Five games into the 2013 season, there's two things you can count on from the Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw can barely be hit, and the offense can barely get a hit.
Despite only one run of support, Kershaw still found a way to win with seven innings of shutout ball as the Dodgers beat the Pirates, 1-0. It's the second straight game the Pirates have been blanked.
Kershaw started the game off very poorly - he gave up a single to Starling Marte. If I'm Don Mattingly, I'm yanking him right there. With the Dodgers' offense, they can't possibly afford to have their starting pitcher give up leadoff singles. Unacceptable.
OK, back to reality. Marte ran himself out of the inning by trying to advance to third from second on a grounder to short, and was easily tagged out. Carl Crawford drew a walk leading off his half of the inning, stole second... and stayed right there when A.J. Burnett struck out the side.
The only run of the game came in the third. With two outs, Crawford again got on base with an infield single. And once again, he stole second. Mark Ellis came through with an RBI single to left, and it was 1-0.
With the way Kershaw is pitching right now, one run is all he would need. He retired 17 straight hitters from innings 1-6, with another single by Marte with two outs in the sixth breaking the streak.
The Dodgers blew a huge opportunity to at least score another run in the sixth. Adrian Gonzalez singled with one out, followed by a walk to Andre Ethier and single by A.J. Ellis. That brought up the struggling Luis Cruz and Justin Sellers. They have a combined zero hits this year. And guess what? It stayed that way when Cruz popped up and Sellers grounded into a forceout. Ugh.
Paco Rodriguez took the ball to start the eighth and got Pedro Alvarez swinging to continue his strong start to the season. Kenley Jansen got the final two outs. They bridged the gap to Brandon League, who walked one en route to his second save.
Every start by Kershaw seems to bring the new challenge of coming up with more ways to describe just how awesome he is. After going seven innings of two-hit ball with nine strikeouts, here I am again with that challenge. But let's just keep it simple - he's the best in the business right now. Other teams can have Justin Verlander, Stephen Strasburg, and Felix Hernandez. I'll take Kershaw.
I'll also take the work of the bullpen, who have not given up a run in five games covering 10 1/3 innings. Coming into this season, I knew that if the Dodgers had the lead after six innings, they're going to be very hard to beat. So far, so good on that thought.
The flip side, of course, is the offense. Wow are they bad right now. They rank nearly dead last in every category, and can thank their pitching staff for helping to make the Giants and Pirates just as bad or even worse. It's hard to imagine a team scoring 11 total runs in five games, yet still winning three of them. I guess they're doing just enough to squeeze out victories.
Maybe Sunday will be the day that Matt Kemp, Gonzalez, Ethier, and the rest of the boys bust out for 10+ runs. It has to happen at some point, right? Hyun-Jin Ryu would appreciate it as he looks for his first win.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Harang traded to Rockies
Aaron Harang's Dodger tenure has come to an end, as he has been traded to the Rockies for catcher Ramon Hernandez. Harang is expected to be moved again, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. It's mostly a salary relief type of deal for the Rockies, while the Dodgers are clearing up their cluttered starting pitching situation.
Harang inked a two-year, $12 million deal in December of 2011. He was one of the few durable starters for the Dodgers last season, posting 31 starts. In those, he went 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings. His WHIP was high thanks to a career-high in walks of 85, but his .246 BAA was just shy of his career-best .242 set in 2007 with the Reds.
While he proved to be a solid contributor to the starting rotation, the writing was on the wall that his days of taking the ball to start every fifth day were over. This offseason the Dodgers went out and signed Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu to massive deals, and with Josh Beckett aboard from the Red Sox at the trade deadline, spots were scarce.
The Dodgers tried to compromise by sending Harang to the bullpen to start the season, but he supposedly wasn't thrilled with that. I can't say I blame him, as it was obvious that he can still be a starter somewhere, and that the Dodgers didn't really have a need for him anymore. We all know injuries can, and most likely will, happen, but with Chris Capuano also in the long relief role, the right decision was made to move him elsewhere.
In return the Dodgers get a backup catcher in Hernandez. He was DFA'd by the Rockies before Opening Day when he lost out to Yorvit Torrealba to be Wilin Rosario's backup.
Hernandez had a good couple of season with the Reds in '10 and '11 before moving to the Rockies last season. His numbers in '12 could be a big reason why he became expendable, as he hit only .217 with 5 homers and 28 RBIs in 52 games. The fact that he's turning 37 in May probably didn't do him any favors.
I would think Hernandez's arrival means that departure of Tim Federowicz to Triple-A for now. I'm not sure why the Dodgers would trade for Hernandez if that wasn't going to happen. I really don't see a need to carry three catchers. They could always keep both and get rid of Juan Uribe! But that's just wishful thinking at this point.
With Chad Billingsley due back to start next Wednesday in San Diego, the Dodgers will have another roster move to make. Plus there's the status of Ted Lilly, who's fighting his way back from shoulder surgery last year. In other words, the wheelings and dealings involving the starting pitchers does not appear to be done.
Harang inked a two-year, $12 million deal in December of 2011. He was one of the few durable starters for the Dodgers last season, posting 31 starts. In those, he went 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings. His WHIP was high thanks to a career-high in walks of 85, but his .246 BAA was just shy of his career-best .242 set in 2007 with the Reds.
While he proved to be a solid contributor to the starting rotation, the writing was on the wall that his days of taking the ball to start every fifth day were over. This offseason the Dodgers went out and signed Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu to massive deals, and with Josh Beckett aboard from the Red Sox at the trade deadline, spots were scarce.
The Dodgers tried to compromise by sending Harang to the bullpen to start the season, but he supposedly wasn't thrilled with that. I can't say I blame him, as it was obvious that he can still be a starter somewhere, and that the Dodgers didn't really have a need for him anymore. We all know injuries can, and most likely will, happen, but with Chris Capuano also in the long relief role, the right decision was made to move him elsewhere.
In return the Dodgers get a backup catcher in Hernandez. He was DFA'd by the Rockies before Opening Day when he lost out to Yorvit Torrealba to be Wilin Rosario's backup.
Hernandez had a good couple of season with the Reds in '10 and '11 before moving to the Rockies last season. His numbers in '12 could be a big reason why he became expendable, as he hit only .217 with 5 homers and 28 RBIs in 52 games. The fact that he's turning 37 in May probably didn't do him any favors.
I would think Hernandez's arrival means that departure of Tim Federowicz to Triple-A for now. I'm not sure why the Dodgers would trade for Hernandez if that wasn't going to happen. I really don't see a need to carry three catchers. They could always keep both and get rid of Juan Uribe! But that's just wishful thinking at this point.
With Chad Billingsley due back to start next Wednesday in San Diego, the Dodgers will have another roster move to make. Plus there's the status of Ted Lilly, who's fighting his way back from shoulder surgery last year. In other words, the wheelings and dealings involving the starting pitchers does not appear to be done.
Dodgers even up on Greinke's terrific debut
After one start, Zack Greinke's $147 million contract looks like money well spent.
The Pirates had no answers for Greinke for six-plus innings, and the big three of Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Adrian Gonzalez drove in the runs as the Dodgers got the win, 3-0. They're now back to .500 at 2-2 on the season.
We've all seen the Dodgers' struggles offensively in the Giants series, as they only managed seven runs in three games against their strong pitching staff. They went down in order in the first, but with two outs in the second, Ethier took a high fastball out to right for the 1-0 lead.
Neither team could get much of anything going at the plate through five innings. The Dodgers may have scored another if Carl Crawford could count balls and strikes. He took off for second with A.J. Ellis at the plate in the fourth, but must have thought it was ball four instead of ball three, as he started to trot and was easily tagged out. Um, Carl, the Dodgers installed new million dollar video boards this offseason. You might want to take a peak at one of those to see the count. I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, the Dodgers got the rest of their runs in the sixth. It started on a walk to Mark Ellis. Kemp hadn't had a hit to this point, and Pedro Alvarez made sure it stayed that way with a diving stop to rob him in the fourth. In this inning, however, Kemp plated Ellis with an RBI double to make it 2-0. Gonzalez followed up with his own RBI double, and it was 3-0.
Greinke pitched into the seventh and was pulled after Andrew McCutchen's one-out single. Paco Rodriguez came in and was fantastic. Well, it helped that McCutchen was thrown out trying to steal second on the first pitch. Alvarez looked silly flailing away helplessly on breaking balls for the last out.
The formula for the victory was then put into play of Kenley Jansen in the eighth and Brandon League in the ninth. Jansen walked old friend Russell Martin leading off, but got the next three in order with two strikeouts. League got his first save with a flawless ninth, striking out Neil Walker to end it.
This win is more what the Dodgers expect to see. Like the Giants have shown, it's big-time pitching with clutch hitting along the way. The offense was just abysmal last game with their 1-for-14 performance with runners in scoring position. This game they went 2-for-5, with one of the hits actually coming from Greinke. Like Kershaw, I guess he can do it all.
Greinke was simply fantastic in shutting down the Pirates. He lasted 6 1/3 innings for two hits, no runs, no walks, and six strikeouts. I wouldn't say he was overpowering, as his fastball was mostly around 88-92 MPH. But, his late movement on that pitch along with his breaking stuff was nearly unhittable. His location was strong as well, hence a dominating night.
The early results show the 1-2 punch of Kershaw and Greinke can be a lot of fun to watch this year. They've tossed a combined 15 1/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out 13 and walking no one. Wow, that's pretty darn good. They haven't faced the greatest offenses in the world, but shutting down any MLB team like that is hard (well, maybe not the Astros, but you get the point). I think it's safe to say that Greinke's elbow is doing just fine.
Justin Sellers got was back at short after the debacle on Wednesday. He went hitless again (to the surprise of nobody). But, it should be noted that he made a great diving stop on a grounder in the fifth, robbing Garrett Jones. Even if he stays hitless, which looks entirely possible over the course of the entire season, I'll still take him over watching Juan Uribe stink it up at third. Hey, Hanley, how's the thumb?
Final Four Saturday night will see Kershaw looking for his second win. I vote he just pitches a shutout and homers in every start. That's not asking too much, right? A.J. Burnett will go for the Pirates.
The Pirates had no answers for Greinke for six-plus innings, and the big three of Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Adrian Gonzalez drove in the runs as the Dodgers got the win, 3-0. They're now back to .500 at 2-2 on the season.
We've all seen the Dodgers' struggles offensively in the Giants series, as they only managed seven runs in three games against their strong pitching staff. They went down in order in the first, but with two outs in the second, Ethier took a high fastball out to right for the 1-0 lead.
