. I still have plenty of worries about Billingsley lasting all year, or with him being effective at all if he's not 100%.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
1-2, 16 1/3 IP, 18 K, 6 BB, 4.41 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
Ryu has gotten progressively better as he settles into pitching to MLB hitters. His last start against the Brewers he surrendered one run in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six while allowing only three hits. I really like him towards the end of the rotation, as hitters aren't used to him yet, and he has the stuff to matchup very well against other 4-5 starters.
Josh Beckett
0-0, 9 1/3 IP, 11 K, 3 BB, 0.96 ERA, 0.75 WHIP
Speaking of pitchers I like this year, Beckett is right atop that list. He showed last year that coming to LA has dramatically helped his career, and I expect him to be great this year as well. A full season in LA will show that he still can get it done, and very well, too.
Chris Capuano
0-1, 9 1/3 IP, 10 K, 2 BB, 10.61 ERA, 1.61 WHIP
Not the greatest of starts for Capuano, who hasn't gotten going at all. The K/BB split is encouraging, though. The longball has killed him, as he's already given up four, so if he figures out how to cut down on that, he'll be fine.
Aaron Harang
1-0, 9 IP, 4 K, 5 BB, 10.00 ERA, 2.44 WHIP
Yikes. It's hard to believe his record is even 1-0 with numbers like those, even if it is Spring Training. When opponents are hitting .395 against you, it's probably not the best way to earn a rotation spot. It's hard to imagine that happening at this point. He better get ready for long relief or another team.
Ted Lilly
0-2, 6 2/3 IP, 5 K, 5 BB, 9.45 ERA, 2.40 WHIP
Once again we have a candidate for the #5 spot who has awful numbers. Lilly has the most to prove, as he missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury. And like Harang, I can't see how he gets that last spot. Just ugly numbers to say the least.
Clayton Kershaw
2-2, 19 IP, 20 K, 4 BB, 3.79 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
Kershaw recently took a liner off of his calf, but as usual, wasn't affected at all. Rumor has it he's pretty good. 'Nuff said.
Zack Greinke
0-0, 5 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, 3.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
Obviously, this hasn't been the start to his Dodger tenure that Greinke has hoped for. On the good side, his elbow injury appears to be minor, with the only setback being that he might not be ready for his first start. After that, he appears good to go. With the money he makes, the Dodgers will take every precaution necessary, especially since they have plenty of other starters who can plug a gap in the meantime.
Chad Billingsley
0-1, 7 2/3 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 7.04 ERA, 1.96 WHIP
The numbers are high, but the good news is that he's even pitching at all. I still have plenty of worries about Billingsley lasting all year, or with him being effective at all if he's not 100%.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
1-2, 16 1/3 IP, 18 K, 6 BB, 4.41 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
Ryu has gotten progressively better as he settles into pitching to MLB hitters. His last start against the Brewers he surrendered one run in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six while allowing only three hits. I really like him towards the end of the rotation, as hitters aren't used to him yet, and he has the stuff to matchup very well against other 4-5 starters.
Josh Beckett
0-0, 9 1/3 IP, 11 K, 3 BB, 0.96 ERA, 0.75 WHIP
Speaking of pitchers I like this year, Beckett is right atop that list. He showed last year that coming to LA has dramatically helped his career, and I expect him to be great this year as well. A full season in LA will show that he still can get it done, and very well, too.
Chris Capuano
0-1, 9 1/3 IP, 10 K, 2 BB, 10.61 ERA, 1.61 WHIP
Not the greatest of starts for Capuano, who hasn't gotten going at all. The K/BB split is encouraging, though. The longball has killed him, as he's already given up four, so if he figures out how to cut down on that, he'll be fine.
Aaron Harang
1-0, 9 IP, 4 K, 5 BB, 10.00 ERA, 2.44 WHIP
Yikes. It's hard to believe his record is even 1-0 with numbers like those, even if it is Spring Training. When opponents are hitting .395 against you, it's probably not the best way to earn a rotation spot. It's hard to imagine that happening at this point. He better get ready for long relief or another team.
