*** Note ***
Today I'm going to start a new feature here on Inside Dodger Baseball. It's called "Blue Views," and it's basically a running list of thoughts about anything to do with the Dodgers, or about baseball in general.
Quite often I have some opinions that don't exactly warrant a whole blog post, so this is my way of getting my views out there at once. Enjoy!
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* It was good to see the bats get going last night against the Marlins. More specifically, the regular bats like Manny Ramirez and Rafael Furcal. It's not like the starting pitching has been that much to write about, but the bats were seemingly blowing chance after chance with runners on. That got pretty frustrating to watch.
* A guy who seems a little bit in limbo right now is Matt Kemp. It's not like he's having a bad year or anything, but he just doesn't seem all that comfortable to me. Remember during his breakout season in '09, the spot he appeared the most in the order was seventh (46 times). He also had 14 appearances in the #2 hole. Point being, he wasn't expected to do anything spectacular in those spots. Just getting on base was the goal.
In looking at his numbers hitting in the heart of the order from last year, they tell an interesting story: #4 - .216, #5 - .271, #6 - .240. Not exactly great numbers. Now look at these numbers: #1 - .400 (2-for-5 in one game), #2 - .291, #7 - .328, #8 - .421. I think it's safe to see why Joe Torre was so comfortable hitting Kemp up or down in the order. They won 95 games, so he must have figured that if it wasn't broke, don't fix it.
Going back to my original point, Kemp seems like he's still trying to adjust to hitting in an RBI spot. He has five strikeouts through four games, which is something he needs to address. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he gets going, but I think we need to show some patience with him. He's still getting used to hitting in the heart of the order.
* Let's be thankful that Ramon Troncoso only missed the first game of the season. With Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario out, and with George Sherrill getting lit up on Opening Day, Troncoso has been the only steady option to get to Jonathan Broxton. Troncoso's only gone two innings and no runs, but he just looks like the best pitcher of the bunch. Once Kuo and Belisario are back and the Ortiz's are more than likely gone, the 'pen should be as strong as ever.
* Based on the handful of games I've watched from the other NL West teams, it's hard not to think the Giants are the team to beat. They swept the Astros in Houston, then got a huge comeback win over the Braves in their home opener. The knock on them coming into the season was their lack of production at the plate, but they've scored five or more runs in three of their four wins. It's early, but they have to like what they've seen thus far.
The Diamondbacks have had an easy schedule to start (Padres and Pirates), but they too have hit well. Like I said in my season preview, so much depends on the health of Brandon Webb. I still don't see them doing much without him, but they've more than played steady ball in his absence. They'll need to keep that up to stay competitive in this division.
I haven't caught as much of the Rockies for whatever reason, but I did see Jorge De La Rosa look fantastic against the Padres the other day. This is a team that scares me because they have their same team back from last year that went on that incredible run. They're a scary team.
* Vicente Padilla gets another start today, and the Dodgers really need him to turn it around. It's never good to overreact after one start, but he was so bad, you couldn't help but to be concerned. Still, I really think he can get it going at some point. Hopefully tonight.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Bad back lands Ausmus on the DL
Brad Ausmus's incredible run of never being on the disabled list in 17 years has finally come to an end. A pinched nerve in his lower back has landed him on the 15-day DL.
It's a pretty remarkable accomplishment for a catcher to never be on the DL. You've got to think that all of the wear and tear would have put him on the injured list at some point, but it never has until now. Talk about durability!
As a result of this news, A.J. Ellis has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. Ellis thought he'd be in LA at the start of the season with the injury to Russell Martin in spring training, but Martin quickly recovered to prevent that from happening.
It's a pretty remarkable accomplishment for a catcher to never be on the DL. You've got to think that all of the wear and tear would have put him on the injured list at some point, but it never has until now. Talk about durability!
As a result of this news, A.J. Ellis has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. Ellis thought he'd be in LA at the start of the season with the injury to Russell Martin in spring training, but Martin quickly recovered to prevent that from happening.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Late clutch hitting enough to down the Fish
The Dodgers and Marlins were locked in a scoreless battle through five innings in Friday night's game. Hiroki Kuroda and Chris Volstad were tossing blanks, and the opportunities the hitters had were never capitalized on.
Then the seventh inning came, and the Dodgers finally found some ways to break it open. The result was a 7-3 win to even their record at 2-2.
Both teams had men on third with less than two outs in the first, but came up empty. The Marlins were first on the board in the sixth thanks to an RBI single from Jorge Cantu to score Cameron "Tiki" Mayben (sorry, inside joke to those who live in Binghamton like me). Mayben reached on a bunt single, then went to second on Russell Martin's throwing error.
Manny Ramirez got the fun started in the seventh with a leadoff double to center. Matt Kemp got him over to third on a sac-fly. From there, Volstad was chased after an RBI double by Casey Blake, and a run scoring single from Blake DeWitt, making it 2-1. An error by Hanley Ramirez off the bat of Reed Johnson scored both Jamey Carroll and Martin, and it was 4-1.
A few more runs were tacked on in the ninth, thanks to some big hits and shaky bullpen work from the Marlins. Martin walked and Rafael Furcal doubled, part of his 3-for-4 night. A scorching double by James Loney scored them both, increasing the lead to 7-1.
About the only negative from the night was the work of Russ Ortiz, who was atrocious. His only job in the ninth was to get the game over with, but he then gave up a single and walked two. Jonathan Broxton gave up an two-run double, but struck out the final two to end it.
While the late hitting was nice, the real story of this night was Kuroda. He looked really, really good. He was throwing hard all night, with plenty of late movement. The final tally was eight innings, five hits, one run (unearned), one walk, and seven strikeouts. The other starters could learn something from him: you throw strikes and cut down the walks, you can have success. And that he did.
