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.
Showing posts with label Haren. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haren. Show all posts
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Gordon and Haren traded to the Marlins
Day Three of the 2014 Winter Meetings will go down as a very big, and a very busy, one for the Dodgers.
First there was the acquisition of Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies. That alone seemed like enough for the day. Except it wasn't.
One day ago the Dodgers were both being linked to and denying a Dee Gordon trade to the Marlins. Well, it's happened, and Dan Haren will go along for the ride.
The Dodgers have traded Gordon and Haren to the Marlins for top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney. Also coming from Miami are second baseman Enrique Hernandez, right-handed pitcher Chris Hatcher, and catcher Austin Barnes.
First, let's take a look at Heaney. MLB.com has him ranked as the #18 overall prospect, and the #2 overall left-handed pitcher. He's stands 6'2" and will turn 24 next June. His profile describes him as a guy who throws up to 95 mph with a "wipeout" slider. Sounds like another lefty on the Dodgers right now. He also has developed a changeup for his third pitch, which has really raised his stock.
By the way, who's the #1 ranked lefty? Julio Urias... of the Dodgers. Nice!
The other three players are more for depth. Hernandez has one year of big league experience, appearing in 42 games with the Astros and Marlins, hitting .248. Hatcher has appeared in 81 games for the Marlins, all out of the bullpen, with a 4.82 ERA. Barnes has never played above the Double-A level after being drafted in 2011.
So, the big chip is obviously Heaney, who will join Urias as the next big guns ready to step in for the Dodgers. This makes me think that the new management might not be afraid to trade Zack Greinke this upcoming year if they really do think he'll opt out of his contract. At least they have some very good arms ready to step in, plus they can get more value in return via trade. We shall see.
I discussed Gordon more in-depth yesterday, so check out my post about him here. I will say that I very much enjoyed watching him emerge as an everyday player this past season, as there is simply no match for his speed. His defense at second was much-improved throughout the season, so I hope the Marlins leave him there. If he can cut down on his strikeouts and not be tempted to crush the ball too often, he'll be an All-Star again for sure.
Haren certainly had an up-and-down year in LA, as he looked like steal of the free agency class to start the season, fell into a horrible slump around July, then settled back down for some good starts down the stretch. He finished at 13-11 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 32 starts. All things considered, he did his job for the most part at the back end of the rotation. I just wish he was more consistent, as when he was bad, he was REALLY bad.
With Rollins in the fold and Gordon and Haren shipped out, the next big name on the list is Matt Kemp. There's still plenty of talk about him going to the Padres, so don't fall asleep on that yet. Considering how rapid fire the moves on this day have gone, it could only be a matter of "when" and not "if" this will happen.
First there was the acquisition of Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies. That alone seemed like enough for the day. Except it wasn't.
One day ago the Dodgers were both being linked to and denying a Dee Gordon trade to the Marlins. Well, it's happened, and Dan Haren will go along for the ride.
The Dodgers have traded Gordon and Haren to the Marlins for top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney. Also coming from Miami are second baseman Enrique Hernandez, right-handed pitcher Chris Hatcher, and catcher Austin Barnes.
First, let's take a look at Heaney. MLB.com has him ranked as the #18 overall prospect, and the #2 overall left-handed pitcher. He's stands 6'2" and will turn 24 next June. His profile describes him as a guy who throws up to 95 mph with a "wipeout" slider. Sounds like another lefty on the Dodgers right now. He also has developed a changeup for his third pitch, which has really raised his stock.
By the way, who's the #1 ranked lefty? Julio Urias... of the Dodgers. Nice!
The other three players are more for depth. Hernandez has one year of big league experience, appearing in 42 games with the Astros and Marlins, hitting .248. Hatcher has appeared in 81 games for the Marlins, all out of the bullpen, with a 4.82 ERA. Barnes has never played above the Double-A level after being drafted in 2011.
So, the big chip is obviously Heaney, who will join Urias as the next big guns ready to step in for the Dodgers. This makes me think that the new management might not be afraid to trade Zack Greinke this upcoming year if they really do think he'll opt out of his contract. At least they have some very good arms ready to step in, plus they can get more value in return via trade. We shall see.
I discussed Gordon more in-depth yesterday, so check out my post about him here. I will say that I very much enjoyed watching him emerge as an everyday player this past season, as there is simply no match for his speed. His defense at second was much-improved throughout the season, so I hope the Marlins leave him there. If he can cut down on his strikeouts and not be tempted to crush the ball too often, he'll be an All-Star again for sure.
Haren certainly had an up-and-down year in LA, as he looked like steal of the free agency class to start the season, fell into a horrible slump around July, then settled back down for some good starts down the stretch. He finished at 13-11 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 32 starts. All things considered, he did his job for the most part at the back end of the rotation. I just wish he was more consistent, as when he was bad, he was REALLY bad.
With Rollins in the fold and Gordon and Haren shipped out, the next big name on the list is Matt Kemp. There's still plenty of talk about him going to the Padres, so don't fall asleep on that yet. Considering how rapid fire the moves on this day have gone, it could only be a matter of "when" and not "if" this will happen.
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.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Haren finally finds his groove
It's been awhile (a LONG while), but Dan Haren turned back the clock to April on Wednesday night in Anaheim. And after Kenley Jansen struck out Josh Hamilton to end the game, the Dodgers had one of their biggest wins of the season.