Ted Lilly
0-2, 6 2/3 IP, 5 K, 5 BB, 9.45 ERA, 2.40 WHIP
Once again we have a candidate for the #5 spot who has awful numbers. Lilly has the most to prove, as he missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury. And like Harang, I can't see how he gets that last spot. Just ugly numbers to say the least.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The battle for the fifth starter
While plenty of Dodgers contribute to their team's success in the World Baseball Classic, back in Arizona, the Dodgers are still trying to figure out who will round out the starting rotation. Assuming that Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley, and Josh Beckett are the first four, let's take a look at the men in contention for the last slot.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
3 games (2 starts), 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP
I still contend that the Dodgers didn't sign Ryu just have him pitch out of the bullpen, but let's assume that nothing is etched in stone. As you can see, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for him, as evidenced by his high ERA and WHIP. What's definitely encouraging are his low walks and high strikeouts, a sign that the control is there. You have to cut him some slack to get adjusted to US hitters, so I think he'll be fine and get a rotation spot.
Chris Capuano
2 games (1 start), 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 10.80 ERA, 1.60 WHIP
These numbers come with a giant asterisk, as he went four innings against the Reds on Friday before rain washed out all the numbers. In that start, he gave up only one run on two hits, striking out three. Add it all up, his ERA should be 7.00, which isn't great, but a heck of a lot better than 10.80. He showed the Dodgers' brass last season how effective he can be at the start of the season with a fresh arm, so he still has a great chance of cracking the rotation. If his fragile arm can handle it, perhaps he'd be used out the bullpen as insurance against an injury to start the season as well.
Aaron Harang
2 games (2 starts), 5 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 10.80 ERA, 2.80 WHIP
There's really no other way of saying this, but Harang has stunk so far. Yes, it's only two starts, but he's really put himself in a hole with numbers like that. Here's another eye-popping stat: teams are hitting .440 against him. Yikes! At this point he sure looks like the odd man out, as reports surfaced that the Orioles and Brewers scouted him recently. I'd be surprised if he sticks around the Dodgers much longer, but as they well know, injuries can strike at any time, so maybe they'll keep him around a little while longer just in case.
Ted Lilly
1 game (no starts), 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 4.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP
It's hard to really evaluate Lilly at this point, as his first official start was scratched earlier in the week because of the flu. He's practically the forgotten man at this point, as he missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury, and would appear to have to do something special to get that fifth slot. I don't like his chances at all, but because of his solid track record starting, maybe he can impress the rest of March.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
3 games (2 starts), 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP
I still contend that the Dodgers didn't sign Ryu just have him pitch out of the bullpen, but let's assume that nothing is etched in stone. As you can see, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for him, as evidenced by his high ERA and WHIP. What's definitely encouraging are his low walks and high strikeouts, a sign that the control is there. You have to cut him some slack to get adjusted to US hitters, so I think he'll be fine and get a rotation spot.
Chris Capuano
2 games (1 start), 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 10.80 ERA, 1.60 WHIP
These numbers come with a giant asterisk, as he went four innings against the Reds on Friday before rain washed out all the numbers. In that start, he gave up only one run on two hits, striking out three. Add it all up, his ERA should be 7.00, which isn't great, but a heck of a lot better than 10.80. He showed the Dodgers' brass last season how effective he can be at the start of the season with a fresh arm, so he still has a great chance of cracking the rotation. If his fragile arm can handle it, perhaps he'd be used out the bullpen as insurance against an injury to start the season as well.
Aaron Harang
2 games (2 starts), 5 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 10.80 ERA, 2.80 WHIP
There's really no other way of saying this, but Harang has stunk so far. Yes, it's only two starts, but he's really put himself in a hole with numbers like that. Here's another eye-popping stat: teams are hitting .440 against him. Yikes! At this point he sure looks like the odd man out, as reports surfaced that the Orioles and Brewers scouted him recently. I'd be surprised if he sticks around the Dodgers much longer, but as they well know, injuries can strike at any time, so maybe they'll keep him around a little while longer just in case.