I'm glad to see the regulars pick up the pace late in the game, because they've struggled to start the year. Yesterday it was the bench players like Ronnie Belliard and Johnson that carried the load. It all started with Manny's double in the seventh, and the rest took off from there.
Saturday night's pitching matchup features a couple of Opening Day starters who struggled. Vicente Padilla was rocked by the Pirates, and Josh Johnson never got going against the Mets. They'll both look to rebound and get his team over the .500 mark.
Then the seventh inning came, and the Dodgers finally found some ways to break it open. The result was a 7-3 win to even their record at 2-2.
Both teams had men on third with less than two outs in the first, but came up empty. The Marlins were first on the board in the sixth thanks to an RBI single from Jorge Cantu to score Cameron "Tiki" Mayben (sorry, inside joke to those who live in Binghamton like me). Mayben reached on a bunt single, then went to second on Russell Martin's throwing error.
Manny Ramirez got the fun started in the seventh with a leadoff double to center. Matt Kemp got him over to third on a sac-fly. From there, Volstad was chased after an RBI double by Casey Blake, and a run scoring single from Blake DeWitt, making it 2-1. An error by Hanley Ramirez off the bat of Reed Johnson scored both Jamey Carroll and Martin, and it was 4-1.
A few more runs were tacked on in the ninth, thanks to some big hits and shaky bullpen work from the Marlins. Martin walked and Rafael Furcal doubled, part of his 3-for-4 night. A scorching double by James Loney scored them both, increasing the lead to 7-1.
About the only negative from the night was the work of Russ Ortiz, who was atrocious. His only job in the ninth was to get the game over with, but he then gave up a single and walked two. Jonathan Broxton gave up an two-run double, but struck out the final two to end it.
While the late hitting was nice, the real story of this night was Kuroda. He looked really, really good. He was throwing hard all night, with plenty of late movement. The final tally was eight innings, five hits, one run (unearned), one walk, and seven strikeouts. The other starters could learn something from him: you throw strikes and cut down the walks, you can have success. And that he did.
I'm glad to see the regulars pick up the pace late in the game, because they've struggled to start the year. Yesterday it was the bench players like Ronnie Belliard and Johnson that carried the load. It all started with Manny's double in the seventh, and the rest took off from there.
Saturday night's pitching matchup features a couple of Opening Day starters who struggled. Vicente Padilla was rocked by the Pirates, and Josh Johnson never got going against the Mets. They'll both look to rebound and get his team over the .500 mark.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Ethier has a sore ankle, but should be back soon
Andre Ethier sat out this afternoon's game in Pittsburgh with a sore left ankle. The injury happened during Wednesday night's game when he rolled it stepping back onto first. He still played the rest of the game, however.
X-rays were negative, and he's not expected to miss much time. He's hoping to return in time for Saturday's game against the Marlins.
You never know with ankle sprains, but this doesn't at all look serious. I'm sure he'd at least like to play in the home opener next Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. That looks like a realistic goal.
X-rays were negative, and he's not expected to miss much time. He's hoping to return in time for Saturday's game against the Marlins.
You never know with ankle sprains, but this doesn't at all look serious. I'm sure he'd at least like to play in the home opener next Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. That looks like a realistic goal.
Reserves give Dodgers win #1
The Dodgers were able to save some face today in Pittsburgh by putting together their best game of this young season, as they dismantled the Pirates, 10-2. It was a much needed win after two frustrating losses to open the season.
Being a day game after a night one (and a long one at that), Joe Torre had quite the different look for his lineup. Manny Ramirez, Russell Martin, and Blake DeWitt all got the day off, as did Andre Ethier because of a sore ankle.
As the Dodgers did many times last season, the bench guys did a great job. They were led by Ronnie Belliard, who started at second and went 3-for-5 with a homer, triple, double, two runs, and four RBIs. Usually when going for a cycle, the single is the easiest part, but Belliard got the harder hits instead.
James Loney was able to start the good day with a two-out RBI single in the first, scoring Reed Johnson. A sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp in the third plated Rafael Furcal, making it 2-0.
From there, Belliard took over. He hit a two-run shot to center in the fifth to increase the lead to 4-0. That came just after Chad Billingsley wiggled out of a bases loaded, one out situation by getting the last two guys swinging.
The seventh is when the game was blasted open. The Pirates cut the lead to 4-1 an inning before, and the Dodgers immediately responded. Raffy and Johnson hit singles off of Hayden Penn, who was horrible. Four straight RBIs were hit by Kemp's double, Loney's single, Belliard's triple, and Garret Anderson's single. Just like that, it was 8-1.
The scoring was wrapped up in the ninth on an RBI double from Belliard and sac-fly RBI by Anderson.
The hitting was great, but more encouraging was seeing Billingsley give a great effort. He finished the day at 5 1/3 innings, five hits, one run, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Yes, the four walks wasn't that great, but the seven strikeouts more than made up for it. His stuff looked hard and sharp all day. So far, so good.
The top five hitters in the order of Raffy, Johnson, Kemp, Loney, and Anderson combined to go 13-for-23 and scored all 10 runs. On a day where the regulars rested, it's a great sign to know that the guys off the bench will give good production.
With the first win finally under their belts, the Dodgers travel to Florida next. Hiroki Kuroda will get his first start of the season against Chris Volstad. After that, Vicente Padilla will look to get on track, followed by the season debut of Charlie Haeger on Sunday.
Being a day game after a night one (and a long one at that), Joe Torre had quite the different look for his lineup. Manny Ramirez, Russell Martin, and Blake DeWitt all got the day off, as did Andre Ethier because of a sore ankle.
As the Dodgers did many times last season, the bench guys did a great job. They were led by Ronnie Belliard, who started at second and went 3-for-5 with a homer, triple, double, two runs, and four RBIs. Usually when going for a cycle, the single is the easiest part, but Belliard got the harder hits instead.
James Loney was able to start the good day with a two-out RBI single in the first, scoring Reed Johnson. A sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp in the third plated Rafael Furcal, making it 2-0.
