With a few days remaining before the All-Star Game, Bruce Bochy still has to decide which horse he wants to ride to start for the National League.
Sorry, Bruce, but Madison Bumgarner is not one of those horses he should be considering.
It's basically down to Zack Greinke and Max Scherzer, who've each been terrific to say the least. Let's take a look at each, and try to decipher who should get the ball in the first inning.
Zack Greinke: 18 starts, 8-2, 1.39 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, .191 BAA, 106 K's in 123 1/3 IP
NL Ranks: 1st in innings, ERA; 2nd in WHIP
The Case for Greinke: The guy has a 1.39 ERA at the All-Star break. That's the lowest at the ASB since 1968. It's also the fourth lowest at the ASB since World War II. He's currently on a scoreless streak of 35 2/3 innings. Last night's 6-0 win over the Phillies was his fifth straight scoreless start. He's retired 35 of his past 36 hitters. He hasn't allowed a runner to third base in the past 27 2/3 innings.
Need I say more?
There's not much Greinke can't do right now, save for literally being absolutely perfect in each outing, but he sure is close. He's in his contract year, and is pitching like a guy who will blow the roof off of free agency this offseason (following in Scherzer's footsteps from last year). Whatever the motivation, he's clearly not only the hottest pitcher in baseball, but probably the best.
Max Scherzer: 17 starts, 9-7, 2.12 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, .188 BAA, 143 K's in 123 1/3 IP
NL Ranks: 1st in innings, WHIP, complete games; 2nd in ERA; 4th in wins, ERA
The Case for Scherzer: There might not have been a better pitched three-game stretch in the history of baseball than what Scherzer did in June. First he pitched a complete game, one-hit, 16-strikeout shutout over the Brewers. Then he came within one hit batter of tossing a perfect game over the Pirates, settling for "only" a no-hitter. He capped it off by retiring the first 16 batters in Philadelphia before finally giving up a hit in the sixth. It was simply amazing watching him.
That alone might get him the start, as he was as close as you can possibly be to untouchable in those starts. He's allowed two earned runs or less in 13 of his 17 starts, with 10 of those being one run or less. His strikeouts have been very impressive, tallying six starts in double-digits.
The Nationals haven't run away with the NL East like most experts thought they would, but on a team with some question marks, Scherzer has far and away been the top dog.
The Verdict: This is a really tough call, as you're pretty much flipping a coin between two phenomenal pitchers. In a perfect scenario, they'll each give the NL two shutout innings in the ASG.
However, if Bochy is looking at his best chance of winning the game, then Greinke is the guy. He's simply peaking at the perfect time. While he's riding a five-game scoreless streak, Scherzer is coming off his worst outing of the season, giving up five runs while not making it out of the fifth inning against the Reds on Tuesday. It was clearly a blip on the radar, as he was sensational in his starts before that... but so was Greinke, who's been even better.
If I had to take a guess, I get the feeling that Bochy will lean towards Scherzer, simply because he's been getting more press this year. There's not much Greinke can do about that, because he just quietly goes about his business as most of America is asleep. Scherzer gets the luxury of more eyeballs on his starts.
I'm hoping Bochy will show some NL West love, and not deny a Dodger pitcher from rightfully starting the ASG for the third straight year (Clayton Kershaw was bumped for Matt Harvey and Adam Wainwright). Plus, Greinke would make a better choice to start because he won't fall victim to being too pumped up by trying to blow everyone away. That was the old Greinke. The new one is all about locating and changing speeds, and that's exactly what he'll do in the first inning.
Both men have already made their last starts of the first half, so they've done all they can do. I just think Greinke has done a little more, and should get the nod for the start.
Showing posts with label All-Star. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All-Star. Show all posts
Friday, July 10, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
"What's an All-Star Game without Clayton?"
That's the rhetorical question posed by A.J. Ellis after Wednesday night's game.
Considering Clayton Kershaw just got done polishing off the Phillies with a complete game, 13-strikeout, shutout performance in a 5-0 win, it's one plenty of people around the game are asking too.
Left off the roster by both the players' vote and manager Bruce Bochy, Kershaw also saw his name in fourth place out of five in the Final Vote before toeing the rubber at Dodger Stadium. What followed was his best performance of the season, and even more encouraging was how he rose to the occasion with runners on base, as the Phillies did get eight hits. That's what's been crushing him earlier this season.
With his final start before the All-Star break in the books, Kershaw finds himself first in the National League in strikeouts (160) and second in innings pitched (123). Digging a little deeper, he's tied for third in all of baseball at a 3.7 Pitcher's WAR with Chris Sale.
Yet, he still finds himself on the outside looking in, and as of now, it's going to stay that way. Keep in mind that as we get closer to the actual game in Cincinnati next Tuesday, there will need to be injury/rest replacements. Any pitcher scheduled to throw this Sunday can either be replaced, or choose to throw just one inning. The rules are a little petty, but also understandable in a way as they're meant to protect the arms.
Ignoring the 6-6 record because of the Dodgers' awful runs support (Zack Greinke only has seven wins, which is criminal), Kershaw has lowered his ERA a full run from 3.86 at the end of May to 2.85 right now. One thing he's been constantly mentioning as something he wants to improve upon is how deep he pitches into the game (we all are, considering how terrible the bullpen is). Last night he went the distance for the first time, and since the start of June, he's hurled at least seven innings in six of his eight starts. Not bad.
But, once again, it might not mean anything as far as the All-Star Game goes. And you know what? Maybe that's not a bad thing. I heard John Smoltz, soon to be enshrined into Cooperstown this summer, say on MLB Network that Kershaw should just enjoy the rest and get ready for the second half. The more I thought about it, the more I liked that idea.
While everyone wants the honor of being an All-Star, it's not like he hasn't been there before, as he's made the previous four. He's actually scoreless in those games, pitching an inning apiece. In 2012, he loaded the bases but wiggled out of it, and other than that, has barely been touched. So, he's proven that he can get it done on that stage.
Don't get me wrong, I would be thrilled if he does get in, as he's proven since June that he most certainly deserves it. I'm just saying that if he doesn't, taking over a week off from starts isn't a bad thing at all. He's been going nonstop the last couple of seasons between the regular season, All-Star Game, and postseason, without a breather. This could be a rare chance to get one.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Pederson's an All-Star... but let's face it, he's struggling at the plate
Joc Pederson was honored with his first All-Star selection on Monday, joining a few of his Dodger teammates. Right now he's third in the National League in walks (56), fifth in home runs (20), and 10th in slugging % (.502).
He also has a chance to be a starter if Matt Holliday can't comeback from a quad injury.
Things are going very well for him, no doubt.
But now comes a dose of reality: Pederson has struggled more and more as each month passes by.
Here are the numbers to prove it, as we look at his average and slugging % by the month:
April: .298 AVG, .596 SLG
May: .236 AVG, .519 SLG
June: .222 AVG, .495 SLG
July (5 games): .059 AVG, .111 SLG
No matter who the player is, those aren't pretty numbers that continue to dip more and more each month.
Look, I'm a big fan of Pederson. It's hard not to like a guy who can patrol center and make amazing catches with such ease. He sure as heck is a big upgrade from watching Matt Kemp struggle there at the beginning of last season, giving away one run after another.
This isn't about his defense at all. In 164 total chances this year, he only has two errors, good for a .988 fielding %. He's quickly turned himself into one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.
I'm focusing solely on his numbers at the plate, where he's regressed a little more and more as the season has gone on. He puts all of his eggs in one basket, as he's all about the power. Well, over his last 13 games, he's hit two doubles and one homer. Everyone goes through slumps, but he only has six hits total over the span, so it's not like he has a Plan B to go to.
One area that he's been consistent in is unfortunately strikeouts. Over that same 13-game span, he's struck out a whopping 17 times. In fact, he's currently leading the National League in strikeouts at 99, placing him fourth in all of baseball. I know power guys will experience their fair share of K's, but it's getting harder to ignore when it seems like every game lately he's walking back to the dugout instead of around the bases after a big hit.
By the way, here's his strikeouts by the month: 22, 37, 35, 5. That's a lot of swings, and a lot of misses.
I'm not trying to rain on Pederson's parade, as based on his overall play, he deserves to be in the Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati. Along with guys like Kris Bryant and Carlos Correa, he's one of the most exciting young players in the game.
But I am saying that there's still plenty of room for improvement, and it starts with the little things like cutting down on his swing with two strikes, and not being so "homer happy" in any circumstance. As the Dodgers go through the ebb and flow of scoring runs, he's a huge part of that hitting leadoff most games.
Some adjustments at the plate can go a long way. He just needs to embrace that.
He also has a chance to be a starter if Matt Holliday can't comeback from a quad injury.
Things are going very well for him, no doubt.
But now comes a dose of reality: Pederson has struggled more and more as each month passes by.
Here are the numbers to prove it, as we look at his average and slugging % by the month:
April: .298 AVG, .596 SLG
May: .236 AVG, .519 SLG
June: .222 AVG, .495 SLG
July (5 games): .059 AVG, .111 SLG
No matter who the player is, those aren't pretty numbers that continue to dip more and more each month.
