In the three-time history of the World Baseball Classic, Thursday night's tilt between the United States and Dominican Republic was arguably the biggest game of them all. The winner advanced to the championship round, the loser needs to beat Puerto Rico to get there as well.
Who would've though it would be Craig Kimbrel to hand the Dominicans their ticket to San Francisco?
As unlikely as it seems, the Dominicans scored two runs in the top of the ninth to crack open a 1-1 tie, and Fernando Rodney put the exclamation point on a thrilling 3-1 victory. Team USA is now back in action on Friday looking to stay alive.
R.A. Dickey was handed the ball to start this one, and he looked as sharp as can be in getting the Dominicans in order, striking out Robinson Cano for the final out. It was a complete turnaround from his start last Friday against Mexico, where he scuffled over four shaky innings.
Team USA came to bat knowing they'd be without the services of "Captain America" David Wright, who was a late scratch with sore ribs. However, Brandon Phillips and Joe Mauer each singled to get things going. With two outs, Miami's own Giancarlo Stanton hit an infield single to short, as Mauer was just able to beat the soft toss to second.
With the bases loaded, the US was in a great spot to unravel Dominican starter Samuel Deduno, who obviously doesn't have the pitching credentials of someone like Dickey (not that many people do). Eric Hosmer worked a walk to force a run in. Adam Jones, on the other hand, struck out looking at a breaking ball, and the US again failed to really capitalize with runners on.
The Dominicans got that run right back in the second. Hanley Ramirez absolutely unloaded on a solo homer to left measured at 451 feet to make it 1-1. If he swings the bat that well during the season, then hopefully I'll still be doing Dodger recaps deep into October.
This game looked like either offense could take off at any point, but for the next six innings not a single run was scored. Dickey ended up going five strong for one run and four strikeouts. Deduno made a name for himself by K'ing seven over four innings of impressive work. Basically, the US had their chance to KO him early, but couldn't get the job done.
Off to the ninth we went, where Joe Torre correctly inserted Kimbrel to keep the score even. He did what just about any smart manager would do in this situation. Considering that Kimbrel's 2012 saw him record 42 saves with a 1.01 ERA, you would think that even with the Dominicans' powerful lineup, they'd be silenced.
So it was definitely a shocker to watch Nelson Cruz double on the first pitch he saw. That more than revved up an already raucous crowd, and Carlos Santana had a good at-bat by getting him over to third on a groundout.
Erik Aybar's at-bat was probably even more impressive when you factor in an absolutely horrendous strike two call by umpire Angel Hernandez. His RBI single to right made it 2-1. An out later, with Aybar on second from a steal, Jose Reyes brought home another run with an RBI single, chasing Kimbrel in the process. Mitchell Boggs got the last out.
As if things weren't bleak enough watching the game's best closer give up two runs and Wright being hurt, the US had their bottom part of the order due up against Rodney in the ninth. Jones continued his rough night by flying out. Pinch-hitters Ben Zobrist and Shane Victorino couldn't do any better, and that was that.
Miami isn't exactly known for having the game's best baseball fans. I keep thinking back to a tweet that went out a few weeks ago that showed just a few people (if that) standing in line when single-game tickets went on sale for the Marlins. But make no mistake about it, these fans were awesome from the start, and really added to the energy of the game. I could've done without that damn horn the whole game, but still, it sure was fun to watch.
Now the US finds themselves in a must-win situation... again. The good news is that they've been down this road before, as they needed W's over Italy and Canada last week just to get to this point. The bad news is that Puerto Rico just ousted Italy in comeback fashion, and even though they dropped a big one on Tuesday against the Americans, they do have some momentum going for them.
Ryan Vogelsong will take the hill for the US, while Puerto Rico counters with Nelson Figueroa.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
All Sports Talk's NL West Preview
Recently I was able to contribute a preview of this year's Dodgers as part of an NL West preview at allsportstalk.net. In this article, I discuss the probable lineup, starting rotation, bullpen, and reserves. With a nearly half a month left before Spring Training comes to an end, whet your appetite for Opening Day.
While you're at it, check out the other previews from some other great bloggers as well. A big thanks goes out to website owner Aaron Garcia for allowing me to contribute. Enjoy!
While you're at it, check out the other previews from some other great bloggers as well. A big thanks goes out to website owner Aaron Garcia for allowing me to contribute. Enjoy!
Captain America powers Team USA
If Team USA is going to win this World Baseball Classic thing, they have the perfect guy with the perfect nickname ready to carry them all the way.
"Captain America" David Wright came through with another huge night, driving in five runs to back Gio Gonzalez's gem, as the US pounded Puerto Rico, 7-1. The win earns them a berth against the loaded Domincan Republic on Thursday, with the winner of that onto the championship round.
With Gonzalez looking every bit like the 21-game winner he was last season with the Nationals, the US finally scored first, unlike their previous three games. Ryan Braun took a walk with two outs in the first, and Joe Mauer's RBI single made it 1-0.
From there, the US added a single run here and there, while the combination of Gonzalez, Jeremy Affeldt, and Vinnie Pestano shut down the Puerto Ricans through seven. In the third, Brandon Phillips singled, Braun did the same, and Mauer walked to load the bases. Wright got his first RBI on a fielder's choice, though Mike Aviles's diving stop at short kept the damage to one.
"Captian America" tacked on another RBI in the fifth, as his single scored Jimmy Rollins, who singled leading off the inning, to make it 3-0. The lead was stretched to 4-0 in the seventh when Adam Jones singled to center, scoring Eric Hosmer.
About the only threat Puerto Rico could muster was in the eighth, and even then they only scored one run. Miami's own Steve Cishek beaned Jesus Feliciano leading off. That brought in David Hernandez, who gave up a double to Eddie Rosario and an RBI groundout to Angel Pagan. Alex Rios popped up to end the inning.
The bottom of the eighth is when the US took over for good, as has been the case during this three-game winning streak. Rollins and Braun singled, then Mauer took another walk. Wright smacked a three-run double to deep center, blowing the game open at 7-1.
Craig Kimbel put the cherry on top by getting Aviles to ground into a game ending double play.
Two things are becoming quite apparent as this tournament rolls on. One, if the opposing team wants to win, they need to grab an early lead and build on it. Two, the US gets more comfortable at the plate as the game progresses, so you can count on some runs late in the game. In other words, to beat the US, you better build a big enough lead to withstand a late charge.
And while you're at it, you might want to avoid pitching to Wright, even if men are on base. Of course, that's kinda hard if the bases are loaded, but you get my point. Through four games, "Captain America" is hitting .438 with a 1.276 OPS and 10 RBIs. The RBIs are tops in the tourney. Right now the Mets actually look like a brilliant team for once, as they clearly have the right guy to build around. At the plate and with the leather, he's been awesome.
What's nearly forgotten in this one is the great start by Gonzalez, who pitched five shutout innings, striking out five. His stuff looked very sharp, too, which isn't exactly good news for the rest of the league. Kudos to the bullpen as well. We all know that the pitch counts turns these games into bullpen affairs as the game wears on, and the US looks more than ready for that.
When the WBC is all said and done, we may look back on Thursday's matchup as the biggest game. The Domincan Republic boasts and undefeated record, plus studs like Robinson Cano, Hanley Ramirez, and Jose Reyes. The US is getting better and better each game. That's going to be fun to watch.