Haren pitched very well into the eighth inning, including setting down the first 16 batters of the game, as the Dodgers beat the Angels for the second straight night, 2-1. The Giants ran away from the Brewers, so the lead in the NL West remains at 2 1/2 games.
I'm not sure it's possible to say just how good and effective Haren was, as he completely baffled the mighty Angels' hitters all night long. In fact, when he was yanked in the eighth, he was only at 87 pitches, and the bullpen of J.P. Howell and Brandon League came dangerously close to handing the lead right back. Thankfully only one run was surrendered.
Coming into this start, Haren was as bad as bad could be. With numbers that said 0-5 and a 10.03 ERA in his last five starts, there was no way in the world even the biggest Dodger fans could be confident about this start. Heck, even Haren admitted after the game that he "tried almost everything" in this start, pretty much saying that he was willing to do anything to shake out of his slump.
It worked.
With a mixture of a sharp breaking ball and great fastball location, he ended up tossing 7 1/3 innings for three hits, one run, no walks, and four strikeouts. This one start alone lowered his ERA from 4.76 to 4.57. And more importantly for him, earned him more starts going forward.
Who would've thought that Haren would overshadow Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw the last three days? That's how unlikely this start was. Heck, I hope he keeps having unlikely starts going forward. The Dodgers could sure use more quality starts from the end of the rotation going forward.
Other thoughts from the game:
* Two other guys who've been slumping (a lot) are Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, and they each had two hits to contribute to the win. Ethier's RBI double scored Crawford in the second for the 2-0 lead. Throw in Justin Turner getting on base three times, and the bottom part of the order had a big game.
* The other run came from a Matt Kemp solo home run to continue his recent run. He's slowed down a bit in August by hitting .217, but he still has three homers to up his total to 14 on the season. On a team that sorely lacks power, I think the Dodgers will sacrifice his average for the power.
* Jansen faced a rocky road in the ninth, as Kole Calhoun led off with a single to center, then soon stole second with nobody out. But, Jansen got Mike Trout swinging, Albert Pujols to fly to center, and Hamilton swinging to end the game. That could have easily gone the other way, and all the work the Dodgers did to lead the entire game would've gone up in smoke. Instead, Jansen threw smoke to earn his 32nd save. That's tied for third in the majors with Craig Kimbrel and Greg Holland, some pretty impressive company.
* Yasiel Puig doubled and walked, but his biggest contribution was gunning down Hank Conger at third in the sixth. It looked like Conger had it made going to third, but Puig once again showed the world why his arm strength is on another level. Kudos to Turner for the slick catch and tag as well. That was awesome.
This didn't seem possible after Monday's game, and after Kershaw was hit around to start the next game, but the Dodgers have a chance to take three of four in the Freeway Series. Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the man on the mound Thursday, as he takes on C.J. Wilson.
Haren pitched very well into the eighth inning, including setting down the first 16 batters of the game, as the Dodgers beat the Angels for the second straight night, 2-1. The Giants ran away from the Brewers, so the lead in the NL West remains at 2 1/2 games.
I'm not sure it's possible to say just how good and effective Haren was, as he completely baffled the mighty Angels' hitters all night long. In fact, when he was yanked in the eighth, he was only at 87 pitches, and the bullpen of J.P. Howell and Brandon League came dangerously close to handing the lead right back. Thankfully only one run was surrendered.
Coming into this start, Haren was as bad as bad could be. With numbers that said 0-5 and a 10.03 ERA in his last five starts, there was no way in the world even the biggest Dodger fans could be confident about this start. Heck, even Haren admitted after the game that he "tried almost everything" in this start, pretty much saying that he was willing to do anything to shake out of his slump.
It worked.
With a mixture of a sharp breaking ball and great fastball location, he ended up tossing 7 1/3 innings for three hits, one run, no walks, and four strikeouts. This one start alone lowered his ERA from 4.76 to 4.57. And more importantly for him, earned him more starts going forward.
Who would've thought that Haren would overshadow Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw the last three days? That's how unlikely this start was. Heck, I hope he keeps having unlikely starts going forward. The Dodgers could sure use more quality starts from the end of the rotation going forward.
Other thoughts from the game:
* Two other guys who've been slumping (a lot) are Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, and they each had two hits to contribute to the win. Ethier's RBI double scored Crawford in the second for the 2-0 lead. Throw in Justin Turner getting on base three times, and the bottom part of the order had a big game.
* The other run came from a Matt Kemp solo home run to continue his recent run. He's slowed down a bit in August by hitting .217, but he still has three homers to up his total to 14 on the season. On a team that sorely lacks power, I think the Dodgers will sacrifice his average for the power.
* Jansen faced a rocky road in the ninth, as Kole Calhoun led off with a single to center, then soon stole second with nobody out. But, Jansen got Mike Trout swinging, Albert Pujols to fly to center, and Hamilton swinging to end the game. That could have easily gone the other way, and all the work the Dodgers did to lead the entire game would've gone up in smoke. Instead, Jansen threw smoke to earn his 32nd save. That's tied for third in the majors with Craig Kimbrel and Greg Holland, some pretty impressive company.
* Yasiel Puig doubled and walked, but his biggest contribution was gunning down Hank Conger at third in the sixth. It looked like Conger had it made going to third, but Puig once again showed the world why his arm strength is on another level. Kudos to Turner for the slick catch and tag as well. That was awesome.