Neither team could get much of anything going at the plate through five innings. The Dodgers may have scored another if Carl Crawford could count balls and strikes. He took off for second with A.J. Ellis at the plate in the fourth, but must have thought it was ball four instead of ball three, as he started to trot and was easily tagged out. Um, Carl, the Dodgers installed new million dollar video boards this offseason. You might want to take a peak at one of those to see the count. I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, the Dodgers got the rest of their runs in the sixth. It started on a walk to Mark Ellis. Kemp hadn't had a hit to this point, and Pedro Alvarez made sure it stayed that way with a diving stop to rob him in the fourth. In this inning, however, Kemp plated Ellis with an RBI double to make it 2-0. Gonzalez followed up with his own RBI double, and it was 3-0.
Greinke pitched into the seventh and was pulled after Andrew McCutchen's one-out single. Paco Rodriguez came in and was fantastic. Well, it helped that McCutchen was thrown out trying to steal second on the first pitch. Alvarez looked silly flailing away helplessly on breaking balls for the last out.
The formula for the victory was then put into play of Kenley Jansen in the eighth and Brandon League in the ninth. Jansen walked old friend Russell Martin leading off, but got the next three in order with two strikeouts. League got his first save with a flawless ninth, striking out Neil Walker to end it.
This win is more what the Dodgers expect to see. Like the Giants have shown, it's big-time pitching with clutch hitting along the way. The offense was just abysmal last game with their 1-for-14 performance with runners in scoring position. This game they went 2-for-5, with one of the hits actually coming from Greinke. Like Kershaw, I guess he can do it all.
Greinke was simply fantastic in shutting down the Pirates. He lasted 6 1/3 innings for two hits, no runs, no walks, and six strikeouts. I wouldn't say he was overpowering, as his fastball was mostly around 88-92 MPH. But, his late movement on that pitch along with his breaking stuff was nearly unhittable. His location was strong as well, hence a dominating night.
The early results show the 1-2 punch of Kershaw and Greinke can be a lot of fun to watch this year. They've tossed a combined 15 1/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out 13 and walking no one. Wow, that's pretty darn good. They haven't faced the greatest offenses in the world, but shutting down any MLB team like that is hard (well, maybe not the Astros, but you get the point). I think it's safe to say that Greinke's elbow is doing just fine.
Justin Sellers got was back at short after the debacle on Wednesday. He went hitless again (to the surprise of nobody). But, it should be noted that he made a great diving stop on a grounder in the fifth, robbing Garrett Jones. Even if he stays hitless, which looks entirely possible over the course of the entire season, I'll still take him over watching Juan Uribe stink it up at third. Hey, Hanley, how's the thumb?
Final Four Saturday night will see Kershaw looking for his second win. I vote he just pitches a shutout and homers in every start. That's not asking too much, right? A.J. Burnett will go for the Pirates.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
News on my updated and upgraded blog
With the start of the new season, I've spent some time recently updating the look of my blog. Here's a few of the changes and new gadgets that you can now find when you visit my site:
What hasn't changed is that his site will bring you tons of news, information, and opinions on the Dodgers. Just with a new look and few more toys to play around with!
I hope you enjoy the new look. Happy reading, and go Dodgers!
- A look at game day weather.
- A continuously updated look at the NL West standings.
- A detailed (and because it's from baseball-reference.com, a VERY detailed) breakdown of that day's pitching matchup, which is found right underneath the next game.
- Various links to the full schedule, all of the minor league sites, where to buy tickets, video highlights, top prospects, and some team stats, among other things.
What hasn't changed is that his site will bring you tons of news, information, and opinions on the Dodgers. Just with a new look and few more toys to play around with!
I hope you enjoy the new look. Happy reading, and go Dodgers!
The Dodgers need to thank Kershaw
Think about it: no Clayton Kershaw, no wins this season.
After being on Cloud 9 from an incredible Opening Day win, the Dodgers have come crashing back down to Earth the last two games. The Giants took advantage of a four-run third, in addition to two more errors and a pathetic 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position by the Dodgers, in winning the rubber game, 5-3. The Dodgers have dropped two of the first three this season.
This game certainly had an interesting pitching matchup, as the Giants ran out Tim Lincecum, while the Dodgers turned to Josh Beckett. It's safe to say that both men would like to forget about 90% of last season. The only good thing for them is that they ended well, with Lincecum doing very well out of the bullpen in the playoffs, and Beckett finding his groove after the trade from Boston.
The Dodgers didn't score at all on Tuesday, so it was encouraging to see them get on the board in the first. Carl Crawford was back in the leadoff spot and had a great night with three hits and a walk, and he singled. Skip Schumaker did not have a good night, but he at least walked here, and Matt Kemp's flyout to center got Crawford to third.
Adrian Gonzalez took a walk, and as ball four got away from catcher Hector Sanchez, Crawford scampered home to make it 1-0. Andre Ethier popped up and Luis Cruz struck out to end the inning, which was a small part of a huge problem of leaving men on base.
The Giants had their big inning in the third. Gregor Blanco singled and Brandon Crawford doubled to open the inning. An RBI groundout by Lincecum tied the score at one. Angel Pagan picked up an RBI with a grounder to Schumaker at second, which was then booted for an error. Two hitters later, Pablo Sandoval launched a two-run shot, making it 4-1.
Two walks led to nothing for the Dodgers in the fourth, but they did get one back the next inning. Kemp walked leading off and Gonzalez reached on an error by Buster Posey, who started at first. Kemp soon scored on a sac-fly RBI by Cruz, which was his only good at-bat in three games. A.J. Ellis flew out with two men on.
Hunter Pence's solo shot in the sixth gave the Giants a 5-2 lead. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, and even though the Giants cycled through three different pitchers, they only scored one. Kemp came up with the bases loaded when Mark Ellis and Crawford singled, and Schumaker was beaned. In yet another effort of trying to do too much, Kemp grounded into a double play, and only one run scored.
The seventh was really the last threat for the Dodgers. Andre Ethier doubled leading off, a good sign considering he has two doubles so far against tough lefties. Chad Gaudin relieved, and he got Cruz and Juan Uribe to pop up, and A.J. Ellis to fly out.
Sergio Romo pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Beckett was pretty good at times, but was done in by a couple of longballs. And of course, a bad lack of run support. He went six innings for six hits, five runs (three earned), one walk, and four strikeouts. Not the greatest of lines, but I thought his stuff moved well. I still think he's going to have a good year, so I'm not worried.
Let's give some credit to the bullpen, specifically the work of J.P. Howell, making his Dodgers' debut. He pitched two scoreless innings and showed a great breaking ball. He'll be a big weapon in later innings. Brandon League got in a scoreless inning as well.
Let's not give any credit, however, to the offense. The stat "1-for-14 with RISP" is just pitiful. Right now, I can't stand their approach with runners on. It's plainfully obvious that they're trying to send one to the bleachers on every swing. The 3-6 hitters of Kemp, Gonzalez, Ethier, and Cruz are a combined 4-for-41 this season for an .098 average. I know it's still early but Good Lord, that sucks! Kemp and Cruz are still looking for their first hits. I guess losing Hanley Ramirez looms much larger than we though.
The Giants have tough pitching, as they've proven with two rings in three years. But like I said before, the Dodgers need to change their mindset when they step up to the plate. How many popups have we seen already? Seems like every Cruz swing that happens. Kemp is trying so hard to prove he's back that he's overswinging as well. Gonzalez just looks plain lost. Thankfully Crawford looks good so we can at least feel good about something.
And let's get this perfectly clear - Uribe should not be allowed to start. Or even play at all. An 0-for-3 night starting at third once again shows why he shouldn't even be on the team. When Ramirez comes back, it's time for Ned Colletti to admit to this colossal mistake and release him. End of story! Enough already!
Thursday will be an off day before the Pirates come to town for three. I think a day off is a good thing right now, as the offense needs a day to relax and try to get rolling again. Zack Greinke will make his first start with the Dodgers after signing his massive offseason deal.
After being on Cloud 9 from an incredible Opening Day win, the Dodgers have come crashing back down to Earth the last two games. The Giants took advantage of a four-run third, in addition to two more errors and a pathetic 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position by the Dodgers, in winning the rubber game, 5-3. The Dodgers have dropped two of the first three this season.
This game certainly had an interesting pitching matchup, as the Giants ran out Tim Lincecum, while the Dodgers turned to Josh Beckett. It's safe to say that both men would like to forget about 90% of last season. The only good thing for them is that they ended well, with Lincecum doing very well out of the bullpen in the playoffs, and Beckett finding his groove after the trade from Boston.
The Dodgers didn't score at all on Tuesday, so it was encouraging to see them get on the board in the first. Carl Crawford was back in the leadoff spot and had a great night with three hits and a walk, and he singled. Skip Schumaker did not have a good night, but he at least walked here, and Matt Kemp's flyout to center got Crawford to third.
Adrian Gonzalez took a walk, and as ball four got away from catcher Hector Sanchez, Crawford scampered home to make it 1-0. Andre Ethier popped up and Luis Cruz struck out to end the inning, which was a small part of a huge problem of leaving men on base.
The Giants had their big inning in the third. Gregor Blanco singled and Brandon Crawford doubled to open the inning. An RBI groundout by Lincecum tied the score at one. Angel Pagan picked up an RBI with a grounder to Schumaker at second, which was then booted for an error. Two hitters later, Pablo Sandoval launched a two-run shot, making it 4-1.
Two walks led to nothing for the Dodgers in the fourth, but they did get one back the next inning. Kemp walked leading off and Gonzalez reached on an error by Buster Posey, who started at first. Kemp soon scored on a sac-fly RBI by Cruz, which was his only good at-bat in three games. A.J. Ellis flew out with two men on.
Hunter Pence's solo shot in the sixth gave the Giants a 5-2 lead. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, and even though the Giants cycled through three different pitchers, they only scored one. Kemp came up with the bases loaded when Mark Ellis and Crawford singled, and Schumaker was beaned. In yet another effort of trying to do too much, Kemp grounded into a double play, and only one run scored.
The seventh was really the last threat for the Dodgers. Andre Ethier doubled leading off, a good sign considering he has two doubles so far against tough lefties. Chad Gaudin relieved, and he got Cruz and Juan Uribe to pop up, and A.J. Ellis to fly out.
Sergio Romo pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Beckett was pretty good at times, but was done in by a couple of longballs. And of course, a bad lack of run support. He went six innings for six hits, five runs (three earned), one walk, and four strikeouts. Not the greatest of lines, but I thought his stuff moved well. I still think he's going to have a good year, so I'm not worried.
Let's give some credit to the bullpen, specifically the work of J.P. Howell, making his Dodgers' debut. He pitched two scoreless innings and showed a great breaking ball. He'll be a big weapon in later innings. Brandon League got in a scoreless inning as well.
