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 Greinke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greinke. Show all posts
Friday, July 10, 2015
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.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
With each start, Greinke gets more expensive. And that's fine with me.
If you're Zack Greinke, you're sure loving life right now.
Coming off another masterful performance, seven shutout innings in a 4-3 win over the Mets on Independence Day, Greinke now has a 1.48 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 17 starts, to go along with a scoreless innings streak at 27 2/3.
Life is good.
What's even better is that after this season, he has an out clause in contract that would allow him to test the free agency market. Before the 2013 season, he inked a six-year, $147 million deal. He's earning a cool $23 million this season, along with a $2 million signing bonus.
Those are some huge numbers, but in today's baseball world, he can probably get even more dough if he keeps putting up blanks like this. Take Max Scherzer, for example. He turned down the Tigers' offer of a $144 million extension, rolling the dice that he could get north of $200 million. After posting monster numbers last season, he was right, as he signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Nationals.
What works even more in Greinke's favor is Scherzer's success this year. Rather than getting the money and seeing his numbers slip, he's been even more dominant this season at 9-6 with a 1.82 ERA and 0.78 WHIP. He also has a no-hitter, and is seemingly in contention for one every start.
With Scherzer's success comes the increasing likelihood that Greinke will choose the same path. It's the old "gamble on me" way of thinking that can be somewhat dangerous. That is, somewhat dangerous for people who have not allowed one run or less in 13 of his 17 starts.
One thing that is working against Greinke is simple: his age. He'll be 33 next season, and the magic number of 30 for pitches is when they usually start to go downhill. But, if you read Buster Olney's article on him (sorry, Insider only), then you'll see that rival evaluators believe he can keep replicating his success because he's in the mold of a Greg Maddux: that is not, not a power pitcher, but a guy who hits corners, changes speed, and has a great arm slot on his release.
As of now, there's no way the Dodgers can't throw the bank at him. It's not like they can't afford it! The new analytics-driven front office might not like giving that much money to someone his age, but he's clearly the Dodgers #1 need heading into the offseason. Yes, he's been that good.
Or, if Greinke truly cares about getting more wins (he's 4-3 right now), then he'll stay with his current contract, or even offer to give some of that money to get better middle relief. It took all of two innings for clowns like Yimi Garcia, Adam Liberatore, and Pedro Baez to nearly blow a 4-0 lead. Imagine if the Dodgers could score more runs and protect the lead in the middle innings more often. Greinke might have 30 wins by now. Kidding, of course. Kind of...
Anyway, as Clayton Kershaw is still looking to be more consistent with his location, Greinke has vaulted into the #1 pitcher for the Dodgers as they lead the NL West. I'm pretty sure that fact isn't lost on Greinke's representatives, who will look to cash in on his terrific numbers this offseason.
Let's just hope he cashes in with the Dodgers.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Lack of offensive consistency continues to burn Greinke
One bad pitch, one long Justin Upton homer... and one more night without a win for Zack Greinke.
With two outs and a 3-2 count in the eighth inning, Greinke went to the well once too often, spinning a slider right over the plate that was deposited 410 feet into center. Granted, that only made the score 2-1 Padres, but with the way the Dodgers are swinging the bats... well, you might as well have just called it 12-1.
So ya, the Padres beat the Dodgers 2-1.
Even more frustrating is the fact that Greinke has gone seven straight starts without a win. Back on May 5, the Dodgers beat the Brewers 8-2, putting his record at 5-0 with a 1.56 ERA. Well, he's gone 0-2 since then, but his ERA is still excellent at 1.95.
What's the problem, you may ask? It's simple - the offense has largely done jack squat in those starts. And as Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles points out, they're not exactly doing much to entice Greinke to stay in LA beyond this year.
Check out the run support in his last seven starts - 5, 1, 2, 2, 9 (Coors Field), 2, 1. As you can see, five of those starts featured two runs of support or less. For a team that is talking like they are true World Series contenders, that's pretty embarrassing to say the least.
In the month of June, the Dodgers are actually third in the National League with 59 runs scored. The catch, however, is that four of those games were in Colorado, where they scored 29 runs in four games, or 7.3 per. Since then, they've put up 30 runs in nine games against the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Padres, good for 3.3 per. It's not hard to see that the Coors Field effect inflated the overall numbers.
The excuses about too many injuries have recently gone away as well. Yasiel Puig, Howie Kendrick, and Yasmani Grandal are all back in the everyday lineup. Puig has certainly hit well with a homer and four RBIs to go along with a .522 average in his six games back. Kendrick and Grandal have each gotten big hits.
Who's not hitting well? Adrian Gonzalez is truly a "peaks and valleys" type of hitter, and it's a valley right now. He's hit .261 in June, but with only one homer and five RBIs. Joc Pederson's production has plummeted to .209 with a homer, four RBIs, and 16 strikeouts, by far the most on the team. Jimmy Rollins is at .175, which is unbelievably bad. Andre Ethier has received a lot of praise for his great play this year, but in June, he's hitting .225 with two homers and seven RBIs.
Add all of that up, and it's pretty much an all or nothing type of team. Sure, they'll hit the ball out of the yard, but when they don't, it's a whole lot of swings, and a whole lot of nothing to show for it. That's the frustration of being a Dodger fan right now, and I'm sure Greinke feels it more than anyone.
We've all known since before the season even started that Greinke will probably opt out of his contract at the season's end, so that should not be a surprise if he does. But it's nights like Saturday in San Diego - where he pitched excellently yet still lost - that make that decision just a little bit easier.
With two outs and a 3-2 count in the eighth inning, Greinke went to the well once too often, spinning a slider right over the plate that was deposited 410 feet into center. Granted, that only made the score 2-1 Padres, but with the way the Dodgers are swinging the bats... well, you might as well have just called it 12-1.
So ya, the Padres beat the Dodgers 2-1.
Even more frustrating is the fact that Greinke has gone seven straight starts without a win. Back on May 5, the Dodgers beat the Brewers 8-2, putting his record at 5-0 with a 1.56 ERA. Well, he's gone 0-2 since then, but his ERA is still excellent at 1.95.
What's the problem, you may ask? It's simple - the offense has largely done jack squat in those starts. And as Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles points out, they're not exactly doing much to entice Greinke to stay in LA beyond this year.
Check out the run support in his last seven starts - 5, 1, 2, 2, 9 (Coors Field), 2, 1. As you can see, five of those starts featured two runs of support or less. For a team that is talking like they are true World Series contenders, that's pretty embarrassing to say the least.
In the month of June, the Dodgers are actually third in the National League with 59 runs scored. The catch, however, is that four of those games were in Colorado, where they scored 29 runs in four games, or 7.3 per. Since then, they've put up 30 runs in nine games against the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Padres, good for 3.3 per. It's not hard to see that the Coors Field effect inflated the overall numbers.
The excuses about too many injuries have recently gone away as well. Yasiel Puig, Howie Kendrick, and Yasmani Grandal are all back in the everyday lineup. Puig has certainly hit well with a homer and four RBIs to go along with a .522 average in his six games back. Kendrick and Grandal have each gotten big hits.
Who's not hitting well? Adrian Gonzalez is truly a "peaks and valleys" type of hitter, and it's a valley right now. He's hit .261 in June, but with only one homer and five RBIs. Joc Pederson's production has plummeted to .209 with a homer, four RBIs, and 16 strikeouts, by far the most on the team. Jimmy Rollins is at .175, which is unbelievably bad. Andre Ethier has received a lot of praise for his great play this year, but in June, he's hitting .225 with two homers and seven RBIs.
Add all of that up, and it's pretty much an all or nothing type of team. Sure, they'll hit the ball out of the yard, but when they don't, it's a whole lot of swings, and a whole lot of nothing to show for it. That's the frustration of being a Dodger fan right now, and I'm sure Greinke feels it more than anyone.
We've all known since before the season even started that Greinke will probably opt out of his contract at the season's end, so that should not be a surprise if he does. But it's nights like Saturday in San Diego - where he pitched excellently yet still lost - that make that decision just a little bit easier.
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.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
2015 Season Preview: Starting Pitching
Here is the first installment in my season preview series. The Dodgers have gone through a whole lot of changes in the offseason, one of the biggest turnovers between the front office and on the field in their storied history.
Up first is the strength of the club, starting pitching.