Look, I'm a big fan of Pederson. It's hard not to like a guy who can patrol center and make amazing catches with such ease. He sure as heck is a big upgrade from watching Matt Kemp struggle there at the beginning of last season, giving away one run after another.
This isn't about his defense at all. In 164 total chances this year, he only has two errors, good for a .988 fielding %. He's quickly turned himself into one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.
I'm focusing solely on his numbers at the plate, where he's regressed a little more and more as the season has gone on. He puts all of his eggs in one basket, as he's all about the power. Well, over his last 13 games, he's hit two doubles and one homer. Everyone goes through slumps, but he only has six hits total over the span, so it's not like he has a Plan B to go to.
One area that he's been consistent in is unfortunately strikeouts. Over that same 13-game span, he's struck out a whopping 17 times. In fact, he's currently leading the National League in strikeouts at 99, placing him fourth in all of baseball. I know power guys will experience their fair share of K's, but it's getting harder to ignore when it seems like every game lately he's walking back to the dugout instead of around the bases after a big hit.
By the way, here's his strikeouts by the month: 22, 37, 35, 5. That's a lot of swings, and a lot of misses.
I'm not trying to rain on Pederson's parade, as based on his overall play, he deserves to be in the Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati. Along with guys like Kris Bryant and Carlos Correa, he's one of the most exciting young players in the game.
But I am saying that there's still plenty of room for improvement, and it starts with the little things like cutting down on his swing with two strikes, and not being so "homer happy" in any circumstance. As the Dodgers go through the ebb and flow of scoring runs, he's a huge part of that hitting leadoff most games.
Some adjustments at the plate can go a long way. He just needs to embrace that.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Four Dodgers are off to the All-Star Game in Cincinnati
The Dodgers were shut out of any starters for this year's All-Star Game, but they certainly weren't for reserves.
Congratulations are in order for Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal, and Zack Greinke for representing the Dodgers in the National League. All very well-deserved picks.
Clayton Kershaw is one name not on the list, but he still has a chance to be added via the "Final Five" voting. Simply put, if the fans want him in, he'll have to beat out Troy Tulowitzki, Johnny Cueto, Jeurys Familia, and Carlos Martinez. It's hard to ever guess how this voting process can go, so it's a toss-up right now.
Two names who had a chance but are on the outside looking in are Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen. Turner is a bit of a disappointment, especially considering he's .312 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs, and has taken over full-time duties at third base for the departed Juan Uribe. I think he still has a chance of getting in once injury replacements are named. Jansen has a bit of a chance with 13 saves and a 1.93 ERA, but losing some time with the injured foot didn't help his cause.
Both Greinke and Pederson have great chances at ending up being starters. Greinke is 7-2 with an NL-leading 1.48 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He next pitches on Thursday, which lines him up perfectly to pitch the following Tuesday on full rest. Of course, Bruce Bochy also can say the same about his own Madison Bumgarner, who will be on four-days' rest. Max Scherzer will be on a full week of rest, and it's hard to ignore his numbers, too.
Pederson could quite possibly sub for Matt Holliday, who is battling a sore quad. If Holliday can't go, then an outfield of Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen (subbing for Giancarlo Stanton), and Pederson would be young and fun to watch. He will have to compete with A.J. Pollack and Justin Upton for the honor. On the season, Pederson has smacked 20 homers and 35 RBIs, though he's struggled a bit with a .234 AVG.
A-Gon will be making his fifth appearance, and first as a Dodger. He hit a home run in his last appearance in 2011 with the Red Sox. This year, he's hitting .291 with 23 doubles, 15 homers, and 50 RBIs.
It's great to see Grandal getting the final nod at catcher behind Buster Posey and Yadier Molina. Hopefully he can sneak at least one inning in, as those two could probably go the full nine if they wanted. Grandal leads NL catchers with an .881 OPS, just above Posey. Not bad.
Congratulations are in order for Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal, and Zack Greinke for representing the Dodgers in the National League. All very well-deserved picks.
Clayton Kershaw is one name not on the list, but he still has a chance to be added via the "Final Five" voting. Simply put, if the fans want him in, he'll have to beat out Troy Tulowitzki, Johnny Cueto, Jeurys Familia, and Carlos Martinez. It's hard to ever guess how this voting process can go, so it's a toss-up right now.
Two names who had a chance but are on the outside looking in are Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen. Turner is a bit of a disappointment, especially considering he's .312 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs, and has taken over full-time duties at third base for the departed Juan Uribe. I think he still has a chance of getting in once injury replacements are named. Jansen has a bit of a chance with 13 saves and a 1.93 ERA, but losing some time with the injured foot didn't help his cause.
Both Greinke and Pederson have great chances at ending up being starters. Greinke is 7-2 with an NL-leading 1.48 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He next pitches on Thursday, which lines him up perfectly to pitch the following Tuesday on full rest. Of course, Bruce Bochy also can say the same about his own Madison Bumgarner, who will be on four-days' rest. Max Scherzer will be on a full week of rest, and it's hard to ignore his numbers, too.
Pederson could quite possibly sub for Matt Holliday, who is battling a sore quad. If Holliday can't go, then an outfield of Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen (subbing for Giancarlo Stanton), and Pederson would be young and fun to watch. He will have to compete with A.J. Pollack and Justin Upton for the honor. On the season, Pederson has smacked 20 homers and 35 RBIs, though he's struggled a bit with a .234 AVG.
A-Gon will be making his fifth appearance, and first as a Dodger. He hit a home run in his last appearance in 2011 with the Red Sox. This year, he's hitting .291 with 23 doubles, 15 homers, and 50 RBIs.
It's great to see Grandal getting the final nod at catcher behind Buster Posey and Yadier Molina. Hopefully he can sneak at least one inning in, as those two could probably go the full nine if they wanted. Grandal leads NL catchers with an .881 OPS, just above Posey. Not bad.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Early Dodgers' All-Star candidates
As June is about to approach, the All-Star Game chatter will start to pick up. Here's an early look at who I believe has a realistic chance of representing the Dodgers in the Midsummer Classic for the National League.
Definitely:
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B. He still has some work to do in holding off big sluggers like Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo, and Lucas Duda. But for now, there's no denying that at .344 with 17 doubles, 10 homers, and 35 RBIs, A-Gon is more than deserving of the start. He's been the rock in the heart of the Dodgers' order.
Zack Greinke, SP. It's been Greinke, and not Clayton Kershaw, who's been the Dodgers' go-to guy on the mound. At 5-1 with a 1.48 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, he's just behind A.J. Burnett for tops in the NL. He has a massive contract, and is pitching like a guy who wants to opt out and get an even more bloated one. Good for him.
Possibly:
Howie Kendrick, 2B. He's been everything the Dodgers hoped he would be: a solid hitter right next to A-Gon, and terrific with the glove. It won't be easy to make the squad, as there are three guys ahead of him with higher averages: Dee Gordon, DJ LeMahieu, and Kolten Wong. Plus, Joe Panik, Brandon Phillips, and Daniel Murphy are lurking right behind. It's actually a pretty deep position when you break it down.
Yasmani Grandal, C. The numbers are certainly there: .291 AVG, .403 OBP, 4 HR, 17 RBI. What's working against him is that in the NL, you'll always have to beat out Buster Posey and Yadier Molina. Good luck with that! So maybe he slides in as the third catcher, which is possible.
Joc Pederson, CF. It's been quite the start to the season for Mr. All or Nothing, as he is tied for third in NL outfielders with 12 home runs, and has third to himself with 54 strikeouts. He's been a fun player to watch between the moonshots and the great glove in center, so he definitely has people's attention. There's just so much talent in the outfield already, it's going to be difficult to find a spot. But if he keeps putting up numbers and making highlight reels, he has a chance.
Kenley Jansen, RP. This one won't be easy, only because he missed so much time with the foot injury. But so far, he's been flawless with four saves, and is still striking out everyone left and right. He'll need a huge month of June to get consideration, but if his ERA is still miniscule, he might slip in.
Definitely:
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B. He still has some work to do in holding off big sluggers like Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo, and Lucas Duda. But for now, there's no denying that at .344 with 17 doubles, 10 homers, and 35 RBIs, A-Gon is more than deserving of the start. He's been the rock in the heart of the Dodgers' order.
Zack Greinke, SP. It's been Greinke, and not Clayton Kershaw, who's been the Dodgers' go-to guy on the mound. At 5-1 with a 1.48 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, he's just behind A.J. Burnett for tops in the NL. He has a massive contract, and is pitching like a guy who wants to opt out and get an even more bloated one. Good for him.
Possibly:
Howie Kendrick, 2B. He's been everything the Dodgers hoped he would be: a solid hitter right next to A-Gon, and terrific with the glove. It won't be easy to make the squad, as there are three guys ahead of him with higher averages: Dee Gordon, DJ LeMahieu, and Kolten Wong. Plus, Joe Panik, Brandon Phillips, and Daniel Murphy are lurking right behind. It's actually a pretty deep position when you break it down.