This didn't seem possible after Monday's game, and after Kershaw was hit around to start the next game, but the Dodgers have a chance to take three of four in the Freeway Series. Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the man on the mound Thursday, as he takes on C.J. Wilson.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Haren, Perez continue to tumble in drubbing to Cubs
If the Dodgers thought a six-game winning streak and first place in the NL West was enough to boost the confidence of Dan Haren coming into Friday night, well... they were wrong.
Haren was awful, again, as the Dodgers looked like crap in losing 8-2 to the Cubs. The same Cubs team that came into this game 20-35 away from Wrigley Field. This is his ugly final line: 4 1/3 innings, eight hits, seven runs (six earned), two walks, three strikeouts. His record is 8-9 and his ERA is 4.76. Yuck.
The reason he got the start in the first place was because Don Mattingly wanted to give Hyun-Jin Ryu an extra day of rest, as he's historically much better with at least five days off. Plus, it doesn't hurt to give the big dogs Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke a little more time off as well.
And let's face it - they were playing the freakin' Cubs. Take away Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, and I'm not sure anyone can even mention another player. Well, they're still one of the worst teams in baseball, but they scored eight runs on 13 hits, and played like a team that was angry at Haren getting what was designed to be an "easy" start to get him going again. Didn't work.
So Haren's story was a rough one, and Chris Perez's wasn't any better. Perez technically didn't give up any runs 2/3 of an inning, but still failed to do what he was brought in for. And it only added to his pitiful season.
In the fifth, Perez entered with one out and the bases loaded. It was not an easy situation, but Perez's own ineffectiveness didn't make it any easier. Right away, Welington Castillo hit an RBI single to make it 5-1. Nate Schierholtz lifted a sac-fly RBI to center, and then Perez uncorked a wild pitch. An infield single by Kyle Kendricks (yes, the starting pitcher...) finished things off at 7-1.
All in all, none of those three runs were charged to Perez, as they only added to Haren's sad tally. But once again, Perez just cannot get the job done. It's hard to believe this guy was once an All-Star closer. His pitches are all over the place, and when he does throw strikes, they're hammered. His ERA stands at 4.97.
If you want more bad pitching news, long reliever Paul Maholm said he felt something "pop" in his right knee while covering first, immediately coming out of the game. Who knows what that could lead to.
Ned Colletti wasn't too harshly criticized for not making any moves on Thursday before the Trade Deadline expired, but there was a bit of surprise that he didn't bring in more pitching help. It's pretty much the worst timing in the world to have this game happen a day later. The Dodgers need some serious help in the back ends of both the rotation and bullpen.
Will it happen? We've seen plenty of August waiver deals in the past, so it definitely can. I have to think Colletti is trying very hard on this. There's always a balancing act between making a move and protecting the prospects on a team that's not getting any younger.
We'll see if Friday night was the last straw for Haren and Perez, who can't possibly be in the team's postseason's plans at this point. Right???
Haren was awful, again, as the Dodgers looked like crap in losing 8-2 to the Cubs. The same Cubs team that came into this game 20-35 away from Wrigley Field. This is his ugly final line: 4 1/3 innings, eight hits, seven runs (six earned), two walks, three strikeouts. His record is 8-9 and his ERA is 4.76. Yuck.
The reason he got the start in the first place was because Don Mattingly wanted to give Hyun-Jin Ryu an extra day of rest, as he's historically much better with at least five days off. Plus, it doesn't hurt to give the big dogs Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke a little more time off as well.
And let's face it - they were playing the freakin' Cubs. Take away Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, and I'm not sure anyone can even mention another player. Well, they're still one of the worst teams in baseball, but they scored eight runs on 13 hits, and played like a team that was angry at Haren getting what was designed to be an "easy" start to get him going again. Didn't work.
So Haren's story was a rough one, and Chris Perez's wasn't any better. Perez technically didn't give up any runs 2/3 of an inning, but still failed to do what he was brought in for. And it only added to his pitiful season.
In the fifth, Perez entered with one out and the bases loaded. It was not an easy situation, but Perez's own ineffectiveness didn't make it any easier. Right away, Welington Castillo hit an RBI single to make it 5-1. Nate Schierholtz lifted a sac-fly RBI to center, and then Perez uncorked a wild pitch. An infield single by Kyle Kendricks (yes, the starting pitcher...) finished things off at 7-1.
All in all, none of those three runs were charged to Perez, as they only added to Haren's sad tally. But once again, Perez just cannot get the job done. It's hard to believe this guy was once an All-Star closer. His pitches are all over the place, and when he does throw strikes, they're hammered. His ERA stands at 4.97.
If you want more bad pitching news, long reliever Paul Maholm said he felt something "pop" in his right knee while covering first, immediately coming out of the game. Who knows what that could lead to.
Ned Colletti wasn't too harshly criticized for not making any moves on Thursday before the Trade Deadline expired, but there was a bit of surprise that he didn't bring in more pitching help. It's pretty much the worst timing in the world to have this game happen a day later. The Dodgers need some serious help in the back ends of both the rotation and bullpen.
Will it happen? We've seen plenty of August waiver deals in the past, so it definitely can. I have to think Colletti is trying very hard on this. There's always a balancing act between making a move and protecting the prospects on a team that's not getting any younger.
We'll see if Friday night was the last straw for Haren and Perez, who can't possibly be in the team's postseason's plans at this point. Right???