2014
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Zack Greinke
3. Hyun-Jin Ryu
4. Josh Beckett
5. Dan Haren
2015
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Zack Greinke
3. Hyun-Jin Ryu
4. Brandon McCarthy
5. Brett Anderson
Then Compared to Now:
The top three in the rotation stay the same, and that's a good thing. You won't find many better threesomes at the top of any pitching staff than Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu. It's a good mix of power and craftiness coming at you from both sides of the pitching rubber.
That leaves the biggest question mark to the final two slots. Last year, Beckett gave the Dodgers many terrific starts to the tune of a 2.88 ERA, including that fantastic no-hitter in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, 20 starts was all he could give, as a hip injury forced him into retirement.
Then there was Haren, who went through the roller coaster of great to start, awful for much of the summer, then reliable again down the stretch. Through it all he had a 4.02 ERA, which was good for a guy at the bottom of the rotation.
Individual Breakdown:
Kershaw (2014 stats): 21-3, 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 239 K's in 198 1/3 IP
Oh ya, and an MVP and another Cy Young Award, his third overall. You really couldn't ask for much of anything else, as he completely dominated in just about every start. About the only thing that didn't go right was in the playoffs against the Cardinals, as he took two losses and got hammered for a 7.82 ERA. He'll just have to be patient and hope he gets another chance at redemption, as that's the next step in his evolution.
Greinke: 17-8, 2.71 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 207 K's in 202 1/3 IP
After another terrific season from him, the question he'll be facing all season long is if this will be his final year in Dodger blue. He's eligible to opt out of his current six-year deal, which is now entering the third year. Who knows how that will play out, but posting another sub-3.00 ERA and All-Star berth will only increase the odds of him looking for more money. So, in a strange way, the better he does, the more likely he'll be gone. But the Dodgers will gladly take the quality starts, and then worry about the contract situation in October, hopefully after a parade in downtown LA.
Ryu: 14-7, 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 139 K's in 152 IP
The third part of the Big 3 put up great numbers in his second season, yet it was a bumpier ride thanks to a couple of injuries that limited him to 26 starts. He nearly missed the playoffs because of a sore shoulder, though was able to recover and pitch very well in Game 3 against the Cardinals. He also had a sore butt muscle at one point. Um, I'm guessing that's not much fun. Let's hope those injuries don't pop up again, as he quietly is a really good starter.
McCarthy (with Diamondbacks and Yankees): 10-15, 4.05 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 175 K's in 200 IP
Those numbers don't jump off the page, but his 14 starts after being traded to the Yankees should: 7-5, 2.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP. I don't think anybody anticipated numbers like that. As a result, the Dodgers gave him a shiny, new four-year, $48 million contract. We know that he's tough, as he's more than bounced back from taking a horrible line drive to the head in 2012 with the A's, then suffered a seizure the following year in what was related to that seizure. We also know that he's had a long history of injuries, only making 30 starts once. The Dodgers believe he'll be good to go every fifth day, as he can be a great addition in the bottom part of the rotation if that's indeed the case.
Anderson (with Rockies): 1-3, 2.91 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 29 K's in 43 1/3 IP
Yup, those numbers are tiny, all because he only made eight starts. In fact, after making 30 starts in his rookie season with the A's in 2009, he's made 19, 13, 6, 5 (16 appearances), and 8 starts since. Last year he dealt with a broken left finger and lower back injury. The Dodgers only signed him for one year, so they're hoping to find that guy who has fantastic stuff when healthy, and not the guy whose name you forget about when he's buried on the DL.
Is Now Better Than Then?
On paper, I would take this year's rotation, mostly because of McCarthy. If he can pitch anywhere close to the guy who went over the AL East last season and dominated, then the Dodgers have a terrific top four. If he reverts back to the guy the DBacks were more than willing to get rid of, then that's a pretty back signing.
Let's not forget about all those great starts Beckett gave before the All-Star break last season, as he was one of the top pitchers in the National League for quite some time. Haren probably won't be missed because of his inconsistency, but when it was all said and done, a 4.02 ERA in 32 starts isn't too shabby.
I also should point out that we all need to temper our expectations for Kershaw, who's set such a high standard for himself, there's not much else he can do. Let's not just assume he can throw up zeroes every start. As we saw in the NLDS against the Cardinals, even the MVP can be human, and shaky starts happen to the best of them.
With all of that said, with some good health, the Dodgers have to like their chances in every game with the guy they send to the hill. You know what you'll get from the top three, but if McCarthy and Anderson can pitch as well as they're capable of, this is a very strong rotation, and an upgrade from last year.
Up first is the strength of the club, starting pitching.
2014
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Zack Greinke
3. Hyun-Jin Ryu
4. Josh Beckett
5. Dan Haren
2015
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Zack Greinke
3. Hyun-Jin Ryu
4. Brandon McCarthy
5. Brett Anderson
Then Compared to Now:
The top three in the rotation stay the same, and that's a good thing. You won't find many better threesomes at the top of any pitching staff than Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu. It's a good mix of power and craftiness coming at you from both sides of the pitching rubber.
That leaves the biggest question mark to the final two slots. Last year, Beckett gave the Dodgers many terrific starts to the tune of a 2.88 ERA, including that fantastic no-hitter in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, 20 starts was all he could give, as a hip injury forced him into retirement.
Then there was Haren, who went through the roller coaster of great to start, awful for much of the summer, then reliable again down the stretch. Through it all he had a 4.02 ERA, which was good for a guy at the bottom of the rotation.
Individual Breakdown:
Kershaw (2014 stats): 21-3, 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 239 K's in 198 1/3 IP
Oh ya, and an MVP and another Cy Young Award, his third overall. You really couldn't ask for much of anything else, as he completely dominated in just about every start. About the only thing that didn't go right was in the playoffs against the Cardinals, as he took two losses and got hammered for a 7.82 ERA. He'll just have to be patient and hope he gets another chance at redemption, as that's the next step in his evolution.
Greinke: 17-8, 2.71 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 207 K's in 202 1/3 IP
After another terrific season from him, the question he'll be facing all season long is if this will be his final year in Dodger blue. He's eligible to opt out of his current six-year deal, which is now entering the third year. Who knows how that will play out, but posting another sub-3.00 ERA and All-Star berth will only increase the odds of him looking for more money. So, in a strange way, the better he does, the more likely he'll be gone. But the Dodgers will gladly take the quality starts, and then worry about the contract situation in October, hopefully after a parade in downtown LA.
Ryu: 14-7, 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 139 K's in 152 IP
The third part of the Big 3 put up great numbers in his second season, yet it was a bumpier ride thanks to a couple of injuries that limited him to 26 starts. He nearly missed the playoffs because of a sore shoulder, though was able to recover and pitch very well in Game 3 against the Cardinals. He also had a sore butt muscle at one point. Um, I'm guessing that's not much fun. Let's hope those injuries don't pop up again, as he quietly is a really good starter.
McCarthy (with Diamondbacks and Yankees): 10-15, 4.05 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 175 K's in 200 IP
Those numbers don't jump off the page, but his 14 starts after being traded to the Yankees should: 7-5, 2.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP. I don't think anybody anticipated numbers like that. As a result, the Dodgers gave him a shiny, new four-year, $48 million contract. We know that he's tough, as he's more than bounced back from taking a horrible line drive to the head in 2012 with the A's, then suffered a seizure the following year in what was related to that seizure. We also know that he's had a long history of injuries, only making 30 starts once. The Dodgers believe he'll be good to go every fifth day, as he can be a great addition in the bottom part of the rotation if that's indeed the case.
Anderson (with Rockies): 1-3, 2.91 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 29 K's in 43 1/3 IP
Yup, those numbers are tiny, all because he only made eight starts. In fact, after making 30 starts in his rookie season with the A's in 2009, he's made 19, 13, 6, 5 (16 appearances), and 8 starts since. Last year he dealt with a broken left finger and lower back injury. The Dodgers only signed him for one year, so they're hoping to find that guy who has fantastic stuff when healthy, and not the guy whose name you forget about when he's buried on the DL.
Is Now Better Than Then?
On paper, I would take this year's rotation, mostly because of McCarthy. If he can pitch anywhere close to the guy who went over the AL East last season and dominated, then the Dodgers have a terrific top four. If he reverts back to the guy the DBacks were more than willing to get rid of, then that's a pretty back signing.