Let's not give any credit, however, to the offense. The stat "1-for-14 with RISP" is just pitiful. Right now, I can't stand their approach with runners on. It's plainfully obvious that they're trying to send one to the bleachers on every swing. The 3-6 hitters of Kemp, Gonzalez, Ethier, and Cruz are a combined 4-for-41 this season for an .098 average. I know it's still early but Good Lord, that sucks! Kemp and Cruz are still looking for their first hits. I guess losing Hanley Ramirez looms much larger than we though.
The Giants have tough pitching, as they've proven with two rings in three years. But like I said before, the Dodgers need to change their mindset when they step up to the plate. How many popups have we seen already? Seems like every Cruz swing that happens. Kemp is trying so hard to prove he's back that he's overswinging as well. Gonzalez just looks plain lost. Thankfully Crawford looks good so we can at least feel good about something.
And let's get this perfectly clear - Uribe should not be allowed to start. Or even play at all. An 0-for-3 night starting at third once again shows why he shouldn't even be on the team. When Ramirez comes back, it's time for Ned Colletti to admit to this colossal mistake and release him. End of story! Enough already!
Thursday will be an off day before the Pirates come to town for three. I think a day off is a good thing right now, as the offense needs a day to relax and try to get rolling again. Zack Greinke will make his first start with the Dodgers after signing his massive offseason deal.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Giants see your Kershaw and raise you a Bumgarner
If there was any possible way for the Giants to counter Clayton Keshaw's terrific opening day, it was accomplished by Madison Bumgarner.
As he's done his entire brief career, the Dodgers had no answers for Bumgarner, getting only two hits in eight innings. A bad error by Justin Sellers at short in the seventh broke the game open as the Giants rolled to an easy win, 3-0. Both teams have split the first couple of games of the 2013 season.
The Dodgers trotted out Korean sensation Hyun-Jin Ryu in what was almost an impossible task of following up on Kershaw's Opening Day start. Sure enough, both Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro singled to open the game. After Pablo Sandoval flew out, Buster Posey grounded into a double play, which turned out to be one of four the Giants hit into in this one.
With the Dodgers only getting a double from Andre Ethier in the second, the Giants were first on the board in the fourth. Posey and Hunter Pence each singled with one down to put runners on the corners. Joaquin Arias's RBI single to center made it 1-0.
It was still anybody's game for awhile, which was pretty amazing considering the Giants had nine hits going into the seventh, but only that one run to show for it. The Dodgers, on the other hand, didn't have much of a clue against Bumgarner, who mowed through these guys without breaking a sweat.
The seventh is when the Giants scored a couple thanks in large part to the defensive efforts of Sellers. Arias reached on a bad throw from Sellers to start the inning, which was a sign of things to come. With one out and runners on second and third, Ronald Belisario relieved and got Bumgarner to bounce one up the middle to Sellers. Rather than conceding the run and taking the out, Sellers threw wide of home and to the backstop, allowing both runs to score to make it 3-0.
Sergio Romo picked up the save, getting Mark Ellis looking to end it.
To say that Sellers picked a bad time to commit two errors in one inning is quite the understatement. He's already a surprising choice to replace Hanley Ramirez at short, and controversial one at that. We already knew he can't hit, but he was supposed to have a sharp glove. Well, that was thrown out the window in a matter of one inning. Ouch.
That's not to say that Sellers is all of a sudden a poor fielder, but games like this will only shorten his leash. He's already hitless in six at-bats this season, lowering his career average to .197, so it's not like he has his great numbers at the plate to fall back on. It's easy to overreact after one game, but with other options like Nick Punto and Jerry Hairston to fill in, maybe it's time to give them some starts.
Ryu certainly didn't have his best stuff, and was the definition of a pitcher who "scuffled." He lasted 6 1/3 innings for 10 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), no walks, and 5 strikeouts. That's a lot of men he let on base, as the Giants didn't seemed fooled by him. His defense (pre-Sellers in the seventh) definitely had his back with the three DP's turned.
I found three cases of silver linings for Ryu, however. One, he didn't walk anyone. Two, all 10 hits were singles, as the Giants dinked and dunked their way all night. Three, he found ways to make big pitches when he needed to and kept his team well within striking distance. He knows there's plenty to improve upon, but he'll get there eventually.
It's safe to say the offense has started the season in a slump. It's obviously a small sample size, but when your leading hitter is Kershaw, that's probably not good. Matt Kemp is looking for his first hit, though he did swing pretty well in this game. Luis Cruz is trying to kill the ball each swing and already has way too many popups. He needs to relax and just hit, and not try to become the next LA home run king. It ain't gonna happen.
Josh Beckett will take the hill on Wednesday looking to give the Dodgers their first series win. The Giants counter with Tim Lincecum, who was once on Kershaw's level, but had a horrific 2013 season. To his credit, his 2.55 ERA out of the bullpen last postseason showed he can possibly still get it done, but even with that, he has plenty to prove if he's ever going to regain his old form.
As he's done his entire brief career, the Dodgers had no answers for Bumgarner, getting only two hits in eight innings. A bad error by Justin Sellers at short in the seventh broke the game open as the Giants rolled to an easy win, 3-0. Both teams have split the first couple of games of the 2013 season.
The Dodgers trotted out Korean sensation Hyun-Jin Ryu in what was almost an impossible task of following up on Kershaw's Opening Day start. Sure enough, both Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro singled to open the game. After Pablo Sandoval flew out, Buster Posey grounded into a double play, which turned out to be one of four the Giants hit into in this one.
With the Dodgers only getting a double from Andre Ethier in the second, the Giants were first on the board in the fourth. Posey and Hunter Pence each singled with one down to put runners on the corners. Joaquin Arias's RBI single to center made it 1-0.
It was still anybody's game for awhile, which was pretty amazing considering the Giants had nine hits going into the seventh, but only that one run to show for it. The Dodgers, on the other hand, didn't have much of a clue against Bumgarner, who mowed through these guys without breaking a sweat.
The seventh is when the Giants scored a couple thanks in large part to the defensive efforts of Sellers. Arias reached on a bad throw from Sellers to start the inning, which was a sign of things to come. With one out and runners on second and third, Ronald Belisario relieved and got Bumgarner to bounce one up the middle to Sellers. Rather than conceding the run and taking the out, Sellers threw wide of home and to the backstop, allowing both runs to score to make it 3-0.
Sergio Romo picked up the save, getting Mark Ellis looking to end it.
To say that Sellers picked a bad time to commit two errors in one inning is quite the understatement. He's already a surprising choice to replace Hanley Ramirez at short, and controversial one at that. We already knew he can't hit, but he was supposed to have a sharp glove. Well, that was thrown out the window in a matter of one inning. Ouch.
That's not to say that Sellers is all of a sudden a poor fielder, but games like this will only shorten his leash. He's already hitless in six at-bats this season, lowering his career average to .197, so it's not like he has his great numbers at the plate to fall back on. It's easy to overreact after one game, but with other options like Nick Punto and Jerry Hairston to fill in, maybe it's time to give them some starts.
Ryu certainly didn't have his best stuff, and was the definition of a pitcher who "scuffled." He lasted 6 1/3 innings for 10 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), no walks, and 5 strikeouts. That's a lot of men he let on base, as the Giants didn't seemed fooled by him. His defense (pre-Sellers in the seventh) definitely had his back with the three DP's turned.
I found three cases of silver linings for Ryu, however. One, he didn't walk anyone. Two, all 10 hits were singles, as the Giants dinked and dunked their way all night. Three, he found ways to make big pitches when he needed to and kept his team well within striking distance. He knows there's plenty to improve upon, but he'll get there eventually.
It's safe to say the offense has started the season in a slump. It's obviously a small sample size, but when your leading hitter is Kershaw, that's probably not good. Matt Kemp is looking for his first hit, though he did swing pretty well in this game. Luis Cruz is trying to kill the ball each swing and already has way too many popups. He needs to relax and just hit, and not try to become the next LA home run king. It ain't gonna happen.
Josh Beckett will take the hill on Wednesday looking to give the Dodgers their first series win. The Giants counter with Tim Lincecum, who was once on Kershaw's level, but had a horrific 2013 season. To his credit, his 2.55 ERA out of the bullpen last postseason showed he can possibly still get it done, but even with that, he has plenty to prove if he's ever going to regain his old form.
Monday, April 1, 2013
There's Clayton Kershaw, and then there's everybody else
Can you say "$200 million"?
After watching Clayton Kershaw completely dominate the Giants on both sides of the field Opening Day, it's not hard to imagine him getting a record deal for a pitcher. He's simply in his own world at the young age of 25.
Kershaw threw a complete game, four-hit shutout on Monday, but that may not have even been his biggest feat of the day. He broke open a scoreless tie in the eighth with a solo home run, a shot to dead center, and the Dodgers cruised from there over the world champs, 4-0. On a day where Sandy Koufax threw the ceremonial first pitch, everything was as perfect as could be at Dodger Stadium.
Lost in all the "Kershawmania" was the starting pitcher of the Giants, one Mr. Matt Cain, who was pretty darn good himself. He made it through six innings of scoreless ball, striking out eight on four hits.
What got Cain out of there so early was the first inning in which he hurled 29 pitches, although the Dodgers never actually scored a run. Carl Crawford began his Dodger career with a scorcher to first that Brandon Belt couldn't handle for a leadoff single. Mark Ellis was beaned before Matt Kemp struck out in a long at-bat. Crawford was then gunned down trying to steal third, and after Adrian Gonzalez walked, Andre Ethier K'd to end the inning.
Both pitchers were locked in from there, as this game was flying right by. The Dodgers did get a couple on in the fourth on singles by Gonzalez and Ethier, but little popups by Luis Cruz and A.J. Ellis spoiled the threat.
Off to the eighth we went, and the biggest question seemed to be if Kershaw would be allowed to hit, or if Don Mattingly would yank him leading off. Mattingly became quite the genius when he let his ace hit for himself, and a monster home run was smashed to center to make it 1-0 off of George Kontos.
Crawford continued his solid day by lining a double to left, and runners were put on the corners on a bunt by Mark Ellis just out of the outstretched arm of Buster Posey. A wild pitch by new pitcher Santiago Casilla made it 2-0.
The final couple of runs were scored in the eighth on RBI groundouts by Ethier and A.J. Ellis.
Much like two years ago when the Dodgers beat the Giants on Opening Day, this win was everything they could have asked for. A big start by their ace? Check. Clutch hitting when they needed it? Check. Taking down the world champs? Check. It's all good.