Ted Lilly
1 game (no starts), 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 4.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP
It's hard to really evaluate Lilly at this point, as his first official start was scratched earlier in the week because of the flu. He's practically the forgotten man at this point, as he missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury, and would appear to have to do something special to get that fifth slot. I don't like his chances at all, but because of his solid track record starting, maybe he can impress the rest of March.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Taking a look at the starting rotation
The one guy the Dodgers thought they'd get at the trade deadline, Ryan Dempster, ended up going to the Rangers. While the Dodgers did add Shane Victorino and Hanley Ramirez to bolster the offense, and Randy Choate and Brandon League to do the same in the bullpen, there's no question that the rotation is a bit of a question mark.
Let's take a look at the rotation going forward.
Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 2.95 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 143 K's) - The clear ace of the staff, Kershaw reminded everyone just how he won the Cy Young Award last year with a complete game shutout of the Giants last Sunday. That was very encouraging considering he was rocked by the Cardinals in the start before that. Another area he's improved in - he hasn't given up a homer in five July starts. He had 11 total before that.
With no Dempster in the fold, the Dodgers need Kershaw to be the Alpha Dog from here on out. He can match up with anybody in the first game of a playoff series, so he'll be leaned on heavily to get the job done. I do think there's a little more pressure on him because the trade was never made, but I'm not worried about it. He's as tough a player as there is.
Chad Billingsley (6-9, 3.89, 1.35, 106) - There's no question that Billingsley has been a much more effective pitcher since he returned from the DL. In his last two starts, he's 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA. In the five starts before that, he was 0-5 with a 6.21 ERA. So it's not hard to see that the rest he was given in the middle of July has probably worked.
But, as has been the case all of his career, just when you think he may have things figured out, he gives you plenty of reasons to think otherwise. That's just the way it is. But make no mistake about it - Billingsley could be the key to the Dodgers' postseason success from here on out. Imagine if he really does pitch well the rest of the year? He would make a great 1-2 punch with Kershaw. Or, it could go completely the other way, and with no Dempster, the rotation is even thinner and not nearly as feared in the playoffs.
Chris Capuano (10-7, 3.33, 1.22, 119) - There's plenty to like about how Capuano's season has gone... but there's also reason to be a bit concerned. Two starts ago he was 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA. But after being lit up by the Cardinals and Diamondbacks, his numbers have gone up. It's not unfair to wonder if his arm is a bit tired, especially with the injury history he's had.
Another reason for concern is that he's historically a worse pitcher in the second half. Last season, he was 3-4 with a 5.08 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. Over his career, he's 21-35 with a 4.98 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Compare those numbers to 46-36, 3.70, and 1.29 in the first half, and you can see why I'm raising a red flag here.
About the only thing we can hope for is that those second half numbers don't pop up again, and his last two starts are just a bump in the road towards a great season. As of now, he'd pitch Game 2 or 3 in the playoffs. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen.
Aaron Harang (7-6, 3.76, 1.38) - Speaking of coming off a bad start, that would be Harang. He got torched for seven runs in five innings against the Diamondbacks on Monday, and looked every bit the part of a #5 starter and not the #3 he was before that. To his defense, that's the most runs he's given up all year, and actually had four great starts in July before that.
I do have to remind everyone that while Harang has pitched well this year, I'm a little mixed on if we can expect a sub-4 ERA when it's all said and done. He did do it last year in San Diego, going 14-7 with a 3.64 ERA, another pitcher's ballpark if there ever was one. Not to sound too down on him, because I do think he's pitched very well this year, but I just wonder if he can be counted on as a #4 type of starter in the playoffs.
Stephen Fife (0-0, 1.46, 1.30) - He's only made two starts (with the third one coming up very shortly as I type this), so who knows if he'll be counted on down the stretch. But, much to his credit, he's looked really good in those two starts. He's held down the Phillies and Giants for one run each. Can't do much better than that.