Joe Torre will turn to R.A. Dickey, who is definitely looking to bounce back after a subpar performance in a loss to Mexico. Puerto Rico goes with Samuel Deduno, who is mostly a middle reliever with the Twins, rather than Wandy Rodiguez, who is not on his regular rest. The winner earns a ticket to San Francisco, the loser plays Friday against the winner of Italy and Puerto Rico.
"Captain America" David Wright came through with another huge night, driving in five runs to back Gio Gonzalez's gem, as the US pounded Puerto Rico, 7-1. The win earns them a berth against the loaded Domincan Republic on Thursday, with the winner of that onto the championship round.
With Gonzalez looking every bit like the 21-game winner he was last season with the Nationals, the US finally scored first, unlike their previous three games. Ryan Braun took a walk with two outs in the first, and Joe Mauer's RBI single made it 1-0.
From there, the US added a single run here and there, while the combination of Gonzalez, Jeremy Affeldt, and Vinnie Pestano shut down the Puerto Ricans through seven. In the third, Brandon Phillips singled, Braun did the same, and Mauer walked to load the bases. Wright got his first RBI on a fielder's choice, though Mike Aviles's diving stop at short kept the damage to one.
"Captian America" tacked on another RBI in the fifth, as his single scored Jimmy Rollins, who singled leading off the inning, to make it 3-0. The lead was stretched to 4-0 in the seventh when Adam Jones singled to center, scoring Eric Hosmer.
About the only threat Puerto Rico could muster was in the eighth, and even then they only scored one run. Miami's own Steve Cishek beaned Jesus Feliciano leading off. That brought in David Hernandez, who gave up a double to Eddie Rosario and an RBI groundout to Angel Pagan. Alex Rios popped up to end the inning.
The bottom of the eighth is when the US took over for good, as has been the case during this three-game winning streak. Rollins and Braun singled, then Mauer took another walk. Wright smacked a three-run double to deep center, blowing the game open at 7-1.
Craig Kimbel put the cherry on top by getting Aviles to ground into a game ending double play.
Two things are becoming quite apparent as this tournament rolls on. One, if the opposing team wants to win, they need to grab an early lead and build on it. Two, the US gets more comfortable at the plate as the game progresses, so you can count on some runs late in the game. In other words, to beat the US, you better build a big enough lead to withstand a late charge.
And while you're at it, you might want to avoid pitching to Wright, even if men are on base. Of course, that's kinda hard if the bases are loaded, but you get my point. Through four games, "Captain America" is hitting .438 with a 1.276 OPS and 10 RBIs. The RBIs are tops in the tourney. Right now the Mets actually look like a brilliant team for once, as they clearly have the right guy to build around. At the plate and with the leather, he's been awesome.
What's nearly forgotten in this one is the great start by Gonzalez, who pitched five shutout innings, striking out five. His stuff looked very sharp, too, which isn't exactly good news for the rest of the league. Kudos to the bullpen as well. We all know that the pitch counts turns these games into bullpen affairs as the game wears on, and the US looks more than ready for that.
When the WBC is all said and done, we may look back on Thursday's matchup as the biggest game. The Domincan Republic boasts and undefeated record, plus studs like Robinson Cano, Hanley Ramirez, and Jose Reyes. The US is getting better and better each game. That's going to be fun to watch.
Joe Torre will turn to R.A. Dickey, who is definitely looking to bounce back after a subpar performance in a loss to Mexico. Puerto Rico goes with Samuel Deduno, who is mostly a middle reliever with the Twins, rather than Wandy Rodiguez, who is not on his regular rest. The winner earns a ticket to San Francisco, the loser plays Friday against the winner of Italy and Puerto Rico.
Monday, March 11, 2013
USA battles back and battles onto round 2
For the third straight game, the US found themselves in an early hole, and down by one entering the eighth inning against Canada.
Two mighty swings by Adam Jones and Eric Hosmer later, it's onto the next round against Puerto Rico.
Pac Man hit a one-out, two-run double to put the US up one, and Hosmer's bases clearing double in the ninth put the icing on the cake in a 9-4 victory. It certainly wasn't easy, as the US had to play catchup once again, but found a way to get it done for the second straight day.
In a sign of the times, the US gave the ball to Derek Holland in a win-or-go-home scenario, which shows just how many other pitchers decided to skip this tournament. Nothing against Holland, but he doesn't exactly ring of "shut down pitcher" when a win is needed.
A major reason Holland was held off until Sunday was due to the lefty-heavy Canadian lineup. That worked for a couple of innings, but the third was different. Justin Morneau led off with a double, and Michael Saunders, who hit just about as well as you possibly could in this tournament, cranked a two-run shot to right, making it 2-0.
What's probably lost in all of this is that Canada had runners on the corners with nobody out, yet Holland wiggled out of trouble unharmed. In fact, those were the only two runs he gave up in five strong innings. So give the boy some credit, he pitched a solid game.
In the fourth, the US got those runs back, with a little help from the other team. Joe Mauer singled leading off and David Wright walked. Ben Zobrist got the surprising start in right, and his bunt single led to a ball thrown away at first, bringing in Mauer. A sac-fly RBI by Jones later, it was 2-2.
Things stayed even until Canada plated one against Glen Perkins in the sixth. Joey Votto walked and Morneau singled to start the inning, but Perkins got the next two. Adam Loewen had a great at-bat by battling off many pitches before hitting an RBI single, putting his team back up 3-2.
The pressure was definitely on the US in the eighth, especially after blowing two runners in scoring position with one out the previous inning. Mauer and Wright again singled and walked to start things up, but this time Zobrist popped up a bunt, which was horrible execution. Fortunately, that's when Jones found his power with his two-run double, grabbing the lead at 4-3. Shane Victorino added an RBI single, and it was now 5-3.
David Hernandez was summoned to shut down the eighth... which is precisely what he didn't do. He didn't give up the lead at least, but sure made it interesting. Votto, Saunders, and Chris Robinson all singled to load 'em up. Loewen grounded one into the hole between first and second, which is where Brandon Phillips made a fantastic diving stop to get an out, allowing only one run to score. Steve Cishek came in, walked Pete Orr intentionally, and got Tim Smith grounding out to end the threat.
With only a one-run cushion, the US went to work in the ninth. Phillips led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Jonathan Lucroy, hitting in Mauer's spot. Closer Jonathan Axford came in to keep it at two runs down, but that's when Hosmer ripped hit three-run double with two outs, blowing the game wide open.
Just for fun, Joe Torre sent in a well-rested Craig Kimbrel to put the cherry on top, freezing Votto to end the game.
The final score doesn't do justice to just how close a game this was for 95% of it. Give Canada lots of credit for going pitch-for-pitch and nearly pulling off the upset. The US just had too much muscle for them, and it didn't come out until late.
It's hard to imagine just how much flak the US would have received if they didn't get those big swings late in the game, but thankfully for them they don't have to worry about it. There's no doubt Torre would have been blamed for sitting Giancarlo Stanton and starting Zobrist and Victorino for the first time. Heck, he's getting heat for that now even with the win.
