Tony Gwynn's two-out single in the 11th inning broke a 2-2 and led the Dodgers to a win over the Padres, 4-2. This game was the continuation of Friday night's suspended rainout, and it started in the top of the ninth.
The Dodgers had chances in all three innings they played in this brief game, and finally came though late. In the ninth, Matt Kemp started on first because of his single the previous night. Right on cue, Juan Uribe grounded into a double play. James Loney and Xavier Paul both singled with two outs, but Rod Barajas couldn't do anything with it.
The next inning, Gwynn singled leading off, and soon went to second on a sacrifice by Jamey Carroll. It didn't matter, as Casey Blake and Kemp both failed to get the RBI.
Mercifully in the 11th, Gwynn came through. It started on a double by Uribe, who certainly needed a big hit. Loney was then asked to sacrifice, and when that didn't happen, he popped up. Not exactly Loney's one shining moment. Aaron Miles was then plunked for two on.
Barajas struck out for two down. Gwynn then did something only Kemp had been able to do thus far: get a clutch hit to drive in a run. A wild pitch soon scored Miles as well to go up 4-2.
Jonathan Broxton earned the save, his fourth already. It wasn't easy, as he gave up a single to Nick Hundley and a walk with two outs to Will Venable on four pitches. But he got out of trouble, and that's all that matters.
The win goes to Blake Hawksworth, and it's well-deserved. He pitched hitless ball in the ninth and tenth, giving up only one walk and striking out three.
The next game is about to start with Hiroki Kuroda taking the mound.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Dodgers and Padres held up by rain
The Dodgers and Padres tried and tried again, but after four rain delays totaling over three and a half hours, the game was finally suspended tied at 2-2. It will now resume on Saturday at 8:35 ET with the Dodgers batting in the top of the ninth and Matt Kemp on first with no outs.
All of the rain delays made for a hard game to watch, as seemingly every time the teams got back on the field, the rain returned with them. 11 pitchers were used, including six for the Padres, who did not allow starter Clayton Richard to return to the mound after the delay (Ted Lilly did return).
The offense was few and far between for both teams, who clearly have a hard time capitalizing on baserunners. The Padres had a chance to get things going in the first, as Jason Bartlett and Orlando Hudson singled with one down. Bartlett stole third, but flyouts by Jorge Cantu and Ryan Ludwick stopped any rally.
That wasn't quite as sad as what the Dodgers then did in the second. Matt Kemp, who seems to be about the only one hitting anything, led off and doubled. Still with nobody out, he soon scampered to third on a wild pitch. How did the Dodgers respond? Strikeouts by Juan Uribe, James Loney, and Marcus Thames. Way to come through and score that run, boys.
The first run scored came on a gift from the Padres in the fourth. Casey Blake again hit in the #2 hole and walked leading off. After a whimpy little pop up from Andre Ethier, Kemp also walked. As Uribe was hitting, both men executed a double steal in which catcher Nick Hundley threw the ball clear into center field, allowing Blake to score and go up 1-0.
Lilly hadn't given up a run through four, but wasn't exactly that sharp either. He was chased in the fifth, as Will Venable led off with a single and went to second on an error by Kemp. A groundout and an RBI single by Hudson later, and it was 1-1. Cantu soon doubled to put two on, which brought out Mike McDougal from the 'pen. Ludwick's RBI groundout made it 2-1.
The Dodgers did come back, thanks to Kemp. Blake singled with one down, and soon went to second on a passed ball. A single by Either put runners on the corners. With the rain again coming down hard, Kemp just got one over short for an RBI single, knotting the game at 2. Of course, that still gave time for Uribe to strikeout and Loney to ground out, ending the inning.
Not much happened after that, as Kemp ended up singling off of Heath Bell to begin the ninth. It's unknown who will be back on the mound considering both teams need to finish the first game before going right into the next game tonight. Hong-Chih Kuo was the last pitcher used for the Dodgers, but I'd be surprised if he came back out. I'm hoping Bell is gone, too.
If you're a Dodger, you have to be kicking yourself for blowing so many opportunities with runners on. They were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, which is only slightly better than the Padres' 1-for-12. In other words, both teams were terrible with the sticks.
I'm glad Kemp can hit, as a 3-for-3 night upped his average to .409. Uribe (.111), Loney (.154) and Thames (.182) are doing absolutely nothing. I know none of these guys will battle for any batting titles, but they have got to do better than that. They look just horrible.
As I was watching MLB Network yesterday, one of the analysts (I believe it was Dan Plesac) said that if the Dodgers want to contend, Kemp and Either have to each hit 30 home runs. After watching a game like last night, that's looking true. Kemp is doing his part so far. Ethier is hitting .320, but with no extra-base hits and only two RBIs. He has to pick up the slack.
Then again, maybe he was doing some foreshadowing when he complained before the season that bad year would leave him non-tendered. Here's an idea for you, Andre: hit the ball, and get your money. It might work.
After completion of the suspended game on Saturday, Hiroki Kuroda will take the ball for his second start of the season. He got he win last Sunday against the Giants, so he'll look to build on that. Let's just hope someone other than Kemp shows up at the plate.
All of the rain delays made for a hard game to watch, as seemingly every time the teams got back on the field, the rain returned with them. 11 pitchers were used, including six for the Padres, who did not allow starter Clayton Richard to return to the mound after the delay (Ted Lilly did return).
The offense was few and far between for both teams, who clearly have a hard time capitalizing on baserunners. The Padres had a chance to get things going in the first, as Jason Bartlett and Orlando Hudson singled with one down. Bartlett stole third, but flyouts by Jorge Cantu and Ryan Ludwick stopped any rally.
That wasn't quite as sad as what the Dodgers then did in the second. Matt Kemp, who seems to be about the only one hitting anything, led off and doubled. Still with nobody out, he soon scampered to third on a wild pitch. How did the Dodgers respond? Strikeouts by Juan Uribe, James Loney, and Marcus Thames. Way to come through and score that run, boys.
The first run scored came on a gift from the Padres in the fourth. Casey Blake again hit in the #2 hole and walked leading off. After a whimpy little pop up from Andre Ethier, Kemp also walked. As Uribe was hitting, both men executed a double steal in which catcher Nick Hundley threw the ball clear into center field, allowing Blake to score and go up 1-0.
Lilly hadn't given up a run through four, but wasn't exactly that sharp either. He was chased in the fifth, as Will Venable led off with a single and went to second on an error by Kemp. A groundout and an RBI single by Hudson later, and it was 1-1. Cantu soon doubled to put two on, which brought out Mike McDougal from the 'pen. Ludwick's RBI groundout made it 2-1.
The Dodgers did come back, thanks to Kemp. Blake singled with one down, and soon went to second on a passed ball. A single by Either put runners on the corners. With the rain again coming down hard, Kemp just got one over short for an RBI single, knotting the game at 2. Of course, that still gave time for Uribe to strikeout and Loney to ground out, ending the inning.
Not much happened after that, as Kemp ended up singling off of Heath Bell to begin the ninth. It's unknown who will be back on the mound considering both teams need to finish the first game before going right into the next game tonight. Hong-Chih Kuo was the last pitcher used for the Dodgers, but I'd be surprised if he came back out. I'm hoping Bell is gone, too.
If you're a Dodger, you have to be kicking yourself for blowing so many opportunities with runners on. They were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, which is only slightly better than the Padres' 1-for-12. In other words, both teams were terrible with the sticks.
I'm glad Kemp can hit, as a 3-for-3 night upped his average to .409. Uribe (.111), Loney (.154) and Thames (.182) are doing absolutely nothing. I know none of these guys will battle for any batting titles, but they have got to do better than that. They look just horrible.