With Ted Lilly on his way back, and even Rubby De La Rosa, I don't think Fife will be playing much of a role down the stretch. Of course that could always change, especially if he keeps surrendering only one run per start. Then he would be hard to deny.
Currently on the DL, but due back this season:
Ted Lilly (5-1, 3.14, 1.13) - If there is a silver lining to the whole Dempster thing, it's that the Dodgers are basically acquiring a starter in Lilly, who's been on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation, and hasn't started since May 23. He won five of his first six starts before being knocked around a bit and going down with the injury.
Assuming Lilly comes back with full health, then I really like what he can do in the stretch run. Let's not forgot how good he was in August and September last year. In 11 starts, he gave up only 16 earned runs, and was clearly one of the best pitchers in baseball at that time. It's not like the Dodgers were playing for anything at the time so there was little pressure, but that's still pretty awesome.
I can see Lilly pitching anywhere between Game 2 and 4 if he's feeling good. I could be jumping the gun a bit, but if his rehab starts go as planned and he does return in mid-August, then he'll have plenty of time to get back into a groove. As you can tell, I'm excited about his return.
Rubby De La Rosa (Injured all year) - Remember him? Well, he's been out since last season with Tommy John surgery. Like Lilly, he also has been slowing coming back into action with rehab outings. He started 10 games last year, and had a 4-5 record with a a 3.71 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
I'm not sure what we can expect from him this season other than depth. From what I saw of him last year, he does have good stuff, so maybe he can give some innings out of the 'pen. I'd be surprised if he ends up starting at any point. The only way that would happen is if there's more injuries. Let's hope not.
Let's take a look at the rotation going forward.
Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 2.95 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 143 K's) - The clear ace of the staff, Kershaw reminded everyone just how he won the Cy Young Award last year with a complete game shutout of the Giants last Sunday. That was very encouraging considering he was rocked by the Cardinals in the start before that. Another area he's improved in - he hasn't given up a homer in five July starts. He had 11 total before that.
With no Dempster in the fold, the Dodgers need Kershaw to be the Alpha Dog from here on out. He can match up with anybody in the first game of a playoff series, so he'll be leaned on heavily to get the job done. I do think there's a little more pressure on him because the trade was never made, but I'm not worried about it. He's as tough a player as there is.
Chad Billingsley (6-9, 3.89, 1.35, 106) - There's no question that Billingsley has been a much more effective pitcher since he returned from the DL. In his last two starts, he's 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA. In the five starts before that, he was 0-5 with a 6.21 ERA. So it's not hard to see that the rest he was given in the middle of July has probably worked.
But, as has been the case all of his career, just when you think he may have things figured out, he gives you plenty of reasons to think otherwise. That's just the way it is. But make no mistake about it - Billingsley could be the key to the Dodgers' postseason success from here on out. Imagine if he really does pitch well the rest of the year? He would make a great 1-2 punch with Kershaw. Or, it could go completely the other way, and with no Dempster, the rotation is even thinner and not nearly as feared in the playoffs.
Chris Capuano (10-7, 3.33, 1.22, 119) - There's plenty to like about how Capuano's season has gone... but there's also reason to be a bit concerned. Two starts ago he was 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA. But after being lit up by the Cardinals and Diamondbacks, his numbers have gone up. It's not unfair to wonder if his arm is a bit tired, especially with the injury history he's had.
Another reason for concern is that he's historically a worse pitcher in the second half. Last season, he was 3-4 with a 5.08 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. Over his career, he's 21-35 with a 4.98 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Compare those numbers to 46-36, 3.70, and 1.29 in the first half, and you can see why I'm raising a red flag here.
About the only thing we can hope for is that those second half numbers don't pop up again, and his last two starts are just a bump in the road towards a great season. As of now, he'd pitch Game 2 or 3 in the playoffs. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen.
Aaron Harang (7-6, 3.76, 1.38) - Speaking of coming off a bad start, that would be Harang. He got torched for seven runs in five innings against the Diamondbacks on Monday, and looked every bit the part of a #5 starter and not the #3 he was before that. To his defense, that's the most runs he's given up all year, and actually had four great starts in July before that.