Stanton didn't get a hit in the first two games, but he has such massive power, I was fully expecting to see him back in there on Sunday, maybe just a bit lower in the order. Nothing against Zobrist, who did get three hits, but I would think Stanton will start in his home park on Tuesday and beyond.
Let's give the US their props for fighting from behind two games in a row, even if the talent on the other side of the field doesn't nearly match their roster. They still had to get the job done facing the pressure of being a laughingstock, quite frankly, and they did. So kudos to them.
Next up is Puerto Rico, with Italy taking on the Dominican Republic in the other half of the bracket. Gio Gonzalez will go in the first game, and R.A. Dickey will look to redeem himself by going whenever the second game may be.
Two mighty swings by Adam Jones and Eric Hosmer later, it's onto the next round against Puerto Rico.
Pac Man hit a one-out, two-run double to put the US up one, and Hosmer's bases clearing double in the ninth put the icing on the cake in a 9-4 victory. It certainly wasn't easy, as the US had to play catchup once again, but found a way to get it done for the second straight day.
In a sign of the times, the US gave the ball to Derek Holland in a win-or-go-home scenario, which shows just how many other pitchers decided to skip this tournament. Nothing against Holland, but he doesn't exactly ring of "shut down pitcher" when a win is needed.
A major reason Holland was held off until Sunday was due to the lefty-heavy Canadian lineup. That worked for a couple of innings, but the third was different. Justin Morneau led off with a double, and Michael Saunders, who hit just about as well as you possibly could in this tournament, cranked a two-run shot to right, making it 2-0.
What's probably lost in all of this is that Canada had runners on the corners with nobody out, yet Holland wiggled out of trouble unharmed. In fact, those were the only two runs he gave up in five strong innings. So give the boy some credit, he pitched a solid game.
In the fourth, the US got those runs back, with a little help from the other team. Joe Mauer singled leading off and David Wright walked. Ben Zobrist got the surprising start in right, and his bunt single led to a ball thrown away at first, bringing in Mauer. A sac-fly RBI by Jones later, it was 2-2.
Things stayed even until Canada plated one against Glen Perkins in the sixth. Joey Votto walked and Morneau singled to start the inning, but Perkins got the next two. Adam Loewen had a great at-bat by battling off many pitches before hitting an RBI single, putting his team back up 3-2.
The pressure was definitely on the US in the eighth, especially after blowing two runners in scoring position with one out the previous inning. Mauer and Wright again singled and walked to start things up, but this time Zobrist popped up a bunt, which was horrible execution. Fortunately, that's when Jones found his power with his two-run double, grabbing the lead at 4-3. Shane Victorino added an RBI single, and it was now 5-3.
David Hernandez was summoned to shut down the eighth... which is precisely what he didn't do. He didn't give up the lead at least, but sure made it interesting. Votto, Saunders, and Chris Robinson all singled to load 'em up. Loewen grounded one into the hole between first and second, which is where Brandon Phillips made a fantastic diving stop to get an out, allowing only one run to score. Steve Cishek came in, walked Pete Orr intentionally, and got Tim Smith grounding out to end the threat.
With only a one-run cushion, the US went to work in the ninth. Phillips led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Jonathan Lucroy, hitting in Mauer's spot. Closer Jonathan Axford came in to keep it at two runs down, but that's when Hosmer ripped hit three-run double with two outs, blowing the game wide open.
Just for fun, Joe Torre sent in a well-rested Craig Kimbrel to put the cherry on top, freezing Votto to end the game.
The final score doesn't do justice to just how close a game this was for 95% of it. Give Canada lots of credit for going pitch-for-pitch and nearly pulling off the upset. The US just had too much muscle for them, and it didn't come out until late.
It's hard to imagine just how much flak the US would have received if they didn't get those big swings late in the game, but thankfully for them they don't have to worry about it. There's no doubt Torre would have been blamed for sitting Giancarlo Stanton and starting Zobrist and Victorino for the first time. Heck, he's getting heat for that now even with the win.
Stanton didn't get a hit in the first two games, but he has such massive power, I was fully expecting to see him back in there on Sunday, maybe just a bit lower in the order. Nothing against Zobrist, who did get three hits, but I would think Stanton will start in his home park on Tuesday and beyond.
Let's give the US their props for fighting from behind two games in a row, even if the talent on the other side of the field doesn't nearly match their roster. They still had to get the job done facing the pressure of being a laughingstock, quite frankly, and they did. So kudos to them.
Next up is Puerto Rico, with Italy taking on the Dominican Republic in the other half of the bracket. Gio Gonzalez will go in the first game, and R.A. Dickey will look to redeem himself by going whenever the second game may be.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The battle for the fifth starter
While plenty of Dodgers contribute to their team's success in the World Baseball Classic, back in Arizona, the Dodgers are still trying to figure out who will round out the starting rotation. Assuming that Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley, and Josh Beckett are the first four, let's take a look at the men in contention for the last slot.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
3 games (2 starts), 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP
I still contend that the Dodgers didn't sign Ryu just have him pitch out of the bullpen, but let's assume that nothing is etched in stone. As you can see, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for him, as evidenced by his high ERA and WHIP. What's definitely encouraging are his low walks and high strikeouts, a sign that the control is there. You have to cut him some slack to get adjusted to US hitters, so I think he'll be fine and get a rotation spot.
Chris Capuano
2 games (1 start), 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 10.80 ERA, 1.60 WHIP
These numbers come with a giant asterisk, as he went four innings against the Reds on Friday before rain washed out all the numbers. In that start, he gave up only one run on two hits, striking out three. Add it all up, his ERA should be 7.00, which isn't great, but a heck of a lot better than 10.80. He showed the Dodgers' brass last season how effective he can be at the start of the season with a fresh arm, so he still has a great chance of cracking the rotation. If his fragile arm can handle it, perhaps he'd be used out the bullpen as insurance against an injury to start the season as well.
Aaron Harang
2 games (2 starts), 5 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 10.80 ERA, 2.80 WHIP
There's really no other way of saying this, but Harang has stunk so far. Yes, it's only two starts, but he's really put himself in a hole with numbers like that. Here's another eye-popping stat: teams are hitting .440 against him. Yikes! At this point he sure looks like the odd man out, as reports surfaced that the Orioles and Brewers scouted him recently. I'd be surprised if he sticks around the Dodgers much longer, but as they well know, injuries can strike at any time, so maybe they'll keep him around a little while longer just in case.
Ted Lilly
1 game (no starts), 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 4.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP
It's hard to really evaluate Lilly at this point, as his first official start was scratched earlier in the week because of the flu. He's practically the forgotten man at this point, as he missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury, and would appear to have to do something special to get that fifth slot. I don't like his chances at all, but because of his solid track record starting, maybe he can impress the rest of March.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
3 games (2 starts), 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP
I still contend that the Dodgers didn't sign Ryu just have him pitch out of the bullpen, but let's assume that nothing is etched in stone. As you can see, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for him, as evidenced by his high ERA and WHIP. What's definitely encouraging are his low walks and high strikeouts, a sign that the control is there. You have to cut him some slack to get adjusted to US hitters, so I think he'll be fine and get a rotation spot.