As I was watching MLB Network yesterday, one of the analysts (I believe it was Dan Plesac) said that if the Dodgers want to contend, Kemp and Either have to each hit 30 home runs. After watching a game like last night, that's looking true. Kemp is doing his part so far. Ethier is hitting .320, but with no extra-base hits and only two RBIs. He has to pick up the slack.
Then again, maybe he was doing some foreshadowing when he complained before the season that bad year would leave him non-tendered. Here's an idea for you, Andre: hit the ball, and get your money. It might work.
After completion of the suspended game on Saturday, Hiroki Kuroda will take the ball for his second start of the season. He got he win last Sunday against the Giants, so he'll look to build on that. Let's just hope someone other than Kemp shows up at the plate.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Blake returns as De Jesus takes a hike
Casey Blake was activated from the 15-day DL on Wednesday after missing time with a bad back. He will take the spot of Ivan De Jesus, who was sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Blake had been lobbying to make his return as soon as he could, and he got his way. He had a good first start to the season, starting at third on Wednesday and going 2-for-3 with an RBI triple in the #2 hole behind Rafael Furcal. He's the main guy at third, but won't play everyday. Juan Uribe will now move back to second.
As for De Jesus, the decision to demote him was pretty easy. He got two starts against the Giants and went 0-for-7 with five strikeouts and a walk. With Aaron Miles and Jamey Carroll as backups, the at-bats just wouldn't have been there. He'll be back down the line.
Blake had been lobbying to make his return as soon as he could, and he got his way. He had a good first start to the season, starting at third on Wednesday and going 2-for-3 with an RBI triple in the #2 hole behind Rafael Furcal. He's the main guy at third, but won't play everyday. Juan Uribe will now move back to second.
As for De Jesus, the decision to demote him was pretty easy. He got two starts against the Giants and went 0-for-7 with five strikeouts and a walk. With Aaron Miles and Jamey Carroll as backups, the at-bats just wouldn't have been there. He'll be back down the line.
Rockies take two straight in Coors
The offense showed up, but Chad Billingsley did not. The result was the second loss in as many days for the Dodgers, as the Rockies won, 7-5. The Dodgers now drop to 3-3 as they lost both games of this short series.
A day after Clayton Kershaw started hot but struggled late, Billingsley was already in trouble in the first. Seth Smith doubled with one down to set the table. Carlos Gonzalez didn't wait long to contribute, as his RBI double made it 1-0. After walking Todd Helton an out later, Jose Lopez plated another with a single, and it was 2-0.
The Dodgers played some big ball to get the next two runs. James Loney hit his first homer of the year in the second to right, cutting the deficit in half. Rod Barajas connecting on one of his own in the third, and it was back to even.
Still in the third, Rafael Furcal worked a walk with one out. The returning Casey Blake, hitting in the #2 hole, cranked an RBI triple for the 3-2 lead. Andre Ethier's RBI single made it 4-2.
That's as good as it would get for the Dodgers on this day, as Helton's three run homer in the bottom of the third scored Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki, and it was 5-4 in favor of the Rocks. Bills did wiggle out of two runners on to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Blake Hawksworth came on in the fourth, as Bills was pinch-hit for the previous inning. Tulo must have liked that, as after a single by Gonzalez, he hit a two-run shot to make it 7-4. No wonder the Rockies signed these guys long-term - they are filthy hitters.
To the Dodgers' credit, they tried to battle back in the final two innings. In the eighth, Matt Kemp led off and hit a double off of Matt Lindstrom. Loney's groundout got Kemp to third, and Juan Uribe scored him on another groundout, cutting it to 7-5.
Now in the ninth, Barajas and Jamey Carroll hit consecutive singles off of closer Huston Street. With the top of the order up and nobody out, the Dodgers were in business. Too bad they never actually did any business, because Raffy flew out, pinch-hitter Hector Gimenez struck out, and Ethier K'd to end the game. So much for a rally.
It's good to see the Dodgers hit for some power, but still discouraging to see them not even get one run in the last inning. That's the product of not having a legit power threat - they have to get hit after hit to score. Without those big boppers, there will be plenty of games in which they put runners on, then do nothing with them. It happened yesterday, and again late today.
Billingsley will gladly get out of Colorado, as he lasted only three innings for six hits, five runs, three walks, and three strikeouts. He just could never get going. Kenley Jansen and Matt Guerrier combined for four innings (two each), one hit, no runs, and four strikeouts, so that's a great sign.
With a record of 3-3, the Dodgers are right back to where they started the season. They played well against the Giants, but had a lot of breaks go their way as well. The Rockies will be right in the thick of things in the NL West, so the Dodgers will have to prove they can beat them if they want to contend.
Thursday will be an off day, as the Dodgers enjoy a rare week in which they're off twice. They will then be in San Diego for three starting Friday. Ted Lilly will look to rebound from a poor first start against Clayton Richard.
A day after Clayton Kershaw started hot but struggled late, Billingsley was already in trouble in the first. Seth Smith doubled with one down to set the table. Carlos Gonzalez didn't wait long to contribute, as his RBI double made it 1-0. After walking Todd Helton an out later, Jose Lopez plated another with a single, and it was 2-0.
The Dodgers played some big ball to get the next two runs. James Loney hit his first homer of the year in the second to right, cutting the deficit in half. Rod Barajas connecting on one of his own in the third, and it was back to even.
Still in the third, Rafael Furcal worked a walk with one out. The returning Casey Blake, hitting in the #2 hole, cranked an RBI triple for the 3-2 lead. Andre Ethier's RBI single made it 4-2.
That's as good as it would get for the Dodgers on this day, as Helton's three run homer in the bottom of the third scored Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki, and it was 5-4 in favor of the Rocks. Bills did wiggle out of two runners on to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Blake Hawksworth came on in the fourth, as Bills was pinch-hit for the previous inning. Tulo must have liked that, as after a single by Gonzalez, he hit a two-run shot to make it 7-4. No wonder the Rockies signed these guys long-term - they are filthy hitters.
To the Dodgers' credit, they tried to battle back in the final two innings. In the eighth, Matt Kemp led off and hit a double off of Matt Lindstrom. Loney's groundout got Kemp to third, and Juan Uribe scored him on another groundout, cutting it to 7-5.
Now in the ninth, Barajas and Jamey Carroll hit consecutive singles off of closer Huston Street. With the top of the order up and nobody out, the Dodgers were in business. Too bad they never actually did any business, because Raffy flew out, pinch-hitter Hector Gimenez struck out, and Ethier K'd to end the game. So much for a rally.
It's good to see the Dodgers hit for some power, but still discouraging to see them not even get one run in the last inning. That's the product of not having a legit power threat - they have to get hit after hit to score. Without those big boppers, there will be plenty of games in which they put runners on, then do nothing with them. It happened yesterday, and again late today.
Billingsley will gladly get out of Colorado, as he lasted only three innings for six hits, five runs, three walks, and three strikeouts. He just could never get going. Kenley Jansen and Matt Guerrier combined for four innings (two each), one hit, no runs, and four strikeouts, so that's a great sign.
With a record of 3-3, the Dodgers are right back to where they started the season. They played well against the Giants, but had a lot of breaks go their way as well. The Rockies will be right in the thick of things in the NL West, so the Dodgers will have to prove they can beat them if they want to contend.
Thursday will be an off day, as the Dodgers enjoy a rare week in which they're off twice. They will then be in San Diego for three starting Friday. Ted Lilly will look to rebound from a poor first start against Clayton Richard.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Dodgers show the champs they're ready
With memories fresh of a butt kicking from Saturday, the Dodgers scored early and late to down the Giants, 7-5. The win means three wins in the first four games of the season, and against the world champions and hated rivals no less.