I do have to remind everyone that while Harang has pitched well this year, I'm a little mixed on if we can expect a sub-4 ERA when it's all said and done. He did do it last year in San Diego, going 14-7 with a 3.64 ERA, another pitcher's ballpark if there ever was one. Not to sound too down on him, because I do think he's pitched very well this year, but I just wonder if he can be counted on as a #4 type of starter in the playoffs.
Stephen Fife (0-0, 1.46, 1.30) - He's only made two starts (with the third one coming up very shortly as I type this), so who knows if he'll be counted on down the stretch. But, much to his credit, he's looked really good in those two starts. He's held down the Phillies and Giants for one run each. Can't do much better than that.
With Ted Lilly on his way back, and even Rubby De La Rosa, I don't think Fife will be playing much of a role down the stretch. Of course that could always change, especially if he keeps surrendering only one run per start. Then he would be hard to deny.
Currently on the DL, but due back this season:
Ted Lilly (5-1, 3.14, 1.13) - If there is a silver lining to the whole Dempster thing, it's that the Dodgers are basically acquiring a starter in Lilly, who's been on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation, and hasn't started since May 23. He won five of his first six starts before being knocked around a bit and going down with the injury.
Assuming Lilly comes back with full health, then I really like what he can do in the stretch run. Let's not forgot how good he was in August and September last year. In 11 starts, he gave up only 16 earned runs, and was clearly one of the best pitchers in baseball at that time. It's not like the Dodgers were playing for anything at the time so there was little pressure, but that's still pretty awesome.
I can see Lilly pitching anywhere between Game 2 and 4 if he's feeling good. I could be jumping the gun a bit, but if his rehab starts go as planned and he does return in mid-August, then he'll have plenty of time to get back into a groove. As you can tell, I'm excited about his return.
Rubby De La Rosa (Injured all year) - Remember him? Well, he's been out since last season with Tommy John surgery. Like Lilly, he also has been slowing coming back into action with rehab outings. He started 10 games last year, and had a 4-5 record with a a 3.71 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
I'm not sure what we can expect from him this season other than depth. From what I saw of him last year, he does have good stuff, so maybe he can give some innings out of the 'pen. I'd be surprised if he ends up starting at any point. The only way that would happen is if there's more injuries. Let's hope not.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Lilly lands on the DL
The Dodgers chose the precautionary route on Friday, placing Ted Lilly on the 15-day DL with a sore neck. It'll be retroactive, so he's eligible to come back on April 14 against the Padres.
In his place, Chris Capuano will take the ball in the #3 spot in the rotation, essentially just flipping spots with Lilly. Don Mattingly's decision to not take a chance too early with Lilly was made easier thanks to Capuano's strong spring. He has a 2.75 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and .197 BAA. Add in 22 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings, and he's looking like he can be a pleasant surprise this season.
Lilly will pitch with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on April 8 before being activated from the DL.
In his place, Chris Capuano will take the ball in the #3 spot in the rotation, essentially just flipping spots with Lilly. Don Mattingly's decision to not take a chance too early with Lilly was made easier thanks to Capuano's strong spring. He has a 2.75 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and .197 BAA. Add in 22 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings, and he's looking like he can be a pleasant surprise this season.
Lilly will pitch with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on April 8 before being activated from the DL.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Lilly banged up, could miss a start
Ted Lilly's stiff neck will cause him to miss his scheduled start on Tuesday, and puts him in jeopardy of not making his first regular season start as well.
Lilly has gone through some therapy and felt better today, but still couldn't even play catch before shutting it down. He also missed a bullpen session a couple days ago.
There's many scenarios that could come into play if Lilly can't go his first start in San Diego. One is to simply swap spots with Chris Capuano, who appeared to be the odd man out for the time being with an off day following four straight games. Another is to place him on the DL and let Nathan Eovaldi make a start or two, delaying his demotion to the minors. We shall see.