Yasmani Grandal, C. The numbers are certainly there: .291 AVG, .403 OBP, 4 HR, 17 RBI. What's working against him is that in the NL, you'll always have to beat out Buster Posey and Yadier Molina. Good luck with that! So maybe he slides in as the third catcher, which is possible.
Joc Pederson, CF. It's been quite the start to the season for Mr. All or Nothing, as he is tied for third in NL outfielders with 12 home runs, and has third to himself with 54 strikeouts. He's been a fun player to watch between the moonshots and the great glove in center, so he definitely has people's attention. There's just so much talent in the outfield already, it's going to be difficult to find a spot. But if he keeps putting up numbers and making highlight reels, he has a chance.
Kenley Jansen, RP. This one won't be easy, only because he missed so much time with the foot injury. But so far, he's been flawless with four saves, and is still striking out everyone left and right. He'll need a huge month of June to get consideration, but if his ERA is still miniscule, he might slip in.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
3 of the 4 Dodgers' all-stars strut their stuff
The American League used an early 3-0 lead against a pitcher from the St. Louis Cardinals to help lead them to a 5-3 win in the All-Star Game. That's two straight for the AL, and also two straight times the National League manager chose to ignore Clayton Kershaw's eye-popping stats and go with someone else to start the game.
I could go on and on, but I'll just focus on the four Dodgers' representatives and break down their performances. Which, by the way, were much better than Adam Wainwright's. OK, that's it, I swear.
Clayton Kershaw - Down 3-2 in the second, Mike Matheny called on Kershaw to face the bottom three of the AL order. He immediately got Adam Jones to pop to Aramis Ramirez in foul territory at third on two pitches. Josh Donaldson was a little more of a battle, but an inside fastball was good for a swinging strike three. Salvador Perez rolled a soft one to Ramirez at third, who made a great barehanded play for the quick throw and final out.
All in all, it was another scoreless inning for Kershaw, who is flawless in four ASG performances, all for an inning apiece. It would have been cool to watch him pitch to Derek Jeter, who was on deck. Maybe in the World Series? Who knows.
Zack Greinke - Someone who actually outperformed Kershaw was Greinke, who had a couple of strikeouts in a scoreless fourth, keeping the game tied at three. Jose Bautista led off and grounded easily to third on a slider. A couple of power hitting Orioles came up next in Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones, and they both went down swinging on inside fastballs.
Greinke tied four other pitchers with a couple of K's, as no one worked more than an inning. Craig Kimbrel shined the brightest by striking out the side in the seventh.
Dee Gordon - It was an early entry into the game for Gordon, as he pinch-ran for Chase Utley in the fourth after Utley was beaned on the arm from a Chris Sale fastball. He didn't waste any time in leaving his mark, flying home to score from first on a Jonathan Lucroy double. That temporarily tied the game at three.
He did get one at-bat, and nearly beat out a grounder to Jose Altuve in the sixth. Altuve ranged to his right and made a great play on it, though. Gordon showed his leather as well, robbing Michael Brantley of a base hit in the bottom half. All in all, it was a good night.
Yasiel Puig - Then there's Puig, who definitely did not have a good night. Or a good couple of nights for that matter. After failing to hit a single home run in the Home Run Derby on Monday, Puig had three at-bats against Felix Hernandez, Yu Darvish, and Max Scherzer. Guess how that went? Strike three, strike three, strike three. Ouch. In the field, he did come close to robbing Mike Trout at the wall, but it was just out of his range as Trout went to third for a triple.
I was glad to see him play five innings, as he appeared to be having a great time. I just wish he could've had at least ONE moment from the two days. There were people predicting him to be the MVP after his big fat zero in the Derby. That obviously didn't happen. It's not like he went in the box just hacking away, as he went to a full count twice and 2-2 in his first at-bat. It just wasn't meant to be.
Bottom Line - The Dodgers have to be proud for how they played, even with Puig's hat trick at the plate. Kershaw and Greinke were just awesome, as they combined for two perfect innings with three strikeouts. No ball even reached the outfield, and they faced some power hitters like Bautista and Cruz. I knew Kershaw would pitch, but wasn't so sure if Greinke would be on the list of pitchers being saved for extra innings. Thankfully he wasn't, and he looked really good.
Someone else who should be proud is Gordon, who put on a wicked display of speed, then turned around a couple innings later and made a great play with his glove. It's hard to imagine a more unlikely all-star selection coming into this season, but he showed he more than belonged.
And Puig? Well, he'll be back. He can only go up from here, right? Right!
I could go on and on, but I'll just focus on the four Dodgers' representatives and break down their performances. Which, by the way, were much better than Adam Wainwright's. OK, that's it, I swear.
Clayton Kershaw - Down 3-2 in the second, Mike Matheny called on Kershaw to face the bottom three of the AL order. He immediately got Adam Jones to pop to Aramis Ramirez in foul territory at third on two pitches. Josh Donaldson was a little more of a battle, but an inside fastball was good for a swinging strike three. Salvador Perez rolled a soft one to Ramirez at third, who made a great barehanded play for the quick throw and final out.
All in all, it was another scoreless inning for Kershaw, who is flawless in four ASG performances, all for an inning apiece. It would have been cool to watch him pitch to Derek Jeter, who was on deck. Maybe in the World Series? Who knows.
Zack Greinke - Someone who actually outperformed Kershaw was Greinke, who had a couple of strikeouts in a scoreless fourth, keeping the game tied at three. Jose Bautista led off and grounded easily to third on a slider. A couple of power hitting Orioles came up next in Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones, and they both went down swinging on inside fastballs.
Greinke tied four other pitchers with a couple of K's, as no one worked more than an inning. Craig Kimbrel shined the brightest by striking out the side in the seventh.
Dee Gordon - It was an early entry into the game for Gordon, as he pinch-ran for Chase Utley in the fourth after Utley was beaned on the arm from a Chris Sale fastball. He didn't waste any time in leaving his mark, flying home to score from first on a Jonathan Lucroy double. That temporarily tied the game at three.
He did get one at-bat, and nearly beat out a grounder to Jose Altuve in the sixth. Altuve ranged to his right and made a great play on it, though. Gordon showed his leather as well, robbing Michael Brantley of a base hit in the bottom half. All in all, it was a good night.
Yasiel Puig - Then there's Puig, who definitely did not have a good night. Or a good couple of nights for that matter. After failing to hit a single home run in the Home Run Derby on Monday, Puig had three at-bats against Felix Hernandez, Yu Darvish, and Max Scherzer. Guess how that went? Strike three, strike three, strike three. Ouch. In the field, he did come close to robbing Mike Trout at the wall, but it was just out of his range as Trout went to third for a triple.
I was glad to see him play five innings, as he appeared to be having a great time. I just wish he could've had at least ONE moment from the two days. There were people predicting him to be the MVP after his big fat zero in the Derby. That obviously didn't happen. It's not like he went in the box just hacking away, as he went to a full count twice and 2-2 in his first at-bat. It just wasn't meant to be.
Bottom Line - The Dodgers have to be proud for how they played, even with Puig's hat trick at the plate. Kershaw and Greinke were just awesome, as they combined for two perfect innings with three strikeouts. No ball even reached the outfield, and they faced some power hitters like Bautista and Cruz. I knew Kershaw would pitch, but wasn't so sure if Greinke would be on the list of pitchers being saved for extra innings. Thankfully he wasn't, and he looked really good.
Someone else who should be proud is Gordon, who put on a wicked display of speed, then turned around a couple innings later and made a great play with his glove. It's hard to imagine a more unlikely all-star selection coming into this season, but he showed he more than belonged.
And Puig? Well, he'll be back. He can only go up from here, right? Right!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Puig in the Home Run Derby? Not so good...
Move over, Mike Piazza. You have new company in the infamous Home Run Derby Donut Hole Club.
Just like the great Piazza did in 1993 and 1994, Yasiel Puig went homerless in the Derby. He had a monster shot to left in his final swing that went foul. That's about it for "highlights."
Seriously, it wasn't pretty. I had a bad feeling that Puig would either get hurt or barely hit any out by overswinging. Well, there aren't any reports of him getting hurt thankfully, but a lack of experience and most likely some nerves led to a goose egg.
Puig still brings a lot of eyeballs to the tube, so I wouldn't be surprised if he appeared in this again soon. Teammate Matt Kemp participated in 2011 during his monster season, and only hit two. He came back the next year and tried his luck again, and only hit one. That was kind of strange because at the time, he was recovering from injury and didn't appear in the All-Star Game. Guess he was healthy enough to hack away in the Derby, though.
Tonight is the All-Star Game, and Puig is hitting second for the National League. You know he has redemption in mind, so he'll be swinging away full force against Felix Hernandez. I predict either a home run or a bad looking strikeout. Tune in and see for yourselves.
Just like the great Piazza did in 1993 and 1994, Yasiel Puig went homerless in the Derby. He had a monster shot to left in his final swing that went foul. That's about it for "highlights."
Seriously, it wasn't pretty. I had a bad feeling that Puig would either get hurt or barely hit any out by overswinging. Well, there aren't any reports of him getting hurt thankfully, but a lack of experience and most likely some nerves led to a goose egg.