Let's not forget about all those great starts Beckett gave before the All-Star break last season, as he was one of the top pitchers in the National League for quite some time. Haren probably won't be missed because of his inconsistency, but when it was all said and done, a 4.02 ERA in 32 starts isn't too shabby.
I also should point out that we all need to temper our expectations for Kershaw, who's set such a high standard for himself, there's not much else he can do. Let's not just assume he can throw up zeroes every start. As we saw in the NLDS against the Cardinals, even the MVP can be human, and shaky starts happen to the best of them.
With all of that said, with some good health, the Dodgers have to like their chances in every game with the guy they send to the hill. You know what you'll get from the top three, but if McCarthy and Anderson can pitch as well as they're capable of, this is a very strong rotation, and an upgrade from last year.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Greinke's cleats could be made for walkin'
After a flurry of activities during the Winter Meetings in December, not much was happening on the Dodger front in the first month of 2015. There were minor things here and there, like Chad Billingsley officially leaving for the Phillies, and a bit of Andre Ethier trade talk, but nothing much.
Then Zack Greinke was asked to give his honest thoughts about the offseason. He didn't mince any words:
It's not like he flat out said, "We were good last year, but this year we suck," but it's still a bit surprising to see someone not give the cliché answers about change being for the better, and he's excited about the new players who've arrived.
Then again, maybe it's a bit refreshing that he didn't go that route, and instead showed some support to guys who've walked like Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and Dee Gordon.
Speaking of walking, the bigger story of this could be Greinke's contract situation after this season. If you recall, he put pen to paper on a six-year, $147 million contract two years ago, and he's been fantastic with the Dodgers ever since, easily teaming with Clayton Kershaw as baseball's top 1-2 punch.
But like every other professional sport, the business side comes into play, and even though he has three years and $77 million left after 2015, it looks like it's 50/50 right now about staying or opting out. If you think he's crazy, look no further than Max Scherzer's recent seven-year, $210 million deal with the Nationals as proof that big paydays could always be right around the corner.
Obviously, the Dodgers have to hope that Greinke doesn't actually follow through with this and stays with them through 2018. The top three of the rotation in Kershaw, Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu are as good or better than anyone in baseball, and Greinke has four excellent postseason starts in two years. While the Dodgers have boatloads of money to sign other pitchers, Greinke has proven to be the real deal, hence his All-Star selection this past season.
Then again, if Greinke regresses a bit in 2015, then there's no way he'll opt out and leave nearly $26 million for each of the next three seasons on the table. I don't think anyone would do something like that.
Then Zack Greinke was asked to give his honest thoughts about the offseason. He didn't mince any words:
"Going into the playoffs, I thought we were the best team in baseball. Obviously we didn't prove it. The year before, I wasn't that confident. This time, I thought it was our series to lose. To say we're better than that, I don't know if you can say that without seeing us play."Well, that's interesting.
It's not like he flat out said, "We were good last year, but this year we suck," but it's still a bit surprising to see someone not give the cliché answers about change being for the better, and he's excited about the new players who've arrived.
Then again, maybe it's a bit refreshing that he didn't go that route, and instead showed some support to guys who've walked like Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and Dee Gordon.
Speaking of walking, the bigger story of this could be Greinke's contract situation after this season. If you recall, he put pen to paper on a six-year, $147 million contract two years ago, and he's been fantastic with the Dodgers ever since, easily teaming with Clayton Kershaw as baseball's top 1-2 punch.
But like every other professional sport, the business side comes into play, and even though he has three years and $77 million left after 2015, it looks like it's 50/50 right now about staying or opting out. If you think he's crazy, look no further than Max Scherzer's recent seven-year, $210 million deal with the Nationals as proof that big paydays could always be right around the corner.
Obviously, the Dodgers have to hope that Greinke doesn't actually follow through with this and stays with them through 2018. The top three of the rotation in Kershaw, Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu are as good or better than anyone in baseball, and Greinke has four excellent postseason starts in two years. While the Dodgers have boatloads of money to sign other pitchers, Greinke has proven to be the real deal, hence his All-Star selection this past season.
Then again, if Greinke regresses a bit in 2015, then there's no way he'll opt out and leave nearly $26 million for each of the next three seasons on the table. I don't think anyone would do something like that.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Lester coming in, Greinke going out?
If you thought the Dodgers would be content just signing guys like Chris Heisey and Darwin Barney this offseason, think again.
Now reports are surfacing that one of the crown jewels of the free agent market could be coming to LA. Jon Lester is being wooed by the Dodgers, who seem to be competing with the Cubs, Red Sox, and Giants for the ace left-hander. This is the first we've heard about the Dodgers having a horse in the race, as it was widely believed that those other teams had the best shot.
Who could blame the Dodgers for wanting to sign the guy? His numbers split between the Red Sox and A's last year were fantastic, compiling a 16-11 record with a 2.46 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings. He gave the A's everything they could've hoped for when they made the big acquisition for him at the deadline, though losing Yoenis Cespedes in the process may have been a bigger blow than anyone imagined.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it would take to sign Lester, but one guess is anywhere north of $120 million. Even for the Dodgers, that's some serious cash.
So, what might the Dodgers do if they really do want to keep payroll manageable (for them, at least)? They actually could look to shop Zack Greinke, who has an opt-out clause in his contract following the 2015 season.
Greinke is in the midst of a six-year, $147 million deal, which includes the clause of bolting when it's halfway over. That halfway point will come after 2015, and considering his skill and the demand for top-tier pitching, he could actually roll the dice of getting more money. When he signed with the Dodgers originally, he made no secret of the fact that money played a big role. Hey, at least he admitted the obvious, unlike many others.
I'm not sure I can see that happening, at least not this offseason. In the first link above, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick basically shot any rumor of Greinke being dealt down. Simply put, the Dodgers want to win now, and don't want to subtract stars from their roster.
We'll see where this all goes, but don't be surprised to see Lester in Dodger blue soon. A rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Greinke, Lester, and Hyun-Jin Ryu? Ohh.... that sounds too good to be true! Let's hope it isn't!
Now reports are surfacing that one of the crown jewels of the free agent market could be coming to LA. Jon Lester is being wooed by the Dodgers, who seem to be competing with the Cubs, Red Sox, and Giants for the ace left-hander. This is the first we've heard about the Dodgers having a horse in the race, as it was widely believed that those other teams had the best shot.
Who could blame the Dodgers for wanting to sign the guy? His numbers split between the Red Sox and A's last year were fantastic, compiling a 16-11 record with a 2.46 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings. He gave the A's everything they could've hoped for when they made the big acquisition for him at the deadline, though losing Yoenis Cespedes in the process may have been a bigger blow than anyone imagined.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it would take to sign Lester, but one guess is anywhere north of $120 million. Even for the Dodgers, that's some serious cash.
So, what might the Dodgers do if they really do want to keep payroll manageable (for them, at least)? They actually could look to shop Zack Greinke, who has an opt-out clause in his contract following the 2015 season.
Greinke is in the midst of a six-year, $147 million deal, which includes the clause of bolting when it's halfway over. That halfway point will come after 2015, and considering his skill and the demand for top-tier pitching, he could actually roll the dice of getting more money. When he signed with the Dodgers originally, he made no secret of the fact that money played a big role. Hey, at least he admitted the obvious, unlike many others.
I'm not sure I can see that happening, at least not this offseason. In the first link above, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick basically shot any rumor of Greinke being dealt down. Simply put, the Dodgers want to win now, and don't want to subtract stars from their roster.
We'll see where this all goes, but don't be surprised to see Lester in Dodger blue soon. A rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Greinke, Lester, and Hyun-Jin Ryu? Ohh.... that sounds too good to be true! Let's hope it isn't!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
A-Gon and Greinke come up Golden
Congratulations goes out to a pair of Dodgers on Tuesday, as Adrian Gonzalez and Zack Greinke won Gold Glove Awards for first base and pitcher.
For A-Gon, it's his fourth overall award, as he won twice with the Padres (2008, 2009), and once with the Red Sox (2011). This season, he had a magnificent .996 fielding %, with only six errors in 1,442 total chances. That's amazing, and an improvement on his 11 errors in 2013.