Now the talk will turn to the new contract Kershaw is expected to ink at some point. As was mentioned during the ESPN broadcast by former Dodger great Orel Hershiser, you have to believe that he'll become baseball's first $200 million pitcher. King Felix gets $175 million, Justin Verlander gets $180 million, now it's Kershaw's turn. Perhaps he'll get bumped another $5 million to stay consistent, but then again, the Dodgers have money in places nobody knew existed. It can definitely happen.
And why not? Kershaw is as big a competitor as there is. He's only 25 and is clearly just getting better. How many pitchers would've been satisfied with their eight shutout innings and called it a day? Not Kershaw. He took his bat and gave his team the lead for good. He's just incredible.
As for the rest of the team, Crawford and Mark Ellis each got two hits atop the order. That's good news for the heart of the order in Kemp, Gonzalez, and Ethier. Those guys didn't do much today, but if they have people ahead of them getting on base consistently, it will only be a matter of time before their numbers start to take off.
With Opening Day in the books, and one for the ages at that, the Dodgers will now turn to Korean sensation Hyun-Jin Ryu in the second game of the season. He is the surprising second starter, but that's mostly because Zack Greinke got pushed back a bit after some elbow problems in the spring. His debut will be fun to watch, but it won't be easy, as the Giants counter with their own stud lefty, Madison Bumgarner.
After watching Clayton Kershaw completely dominate the Giants on both sides of the field Opening Day, it's not hard to imagine him getting a record deal for a pitcher. He's simply in his own world at the young age of 25.
Kershaw threw a complete game, four-hit shutout on Monday, but that may not have even been his biggest feat of the day. He broke open a scoreless tie in the eighth with a solo home run, a shot to dead center, and the Dodgers cruised from there over the world champs, 4-0. On a day where Sandy Koufax threw the ceremonial first pitch, everything was as perfect as could be at Dodger Stadium.
Lost in all the "Kershawmania" was the starting pitcher of the Giants, one Mr. Matt Cain, who was pretty darn good himself. He made it through six innings of scoreless ball, striking out eight on four hits.
What got Cain out of there so early was the first inning in which he hurled 29 pitches, although the Dodgers never actually scored a run. Carl Crawford began his Dodger career with a scorcher to first that Brandon Belt couldn't handle for a leadoff single. Mark Ellis was beaned before Matt Kemp struck out in a long at-bat. Crawford was then gunned down trying to steal third, and after Adrian Gonzalez walked, Andre Ethier K'd to end the inning.
Both pitchers were locked in from there, as this game was flying right by. The Dodgers did get a couple on in the fourth on singles by Gonzalez and Ethier, but little popups by Luis Cruz and A.J. Ellis spoiled the threat.
Off to the eighth we went, and the biggest question seemed to be if Kershaw would be allowed to hit, or if Don Mattingly would yank him leading off. Mattingly became quite the genius when he let his ace hit for himself, and a monster home run was smashed to center to make it 1-0 off of George Kontos.
Crawford continued his solid day by lining a double to left, and runners were put on the corners on a bunt by Mark Ellis just out of the outstretched arm of Buster Posey. A wild pitch by new pitcher Santiago Casilla made it 2-0.
The final couple of runs were scored in the eighth on RBI groundouts by Ethier and A.J. Ellis.
Much like two years ago when the Dodgers beat the Giants on Opening Day, this win was everything they could have asked for. A big start by their ace? Check. Clutch hitting when they needed it? Check. Taking down the world champs? Check. It's all good.
Now the talk will turn to the new contract Kershaw is expected to ink at some point. As was mentioned during the ESPN broadcast by former Dodger great Orel Hershiser, you have to believe that he'll become baseball's first $200 million pitcher. King Felix gets $175 million, Justin Verlander gets $180 million, now it's Kershaw's turn. Perhaps he'll get bumped another $5 million to stay consistent, but then again, the Dodgers have money in places nobody knew existed. It can definitely happen.
And why not? Kershaw is as big a competitor as there is. He's only 25 and is clearly just getting better. How many pitchers would've been satisfied with their eight shutout innings and called it a day? Not Kershaw. He took his bat and gave his team the lead for good. He's just incredible.
As for the rest of the team, Crawford and Mark Ellis each got two hits atop the order. That's good news for the heart of the order in Kemp, Gonzalez, and Ethier. Those guys didn't do much today, but if they have people ahead of them getting on base consistently, it will only be a matter of time before their numbers start to take off.
With Opening Day in the books, and one for the ages at that, the Dodgers will now turn to Korean sensation Hyun-Jin Ryu in the second game of the season. He is the surprising second starter, but that's mostly because Zack Greinke got pushed back a bit after some elbow problems in the spring. His debut will be fun to watch, but it won't be easy, as the Giants counter with their own stud lefty, Madison Bumgarner.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
25-man roster for '13 is set... for now
With several decisions to be made, especially for pitching, the Dodgers have submitted their 25-man roster. Let's take a look:
Catchers: A.J. Ellis, Tim Federowicz
Infielders: Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Ellis, Justin Sellers, Luis Cruz, Juan Uribe
Outfielders: Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier
Utility: Skip Schumaker, Nick Punto, Jerry Hairston
Starting Pitchers: Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Josh Beckett, Zack Greinke
Bullpen: Brandon League, Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Ronald Belisario, Matt Guerrier, Paco Rodriguez, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang
15-day DL: Hanley Ramirez (thumb), Ted Lilly (shoulder), Chad Billingsley (elbow), Scott Elbert (elbow)
There's lot of things to discuss, so here we go. First of all, keep in mind that Punto, Schumaker, and Hairston can all play multiple positions in the infield or outfield, so that's why I have them listed as utility.
Yes, Uribe is still around.
Sellers went from being demoted to being declared the starting shortstop. That moves Cruz back to third as everyone waits another six weeks for Ramirez to get back into action. Sellers hit .283 with a .373 OBP in 23 games this spring, with a homer and 10 RBIs.
The starting rotation only has four listed because Billingsley will not be long for the DL. The early word is that he'll be activated by next Saturday and be the fifth starter. Of course, that will lead management to make another tough call when they need to clear a roster spot.
Capuano and Harang are in the bullpen, but it sure looks like only Capuano will stick around for long. Harang could very well be the one dealt when Billingsley makes his return. In management's view, Capuano will be the long reliever and third lefty option behind Howell and Rodriguez. Harang looks to be lost in the shuffle.
Lilly is another question mark. He appears to be in a holding pattern for now, almost waiting for an injury to occur so he can be activated. You have to wonder how long that'll last.
One last thing to remember is that the Dodgers can change this roster at any point before they open on Monday against the Giants, so this isn't exactly set in stone. Maybe they'll flip flop on Cruz at short or third again!
Let's go Dodgers!
Catchers: A.J. Ellis, Tim Federowicz
Infielders: Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Ellis, Justin Sellers, Luis Cruz, Juan Uribe
Outfielders: Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier
Utility: Skip Schumaker, Nick Punto, Jerry Hairston
Starting Pitchers: Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Josh Beckett, Zack Greinke
Bullpen: Brandon League, Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Ronald Belisario, Matt Guerrier, Paco Rodriguez, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang
15-day DL: Hanley Ramirez (thumb), Ted Lilly (shoulder), Chad Billingsley (elbow), Scott Elbert (elbow)
There's lot of things to discuss, so here we go. First of all, keep in mind that Punto, Schumaker, and Hairston can all play multiple positions in the infield or outfield, so that's why I have them listed as utility.
Yes, Uribe is still around.
Sellers went from being demoted to being declared the starting shortstop. That moves Cruz back to third as everyone waits another six weeks for Ramirez to get back into action. Sellers hit .283 with a .373 OBP in 23 games this spring, with a homer and 10 RBIs.
The starting rotation only has four listed because Billingsley will not be long for the DL. The early word is that he'll be activated by next Saturday and be the fifth starter. Of course, that will lead management to make another tough call when they need to clear a roster spot.
Capuano and Harang are in the bullpen, but it sure looks like only Capuano will stick around for long. Harang could very well be the one dealt when Billingsley makes his return. In management's view, Capuano will be the long reliever and third lefty option behind Howell and Rodriguez. Harang looks to be lost in the shuffle.
Lilly is another question mark. He appears to be in a holding pattern for now, almost waiting for an injury to occur so he can be activated. You have to wonder how long that'll last.
One last thing to remember is that the Dodgers can change this roster at any point before they open on Monday against the Giants, so this isn't exactly set in stone. Maybe they'll flip flop on Cruz at short or third again!
Let's go Dodgers!
Friday, March 29, 2013
10 questions for 2013
Expectations are sky high in LA, and Opening Day will only begin to show just how prepared the Dodgers are for a deep run in October. With that in mind, let's take a look at 10 key questions facing the Dodgers on their quest towards a World Series.
1. Is Matt Kemp ready to regain his MVP form?
It's not hard to see some major differences between Kemp's 2011 season and his 2012 one. Just take a look:
2011 - 161 G, .324 AVG, .399 OBP, 39 HR, 126 RBI, 40 SB
2012 - 106 G, .303 AVG, .367 OBP, 23 HR, 69 RBI, 9 SB
Obviously, those are some pretty big drops in numbers across the board. Not only did his power suffer due to playing in 55 less games, but his running game went from Adrian Peterson to the Oakland Raiders (non-existent). The good news is that he got five months to heal in the offseason as March hit, and has been a regular performer in Spring Training games towards the end of the month. That's a fantastic sight, and with guys like Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez (when he returns from injury) surrounding him in the lineup, I can see Kemp doing some big things this season. I don't think we can expect another 40-40, Triple Crown push, but a dominant player no less.
2. Are Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke the top 1-2 punch in baseball?
On paper, it would be hard to dispute that. We're talking about a couple of stud, #1 pitchers on any team, and here they are pitching together on the same one. That's pretty awesome. I highly doubt anybody is worried about Kershaw regressing. He just turned 25 and has already won a Cy Young Award. It's scary to think that he's only getting better as he reaches his prime.
Understandably so, it's Greinke who concerns people the most. Not necessarily that he won't pitch well, but for a couple other reasons. One, there's question whether he can handle the big spotlight of Los Angeles. Two, he's already had some elbow issues this spring, and is pushing it to even make his first start on time. I can see him taking a little bit of time to adjust, but in the end, there's just so much talent there that if his elbow truly is fine, the Dodgers really will have the best 1-2 tandem in the bigs.
3. Will Hanley Ramirez try to comeback too soon? Will he even be the same player once he does return?
Talk about getting a kick in the stomach while winning a championship. Ramirez and his Dominican Republic team made is all the way through the World Baseball Classic unblemished, and he tore a thumb ligament in the final game. Ouch. Now the Dodgers are without his services until at least late-May.