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Major rotation question marks with Beckett and Haren
The Dodgers lead the National League with a 3.22 ERA from the starting rotation, second only to the A's 3.18 for tops in baseball. Yet it's the their back end of the rotation that is causing Ned Colletti to ponder his next move.
Josh Beckett wasn't very good in his return from the DL on Tuesday, getting hit around by the Pirates. Despite that, Don Mattingly announced that Beckett will still be kept in the rotation for now, taking Beckett's word for it that he really is OK.
Dan Haren is pitching like he's hurt, as he suffered yet another horrific outing on Wednesday. He gave up four runs in the first to the Pirates as the Dodgers got smacked around 6-1. If Haren was looking to instill some confidence in Mattingly, he certainly did not, as Mattingly refused to say after the game if he'd even make his next start.
Haren entered July with a 3.57 ERA and an 8-4 record. Well, he's now at 8-8, and here's how his ERA has shot up by the game: 4.06, 4.23, 4.30, and 4.49. Basically, he's not coming anywhere close to hitting his spots, and hitters are just sitting back and waiting for some fat pitches over the middle. Haren, the great guy that he is, has more than obliged.
Today (Thursday) is an off day, then the Dodgers go to San Francisco for three. After another off day the following Monday, they'll then play 20 consecutive days against the Braves, Cubs, Angels, Brewers, Braves again, and Brewers again. Take away the Cubs, and there's not a break in that stretch. They'll have to bring their "A" game just to survive.
One week from today is the official trade deadline, and you can bet Colletti is looking at his options. The big dog remains David Price, but it will literally take a huge price just to get him. Last year they brought in Ricky Nolasco and Edinson Volquez when they faced similar issues on the back end of the rotation, so a lesser-known player like those two could be the target.
You know what you're going to get from Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, and that's a whole lot of innings with zero scoring. At this point, what can they expect from a banged up Beckett and ineffective Haren? That's the scary part.
I believe that Beckett's health will be the key in all of this. His recent history is loaded with one injury after another, but when he's been healthy, he's been really good. If he can get back into a groove and avoid anymore DL stints, then the rotation is legit four-deep in arms. If not, then it accelerates the team's need for another starter.
Haren's days of starting, regardless of what Beckett does, appear to be numbered, and rightfully so. He's just been awful, plain and simple. There's no doubt he'll be the odd man out if another starter is brought in.
Josh Beckett wasn't very good in his return from the DL on Tuesday, getting hit around by the Pirates. Despite that, Don Mattingly announced that Beckett will still be kept in the rotation for now, taking Beckett's word for it that he really is OK.
Dan Haren is pitching like he's hurt, as he suffered yet another horrific outing on Wednesday. He gave up four runs in the first to the Pirates as the Dodgers got smacked around 6-1. If Haren was looking to instill some confidence in Mattingly, he certainly did not, as Mattingly refused to say after the game if he'd even make his next start.
Haren entered July with a 3.57 ERA and an 8-4 record. Well, he's now at 8-8, and here's how his ERA has shot up by the game: 4.06, 4.23, 4.30, and 4.49. Basically, he's not coming anywhere close to hitting his spots, and hitters are just sitting back and waiting for some fat pitches over the middle. Haren, the great guy that he is, has more than obliged.
Today (Thursday) is an off day, then the Dodgers go to San Francisco for three. After another off day the following Monday, they'll then play 20 consecutive days against the Braves, Cubs, Angels, Brewers, Braves again, and Brewers again. Take away the Cubs, and there's not a break in that stretch. They'll have to bring their "A" game just to survive.
One week from today is the official trade deadline, and you can bet Colletti is looking at his options. The big dog remains David Price, but it will literally take a huge price just to get him. Last year they brought in Ricky Nolasco and Edinson Volquez when they faced similar issues on the back end of the rotation, so a lesser-known player like those two could be the target.
You know what you're going to get from Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, and that's a whole lot of innings with zero scoring. At this point, what can they expect from a banged up Beckett and ineffective Haren? That's the scary part.
I believe that Beckett's health will be the key in all of this. His recent history is loaded with one injury after another, but when he's been healthy, he's been really good. If he can get back into a groove and avoid anymore DL stints, then the rotation is legit four-deep in arms. If not, then it accelerates the team's need for another starter.
Haren's days of starting, regardless of what Beckett does, appear to be numbered, and rightfully so. He's just been awful, plain and simple. There's no doubt he'll be the odd man out if another starter is brought in.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
As Haren tumbles, Dodgers revving up interest in Price
Dan Haren could not do what Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw could in Colorado, as he was hit around for eight runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings on Saturday. A late rally from an 8-2 hole nearly took him off the hook, but it wasn't enough as the Dodgers fell 8-7. The Giants beat the Padres in extra innings, so the Dodgers' lead in the NL West falls to a 1/2 game.
Not surprisingly, with the Dodgers the ultimate "win now" team, the talk of going after Rays ace David Price is starting to heat up.
The reasons are twofold. As I tweeted out during the game, Haren is easily the weak link of the rotation at this point. True, he's in a tough spot when the highest ERA amongst Greinke, Kershaw, Josh Beckett, and Hyun-Jin Ryu is Ryu's 3.08. But still, Haren's ERA has shot up to 4.06. His ERA entering June was 3.28.