Greinke is a first-time winner, but a very well-deserved one. The funny thing is that he actually had his first error since 2010 with the Royals, but even Andrelton Simmons messes up every once in a blue moon. This season, Greinke had 30 assists and a career-high eight double plays turned, which I'm sure played a huge role in winning this award.
One man who got close but narrowly missed out for the second straight year is Juan Uribe at third base. Nolan Arenado had his number once again, though it seems a bit odd. Uribe had a .979 fielding %, six errors, and a 2.0 Defensive WAR; Arenado had a .959/11/1.9 line. But for whatever reason, Arenado is still considered better, so it is what it is.
Despite another Uribe snub, the Dodgers have to be very proud of landing two defensive stars for 2014, along with Uribe and Clayton Kershaw as nominees.
For A-Gon, it's his fourth overall award, as he won twice with the Padres (2008, 2009), and once with the Red Sox (2011). This season, he had a magnificent .996 fielding %, with only six errors in 1,442 total chances. That's amazing, and an improvement on his 11 errors in 2013.
Greinke is a first-time winner, but a very well-deserved one. The funny thing is that he actually had his first error since 2010 with the Royals, but even Andrelton Simmons messes up every once in a blue moon. This season, Greinke had 30 assists and a career-high eight double plays turned, which I'm sure played a huge role in winning this award.
One man who got close but narrowly missed out for the second straight year is Juan Uribe at third base. Nolan Arenado had his number once again, though it seems a bit odd. Uribe had a .979 fielding %, six errors, and a 2.0 Defensive WAR; Arenado had a .959/11/1.9 line. But for whatever reason, Arenado is still considered better, so it is what it is.
Despite another Uribe snub, the Dodgers have to be very proud of landing two defensive stars for 2014, along with Uribe and Clayton Kershaw as nominees.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
How the NL West was won
It was all good in Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night, as Clayton Kershaw dominated, Yasiel Puig homered and showed off his amazing arm, and the Dodgers rolled right by the Giants 9-1. The NL West once again belongs to the good guys.
Just how did the Dodgers get to be back-to-back division champs? Here's how:
* Clayton Kershaw. Unbelievable. The guys has done it all this season. After mowing right through the Giants in the clincher, he finished this season at 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 239 K's in 198 1/3 innings. He even added an RBI triple last night. There's simply nothing the guy can't do on the field, as he embraces putting the Dodgers on his back and carrying them. That's what they'll need in October, too.
* The second half resurgence of Matt Kemp. Before the All-Star break, he hit .269 with eight homers and 35 RBIs. Decent numbers, but nothing special. Plus, his defense in center was so bad, Don Mattingly pulled the plug in late May. After the break? A whole new player at .303, 16 homers, and 51 RBIs. As for his defense, it was a whole heck of a lot better in right. He's peaking at the right time, and is once again a true power threat in the cleanup spot.
* First-time All-Stars Dee Gordon and Puig. Both guys took a step back in the second half, but still play major roles on this team. Gordon has an MLB-leading 64 stolen bases, and has even outlasted the blazing fast Billy Hamilton. He also is tops in triples with 12. Puig is certainly an enigma at times, but there's no denying the high ceiling of talent he possesses. He went through a huge power outage in the middle of season and finished with 16 home runs, but is still a big threat every time he steps up to the plate. Oh ya, moving to center has been a great move, as he continues to gun down runners.
* Zack Greinke, baseball's best #2 starter. How many other teams would he be the ace? The All-Star has more than settled into his role with LA, and his eight-inning gem on Tuesday helped put the Dodgers on the brink of the division title. Overall, he finished at 16-8 with a 2.74 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 201 K's in 197 1/3 innings.
* Kenley Jansen and his 44 saves. It was a bit of a bumpy ride at times in the first half of the year, as he seemed to be too reliant on throwing the same pitch (cutter) over and over. Since the start of July, however, he's given up five earned runs in 29 appearances, lowering his ERA from 3.67 to 2.67. He's as close to automatic as closers come.
* Justin Turner, the unsung hero. What an end to the season he has had. He cranked two home runs in support of Greinke on Tuesday, and finished the year by hitting .333 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 106 games. Clearly, he's a sparkplug when he's in the lineup, and has become a big weapon for Mattingly to deploy off the bench. Plus, he's versatile enough to play all four infield positions, which is huge when making double switches in the playoffs.
* Last, but certainly not least, MLB's leading RBI man, Adrian Gonzalez. Quite an accomplishment for a guy hitting .201 against left-handed pitchers. After hitting the cover off the ball in April, it looked like it was going to be a lost season with a very rough May and June. That all turned around with a big July, and he reached the 20 RBI plateau in each of the last three months. The Dodgers would be lost without all the big at-bats he's had.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Dodgers have the big guns lined up vs. the Giants
The Giants won again on Thursday afternoon, easily taking care of the Diamondbacks 6-2. No surprise there, as the DBacks were just as helpless against the Giants (three-game sweep) as they were against the Dodgers a week ago (three-game sweep).
Through it all, the Dodgers' lead in the NL West remains at two games. And guess what? Friday night starts a three-game set in San Francisco. The fun is just about to start.
What else should be fun? In these three games in San Francisco, and in two weeks back in Los Angeles, Don Mattingly has lined up his rotation perfectly: two starts apiece for Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Fun, indeed.
There's really no other way to go about this, as those six games will most likely be make-or-break. Both teams could very well end up in the postseason either way, but obviously, both want to avoid the dreaded one-game Wild Card playoff.
Rainouts could always wreak havoc on these plans, as the Dodgers play seven games in between in Colorado and Chicago (Cubs), and we know the weather there isn't exactly sunny and calm. Let's just hope nothing crazy happens.
I also like how both series will see Ryu, Greinke, and Kershaw pitching in that order. It splits up the two lefties, and leaves the best pitcher in baseball at the end to either salvage a series, or emphatically give a series win. There's no other guy I'd want to have the ball than Kershaw in a sticky situation. You know he'll take it and battle until the last pitch.
A few days ago I wrote about the Dodgers' offense being the key to getting into the postseason, and I still very much believe that to be true. The bats simply cannot afford to go AWOL during these games and waste good starts. Of these six games against the Giants, you know the starting pitching will be good, if not very good in each one. The bats need to step up and make sure they aren't wasted performances.
The Dodgers and Giants going toe-to-toe is what pennant race baseball is all about, and I'm glad to see the big guns on the mound, and not guys like Roberto Hernandez or Kevin Correia needing to outperform themselves just to stay in the game. Nope. It's all about the Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu proving they're the best 1-3 in the game.
Now THAT'S going to be fun to watch.
Through it all, the Dodgers' lead in the NL West remains at two games. And guess what? Friday night starts a three-game set in San Francisco. The fun is just about to start.
What else should be fun? In these three games in San Francisco, and in two weeks back in Los Angeles, Don Mattingly has lined up his rotation perfectly: two starts apiece for Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Fun, indeed.
There's really no other way to go about this, as those six games will most likely be make-or-break. Both teams could very well end up in the postseason either way, but obviously, both want to avoid the dreaded one-game Wild Card playoff.
Rainouts could always wreak havoc on these plans, as the Dodgers play seven games in between in Colorado and Chicago (Cubs), and we know the weather there isn't exactly sunny and calm. Let's just hope nothing crazy happens.
I also like how both series will see Ryu, Greinke, and Kershaw pitching in that order. It splits up the two lefties, and leaves the best pitcher in baseball at the end to either salvage a series, or emphatically give a series win. There's no other guy I'd want to have the ball than Kershaw in a sticky situation. You know he'll take it and battle until the last pitch.
A few days ago I wrote about the Dodgers' offense being the key to getting into the postseason, and I still very much believe that to be true. The bats simply cannot afford to go AWOL during these games and waste good starts. Of these six games against the Giants, you know the starting pitching will be good, if not very good in each one. The bats need to step up and make sure they aren't wasted performances.
The Dodgers and Giants going toe-to-toe is what pennant race baseball is all about, and I'm glad to see the big guns on the mound, and not guys like Roberto Hernandez or Kevin Correia needing to outperform themselves just to stay in the game. Nope. It's all about the Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu proving they're the best 1-3 in the game.