As we saw from Kemp last season, it's never in anyone's best interests to return from a major injury too early, no matter how badly he wants to. The tricky thing is if the Dodgers are not playing very well when May is upon is, then Ramirez may start getting the itch to return earlier than expected. That didn't work well for Kemp last season, and it also derailed Andre Ethier's 2010 season after he had a scorching hot start. Let's just hope common sense prevails and he does the right thing by sitting out however long he needs to get right.
Once he is back, now we're back to the pre-injury question of whether or not he can regain his superstar form from earlier in his career. The move to LA definitely seemed to at least wake him up from a two-year hibernation, now we have to see if takes the next step. When he's at his best, he's right up there with Kemp and Kershaw as far as talent and impact on the game. He can hit for power and steal bases, something that's an increasingly hard combination to see anymore. It may take him awhile to truly get going, but if he is rolling once August-September rolls around, the Dodgers can be a very hard team to stop.
4. Is Brandon League the true answer at closer, or will it be Kenley Jansen's time again?
Even with the boatloads of cash the Dodgers now have, they still raised plenty of eyebrows as last offseason started by signing League to a three-year, $22.5 million deal. Considering he lost the closer's role with the Mariners last season and struggled when he first got to LA before turning things around in September, that's a pretty loaded deal he got.
The biggest question people have with this deal is probably because of Jansen. Simply put, why don't the Dodgers just make the flame-throwing Jansen their closer? Maybe the Dodgers prefer League and his 60 career saves closing, while Jansen is the bridge in the eighth to get the ball to him. I can understand the reasoning, as Jansen is basically a one-trick pony (cut fastball), though he does it better than nearly everyone not named Mariano Rivera. Plus, while he does have 34 saves in his brief career, he also has eight blown ones, which is a little high. Then again, League has 24 blown saves, so...
You get the point. Here's the bottom line: League will be given the chance to show he can handle the job once April 1 hits, ala Javy Guerra from last season. Big contract or not, I don't think Don Mattingly will hesitate at all to move Jansen to the ninth if League channels his inner-Guerra. Ideally, those two will form a terrific setup-closer combo if they're both on.
5. What to do with all of the leftover starting pitchers?
The Dodgers are in one of the most interesting situations in baseball with so many capable starting pitchers on their roster. After the big two, there's Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, and Ted Lilly. With the exception of Ryu, every single one of those pitchers has had some sort of success in the majors. Anyone of them is capable of being a starting pitcher on most staffs. But, anyone of them could find himself on the way out the door at any moment.
I think it's safe to assume Beckett and Billingsley are locked in the rotation. I have a hard time believing Ryu wouldn't be as well, especially with the size of his contract, and that he's gotten better and better this spring. So do the Dodgers really want to store Capuano, Harang, and Lilly in the bullpen? That just doesn't seem probable. I know I read that Lilly was asked to start the season on the DL, so that would be one way around the problem. If he turns that down, then you have to expect one of them will be moved. There's been reports at various times this spring about scouts attending starts for Harang and Capuano. Lilly is getting over bad shoulder problems, but he's the best of the three when everyone is healthy.
With injuries occurring so often to pitchers, the Dodgers will most likely look to keep two of the three around for as long as they can. But all three? I just don't see that happening.
6. Is Luis Cruz the real deal?
During a lost 2012 for the Dodgers, one of the lone bright spots was a young kid who quickly became a fan favorite playing third and short. One of the biggest chants from Dodger Stadium (for those who actually bothered to show up) was the "Cruuuuuuuuuuuz!" call at the end of the season. And with good reason, as he hit .297 with 20 doubles, 6 homers, and 40 RBIs in 78 games.
If you're a fantasy baseball player, then this is the type of guy whom the "experts" label as a "regression candidate." It's understandable in a way because he's never had big numbers in his career, dating back through the minors. By looking strictly at the numbers, people can guess that he found lightning in a bottle and a lot went right for him.
I'm going to take the flipside and buy into him, though. I like his aggressive approach at the plate, and think it's a welcome addition to a lineup that can use more power. Plus, he's very versatile in the field, as he can flip-flop between short and third, as he'll do to start the season because of Ramirez's injury. I don't think he'll approach .300 again, but he's an exciting player and I look for him to get plenty of big hits this year.
7. Which Adrian Gonzalez can we expect?
There was plenty of buzz last trade deadline when Gonzalez was brought in from Boston. Finally the Dodgers had a true cleanup hitter to put behind Kemp in the #3 spot. Here's a guy who hit 30+ homers for four straight seasons with the Padres and Red Sox, and is still one of the most feared sluggers in the game.
The result? Three homers and 22 RBIs in 36 games. How many people remember that his first at-bat in LA was a three-run homer? Hard to imagine a power outage like that. All of a sudden that shoulder surgery he had back in October of 2010 looked a lot more serious. Maybe it's a lingering injury that is starting to really take its toll.
I suppose only Gonzalez knows the answer to that, but no matter how you slice it, the Dodgers need him to be the big bopper again. He's really the only other true power threat with Kemp, and if Carl Crawford is leading off and getting on base, then Gonzo can have some big numbers this year. Three taters in 36 games aren't the numbers of a cleanup hitter, so let's hope his shoulder is fine and he's more comfortable this go around.
8. With that in mind, which Carl Crawford can we expect?
One of, if not THE, biggest question marks surrounding the Dodgers this spring was the health of Crawford, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year with the Red Sox before being traded to LA. He's been everything from completely out, to making a comeback, to suffering a setback, to playing as if everything is fine. He's hard to figure out.
The good news is that he's currently at the stage of playing as if everything is fine, and that is some absolutely great news. The Dodgers have zero options other than him to hit leadoff. They can have some guys doing spot duty like Nick Punto, Mark Ellis, and Skip Schumaker, but obviously nobody like Crawford. He has gap power and blazing speed on the bases, and truly can be a difference maker.
He'll never have a golden arm, but that's not why he's there. When he was in his prime with the Rays, he was one of the best players in baseball, much like Ramirez was with the Marlins. Now the Dodgers have both of those guys with something to prove. Elbow injuries are no joke, but if he really is over all of the bad stuff, I'm pumped to watch him atop the Dodgers' order.
9. Will Don Mattingly earn a new contract... or will this be the last we see of him in Dodger blue?
A story that has been kept on the back burner so far has been the contract status of Mattingly, who is entering the final year of his three-year deal. The only time it's come up was when he looked into getting an extension but was turned down. For a team with sky-high expectations, management wants to see how things go this year, which is their right to do.
I love Mattingly's fire, and really do believe in him leading this team. There's times that fire burns too hot, as he has to control getting ejected so much. In other words, he can't be going all Bobby Cox on us! Though if that leads to Cox's success, now we're talking. But anyway, anything less than a playoff appearance will not be good news for him. He has to win and has to win now.
10. Last but not least, what will the Dodgers do with phenom Yasiel Puig?
In 26 games this spring, Puig hit .526 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 11 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases. What did that earn him? A ticket to Double-A Chattanooga. I guess when you're 22 with zero big league experience, even the best Spring Training ever isn't a guarantee of a roster spot.
But let's not kid ourselves, you have to believe that it's only a matter of time before Mr. Puig makes his return to Dodger Stadium. And boy, if he keeps progressing as the five-tool talent that he's shaping up to be, even an inexperienced kid this age is going to get his shot. It only makes sense.
The biggest problem right now is the loaded outfield the Dodgers employ. With names like Kemp, Crawford, and Ethier etched into the lineup, it's not like one of them will be benched. That's a whole lot of money and big numbers riding the pine, so that's not going to happen. The most likely scenario, assuming there's no injuries, is a trade. I recently wrote about Ethier being the favorite in my view to be moved. His declining power could be swapped in order for Puig's bat to make an impact. I'm not saying that's even on the table right now, as a lot can happen during a season. But, it's certainly something to keep in mind.
1. Is Matt Kemp ready to regain his MVP form?
It's not hard to see some major differences between Kemp's 2011 season and his 2012 one. Just take a look:
2011 - 161 G, .324 AVG, .399 OBP, 39 HR, 126 RBI, 40 SB
2012 - 106 G, .303 AVG, .367 OBP, 23 HR, 69 RBI, 9 SB
Obviously, those are some pretty big drops in numbers across the board. Not only did his power suffer due to playing in 55 less games, but his running game went from Adrian Peterson to the Oakland Raiders (non-existent). The good news is that he got five months to heal in the offseason as March hit, and has been a regular performer in Spring Training games towards the end of the month. That's a fantastic sight, and with guys like Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez (when he returns from injury) surrounding him in the lineup, I can see Kemp doing some big things this season. I don't think we can expect another 40-40, Triple Crown push, but a dominant player no less.
2. Are Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke the top 1-2 punch in baseball?
On paper, it would be hard to dispute that. We're talking about a couple of stud, #1 pitchers on any team, and here they are pitching together on the same one. That's pretty awesome. I highly doubt anybody is worried about Kershaw regressing. He just turned 25 and has already won a Cy Young Award. It's scary to think that he's only getting better as he reaches his prime.
Understandably so, it's Greinke who concerns people the most. Not necessarily that he won't pitch well, but for a couple other reasons. One, there's question whether he can handle the big spotlight of Los Angeles. Two, he's already had some elbow issues this spring, and is pushing it to even make his first start on time. I can see him taking a little bit of time to adjust, but in the end, there's just so much talent there that if his elbow truly is fine, the Dodgers really will have the best 1-2 tandem in the bigs.
3. Will Hanley Ramirez try to comeback too soon? Will he even be the same player once he does return?
Talk about getting a kick in the stomach while winning a championship. Ramirez and his Dominican Republic team made is all the way through the World Baseball Classic unblemished, and he tore a thumb ligament in the final game. Ouch. Now the Dodgers are without his services until at least late-May.
As we saw from Kemp last season, it's never in anyone's best interests to return from a major injury too early, no matter how badly he wants to. The tricky thing is if the Dodgers are not playing very well when May is upon is, then Ramirez may start getting the itch to return earlier than expected. That didn't work well for Kemp last season, and it also derailed Andre Ethier's 2010 season after he had a scorching hot start. Let's just hope common sense prevails and he does the right thing by sitting out however long he needs to get right.
Once he is back, now we're back to the pre-injury question of whether or not he can regain his superstar form from earlier in his career. The move to LA definitely seemed to at least wake him up from a two-year hibernation, now we have to see if takes the next step. When he's at his best, he's right up there with Kemp and Kershaw as far as talent and impact on the game. He can hit for power and steal bases, something that's an increasingly hard combination to see anymore. It may take him awhile to truly get going, but if he is rolling once August-September rolls around, the Dodgers can be a very hard team to stop.