From there, Belliard took over. He hit a two-run shot to center in the fifth to increase the lead to 4-0. That came just after Chad Billingsley wiggled out of a bases loaded, one out situation by getting the last two guys swinging.
The seventh is when the game was blasted open. The Pirates cut the lead to 4-1 an inning before, and the Dodgers immediately responded. Raffy and Johnson hit singles off of Hayden Penn, who was horrible. Four straight RBIs were hit by Kemp's double, Loney's single, Belliard's triple, and Garret Anderson's single. Just like that, it was 8-1.
The scoring was wrapped up in the ninth on an RBI double from Belliard and sac-fly RBI by Anderson.
The hitting was great, but more encouraging was seeing Billingsley give a great effort. He finished the day at 5 1/3 innings, five hits, one run, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Yes, the four walks wasn't that great, but the seven strikeouts more than made up for it. His stuff looked hard and sharp all day. So far, so good.
The top five hitters in the order of Raffy, Johnson, Kemp, Loney, and Anderson combined to go 13-for-23 and scored all 10 runs. On a day where the regulars rested, it's a great sign to know that the guys off the bench will give good production.
With the first win finally under their belts, the Dodgers travel to Florida next. Hiroki Kuroda will get his first start of the season against Chris Volstad. After that, Vicente Padilla will look to get on track, followed by the season debut of Charlie Haeger on Sunday.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Pirates trip Dodgers in 10
When the Dodgers saw they would open the season in Pittsburgh, they probably thought they'd ease their way into a few wins.
Instead, the Pirates are making life very difficult to start.
A combination of way too many walks, way too many men left on base, and a key error in the 10th was enough for the Pirates to take this one in 10, 4-3. The Dodgers dropped to 0-2.
Clayton Kershaw got the start, and he was anything but sharp. It all started in the first, when Garrett Jones picked up right where he left off on Monday. With the first two men on, Jones launched a three-run shot to center to make it 3-0.
It took until the fifth for the Dodgers' offense to get going. It started with a solo shot to right off the bat of Russell Martin, making it 3-1. Rafael Furcal reached on an error by Andy LaRoche (who made two nice diving plays to rob Matt Kemp on the night), and stole second. An RBI double by Matt Kemp scored Raffy, and Andre Ethier's RBI single tied it at three.
From there, both teams seemingly walked 100 guys, but never paid for it. In fact, the teams combined for a whopping 18 walks, split nine apiece. Time and time again men would get the free pass, but it didn't seem to matter.
The biggest chance for the Dodgers came in the ninth. Jamey Carroll pinch-hit and doubled. He then went to third on a wild pitch from Octavio Dotel. The top of the order was due up, so you would think that with nobody out and the big bats coming up, something good would happen.
You would think wrong.
Raffy grounded out and Kemp struck out. Ethier walked, but Manny feebly grounded out.
The Pirates took it in the 10th, and it all started with an error on a routine grounder to Blake DeWitt. The knock on DeWitt has been his glove, and he showed it tonight. The bases were eventually loaded with one down, and Ronny Cedeno hit a clean single off of Ramon Ortiz for the win.
In addition to walking nine guys, the offense left 12 men on base. That now makes 22 in two games, which is obviously way too many. Hopefully that changes soon.
Kershaw had a rough first inning, but found ways to get out of trouble in the next few. On the night, he finished with 4 2/3 innings, five hits, three runs, six walks, and four strikeouts. Like he has many times in the past, he was his own worst enemy. He simply cannot give so many free passes. But also like I've said in the past, he's still very young, so we'll have to live with these growing pains.
George Sherrill was a positive, as he pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two. Ramon Troncoso is back with the team, and he put up a blank in the ninth. At least they did well.
It's too early to freak out about any of this, but the Dodgers would really look pretty bad if they were to lose on Thursday afternoon and suffer a sweep. I mean, the Pirates do look better, but they're still on the bottom end of the National League. The Dodgers need to get a win.
Chad Billingsley gets the call on Thursday, and we all know how much he struggled to end last season. But, here's a good opportunity to get back on track by getting his team their first win of the season.
Instead, the Pirates are making life very difficult to start.
A combination of way too many walks, way too many men left on base, and a key error in the 10th was enough for the Pirates to take this one in 10, 4-3. The Dodgers dropped to 0-2.
Clayton Kershaw got the start, and he was anything but sharp. It all started in the first, when Garrett Jones picked up right where he left off on Monday. With the first two men on, Jones launched a three-run shot to center to make it 3-0.
It took until the fifth for the Dodgers' offense to get going. It started with a solo shot to right off the bat of Russell Martin, making it 3-1. Rafael Furcal reached on an error by Andy LaRoche (who made two nice diving plays to rob Matt Kemp on the night), and stole second. An RBI double by Matt Kemp scored Raffy, and Andre Ethier's RBI single tied it at three.
From there, both teams seemingly walked 100 guys, but never paid for it. In fact, the teams combined for a whopping 18 walks, split nine apiece. Time and time again men would get the free pass, but it didn't seem to matter.
The biggest chance for the Dodgers came in the ninth. Jamey Carroll pinch-hit and doubled. He then went to third on a wild pitch from Octavio Dotel. The top of the order was due up, so you would think that with nobody out and the big bats coming up, something good would happen.
You would think wrong.
Raffy grounded out and Kemp struck out. Ethier walked, but Manny feebly grounded out.
The Pirates took it in the 10th, and it all started with an error on a routine grounder to Blake DeWitt. The knock on DeWitt has been his glove, and he showed it tonight. The bases were eventually loaded with one down, and Ronny Cedeno hit a clean single off of Ramon Ortiz for the win.
In addition to walking nine guys, the offense left 12 men on base. That now makes 22 in two games, which is obviously way too many. Hopefully that changes soon.