Unless the Dodgers want to hand the ball to Paul Maholm and his 5.17 ERA, or dip into their minor league system, Haren will remain the fifth starter.
That brings us to the renewed interest in Price. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has an interesting take on the situation. To sum it up, he says the Dodgers want Price mostly to accelerate their ongoing TV discussions between Time Warner and Direct TV since another superstar is in the fold. For those of you not in LA, roughly 70% of that market is blacked out from games. Just imagine how great that made them feel when they couldn't even watch Kershaw's no-hitter.
The other side to it, of course, is that Price is just filthy good. Right now he's 7-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Don't be fooled, though, because a 2.27 ERA in five June starts has reminded people why he's so good. He regularly goes 7-8 innings, as it's been nine starts since he didn't reach at least the seventh.
Like many big trades, the Dodgers certainly have the money, so it comes down to the prospects. The Dodgers have those as well in guys like Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, and Zach Lee. Do the Dodgers move some of those guys (like the A's moved some of their prospects to pick up Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel), or do they draw the line there?
That's where we come back to Haren. If he continues to tumble, then there's no doubt in my mind the Dodgers will be willing to pull the trigger. Putting Price with Kershaw and Greinke is just a ridiculous top of the rotation. Then sprinkle in Beckett and Ryu for fourth and fifth games, and that's an unbelievable starting staff.
Let's hope that if the Dodgers do make an offer for Price, both teams can find some common ground so the top prospects don't end up in Tampa Bay. Seeing Price in Dodger blue would be amazing, but is it worth trading away the future? Do the Dodgers want to end up like the Yankees where they're constantly trading away prospects and leaving their minor league system bare? I sure hope not.
I would love to see Price in LA, just as the people of LA would love to actually turn the TV on and watch their favorite team play. Let's hope both the team and the fans get what they want. Let's also hope that the minor league system isn't left with nothing when it's all said and done.
Not surprisingly, with the Dodgers the ultimate "win now" team, the talk of going after Rays ace David Price is starting to heat up.
The reasons are twofold. As I tweeted out during the game, Haren is easily the weak link of the rotation at this point. True, he's in a tough spot when the highest ERA amongst Greinke, Kershaw, Josh Beckett, and Hyun-Jin Ryu is Ryu's 3.08. But still, Haren's ERA has shot up to 4.06. His ERA entering June was 3.28.
Unless the Dodgers want to hand the ball to Paul Maholm and his 5.17 ERA, or dip into their minor league system, Haren will remain the fifth starter.
That brings us to the renewed interest in Price. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has an interesting take on the situation. To sum it up, he says the Dodgers want Price mostly to accelerate their ongoing TV discussions between Time Warner and Direct TV since another superstar is in the fold. For those of you not in LA, roughly 70% of that market is blacked out from games. Just imagine how great that made them feel when they couldn't even watch Kershaw's no-hitter.
The other side to it, of course, is that Price is just filthy good. Right now he's 7-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Don't be fooled, though, because a 2.27 ERA in five June starts has reminded people why he's so good. He regularly goes 7-8 innings, as it's been nine starts since he didn't reach at least the seventh.
Like many big trades, the Dodgers certainly have the money, so it comes down to the prospects. The Dodgers have those as well in guys like Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, and Zach Lee. Do the Dodgers move some of those guys (like the A's moved some of their prospects to pick up Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel), or do they draw the line there?
That's where we come back to Haren. If he continues to tumble, then there's no doubt in my mind the Dodgers will be willing to pull the trigger. Putting Price with Kershaw and Greinke is just a ridiculous top of the rotation. Then sprinkle in Beckett and Ryu for fourth and fifth games, and that's an unbelievable starting staff.
Let's hope that if the Dodgers do make an offer for Price, both teams can find some common ground so the top prospects don't end up in Tampa Bay. Seeing Price in Dodger blue would be amazing, but is it worth trading away the future? Do the Dodgers want to end up like the Yankees where they're constantly trading away prospects and leaving their minor league system bare? I sure hope not.
I would love to see Price in LA, just as the people of LA would love to actually turn the TV on and watch their favorite team play. Let's hope both the team and the fans get what they want. Let's also hope that the minor league system isn't left with nothing when it's all said and done.
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.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Streaky Dodgers wake up just in time
The Dodgers found themselves down 4-0 before they even had a hit on Saturday night, and it looked like a lifeless night in Dodger Stadium.
Then Andre Ethier turned back the clock, the Diamondbacks couldn't field a grounder, Adrian Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 14, Brian Wilson nearly blew a four-run lead, and Kenley Jansen stuck out Paul Goldschmidt to preserve the 8-6 win.
That, in a nutshell, was how the Dodgers bounced back from their first loss to the DBacks on Friday night.
This was not the cleanest game you'll ever see, as both teams committed two errors, the DBacks handed away a 4-0 lead, and the Dodgers looked like they wanted to hand it right back in the eighth. Thankfully they didn't, and with the Padres beating the Giants, first place in the NL West belongs to LA once again.
Let's give credit to a couple of guys: Dan Haren and Ethier. Haren got virtually no help in the third, when Hanley Ramirez dropped an easy throw to second, taking away what could have been a double play to end the inning. Four runs were put on the board, sure enough.
Ethier got the start against the right-handed Mike Bolsinger, who looked really good early, then watched Ethier smack a three-run shot in the fourth to make it 4-3.