4. Is Brandon League the true answer at closer, or will it be Kenley Jansen's time again?
Even with the boatloads of cash the Dodgers now have, they still raised plenty of eyebrows as last offseason started by signing League to a three-year, $22.5 million deal. Considering he lost the closer's role with the Mariners last season and struggled when he first got to LA before turning things around in September, that's a pretty loaded deal he got.
The biggest question people have with this deal is probably because of Jansen. Simply put, why don't the Dodgers just make the flame-throwing Jansen their closer? Maybe the Dodgers prefer League and his 60 career saves closing, while Jansen is the bridge in the eighth to get the ball to him. I can understand the reasoning, as Jansen is basically a one-trick pony (cut fastball), though he does it better than nearly everyone not named Mariano Rivera. Plus, while he does have 34 saves in his brief career, he also has eight blown ones, which is a little high. Then again, League has 24 blown saves, so...
You get the point. Here's the bottom line: League will be given the chance to show he can handle the job once April 1 hits, ala Javy Guerra from last season. Big contract or not, I don't think Don Mattingly will hesitate at all to move Jansen to the ninth if League channels his inner-Guerra. Ideally, those two will form a terrific setup-closer combo if they're both on.
5. What to do with all of the leftover starting pitchers?
The Dodgers are in one of the most interesting situations in baseball with so many capable starting pitchers on their roster. After the big two, there's Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, and Ted Lilly. With the exception of Ryu, every single one of those pitchers has had some sort of success in the majors. Anyone of them is capable of being a starting pitcher on most staffs. But, anyone of them could find himself on the way out the door at any moment.
I think it's safe to assume Beckett and Billingsley are locked in the rotation. I have a hard time believing Ryu wouldn't be as well, especially with the size of his contract, and that he's gotten better and better this spring. So do the Dodgers really want to store Capuano, Harang, and Lilly in the bullpen? That just doesn't seem probable. I know I read that Lilly was asked to start the season on the DL, so that would be one way around the problem. If he turns that down, then you have to expect one of them will be moved. There's been reports at various times this spring about scouts attending starts for Harang and Capuano. Lilly is getting over bad shoulder problems, but he's the best of the three when everyone is healthy.
With injuries occurring so often to pitchers, the Dodgers will most likely look to keep two of the three around for as long as they can. But all three? I just don't see that happening.
6. Is Luis Cruz the real deal?
During a lost 2012 for the Dodgers, one of the lone bright spots was a young kid who quickly became a fan favorite playing third and short. One of the biggest chants from Dodger Stadium (for those who actually bothered to show up) was the "Cruuuuuuuuuuuz!" call at the end of the season. And with good reason, as he hit .297 with 20 doubles, 6 homers, and 40 RBIs in 78 games.
If you're a fantasy baseball player, then this is the type of guy whom the "experts" label as a "regression candidate." It's understandable in a way because he's never had big numbers in his career, dating back through the minors. By looking strictly at the numbers, people can guess that he found lightning in a bottle and a lot went right for him.
I'm going to take the flipside and buy into him, though. I like his aggressive approach at the plate, and think it's a welcome addition to a lineup that can use more power. Plus, he's very versatile in the field, as he can flip-flop between short and third, as he'll do to start the season because of Ramirez's injury. I don't think he'll approach .300 again, but he's an exciting player and I look for him to get plenty of big hits this year.
7. Which Adrian Gonzalez can we expect?
There was plenty of buzz last trade deadline when Gonzalez was brought in from Boston. Finally the Dodgers had a true cleanup hitter to put behind Kemp in the #3 spot. Here's a guy who hit 30+ homers for four straight seasons with the Padres and Red Sox, and is still one of the most feared sluggers in the game.
The result? Three homers and 22 RBIs in 36 games. How many people remember that his first at-bat in LA was a three-run homer? Hard to imagine a power outage like that. All of a sudden that shoulder surgery he had back in October of 2010 looked a lot more serious. Maybe it's a lingering injury that is starting to really take its toll.
I suppose only Gonzalez knows the answer to that, but no matter how you slice it, the Dodgers need him to be the big bopper again. He's really the only other true power threat with Kemp, and if Carl Crawford is leading off and getting on base, then Gonzo can have some big numbers this year. Three taters in 36 games aren't the numbers of a cleanup hitter, so let's hope his shoulder is fine and he's more comfortable this go around.
8. With that in mind, which Carl Crawford can we expect?
One of, if not THE, biggest question marks surrounding the Dodgers this spring was the health of Crawford, who underwent Tommy John surgery last year with the Red Sox before being traded to LA. He's been everything from completely out, to making a comeback, to suffering a setback, to playing as if everything is fine. He's hard to figure out.
The good news is that he's currently at the stage of playing as if everything is fine, and that is some absolutely great news. The Dodgers have zero options other than him to hit leadoff. They can have some guys doing spot duty like Nick Punto, Mark Ellis, and Skip Schumaker, but obviously nobody like Crawford. He has gap power and blazing speed on the bases, and truly can be a difference maker.
He'll never have a golden arm, but that's not why he's there. When he was in his prime with the Rays, he was one of the best players in baseball, much like Ramirez was with the Marlins. Now the Dodgers have both of those guys with something to prove. Elbow injuries are no joke, but if he really is over all of the bad stuff, I'm pumped to watch him atop the Dodgers' order.
9. Will Don Mattingly earn a new contract... or will this be the last we see of him in Dodger blue?
A story that has been kept on the back burner so far has been the contract status of Mattingly, who is entering the final year of his three-year deal. The only time it's come up was when he looked into getting an extension but was turned down. For a team with sky-high expectations, management wants to see how things go this year, which is their right to do.
I love Mattingly's fire, and really do believe in him leading this team. There's times that fire burns too hot, as he has to control getting ejected so much. In other words, he can't be going all Bobby Cox on us! Though if that leads to Cox's success, now we're talking. But anyway, anything less than a playoff appearance will not be good news for him. He has to win and has to win now.
10. Last but not least, what will the Dodgers do with phenom Yasiel Puig?
In 26 games this spring, Puig hit .526 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 11 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases. What did that earn him? A ticket to Double-A Chattanooga. I guess when you're 22 with zero big league experience, even the best Spring Training ever isn't a guarantee of a roster spot.
But let's not kid ourselves, you have to believe that it's only a matter of time before Mr. Puig makes his return to Dodger Stadium. And boy, if he keeps progressing as the five-tool talent that he's shaping up to be, even an inexperienced kid this age is going to get his shot. It only makes sense.
The biggest problem right now is the loaded outfield the Dodgers employ. With names like Kemp, Crawford, and Ethier etched into the lineup, it's not like one of them will be benched. That's a whole lot of money and big numbers riding the pine, so that's not going to happen. The most likely scenario, assuming there's no injuries, is a trade. I recently wrote about Ethier being the favorite in my view to be moved. His declining power could be swapped in order for Puig's bat to make an impact. I'm not saying that's even on the table right now, as a lot can happen during a season. But, it's certainly something to keep in mind.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Will Puig eventually push out Ethier or Crawford?
With news today that Dodgers' phenom Yasiel Puig has been sent to Double-A Chattanooga to start the season, the Dodgers have already declared him unready for the rigors of Major League Baseball. Still, after an absolutely scorching Spring Training that has seen him draw comparisons to the mighty Bo Jackson, this question needs to be asked:
Should Carl Crawford or Andre Ethier start getting worried?
It's a valid question without a simple answer. There's three key factors to consider when diving into answering it:
1) Puig is only 22 and has never been on a big league roster. He's only had 82 official at-bats in his brief minor league career.
2) Crawford and Ethier have a combined six All-Star Game appearances, with Crawford claiming the game's MVP in 2009 with the Rays.
3) Crawford and Ethier are signed through the next five years, and are making a total of $33.5 million this season alone.
And no matter how well Puig has looked this spring, it's #2 and #3 on the list above that might ring the loudest. Plus, with Crawford back playing after some elbow problems earlier this spring, and with Matt Kemp looking healthy after shoulder issues derailed his 2012 campaign, there isn't any room in a loaded outfield in LA regardless.
But let's not worry about right now, let's take a look into the future. Just how far? Well, even that is tricky, as the "future" for Puig could be sometime this season if he continues to rake in the minors. And, if Crawford and/or Ethier struggle against lefties (and we all know Ethier and his .238 career average against southpaws isn't exactly inspiring confidence for Don Mattingly), then the calls for Puig will start heating up even more.
I'm sure many Dodger fans, much like myself, have looked at different ways in which Puig will get to the big club. Taking away the injury factor (which is not in Crawford's favor, like it or not), then in my mind it may come down to moving either Crawford or Ethier and their big contracts. Crawford is the speedster who is pretty valuable right now at the top of the lineup because the Dodgers don't really have any other true leadoff hitter. Ethier has some power, but is more about singles and doubles and good defense.
So which one would go? I just have this feeling that it may be Ethier who gets moved. Like I said above, a healthy Crawford can wreak havoc on opposing defenses with his speed and gap power. He makes so much of a difference when he's right, which is how he got such a monster deal with the Red Sox in the first place. The big "if" is definitely his Tommy John surgically repaired left elbow, which is an issue that obviously won't go away.
That leads me to Ethier. On April 10, he'll turn 31. In 2009, he hit 31 homers and 106 RBIs. The last two years combined he hit 31 homers. Last season he set a career-high with 124 strikeouts, and tied a career-low with a .351 OBP. To be fair, he still hit .284 with 21 homers and 89 RBIs last year, which are certainly solid numbers. But, the point is that an argument can be made that his career trends are slowly ticking downward, which comes with older age.
The power is something that concerns me the most, and is the biggest reason I can see the Dodgers valuing Crawford over Ethier. Right now the Dodgers have big boppers in Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez, and to a lesser extent Hanley Ramirez. Imagine if Ethier's struggle to get extra-base hits becomes worse and worse, then I can definitely see Puig getting his shot to turn that around.
I'm sure the idea of pairing Puig and Kemp in the heart of the Dodgers' order is getting their entire management very excited. And if that means making some sort of trade of an outfielder not named Matt Kemp, then I can see Ethier being the one.
Let's remember that Puig still has plenty of room for improvement, and getting regular at-bats in the minors will only help that. If he continues to mash down on the farm, then look out. The Dodgers' front office will have some big decisions to make to get him to Dodger Stadium.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Visit dressunited.com for great custom apparel
I would happily like to tell all my readers about a great website for designing custom apparel, DressUnited. I recently ordered myself a new white hoodie, and custom designed it with the LA logo on front. Here's what it looks like:
In the past I have done business with their sister websites, BuildASign and EasyCanvasPrints. Each time I have ordered material from these sites, it's been fast and easy, and I've been more than satisfied with the products. The same goes for their new site, and I look forward to ordering from them again in the future.