Puig still brings a lot of eyeballs to the tube, so I wouldn't be surprised if he appeared in this again soon. Teammate Matt Kemp participated in 2011 during his monster season, and only hit two. He came back the next year and tried his luck again, and only hit one. That was kind of strange because at the time, he was recovering from injury and didn't appear in the All-Star Game. Guess he was healthy enough to hack away in the Derby, though.
Tonight is the All-Star Game, and Puig is hitting second for the National League. You know he has redemption in mind, so he'll be swinging away full force against Felix Hernandez. I predict either a home run or a bad looking strikeout. Tune in and see for yourselves.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Wainwright edges out Kershaw as All-Star starter
About the only remaining question for tomorrow's All-Star Game was who NL manager Mike Matheny would choose to start the game - Adam Wainwright or Clayton Kershaw?
Well, he just chose. And he stayed with familiarity in Wainwright.
So Wainwright will toe the rubber in the first inning against the American League, as "King" Felix Hernandez will go against the NL.
I have to admit I was disappointed, but certainly not surprised. Buster Olney tweeted out this morning that all signs were pointing to Wainwright getting the honor. Plus you throw in the fact that Matheny just happens to manage him, and it's understandable.
For fun, let's take a look at just how close of a race this has been in the first half:
Kershaw: 14 GS, 96 1/3 IP, 11-2, 1.78 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 126 K, 3 CB, 1 SHO
Wainwright: 19 GS, 138 IP, 12-3, 1.83 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 115 K, 3 CG, 2 SHO
What can we take away from all of that? Both are really, REALLY good. That's it.
Seriously, if you're a Dodger fan like me, you want to see your boy Kershaw get the honor of starting. But since he's not, you certainly can't complain about it being Wainwright instead. He's a guy who's won a world championship as a closer, and finished in the top three in the Cy Young voting three times. I'd say he's more than proved his worth.
And like it not, the few starts Kershaw had to miss when he was on the DL probably cost him. Say for instance he never missed a start and still put up those sick numbers? Then we'd all have a big reason to complain.
Look for Kershaw to get the ball anywhere between innings 2-4, I would think. He'll still play a big role in the game at least.
Well, he just chose. And he stayed with familiarity in Wainwright.
So Wainwright will toe the rubber in the first inning against the American League, as "King" Felix Hernandez will go against the NL.
I have to admit I was disappointed, but certainly not surprised. Buster Olney tweeted out this morning that all signs were pointing to Wainwright getting the honor. Plus you throw in the fact that Matheny just happens to manage him, and it's understandable.
For fun, let's take a look at just how close of a race this has been in the first half:
Kershaw: 14 GS, 96 1/3 IP, 11-2, 1.78 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 126 K, 3 CB, 1 SHO
Wainwright: 19 GS, 138 IP, 12-3, 1.83 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 115 K, 3 CG, 2 SHO
What can we take away from all of that? Both are really, REALLY good. That's it.
Seriously, if you're a Dodger fan like me, you want to see your boy Kershaw get the honor of starting. But since he's not, you certainly can't complain about it being Wainwright instead. He's a guy who's won a world championship as a closer, and finished in the top three in the Cy Young voting three times. I'd say he's more than proved his worth.
And like it not, the few starts Kershaw had to miss when he was on the DL probably cost him. Say for instance he never missed a start and still put up those sick numbers? Then we'd all have a big reason to complain.
Look for Kershaw to get the ball anywhere between innings 2-4, I would think. He'll still play a big role in the game at least.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Dodgers to send four to the All-Star Game
As the Dodgers were wrapping up a big 8-2 win in Colorado, keeping their lead in the NL West at a 1/2 game, the All-Stars were being unveiled on ESPN.
It turned out to be more good news, as the Dodgers will send four to Minnesota: Yasiel Puig will start in the outfield, Clayton Kershaw could start on the mound, Dee Gordon will back up Chase Utley at second, and Zack Greinke was picked by NL manager Mike Matheny.
Let's take a look at how each player got to represent the NL:
Yasiel Puig, OF: .307 AVG, .393 OBP, 23 2B, 4 3B, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 7 SB
Puig was once the leading vote getter in the outfield, but then had to hold off a late surge by Giancarlo Stanton. Nonetheless, with the game played in an AL park this year, Stanton will most likely get to start and hit DH anyway. So hey, we're all happy.
Puig got robbed last year of an All-Star selection, so it was great to see him begin this season on such a tear that it carried all the way over to getting selected by the fans to start. He's exciting enough to hit a homer, try to stretch a single into a double, or gun someone out at home. You know he'll definitely be guns a' blazing, so stay tuned.
Let's just hope he doesn't pull every muscle in his body swinging for the fences in the Home Run Derby. If he's chosen for that, of course.
Clayton Kershaw, SP: 10-2, 1.85 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 115 K's in 87 1/3 IP
Anyone who has a 36 inning scoreless streak (and counting, hopefully) deserves an All-Star nod. An absolutely filthy month of June where he went 6-0 with an 0.82 ERA vaulted him right back to the top of the NL.
Now the question turns to whether or not Matheny will give the ball to Kershaw to start, or to his own Cardinal ace, Adam Wainwright. You know how I feel - I'd go with Kershaw. One, because he is the best pitcher in the world, bar none. The other reason is because he'll be on four days' rest, while Wainwright will be on two. Granted, the starter won't go more than two innings most likely, so maybe the rest thing isn't that big of a deal.
But bottom line, I still think Kershaw should start.
Dee Gordon, 2B: .302 AVG, .356 OBP, 14 2B, 9 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 42 SB
What a comeback story this has been for Gordon. Who in the world would've ever thought he'd not only be the starting second baseman for the Dodgers, but then play well enough to earn an All-Star nod? It's hard for anyone to have envisioned this.
What Gordon has done is run wild, leading all of baseball in steals with 42 and triples with 9. His defense has also gotten better and better each game, as people probably forget all about his disastrous, error filled stint as a shortstop. Those days are long gone, as an offseason spent adding some bulk to his skinny frame has clearly paid off.
Look for him to be a key player late in the game, as he'll be taking off for a steal at some point.
Zack Greinke, SP: 11-4, 2.66 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 119 K's in 111 2/3 IP
Greinke earns his first All-Star nod as a Dodger, and his second one in his career ('09 with the Royals). It's been a typical Greinke-like year, as he quietly goes about his business of mowing down hitters.
Through the first two months of the season, his ERA stood at 2.18, so he's actually regressed just a bit of late. But, what most likely got Matheny's attention was his seven inning, one run, 10 strikeout performance against the Cardinals on June 28. If Matheny needed any extra motivation in picking him, that was it.
Since the NL is loaded with great pitchers, I wouldn't be surprised if Greinke is held off until late in the game to be one of those "emergency" pitchers in case there's extra innings. Maybe not, but perhaps Matheny leans towards the pitchers who were selected by the players first.
It turned out to be more good news, as the Dodgers will send four to Minnesota: Yasiel Puig will start in the outfield, Clayton Kershaw could start on the mound, Dee Gordon will back up Chase Utley at second, and Zack Greinke was picked by NL manager Mike Matheny.
Let's take a look at how each player got to represent the NL:
Yasiel Puig, OF: .307 AVG, .393 OBP, 23 2B, 4 3B, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 7 SB
Puig was once the leading vote getter in the outfield, but then had to hold off a late surge by Giancarlo Stanton. Nonetheless, with the game played in an AL park this year, Stanton will most likely get to start and hit DH anyway. So hey, we're all happy.
Puig got robbed last year of an All-Star selection, so it was great to see him begin this season on such a tear that it carried all the way over to getting selected by the fans to start. He's exciting enough to hit a homer, try to stretch a single into a double, or gun someone out at home. You know he'll definitely be guns a' blazing, so stay tuned.
Let's just hope he doesn't pull every muscle in his body swinging for the fences in the Home Run Derby. If he's chosen for that, of course.
Clayton Kershaw, SP: 10-2, 1.85 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 115 K's in 87 1/3 IP
Anyone who has a 36 inning scoreless streak (and counting, hopefully) deserves an All-Star nod. An absolutely filthy month of June where he went 6-0 with an 0.82 ERA vaulted him right back to the top of the NL.
Now the question turns to whether or not Matheny will give the ball to Kershaw to start, or to his own Cardinal ace, Adam Wainwright. You know how I feel - I'd go with Kershaw. One, because he is the best pitcher in the world, bar none. The other reason is because he'll be on four days' rest, while Wainwright will be on two. Granted, the starter won't go more than two innings most likely, so maybe the rest thing isn't that big of a deal.
But bottom line, I still think Kershaw should start.
Dee Gordon, 2B: .302 AVG, .356 OBP, 14 2B, 9 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 42 SB
What a comeback story this has been for Gordon. Who in the world would've ever thought he'd not only be the starting second baseman for the Dodgers, but then play well enough to earn an All-Star nod? It's hard for anyone to have envisioned this.