Now THAT'S going to be fun to watch.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Greinke passes the elbow test
I'm sure there were plenty of nervous people in Dodger Stadium last night, as Zack Greinke and his admittedly "tender elbow" took the mound on seven days' rest. Any time your $147 million star pitcher says his elbow is sore, there's plenty of reason for concern.
How did he do? Seven innings and 105 pitches. And a win for the Dodgers. I'd say he handled things well.
The Mets did tag Greinke for a couple of homers, but a big five-RBI night by Adrian Gonzalez helped lead the Dodgers to a 7-4 comeback win over the Mets. After starting out the homestand by dropping three straight to the Brewers, the Dodgers have taken the next four of five from the Padres and Mets.
In other words, they've won the winnable games. And they now find themselves up 4 1/2 over the Giants in the NL West.
Of the four runs Greinke surrendered, only three were earned, as an error by Miguel Rojas at third on a should-have-been inning ending double play led to a Juan Lagaras three-run jack. The other blemish was a solo homer by Lucas Duda in the sixth.
Other than that, I really like the way Greinke battled. I'm sure part of him realized just how much the Dodgers need him right now, as both Hyun-Jin Ryu and Josh Beckett are on the DL. He said he was ready to go, and proved it by pitching deep into the game and tossing over 100 pitches.
I thought coming into this game that the Dodgers would be fortunate to get five innings out of him, and there was no way I saw him throwing 100+ pitches. I was waiting to see someone like Carlos Frias get ready to pitch multiple innings in relief. I guess that's the pessimistic side of me, because while I read how Greinke said he was good to go, I wasn't so sure.
But, that's a testament to the competitor that Greinke is. He took the ball, battled like crazy, and came away a winner. Let's just hope this elbow thing isn't an issue going forward. Or more specifically, doesn't get any worse, and he can continue to provide good starts.
Other thoughts from the game:
* While it was great to see Greinke pitch well, A-Gon ended up stealing the show. He hit an RBI single in the fourth, a three-run tater to take the lead for good in the fifth, and chipped in another RBI with a sac-fly in the seventh. Despite hitting only .185 against lefties, he's second in the NL in RBIs with 88. And for fun, he even threw in a sick grab at first while sprawled out to finish off a double play. What a game he had.
* Yasiel Puig took the night off, and it was a good idea. He's been getting on top of so many balls at the plate lately, leading to a lot of choppers in the infield. Maybe some rest will get him back to driving the ball.
* Kenley Jansen picked up another save, his 37th, thanks in large part to a great cutter. When that thing is moving, it's so hard to even make contact with. Striking out David Wright to end the game was sweet.
* Speaking of Wright, what happened to him? He looks completely lost, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. I have to wonder if his best years are already in the past, which would be a shame considering the Mets never put enough talent around him when he was really good. Seems like a waste.
* The one negative, and it's a BIG negative at that, was Don Mattingly once again inserting Brian Wilson in the eighth. So, so stupid. After J.P. Howell got Duda for the first out, Wilson was lucky to get the next out on a hard hit ball to Rojas, then gave up two straight hits. Wilmer Flores grounded out to end the threat. It just makes no sense whatsoever to keep putting him in the setup role. None! Stop putting him in there for crying out loud! Geez.
OK, rant aside, the Dodgers have a chance to get the sweep today. With Ryu will out, Kevin Correia will get the ball again.
How did he do? Seven innings and 105 pitches. And a win for the Dodgers. I'd say he handled things well.
The Mets did tag Greinke for a couple of homers, but a big five-RBI night by Adrian Gonzalez helped lead the Dodgers to a 7-4 comeback win over the Mets. After starting out the homestand by dropping three straight to the Brewers, the Dodgers have taken the next four of five from the Padres and Mets.
In other words, they've won the winnable games. And they now find themselves up 4 1/2 over the Giants in the NL West.
Of the four runs Greinke surrendered, only three were earned, as an error by Miguel Rojas at third on a should-have-been inning ending double play led to a Juan Lagaras three-run jack. The other blemish was a solo homer by Lucas Duda in the sixth.
Other than that, I really like the way Greinke battled. I'm sure part of him realized just how much the Dodgers need him right now, as both Hyun-Jin Ryu and Josh Beckett are on the DL. He said he was ready to go, and proved it by pitching deep into the game and tossing over 100 pitches.
I thought coming into this game that the Dodgers would be fortunate to get five innings out of him, and there was no way I saw him throwing 100+ pitches. I was waiting to see someone like Carlos Frias get ready to pitch multiple innings in relief. I guess that's the pessimistic side of me, because while I read how Greinke said he was good to go, I wasn't so sure.
But, that's a testament to the competitor that Greinke is. He took the ball, battled like crazy, and came away a winner. Let's just hope this elbow thing isn't an issue going forward. Or more specifically, doesn't get any worse, and he can continue to provide good starts.
Other thoughts from the game:
* While it was great to see Greinke pitch well, A-Gon ended up stealing the show. He hit an RBI single in the fourth, a three-run tater to take the lead for good in the fifth, and chipped in another RBI with a sac-fly in the seventh. Despite hitting only .185 against lefties, he's second in the NL in RBIs with 88. And for fun, he even threw in a sick grab at first while sprawled out to finish off a double play. What a game he had.
* Yasiel Puig took the night off, and it was a good idea. He's been getting on top of so many balls at the plate lately, leading to a lot of choppers in the infield. Maybe some rest will get him back to driving the ball.
* Kenley Jansen picked up another save, his 37th, thanks in large part to a great cutter. When that thing is moving, it's so hard to even make contact with. Striking out David Wright to end the game was sweet.
* Speaking of Wright, what happened to him? He looks completely lost, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. I have to wonder if his best years are already in the past, which would be a shame considering the Mets never put enough talent around him when he was really good. Seems like a waste.
* The one negative, and it's a BIG negative at that, was Don Mattingly once again inserting Brian Wilson in the eighth. So, so stupid. After J.P. Howell got Duda for the first out, Wilson was lucky to get the next out on a hard hit ball to Rojas, then gave up two straight hits. Wilmer Flores grounded out to end the threat. It just makes no sense whatsoever to keep putting him in the setup role. None! Stop putting him in there for crying out loud! Geez.
OK, rant aside, the Dodgers have a chance to get the sweep today. With Ryu will out, Kevin Correia will get the ball again.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Wednesday sums up the state of the Dodgers right now
And what exactly is the state of the Dodgers? Not so good.
With news early in the day that Zack Greinke's elbow is not 100%, but he'll make a start on Saturday anyway, to the lifeless performance against the Padres at night, it was not a day to remember. The early 3-0 hole was not overcome this time, as the Padres rolled to an easy win 4-1.
Let's start with Greinke, who provided either good news or bad news, depending on your view. In case you missed it, he will avoid a trip to the DL, which on this team is obviously some good news. The flip side is that he admitted to pitching with elbow discomfort for about a month, and in his own words, "can't guarantee I'll be good from here on out." Not exactly the most comforting words from an ace.
I wrote about this yesterday, so I'll reiterate how much the words "elbow issues" and "pitcher" make me concerned. Greinke was brought in to pair with Clayton Kershaw as the league's best Game 1 and 2 starters in any playoff series. But the playoffs are well over a month away, and even though the Dodgers are in first place now, there's no guarantee that they'll even be in the postseason if they keep playing like they have been lately.
Maybe Greinke will go out on Saturday, throw a gem, then report that his elbow feels great and he's ready to roll with it. Or he'll get hit around and provide even more concern. I guess we'll all just have to wait until Saturday against the Mets to see.
As for the game on Wednesday, there wasn't a whole lot to feel good about. For the second straight night, the Padres got up 3-0 in the early going. It was a combination of three soft singles, two walks, and a horrible bobble by Scott Van Slyke in left. Oh ya, and Eric Stults had an RBI single with the bases loaded. It was bad.
How did the Dodgers do at the plate? Well, they had six hits and one run against a guy who came into the game at 5-13 with a 4.64 ERA. So that should sum up how sorry the Dodgers looked. Only Adrian Gonzalez had an extra base hit with a double, and Van Slyke was the only guy with two hits. Basically, it was a whole lot of nothing going on. With runners in scoring position, they were 0-for-5, including another blown opportunity with the bases loaded.
And by the way, the defense committed three errors. It looked like a flashback to April. Ugh.