All in all, the Dodgers have exactly the start to the season they wanted.
The offense got the party started right away. Facing Barry Zito, Rafael Furcal singled in the bottom of the first leading off. Jamey Carroll then lined one just in front of Aubrey Huff in right for an RBI triple, making it 1-0. To say Huff looks uncomfortable in the outfield would be a huge understatement. So far, he's made Manny Ramirez look like a Gold Glover.
Following Andre Ethier's strikeout, Matt Kemp continued his red hot start by launching a two-run homer, and it was 3-0. Kemp has hit safely in all four games thus far, and has a .533 OBP to boot.
Pablo Sandoval crushed a homer himself in the second to cut the lead to 3-1. Both teams remained scoreless until the sixth.
The Giants were able to tie things up with single runs in the sixth and seventh. In the sixth, Freddy Sanchez hit an infield single with two outs. Huff singled for runners on the corners, and Buster Posey laced an RBI single, making it 3-2. Kuroda stayed on for the next inning and surrendered a solo shot to Pat Burrell leading off, and it was 3-3.
After starting the game teeing off on Zito, it was actually a good thing when he left after six, as the bats were completely silent. Dan Runzler came on, and James Loney greeted him with a single. An out later, Marcus Thames's RBI triple put the Dodgers back in the lead at 4-3.
Aaron Miles pinch-hit for Kuroda and came through with an RBI single, and Raffy's RBI double put it at 6-3. Santiago Casilla relieved and struck out Carroll, but Ethier's RBI single with two outs made it 7-3.
It's a good thing the Dodgers tacked on more runs, because the bullpen of Hong-Chih Kuo, Matt Guerrier, and Jonathan Broxton looked anything but dominant. Kuo was shaky on opening night, and he continued that with a double to Huff and a walk to Posey. He did strikeout Sandoval to get two outs.
Don Mattingly then gave the ball to Guerrier, the $12 million middle reliever. I'm guessing walking two straight batters, one to force in a run, wasn't quite in Ned Colletti's mind when he was signed. Unfortunately, that's what happened, as it was now 7-4. Miguel Tejada then had a mind-bogglingly bad at-bat, as he popped up the first pitch to Loney after the previous two guys walked. I'm shocked a veteran like him did that. But I'm glad, of course.
If Kuo can be described as "shaky" after two outings, then Broxton would be on the "super extra scary shaky" mode. Once again he entered in the ninth, and once again he made us all sweat it out. Aaron Rowand led off with a solo homer, and it was 7-5. Sanchez was able to single with an out, but Posey's groundout soon ended it.
Broxton may have three saves, but only one of them was solid. I know closers are a pretty fickle bunch, as any of you fantasy baseball players know just how up and down they can be. But there's no ignoring the fact that Mattingly has to be open to using others in the ninth. How many bad pitches does it take? Not that the rest of the bullpen has been lights-out, but it's the same old thing with this guy over and over. I just don't trust him.
With all of that said, three wins in four games against any team is a job very well done. The Giants definitely helped this out, as they were their own worst enemy on defense the whole series (see Huff, Aubrey). That won't be the case as the season progresses, so while the Dodgers should be happy, they need to get better as well.
Monday is an off day, then the road schedule begins. Clayton Kershaw will go Tuesday on regular rest in Colorado. Jhoulys Chacin gets his first start of the season for the Rockies. It'll be a short two-game series, with an off day again coming Thursday.
All in all, the Dodgers have exactly the start to the season they wanted.
The offense got the party started right away. Facing Barry Zito, Rafael Furcal singled in the bottom of the first leading off. Jamey Carroll then lined one just in front of Aubrey Huff in right for an RBI triple, making it 1-0. To say Huff looks uncomfortable in the outfield would be a huge understatement. So far, he's made Manny Ramirez look like a Gold Glover.
Following Andre Ethier's strikeout, Matt Kemp continued his red hot start by launching a two-run homer, and it was 3-0. Kemp has hit safely in all four games thus far, and has a .533 OBP to boot.
Pablo Sandoval crushed a homer himself in the second to cut the lead to 3-1. Both teams remained scoreless until the sixth.
The Giants were able to tie things up with single runs in the sixth and seventh. In the sixth, Freddy Sanchez hit an infield single with two outs. Huff singled for runners on the corners, and Buster Posey laced an RBI single, making it 3-2. Kuroda stayed on for the next inning and surrendered a solo shot to Pat Burrell leading off, and it was 3-3.
After starting the game teeing off on Zito, it was actually a good thing when he left after six, as the bats were completely silent. Dan Runzler came on, and James Loney greeted him with a single. An out later, Marcus Thames's RBI triple put the Dodgers back in the lead at 4-3.
Aaron Miles pinch-hit for Kuroda and came through with an RBI single, and Raffy's RBI double put it at 6-3. Santiago Casilla relieved and struck out Carroll, but Ethier's RBI single with two outs made it 7-3.
It's a good thing the Dodgers tacked on more runs, because the bullpen of Hong-Chih Kuo, Matt Guerrier, and Jonathan Broxton looked anything but dominant. Kuo was shaky on opening night, and he continued that with a double to Huff and a walk to Posey. He did strikeout Sandoval to get two outs.
Don Mattingly then gave the ball to Guerrier, the $12 million middle reliever. I'm guessing walking two straight batters, one to force in a run, wasn't quite in Ned Colletti's mind when he was signed. Unfortunately, that's what happened, as it was now 7-4. Miguel Tejada then had a mind-bogglingly bad at-bat, as he popped up the first pitch to Loney after the previous two guys walked. I'm shocked a veteran like him did that. But I'm glad, of course.
If Kuo can be described as "shaky" after two outings, then Broxton would be on the "super extra scary shaky" mode. Once again he entered in the ninth, and once again he made us all sweat it out. Aaron Rowand led off with a solo homer, and it was 7-5. Sanchez was able to single with an out, but Posey's groundout soon ended it.
Broxton may have three saves, but only one of them was solid. I know closers are a pretty fickle bunch, as any of you fantasy baseball players know just how up and down they can be. But there's no ignoring the fact that Mattingly has to be open to using others in the ninth. How many bad pitches does it take? Not that the rest of the bullpen has been lights-out, but it's the same old thing with this guy over and over. I just don't trust him.
With all of that said, three wins in four games against any team is a job very well done. The Giants definitely helped this out, as they were their own worst enemy on defense the whole series (see Huff, Aubrey). That won't be the case as the season progresses, so while the Dodgers should be happy, they need to get better as well.
Monday is an off day, then the road schedule begins. Clayton Kershaw will go Tuesday on regular rest in Colorado. Jhoulys Chacin gets his first start of the season for the Rockies. It'll be a short two-game series, with an off day again coming Thursday.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
A real clunker results in first loss
For everything that went right for the Dodgers the first two games, the Giants made sure that didn't happen again for a third.
After their own miscues possibly cost them chances of winning previously, the Giants put it all together on Saturday afternoon as they crushed the Dodgers, 10-0. It's the first loss of the season for the Dodgers after taking the first two games.
Playing a day game after a night game, and with Juan Uribe still out nursing a sore elbow, Don Mattingly used what was pretty much a "B" lineup. Out were Rafael Furcal, Tony Gwynn, and Rod Barajas, in were Aaron Miles, Xavier Paul, and Hector Gimenez. Plus, Jamey Carroll and Ivan De Jesus got starts in the infield.
If you're saying to yourself, "Wow, that is one weak lineup, even with Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier," well... you're right. Because it was.
The Dodgers got nine hits, which is pretty good, including a 3-for-4 day from Ethier, but could do nothing with those runners on. Eight were left on base, and the other was erased on a double play ball from Kemp. The only extra-base hit of the day was Kemp's double in the second leading off.