The bottom of the fifth pretty much summed up how lousy the DBacks have been this year. Three straight singles by Haren, Dee Gordon, and Carl Crawford started the inning, then Martin Prado booted an easy grounder from Ramirez. Yes, one that should've been a double play. It was on from there, as Gonzalez had a two-run single, and Matt Kemp a two-run double.
This could've been a game where the Dodgers just rolled over and died. But, with Haren hanging tough, and Ethier's big swing (plus some shoddy DBacks defense), it turned into a good win. We'll take it.
Other thoughts from the game:
* Wilson's location certainly isn't as sharp as he's used to, as both tying runs were on base before he got Chris Owings grounding out to end the eighth. His slider isn't that bad, but is just missing off the corner, and hitters are laying off of it. With a 10.13 ERA and elbow troubles already this year, it's pretty concerning.
* Good decision by Don Mattingly to sit Yasiel Puig, who's whiffing could use a day off. It turned out to be a good move to play Ethier and Crawford, who each contributed in the big middle innings.
* You think anyone outside of LA (and fantasy players) realize Haren is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA? Doubtful.
* Jansen needed a big strikeout to regain some swagger, and he got it by K'ing the mighty Goldschmidt to end the game. How did he do it? With an 83 mph slider. I love it! Finally something other than just a cutter! You see, it can work!
* Not playing Justin Turner was also a welcome sight. Gordon went 2-for-4 with a run in the leadoff spot, and is hitting .375.
* Shout-out to Stealing Home for his Ethier love he showed a few days ago after I referred to him as "overpaid." He definitely showed some of that good situational hitting in this one! Now keep it going!
The Dodgers will look to take the three-game set by sending Josh Beckett to the mound on Easter Sunday. Following that game will be four straight at home against the Phillies.
Then Andre Ethier turned back the clock, the Diamondbacks couldn't field a grounder, Adrian Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 14, Brian Wilson nearly blew a four-run lead, and Kenley Jansen stuck out Paul Goldschmidt to preserve the 8-6 win.
That, in a nutshell, was how the Dodgers bounced back from their first loss to the DBacks on Friday night.
This was not the cleanest game you'll ever see, as both teams committed two errors, the DBacks handed away a 4-0 lead, and the Dodgers looked like they wanted to hand it right back in the eighth. Thankfully they didn't, and with the Padres beating the Giants, first place in the NL West belongs to LA once again.
Let's give credit to a couple of guys: Dan Haren and Ethier. Haren got virtually no help in the third, when Hanley Ramirez dropped an easy throw to second, taking away what could have been a double play to end the inning. Four runs were put on the board, sure enough.
Ethier got the start against the right-handed Mike Bolsinger, who looked really good early, then watched Ethier smack a three-run shot in the fourth to make it 4-3.
The bottom of the fifth pretty much summed up how lousy the DBacks have been this year. Three straight singles by Haren, Dee Gordon, and Carl Crawford started the inning, then Martin Prado booted an easy grounder from Ramirez. Yes, one that should've been a double play. It was on from there, as Gonzalez had a two-run single, and Matt Kemp a two-run double.
This could've been a game where the Dodgers just rolled over and died. But, with Haren hanging tough, and Ethier's big swing (plus some shoddy DBacks defense), it turned into a good win. We'll take it.
Other thoughts from the game:
* Wilson's location certainly isn't as sharp as he's used to, as both tying runs were on base before he got Chris Owings grounding out to end the eighth. His slider isn't that bad, but is just missing off the corner, and hitters are laying off of it. With a 10.13 ERA and elbow troubles already this year, it's pretty concerning.
* Good decision by Don Mattingly to sit Yasiel Puig, who's whiffing could use a day off. It turned out to be a good move to play Ethier and Crawford, who each contributed in the big middle innings.
* You think anyone outside of LA (and fantasy players) realize Haren is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA? Doubtful.
* Jansen needed a big strikeout to regain some swagger, and he got it by K'ing the mighty Goldschmidt to end the game. How did he do it? With an 83 mph slider. I love it! Finally something other than just a cutter! You see, it can work!
* Not playing Justin Turner was also a welcome sight. Gordon went 2-for-4 with a run in the leadoff spot, and is hitting .375.
* Shout-out to Stealing Home for his Ethier love he showed a few days ago after I referred to him as "overpaid." He definitely showed some of that good situational hitting in this one! Now keep it going!
The Dodgers will look to take the three-game set by sending Josh Beckett to the mound on Easter Sunday. Following that game will be four straight at home against the Phillies.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Quietly, the Haren signing looks pretty darn good
How about these numbers for your first two starts with a new team:
Start #1: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Start #2: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Those belong to Dan Haren, who was signed this offseason to a one-year, $10 deal, with a 2015 option for $10 million that vests with 180 innings.
I'd say his chances of staying in LA and making some more cash are looking pretty good.
Beating the Padres is one thing, but beating the Tigers is a whole different story. That's exactly what he did on Tuesday night, as he went toe-to-toe with reigning Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer for much of the game. Haren was denied a victory, and Scherzer a loss, when Kenley Jansen blew a save in the ninth.
Not to worry, as Carl Crawford's walk-off double in the ninth scored Chone Figgins to win the game.
If anyone saw Haren pitch in Spring Training, then you had plenty of reasons to be worried. In four appearances covering 12 innings, his ERA was 6.00, and opponents were hitting a whopping .373 against him. His last start against the Angels was just awful, giving up six runs in two innings.