Bottom line, visit these sites, and order away!
In the past I have done business with their sister websites, BuildASign and EasyCanvasPrints. Each time I have ordered material from these sites, it's been fast and easy, and I've been more than satisfied with the products. The same goes for their new site, and I look forward to ordering from them again in the future.
Bottom line, visit these sites, and order away!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
On second thought, maybe Cruz will play short
After news broke of Hanley Ramirez missing two months with a torn thumb ligament, the speculation quickly turned to who will take his place. One option was to keep Luis Cruz at third and play the likes of Dee Gordon, Jerry Hairston, and Nick Punto at short. The other was to move Cruz to short, while Hairston, Punto, and Juan Uribe play thrid.
I thought for sure that Cruz would stay in his spot at third while the others filled in at short.
Naturally, I thought wrong.
At least it sure appears that way, as Don Mattingly seems to be favoring moving Cruz back to short. In 23 starts at short (24 total appearances) with the Dodgers last season, he compiled a great .981 fielding %, with only 2 errors in 104 total chances. He's also had much success in short stints with the Pirates and Brewers in the past.
So, it's not hard to see why Donny Baseball likes Cruz to move over a slot, because he's shown to be very capable of pulling it off. Throw in the fact that he's hitting .308 this spring with four homers, and that he played very well in the World Baseball Classic (when he wasn't inciting bench-clearing brawls), and you can see why he needs to be in the lineup no matter where he is on defense.
Now that leaves the aforementioned other three guys to man the hot corner. Whom should it be? Well, Hairston has a career .893 fielding % in 19 games manning the hot corner, Punto is at .908% in 40 games, and Uribe is at .964 in 259 games. The advantage in career stats is with Uribe.
But this is also the same Juan Uribe who hit .204 in 2011 and .191 last season with the Dodgers. So ya... I don't see him starting everyday at third. Sadly, he probably will get some time there, and that's just something we all have to deal with. I fully expect Hairston and Punto to get the majority of time there, though. As well they should be.
I thought for sure that Cruz would stay in his spot at third while the others filled in at short.
Naturally, I thought wrong.
At least it sure appears that way, as Don Mattingly seems to be favoring moving Cruz back to short. In 23 starts at short (24 total appearances) with the Dodgers last season, he compiled a great .981 fielding %, with only 2 errors in 104 total chances. He's also had much success in short stints with the Pirates and Brewers in the past.
So, it's not hard to see why Donny Baseball likes Cruz to move over a slot, because he's shown to be very capable of pulling it off. Throw in the fact that he's hitting .308 this spring with four homers, and that he played very well in the World Baseball Classic (when he wasn't inciting bench-clearing brawls), and you can see why he needs to be in the lineup no matter where he is on defense.
Now that leaves the aforementioned other three guys to man the hot corner. Whom should it be? Well, Hairston has a career .893 fielding % in 19 games manning the hot corner, Punto is at .908% in 40 games, and Uribe is at .964 in 259 games. The advantage in career stats is with Uribe.
But this is also the same Juan Uribe who hit .204 in 2011 and .191 last season with the Dodgers. So ya... I don't see him starting everyday at third. Sadly, he probably will get some time there, and that's just something we all have to deal with. I fully expect Hairston and Punto to get the majority of time there, though. As well they should be.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Busted thumb costs HanRam 2 months
First "Captain America" David Wright, now Hanley Ramirez. And just like that I'm starting to agree with the people who are against the World Baseball Classic.
After injuring his right thumb on a dive in the championship game of the WBC (which the Dominican Republic would eventually win), Hanley Ramirez will need surgery to repair a torn ligament, cosing him eight weeks of action. He'll be in a splint for the first three weeks of rehab.
According to Ramirez, the injury occurred early in the game when he dove to his left on a hard hit grounder. His right thumb got stuck into the ground and bent backwards, tearing the ligament. The funny thing is that he actually stayed in the game and picked up a single before the pain really kicked in and manager Tony Pena forced him to sit out.
Even though the Dodgers are dripping with money, don't expect them to go out and make a move to replace him. The obvious choice is to turn to Dee Gordon, who was the starting shortstop last year at this time. He'll need to improve his defense and OBP if he wants to earn the everyday nod. There's also the option of moving Luis Cruz over to short and platooning third.
I would think Cruz will be left alone, and Gordon will get first crack at starting in his old spot again. What's working against Gordon, in addition to what I listed above, is a mild ankle sprain he's trying to get through. Thankfully the strain is "mild," so hopefully he'll be good to go soon.
There's also utility men Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Nick Punto, who can pretty play wherever. There's also the recently demoted Justin Sellers, who has the glove, but can't get a hit. Speaking of not hitting, Juan Uribe is still lurking whether we like it or not.
Now we move onto the issue of the WBC, which has claimed two stars to injury. There's two sides to every story, and here they are for this one. On one side, injuries can occur at any point, at any place. So it doesn't matter where Ramirez's injury occurred, it just did. Not much you can do about it.
The problem with that is the other side, which is that a "major" tournament like this is too risky because of the injury factor. Guys aren't used to going this hard so early in the season, as Spring Training eases them back into action. So while country pride is a big deal, it's hard to justify it being bigger than being at full strength for the team that pays you millions of dollars for your day job.
Look, I very much enjoyed watching Team USA in their six-game stint in the WBC. It was a nice warmup for me before the real season starts. But it's a shame that two players the caliber of Wright and Ramirez had to get hurt because of it. It almost makes it seem not worth it. Or at the very least, not worth playing before the season starts. After the season? Maybe that's the compromise that needs to be reached.
In the meantime, Ramirez will go under the knife on Friday. Eight weeks of recovery will put his return around mid-late May. The Dodgers will be in Milwaukee for three starting on May 20, and back home for three against the Cardinals on May 24.
After injuring his right thumb on a dive in the championship game of the WBC (which the Dominican Republic would eventually win), Hanley Ramirez will need surgery to repair a torn ligament, cosing him eight weeks of action. He'll be in a splint for the first three weeks of rehab.
According to Ramirez, the injury occurred early in the game when he dove to his left on a hard hit grounder. His right thumb got stuck into the ground and bent backwards, tearing the ligament. The funny thing is that he actually stayed in the game and picked up a single before the pain really kicked in and manager Tony Pena forced him to sit out.
Even though the Dodgers are dripping with money, don't expect them to go out and make a move to replace him. The obvious choice is to turn to Dee Gordon, who was the starting shortstop last year at this time. He'll need to improve his defense and OBP if he wants to earn the everyday nod. There's also the option of moving Luis Cruz over to short and platooning third.
I would think Cruz will be left alone, and Gordon will get first crack at starting in his old spot again. What's working against Gordon, in addition to what I listed above, is a mild ankle sprain he's trying to get through. Thankfully the strain is "mild," so hopefully he'll be good to go soon.
There's also utility men Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Nick Punto, who can pretty play wherever. There's also the recently demoted Justin Sellers, who has the glove, but can't get a hit. Speaking of not hitting, Juan Uribe is still lurking whether we like it or not.
Now we move onto the issue of the WBC, which has claimed two stars to injury. There's two sides to every story, and here they are for this one. On one side, injuries can occur at any point, at any place. So it doesn't matter where Ramirez's injury occurred, it just did. Not much you can do about it.
The problem with that is the other side, which is that a "major" tournament like this is too risky because of the injury factor. Guys aren't used to going this hard so early in the season, as Spring Training eases them back into action. So while country pride is a big deal, it's hard to justify it being bigger than being at full strength for the team that pays you millions of dollars for your day job.
Look, I very much enjoyed watching Team USA in their six-game stint in the WBC. It was a nice warmup for me before the real season starts. But it's a shame that two players the caliber of Wright and Ramirez had to get hurt because of it. It almost makes it seem not worth it. Or at the very least, not worth playing before the season starts. After the season? Maybe that's the compromise that needs to be reached.
In the meantime, Ramirez will go under the knife on Friday. Eight weeks of recovery will put his return around mid-late May. The Dodgers will be in Milwaukee for three starting on May 20, and back home for three against the Cardinals on May 24.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
An updated look at the rotation candidates
As we currently stand, there are 13 games left in Spring Training. Here's another look at how the rotation is shaping up, as the battle for the fifth starter heats up.
Clayton Kershaw
2-2, 19 IP, 20 K, 4 BB, 3.79 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
Kershaw recently took a liner off of his calf, but as usual, wasn't affected at all. Rumor has it he's pretty good. 'Nuff said.
Zack Greinke
0-0, 5 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, 3.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
Obviously, this hasn't been the start to his Dodger tenure that Greinke has hoped for. On the good side, his elbow injury appears to be minor, with the only setback being that he might not be ready for his first start. After that, he appears good to go. With the money he makes, the Dodgers will take every precaution necessary, especially since they have plenty of other starters who can plug a gap in the meantime.
Chad Billingsley
0-1, 7 2/3 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 7.04 ERA, 1.96 WHIP
The numbers are high, but the good news is that he's even pitching at all. I still have plenty of worries about Billingsley lasting all year, or with him being effective at all if he's not 100%.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
1-2, 16 1/3 IP, 18 K, 6 BB, 4.41 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
Ryu has gotten progressively better as he settles into pitching to MLB hitters. His last start against the Brewers he surrendered one run in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six while allowing only three hits. I really like him towards the end of the rotation, as hitters aren't used to him yet, and he has the stuff to matchup very well against other 4-5 starters.
Josh Beckett
0-0, 9 1/3 IP, 11 K, 3 BB, 0.96 ERA, 0.75 WHIP
Speaking of pitchers I like this year, Beckett is right atop that list. He showed last year that coming to LA has dramatically helped his career, and I expect him to be great this year as well. A full season in LA will show that he still can get it done, and very well, too.
Chris Capuano
0-1, 9 1/3 IP, 10 K, 2 BB, 10.61 ERA, 1.61 WHIP
Not the greatest of starts for Capuano, who hasn't gotten going at all. The K/BB split is encouraging, though. The longball has killed him, as he's already given up four, so if he figures out how to cut down on that, he'll be fine.
Aaron Harang
1-0, 9 IP, 4 K, 5 BB, 10.00 ERA, 2.44 WHIP
Yikes. It's hard to believe his record is even 1-0 with numbers like those, even if it is Spring Training. When opponents are hitting .395 against you, it's probably not the best way to earn a rotation spot. It's hard to imagine that happening at this point. He better get ready for long relief or another team.
Ted Lilly
0-2, 6 2/3 IP, 5 K, 5 BB, 9.45 ERA, 2.40 WHIP
Once again we have a candidate for the #5 spot who has awful numbers. Lilly has the most to prove, as he missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury. And like Harang, I can't see how he gets that last spot. Just ugly numbers to say the least.