A lot has been made about the Dodgers "easy" schedule down the stretch, at least in terms of winning percentage compared to other contenders. So far, the Padres aren't rolling over, and the Mets come in next, and they took it to Jeff Samardzija and the A's yesterday. In other words, I don't care what the records say, these teams are not going to roll over and play dead.
At least the Dodgers can turn to Clayton Kershaw tonight. Then again, his last start he went the distance, gave up three runs... and still lost to the Brewers 3-2. And with Tyson Ross on the mound for the Padres, who's one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball, winning will be tough once again. Let's see how the Dodgers respond.
With news early in the day that Zack Greinke's elbow is not 100%, but he'll make a start on Saturday anyway, to the lifeless performance against the Padres at night, it was not a day to remember. The early 3-0 hole was not overcome this time, as the Padres rolled to an easy win 4-1.
Let's start with Greinke, who provided either good news or bad news, depending on your view. In case you missed it, he will avoid a trip to the DL, which on this team is obviously some good news. The flip side is that he admitted to pitching with elbow discomfort for about a month, and in his own words, "can't guarantee I'll be good from here on out." Not exactly the most comforting words from an ace.
I wrote about this yesterday, so I'll reiterate how much the words "elbow issues" and "pitcher" make me concerned. Greinke was brought in to pair with Clayton Kershaw as the league's best Game 1 and 2 starters in any playoff series. But the playoffs are well over a month away, and even though the Dodgers are in first place now, there's no guarantee that they'll even be in the postseason if they keep playing like they have been lately.
Maybe Greinke will go out on Saturday, throw a gem, then report that his elbow feels great and he's ready to roll with it. Or he'll get hit around and provide even more concern. I guess we'll all just have to wait until Saturday against the Mets to see.
As for the game on Wednesday, there wasn't a whole lot to feel good about. For the second straight night, the Padres got up 3-0 in the early going. It was a combination of three soft singles, two walks, and a horrible bobble by Scott Van Slyke in left. Oh ya, and Eric Stults had an RBI single with the bases loaded. It was bad.
How did the Dodgers do at the plate? Well, they had six hits and one run against a guy who came into the game at 5-13 with a 4.64 ERA. So that should sum up how sorry the Dodgers looked. Only Adrian Gonzalez had an extra base hit with a double, and Van Slyke was the only guy with two hits. Basically, it was a whole lot of nothing going on. With runners in scoring position, they were 0-for-5, including another blown opportunity with the bases loaded.
And by the way, the defense committed three errors. It looked like a flashback to April. Ugh.
A lot has been made about the Dodgers "easy" schedule down the stretch, at least in terms of winning percentage compared to other contenders. So far, the Padres aren't rolling over, and the Mets come in next, and they took it to Jeff Samardzija and the A's yesterday. In other words, I don't care what the records say, these teams are not going to roll over and play dead.
At least the Dodgers can turn to Clayton Kershaw tonight. Then again, his last start he went the distance, gave up three runs... and still lost to the Brewers 3-2. And with Tyson Ross on the mound for the Padres, who's one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball, winning will be tough once again. Let's see how the Dodgers respond.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
More injury issues as Greinke has a "tender elbow"
The Dodgers stopped their slide on Tuesday night, fighting back from an early 3-0 hole to beat the Padres 8-6. Carl Crawford came alive by going 3-for-3 with a two-run homer, Justin Turner added two doubles, and a great defensive play at third ended the game.
That's the good news.
The bad news? Zack Greinke will most likely miss his next start on Thursday due to what is being called a "tender elbow." The club doesn't seem too concerned with it right now, as he has been able to throw off flat ground at least.
Still, any time a pitcher is dealing with any sort of elbow problems, it has the potential to be a huge worry. Especially when that pitcher is a former Cy Young Award winner and current All-Star.
There's no doubt that Greinke has not been his normal self over his last three starts. He certainly hasn't been pounded, but did walk five Brewers his last start, surrender four runs on eight hits to the Brewers the start before, and three earned run in seven innings against the Angels the start before. They've all been Dodger loses, though that's certainly not all his fault.
Right now the Dodgers' depth is seriously being put to the test, as Hyun-Jin Ryu, Juan Uribe, and Hanley Ramirez are all sitting on the DL, to name a few. Their numbers are very hard to replace, obviously. So if Greinke gets added to that list, or is forced to miss a start or two, it will be even harder to win. There's no other way about it.
It's a good thing Ned Colletti added a couple of arms in Roberto Hernandez and Kevin Correia recently. Yes, I know they're not the greatest pitchers on Earth, but they are veteran starters who can take the ball at any time. And that time is now.
Let's all hope Greinke is just fine, and some extra rest will do the trick as the Dodgers try to regain some momentum. If he is hurt worse than we think... then that's a huge blow for this team.
That's the good news.
The bad news? Zack Greinke will most likely miss his next start on Thursday due to what is being called a "tender elbow." The club doesn't seem too concerned with it right now, as he has been able to throw off flat ground at least.
Still, any time a pitcher is dealing with any sort of elbow problems, it has the potential to be a huge worry. Especially when that pitcher is a former Cy Young Award winner and current All-Star.
There's no doubt that Greinke has not been his normal self over his last three starts. He certainly hasn't been pounded, but did walk five Brewers his last start, surrender four runs on eight hits to the Brewers the start before, and three earned run in seven innings against the Angels the start before. They've all been Dodger loses, though that's certainly not all his fault.
Right now the Dodgers' depth is seriously being put to the test, as Hyun-Jin Ryu, Juan Uribe, and Hanley Ramirez are all sitting on the DL, to name a few. Their numbers are very hard to replace, obviously. So if Greinke gets added to that list, or is forced to miss a start or two, it will be even harder to win. There's no other way about it.
It's a good thing Ned Colletti added a couple of arms in Roberto Hernandez and Kevin Correia recently. Yes, I know they're not the greatest pitchers on Earth, but they are veteran starters who can take the ball at any time. And that time is now.
Let's all hope Greinke is just fine, and some extra rest will do the trick as the Dodgers try to regain some momentum. If he is hurt worse than we think... then that's a huge blow for this team.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Dodgers hit a lull, so what's the problem?
For anyone who thought the Dodgers might be able to run away with not only the NL West, but the National League as a whole, think again.
The Brewers came into Dodger Stadium and showed why they're a legit contender with a three-game sweep, finishing off the Dodgers with a 7-2 shellacking on Sunday. Couple that with last weekend, and the Brew Crew have to feel good about taking five of six from LA. And that's with both Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke starting four of the six games.
After getting the lead in the NL West up to over six games, the lead over the Giants has dropped to 3 1/2. Washington and Milwaukee are now ahead of the Dodgers in the race for #1 seed in the NL.
Simply put, like the headline says, the Dodgers are in a lull, dropping three straight and four of five. So what's the deal? Here's the deal:
* In those four loses, the offense has scored nine runs, averaging 2.3 per. Even with great starting pitching, it's hard to win many games like that.
* Hyun-Jin Ryu was placed on the DL with a sore glute muscle. Kevin Correia will fill in, and while he had a great opening act, isn't the caliber of Ryu over the long haul.
* Juan Uribe was placed on the DL with a strained hamstring. Justin Turner will see action at third, but his glove has been shaky to say the least of late.
* Greinke hasn't been as sharp in August. In three starts, he's 0-2 with a 3.50 ERA. He walked five in only five innings his last start, running his pitch count way up to 99.
* The bullpen completely imploded on Friday night, as Jamey Wright and Brandon League combined to give up five runs in the eighth. The eighth inning, as I recently wrote about, has been a huge disappointment.
* Even Kershaw was off his normal dominant self, giving up a couple of home runs in losing on Saturday. Of course, he still went the distance and only surrendered three runs, but his offense gave him nothing.
* Dee Gordon still has his big games, but has seen his numbers dip a bit after the break, and one has to wonder if he's slowing down a bit just from the grind of the long season.
* Matt Kemp was red hot in July, but in August he's back down to hitting .219. He's actually hit safely in 12 of 17 games, but most of those are 1-for-4 or 1-for-5.
* The defense is much-improved since the start of the season, but is still middle of the pack in fielding %. Losing Uribe at third does nothing to help, either.
* All the good vibes Dan Haren had coming into Sunday may have come to screeching halt, as the Brewers smacked him around.