Chris Capuano
2 games (1 start), 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 10.80 ERA, 1.60 WHIP
These numbers come with a giant asterisk, as he went four innings against the Reds on Friday before rain washed out all the numbers. In that start, he gave up only one run on two hits, striking out three. Add it all up, his ERA should be 7.00, which isn't great, but a heck of a lot better than 10.80. He showed the Dodgers' brass last season how effective he can be at the start of the season with a fresh arm, so he still has a great chance of cracking the rotation. If his fragile arm can handle it, perhaps he'd be used out the bullpen as insurance against an injury to start the season as well.
Aaron Harang
2 games (2 starts), 5 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 10.80 ERA, 2.80 WHIP
There's really no other way of saying this, but Harang has stunk so far. Yes, it's only two starts, but he's really put himself in a hole with numbers like that. Here's another eye-popping stat: teams are hitting .440 against him. Yikes! At this point he sure looks like the odd man out, as reports surfaced that the Orioles and Brewers scouted him recently. I'd be surprised if he sticks around the Dodgers much longer, but as they well know, injuries can strike at any time, so maybe they'll keep him around a little while longer just in case.
Ted Lilly
1 game (no starts), 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 4.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP
It's hard to really evaluate Lilly at this point, as his first official start was scratched earlier in the week because of the flu. He's practically the forgotten man at this point, as he missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury, and would appear to have to do something special to get that fifth slot. I don't like his chances at all, but because of his solid track record starting, maybe he can impress the rest of March.
Wright's granny leads USA's surge over Italy
In a must-win situation, the US turned to their team leader to get things going.
David Wright turned a 2-2 game into a four-run lead with a grand slam in the fifth, and the US never looked back in beating Italy, 6-2. After being down 2-0, it sure looked as if the US would be two and out, but alas, that was not the case.
Ryan Vogelsong of the world champion Giants (that's tough for me to type as a Dodger fan, but hey, I'm trying to be objective here, so go with it!) got he start. Like R.A. Dickey the night before, he immediately found himself in trouble. Nick Punto (Dodger property!) singled leading off, and after advancing to third with two outs, scored on a wild pitch.
Unlike the US has done for much of this tournament, Italy was able to make some noise with two outs. In the second, Tyler LaTorre singled and scored on Anthony Granato's RBI double over Adam Jones's head in center, making it 2-0.
That would be all the scoring Italy would do on this night, and it took until the fourth for the US to finally push a run across. Ryan Braun singled leading off, and cleanup hitter Joe Mauer's RBI double cut the deficit to 2-1.
Vogelsong struck out the side to end the fourth, and that set up a big fifth for the US. It all started on a walk, as Pac Man started the surge. Jonathan Lucroy, the #9 hitter, singled to put two on, and chasing Italy starter Marco Grifantini in the process.
After Jimmy Rollins popped up on a bad swing, Brandon Phillips lined an RBI single to tie the game at 2. With two outs, a walk to Mauer loaded 'em up for Wright, who deposited a 410 foot shot into left center to make it 6-2.
From there, Joe Torre turned the ball over to his bullpen, as the combination of Jeremy Affeldt (scoreless inning) and Ross Detwiler (four scoreless innings) allowed only two baserunners the rest of the way, striking out four. Detwiler picked up the save.
Needless to say, Wright's mighty swing relaxed everybody associated with the US, and allowed them to finally exhale as well. It's hard to accurately point out who the clear star on this team is (ala Joey Votto and Justin Morneau of Canada), but Wright seems to embrace that role. It's no surprise he does, as he's the clear leader of a Mets roster full of questionable talent to say the least.
This is the type of win that allowed the US to show how dominant they can be, from getting the big home run to shutting the game down in the final innings. Detwiler is a starter with the Nationals, so to be able to turn the ball over to him for multiple innings of relief is huge. Plus, only three pitchers were used, giving Torre plenty of arms for the finale against Canada on Sunday.
Speaking of Canada, they have to consider themselves very lucky that nobody is suspended for today's winner-take-all game. That was a pretty ugly brawl against Italy, with about the only positive that nobody got hurt (that we know of anyway). Hey, I love Luis Cruz, but that was just plain wrong of him to tell his pitcher to bean somebody. He's got to be smarter than that.
Anyway, Derek Holland will get the ball for the US today. He'll be opposed by young Jamison Taillon of the Pirates' organization, aka the guy drafted after Bryce Harper. With high stakes for both teams, it should be a fun one to watch.
David Wright turned a 2-2 game into a four-run lead with a grand slam in the fifth, and the US never looked back in beating Italy, 6-2. After being down 2-0, it sure looked as if the US would be two and out, but alas, that was not the case.
Ryan Vogelsong of the world champion Giants (that's tough for me to type as a Dodger fan, but hey, I'm trying to be objective here, so go with it!) got he start. Like R.A. Dickey the night before, he immediately found himself in trouble. Nick Punto (Dodger property!) singled leading off, and after advancing to third with two outs, scored on a wild pitch.
Unlike the US has done for much of this tournament, Italy was able to make some noise with two outs. In the second, Tyler LaTorre singled and scored on Anthony Granato's RBI double over Adam Jones's head in center, making it 2-0.
That would be all the scoring Italy would do on this night, and it took until the fourth for the US to finally push a run across. Ryan Braun singled leading off, and cleanup hitter Joe Mauer's RBI double cut the deficit to 2-1.
Vogelsong struck out the side to end the fourth, and that set up a big fifth for the US. It all started on a walk, as Pac Man started the surge. Jonathan Lucroy, the #9 hitter, singled to put two on, and chasing Italy starter Marco Grifantini in the process.
After Jimmy Rollins popped up on a bad swing, Brandon Phillips lined an RBI single to tie the game at 2. With two outs, a walk to Mauer loaded 'em up for Wright, who deposited a 410 foot shot into left center to make it 6-2.
From there, Joe Torre turned the ball over to his bullpen, as the combination of Jeremy Affeldt (scoreless inning) and Ross Detwiler (four scoreless innings) allowed only two baserunners the rest of the way, striking out four. Detwiler picked up the save.
Needless to say, Wright's mighty swing relaxed everybody associated with the US, and allowed them to finally exhale as well. It's hard to accurately point out who the clear star on this team is (ala Joey Votto and Justin Morneau of Canada), but Wright seems to embrace that role. It's no surprise he does, as he's the clear leader of a Mets roster full of questionable talent to say the least.
This is the type of win that allowed the US to show how dominant they can be, from getting the big home run to shutting the game down in the final innings. Detwiler is a starter with the Nationals, so to be able to turn the ball over to him for multiple innings of relief is huge. Plus, only three pitchers were used, giving Torre plenty of arms for the finale against Canada on Sunday.
Speaking of Canada, they have to consider themselves very lucky that nobody is suspended for today's winner-take-all game. That was a pretty ugly brawl against Italy, with about the only positive that nobody got hurt (that we know of anyway). Hey, I love Luis Cruz, but that was just plain wrong of him to tell his pitcher to bean somebody. He's got to be smarter than that.
Anyway, Derek Holland will get the ball for the US today. He'll be opposed by young Jamison Taillon of the Pirates' organization, aka the guy drafted after Bryce Harper. With high stakes for both teams, it should be a fun one to watch.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
For USA, the heat is on
If you're a big follower of the World Baseball Classic, you can't help but have that "Here we go again" feeling after Friday night's game.