The Giants started the scoring in the third off of Ted Lilly. Mark DeRosa and Aaron Rowand singled leading off, and Matt Cain sacrificed them to scoring position. An RBI groundout by Miguel Tejada made it 1-0.
That's as much of a lead that Cain needed, because like I said before, the Dodgers couldn't capitalize on any baserunners they got against him at all. He went six strong for five hits, no runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. He may be listed as the #3 starter, but he's good enough to be an ace on so many other teams.
Lilly's unraveling came in the fifth. A little bit of controversy was thrown in there, as he was called for a balk after picking off Rowand going to second. It could have been two on and none out, but instead, Cain's strikeout didn't end the inning. What followed were RBI singles by Tejada and Aubrey Huff, and an RBI double from Freddy Sanchez, making it 4-0.
The next inning brought more of the same, as Kenley Jansen's season debut was awful, allowing four runs on four hits. And what do you know - a leadoff walk to Brandon Belt started it all. Even Cain walked. It wasn't pretty. Damn walks.
Lilly ended up going 4 2/3 for six hits, four runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. Had he gotten the call in the fifth on the pickoff, it could have been a whole different story. But he didn't, and that's the way it goes. I wouldn't worry about him. He'll be fine.
Lance Cormier appeared for the first time, eating up the last three innings while surrendering two runs. At that point with the game well in hand for the bad guys, it was all about saving the other arms, so mission accomplished.
Through three games, we've seen what the Dodgers need to do to win: pitch and get hits when they need them. Oh, and a little luck may factor in as well. A lineup like today's would have been hard to beat a stud like Cain, but still, losing by 10 is tough to swallow. The hope was that Ethier and Kemp would carry the load, and while they did go a combined 4-for-7, it wasn't nearly enough.
If the Dodgers get a win on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, then three of four at home to start the season against the defending champs is a great start, even with the stinker today. Hiroki Kuroda will get the call. Barry Zito is scheduled to go for the Giants, but we'll see if that happens considering he was just in a car accident. Thankfully he's doing well, so it would be good to see him pitch tomorrow, or soon at least.
After their own miscues possibly cost them chances of winning previously, the Giants put it all together on Saturday afternoon as they crushed the Dodgers, 10-0. It's the first loss of the season for the Dodgers after taking the first two games.
Playing a day game after a night game, and with Juan Uribe still out nursing a sore elbow, Don Mattingly used what was pretty much a "B" lineup. Out were Rafael Furcal, Tony Gwynn, and Rod Barajas, in were Aaron Miles, Xavier Paul, and Hector Gimenez. Plus, Jamey Carroll and Ivan De Jesus got starts in the infield.
If you're saying to yourself, "Wow, that is one weak lineup, even with Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier," well... you're right. Because it was.
The Dodgers got nine hits, which is pretty good, including a 3-for-4 day from Ethier, but could do nothing with those runners on. Eight were left on base, and the other was erased on a double play ball from Kemp. The only extra-base hit of the day was Kemp's double in the second leading off.
The Giants started the scoring in the third off of Ted Lilly. Mark DeRosa and Aaron Rowand singled leading off, and Matt Cain sacrificed them to scoring position. An RBI groundout by Miguel Tejada made it 1-0.
That's as much of a lead that Cain needed, because like I said before, the Dodgers couldn't capitalize on any baserunners they got against him at all. He went six strong for five hits, no runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. He may be listed as the #3 starter, but he's good enough to be an ace on so many other teams.
Lilly's unraveling came in the fifth. A little bit of controversy was thrown in there, as he was called for a balk after picking off Rowand going to second. It could have been two on and none out, but instead, Cain's strikeout didn't end the inning. What followed were RBI singles by Tejada and Aubrey Huff, and an RBI double from Freddy Sanchez, making it 4-0.
The next inning brought more of the same, as Kenley Jansen's season debut was awful, allowing four runs on four hits. And what do you know - a leadoff walk to Brandon Belt started it all. Even Cain walked. It wasn't pretty. Damn walks.
Lilly ended up going 4 2/3 for six hits, four runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. Had he gotten the call in the fifth on the pickoff, it could have been a whole different story. But he didn't, and that's the way it goes. I wouldn't worry about him. He'll be fine.
Lance Cormier appeared for the first time, eating up the last three innings while surrendering two runs. At that point with the game well in hand for the bad guys, it was all about saving the other arms, so mission accomplished.
Through three games, we've seen what the Dodgers need to do to win: pitch and get hits when they need them. Oh, and a little luck may factor in as well. A lineup like today's would have been hard to beat a stud like Cain, but still, losing by 10 is tough to swallow. The hope was that Ethier and Kemp would carry the load, and while they did go a combined 4-for-7, it wasn't nearly enough.
If the Dodgers get a win on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, then three of four at home to start the season against the defending champs is a great start, even with the stinker today. Hiroki Kuroda will get the call. Barry Zito is scheduled to go for the Giants, but we'll see if that happens considering he was just in a car accident. Thankfully he's doing well, so it would be good to see him pitch tomorrow, or soon at least.
Dodgers battle back to stay unbeaten
If the Dodgers' goal this season is to play with a new attitude, then they are off to a good start.
After watching rookie Brandon Belt, uh, belt a three-run homer, the Dodgers got three back in the sixth and held on for the victory, 4-3. It's the second win in as many days over the Giants, and Don Mattingly continues to enjoy this whole managing thing.
Chad Billingsley was charged with trying to follow Clayton Kershaw's brilliant performance from yesterday, and a bunt single by Andres Torres and Freddy Sanchez's hit-by-pitch to start the game immediately put that in doubt. But, a groundout by Aubrey Huff and double play ball from Buster Posey ended that threat.
The third inning is when the scoring started, and it all started when Jonathan Sanchez pulled off the cardinal sin of pitching - walking the opposing pitcher leading off. After Bills reached base, Ivan De Jesus walked an out later for two on. Andre Ethier flied out, moving Bills to third. Matt Kemp smacked an RBI ground rule double for the 1-0 lead.
Everything was going smoothly for Bills until Posey and Pablo Sandoval singled to open the fourth. Belt has plenty of hype surrounding him, and a three-run homer to dead center confirmed all of that. It's no wonder why the Giants are excited about his future.
Down 3-1 against a good pitcher, it was Kemp who ignited the comeback. The Kemp of last year probably would have been asleep at this point, but in this game he started the bottom of the sixth with a single. In a piece of great baserunning, he advanced to third on a groundout by Marcus Thames, catching the Giants by surprise.
James Loney lifted a sac-fly RBI to make it 3-2. Consecutive singles by Rod Barajas and Aaron Miles put two more on, and they both advanced on Sandoval's error at third. Hector Gimenez pinch-hit and dribbled one to Sanchez, who somehow bobbled it for an error, allowing the tying run to score. A sharp RBI single by Rafael Furcal put the Dodgers ahead for good, 4-3.
A couple of offseason signings in the bullpen worked the seventh and eighth, starting with Blake Hawksworth. He ran into trouble by loading the bases on singles by Miguel Tejada (on a great bunt) and Freddy Sanchez, and a walk to Aubrey Huff. On a 3-2 count with two outs, Posey struck out swinging, sending his bat flying into the stands.
Matt Guerrier then stepped in and got through the next inning, only surrendering a single to Sandoval. Jonathan Broxton got the save with a perfect ninth, something he really needed. Say what you want about him (and I certainly do), but he's 2-for-2 thus far, so we'll all take it.