I do recall hearing the great Orel Hershiser on SportsNet LA discuss how Haren's stuff had no break to it, perhaps because he was in Arizona at the time. When he got back to LA, things would be better, and he'd be ready to go.
As much as I love Orel, I thought that looked like a bunch of wishful thinking. Sure enough, two starts an 0.75 ERA later, he was right. Again.
With news that Josh Beckett is due to start Wednesday night against the Tigers, the Dodgers' pitching staff looks like it can at least hold its own until Clayton Kershaw returns sometime in May. A top three of Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Haren looks pretty good right now, and hopefully Beckett can find his groove as he did when he first came to the Dodgers in 2012.
Of course, if Paul Maholm gets another start, that wouldn't be a good thing. But four out of five ain't bad.
Obviously Haren won't continue to put up six innings and one or two runs. That would be awesome, but it won't happen. What we can hope for is that when everyone is healthy, he can be the best #4 man in the game. If you can go pitch-for-pitch against someone like Scherzer, I certainly think he can beat any #4 in the game.
Start #1: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Start #2: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Those belong to Dan Haren, who was signed this offseason to a one-year, $10 deal, with a 2015 option for $10 million that vests with 180 innings.
I'd say his chances of staying in LA and making some more cash are looking pretty good.
Beating the Padres is one thing, but beating the Tigers is a whole different story. That's exactly what he did on Tuesday night, as he went toe-to-toe with reigning Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer for much of the game. Haren was denied a victory, and Scherzer a loss, when Kenley Jansen blew a save in the ninth.
Not to worry, as Carl Crawford's walk-off double in the ninth scored Chone Figgins to win the game.
If anyone saw Haren pitch in Spring Training, then you had plenty of reasons to be worried. In four appearances covering 12 innings, his ERA was 6.00, and opponents were hitting a whopping .373 against him. His last start against the Angels was just awful, giving up six runs in two innings.
I do recall hearing the great Orel Hershiser on SportsNet LA discuss how Haren's stuff had no break to it, perhaps because he was in Arizona at the time. When he got back to LA, things would be better, and he'd be ready to go.
As much as I love Orel, I thought that looked like a bunch of wishful thinking. Sure enough, two starts an 0.75 ERA later, he was right. Again.
With news that Josh Beckett is due to start Wednesday night against the Tigers, the Dodgers' pitching staff looks like it can at least hold its own until Clayton Kershaw returns sometime in May. A top three of Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Haren looks pretty good right now, and hopefully Beckett can find his groove as he did when he first came to the Dodgers in 2012.
Of course, if Paul Maholm gets another start, that wouldn't be a good thing. But four out of five ain't bad.
Obviously Haren won't continue to put up six innings and one or two runs. That would be awesome, but it won't happen. What we can hope for is that when everyone is healthy, he can be the best #4 man in the game. If you can go pitch-for-pitch against someone like Scherzer, I certainly think he can beat any #4 in the game.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
It's looking like Kershaw and Ryu in Australia
*** UPDATE ***
It's official. Don Mattingly will give the ball to Clayton Kershaw in the first game, then to Hyun-Jin Ryu in the next. Should be fun.
***
First Zack Greinke complained about having no fun in Australia. Then he left a start after four pitches due to a strained calf muscle.
Complaining + injury = no trip Down Under.
While Don Mattingly has not made it official, it's sure looking like Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will get the nod in the two-game set against the Diamondbacks in Australia. Greinke probably won't even make the trip, which is just fine with him, I'm sure.
When you're scouting the Diamondbacks, you immediately start with the mighty Paul Goldschmidt, who had a monster 2013 by hitting .302 with 36 homers and 125 RBI. He's also a right-handed hitter, so naturally you wish the right-handed Greinke could match up with him instead of the two southpaws.
Granted, Kershaw and Ryu are not your typical lefties, so it's probably all a wash in the end.
Because of the quirkiness of this trip, both teams are allowed to carry 30 roster members with them in case of injury to the top 25. Again, nothing is confirmed, but it's looking like Dan Haren will go on the trip, along with Matt "Ball Four" Magill to pitch in an exhibition game against Team Australia two days before the opener.
It's official. Don Mattingly will give the ball to Clayton Kershaw in the first game, then to Hyun-Jin Ryu in the next. Should be fun.
***
First Zack Greinke complained about having no fun in Australia. Then he left a start after four pitches due to a strained calf muscle.
Complaining + injury = no trip Down Under.
While Don Mattingly has not made it official, it's sure looking like Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will get the nod in the two-game set against the Diamondbacks in Australia. Greinke probably won't even make the trip, which is just fine with him, I'm sure.
When you're scouting the Diamondbacks, you immediately start with the mighty Paul Goldschmidt, who had a monster 2013 by hitting .302 with 36 homers and 125 RBI. He's also a right-handed hitter, so naturally you wish the right-handed Greinke could match up with him instead of the two southpaws.
Granted, Kershaw and Ryu are not your typical lefties, so it's probably all a wash in the end.
Because of the quirkiness of this trip, both teams are allowed to carry 30 roster members with them in case of injury to the top 25. Again, nothing is confirmed, but it's looking like Dan Haren will go on the trip, along with Matt "Ball Four" Magill to pitch in an exhibition game against Team Australia two days before the opener.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Dodgers sign Haren for end of rotation
As Dodger fans wait on any possible movement with big names like David Price and Masahiro Tanaka, management added a piece to the back end of the rotation.