Even without big names like Justin Verlander and Matt Kemp, the US is still considered one of the strong favorites to take home the WBC title. And just like the previous couple of tournaments, they find themselves searching for answers after another disappointing performance.
This time it was to Mexico, as the Dodgers' duo of Adrian Gonzalez and Luis Cruz drove in all five runs, and R.A. Dickey never was able to get on track in the 5-2 loss. Mexico evens up their record at 1-1 after suffering their own letdown against Italy the day before. As for the US, they find themselves in a must-win situation against Italy on Saturday with an 0-1 mark.
Manager Joe Torre had to like his chances coming into Friday's game, as the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Dickey took the mound. Mexico countered with the Brewers' Yovanni Gallardo, who came into this one with a sore groin. Even at full health, it would still be an advantage for the US.
On the very first pitch of the game, Eduardo Arredondo singled into center as a sign of things to come. Romiro Pena followed with a double, and runners were in scoring position. Cruz and Gonzalez had productive outs by getting both runners in, and the US was already in a hole at 2-0.
Things didn't get much better from there, as the US went down in order in the first, and then David Wright grounded into a double play the next inning. After Arredondo against singled leading off the third, Gonzalez cranked a two-run shot to dead center that held up on replay to make it 4-0.
It's not that the US didn't have chances to score, they just did jack squat with them. They managed to get one back in the fourth, as Jimmy Rollins singled leading off, and Wright hit a two-out RBI single to make it 4-1. Mexico got that right back in the fifth on another sac-fly RBI from Cruz.
In both the fifth and sixth, the US wasted more opportunities to score by putting two runners on with less than two outs. They did cut the deficit to 5-2 in the eighth, as Ryan Braun's bloop double leading off led to a bloop RBI single by Eric Hosmer.
The question of the night seemed to be whether the Giants' Sergio Romo would be used after blowing a save on 26 pitches against Italy the night before. It looked doubtful, but with their backs against the wall, there he was in the ninth. There was no drama, as Adam Jones, Jonathan Lucroy, and Rollins went down quietly.
As was pointed out in the game by announcers Matt Vasgersian and Jim Kaat, the US is in a bit of no-win situation. If they win, they're supposed to. If they lose, it's a big disappointment. After watching them leave eight on base, six of them with two outs in scoring position, and have their ace get roughed up in only four innings of work, it's definitely a disappointment no matter how you slice it.
So now the pressure is on. If the US can beat a hot Italy team and take care of an inferior Canadian team on Sunday, then this game is forgotten. If they fail to even advance to the second round, that would not be pretty. It's hard to say how ugly it would get considering how this tournament isn't held in the same regard as the Olympics, but since there is no Olympic baseball anymore, maybe it is a big deal. Who knows.
All the US can do is relax and play. I can't imagine a lineup featuring studs like Braun, Wright, Joe Mauer, Brandon Phillips, and Jones will be shut down like this again. Italy and Canada don't have nearly the pitching to throw at them like Mexico can. As long as these guys don't try to hit a home run every at-bat and do the little things, they'll be fine.
If they do fold under the pressure of a must-win game, it's another bad chapter in the WBC history for the United States.
Even without big names like Justin Verlander and Matt Kemp, the US is still considered one of the strong favorites to take home the WBC title. And just like the previous couple of tournaments, they find themselves searching for answers after another disappointing performance.
This time it was to Mexico, as the Dodgers' duo of Adrian Gonzalez and Luis Cruz drove in all five runs, and R.A. Dickey never was able to get on track in the 5-2 loss. Mexico evens up their record at 1-1 after suffering their own letdown against Italy the day before. As for the US, they find themselves in a must-win situation against Italy on Saturday with an 0-1 mark.
Manager Joe Torre had to like his chances coming into Friday's game, as the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Dickey took the mound. Mexico countered with the Brewers' Yovanni Gallardo, who came into this one with a sore groin. Even at full health, it would still be an advantage for the US.
On the very first pitch of the game, Eduardo Arredondo singled into center as a sign of things to come. Romiro Pena followed with a double, and runners were in scoring position. Cruz and Gonzalez had productive outs by getting both runners in, and the US was already in a hole at 2-0.
Things didn't get much better from there, as the US went down in order in the first, and then David Wright grounded into a double play the next inning. After Arredondo against singled leading off the third, Gonzalez cranked a two-run shot to dead center that held up on replay to make it 4-0.
It's not that the US didn't have chances to score, they just did jack squat with them. They managed to get one back in the fourth, as Jimmy Rollins singled leading off, and Wright hit a two-out RBI single to make it 4-1. Mexico got that right back in the fifth on another sac-fly RBI from Cruz.
In both the fifth and sixth, the US wasted more opportunities to score by putting two runners on with less than two outs. They did cut the deficit to 5-2 in the eighth, as Ryan Braun's bloop double leading off led to a bloop RBI single by Eric Hosmer.
The question of the night seemed to be whether the Giants' Sergio Romo would be used after blowing a save on 26 pitches against Italy the night before. It looked doubtful, but with their backs against the wall, there he was in the ninth. There was no drama, as Adam Jones, Jonathan Lucroy, and Rollins went down quietly.
As was pointed out in the game by announcers Matt Vasgersian and Jim Kaat, the US is in a bit of no-win situation. If they win, they're supposed to. If they lose, it's a big disappointment. After watching them leave eight on base, six of them with two outs in scoring position, and have their ace get roughed up in only four innings of work, it's definitely a disappointment no matter how you slice it.
So now the pressure is on. If the US can beat a hot Italy team and take care of an inferior Canadian team on Sunday, then this game is forgotten. If they fail to even advance to the second round, that would not be pretty. It's hard to say how ugly it would get considering how this tournament isn't held in the same regard as the Olympics, but since there is no Olympic baseball anymore, maybe it is a big deal. Who knows.
All the US can do is relax and play. I can't imagine a lineup featuring studs like Braun, Wright, Joe Mauer, Brandon Phillips, and Jones will be shut down like this again. Italy and Canada don't have nearly the pitching to throw at them like Mexico can. As long as these guys don't try to hit a home run every at-bat and do the little things, they'll be fine.
If they do fold under the pressure of a must-win game, it's another bad chapter in the WBC history for the United States.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Kershaw gives up two, and should be cut
Kidding, of course. Just wanted to see if y'all are paying attention to a Spring Training post.
Nonetheless, the Cactus League opener didn't exactly go as planned for the Dodgers, as they were whipped by their Camelback Ranch partners the White Sox, 9-0. Both teams go at it again on Sunday.
Kershaw pitched the opening two innings, surrendering two runs on four hits, striking out three. He was done in by RBI doubles from Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham in innings one and two, respectively.
Ronald Belisario followed that up by also giving up a couple, as he loaded the bases with nobody out in the third before Dayan Viciedo stroked a two-run single, making it 4-0. The White Sox added more runs here and there, with Kelvin De La Cruz and Gregory Infante each giving up two as well.
On the flip side, the offensive fun was not shared by the Dodgers, as they gathered three hits the whole day. Here's the kicker - Juan Freakin' Uribe got the first hit of the season with a single. Oh, the irony! Andre Ethier tripled later in the game.