This is a game the Dodgers could have easily rolled over on, so I give them all credit for fighting back. A lot of that credit goes to Kemp, who is using his speed and defense to make a difference already. In two games he's 3-for-5 with three runs, an RBI, a stolen base, and three walks. The key now is to make sure he keeps up the effort. It doesn't matter if it's game #2 or #122, this is the kind of effort that makes him better than so many others.
Billingsley would like his one pitch back to Belt, but other than that, he threw well. He finished at six innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, and four strikeouts. The bullpen of Hawksworth, Guerrier, and Broxton went three scoreless.
So far, so good for the Dodgers, who will be back at it on Saturday afternoon with the Giants. Ted Lilly goes against Matt Cain, who quietly is one of the best pitchers in the league. Lilly had a great half-season in blue last year, so it's another quality pitching matchup. It'll be a FOX game, so this guy is stuck listening to his XM radio while the Yankees-Tigers are on. Enjoy for those of you who can see it.
After watching rookie Brandon Belt, uh, belt a three-run homer, the Dodgers got three back in the sixth and held on for the victory, 4-3. It's the second win in as many days over the Giants, and Don Mattingly continues to enjoy this whole managing thing.
Chad Billingsley was charged with trying to follow Clayton Kershaw's brilliant performance from yesterday, and a bunt single by Andres Torres and Freddy Sanchez's hit-by-pitch to start the game immediately put that in doubt. But, a groundout by Aubrey Huff and double play ball from Buster Posey ended that threat.
The third inning is when the scoring started, and it all started when Jonathan Sanchez pulled off the cardinal sin of pitching - walking the opposing pitcher leading off. After Bills reached base, Ivan De Jesus walked an out later for two on. Andre Ethier flied out, moving Bills to third. Matt Kemp smacked an RBI ground rule double for the 1-0 lead.
Everything was going smoothly for Bills until Posey and Pablo Sandoval singled to open the fourth. Belt has plenty of hype surrounding him, and a three-run homer to dead center confirmed all of that. It's no wonder why the Giants are excited about his future.
Down 3-1 against a good pitcher, it was Kemp who ignited the comeback. The Kemp of last year probably would have been asleep at this point, but in this game he started the bottom of the sixth with a single. In a piece of great baserunning, he advanced to third on a groundout by Marcus Thames, catching the Giants by surprise.
James Loney lifted a sac-fly RBI to make it 3-2. Consecutive singles by Rod Barajas and Aaron Miles put two more on, and they both advanced on Sandoval's error at third. Hector Gimenez pinch-hit and dribbled one to Sanchez, who somehow bobbled it for an error, allowing the tying run to score. A sharp RBI single by Rafael Furcal put the Dodgers ahead for good, 4-3.
A couple of offseason signings in the bullpen worked the seventh and eighth, starting with Blake Hawksworth. He ran into trouble by loading the bases on singles by Miguel Tejada (on a great bunt) and Freddy Sanchez, and a walk to Aubrey Huff. On a 3-2 count with two outs, Posey struck out swinging, sending his bat flying into the stands.
Matt Guerrier then stepped in and got through the next inning, only surrendering a single to Sandoval. Jonathan Broxton got the save with a perfect ninth, something he really needed. Say what you want about him (and I certainly do), but he's 2-for-2 thus far, so we'll all take it.
This is a game the Dodgers could have easily rolled over on, so I give them all credit for fighting back. A lot of that credit goes to Kemp, who is using his speed and defense to make a difference already. In two games he's 3-for-5 with three runs, an RBI, a stolen base, and three walks. The key now is to make sure he keeps up the effort. It doesn't matter if it's game #2 or #122, this is the kind of effort that makes him better than so many others.
Billingsley would like his one pitch back to Belt, but other than that, he threw well. He finished at six innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, and four strikeouts. The bullpen of Hawksworth, Guerrier, and Broxton went three scoreless.
So far, so good for the Dodgers, who will be back at it on Saturday afternoon with the Giants. Ted Lilly goes against Matt Cain, who quietly is one of the best pitchers in the league. Lilly had a great half-season in blue last year, so it's another quality pitching matchup. It'll be a FOX game, so this guy is stuck listening to his XM radio while the Yankees-Tigers are on. Enjoy for those of you who can see it.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Dodgers take down the champs on Opening Day
Don Mattingly's debut as the Dodgers' skipper will forever be a winning one.
Taking advantage of some horrible defense by the Giants, the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw got the narrow win in game #1, 2-1. The Dodgers now have the best record in baseball, and should carry this undefeated record the rest of the season.
Or hopefully at least through tomorrow.
Facing the dreaded shadows with a 5 P.M. local start, Kershaw was just brilliant. He finished with seven innings pitched, four hits, no runs, one walk, and nine strikeouts. Through four innings, he already struck out eight, and was just as sharp as can be. It's definitely a great sign going forward.
Tim Lincecum was the opposing starter, and the Dodgers were actually able to piece together some hits off of him in the early going. Back to back singles by Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp with two down came in the first, but James Loney grounded out to first.
The next inning, Juan Uribe made his Dodgers' debut with a single, then sped to second on a misplaced ball in center, only to get called out after oversliding the bag. It came back to haunt them, as Rod Barajas singled, taking away the RBI opportunity. Jamey Carroll and Kershaw both struck out to end the inning.
Two more men reached again in the third, as Tony Gwynn got the start in the #2 spot and singled to left, then sped to second on Pat Burrell's bobble. Ethier flew out, Kemp walked, and Loney again couldn't come through with another groundout.
After Kershaw got out of a bit of trouble in the fifth and sixth, the Dodgers finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Kemp took another walk with one out. Loney then grounded to short, but Miguel Tejada fired wide of second, putting runners on the corners. Uribe was then beaned to load 'em up.
After a pitch to Barajas, Buster Posey tried to catch Kemp walking back to third with a quick throw, only to sail it into left. Kemp scored, and it was 1-0.
Another run was tacked on in the eighth. With Santiago Casilla taking over for Lincecum, Kemp took his career-high third walk, and easily stole second. Loney finally got the big at-bat he was waiting for with an RBI double, making it 2-0.
Hong-Chih Kuo had already pitched the eighth, so now it was time for Jonathan Broxton. We all know what he did at the end of last season, and if I were to reiterate it here, I'd be up all night. But anyway, he got Posey bouncing out to first leading off.
Then in an eerie flashback, Burrell lined a fastball over the wall in left, cutting the lead to 2-1. How would Broxton respond? Well, thankfully. Tejada tapped one out in front of the plate, and Brandon Belt lined a soft one to Uribe at third to end the game.
It was a big night all around for the Dodgers, as they were debuting a new manager against the defending champs on national TV. While the bats didn't exactly break out (facing Lincecum has that effect), Kershaw made sure his team represented. And I don't care what the situation is - beating the Giants is always fun.
This game could serve as a microcosm for the rest of the season. The Dodgers don't have the big boppers in their lineup, so runs could be scarce. But, they do have great pitching, and they do have the ability to score when they absolutely need to. That's what happened in this one.
Both teams are back at it on Friday, as the new millionaire Chad Billingsley will take on Jonathan Sanchez. Bills has a tough act to follow, so let's hope the bats can drive in more runs for support.
Taking advantage of some horrible defense by the Giants, the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw got the narrow win in game #1, 2-1. The Dodgers now have the best record in baseball, and should carry this undefeated record the rest of the season.
Or hopefully at least through tomorrow.
Facing the dreaded shadows with a 5 P.M. local start, Kershaw was just brilliant. He finished with seven innings pitched, four hits, no runs, one walk, and nine strikeouts. Through four innings, he already struck out eight, and was just as sharp as can be. It's definitely a great sign going forward.
Tim Lincecum was the opposing starter, and the Dodgers were actually able to piece together some hits off of him in the early going. Back to back singles by Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp with two down came in the first, but James Loney grounded out to first.