Kershaw had a rough first inning, but found ways to get out of trouble in the next few. On the night, he finished with 4 2/3 innings, five hits, three runs, six walks, and four strikeouts. Like he has many times in the past, he was his own worst enemy. He simply cannot give so many free passes. But also like I've said in the past, he's still very young, so we'll have to live with these growing pains.
George Sherrill was a positive, as he pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two. Ramon Troncoso is back with the team, and he put up a blank in the ninth. At least they did well.
It's too early to freak out about any of this, but the Dodgers would really look pretty bad if they were to lose on Thursday afternoon and suffer a sweep. I mean, the Pirates do look better, but they're still on the bottom end of the National League. The Dodgers need to get a win.
Chad Billingsley gets the call on Thursday, and we all know how much he struggled to end last season. But, here's a good opportunity to get back on track by getting his team their first win of the season.
Belisario about a couple of weeks away
For those of you who are still trying to recover from George Sherrill's horrendous outing on Monday, there appears to be some good news on the horizon. Ronald Belisario is progressing enough that he may only be two weeks away from a return.
Currently, Belisario is in Camelback Ranch to throw live batting practice. He's already put in a week of bullpen sessions, and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt gave a good progress report. The next step is getting into live game action, then going on back-to-back days.
It's a good approach to take it slow after the Will Ohman debacle of last season. For those of you that have forgotten, Ohman was signed just as spring training was coming to a close to be the main man against lefties. Instead, he lasted only 21 games, had a 5.84 ERA, and was shut down for the year for shoulder surgery.
Belisario had a great '09, coming out of nowhere to post a 2.04 ERA in 69 games, striking out 64. Whether Sherrill figures things out or not, you've got to figure that Belisario will still play a key role late in games regardless.
Currently, Belisario is in Camelback Ranch to throw live batting practice. He's already put in a week of bullpen sessions, and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt gave a good progress report. The next step is getting into live game action, then going on back-to-back days.
It's a good approach to take it slow after the Will Ohman debacle of last season. For those of you that have forgotten, Ohman was signed just as spring training was coming to a close to be the main man against lefties. Instead, he lasted only 21 games, had a 5.84 ERA, and was shut down for the year for shoulder surgery.
Belisario had a great '09, coming out of nowhere to post a 2.04 ERA in 69 games, striking out 64. Whether Sherrill figures things out or not, you've got to figure that Belisario will still play a key role late in games regardless.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Opening Day unkind to Padilla
Joe Torre raised some eyebrows when he named Vicente Padilla as his Opening Day starter.
Today's performance is a good reason why.
Torre went with his hottest hand at the end of last season, and it backfired. Padilla gave up seven runs in 4 1/3 innings, and the Pirates used three long balls to crush the Dodgers, 11-5. It was pretty ugly all day long.
The Dodgers were the ones to strike first to start the game off of Zack Duke. Russell Martin hit second and worked a walk with one out, and Andre Ethier doubled for two on. After Manny Ramirez flew out, Matt Kemp hit a two-run single to make it 2-0.
It sure looked like a good beginning, but Padilla walked Akinori Iwamura to lead off. Garrett Jones then launched a two-run homer to even the game at two. From there, the Pirates took off and never looked back.
Padilla wiggled out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the second, but Jones's second homer of the day made it 3-2.
It all unraveled in the fifth, when Andrew McCutchen was beaned to lead off. Lastings Milledge and Ronny Cedeno had RBIs, but the big blow of the inning was a bases clearing double from Ryan Church, making it 8-2.
The bats tried to make a game out of this, as Manny's two-run single and James Loney's RBI groundout in the seventh made it 8-5. Consecutive singles by pinch-hitter Garret Anderson and Rafael Furcal made for another threat in the eighth, but nothing came of it.
George Sherrill came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth, and he had struggled all spring. That continued, as Ryan Doumit unloaded on a three-run shot, putting the game away at 11-5. Octavio Dotel set the Dodgers down in order to end the game.
The offense did generate 12 hits, but left 10 on. That included leaving six on with runners in scoring position and two out. They got at least one hit every inning, save for the last one. So at least they didn't look wimpy at the plate.
On the mound, however, was a different story. I justified giving Padilla the ball in game one, but it's hard to now. He simply looked lost. It could have actually been a lot worse had the Pirates capitalized in the second. So in a weird way, he should feel a little lucky they didn't.
I'm not as worried about him as I am about Sherrill. One of the strengths I talked about in my season preview was the end of the bullpen. Well, that sure didn't look to be the case today. Sherrill had a 7.50 ERA in the spring, and looked every bit of it today. Yes, it's certainly too early to panic, but let's hope he shows some positive signs soon.
With Opening Day in the books, both teams will get Tuesday off before going back at it on Wednesday. Clayton Kershaw (who sure as heck looks like he should have been today's starter) will go against Ross Ohlendorf.
Today's performance is a good reason why.
Torre went with his hottest hand at the end of last season, and it backfired. Padilla gave up seven runs in 4 1/3 innings, and the Pirates used three long balls to crush the Dodgers, 11-5. It was pretty ugly all day long.
The Dodgers were the ones to strike first to start the game off of Zack Duke. Russell Martin hit second and worked a walk with one out, and Andre Ethier doubled for two on. After Manny Ramirez flew out, Matt Kemp hit a two-run single to make it 2-0.
It sure looked like a good beginning, but Padilla walked Akinori Iwamura to lead off. Garrett Jones then launched a two-run homer to even the game at two. From there, the Pirates took off and never looked back.
Padilla wiggled out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the second, but Jones's second homer of the day made it 3-2.
It all unraveled in the fifth, when Andrew McCutchen was beaned to lead off. Lastings Milledge and Ronny Cedeno had RBIs, but the big blow of the inning was a bases clearing double from Ryan Church, making it 8-2.