What Gordon has done is run wild, leading all of baseball in steals with 42 and triples with 9. His defense has also gotten better and better each game, as people probably forget all about his disastrous, error filled stint as a shortstop. Those days are long gone, as an offseason spent adding some bulk to his skinny frame has clearly paid off.
Look for him to be a key player late in the game, as he'll be taking off for a steal at some point.
Zack Greinke, SP: 11-4, 2.66 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 119 K's in 111 2/3 IP
Greinke earns his first All-Star nod as a Dodger, and his second one in his career ('09 with the Royals). It's been a typical Greinke-like year, as he quietly goes about his business of mowing down hitters.
Through the first two months of the season, his ERA stood at 2.18, so he's actually regressed just a bit of late. But, what most likely got Matheny's attention was his seven inning, one run, 10 strikeout performance against the Cardinals on June 28. If Matheny needed any extra motivation in picking him, that was it.
Since the NL is loaded with great pitchers, I wouldn't be surprised if Greinke is held off until late in the game to be one of those "emergency" pitchers in case there's extra innings. Maybe not, but perhaps Matheny leans towards the pitchers who were selected by the players first.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Kershaw lined up perfectly for All-Star start
After Clayton Kershaw's latest gem on Tuesday, a 2-0 win over the Royals in which he hurled eight shutout innings, the talk of getting him his first All-Star Game start has only been intensified.
In keeping with recent All-Star tradition, I immediately took a look at how much rest he would be on if he was asked to start. What I found is very encouraging to Dodger fans: if everything lines up over the next three weeks, Kershaw will make his final start before the break on Thursday, July 10 against the Padres.
That means the All-Star Game in Minnesota the following Tuesday will be on his normal four days' rest. Perfect!
Kershaw is still a few innings away from all of his stats becoming official. Right now, his 2.42 ERA would put him third in the National League, right ahead of teammate Josh Beckett. His 94 strikeouts rank him 10th, and that's with roughly 30 innings less than the top pitchers like Stephen Strasburg and Johnny Cueto.
For comparison's sake, here's a look at other contenders to start the ASG, and what their rest would be the day of the game:
Johnny Cueto: 2 days
Adam Wainwright: 2 days
Julio Teheran: 1 days
Jeff Samardzija: 5 days
Tim Hudson: 4 days
Josh Beckett: 2 days
Keep in mind that rotations can easily be tweaked, so nothing is set in stone. This is simply a look at how it would all play out according to the current layout of each team's rotation.
There have already been many great accomplishments in Kershaw's career, but one thing he has not achieved is ASG starter. That's looking more and more like a possibility based on his recent run (21 straight scoreless innings, no-hitter), and because it would be a nod to his overall success so early in his career.
It will ultimately be Mike Matheny's decision, as the Cardinals skipper will be managing the NL. But let's make it easy - start Kershaw, watch him throw two shutout innings, unleash the other strong arms on the AL, and get the home field advantage back to the NL for the World Series! Make it happen!
In keeping with recent All-Star tradition, I immediately took a look at how much rest he would be on if he was asked to start. What I found is very encouraging to Dodger fans: if everything lines up over the next three weeks, Kershaw will make his final start before the break on Thursday, July 10 against the Padres.
That means the All-Star Game in Minnesota the following Tuesday will be on his normal four days' rest. Perfect!
Kershaw is still a few innings away from all of his stats becoming official. Right now, his 2.42 ERA would put him third in the National League, right ahead of teammate Josh Beckett. His 94 strikeouts rank him 10th, and that's with roughly 30 innings less than the top pitchers like Stephen Strasburg and Johnny Cueto.
For comparison's sake, here's a look at other contenders to start the ASG, and what their rest would be the day of the game:
Johnny Cueto: 2 days
Adam Wainwright: 2 days
Julio Teheran: 1 days
Jeff Samardzija: 5 days
Tim Hudson: 4 days
Josh Beckett: 2 days
Keep in mind that rotations can easily be tweaked, so nothing is set in stone. This is simply a look at how it would all play out according to the current layout of each team's rotation.
There have already been many great accomplishments in Kershaw's career, but one thing he has not achieved is ASG starter. That's looking more and more like a possibility based on his recent run (21 straight scoreless innings, no-hitter), and because it would be a nod to his overall success so early in his career.
It will ultimately be Mike Matheny's decision, as the Cardinals skipper will be managing the NL. But let's make it easy - start Kershaw, watch him throw two shutout innings, unleash the other strong arms on the AL, and get the home field advantage back to the NL for the World Series! Make it happen!
Monday, June 23, 2014
Updated look at possible All-Stars
About a month ago I blogged about potential All-Star selections for the Dodgers. With a little over three weeks to go until the game, here's my updated look at who I think has a chance to represent the Dodgers:
Definitely
Yasiel Puig, OF. He's currently leading the National League in outfield voting, and rightfully so. A rough stretch in June has dipped his average to .317, but there's no denying he's the complete package this season and deserves to start. I just hope he doesn't tear some arm ligaments trying to make some crazy throw.
Clayton Kershaw, SP. The last time I discussed this subject, he was just coming back from his shoulder injury. Then he reminded everyone just how good he is with a no-hitter against the Rockies in one of the most dominating pitching performances ever. Currently at 7-2 with a 2.52 ERA and 0.92 WHIP, he's earned his way back in.
Dee Gordon, 2B. While he's slipped to third in NL voting, he should be a backup to Chase Utley at second. He's still tops in baseball with 39 steals, besting Billy Hamilton by 8. And if you're beating Hamilton in that category, you must be doing something right. His defense has been much-improved of late as well, so he'll be fine.
Josh Beckett, SP. As if throwing a no-hitter against the Phillies wasn't convincing enough, then the fact that he's only getting better as the season wears on should be. His 5-4 record doesn't come close to telling an accurate story of how good he's been. Being third in the NL with a 2.28 ERA does, and his 1.02 WHIP is fourth.
Possibly
Zack Greinke, SP. I bumped him down a notch from last time for a couple of reasons. One, he's been a little bit off in June with a 3.60 ERA in four starts. Two, he's more victimized by Kershaw and Beckett, who've been better. There's nothing against the rules of having three starting pitchers from the same team, and it can definitely happen here. I think he will get in, as he's 9-3 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Those are All-Star numbers when it's all said and done.
Kenley Jansen, RP. The good news is that he's tied for second in the NL with 22 saves, three behind Francisco Rodriguez for the lead. The bad news is that he's done that with a 4.26 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, hardly All-Star numbers. And as you saw on Friday night against the lowly Padres, he gets hit around too much. What could convince those making the choices are his saves and his NL-leading 53 strikeouts among relievers. This one could go either way.
J.P. Howell, RP. Since the All-Star "counts" now, I'll throw his name out there as a situational lefty. He's tied for third in the NL with 17 holds, and owns a 1.61 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. It's not uncommon anymore for middle relievers to get some All-Star love, just like Hong-Chih Kuo did back in 2010. The only roadblock is Tony Watson of the Pirates has better numbers and is also a lefty, so we'll see what happens.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP. A pure darkhorse candidate at this point since the NL is loaded with quality starting pitching. He is 9-3 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, so if some pitchers are hurt or ineligible because of not enough rest, Ryu's name could be floated out there as a replacement.
Names Added: Howell, Ryu
Names Bumped: Adrian Gonzalez, Juan Uribe
Definitely
Yasiel Puig, OF. He's currently leading the National League in outfield voting, and rightfully so. A rough stretch in June has dipped his average to .317, but there's no denying he's the complete package this season and deserves to start. I just hope he doesn't tear some arm ligaments trying to make some crazy throw.
Clayton Kershaw, SP. The last time I discussed this subject, he was just coming back from his shoulder injury. Then he reminded everyone just how good he is with a no-hitter against the Rockies in one of the most dominating pitching performances ever. Currently at 7-2 with a 2.52 ERA and 0.92 WHIP, he's earned his way back in.
Dee Gordon, 2B. While he's slipped to third in NL voting, he should be a backup to Chase Utley at second. He's still tops in baseball with 39 steals, besting Billy Hamilton by 8. And if you're beating Hamilton in that category, you must be doing something right. His defense has been much-improved of late as well, so he'll be fine.
Josh Beckett, SP. As if throwing a no-hitter against the Phillies wasn't convincing enough, then the fact that he's only getting better as the season wears on should be. His 5-4 record doesn't come close to telling an accurate story of how good he's been. Being third in the NL with a 2.28 ERA does, and his 1.02 WHIP is fourth.
Possibly
Zack Greinke, SP. I bumped him down a notch from last time for a couple of reasons. One, he's been a little bit off in June with a 3.60 ERA in four starts. Two, he's more victimized by Kershaw and Beckett, who've been better. There's nothing against the rules of having three starting pitchers from the same team, and it can definitely happen here. I think he will get in, as he's 9-3 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Those are All-Star numbers when it's all said and done.