The next inning, Juan Uribe made his Dodgers' debut with a single, then sped to second on a misplaced ball in center, only to get called out after oversliding the bag. It came back to haunt them, as Rod Barajas singled, taking away the RBI opportunity. Jamey Carroll and Kershaw both struck out to end the inning.
Two more men reached again in the third, as Tony Gwynn got the start in the #2 spot and singled to left, then sped to second on Pat Burrell's bobble. Ethier flew out, Kemp walked, and Loney again couldn't come through with another groundout.
After Kershaw got out of a bit of trouble in the fifth and sixth, the Dodgers finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Kemp took another walk with one out. Loney then grounded to short, but Miguel Tejada fired wide of second, putting runners on the corners. Uribe was then beaned to load 'em up.
After a pitch to Barajas, Buster Posey tried to catch Kemp walking back to third with a quick throw, only to sail it into left. Kemp scored, and it was 1-0.
Another run was tacked on in the eighth. With Santiago Casilla taking over for Lincecum, Kemp took his career-high third walk, and easily stole second. Loney finally got the big at-bat he was waiting for with an RBI double, making it 2-0.
Hong-Chih Kuo had already pitched the eighth, so now it was time for Jonathan Broxton. We all know what he did at the end of last season, and if I were to reiterate it here, I'd be up all night. But anyway, he got Posey bouncing out to first leading off.
Then in an eerie flashback, Burrell lined a fastball over the wall in left, cutting the lead to 2-1. How would Broxton respond? Well, thankfully. Tejada tapped one out in front of the plate, and Brandon Belt lined a soft one to Uribe at third to end the game.
It was a big night all around for the Dodgers, as they were debuting a new manager against the defending champs on national TV. While the bats didn't exactly break out (facing Lincecum has that effect), Kershaw made sure his team represented. And I don't care what the situation is - beating the Giants is always fun.
This game could serve as a microcosm for the rest of the season. The Dodgers don't have the big boppers in their lineup, so runs could be scarce. But, they do have great pitching, and they do have the ability to score when they absolutely need to. That's what happened in this one.
Both teams are back at it on Friday, as the new millionaire Chad Billingsley will take on Jonathan Sanchez. Bills has a tough act to follow, so let's hope the bats can drive in more runs for support.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Dodgers lock up Billingsley with new deal
With Opening Day this week, the Dodgers made a big move this week by locking up one of their best young pitchers. Chad Billingsley extended his contract by three years and $35 million. Other contract details include an option for a fourth year, and the rights to block a trade to 10 teams.
The Dodgers are obviously happy with the progress Bills has made, as he is slotted just underneath Clayton Kershaw atop the rotation. Last season he went 12-11 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts in 191 2/3 innings pitched. For his career of five seasons, he has a 59-41 record with a 3.55 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.
Before this deal was struck, the Dodgers knew they had their top two pitchers in Kershaw and Billingsley only signed through this season. Kershaw is a hotter commodity, so now that Bills is signed, the attention will shift to the southpaw. If he has a season anything close to last year's great numbers, expect the Dodgers to shell out even more money than this.
Billingsley will make the second start of the season against the Giants on Friday, April 1.
The Dodgers are obviously happy with the progress Bills has made, as he is slotted just underneath Clayton Kershaw atop the rotation. Last season he went 12-11 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts in 191 2/3 innings pitched. For his career of five seasons, he has a 59-41 record with a 3.55 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.
Before this deal was struck, the Dodgers knew they had their top two pitchers in Kershaw and Billingsley only signed through this season. Kershaw is a hotter commodity, so now that Bills is signed, the attention will shift to the southpaw. If he has a season anything close to last year's great numbers, expect the Dodgers to shell out even more money than this.
Billingsley will make the second start of the season against the Giants on Friday, April 1.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
2011 roster appears to be set
An article on the Dodgers' official website sheds plenty of light on just who's in and who's out as Opening Day is less than week away. Based on their projections, here is the 25-man roster:
Catchers (2)
Rod Barajas
Hector Gimenez
Infielders (6)
James Loney
Juan Uribe
Rafael Furcal
Jamey Carroll
Ivan De Jesus
Aaron Miles
Outfielders (6)
Matt Kemp
Andre Ethier
Jay Gibbons
Marcus Thames
Tony Gwynn
Xavier Paul
Starting Rotation (4)
Clayton Kershaw
Chad Billingsley
Ted Lilly
Hiroki Kuroda
Bullpen (7)
Jonathan Broxton
Hong-Chih Kuo
Kenley Jansen
Matt Guerrier
Blake Hawksworth
Mike MacDougal
Scott Elbert
DL (4)
Casey Blake
Dioner Navaro
Jon Garland
Vicente Padilla
Three names who look to be on the outside looking in are A.J. Ellis, Juan Castro, and Lance Cormier. In some cases, it's a matter of keeping guys out of options (Paul, Gimenez) over those with options (Ellis). Castro will stay back in Arizona to work with minor leaguers, but will be given the chance to hook up with another club. Cormier refused an assignment to the minors (which Ramon Troncoso accepted), and could possibly be added at the last minute over Elbert.
Catchers (2)
Rod Barajas
Hector Gimenez
Infielders (6)
James Loney
Juan Uribe
Rafael Furcal
Jamey Carroll
Ivan De Jesus
Aaron Miles
Outfielders (6)
Matt Kemp
Andre Ethier
Jay Gibbons
Marcus Thames
Tony Gwynn
Xavier Paul
Starting Rotation (4)
Clayton Kershaw
Chad Billingsley
Ted Lilly
Hiroki Kuroda
Bullpen (7)
Jonathan Broxton
Hong-Chih Kuo
Kenley Jansen
Matt Guerrier
Blake Hawksworth
Mike MacDougal
Scott Elbert
DL (4)
Casey Blake
Dioner Navaro
Jon Garland
Vicente Padilla
Three names who look to be on the outside looking in are A.J. Ellis, Juan Castro, and Lance Cormier. In some cases, it's a matter of keeping guys out of options (Paul, Gimenez) over those with options (Ellis). Castro will stay back in Arizona to work with minor leaguers, but will be given the chance to hook up with another club. Cormier refused an assignment to the minors (which Ramon Troncoso accepted), and could possibly be added at the last minute over Elbert.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Injury updates on Blake, Padilla, and Garland
Some Dodgers are already banged up, so let's take a look at just how bad.
Casey Blake
Even though he's not buying into it quite yet, Don Mattingly fully expects him to start the season on the DL. The specific injury is being called an inflamed thoracic spine, which just sounds painful. Despite taking injections, all he's been able to do is swing off a tee, and even that is still painful once his swing in complete. Considering he's 37 and coming off a down season, this is definitely not the way he wanted to start off the season. Look for Juan Uribe to slide over to third and Jamey Carroll to take over at second for the time being.
Vicente Padilla
A 30-pitch bullpen session last Friday resulted in being shut down the next day, but he's been able to bounce back with 10 pitches today. Afterward, he reportedly felt good. If he stays that way, then it's a positive sign that he really is progressing at a quick pace. Unfortunately for Padilla, we've all seen him collect one injury after another, so it may be hard to believe that he'll be back sooner rather than later. In order for him to be at his best, there's no need to rush him whatsoever.
Jon Garland
He's still nursing a strained oblique, but was recently able to throw 70 feet without any discomfort. As for when he'll be back in the fold, the Dodgers won't need a fifth starter until April 12 in San Francisco. It's being pretty optimistic be expect him back then, but he did get hurt on March 9, so that will be a full month of recovery. Like Padilla, though, I wouldn't count on that quick of a recovery.