The bats tried to make a game out of this, as Manny's two-run single and James Loney's RBI groundout in the seventh made it 8-5. Consecutive singles by pinch-hitter Garret Anderson and Rafael Furcal made for another threat in the eighth, but nothing came of it.
George Sherrill came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth, and he had struggled all spring. That continued, as Ryan Doumit unloaded on a three-run shot, putting the game away at 11-5. Octavio Dotel set the Dodgers down in order to end the game.
The offense did generate 12 hits, but left 10 on. That included leaving six on with runners in scoring position and two out. They got at least one hit every inning, save for the last one. So at least they didn't look wimpy at the plate.
On the mound, however, was a different story. I justified giving Padilla the ball in game one, but it's hard to now. He simply looked lost. It could have actually been a lot worse had the Pirates capitalized in the second. So in a weird way, he should feel a little lucky they didn't.
I'm not as worried about him as I am about Sherrill. One of the strengths I talked about in my season preview was the end of the bullpen. Well, that sure didn't look to be the case today. Sherrill had a 7.50 ERA in the spring, and looked every bit of it today. Yes, it's certainly too early to panic, but let's hope he shows some positive signs soon.
With Opening Day in the books, both teams will get Tuesday off before going back at it on Wednesday. Clayton Kershaw (who sure as heck looks like he should have been today's starter) will go against Ross Ohlendorf.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Opening Day roster is set
Here is the 25-man roster the Dodgers will have in play to start the season:
Catchers (2): Russell Martin, Brad Ausmus
Infielders (6): James Loney, Blake DeWitt, Ronnie Belliard, Jamey Carroll, Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake
Outfielders (5): Manny Ramirez, Garret Anderson, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Reed Johnson
Starting Pitchers (5): Vicente Padilla, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, Charlie Haeger
Relief Pitchers (7): Jonathan Broxton, George Sherrill, Jeff Weaver, Ramon Troncoso, Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz, Carlos Monasterios
Hong-Chih Kuo and Cory Wade will open on the 15-day DL. Ronald Belisario is on the 30-day Restricted List.
Catchers (2): Russell Martin, Brad Ausmus
Infielders (6): James Loney, Blake DeWitt, Ronnie Belliard, Jamey Carroll, Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake
Outfielders (5): Manny Ramirez, Garret Anderson, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Reed Johnson
Starting Pitchers (5): Vicente Padilla, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, Charlie Haeger
Relief Pitchers (7): Jonathan Broxton, George Sherrill, Jeff Weaver, Ramon Troncoso, Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz, Carlos Monasterios
Hong-Chih Kuo and Cory Wade will open on the 15-day DL. Ronald Belisario is on the 30-day Restricted List.
Strengths and questions for 2010
Opening Day is upon us! The Dodgers will travel to Pittsburgh to begin their defense of the NL West title. They'll be looking to win their third straight division crown.
Here, I will take a look at five areas of strength and five question marks heading into the '10 season.
Strengths:
1. Strong end of the bullpen
There might not be a better end-of-game combination than George Sherrill and Jonathan Broxton. Both men were simply electric last season, and pretty much turned games into seven-inning contests. In 27 2/3 innings, Sherrill gave up only two runs for an 0.65 ERA. Broxton saved 36 games while striking out 114. When two legit closers are available, it's hard for the opposition to stand much of a chance.
2. Powerful outfield
A full year of Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier is a scary thought. Kemp and Ethier enjoyed breakout '09 campaigns. Kemp hit 26 homers, 101 RBIs, and stole 34 bases. Ethier hit 31 homers, 106 RBIs, and was the walk-off hero all year long. If Manny regains his form that he had before his suspension, then the middle of the order will be perfectly set.
3. Clayton Kershaw, future ace
Kershaw didn't get much help from his offense, posting only an 8-8 record. But, a 2.79 ERA and 185 strikeouts showed what kind of electric stuff he truly has. He kept getting better as the season went on, another great sign. This could be the year he takes the next step in being one of the league's best hurlers.
4. Veteran presence
Key members of the run the last couple of years have been Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, Ronnie Belliard, Brad Ausmus, and Vicente Padilla. Each player brought veteran experience and have really provided a lift where needed. Give GM Ned Colletti credit - he isn't afraid to bring in older players in order to provide a spark, and that's exactly what has happened.
5. Bench support
One of the areas of strength I believe was overlooked last season was the ability of the bench to be productive. Guys like Juan Pierre, Juan Castro, Belliard, and Ausmus were solid, and Charlie Haeger and Eric Stults gave good spot starts. The names are changed, but I like who Joe Torre can turn to. Belliard and Ausmus are back, and they are joined by Reed Johnson, Garret Anderson, and Jamey Carroll. All five have plenty of starting experience, which makes resting the starters easier. If the spring is any indication, then Ramon Ortiz and Russ Ortiz look ready to provide a spark as well.
Question marks:
1. Will the before or after Manny Ramirez show up?
When you think of the Dodgers, you think of the whole Manny scandal from last year, and rightfully so. Simply put, the Dodgers can't expect to go further in the postseason if Manny hits at a .255 rate like he did after the All Star break last season. He's still the focal point for every opposing scouting report, and he needs to deliver.
2. How will the Dodgers replace Randy Wolf?
Wolf was awesome last year, going 11-7 (no run support) with a 3.23 ERA. Then the Dodgers didn't offer him arbitration, something that greatly angered fans. He's taken his act to Milwaukee, and the Dodgers never did replace him. The main guy I can think of to step up in his spot is Chad Billingsley. If he can regain his pre-All Star form, then the Dodgers have their answer.
3. Will Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake hold up?
I've already mentioned how both men have brought a great veteran presence, but as the years go by, the injuries pile up. Furcal played in 150 games last year, but still was banged up at times and hit only .269. Blake battled a bad hamstring as the season wore on and hit a measly .167 in the playoffs. Joe Torre has stated that he intends to give both men more time off, which is necessary. The Dodgers have good backup options in Belliard and Carroll, but neither man can compare to a healthy Furcal and Blake.