Kenley Jansen, RP. The good news is that he's tied for second in the NL with 22 saves, three behind Francisco Rodriguez for the lead. The bad news is that he's done that with a 4.26 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, hardly All-Star numbers. And as you saw on Friday night against the lowly Padres, he gets hit around too much. What could convince those making the choices are his saves and his NL-leading 53 strikeouts among relievers. This one could go either way.
J.P. Howell, RP. Since the All-Star "counts" now, I'll throw his name out there as a situational lefty. He's tied for third in the NL with 17 holds, and owns a 1.61 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. It's not uncommon anymore for middle relievers to get some All-Star love, just like Hong-Chih Kuo did back in 2010. The only roadblock is Tony Watson of the Pirates has better numbers and is also a lefty, so we'll see what happens.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP. A pure darkhorse candidate at this point since the NL is loaded with quality starting pitching. He is 9-3 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, so if some pitchers are hurt or ineligible because of not enough rest, Ryu's name could be floated out there as a replacement.
Names Added: Howell, Ryu
Names Bumped: Adrian Gonzalez, Juan Uribe
Sunday, May 25, 2014
A look at possible All-Star candidates
The All-Star Game is less than two months away on July 14 in Minnesota. Let's take a look at possible candidates that could be representing the Dodgers. I'll break it down by Definitely and Possibly.
Definitely:
Yasiel Puig, OF. He's second in the NL in the average (.349), slugging % (.623), OPS (1.061), and RBIs (38). Toss in 12 doubles, 10 homers, and 5 steals, and you see just what kind of an impact he has at the plate. Oh ya, he can throw, too. He should easily be voted in as a starting outfielder.
Dee Gordon, 2B. Who would've thought this before the season? Not me, but I'm happy to say that he absolutely deserves to go. He's leading the league in stolen bases with 30, 12 ahead of the guy who got all the hype coming into the season, Billy Hamilton. He's also 10th in runs, but that's mostly because the guys behind him haven't hit well. I'm not saying he should start over Chase Utley, but he should be picked over Daniel Murphy.
Zack Greinke, SP. National League pitching is so deep, his 2.01 ERA is actually fifth best. But, he does lead with seven wins, and is seventh with 65 K's. He clearly took over as the team's ace when Clayton Kershaw was shelved for 1 1/2 months. If he keeps doing what he's doing, he's a lock.
Possibly:
Josh Beckett, SP. In case you didn't hear, he threw a no-hitter against the Phillies on Sunday. Right now he is 10th in the NL in ERA (2.43) and 9th in WHIP (1.02). What a turnaround he's had after nearly ending his career a year ago with a nerve issue. The only reason I'm saying this isn't a definite is because the NL is so deep in pitching, as I said before. But, let's also remember how many All-Stars end up being picked thanks to the off days around the time of the game. I think he'll get in.
Clayton Kershaw, SP. Normally this would be a no-brainer, but again, keep in mind he missed a big chunk of time. He's only made five starts, and did have that clunker against the Diamondbacks recently. Take that away, and he absolutely is the stud pitcher we're used to. A handful of good starts should get him that extra push to get in.
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B. The good news is that he leads all NL first basemen with 10 homers and 36 RBIs. The bad news is that a horrible May in which he's hitting .209 has really caused his production to level off. At the end of April he was hitting .317, and now it's .277. If he keeps the power numbers up, he should get some love. But, I get the feeling it won't be enough.
Kenley Jansen, RP. A 4.15 ERA and 1.43 WHIP are way too high, but his 14 saves are tied for fourth. What's working for him is that he's only three away from first, so if the Dodgers get hot and he can close out a bunch of games coming up, then he should get a strong push to get in.
Juan Uribe, 3B. It's probably a stretch, especially since he's currently on the 15-day DL with a bad hamstring. The only reason I'll throw him out as a possibility is because the third basemen in the NL are average at best. David Wright is leading with a .311 average, but only three homers. Nolan Arenado is very talented, but just broke a finger and could be out awhile. Todd Frazier has good power numbers with 9 homers and 27 RBIs. If Uribe can come back healthy, hit some more, and show his usual good glovework, then he's someone to keep an eye on.
Definitely:
Yasiel Puig, OF. He's second in the NL in the average (.349), slugging % (.623), OPS (1.061), and RBIs (38). Toss in 12 doubles, 10 homers, and 5 steals, and you see just what kind of an impact he has at the plate. Oh ya, he can throw, too. He should easily be voted in as a starting outfielder.
Dee Gordon, 2B. Who would've thought this before the season? Not me, but I'm happy to say that he absolutely deserves to go. He's leading the league in stolen bases with 30, 12 ahead of the guy who got all the hype coming into the season, Billy Hamilton. He's also 10th in runs, but that's mostly because the guys behind him haven't hit well. I'm not saying he should start over Chase Utley, but he should be picked over Daniel Murphy.
Zack Greinke, SP. National League pitching is so deep, his 2.01 ERA is actually fifth best. But, he does lead with seven wins, and is seventh with 65 K's. He clearly took over as the team's ace when Clayton Kershaw was shelved for 1 1/2 months. If he keeps doing what he's doing, he's a lock.
Possibly:
Josh Beckett, SP. In case you didn't hear, he threw a no-hitter against the Phillies on Sunday. Right now he is 10th in the NL in ERA (2.43) and 9th in WHIP (1.02). What a turnaround he's had after nearly ending his career a year ago with a nerve issue. The only reason I'm saying this isn't a definite is because the NL is so deep in pitching, as I said before. But, let's also remember how many All-Stars end up being picked thanks to the off days around the time of the game. I think he'll get in.
Clayton Kershaw, SP. Normally this would be a no-brainer, but again, keep in mind he missed a big chunk of time. He's only made five starts, and did have that clunker against the Diamondbacks recently. Take that away, and he absolutely is the stud pitcher we're used to. A handful of good starts should get him that extra push to get in.
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B. The good news is that he leads all NL first basemen with 10 homers and 36 RBIs. The bad news is that a horrible May in which he's hitting .209 has really caused his production to level off. At the end of April he was hitting .317, and now it's .277. If he keeps the power numbers up, he should get some love. But, I get the feeling it won't be enough.
Kenley Jansen, RP. A 4.15 ERA and 1.43 WHIP are way too high, but his 14 saves are tied for fourth. What's working for him is that he's only three away from first, so if the Dodgers get hot and he can close out a bunch of games coming up, then he should get a strong push to get in.
Juan Uribe, 3B. It's probably a stretch, especially since he's currently on the 15-day DL with a bad hamstring. The only reason I'll throw him out as a possibility is because the third basemen in the NL are average at best. David Wright is leading with a .311 average, but only three homers. Nolan Arenado is very talented, but just broke a finger and could be out awhile. Todd Frazier has good power numbers with 9 homers and 27 RBIs. If Uribe can come back healthy, hit some more, and show his usual good glovework, then he's someone to keep an eye on.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Kershaw is an All-Star, Puig and Gonzalez on Final Vote
For the third straight year, Clayton Kershaw will be representing the Dodgers in the Midsummer Classic with the National League. The last Dodger pitcher to be selected three straight years was closer Eric Gagne from 2002-2004, and the last starting pitcher was the great Orel Hershiser from 1987-1989. Some great company, indeed.
Kershaw will start today in San Francisco, which lines up his final start before the break on Friday, July 12. You can bet Bruce Bochy will get an inning or two out of him on four-day's rest as the NL looks to win their fourth consecutive ASG.
What's interesting about the pitchers for the NL is how inexperienced they are in the ASG. The only other starters with multiple selections are Cliff Lee (four) and Adam Wainwright (two). Craig Kimbrel (three) and Aroldis Chapman (two) are the only closers with more than one. I can imagine young studs like Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez will be leaning on the "grizzled veterans" of Kershaw and Lee on how to prepare for such a game like this one.
Perhaps the biggest news to come out of the selections is on the Final Vote, where both Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez have a chance to be voted in by the fans. I bet Gonzalez had a good laugh about this one, as he probably feels like he has no chance to get in over Puig. And who can blame him? Nothing against Gonzo, but it would be shocking if Puig lost.
I wonder if the ASG was on Puig's mind as he struck out four times in a loss to the Giants on Saturday. Everyone is due a stinker, and after 31 games, he finally had his. Even so, other than Gonzo, the remaining competition is Ian Desmond, Hunter Pence, and Freddie Freeman. They're all great players, but again, this seems like Puig's vote to lose.
Something everyone needs to remember is that injury replacements are always needed, especially with starting pitchers being ineligible to pitch in the ASG if they start the Sunday before the break. In that case, I bet Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenley Jansen have decent shots of being added. Heck, even Gonzo could make it if not voted in, as I can recall that happening to Andre Ethier a couple of years back. In other words, stay tuned.
Kershaw will start today in San Francisco, which lines up his final start before the break on Friday, July 12. You can bet Bruce Bochy will get an inning or two out of him on four-day's rest as the NL looks to win their fourth consecutive ASG.
What's interesting about the pitchers for the NL is how inexperienced they are in the ASG. The only other starters with multiple selections are Cliff Lee (four) and Adam Wainwright (two). Craig Kimbrel (three) and Aroldis Chapman (two) are the only closers with more than one. I can imagine young studs like Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez will be leaning on the "grizzled veterans" of Kershaw and Lee on how to prepare for such a game like this one.