Casey Blake
Even though he's not buying into it quite yet, Don Mattingly fully expects him to start the season on the DL. The specific injury is being called an inflamed thoracic spine, which just sounds painful. Despite taking injections, all he's been able to do is swing off a tee, and even that is still painful once his swing in complete. Considering he's 37 and coming off a down season, this is definitely not the way he wanted to start off the season. Look for Juan Uribe to slide over to third and Jamey Carroll to take over at second for the time being.
Vicente Padilla
A 30-pitch bullpen session last Friday resulted in being shut down the next day, but he's been able to bounce back with 10 pitches today. Afterward, he reportedly felt good. If he stays that way, then it's a positive sign that he really is progressing at a quick pace. Unfortunately for Padilla, we've all seen him collect one injury after another, so it may be hard to believe that he'll be back sooner rather than later. In order for him to be at his best, there's no need to rush him whatsoever.
Jon Garland
He's still nursing a strained oblique, but was recently able to throw 70 feet without any discomfort. As for when he'll be back in the fold, the Dodgers won't need a fifth starter until April 12 in San Francisco. It's being pretty optimistic be expect him back then, but he did get hurt on March 9, so that will be a full month of recovery. Like Padilla, though, I wouldn't count on that quick of a recovery.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Garland out with strained oblique
*** UPDATE ***
An MRI confirmed that Garland will miss four to six weeks. The Dodgers won't need a fifth starter until April 12, so it's possible he'll only miss a start or two.
***
The durable Jon Garland just got hurt.
Lasting only until the second inning against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, Garland was removed after straining his left oblique muscle. It's not known exactly as of yet how long he'll be out, but this type of injury usual takes at least a month, if not longer.
The ironic thing is that the Dodgers signed Garland because of his reputation for pitching inning after inning. Eight times in his career he has pitched 190+ innings, including an even 200 with the Padres last season.
But the Dodgers will now have to look to other options at the start of the season. Vicente Padilla is the "swingman," but he is once again battling injury problems of his own, and isn't expected ready until May at the earliest.
Just who can the Dodgers turn to? A couple guys are John Ely and Tim Redding. Ely made 18 starts last year, going 4-10 with an enormous 5.49 ERA. He does have six scoreless innings thus far in spring, though. Redding seems like he's been pitching since Lincoln was president, but he has eight scoreless innings in spring.
The good news is that Garland got hurt now, and not during the season, so there is a silver lining. If the Dodgers have to endure a few starts from someone else in the #5 spot, so be it. They still have a great chance to win plenty of games because of their top four in the rotation.
An MRI confirmed that Garland will miss four to six weeks. The Dodgers won't need a fifth starter until April 12, so it's possible he'll only miss a start or two.
***
The durable Jon Garland just got hurt.
Lasting only until the second inning against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, Garland was removed after straining his left oblique muscle. It's not known exactly as of yet how long he'll be out, but this type of injury usual takes at least a month, if not longer.
The ironic thing is that the Dodgers signed Garland because of his reputation for pitching inning after inning. Eight times in his career he has pitched 190+ innings, including an even 200 with the Padres last season.
But the Dodgers will now have to look to other options at the start of the season. Vicente Padilla is the "swingman," but he is once again battling injury problems of his own, and isn't expected ready until May at the earliest.
Just who can the Dodgers turn to? A couple guys are John Ely and Tim Redding. Ely made 18 starts last year, going 4-10 with an enormous 5.49 ERA. He does have six scoreless innings thus far in spring, though. Redding seems like he's been pitching since Lincoln was president, but he has eight scoreless innings in spring.
The good news is that Garland got hurt now, and not during the season, so there is a silver lining. If the Dodgers have to endure a few starts from someone else in the #5 spot, so be it. They still have a great chance to win plenty of games because of their top four in the rotation.
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.
10 questions for 2011
After two straight season appearing in the NLCS, the Dodgers took a step backwards last season in Joe Torre's farewell. Now with Donny Baseball at the helm, here are 10 important questions the Dodgers will face in getting back to October baseball.
1. Will Clayton Kershaw be the ace?
There's no doubt Kershaw has all the tools to be the top dog. Last year he went 13-10 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 212 strikeouts. He's already been named the Opening Day starter against the Giants, a very well-deserved honor. His biggest enemy in the past has been his walk on the wild side, but his innings pitched went up last year by over 30, and his walks were down by 10. With more run support, he can approach 20 wins this year.
2. Can Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier provide the power?
After a red hot start to the season by Ethier, a pinky injury of all things completely turned his season around. As for Kemp, he looked like his head was stuck in the clouds from day one. The good news? Both men are young enough and talented enough to really make a difference. With no Manny Ramirez around anymore to take the pressure off, these two will really need to show that last year was a fluke if the Dodgers expect to win.
3. Which Jonathan Broxton will show up?
It was the ultimate tale of two seasons for Brox, as he went from saving the All-Star Game for the National League to getting the boot from the closer's role. Want further proof? Pre-All Star: 2.11 ERA, Post-All Star: 7.13 ERA. Ouch! I believe much of his problems were mental, as he seemed to wilt against good competition. Another problem was that his fastball wasn't blowing people away anymore. Either way, he'll be given every chance to be the man in the 9th inning again. But after watching him last season, I'm not sure anyone can get too comfortable with him one way or another.
4. Will Hong-Chih Kuo hold up?
One of the real bright spots for the Dodgers last season was Kuo's performance, which was absolutely phenomenal. A 1.20 ERA, 21 holds, 12 saves, and 73 strikeouts equaled one of the best seasons for any reliever of all-time. But, as usual, the question of his fragile left arm has to be asked. This offseason, he kept on a regular throwing schedule, just like the one he has during the season. The hope is that his arm will remain strong. Let's hope it does, because a bullpen without Kuo isn't nearly as effective as one with him.
5. Who will emerge in left field?
I liken the Dodgers' claim that they have three legit starters in left to that of a football team with two starting quarterbacks: If you say you have more than one starter, do you really even have a starter at all? On the surface, it doesn't really look like it. The three in competition are Jay Gibbons (power), Marcus Thames (power), and Tony Gwynn (speed and defense). My guess is that Gibbons and Thames will platoon, and Gwynn will play the super-sub role late in games. But who knows, maybe one of them will get hot.
6. Who will emerge behind the plate?
Just like in left, there's three candidates: Rod Barajas, Dioner Navarro, and A.J. Ellis. Barajas hit 17 homers last year, including five in 25 games with the Dodgers. Navarro is eerily similar to Russell Martin in that he was once a hot, young All-Star, and is now fighting to prove himself all over again. Ellis finally hit the ball at the end of last season, but has never done that before. The Dodgers have to like Barajas's power, so I see him getting the early nod.
7. Will Juan Uribe provide a spark, ala last year in San Francisco?
Uribe hooked up with L.A. on a three-year, $21 million deal after helping guide the Giants to a ring last season. He's a career .256 hitter, but launched 24 homers last year, his fourth time over the 20 homer mark. His versatility is nice, as he can play anywhere from second to short to third. With a low average, the Dodgers are going to have to hope that he will make his hits count and be a leader in the infield.
8. Will the 'pen get back to business?
2009 was a fantastic year for the bullpen. 2010? Not so much. Throw out the great work of Hong-Chih Kuo and Kenley Jansen, and it was ugly to watch. Jonathan Broxton led the way, as he inexplicably blew up in the second half of the year, and lost his role of closer. With Ronald Belisario's status up in the air (again), the signing of Matt Guerrier takes on an added significance. If Kuo's arm holds up, Jansen continues to develop, and Broxton can regain his confidence, the bullpen can once again be among the league's best.