4. Can Hong-Chih Kuo stay healthy again?
It's easy to continually ask health questions, but with Kuo already on the 15-day DL to start the season, it's an important one. He began last season almost identical to this one, as elbow problems had him out from May until July. Once he came back, however, he was great. Rarely, if ever, pitching on consecutive days, he used his powerful stuff to post a 3.00 ERA in 30 innings, giving a great lift to the bullpen. If he's healthy, he's a great option to bridge the gap to Sherrill and Broxton at the end of the game.
5. Will Ned Colletti make another big splash during the season?
The last two seasons have earned Colletti a contract extension. In addition to back-to-back NL West titles, some great maneuvering at the trade deadline have given the Dodgers a needed lift. Two seasons ago it was Manny. Last year it was Padilla, Belliard, Jon Garland, and Jim Thome. Who will it be this time? In looking at the roster, the biggest area of improvement would be starting pitching. So, look for the Dodgers to be linked to rumors about getting another big arm as the season progresses.
Here, I will take a look at five areas of strength and five question marks heading into the '10 season.
Strengths:
1. Strong end of the bullpen
There might not be a better end-of-game combination than George Sherrill and Jonathan Broxton. Both men were simply electric last season, and pretty much turned games into seven-inning contests. In 27 2/3 innings, Sherrill gave up only two runs for an 0.65 ERA. Broxton saved 36 games while striking out 114. When two legit closers are available, it's hard for the opposition to stand much of a chance.
2. Powerful outfield
A full year of Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier is a scary thought. Kemp and Ethier enjoyed breakout '09 campaigns. Kemp hit 26 homers, 101 RBIs, and stole 34 bases. Ethier hit 31 homers, 106 RBIs, and was the walk-off hero all year long. If Manny regains his form that he had before his suspension, then the middle of the order will be perfectly set.
3. Clayton Kershaw, future ace
Kershaw didn't get much help from his offense, posting only an 8-8 record. But, a 2.79 ERA and 185 strikeouts showed what kind of electric stuff he truly has. He kept getting better as the season went on, another great sign. This could be the year he takes the next step in being one of the league's best hurlers.
4. Veteran presence
Key members of the run the last couple of years have been Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal, Ronnie Belliard, Brad Ausmus, and Vicente Padilla. Each player brought veteran experience and have really provided a lift where needed. Give GM Ned Colletti credit - he isn't afraid to bring in older players in order to provide a spark, and that's exactly what has happened.
5. Bench support
One of the areas of strength I believe was overlooked last season was the ability of the bench to be productive. Guys like Juan Pierre, Juan Castro, Belliard, and Ausmus were solid, and Charlie Haeger and Eric Stults gave good spot starts. The names are changed, but I like who Joe Torre can turn to. Belliard and Ausmus are back, and they are joined by Reed Johnson, Garret Anderson, and Jamey Carroll. All five have plenty of starting experience, which makes resting the starters easier. If the spring is any indication, then Ramon Ortiz and Russ Ortiz look ready to provide a spark as well.
Question marks:
1. Will the before or after Manny Ramirez show up?
When you think of the Dodgers, you think of the whole Manny scandal from last year, and rightfully so. Simply put, the Dodgers can't expect to go further in the postseason if Manny hits at a .255 rate like he did after the All Star break last season. He's still the focal point for every opposing scouting report, and he needs to deliver.
2. How will the Dodgers replace Randy Wolf?
Wolf was awesome last year, going 11-7 (no run support) with a 3.23 ERA. Then the Dodgers didn't offer him arbitration, something that greatly angered fans. He's taken his act to Milwaukee, and the Dodgers never did replace him. The main guy I can think of to step up in his spot is Chad Billingsley. If he can regain his pre-All Star form, then the Dodgers have their answer.
3. Will Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake hold up?
I've already mentioned how both men have brought a great veteran presence, but as the years go by, the injuries pile up. Furcal played in 150 games last year, but still was banged up at times and hit only .269. Blake battled a bad hamstring as the season wore on and hit a measly .167 in the playoffs. Joe Torre has stated that he intends to give both men more time off, which is necessary. The Dodgers have good backup options in Belliard and Carroll, but neither man can compare to a healthy Furcal and Blake.
4. Can Hong-Chih Kuo stay healthy again?
It's easy to continually ask health questions, but with Kuo already on the 15-day DL to start the season, it's an important one. He began last season almost identical to this one, as elbow problems had him out from May until July. Once he came back, however, he was great. Rarely, if ever, pitching on consecutive days, he used his powerful stuff to post a 3.00 ERA in 30 innings, giving a great lift to the bullpen. If he's healthy, he's a great option to bridge the gap to Sherrill and Broxton at the end of the game.
5. Will Ned Colletti make another big splash during the season?
The last two seasons have earned Colletti a contract extension. In addition to back-to-back NL West titles, some great maneuvering at the trade deadline have given the Dodgers a needed lift. Two seasons ago it was Manny. Last year it was Padilla, Belliard, Jon Garland, and Jim Thome. Who will it be this time? In looking at the roster, the biggest area of improvement would be starting pitching. So, look for the Dodgers to be linked to rumors about getting another big arm as the season progresses.
2010 NL West Preview: Closers
1. Jonathan Broxton – Dodgers
2. Heath Bell – Padres
3. Brian Wilson – Giants
4. Huston Street – Rockies
5. Chad Qualls – Diamondbacks
Broxton really thrust himself into one of the top closers in the game last year. He had 36 saves, pitching 76 innings and blowing away 114 hitters. That’s some scary stuff. His next step will be to finish the year strong, as he’s twice been burned by the Phillies in the playoffs.
Bell quickly and easily made people forget about the mess that was Trevor Hoffman’s departure with a spectacular season. In his first full season as closer, he was 42-for-48 with a 2.71 ERA. So of course, playing in San Diego and being good means he’ll be the subject of trade rumors as the season wears on.