Brian Kamenetzky of ESPNLosAngeles.com wrote a good article about how this is not a time to panic, and to instead "keep the faith." It makes a lot of sense, as every team is bound to go through peaks and valleys over the course of a 162-game season.
But, for the many reasons listed above, it's also realistic that the Dodgers need to figure things out in order to keep that first place standing in the NL West. When one of their key starting pitchers and starting third baseman get hurt, then they get swept at home, there's reasons to be a little nervous.
There is some good news, as Hanley Ramirez looks like he'll be ready to go when he comes off the DL next Sunday. As a bonus, it looks like he might play some third, something he did in his Marlins' days when they acquired Jose Reyes. That will get his bat back in the lineup, and keep the better fielding Miguel Rojas at short.
That's still a week away, and in the meantime the Dodgers will welcome the Padres and Mets into town starting Tuesday. Even though they both stink, with the way the Dodgers play at home, they can't afford to overlook anyone. If they do, they might find themselves in second in no time.
We'll see what the Dodgers' depth can do, as they will go deep into their 25-man roster to stay afloat. It would be great if guys like Kemp, Gordon, and Adrian Gonzalez have a big week, and the Dodgers can get rolling again. They are the stars, so now they need to step up and play like it.
Oh ya, and not blowing more leads in the eighth inning would help too.
The Brewers came into Dodger Stadium and showed why they're a legit contender with a three-game sweep, finishing off the Dodgers with a 7-2 shellacking on Sunday. Couple that with last weekend, and the Brew Crew have to feel good about taking five of six from LA. And that's with both Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke starting four of the six games.
After getting the lead in the NL West up to over six games, the lead over the Giants has dropped to 3 1/2. Washington and Milwaukee are now ahead of the Dodgers in the race for #1 seed in the NL.
Simply put, like the headline says, the Dodgers are in a lull, dropping three straight and four of five. So what's the deal? Here's the deal:
* In those four loses, the offense has scored nine runs, averaging 2.3 per. Even with great starting pitching, it's hard to win many games like that.
* Hyun-Jin Ryu was placed on the DL with a sore glute muscle. Kevin Correia will fill in, and while he had a great opening act, isn't the caliber of Ryu over the long haul.
* Juan Uribe was placed on the DL with a strained hamstring. Justin Turner will see action at third, but his glove has been shaky to say the least of late.
* Greinke hasn't been as sharp in August. In three starts, he's 0-2 with a 3.50 ERA. He walked five in only five innings his last start, running his pitch count way up to 99.
* The bullpen completely imploded on Friday night, as Jamey Wright and Brandon League combined to give up five runs in the eighth. The eighth inning, as I recently wrote about, has been a huge disappointment.
* Even Kershaw was off his normal dominant self, giving up a couple of home runs in losing on Saturday. Of course, he still went the distance and only surrendered three runs, but his offense gave him nothing.
* Dee Gordon still has his big games, but has seen his numbers dip a bit after the break, and one has to wonder if he's slowing down a bit just from the grind of the long season.
* Matt Kemp was red hot in July, but in August he's back down to hitting .219. He's actually hit safely in 12 of 17 games, but most of those are 1-for-4 or 1-for-5.
* The defense is much-improved since the start of the season, but is still middle of the pack in fielding %. Losing Uribe at third does nothing to help, either.
* All the good vibes Dan Haren had coming into Sunday may have come to screeching halt, as the Brewers smacked him around.
Brian Kamenetzky of ESPNLosAngeles.com wrote a good article about how this is not a time to panic, and to instead "keep the faith." It makes a lot of sense, as every team is bound to go through peaks and valleys over the course of a 162-game season.
But, for the many reasons listed above, it's also realistic that the Dodgers need to figure things out in order to keep that first place standing in the NL West. When one of their key starting pitchers and starting third baseman get hurt, then they get swept at home, there's reasons to be a little nervous.
There is some good news, as Hanley Ramirez looks like he'll be ready to go when he comes off the DL next Sunday. As a bonus, it looks like he might play some third, something he did in his Marlins' days when they acquired Jose Reyes. That will get his bat back in the lineup, and keep the better fielding Miguel Rojas at short.
That's still a week away, and in the meantime the Dodgers will welcome the Padres and Mets into town starting Tuesday. Even though they both stink, with the way the Dodgers play at home, they can't afford to overlook anyone. If they do, they might find themselves in second in no time.
We'll see what the Dodgers' depth can do, as they will go deep into their 25-man roster to stay afloat. It would be great if guys like Kemp, Gordon, and Adrian Gonzalez have a big week, and the Dodgers can get rolling again. They are the stars, so now they need to step up and play like it.
Oh ya, and not blowing more leads in the eighth inning would help too.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Historically, Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu better after the break
If you're looking for some good news concerning the Dodgers' chances of winning the NL West again, it's this: the top three in the rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu have better numbers after the All-Star break compared to before. Here's a look at those numbers:
Kershaw
Pre-break: 2.72 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .208 BAA
Post-break: 2.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .212 BAA
Greinke
Pre-break: 3.75 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .261 BAA
Post-break: 3.40 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, .250 BAA
Ryu
Pre-break: 3.25 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .254 BAA
Post-break: 2.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .261 BAA
(I didn't bother with wins/loses, strikeouts, and walks because they obviously have pitched a lot more innings in pre-break compared to post. I just stuck with the important numbers.)
Those are some very encouraging numbers, especially since the Dodgers' offense has been known to go into hibernation a little too much. If you want a perfect example of this, look no further than the Saturday and Sunday before the break in which the Dodgers won 1-0 two straight times over the Padres. Excellent pitching, and very mediocre hitting. And that might be generous.
There's no shortage of trade talk with this team as the deadline approaches in two weeks. Already you've seen names like David Price and Jonathan Papelbon linked to being LA bound. Then there's the tale of Matt Kemp, who could be on his way out. Andre Ethier has been in trade talks for years. You just never know what's going to happen.
Through all of that, it's great to know that the Dodgers have three studs at the top of the rotation who not only get the job done, but continue to do it better and better as the season wears on. And that's why Dodger fans should feel good about the second half.
Kershaw
Pre-break: 2.72 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .208 BAA
Post-break: 2.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .212 BAA
Greinke
Pre-break: 3.75 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .261 BAA
Post-break: 3.40 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, .250 BAA
Ryu
Pre-break: 3.25 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .254 BAA
Post-break: 2.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .261 BAA
(I didn't bother with wins/loses, strikeouts, and walks because they obviously have pitched a lot more innings in pre-break compared to post. I just stuck with the important numbers.)
Those are some very encouraging numbers, especially since the Dodgers' offense has been known to go into hibernation a little too much. If you want a perfect example of this, look no further than the Saturday and Sunday before the break in which the Dodgers won 1-0 two straight times over the Padres. Excellent pitching, and very mediocre hitting. And that might be generous.
There's no shortage of trade talk with this team as the deadline approaches in two weeks. Already you've seen names like David Price and Jonathan Papelbon linked to being LA bound. Then there's the tale of Matt Kemp, who could be on his way out. Andre Ethier has been in trade talks for years. You just never know what's going to happen.
Through all of that, it's great to know that the Dodgers have three studs at the top of the rotation who not only get the job done, but continue to do it better and better as the season wears on. And that's why Dodger fans should feel good about the second half.
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!
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.
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
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Taking a look at the starting 5
As Zack Greinke gets ready to take on the evils of Coors Field looking for his NL-leading ninth win, a place where Hyun-Jin Ryu conquered last night in a 6-2 victory, let's take a look at how the rotation as a whole has been performing. It's not often I get to say everyone's healthy, so let's hope it lasts longer than like a week or two.
Clayton Kershaw: 4-2, 43 1/3 IP, 3.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 55 K, 7 BB
Keep in mind the reigning Cy Young Award winner was on the shelf for six weeks with a back injury, so his innings will obviously be down. Also keep in mind that he's built such a high standard for himself, anytime he gets even somewhat touched up, it's a surprise.
With all of that said, he's still trying to find his groove after making only seven starts. Last year through seven starts he had a 1.66 ERA, and in 2012 it was 2.56. The major difference is that an injury this year completely disrupted his rhythm. He did pitch eight innings of two-run ball his last start, and if his curveball can be thrown with more snap, and he locates his fastball better, he'll be back to dominant. If there's anyone you can trust to figure things out, it's Clayton Kershaw.