The Dodgers have been pretty fortunate this spring in that they haven't faced any major injury issues by any means. Even Lilly's doesn't appear serious, although neck injuries are nothing to mess around with. Hopefully good health will equal a good start to the season.
Lilly has gone through some therapy and felt better today, but still couldn't even play catch before shutting it down. He also missed a bullpen session a couple days ago.
There's many scenarios that could come into play if Lilly can't go his first start in San Diego. One is to simply swap spots with Chris Capuano, who appeared to be the odd man out for the time being with an off day following four straight games. Another is to place him on the DL and let Nathan Eovaldi make a start or two, delaying his demotion to the minors. We shall see.
The Dodgers have been pretty fortunate this spring in that they haven't faced any major injury issues by any means. Even Lilly's doesn't appear serious, although neck injuries are nothing to mess around with. Hopefully good health will equal a good start to the season.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Early spring rotation results
I know it's early, but the starting five of the Dodgers have all gotten a taste of Spring Training action thus far. Let's take a look at how they fared the first go-around.
Clayton Kershaw
3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (vs. Rangers)
So far, so good for the reigning Cy Young Award winner, as he easily disposed of the Rangers. And it wasn't a B-level squad out there, it was the big dogs like Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltran, Michael Young, and Nelson Cruz. Nicely done.
Chad Billingsley
2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (vs. White Sox)
Bills kicked off Spring Training with a solid performance. His biggest focus is working on his mechanics, as he pointed out after the game that a smoother leg kick gave him better control. Let's hope it keeps up. He'll be the #2 starter behind Kershaw, so the Dodgers are counting on him for big things.
Ted Lilly
2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (vs. Giants)
Old Ted didn't start off so hot, as he gave up a couple of homers to the evil Giants. He had trouble locating his fastball, and apparently his curveball wasn't a whole lot better. Melky Cabrera led off the game with a homer, and Brett Pill hit a two-run shot after that. Not the start to the season you want, but at least he's healthy.
Aaron Harang
2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (vs. A's)
The damage was done in the first inning to Harang, as the A's got a two-out, two-run double from Josh Reddick. Harang was able to bounce back and retire the final four hitters. A right foot injury has limited him a bit this spring, so the fact that he was able to go out there as scheduled is a good sign.
Chris Capuano
2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (vs. A's)
Capuano got the win as he threw an impressive couple of innings. The A's aren't exactly a loaded lineup, or even a decent one, but it's good to see the new guy take care of them regardless. The Dodgers had lots of inconsistency at the bottom of the rotation last season, so solid innings from Caps can go a long way.
Clayton Kershaw
3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (vs. Rangers)
So far, so good for the reigning Cy Young Award winner, as he easily disposed of the Rangers. And it wasn't a B-level squad out there, it was the big dogs like Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltran, Michael Young, and Nelson Cruz. Nicely done.
Chad Billingsley
2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (vs. White Sox)
Bills kicked off Spring Training with a solid performance. His biggest focus is working on his mechanics, as he pointed out after the game that a smoother leg kick gave him better control. Let's hope it keeps up. He'll be the #2 starter behind Kershaw, so the Dodgers are counting on him for big things.
Ted Lilly
2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (vs. Giants)
Old Ted didn't start off so hot, as he gave up a couple of homers to the evil Giants. He had trouble locating his fastball, and apparently his curveball wasn't a whole lot better. Melky Cabrera led off the game with a homer, and Brett Pill hit a two-run shot after that. Not the start to the season you want, but at least he's healthy.
Aaron Harang
2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (vs. A's)
The damage was done in the first inning to Harang, as the A's got a two-out, two-run double from Josh Reddick. Harang was able to bounce back and retire the final four hitters. A right foot injury has limited him a bit this spring, so the fact that he was able to go out there as scheduled is a good sign.