9. Is James Loney here for the long haul?
It's no secret that the Dodgers like Loney, but don't love him. That may sum up the feelings of fans, too. What he does bring is an ability to get RBIs, despite hitting for little power, and a slick glove. The problem is that nowadays, first basemen are looked at for their home runs, and that just isn't Loney's game. That's probably not going to change, so don't be surprised if he gets moved at some point if the Dodgers really want to go get an impact player.
10. How will Mattingly leave his mark?
Last season was not a fun ride, as Joe Torre retired and left behind a squad that largely underachieved. The knock on Torre was that he didn't get his club to play with any fire. Was it because he knew he was on his way out the door? We'll never know for sure. What we do know is that Mattingly has a chance to breathe some life into a team that really needed a kick in the collective behind. He'll have to do it without a big power threat like Manny Ramirez. Despite never managing on any level before (save for a stint in the Arizona Fall League), he'll have to show the ability to manage all sorts of different game situations and fast. I think he's up to the task, so I'm excited to see what happens.
1. Will Clayton Kershaw be the ace?
There's no doubt Kershaw has all the tools to be the top dog. Last year he went 13-10 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 212 strikeouts. He's already been named the Opening Day starter against the Giants, a very well-deserved honor. His biggest enemy in the past has been his walk on the wild side, but his innings pitched went up last year by over 30, and his walks were down by 10. With more run support, he can approach 20 wins this year.
2. Can Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier provide the power?
After a red hot start to the season by Ethier, a pinky injury of all things completely turned his season around. As for Kemp, he looked like his head was stuck in the clouds from day one. The good news? Both men are young enough and talented enough to really make a difference. With no Manny Ramirez around anymore to take the pressure off, these two will really need to show that last year was a fluke if the Dodgers expect to win.
3. Which Jonathan Broxton will show up?
It was the ultimate tale of two seasons for Brox, as he went from saving the All-Star Game for the National League to getting the boot from the closer's role. Want further proof? Pre-All Star: 2.11 ERA, Post-All Star: 7.13 ERA. Ouch! I believe much of his problems were mental, as he seemed to wilt against good competition. Another problem was that his fastball wasn't blowing people away anymore. Either way, he'll be given every chance to be the man in the 9th inning again. But after watching him last season, I'm not sure anyone can get too comfortable with him one way or another.
4. Will Hong-Chih Kuo hold up?
One of the real bright spots for the Dodgers last season was Kuo's performance, which was absolutely phenomenal. A 1.20 ERA, 21 holds, 12 saves, and 73 strikeouts equaled one of the best seasons for any reliever of all-time. But, as usual, the question of his fragile left arm has to be asked. This offseason, he kept on a regular throwing schedule, just like the one he has during the season. The hope is that his arm will remain strong. Let's hope it does, because a bullpen without Kuo isn't nearly as effective as one with him.
5. Who will emerge in left field?
I liken the Dodgers' claim that they have three legit starters in left to that of a football team with two starting quarterbacks: If you say you have more than one starter, do you really even have a starter at all? On the surface, it doesn't really look like it. The three in competition are Jay Gibbons (power), Marcus Thames (power), and Tony Gwynn (speed and defense). My guess is that Gibbons and Thames will platoon, and Gwynn will play the super-sub role late in games. But who knows, maybe one of them will get hot.
6. Who will emerge behind the plate?
Just like in left, there's three candidates: Rod Barajas, Dioner Navarro, and A.J. Ellis. Barajas hit 17 homers last year, including five in 25 games with the Dodgers. Navarro is eerily similar to Russell Martin in that he was once a hot, young All-Star, and is now fighting to prove himself all over again. Ellis finally hit the ball at the end of last season, but has never done that before. The Dodgers have to like Barajas's power, so I see him getting the early nod.
7. Will Juan Uribe provide a spark, ala last year in San Francisco?
Uribe hooked up with L.A. on a three-year, $21 million deal after helping guide the Giants to a ring last season. He's a career .256 hitter, but launched 24 homers last year, his fourth time over the 20 homer mark. His versatility is nice, as he can play anywhere from second to short to third. With a low average, the Dodgers are going to have to hope that he will make his hits count and be a leader in the infield.
8. Will the 'pen get back to business?
2009 was a fantastic year for the bullpen. 2010? Not so much. Throw out the great work of Hong-Chih Kuo and Kenley Jansen, and it was ugly to watch. Jonathan Broxton led the way, as he inexplicably blew up in the second half of the year, and lost his role of closer. With Ronald Belisario's status up in the air (again), the signing of Matt Guerrier takes on an added significance. If Kuo's arm holds up, Jansen continues to develop, and Broxton can regain his confidence, the bullpen can once again be among the league's best.
9. Is James Loney here for the long haul?
It's no secret that the Dodgers like Loney, but don't love him. That may sum up the feelings of fans, too. What he does bring is an ability to get RBIs, despite hitting for little power, and a slick glove. The problem is that nowadays, first basemen are looked at for their home runs, and that just isn't Loney's game. That's probably not going to change, so don't be surprised if he gets moved at some point if the Dodgers really want to go get an impact player.
10. How will Mattingly leave his mark?
Last season was not a fun ride, as Joe Torre retired and left behind a squad that largely underachieved. The knock on Torre was that he didn't get his club to play with any fire. Was it because he knew he was on his way out the door? We'll never know for sure. What we do know is that Mattingly has a chance to breathe some life into a team that really needed a kick in the collective behind. He'll have to do it without a big power threat like Manny Ramirez. Despite never managing on any level before (save for a stint in the Arizona Fall League), he'll have to show the ability to manage all sorts of different game situations and fast. I think he's up to the task, so I'm excited to see what happens.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Dodgers get Kershaw on the cheap... for now
Enjoying the fact that Clayton Kershaw cannot command high figures yet through arbitration, the Dodgers signed him to a one-year, $500,000 for this upcoming season. It's a slight raise from the $440,000 he made last season.
It seems like Kershaw's been pitching for a few years, probably because as Dodger fans, you've followed him through the minors. But, this season will only be his third full one, although he did pitch for much of the 2008 season as well. Next year he'll be eligible for arbitration, and you can bet his salary will take off.
In addition to being the Opening Day starter, this season takes on even more significance from a money standpoint. If he has another year with numbers like a 2.91 ERA and 212 strikeouts, then the Dodgers will need to get their checkbooks ready for rich, long-term contract. And it would be very well-deserved, of course.
The following players were also signed as well: Ivan DeJesus, Scott Elbert, A.J. Ellis, John Ely, Javy Guerra, Blake Hawksworth, Jamie Hoffmann, Kenley Jansen, John Lindsey, Jon Link, Russell Mitchell, Carlos Monasterios, Xavier Paul, Trayvon Robinson, Travis Schlichting, Ramon Troncoso and Luis Vasquez.
It seems like Kershaw's been pitching for a few years, probably because as Dodger fans, you've followed him through the minors. But, this season will only be his third full one, although he did pitch for much of the 2008 season as well. Next year he'll be eligible for arbitration, and you can bet his salary will take off.
In addition to being the Opening Day starter, this season takes on even more significance from a money standpoint. If he has another year with numbers like a 2.91 ERA and 212 strikeouts, then the Dodgers will need to get their checkbooks ready for rich, long-term contract. And it would be very well-deserved, of course.
The following players were also signed as well: Ivan DeJesus, Scott Elbert, A.J. Ellis, John Ely, Javy Guerra, Blake Hawksworth, Jamie Hoffmann, Kenley Jansen, John Lindsey, Jon Link, Russell Mitchell, Carlos Monasterios, Xavier Paul, Trayvon Robinson, Travis Schlichting, Ramon Troncoso and Luis Vasquez.
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