Wilson quieted a lot of critics with a very good season. He had 41 saves in 2008, but gave up seven homers en route to a 4.62 ERA. But, he settled down last year for 38 saves (though seven blown) for a 2.74 ERA. He was rewarded with a nice two-year, $15 million extension.
Street is currently battling shoulder problems, which should keep him out of action in April. But, he’s proven since his rookie year with Oakland in 2005 that he knows how to slam the door in the ninth. He saved 35 games last year, while only blowing two. The Rockies need him at full health in a competitive division.
Qualls comes in last, but really, he’d be higher up on many lists in other divisions. He was given the full-time closer’s role last year, and responded with 24 saves in 29 chances. A dislocated kneecap forced him to miss the last month of the season, but he looks to be fully recovered.
2. Heath Bell – Padres
3. Brian Wilson – Giants
4. Huston Street – Rockies
5. Chad Qualls – Diamondbacks
Broxton really thrust himself into one of the top closers in the game last year. He had 36 saves, pitching 76 innings and blowing away 114 hitters. That’s some scary stuff. His next step will be to finish the year strong, as he’s twice been burned by the Phillies in the playoffs.
Bell quickly and easily made people forget about the mess that was Trevor Hoffman’s departure with a spectacular season. In his first full season as closer, he was 42-for-48 with a 2.71 ERA. So of course, playing in San Diego and being good means he’ll be the subject of trade rumors as the season wears on.
Wilson quieted a lot of critics with a very good season. He had 41 saves in 2008, but gave up seven homers en route to a 4.62 ERA. But, he settled down last year for 38 saves (though seven blown) for a 2.74 ERA. He was rewarded with a nice two-year, $15 million extension.
Street is currently battling shoulder problems, which should keep him out of action in April. But, he’s proven since his rookie year with Oakland in 2005 that he knows how to slam the door in the ninth. He saved 35 games last year, while only blowing two. The Rockies need him at full health in a competitive division.
Qualls comes in last, but really, he’d be higher up on many lists in other divisions. He was given the full-time closer’s role last year, and responded with 24 saves in 29 chances. A dislocated kneecap forced him to miss the last month of the season, but he looks to be fully recovered.
2010 NL West Preview: Starting Pitching
1. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Jonathan Sanchez, Todd Wellemeyer – Giants
2. Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Vicente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda, Charlie Haeger – Dodgers
3. Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hammel – Rockies
4. Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Edwin Jackson, Billy Buckner, Ian Kennedy – Diamondbacks
5. Chris Young, Kevin Correia, Jon Garland, Clayton Richard, Mat Latos – Padres
The strength of Lincecum and Cain are enough to earn the Giants the first slot. As great as they are, the rest of the rotation is pretty solid as well. Zito got better as the season went on last year, possibly showing that he’s finally settled down after being such a disaster when he first arrived. Sanchez threw a no-hitter (remember that?) and has great strikeout potential.
The Dodgers and Rockies are close, but I’ll give the slight edge to the Dodgers. Kershaw has the stuff of not only team ace, but league ace as well. A lot of their success will depend on Billingsley and his ability to bounce back from a horrible second half. Padilla has definitely enjoyed his time with LA, and they’ll need more big innings from him. Kuroda quietly is an effective pitcher.
The Rockies are a team on the upswing, and their pitching is a big reason why. Jimenez is just like Kershaw: young, hard throwing, and just ridiculously talented. Francis won 17 games in 2007, but is again battling injury problems. They need him to be at his strongest. De La Rosa gets a ton of strikeouts and finished the year strong. Cook will give them plenty of starts, but so-so numbers with it.
The Diamondacks could have been higher on the list, but once again Webb’s shoulder is a major problem. He’s looking at months off, and that’s a big blow. You know you’ll get great results from Haren, and Jackson should be a nice addition. But without Webb, there’s really only two starters to fear, and that’s it.
Young will be the key for the Padres. If he can be healthy and start 30 games, he’ll produce good results. Garland will give them innings and steady, but not spectacular, numbers. Correia is on the upswing, as he was one of the lone bright spots for them last year. Latos is looked at as the future, though he doesn’t seem like a major prospect.
2. Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Vicente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda, Charlie Haeger – Dodgers
3. Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hammel – Rockies
4. Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Edwin Jackson, Billy Buckner, Ian Kennedy – Diamondbacks
5. Chris Young, Kevin Correia, Jon Garland, Clayton Richard, Mat Latos – Padres
The strength of Lincecum and Cain are enough to earn the Giants the first slot. As great as they are, the rest of the rotation is pretty solid as well. Zito got better as the season went on last year, possibly showing that he’s finally settled down after being such a disaster when he first arrived. Sanchez threw a no-hitter (remember that?) and has great strikeout potential.
The Dodgers and Rockies are close, but I’ll give the slight edge to the Dodgers. Kershaw has the stuff of not only team ace, but league ace as well. A lot of their success will depend on Billingsley and his ability to bounce back from a horrible second half. Padilla has definitely enjoyed his time with LA, and they’ll need more big innings from him. Kuroda quietly is an effective pitcher.
The Rockies are a team on the upswing, and their pitching is a big reason why. Jimenez is just like Kershaw: young, hard throwing, and just ridiculously talented. Francis won 17 games in 2007, but is again battling injury problems. They need him to be at his strongest. De La Rosa gets a ton of strikeouts and finished the year strong. Cook will give them plenty of starts, but so-so numbers with it.
The Diamondacks could have been higher on the list, but once again Webb’s shoulder is a major problem. He’s looking at months off, and that’s a big blow. You know you’ll get great results from Haren, and Jackson should be a nice addition. But without Webb, there’s really only two starters to fear, and that’s it.