Chris Capuano
2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (vs. A's)
Capuano got the win as he threw an impressive couple of innings. The A's aren't exactly a loaded lineup, or even a decent one, but it's good to see the new guy take care of them regardless. The Dodgers had lots of inconsistency at the bottom of the rotation last season, so solid innings from Caps can go a long way.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Early spring rotation results encouraging
It's hard to get too high or low when it comes to Spring Training, as the game results are as meaningless as they can get. But, if there is a reason to be happy, it has to be the work the rotation has put in thus far. Check out the numbers for the big 5:
Clayton Kershaw - 7 IP, 0 ER (0.00 ERA)
Chad Billingsley - 6 2/3 IP, 1 ER (1.35 ERA)
Hiroki Kuroda - 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER (4.15 ERA)
Ted Lilly - 3 1/3 IP, 1 ER (2.70 ERA)
Jon Garland - 3 IP, 0 ER (0.00 ERA)
Total: 24 1/3 IP, 4 ER (1.48 ERA)
A 1.48 ERA? I'll take that! It's still very early, obviously, so don't expect these numbers to remain so stellar. But, do expect solid production 1-5 as the season progresses, which is exactly what the Dodgers are hanging their collective hats on to make a postseason run.
Clayton Kershaw - 7 IP, 0 ER (0.00 ERA)
Chad Billingsley - 6 2/3 IP, 1 ER (1.35 ERA)
Hiroki Kuroda - 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER (4.15 ERA)
Ted Lilly - 3 1/3 IP, 1 ER (2.70 ERA)
Jon Garland - 3 IP, 0 ER (0.00 ERA)
Total: 24 1/3 IP, 4 ER (1.48 ERA)
A 1.48 ERA? I'll take that! It's still very early, obviously, so don't expect these numbers to remain so stellar. But, do expect solid production 1-5 as the season progresses, which is exactly what the Dodgers are hanging their collective hats on to make a postseason run.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Lilly will stay with the Dodgers
***UPDATE***
The deal will be for three years and $33 million. He will have a full no-trade clause for the first two years.
***
Well that was fast.
Ted Lilly wasted very little time this offseason, as he has agreed to remain with the Dodgers on a three-year contract. A physical is still pending, so the deal may take a few days to become official.
Lilly came over to L.A. at the trade deadline at the end of July. In 12 starts, he went 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 77 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings. He won his first five starts before suffering a loss on August 29 in Colorado.
For his career, Lilly has pitched 11 seasons and compiled a 113-96 record with a 4.18 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. His best run came from 2007-2009 with the Cubs, where he won 44 games, including 17-9 in '08.
The Dodgers have many questions that need to be answered this offseason, so they have to be happy about already answering one of them. Lilly was clearly one of the top starters available this offseason along with guys like Bronson Arroyo, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, and Carl Pavano. The fact that Lilly wants to stay with the Dodgers is a good sign.
With Clayton Kershaw becoming more of an ace each season, and with Chad Billingsley regaining his form, Lilly will slide in at the #3 spot in the rotation quite nicely. True, he'll be 35 next season, but so far, he's still shown an ability to be a good pitcher.
The next question mark will be Kuroda, and if the Dodgers will now try to resign him. If he walks, then there's two open spots in the rotation that need to still be addressed. There's also Vicente Padilla to consider, but his many injuries this season are a major concern.
This shouldn't be considered a major signing, but a good step forward to start the offseason. Kudos to you, Dodgers. Now keep it going.
The deal will be for three years and $33 million. He will have a full no-trade clause for the first two years.
***
Well that was fast.
Ted Lilly wasted very little time this offseason, as he has agreed to remain with the Dodgers on a three-year contract. A physical is still pending, so the deal may take a few days to become official.
Lilly came over to L.A. at the trade deadline at the end of July. In 12 starts, he went 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 77 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings. He won his first five starts before suffering a loss on August 29 in Colorado.
For his career, Lilly has pitched 11 seasons and compiled a 113-96 record with a 4.18 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. His best run came from 2007-2009 with the Cubs, where he won 44 games, including 17-9 in '08.
The Dodgers have many questions that need to be answered this offseason, so they have to be happy about already answering one of them. Lilly was clearly one of the top starters available this offseason along with guys like Bronson Arroyo, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, and Carl Pavano. The fact that Lilly wants to stay with the Dodgers is a good sign.