Obviously these games mean a big pile of nothing, and with Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford still working their way back into shape, it'll be awhile before we see anything close to a regular lineup. Here's to hoping it happens sooner rather than later.
Nonetheless, the Cactus League opener didn't exactly go as planned for the Dodgers, as they were whipped by their Camelback Ranch partners the White Sox, 9-0. Both teams go at it again on Sunday.
Kershaw pitched the opening two innings, surrendering two runs on four hits, striking out three. He was done in by RBI doubles from Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham in innings one and two, respectively.
Ronald Belisario followed that up by also giving up a couple, as he loaded the bases with nobody out in the third before Dayan Viciedo stroked a two-run single, making it 4-0. The White Sox added more runs here and there, with Kelvin De La Cruz and Gregory Infante each giving up two as well.
On the flip side, the offensive fun was not shared by the Dodgers, as they gathered three hits the whole day. Here's the kicker - Juan Freakin' Uribe got the first hit of the season with a single. Oh, the irony! Andre Ethier tripled later in the game.
Obviously these games mean a big pile of nothing, and with Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford still working their way back into shape, it'll be awhile before we see anything close to a regular lineup. Here's to hoping it happens sooner rather than later.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
2013 Dodgers fantasy rankings
Football is over, the NBA season is over (if you're a Lakers' fan like me), and pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training. And with all of that, the return of fantasy baseball is on the horizon.
The following is a list of rankings from two major sites (ESPN and MLB) for players from the Dodgers, along with my thoughts. Each ranking is based on the specific position, not overall.
AJ Ellis, Catcher
ESPN - 22
MLB - 17
Thoughts? Ellis was a solid hitter in the first half of last season, but clearly wore down after that. With a season under his belt, perhaps he'll be a little stronger over the long haul to put up decent numbers.
Adrian Gonzalez, First Base
ESPN - 7
MLB - 6
Thoughts? There's obvious concerns that he's slowing down, as he failed to put up much of any power numbers with the Dodgers after the trade from Boston. But he's clearly the man in the heart of the order, so opportunities will be there.
Mark Ellis, Second Base
ESPN - 27
MLB - 32
Thougths? A good player on the field, but that doesn't really translate into fantasyland.
Hanley Ramirez, Shortstop
ESPN - 2
MLB - 2
Thoughts? This could be more of a reflection of not much competition beside him. Like Gonzalez, there's concerns that his best days are behind him. If he can turn it around, he can hit for power and run, which is coveted in the fantasy world. One big bonus is that he ranks highly at third base, too (5 and 4).
Luis Cruz, Third Base
ESPN - unranked
MLB - 33
Thoughts? Has shown pop, now needs to show he's not a flash in the pan. Will be given the opportunity to stay on the field, though.
Carl Crawford, Outfield
ESPN - 41
MLB - 33
Thougths? It all comes down to the elbow injury. If healthy, he can run and score lots of runs. If not, it could be a long season.
Matt Kemp, Outfield
ESPN - 4
MLB - 3
Thoughts? The last time he stayed healthy for a full season, he was clearly the top player in baseball with unbelievable numbers. Let's hope the shoulder is healed so he can show it again.
Andre Ethier, Outfield
ESPN - 42
MLB - 37
Thoughts? A solid, but not spectacular hitter. Can get hits, but not much in the line of consistent power.
Clayton Kershaw, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 2
MLB - 2
Thoughts? Damn you, Justin Verlander! But seriously, to be ranked right behind that guy is no shame at all.
Zack Greinke, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 10
MLB - 10
Thoughts? Could be an adjustment period, but should settle in quite nicely in Dodger Stadium and the NL West as the season progresses.
Josh Beckett, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 66
MLB - 46
Thoughts? I think he can rank much higher than this, as he was undoubtedly a better pitcher once he came to LA. I'm looking forward to a full season in Dodger blue from him.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - unranked
MLB - 90
Thoughts? He's understandably an unknown at this point. I expect him to earn a spot in the rotation, and have success as well.
Chad Billingsley, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 75
MLB - 83
Thoughts? Like some others, it all comes down to health. He's a concern when even slightly hurt, as he's as inconsistent from one inning to the next as they come.
Chris Capuano, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 69
MLB - 47
Thoughts? It's hard to know right now if he'll even be a starter, so drafting him is risky. Wore down in the second half of last season, but with a fresh arm, was a very good starter.
Kenley Jansen, Relief Pitcher
ESPN - 25
MLB - 39
Thoughts? Much like last year when he was right behind Javy Guerra, his ranking is based on the belief that he'll soon be closing again. Can't argue with his numbers, but without the save opportunities, owners will either have to be very patient or shy away completely.
Brandon League, Relief Pitcher
ESPN - 32
MLB - 29
Thoughts? He's being paid to close, and did very well in September of last year once he adjusted after the trade from Seattle. Has the experience of closing, so it could work. If he has a slump, however, it's Jansen time.
The following is a list of rankings from two major sites (ESPN and MLB) for players from the Dodgers, along with my thoughts. Each ranking is based on the specific position, not overall.
AJ Ellis, Catcher
ESPN - 22
MLB - 17
Thoughts? Ellis was a solid hitter in the first half of last season, but clearly wore down after that. With a season under his belt, perhaps he'll be a little stronger over the long haul to put up decent numbers.
Adrian Gonzalez, First Base
ESPN - 7
MLB - 6
Thoughts? There's obvious concerns that he's slowing down, as he failed to put up much of any power numbers with the Dodgers after the trade from Boston. But he's clearly the man in the heart of the order, so opportunities will be there.
Mark Ellis, Second Base
ESPN - 27
MLB - 32
Thougths? A good player on the field, but that doesn't really translate into fantasyland.
Hanley Ramirez, Shortstop
ESPN - 2
MLB - 2
Thoughts? This could be more of a reflection of not much competition beside him. Like Gonzalez, there's concerns that his best days are behind him. If he can turn it around, he can hit for power and run, which is coveted in the fantasy world. One big bonus is that he ranks highly at third base, too (5 and 4).
Luis Cruz, Third Base
ESPN - unranked
MLB - 33
Thoughts? Has shown pop, now needs to show he's not a flash in the pan. Will be given the opportunity to stay on the field, though.
Carl Crawford, Outfield
ESPN - 41
MLB - 33
Thougths? It all comes down to the elbow injury. If healthy, he can run and score lots of runs. If not, it could be a long season.
Matt Kemp, Outfield
ESPN - 4
MLB - 3
Thoughts? The last time he stayed healthy for a full season, he was clearly the top player in baseball with unbelievable numbers. Let's hope the shoulder is healed so he can show it again.
Andre Ethier, Outfield
ESPN - 42
MLB - 37
Thoughts? A solid, but not spectacular hitter. Can get hits, but not much in the line of consistent power.
Clayton Kershaw, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 2
MLB - 2
Thoughts? Damn you, Justin Verlander! But seriously, to be ranked right behind that guy is no shame at all.
Zack Greinke, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 10
MLB - 10
Thoughts? Could be an adjustment period, but should settle in quite nicely in Dodger Stadium and the NL West as the season progresses.