Zack Greinke: 8-2, 72 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 83 K, 16 BB
The guy who stepped up in Kershaw's absence was undoubtedly Greinke, although that's no surprise at all. He's a #1 on just about every other staff in baseball. He recently snapped his 20+ straight start streak of two or less earned runs, and has actually given up seven runs in his last two starts.
Still, if that's the worst thing that's happened, then it's hard to be picky about his results. To go that many starts in a row without giving up even three runs is just amazing. It was also very quietly done, as the Dodgers get headlines for all sorts of other reasons, good and bad. If there's one area he can make a slight improvement in, it's that his K/BB ratio in his last six starts (37/10) has been a little worse than his first six starts (46/6). Yes, it's hardly worth mentioning, but when this guy's control is on, 99% of the time he gets a win.
Hyun-Jin Ryu: 7-2, 64 1/3 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 53 K, 14 BB
Another guy who spent some time on the DL was Ryu, as he was gone for nearly a month with shoulder inflammation. He actually has some pretty crazy splits, as he has a 6.15 ERA at home, but a minuscule 0.95 ERA on the road. If the Dodgers get back into the postseason, you can bet Don Mattingly won't be afraid to have him pitch on the road.
His numbers are nearly identical to last year's, with slightly better K/BB ration, but a few more hits allowed as well. However, you know his home ERA will only get better, so it's hard to find a better #3 starter in baseball. Last year his home ERA was 2.32, so get ready to see more great starts out of him in the middle of the rotation.
Josh Beckett: 3-3, 66 2/3 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 63 K, 23 BB
You already know how great of a season Beckett's been having based on his no-hitter on the Sunday before Memorial Day in Philly. Who in the world would've ever guessed he'd be the one to throw the season's first (and so far, only) no-hitter? I doubt he even would've thought that.
There's no denying just how big of a season he's been having. He's eighth in the NL in ERA. Of his 11 starts, only three times has he given up more than two runs. Oh ya, did I mention he no-hit the Phillies? All of this has resulted in a more crafty, intelligent pitcher who's using his changing speeds and control to get the job done. I would expect his ERA to be somewhere in the 3s when it's all said and done, but even if it does, that means he's still having a great season.
Dan Haren: 5-4, 74 2/3 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 52 K, 12 BB
On the surface, the #5 starter with a 3.50 ERA is something any manager would gladly take. He came out of five April starts at 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA. Plus, he only got better down the stretch in Washington last year, so things were definitely looking up.
Well, life hasn't been so good since then. He certainly hasn't been getting bombed, as the most runs he's given up has been four on two different occasions. The biggest problem has been the long ball, as he's surrendered seven in his last four starts. I don't think anyone expected him to pitch like a Cy Young contender, but with his ERA going up in six of his last seven starts, there's definite concern about how he'll hold up over the summer. Chad Billingsley could be right around the corner ready to take his spot. We shall see.
Overall Impressions:
I don't care how poorly the offense has performed, anytime you see the names Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu at the top of the rotation, you like your chances to win. The encouraging thing is that Kershaw and Ryu are only getting stronger the more starts they get after injuries, and Greinke looks like an ace 9 times out of 10.
As I mentioned before, I think it will be real interesting to see where Billingsley fits into all of this once he's declared good to go. He has stated his desire to be a starter, and who can blame him? Save for a few bullpen appearances when he was younger, he's been starting games his whole big league career. Right now it looks like Haren is the one would should be most nervous since his numbers have gotten a little worse and worse. Do the Dodgers put both Haren and Paul Maholm in the bullpen as long relievers and see what they have in Billingsley starting games? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have three long relievers (Jamey Wright is the other one), so something has to give.
We'll wait and see how that all plays out. In the meantime, if the Dodgers can ever get guys like Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp on track, then this rotation will rack up more wins as the summer months heat up.
Clayton Kershaw: 4-2, 43 1/3 IP, 3.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 55 K, 7 BB
Keep in mind the reigning Cy Young Award winner was on the shelf for six weeks with a back injury, so his innings will obviously be down. Also keep in mind that he's built such a high standard for himself, anytime he gets even somewhat touched up, it's a surprise.
With all of that said, he's still trying to find his groove after making only seven starts. Last year through seven starts he had a 1.66 ERA, and in 2012 it was 2.56. The major difference is that an injury this year completely disrupted his rhythm. He did pitch eight innings of two-run ball his last start, and if his curveball can be thrown with more snap, and he locates his fastball better, he'll be back to dominant. If there's anyone you can trust to figure things out, it's Clayton Kershaw.
Zack Greinke: 8-2, 72 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 83 K, 16 BB
The guy who stepped up in Kershaw's absence was undoubtedly Greinke, although that's no surprise at all. He's a #1 on just about every other staff in baseball. He recently snapped his 20+ straight start streak of two or less earned runs, and has actually given up seven runs in his last two starts.
Still, if that's the worst thing that's happened, then it's hard to be picky about his results. To go that many starts in a row without giving up even three runs is just amazing. It was also very quietly done, as the Dodgers get headlines for all sorts of other reasons, good and bad. If there's one area he can make a slight improvement in, it's that his K/BB ratio in his last six starts (37/10) has been a little worse than his first six starts (46/6). Yes, it's hardly worth mentioning, but when this guy's control is on, 99% of the time he gets a win.
Hyun-Jin Ryu: 7-2, 64 1/3 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 53 K, 14 BB
Another guy who spent some time on the DL was Ryu, as he was gone for nearly a month with shoulder inflammation. He actually has some pretty crazy splits, as he has a 6.15 ERA at home, but a minuscule 0.95 ERA on the road. If the Dodgers get back into the postseason, you can bet Don Mattingly won't be afraid to have him pitch on the road.
His numbers are nearly identical to last year's, with slightly better K/BB ration, but a few more hits allowed as well. However, you know his home ERA will only get better, so it's hard to find a better #3 starter in baseball. Last year his home ERA was 2.32, so get ready to see more great starts out of him in the middle of the rotation.
Josh Beckett: 3-3, 66 2/3 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 63 K, 23 BB
You already know how great of a season Beckett's been having based on his no-hitter on the Sunday before Memorial Day in Philly. Who in the world would've ever guessed he'd be the one to throw the season's first (and so far, only) no-hitter? I doubt he even would've thought that.
There's no denying just how big of a season he's been having. He's eighth in the NL in ERA. Of his 11 starts, only three times has he given up more than two runs. Oh ya, did I mention he no-hit the Phillies? All of this has resulted in a more crafty, intelligent pitcher who's using his changing speeds and control to get the job done. I would expect his ERA to be somewhere in the 3s when it's all said and done, but even if it does, that means he's still having a great season.
Dan Haren: 5-4, 74 2/3 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 52 K, 12 BB
On the surface, the #5 starter with a 3.50 ERA is something any manager would gladly take. He came out of five April starts at 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA. Plus, he only got better down the stretch in Washington last year, so things were definitely looking up.
Well, life hasn't been so good since then. He certainly hasn't been getting bombed, as the most runs he's given up has been four on two different occasions. The biggest problem has been the long ball, as he's surrendered seven in his last four starts. I don't think anyone expected him to pitch like a Cy Young contender, but with his ERA going up in six of his last seven starts, there's definite concern about how he'll hold up over the summer. Chad Billingsley could be right around the corner ready to take his spot. We shall see.
Overall Impressions:
I don't care how poorly the offense has performed, anytime you see the names Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu at the top of the rotation, you like your chances to win. The encouraging thing is that Kershaw and Ryu are only getting stronger the more starts they get after injuries, and Greinke looks like an ace 9 times out of 10.
As I mentioned before, I think it will be real interesting to see where Billingsley fits into all of this once he's declared good to go. He has stated his desire to be a starter, and who can blame him? Save for a few bullpen appearances when he was younger, he's been starting games his whole big league career. Right now it looks like Haren is the one would should be most nervous since his numbers have gotten a little worse and worse. Do the Dodgers put both Haren and Paul Maholm in the bullpen as long relievers and see what they have in Billingsley starting games? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have three long relievers (Jamey Wright is the other one), so something has to give.
We'll wait and see how that all plays out. In the meantime, if the Dodgers can ever get guys like Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp on track, then this rotation will rack up more wins as the summer months heat up.
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