Dan Haren has agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal on Monday, with an option for another year in 2014, and $3 million in incentives. He'll slot in right behind Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu as Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley work their way back from injuries.
Now 33 and with over 2,000 innings of Major League pitching already under his belt, it's safe to say we can't expect to see the same guy who was an All-Star from 2007-2009 with the A's and Diamondbacks. In 31 starts with the Nationals last season, he went 10-14 with a 4.67 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, as his team went from World Series contenders to flameouts for a variety of reasons.
Taking a closer look, however, you'll see some encouraging second half splits. After he returned from a right shoulder injury in June, he ended up going 6-4 with a 3.52 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 13 starts after the break. Plus, his BAA went way down from .299 to .226.
If you're a believer in a second half performance carrying over into the next season, then Haren gives you plenty of reasons for optimism. With the Dodgers, he can fit nicely into the 4-5 spot and not feel immediate pressure to beat other teams' aces. It's a low-key signing, but a good one if his shoulder problems don't come back.
Now Haren has to prove he should keep his rotation spot when Beckett and Billingsley are declared good to go. As Ned Colletti pointed out, the Dodgers know more than any other team that you can never have enough starting pitching. Remember how Ted Lilly, Aaron Harang, and Chris Capuano were all left out of the rotation coming out of Spring Training last year? Well, one injury after another made them scramble to call up guys like Stephen Fife and Matt "Ball 4" Magill to make emergency starts. It wasn't pretty.
I applaud Colletti for going with a deal like this over giving Ricky Nolasco way too much money. Haren might not get as hot as Nolasco was for a stretch last season, but he can still be very solid behind the studs at the top of the rotation.
Dan Haren has agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal on Monday, with an option for another year in 2014, and $3 million in incentives. He'll slot in right behind Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu as Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley work their way back from injuries.
Now 33 and with over 2,000 innings of Major League pitching already under his belt, it's safe to say we can't expect to see the same guy who was an All-Star from 2007-2009 with the A's and Diamondbacks. In 31 starts with the Nationals last season, he went 10-14 with a 4.67 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, as his team went from World Series contenders to flameouts for a variety of reasons.
Taking a closer look, however, you'll see some encouraging second half splits. After he returned from a right shoulder injury in June, he ended up going 6-4 with a 3.52 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 13 starts after the break. Plus, his BAA went way down from .299 to .226.
If you're a believer in a second half performance carrying over into the next season, then Haren gives you plenty of reasons for optimism. With the Dodgers, he can fit nicely into the 4-5 spot and not feel immediate pressure to beat other teams' aces. It's a low-key signing, but a good one if his shoulder problems don't come back.
Now Haren has to prove he should keep his rotation spot when Beckett and Billingsley are declared good to go. As Ned Colletti pointed out, the Dodgers know more than any other team that you can never have enough starting pitching. Remember how Ted Lilly, Aaron Harang, and Chris Capuano were all left out of the rotation coming out of Spring Training last year? Well, one injury after another made them scramble to call up guys like Stephen Fife and Matt "Ball 4" Magill to make emergency starts. It wasn't pretty.
I applaud Colletti for going with a deal like this over giving Ricky Nolasco way too much money. Haren might not get as hot as Nolasco was for a stretch last season, but he can still be very solid behind the studs at the top of the rotation.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Taking a look at Dan Haren
I've already talked about Erik Bedard, now I'll look at Dan Haren, another hotly-pursued pitcher this offseason.Haren is a 27-year-old righty currently with the Oakland A's where he has won at least 14 games for the last 3 years. Overall, he's 49-44 in 2 years with the St. Louis Cardinals and 3 with the A's. He also has a career 3.82 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, which are solid numbers for a starting pitcher. He's appeared in the postseason twice, in 2004 and 2006. In 2004, he was used in relief where he picked up 1 win in 5 appearances with a 2.16 ERA. In 2006, he was a starter in 2 games, getting a win over Minnesota with a 4.09 ERA.
This past year is when he has really stepped up and become the staff ace. He went 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Pitching in 222.2 innings, he had 192 K's and only 55 walks. His solid numbers lead him to be the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game, where he gave up 1 run in 2 innings.
As has been the case since Billy Beane became the head man in Oakland, anyone with a potential for value will be on the trading block. They've lost players like Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, and Jason Isringhausen in the past via free agency because the A's refuse to offer the big bucks for anyone. Haren falls under the category of a star that will surely leave for greener pastures. I can't blame Beane for being proactive in shopping Haren based on the recent history of big names that have left the A's.
So far, I have heard that the Yankees (big shock), Diamondbacks, Indians, and Dodgers as the teams most in pursuit of him. The Diamondbacks supposedly have an offer on the table of Conor Jackson, Carlos Gonzalez, and two other players. The Yankees are not willing to part with both Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes, but remain interested. The Indians kind of came out of nowhere in all of this, so who knows how serious that is.
I have not read of one specific offer for Haren, but I would imagine it's the same situation as getting Erik Bedard. The Dodgers are not willing to give up 3 or 4 top prospects for one guy, even an ace, and rightfully so. Muck like Bedard, Haren's numbers have improved from 2 years ago, as his K's have gone up, ERA has gone way down, and BAA has improved. Oh he's a stud, for sure, which is why interest will always be there.
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