Young will be the key for the Padres. If he can be healthy and start 30 games, he’ll produce good results. Garland will give them innings and steady, but not spectacular, numbers. Correia is on the upswing, as he was one of the lone bright spots for them last year. Latos is looked at as the future, though he doesn’t seem like a major prospect.
Friday, April 2, 2010
The fifth starter's spot belongs to Haeger
The battle for the fifth starter's spot has come to an end, and Charlier Haeger has emerged victorious. Joe Torre made the decision on Thursday, the same day Blake DeWitt was named starter at second.
Haeger earned the job after an impressive spring. He made six starts and pitched 16 1/3 innings, posting a 2.20 ERA. He walked 11, but did strike out 15.
It's not like he was handed this job, because the other contenders did their part to make this a tough decision for Torre. Russ Ortiz had a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings, and Ramon Ortiz had a 1.02 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. With numbers like those, you would think they'll have some sort of role with the team going forward. At least one of them will.
In his young career with the White Sox, Padres, and Dodgers, Haeger has a 2-3 record with a 5.26 ERA. But, he was 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA last season, which earned him the opportunity this spring.
So the rotation is now set: Vicente Padilla, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, and Haeger. There's only one lefty in there, but Haeger's knuckleball is definitely a different look anyway.
Haeger's first start looks to be sometime in Florida next weekend. He could be available out of the bullpen until then.
Haeger earned the job after an impressive spring. He made six starts and pitched 16 1/3 innings, posting a 2.20 ERA. He walked 11, but did strike out 15.
It's not like he was handed this job, because the other contenders did their part to make this a tough decision for Torre. Russ Ortiz had a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings, and Ramon Ortiz had a 1.02 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. With numbers like those, you would think they'll have some sort of role with the team going forward. At least one of them will.
In his young career with the White Sox, Padres, and Dodgers, Haeger has a 2-3 record with a 5.26 ERA. But, he was 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA last season, which earned him the opportunity this spring.
So the rotation is now set: Vicente Padilla, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, and Haeger. There's only one lefty in there, but Haeger's knuckleball is definitely a different look anyway.
Haeger's first start looks to be sometime in Florida next weekend. He could be available out of the bullpen until then.
DeWitt will get first crack at second base
Blake DeWitt was chosen to be the Opening Day starter at second on Thursday. He'll be backed up by Ronnie Belliard and Jamey Carroll.
DeWitt has already had quite the interesting career with the Dodgers, and he's only entering his third season. The hope is that knowing he'll be the everyday starter will make him relax and return to the form he found at the start of the 2008 season.
For those of you that have forgotten, DeWitt was the default third baseman to start the '08 season, mostly because of injuries to Nomar Garciaparra, Andy LaRoche, and Tony Abreu. It turned out to be a blessing, because he ended up hitting .303 through May.
He cooled off soon after that, however, and was then sent back down once Casey Blake came aboard. He did get to start at second for an ailing Jeff Kent in that year's playoffs, but hit .167 with six strikeouts in eight games.
Last year he spent only 31 games in the bigs, going back and forth between the minors and majors. It was pretty much a lost year for him because he never could get comfortable.
I came into this spring thinking Belliard would be the starter, but I can see Torre's thinking on this one. DeWitt is much younger, and the Dodgers are trying to think long-term here. We've seen the best and worst of him already, so like I said before, hopefully he can play well knowing that he's the main man.
I'm sure Belliard and Carroll will still see some starts and opportunities late in games, and they're both good options to have in those situations.
DeWitt has already had quite the interesting career with the Dodgers, and he's only entering his third season. The hope is that knowing he'll be the everyday starter will make him relax and return to the form he found at the start of the 2008 season.
For those of you that have forgotten, DeWitt was the default third baseman to start the '08 season, mostly because of injuries to Nomar Garciaparra, Andy LaRoche, and Tony Abreu. It turned out to be a blessing, because he ended up hitting .303 through May.
He cooled off soon after that, however, and was then sent back down once Casey Blake came aboard. He did get to start at second for an ailing Jeff Kent in that year's playoffs, but hit .167 with six strikeouts in eight games.
Last year he spent only 31 games in the bigs, going back and forth between the minors and majors. It was pretty much a lost year for him because he never could get comfortable.
I came into this spring thinking Belliard would be the starter, but I can see Torre's thinking on this one. DeWitt is much younger, and the Dodgers are trying to think long-term here. We've seen the best and worst of him already, so like I said before, hopefully he can play well knowing that he's the main man.
I'm sure Belliard and Carroll will still see some starts and opportunities late in games, and they're both good options to have in those situations.
Stults packs his bags for Japan
The long-rumored deal to send Eric Stults to Japan has finally happened. Stults was sold to the Hiroshima Carp on Wednesday. He will report there next week.
Stults came into the spring with intentions on earning the fifth spot in the rotation. While he was one of the handful of guys given a look, he only pitched in 5 1/3 innings for a 5.06 ERA, striking out two.
These rumors of the Stults-Japan connection have gone on since last year. He was out of options coming into the spring, and once he saw he wasn't going to be a starter (eventually going to Charlie Haeger), he became much more interested in making the deal happen.
Stults has been starting here and there for the Dodgers since 2006. He finishes his Dodgers career with an 8-10 mark and 4.84 ERA. His highlight came in '08 when he posted a 3.49 ERA in seven starts.
Stults came into the spring with intentions on earning the fifth spot in the rotation. While he was one of the handful of guys given a look, he only pitched in 5 1/3 innings for a 5.06 ERA, striking out two.
These rumors of the Stults-Japan connection have gone on since last year. He was out of options coming into the spring, and once he saw he wasn't going to be a starter (eventually going to Charlie Haeger), he became much more interested in making the deal happen.
Stults has been starting here and there for the Dodgers since 2006. He finishes his Dodgers career with an 8-10 mark and 4.84 ERA. His highlight came in '08 when he posted a 3.49 ERA in seven starts.
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