Clayton Kershaw
2-2, 19 IP, 20 K, 4 BB, 3.79 ERA, 1.32 WHIP
Kershaw recently took a liner off of his calf, but as usual, wasn't affected at all. Rumor has it he's pretty good. 'Nuff said.
Zack Greinke
0-0, 5 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, 3.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
Obviously, this hasn't been the start to his Dodger tenure that Greinke has hoped for. On the good side, his elbow injury appears to be minor, with the only setback being that he might not be ready for his first start. After that, he appears good to go. With the money he makes, the Dodgers will take every precaution necessary, especially since they have plenty of other starters who can plug a gap in the meantime.
Chad Billingsley
0-1, 7 2/3 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 7.04 ERA, 1.96 WHIP
The numbers are high, but the good news is that he's even pitching at all. I still have plenty of worries about Billingsley lasting all year, or with him being effective at all if he's not 100%.
Hyun-Jin Ryu
1-2, 16 1/3 IP, 18 K, 6 BB, 4.41 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
Ryu has gotten progressively better as he settles into pitching to MLB hitters. His last start against the Brewers he surrendered one run in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six while allowing only three hits. I really like him towards the end of the rotation, as hitters aren't used to him yet, and he has the stuff to matchup very well against other 4-5 starters.
Josh Beckett
0-0, 9 1/3 IP, 11 K, 3 BB, 0.96 ERA, 0.75 WHIP
Speaking of pitchers I like this year, Beckett is right atop that list. He showed last year that coming to LA has dramatically helped his career, and I expect him to be great this year as well. A full season in LA will show that he still can get it done, and very well, too.
Chris Capuano
0-1, 9 1/3 IP, 10 K, 2 BB, 10.61 ERA, 1.61 WHIP
Not the greatest of starts for Capuano, who hasn't gotten going at all. The K/BB split is encouraging, though. The longball has killed him, as he's already given up four, so if he figures out how to cut down on that, he'll be fine.
Aaron Harang
1-0, 9 IP, 4 K, 5 BB, 10.00 ERA, 2.44 WHIP
Yikes. It's hard to believe his record is even 1-0 with numbers like those, even if it is Spring Training. When opponents are hitting .395 against you, it's probably not the best way to earn a rotation spot. It's hard to imagine that happening at this point. He better get ready for long relief or another team.
Ted Lilly
0-2, 6 2/3 IP, 5 K, 5 BB, 9.45 ERA, 2.40 WHIP
Once again we have a candidate for the #5 spot who has awful numbers. Lilly has the most to prove, as he missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury. And like Harang, I can't see how he gets that last spot. Just ugly numbers to say the least.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
And just like that, it's all over for Team USA
Just a few days ago, you would have thought that Team USA was well on their way to the championship round by defeating Puerto Rico to open Round 2 play.
After Friday night, it's back to the drawing board for the third time in as many WBC tournaments.
Nelson Figueroa dominated the Americans for six innings, and three big runs in the sixth got Puerto Rico all the runs they would need as they advanced to the semifinals, 4-3. The US ends their WBC run with an even 3-3 record.
Puerto Rico opened the scoring right away, as they got one on Ryan Vogelsong in the first. Angel Pagan led off the game by singling to center. With two outs, Yadier (not Bengie, as Harold Reynolds kept calling him) Molina also singled, and Pagan scored on Mike Aviles's RBI single.
The US couldn't do a lick at the plate through five innings. Here's their offensive "highlights": Brandon Phillips reached first on an error in the first (to which Ryan Braun grounded into the dreaded inning ending DP), Ben Zobrist walked in the second, and Phillps singled in the fourth. They looked lifeless, and sure as heck played like it.
The sixth is when Puerto Rico busted it open, and when Joe Torre made his first of two questionable decisions on the night. Vogelsong was lifted with Carlos Beltran on first from a walk and two outs. That was a bit odd because he was only at 73 pitches, and you're allowed 80. Vinnie Pastano was called upon instead, and he immediately loaded the bases on a single to Aviles and walk to an ice cold Alex Rios.
Another walk to Carlos Rivera made the score 2-0. Pestano then failed to get his fourth straight batter out when Andy Gonzalez ripped an RBI double to left, making it 4-0. That was it for Pestano, as Jeremy Affeldt had to get the final out.
It took until the seventh before the US showed any sign of life whatsoever. For the first time in a whopping 15 innings, they got an extra-base hit on a triple by Joe Mauer. He scored on Giancarlo Stanton's RBI single. With two men on and Jose De La Torre pitching, Adam Jones struck out looking with a full count on another terrible strike three call. But then again, poor umpiring in this tournament should no longer be a surprise, and it's not.
The eighth inning brought the Americans within one, but it also brought the second questionable Torre decision. Jimmy Rollins and Phillips each singled with one out. Braun stroked an RBI double, and it was 4-2. Mauer took another walk to load the bases, and after Stanton popped up for two down, Zobrist forced in a run on a walk, and it was suddenly a one-run game.
Here's where Torre dropped the ball, quite frankly. Eric Hosmer was due up, so Puerto Rico manager Tony Pena called upon lefty J.C. Romero. Rather than pinch-hitting for Hosmer, who's had a decent WBC but only hit .200, Torre let him stay in there. The result? A simple groundout to second.
You could say the air was sucked out of the Americans, as they went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
First thing's first, let's give plenty of credit to Puerto Rico. They fought back against Italy on Wednesday, and did the same in this one after losing 7-1 to the US on Tuesday. Figueroa was fantastic, as was Romero getting the final four outs.
But, it's hard not to wonder what might have been had Torre made some different calls during the game. Vogelsong started off the game a little shaky, but more than settled down. Why not leave him in to pitch to right-handed Aviles and possibly Rios in the sixth? He certainly looked ready for it. Pestano is normally a very good reliever, so nothing against him, but it clearly wasn't the right call.
Then there's the Hosmer at-bat in the eighth. That's a spot where Torre could've turned to Jonathan Lucroy, who's a career .325 hitter against lefties, including an incredible .400 last season. Then he could've stayed in to catch while Mauer moved to first. Seems pretty logical to me. Instead, Hosmer grounded out, and that was that.
Look, I'm in no way trying to diminish the great career of Torre, as I very much enjoyed his three years managing my Dodgers. But I have to be honest here, and I didn't like the way he managed this game at all. Of course, not having a great hitter like David Wright didn't do him any favors, either. It was just a bad night all around, I guess.
The final four is now set, as Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, and Japan will look to earn international bragging rights. As for the US, it's back to trying to figure this thing out for 2017. Will they try to convince younger stars they have to play? Will they try to get the guys who commit some sort of extended Spring Training so they're more in game shape? Or will it be status quo?
I guess we all have four years to think about it.
After Friday night, it's back to the drawing board for the third time in as many WBC tournaments.
Nelson Figueroa dominated the Americans for six innings, and three big runs in the sixth got Puerto Rico all the runs they would need as they advanced to the semifinals, 4-3. The US ends their WBC run with an even 3-3 record.
Puerto Rico opened the scoring right away, as they got one on Ryan Vogelsong in the first. Angel Pagan led off the game by singling to center. With two outs, Yadier (not Bengie, as Harold Reynolds kept calling him) Molina also singled, and Pagan scored on Mike Aviles's RBI single.
The US couldn't do a lick at the plate through five innings. Here's their offensive "highlights": Brandon Phillips reached first on an error in the first (to which Ryan Braun grounded into the dreaded inning ending DP), Ben Zobrist walked in the second, and Phillps singled in the fourth. They looked lifeless, and sure as heck played like it.
The sixth is when Puerto Rico busted it open, and when Joe Torre made his first of two questionable decisions on the night. Vogelsong was lifted with Carlos Beltran on first from a walk and two outs. That was a bit odd because he was only at 73 pitches, and you're allowed 80. Vinnie Pastano was called upon instead, and he immediately loaded the bases on a single to Aviles and walk to an ice cold Alex Rios.
Another walk to Carlos Rivera made the score 2-0. Pestano then failed to get his fourth straight batter out when Andy Gonzalez ripped an RBI double to left, making it 4-0. That was it for Pestano, as Jeremy Affeldt had to get the final out.
It took until the seventh before the US showed any sign of life whatsoever. For the first time in a whopping 15 innings, they got an extra-base hit on a triple by Joe Mauer. He scored on Giancarlo Stanton's RBI single. With two men on and Jose De La Torre pitching, Adam Jones struck out looking with a full count on another terrible strike three call. But then again, poor umpiring in this tournament should no longer be a surprise, and it's not.
The eighth inning brought the Americans within one, but it also brought the second questionable Torre decision. Jimmy Rollins and Phillips each singled with one out. Braun stroked an RBI double, and it was 4-2. Mauer took another walk to load the bases, and after Stanton popped up for two down, Zobrist forced in a run on a walk, and it was suddenly a one-run game.
Here's where Torre dropped the ball, quite frankly. Eric Hosmer was due up, so Puerto Rico manager Tony Pena called upon lefty J.C. Romero. Rather than pinch-hitting for Hosmer, who's had a decent WBC but only hit .200, Torre let him stay in there. The result? A simple groundout to second.
You could say the air was sucked out of the Americans, as they went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
First thing's first, let's give plenty of credit to Puerto Rico. They fought back against Italy on Wednesday, and did the same in this one after losing 7-1 to the US on Tuesday. Figueroa was fantastic, as was Romero getting the final four outs.
But, it's hard not to wonder what might have been had Torre made some different calls during the game. Vogelsong started off the game a little shaky, but more than settled down. Why not leave him in to pitch to right-handed Aviles and possibly Rios in the sixth? He certainly looked ready for it. Pestano is normally a very good reliever, so nothing against him, but it clearly wasn't the right call.
Then there's the Hosmer at-bat in the eighth. That's a spot where Torre could've turned to Jonathan Lucroy, who's a career .325 hitter against lefties, including an incredible .400 last season. Then he could've stayed in to catch while Mauer moved to first. Seems pretty logical to me. Instead, Hosmer grounded out, and that was that.
Look, I'm in no way trying to diminish the great career of Torre, as I very much enjoyed his three years managing my Dodgers. But I have to be honest here, and I didn't like the way he managed this game at all. Of course, not having a great hitter like David Wright didn't do him any favors, either. It was just a bad night all around, I guess.
The final four is now set, as Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, and Japan will look to earn international bragging rights. As for the US, it's back to trying to figure this thing out for 2017. Will they try to convince younger stars they have to play? Will they try to get the guys who commit some sort of extended Spring Training so they're more in game shape? Or will it be status quo?
I guess we all have four years to think about it.
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