Josh Beckett, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 66
MLB - 46
Thoughts? I think he can rank much higher than this, as he was undoubtedly a better pitcher once he came to LA. I'm looking forward to a full season in Dodger blue from him.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - unranked
MLB - 90
Thoughts? He's understandably an unknown at this point. I expect him to earn a spot in the rotation, and have success as well.
Chad Billingsley, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 75
MLB - 83
Thoughts? Like some others, it all comes down to health. He's a concern when even slightly hurt, as he's as inconsistent from one inning to the next as they come.
Chris Capuano, Starting Pitcher
ESPN - 69
MLB - 47
Thoughts? It's hard to know right now if he'll even be a starter, so drafting him is risky. Wore down in the second half of last season, but with a fresh arm, was a very good starter.
Kenley Jansen, Relief Pitcher
ESPN - 25
MLB - 39
Thoughts? Much like last year when he was right behind Javy Guerra, his ranking is based on the belief that he'll soon be closing again. Can't argue with his numbers, but without the save opportunities, owners will either have to be very patient or shy away completely.
Brandon League, Relief Pitcher
ESPN - 32
MLB - 29
Thoughts? He's being paid to close, and did very well in September of last year once he adjusted after the trade from Seattle. Has the experience of closing, so it could work. If he has a slump, however, it's Jansen time.
Monday, February 18, 2013
ESPN ranks Kershaw and Grienke as the top pitching duo
Using some very fancy advanced metrics (which I will freely admit can often times be way over my head), Paul Swydan of ESPN has ranked Clayton Kershaw and Zack Grienke as the top starting duo in all of baseball. (Note: link is for Insiders' members only).
Coming in right behind them are certainly some studs themselves: Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels of the Phillies, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer of the Tigers, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals, and Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson of the Angels.
There's no doubt that's an impressive list to top. It's also a bit of a guess, as obviously we have yet to see Greinke pitch in LA. He's pitched for that OTHER LA team, if you consider them as being from LA to begin with. You get the point.
There's a chart at the bottom of the page that shows the projected WAR of each pair, as Kershaw and Greinke check in at 10.4. To try to explain WAR for those of you not in the know, it stands for Wins Above Replacement, and basically shows how many more games a player would win for his team as opposed to a lesser player in the same spot.
We will soon find out how accurate such a list will be, but Dodger fans have to like their strong chances of winning every time these two guys toe the rubber. ESPN apparently likes them as well.
Coming in right behind them are certainly some studs themselves: Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels of the Phillies, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer of the Tigers, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals, and Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson of the Angels.
There's no doubt that's an impressive list to top. It's also a bit of a guess, as obviously we have yet to see Greinke pitch in LA. He's pitched for that OTHER LA team, if you consider them as being from LA to begin with. You get the point.
There's a chart at the bottom of the page that shows the projected WAR of each pair, as Kershaw and Greinke check in at 10.4. To try to explain WAR for those of you not in the know, it stands for Wins Above Replacement, and basically shows how many more games a player would win for his team as opposed to a lesser player in the same spot.
We will soon find out how accurate such a list will be, but Dodger fans have to like their strong chances of winning every time these two guys toe the rubber. ESPN apparently likes them as well.
The shock of shocks: Kershaw will go on Opening Day
Don Mattingly has already made his first "big" decision of the 2013 season. And by "big," I mean incredibly easy.
Clayton Kershaw will get his third consecutive start on Opening Day, going up against the world champion Giants at home April 1. He becomes the first Dodger to do so since Derek Lowe pulled the trick from 2005-2007. I don't recall those games going very well, and after some research, I'm right. He went 0-3 with loses to the Giants, Braves, and Brewers. Kershaw blanked the Giants 1-0 two years ago, and only lasted three innings of an eventual Dodgers' win over the Padres last year because of the flu.
Even with the acquisition of Zack Greinke, a former Cy Young Award winner with the Royals, there really was never any doubt that this is still Kersahw's team. He's the guy who wants the ball in the big spots, and busts his butt to be the best in the world every fifth day. Even Greinke can agree with that.
On a lesser note, Kershaw will also make the first start of the spring, as he takes on the White Sox on February 23.
Clayton Kershaw will get his third consecutive start on Opening Day, going up against the world champion Giants at home April 1. He becomes the first Dodger to do so since Derek Lowe pulled the trick from 2005-2007. I don't recall those games going very well, and after some research, I'm right. He went 0-3 with loses to the Giants, Braves, and Brewers. Kershaw blanked the Giants 1-0 two years ago, and only lasted three innings of an eventual Dodgers' win over the Padres last year because of the flu.
Even with the acquisition of Zack Greinke, a former Cy Young Award winner with the Royals, there really was never any doubt that this is still Kersahw's team. He's the guy who wants the ball in the big spots, and busts his butt to be the best in the world every fifth day. Even Greinke can agree with that.
On a lesser note, Kershaw will also make the first start of the spring, as he takes on the White Sox on February 23.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Bills has that good feeling
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| Hopefully this image won't happen again |
While the Dodgers have certainly made plenty of noise with their offseason spending spree, and more recently by announcing the launch of their own network, the injury bug remains a big question. In addition to the health of Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford, Chad Billingsley's tender elbow is an issue.
An issue that, according to the man himself, isn't one anymore.
In what should be considered good news (we hope), Billingsley recently was quoted as saying that he feels "absolutely great," as he was about to throw off the mound for the eighth time in the offseason on Friday night without any setbacks.
Considering that a partially torn elbow ligament usually requires the dreaded Tommy John surgery, this is great news... and equally scary as well.
For those of you who closely follow the Dodgers (and if you're not, what are you waiting for?), you should know that Bills hasn't exactly been honest about his health in the past. Last season, he went through a tough stretch in the summer before admitting to Don Mattingly that his elbow wasn't right. Some rest and relaxation did the trick, as he ran off six straight wins.
Of course, that was right before he was KO'd in August for good because of his creaky elbow. So the optimism for him going into the offseason wasn't exactly sky-high.
Rather than going under the knife, Bills chose to rest and receive patelet-rich plasma injections (don't ask me what that means because it's way too high-tech for me). It's encouraging that it seems to have been working, as he's been clocked as high as 94 mph back in October throwing simulated games.
The Dodgers already have plenty of starting pitching options. Clayton Kershaw is the ace, with Zack Greinke right behind. Then there's Josh Beckett and Hyun-jin Ryu, who are clearly established in the middle of the rotation. After that it's Ted Lilly, Aaron Harang, and Chris Capuano. There's been no movement on any of them yet, but it's hard to imagine all three staying with the Dodgers when the season starts.
The health of Billingsley will no doubt play a key role in the fate of the bottom three. Lilly is coming off of shoulder surgery, as his 2012 was practically non-existent, so who knows how ready he'll even be. Capuano has already undergone two TJ surgeries in the past, which means his left arm is always under some amount of pressure. Harang has shown the ability to start or go in long relief.
Pitchers and catchers are less than 10 days away from reporting to Spring Training, and all eyes will be on Billingsley. How he performs early in camp will go a long way in shaping the future of the pitching staff.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Elbert's 2013 season in serious doubt
For Scott Elbert, it's once again back to the old phrase of "one step forward, two steps back."
Elbert's fragile left elbow just endured it's second arthroscopic operation since September 19 on Wednesday. He'll begin a throwing program in six weeks, with Spring Training starting up in three.