Perhaps the biggest news to come out of the selections is on the Final Vote, where both Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez have a chance to be voted in by the fans. I bet Gonzalez had a good laugh about this one, as he probably feels like he has no chance to get in over Puig. And who can blame him? Nothing against Gonzo, but it would be shocking if Puig lost.
I wonder if the ASG was on Puig's mind as he struck out four times in a loss to the Giants on Saturday. Everyone is due a stinker, and after 31 games, he finally had his. Even so, other than Gonzo, the remaining competition is Ian Desmond, Hunter Pence, and Freddie Freeman. They're all great players, but again, this seems like Puig's vote to lose.
Something everyone needs to remember is that injury replacements are always needed, especially with starting pitchers being ineligible to pitch in the ASG if they start the Sunday before the break. In that case, I bet Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenley Jansen have decent shots of being added. Heck, even Gonzo could make it if not voted in, as I can recall that happening to Andre Ethier a couple of years back. In other words, stay tuned.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Kemp bombs in the Derby again
Matt Kemp might be the best player in baseball... but certainly not in the Home Run Derby.
For the second straight year, Kemp recorded nine straight outs before finally put one over the wall. Last year he had two, this year he had one.
With a total of three dingers in two years, I think it's time for Kemp to officially Mike Piazza the Derby.
Piazza, if you recall, also participated in the Derby two consecutive years during his Dodgers' tenure, and was miserable. So bad, in fact, that he literally hit zero home runs. That's right - 20 swings, 0 homers. Thankfully he tapped out after that and chose to become an announcer for it instead.
Kemp wasn't THAT bad, but make no mistake about it, it's time for him to move on from this competition and enjoy the scenery with the other players. He'll have many more years of being an All-Star, so I'm sure the temptation will be there. Hopefully it's one that he can overcome and avoid!
We love ya, Matty, but let's call it quits at this point! Get your homers during the season instead.
For the second straight year, Kemp recorded nine straight outs before finally put one over the wall. Last year he had two, this year he had one.
With a total of three dingers in two years, I think it's time for Kemp to officially Mike Piazza the Derby.
Piazza, if you recall, also participated in the Derby two consecutive years during his Dodgers' tenure, and was miserable. So bad, in fact, that he literally hit zero home runs. That's right - 20 swings, 0 homers. Thankfully he tapped out after that and chose to become an announcer for it instead.
Kemp wasn't THAT bad, but make no mistake about it, it's time for him to move on from this competition and enjoy the scenery with the other players. He'll have many more years of being an All-Star, so I'm sure the temptation will be there. Hopefully it's one that he can overcome and avoid!
We love ya, Matty, but let's call it quits at this point! Get your homers during the season instead.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Capuano, Ethier, Ellis: All-Star snubs?
Every year we see the same thing: fans vote in starters, managers pick the rest, and outrage ensues.
And just like in the past, this year is no different.
It took about .2 seconds for the world to immediately assume that Tony LaRussa snubbed a couple of Reds' players, Johnny Cueto and Brandon Phillips. Let's not forget the Reds-Cardinals dustup from a 2010 game. Did LaRussa get one last dig in against his old nemesis? Who knows.
But while we're on the subject of snubs, or even potential snubs, let's take a look at three guys in blue who could've gotten in, but were denied.
Chris Capuano - Probably the biggest case can be made for Caps. Right now he's 9-3 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 89 K's in 110 1/3 innings. Even Clayton Kershaw remarked that while he's honored to be chosen by LaRussa, he feels badly that it wasn't Capuano instead.
Through April, he was 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA. After May, he was 7-1 and 2.14. His best start came on June 17, as he gave up one run in eight innings against the White Sox, striking out 12. And even with all of that, he's not even on the Final Vote ballot. It's a shame.
Andre Ethier - With a recent injury to his oblique, who knows if Ethier would even be available to play. Nonetheless, he was leading the National League in RBIs for much of the season before the Dodgers quit putting people on base. He still is third at 55.
The trouble with him is that his numbers are good, but not quite eye-opening. He's hitting .291 with 10 homers, 23 doubles, and a triple. Again, very good numbers, but not huge enough to pop out to you. Still, he's been in the All-Star Game the last couple of years, so if healthy, I can see him getting in as an injury replacement.
A.J. Ellis - I wrote a column on May 27 stating Ellis should be an All-Star. I still believe he's good enough to be there. His numbers are good, especially for a catcher: .287 AVG, .413 OBP (5th in the majors), 6 homers, 8 doubles, 27 RBIs. On defense, he's thrown out 21 base stealers, good for fourth in the majors.
The problem? The NL has too many good catchers. Look at the three guys who are going to the All-Star Game: Buster Posey (starter), Yadier Molina, and Carlos Ruiz. There's no doubt that these three guys are at the top of their game. And like it or not, even I have to admit that it's hard to get Ellis in there, even with his big year. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is.
I'd like to remind everyone that in addition to the all the talk about snubs, there's also the inevitable injury replacements once players start pulling out. That's how Ethier got in last year, and it was a good thing for the Cardinals since he helped get the NL home field advantage with an RBI single. So while it's OK to be disappointed for now, remember that the Dodgers may soon have more than two representatives by the time July 10 rolls around.
And just like in the past, this year is no different.
It took about .2 seconds for the world to immediately assume that Tony LaRussa snubbed a couple of Reds' players, Johnny Cueto and Brandon Phillips. Let's not forget the Reds-Cardinals dustup from a 2010 game. Did LaRussa get one last dig in against his old nemesis? Who knows.
But while we're on the subject of snubs, or even potential snubs, let's take a look at three guys in blue who could've gotten in, but were denied.
Chris Capuano - Probably the biggest case can be made for Caps. Right now he's 9-3 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 89 K's in 110 1/3 innings. Even Clayton Kershaw remarked that while he's honored to be chosen by LaRussa, he feels badly that it wasn't Capuano instead.
Through April, he was 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA. After May, he was 7-1 and 2.14. His best start came on June 17, as he gave up one run in eight innings against the White Sox, striking out 12. And even with all of that, he's not even on the Final Vote ballot. It's a shame.
Andre Ethier - With a recent injury to his oblique, who knows if Ethier would even be available to play. Nonetheless, he was leading the National League in RBIs for much of the season before the Dodgers quit putting people on base. He still is third at 55.
The trouble with him is that his numbers are good, but not quite eye-opening. He's hitting .291 with 10 homers, 23 doubles, and a triple. Again, very good numbers, but not huge enough to pop out to you. Still, he's been in the All-Star Game the last couple of years, so if healthy, I can see him getting in as an injury replacement.
A.J. Ellis - I wrote a column on May 27 stating Ellis should be an All-Star. I still believe he's good enough to be there. His numbers are good, especially for a catcher: .287 AVG, .413 OBP (5th in the majors), 6 homers, 8 doubles, 27 RBIs. On defense, he's thrown out 21 base stealers, good for fourth in the majors.
The problem? The NL has too many good catchers. Look at the three guys who are going to the All-Star Game: Buster Posey (starter), Yadier Molina, and Carlos Ruiz. There's no doubt that these three guys are at the top of their game. And like it or not, even I have to admit that it's hard to get Ellis in there, even with his big year. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is.
I'd like to remind everyone that in addition to the all the talk about snubs, there's also the inevitable injury replacements once players start pulling out. That's how Ethier got in last year, and it was a good thing for the Cardinals since he helped get the NL home field advantage with an RBI single. So while it's OK to be disappointed for now, remember that the Dodgers may soon have more than two representatives by the time July 10 rolls around.
Kemp and Kershaw are back-to-back All-Stars
For the second straight year, Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw will be representing the Dodgers in the Midsummer Classic.
The fans have spoken, and they made Kemp the third starting outfielder for the National League. He was the leading vote-getter as little as a week ago, but you can thank the massive ballott-stuffing efforts from the Giants' fans for getting Melky Cabrera into another starting spot, to go along with the Cardinals' Carlos Beltran.
The flip side, however, is that Kemp won't play because of his hamstring issues. There's plenty of choices for replacements, such as Ryan Braun and Andrew McCutchen. My guess is Tony LaRussa will go with Braun.
Kershaw was chosen by LaRussa. Despite only a 6-4 record, he still has fantastic numbers outside of that: 2.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 112 K's in 115 1/3 innings. Plus the fact that he's the reigning Cy Young Award winner helps.
While it's known that not every player will get a chance to appear in the game, it's hard to imagine that Kershaw wouldn't get an inning. Last year he did, and it was bang-bang-bang, inning over. With the way he overpowers hitters, he'll get used.
The fans have spoken, and they made Kemp the third starting outfielder for the National League. He was the leading vote-getter as little as a week ago, but you can thank the massive ballott-stuffing efforts from the Giants' fans for getting Melky Cabrera into another starting spot, to go along with the Cardinals' Carlos Beltran.