With Clayton Kershaw becoming more of an ace each season, and with Chad Billingsley regaining his form, Lilly will slide in at the #3 spot in the rotation quite nicely. True, he'll be 35 next season, but so far, he's still shown an ability to be a good pitcher.
The next question mark will be Kuroda, and if the Dodgers will now try to resign him. If he walks, then there's two open spots in the rotation that need to still be addressed. There's also Vicente Padilla to consider, but his many injuries this season are a major concern.
This shouldn't be considered a major signing, but a good step forward to start the offseason. Kudos to you, Dodgers. Now keep it going.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Dodgers get Lilly and Theriot for DeWitt
The Dodgers made their second trade deadline move today, nabbing Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot from the Cubs for Blake DeWitt and a couple of minor leaguers. This trade has been rumored for a few days.
Let's take a look at the new Dodgers. Lilly is the centerpiece, as he is in the final year of his contract, hence the Cubs moving him. You'd think he's been having an awful year with a 3-8 record, but the Cubs give him practically no run support. His 3.69 ERA and 1.14 WHIP are good numbers.
Lilly's arrival means the Dodgers have finally found a reliable fifth starter, as they've gone through pitchers like John Ely, Carlos Monasterios, and Charlie Haeger, with mostly negative results. Lilly may only be a rental for this year, but I think he'll be solid for them.
Theriot is hitting .284 this year with one homer and 14 RBIs. He does have 16 stolen bases, so like Scott Podsednik, if anything the Dodgers get faster on the bases. Of course, that also means they actually have to be on base for that to happen, but I digress. Anyway, he's played shortstop for most of his career, but went to second when Starlin Castro came aboard in Chicago.
I wouldn't look at Theriot's acquisition as being a big deal. I can see him splitting time with Jamey Carroll at second. If the Dodgers get lucky, they can find lightning in a bottle again like Ronnie Belliard last year and ride Theriot's hot bat to the playoffs. I can hope anyway.
As for DeWitt, I honestly can't say I'll miss him much. Don't get me wrong, he plays hard all the time. But I don't look at him as anything more than a decent major league player. He's hitting .270 this year with a good OPS of .352, but has very little power.
Overall, I think the Dodgers got good value for this trade. I like Lilly, and Theriot and DeWitt are pretty much interchangeable. I think the Dodgers have to be realistic at some point and set their sites on the wild card, so maybe Lilly can help them get there.
Let's take a look at the new Dodgers. Lilly is the centerpiece, as he is in the final year of his contract, hence the Cubs moving him. You'd think he's been having an awful year with a 3-8 record, but the Cubs give him practically no run support. His 3.69 ERA and 1.14 WHIP are good numbers.
Lilly's arrival means the Dodgers have finally found a reliable fifth starter, as they've gone through pitchers like John Ely, Carlos Monasterios, and Charlie Haeger, with mostly negative results. Lilly may only be a rental for this year, but I think he'll be solid for them.
Theriot is hitting .284 this year with one homer and 14 RBIs. He does have 16 stolen bases, so like Scott Podsednik, if anything the Dodgers get faster on the bases. Of course, that also means they actually have to be on base for that to happen, but I digress. Anyway, he's played shortstop for most of his career, but went to second when Starlin Castro came aboard in Chicago.
I wouldn't look at Theriot's acquisition as being a big deal. I can see him splitting time with Jamey Carroll at second. If the Dodgers get lucky, they can find lightning in a bottle again like Ronnie Belliard last year and ride Theriot's hot bat to the playoffs. I can hope anyway.
As for DeWitt, I honestly can't say I'll miss him much. Don't get me wrong, he plays hard all the time. But I don't look at him as anything more than a decent major league player. He's hitting .270 this year with a good OPS of .352, but has very little power.
Overall, I think the Dodgers got good value for this trade. I like Lilly, and Theriot and DeWitt are pretty much interchangeable. I think the Dodgers have to be realistic at some point and set their sites on the wild card, so maybe Lilly can help them get there.
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