Being out of action is no surprise for him, as he battled arm problem all through 2012. He did manage to pitch in 32 2/3 innings covering 43 games, good for a 2.20 ERA. In 2011, he gathered a 2.43 ERA in 33 1/3 innings.
Let's not forget about his personal issues that pretty much wiped away his entire 2010 season.
It's easy to see why the Dodgers like him with numbers in the mid-2's. On the other hand, it wouldn't be a surprise to eventually see them part ways with him, as staying on the field has proven to be a difficult task. Right now, missing the season appears to be speculation, but when you're talking elbow injuries, you're talking big chunks of time missed.
It's a good thing J.P. Howell was signed from Tampa Bay earlier this month, as he's clearly the #1 lefty in the bullpen. Elbert's loss could also be Paco Rodriguez's gain, as his 1.35 ERA in a short amount of time last season could easily earn him a trip back to LA.
Elbert's fragile left elbow just endured it's second arthroscopic operation since September 19 on Wednesday. He'll begin a throwing program in six weeks, with Spring Training starting up in three.
Being out of action is no surprise for him, as he battled arm problem all through 2012. He did manage to pitch in 32 2/3 innings covering 43 games, good for a 2.20 ERA. In 2011, he gathered a 2.43 ERA in 33 1/3 innings.
Let's not forget about his personal issues that pretty much wiped away his entire 2010 season.
It's easy to see why the Dodgers like him with numbers in the mid-2's. On the other hand, it wouldn't be a surprise to eventually see them part ways with him, as staying on the field has proven to be a difficult task. Right now, missing the season appears to be speculation, but when you're talking elbow injuries, you're talking big chunks of time missed.
It's a good thing J.P. Howell was signed from Tampa Bay earlier this month, as he's clearly the #1 lefty in the bullpen. Elbert's loss could also be Paco Rodriguez's gain, as his 1.35 ERA in a short amount of time last season could easily earn him a trip back to LA.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Minors deals for Flores and Moylan
The Dodgers signed a couple of minor league deals on Wednesday, bringing in catcher Jesus Flores and right-handed reliever Peter Moylan.
Flores spent five seasons with the Nationals, though he's more known for racking up injuries than hits. He has a career .241 average, and last season hit a mere .213 in 83 games. Shoulder injuries KO'd him for the entire 2010 season, so he's obviously trying to prove he can stay healthy and contribute.
Looking at the Dodgers' catching situation, it's easy to see why Flores thinks he has a chance. A.J. Ellis is the starter, and after a red-hot start to 2012, he really came back to Earth in the second half. Tim Federowicz is the backup, and he's largely unproven. A good spring and a healthy body could be the ticket for Flores.
Speaking of injuries, there's Peter Moylan. He's appeared in 295 games since 2006, but in four of those seasons he only saw the mound 15 times or less. The last two seasons saw him appear in 21 games combined thanks to shoulder injuries.
The good news is that a career 2.95 ERA and 1.29 WHIP give the Dodgers plenty of reasons to give him a chance. He's a side-arming righty, so it's obviously a different look than what hitters are used to. The Dodgers' bullpen is very crowded right now; ditto for their starting rotation. So the chances of him making the team appear slim, but who knows? The Dodgers have a way of reviving old pitchers, so maybe he'll be the latest to turn the trick.
Flores spent five seasons with the Nationals, though he's more known for racking up injuries than hits. He has a career .241 average, and last season hit a mere .213 in 83 games. Shoulder injuries KO'd him for the entire 2010 season, so he's obviously trying to prove he can stay healthy and contribute.
Looking at the Dodgers' catching situation, it's easy to see why Flores thinks he has a chance. A.J. Ellis is the starter, and after a red-hot start to 2012, he really came back to Earth in the second half. Tim Federowicz is the backup, and he's largely unproven. A good spring and a healthy body could be the ticket for Flores.
Speaking of injuries, there's Peter Moylan. He's appeared in 295 games since 2006, but in four of those seasons he only saw the mound 15 times or less. The last two seasons saw him appear in 21 games combined thanks to shoulder injuries.
The good news is that a career 2.95 ERA and 1.29 WHIP give the Dodgers plenty of reasons to give him a chance. He's a side-arming righty, so it's obviously a different look than what hitters are used to. The Dodgers' bullpen is very crowded right now; ditto for their starting rotation. So the chances of him making the team appear slim, but who knows? The Dodgers have a way of reviving old pitchers, so maybe he'll be the latest to turn the trick.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Lefty Howell bolsters the 'pen
One big item left on the offseason "To-Do" list was adding another southpaw in the bullpen. With Scott Elbert coming off of elbow surgery and Paco Rodriguez still rather inexperienced, the Dodgers needed an upgrade.
J.P. Howell could very well be that man.
The lefty reliever has jumped ship from Tampa Bay with a one-year, $2.85 million contract, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. There's more money to be made with performance bonuses, though those numbers are currently unknown.
Last season was a great one for Howell, which he certainly needed after a dreadful 2011, which followed missing the entire 2010 season with a torn labrum. In 2012, he appeared in 50 1/3 innings covering 55 games, tossing a 3.04 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. Most importantly, he was awesome against lefties, as he held the 99 batters he faced to a .200 AVG and only five extra-base hits.
That's welcome news for the Dodgers, as the NL West has some good sluggers from the left side. Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies, Yonder Alonso of the Padres, Jason Kubel and Miguel Montero of the Diamondbacks, and Brandon Belt of the Giants are the biggest threats. OK, so maybe Alonso and Belt are a bit of a stretch, but they both look like they could be good power hitters.
In my last post I discussed what I believe to be the 25-man roster right now, but with the Howell signing, that obviously bumps somebody out. If I have to take a guess, I'll go with Javy Guerra. That would leave Brandon League, Kenley Jansen, Ronald Belisario, and Matt Guerrier from the right side, and Chris Capuano (if he's not traded, which is a strong possibility), Elbert, and Howell from the left side.
J.P. Howell could very well be that man.
The lefty reliever has jumped ship from Tampa Bay with a one-year, $2.85 million contract, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. There's more money to be made with performance bonuses, though those numbers are currently unknown.
Last season was a great one for Howell, which he certainly needed after a dreadful 2011, which followed missing the entire 2010 season with a torn labrum. In 2012, he appeared in 50 1/3 innings covering 55 games, tossing a 3.04 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. Most importantly, he was awesome against lefties, as he held the 99 batters he faced to a .200 AVG and only five extra-base hits.
That's welcome news for the Dodgers, as the NL West has some good sluggers from the left side. Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies, Yonder Alonso of the Padres, Jason Kubel and Miguel Montero of the Diamondbacks, and Brandon Belt of the Giants are the biggest threats. OK, so maybe Alonso and Belt are a bit of a stretch, but they both look like they could be good power hitters.
In my last post I discussed what I believe to be the 25-man roster right now, but with the Howell signing, that obviously bumps somebody out. If I have to take a guess, I'll go with Javy Guerra. That would leave Brandon League, Kenley Jansen, Ronald Belisario, and Matt Guerrier from the right side, and Chris Capuano (if he's not traded, which is a strong possibility), Elbert, and Howell from the left side.
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