The flip side, however, is that Kemp won't play because of his hamstring issues. There's plenty of choices for replacements, such as Ryan Braun and Andrew McCutchen. My guess is Tony LaRussa will go with Braun.
Kershaw was chosen by LaRussa. Despite only a 6-4 record, he still has fantastic numbers outside of that: 2.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 112 K's in 115 1/3 innings. Plus the fact that he's the reigning Cy Young Award winner helps.
While it's known that not every player will get a chance to appear in the game, it's hard to imagine that Kershaw wouldn't get an inning. Last year he did, and it was bang-bang-bang, inning over. With the way he overpowers hitters, he'll get used.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The Cardinals can thank the Dodgers
Now that the World Series has started, it's worth noting that the Dodgers played a big role in helping the Cardinals get home field advantage. In addition to giving away Rafael Furcal to hit in the leadoff spot, it was the solid performances of Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Clayton Kershaw in this year's All-Star Game that helped pave the way for home field advantage for the National League.
Kemp got the start in center field and hit third. He hit three times and went 1-for-2 with a walk. Ironically, his one hit was against the Rangers' Game One starter, C.J. Wilson. His single followed one by Carlos Beltran (then with the Mets), which led to Prince Fielder's three-run homer to put the NL up for good.
Ethier was one of the last additions to the team, but made his sole at-bat count. With two outs in the fifth, he singled off of Joe Walden to score Rickie Weeks and go up 4-1. It was the first RBI by a Dodger in the All-Star Game since Mike Piazza in 1996.
Kershaw got the ball in the fifth with a 3-1 lead. He struck out David Ortiz swinging to start, then got Robinson Cano and Alex Avila to ground to Fielder at first to retire the side in order. In all, he made only eight pitches.
Kemp got the start in center field and hit third. He hit three times and went 1-for-2 with a walk. Ironically, his one hit was against the Rangers' Game One starter, C.J. Wilson. His single followed one by Carlos Beltran (then with the Mets), which led to Prince Fielder's three-run homer to put the NL up for good.
Ethier was one of the last additions to the team, but made his sole at-bat count. With two outs in the fifth, he singled off of Joe Walden to score Rickie Weeks and go up 4-1. It was the first RBI by a Dodger in the All-Star Game since Mike Piazza in 1996.
Kershaw got the ball in the fifth with a 3-1 lead. He struck out David Ortiz swinging to start, then got Robinson Cano and Alex Avila to ground to Fielder at first to retire the side in order. In all, he made only eight pitches.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A great All-Star Game for the Dodgers
For the second straight year, the National League won the All-Star Game over their American League rivals, this time by a 5-1 score. The big blow was Prince Fielder's three-run shot that gave the NL a lead they would not relinquish.
The Dodgers had three representatives, and they all contributed to the win a big way. Let's take a look at how they performed on the big stage.
Matt Kemp
Kemp got the start in center and played six innings before coming out for Andrew McCutchen. Hitting in the #3 spot, he took a walk in his first at-bat with two outs in the first, but was stranded when Fielder flied out. His next at-bat was hit biggest, as he followed Carlos Beltran's leadoff single with his own single into left. That set up Fielder's homer to grab the lead. His night was over after flying out to right in his final plate appearance.
Andre Ethier
I wasn't so sure if Ethier would get an at-bat considering he was one of the last additions to the team, but there he was stepping to the plate in the fifth. Subbing at DH for Beltran, he waited for Rickie Weeks to swipe second for a two-out RBI opportunity. He delivered with an RBI single into right, but was caught in a rundown for the final out. No matter, as the damage was done to give the NL a 4-1 lead. It was only at-bat of the night as Gabby Sanchez came on in the seventh.
On a side note, Ethier's RBI broke a 15-year drought for the Dodgers. You have to go all the way back to Mike Piazza's MVP performance in 1996 for the last time a Dodger drove in a run. That's pretty crazy!
Clayton Kershaw
Don Mattingly was worried that Kershaw would get overworked, and possibly not be 100% for Friday's game in Arizona. Thankfully Kershaw was on the money, as he got through his only inning of work in the fifth with eight pitches. He struck out David Ortiz on a check swing, then got Robinson Cano and Alex Avila to ground out to Fielder at first. Jair Jurrjens took over in the sixth.
All in all, the Dodgers have to be thrilled with how well their boys played. I know this fan was. Not that home field means a whole heck of a lot to them... but nonetheless, it's good to get the NL a couple straight wins.
The Dodgers had three representatives, and they all contributed to the win a big way. Let's take a look at how they performed on the big stage.
Matt Kemp
Kemp got the start in center and played six innings before coming out for Andrew McCutchen. Hitting in the #3 spot, he took a walk in his first at-bat with two outs in the first, but was stranded when Fielder flied out. His next at-bat was hit biggest, as he followed Carlos Beltran's leadoff single with his own single into left. That set up Fielder's homer to grab the lead. His night was over after flying out to right in his final plate appearance.
Andre Ethier
I wasn't so sure if Ethier would get an at-bat considering he was one of the last additions to the team, but there he was stepping to the plate in the fifth. Subbing at DH for Beltran, he waited for Rickie Weeks to swipe second for a two-out RBI opportunity. He delivered with an RBI single into right, but was caught in a rundown for the final out. No matter, as the damage was done to give the NL a 4-1 lead. It was only at-bat of the night as Gabby Sanchez came on in the seventh.
On a side note, Ethier's RBI broke a 15-year drought for the Dodgers. You have to go all the way back to Mike Piazza's MVP performance in 1996 for the last time a Dodger drove in a run. That's pretty crazy!
Clayton Kershaw
Don Mattingly was worried that Kershaw would get overworked, and possibly not be 100% for Friday's game in Arizona. Thankfully Kershaw was on the money, as he got through his only inning of work in the fifth with eight pitches. He struck out David Ortiz on a check swing, then got Robinson Cano and Alex Avila to ground out to Fielder at first. Jair Jurrjens took over in the sixth.
All in all, the Dodgers have to be thrilled with how well their boys played. I know this fan was. Not that home field means a whole heck of a lot to them... but nonetheless, it's good to get the NL a couple straight wins.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Kemp hitting 3rd for the National League
The resurrection of Matt Kemp took another big step when he learned that he will be hitting third for the National League in the All-Star Game. The lineup will look like this:
1. Rickie Weeks, 2B, Brewers
2. Carlos Beltran, DH, Mets
3. Matt Kemp, CF, Dodgers
4. Prince Fielder, 1B, Brewers
5. Brian McCann, C, Braves
6. Lance Berkman, RF, Cardinals
7. Matt Holliday, LF, Cardinals
8. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies
9. Scott Rolen, 3B, Reds
To get a feeling on just how much Kemp has improved from this year to last, take a look at his numbers at this point in 2010:
'10: 88 G, .261 AVG, .318 OBP, 58 R, 17 2B, 4 3B, 16 HR, 51 RBI, 99 K, 15 SB, 10 CS
'11: 92 G, .313 AVG, .398 OBP, 55 R, 19 2B, 2 3B, 22 HR, 67 RBI, 82 K, 28 SB, 3 CS
The averages, homers, RBIs, and stolen bases all jump right out. That shows just how well-rounded he is this season. Not only is he powering people in, but he's using his speed to make more noise. If the Dodgers had guys behind him who can hit, he'd have a lot more runs.
Want an analytical look at why Kemp is better this year? Check out this inside look from Bill Chuck over at BaseballAnalytics.org. The secret has been his speed on inside fastballs. Look at the pictures and see for yourself.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Second in voting, but Ethier is an All-Star anyway
All of the voting fans did to try and send Andre Ethier to the All-Star Game actually did work after all.
With news that Shane Victorino, who was voted in by the fans in the Final Vote, has landed on the 15-day DL with a sprained thumb, Ethier will be the replacement and make his second consecutive All-Star appearance. He joins teammates Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw.
Ethier made headlines earlier this season with a 30-game hitting streak, good for second in LA Dodgers' history. Currently he's hitting .316 with seven homers, 42 RBIs, 23 doubles, and 100 hits total. His power has been lacking after hitting 31 in '09 and 23 last year battling a broken pinkie finger. However, his OBP has been high at .382.
I'm not sure Ethier will get an at-bat considering he's the last guy selected right now, although as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez showed today, more injury replacements are probably coming. Still, it's an honor for Ethier to get chosen and give the Dodgers three representatives despite a lousy season.
With news that Shane Victorino, who was voted in by the fans in the Final Vote, has landed on the 15-day DL with a sprained thumb, Ethier will be the replacement and make his second consecutive All-Star appearance. He joins teammates Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw.
Ethier made headlines earlier this season with a 30-game hitting streak, good for second in LA Dodgers' history. Currently he's hitting .316 with seven homers, 42 RBIs, 23 doubles, and 100 hits total. His power has been lacking after hitting 31 in '09 and 23 last year battling a broken pinkie finger. However, his OBP has been high at .382.
I'm not sure Ethier will get an at-bat considering he's the last guy selected right now, although as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez showed today, more injury replacements are probably coming. Still, it's an honor for Ethier to get chosen and give the Dodgers three representatives despite a lousy season.
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