It took 14 innings on Wednesday night, but once again the Dodgers found a way to win, downing the Diamondbacks, 7-5. It took a blown save by Heath Bell in the ninth, followed by back-to-back jacks from Hanley Ramirez and A.J. Ellis in the 14th to seal the deal.
And with that, the Dodgers are a mere 1 1/2 games in back of the DBacks for first in the NL West. Which means, after playing some horrible baseball for the first 2 1/2 months of the season, the Dodgers could actually be in first place by the time the All-Star break comes after Sunday.
It's hard to believe, but with a red hot team that's won 15 of 18, it certainly can happen.
Both the Dodgers and DBacks have four games left at home, with the Dodgers playing the Rockies, and the DBacks hosting the Brewers. Neither team is over .500 (Rockies 44-48, Brewers 37-53), so the advantage shifts to the home teams.
What will it take for the Dodgers to be in sole possession of first? For starters, take a look at the starters on the mound. They unfortunately have to suffer through Chris Capuano on Thursday, who's been horrible lately. If they can somehow get a win regardless, then Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Ricky Nolasco are lined up to go next, and the Rockies could be in trouble. We all know what Kershaw can do, but Greinke and Nolasco combined to go 14 innings for one run against the DBacks, so they're on a roll.
The Rockies counter with a couple of awful starters in Drew Pomeranz and Juan Nicasio in the first couple of games. Tyler Chatwood and Jhoulys Chacin follow, and they're actually pretty good and probably love pitching away from Coors Field. So it won't be easy against them.
Over in Arizona, the DBacks will get a start out of All-Star Patrick Corbin on Friday, but none of their other starters of Wade Miley, Randall Delgado, and Ian Kennedy have winning records or are anything special. The Brewers are terrible this year, and their supposed "ace" in Yovani Gallardo has been a big part of that. Kyle Lohse has pretty good numbers, but that's it. In other words, the hitters should have their way.
Momentum is clearly on the Dodgers' side, as they're getting contributions from just about everybody. On the flip side, the Rockies are only 3-6 in July, and are nine games under .500 on the road, which shouldn't be too surprising. They've really hit the skids since starting the season 13-4.
One key factor to keep in mind is that Troy Tulowitzki is expected to be activated for this series, and he's been awesome this season by hitting .347 with 16 homers and 51 RBIs. He must be salivating at the thought of hitting against Capuano.
Overall, the Dodgers need to win at least three of four to have a chance at sole possession of first. The DBacks need to win at least three to ensure first regardless of what the Dodgers do. Since the DBacks have played one more game, the Dodgers need to match them in the win column to ensure first place.
Thursday's game will be tough from a pitching standpoint, since Capuano is on the mound and the bullpen is so tired from going nine innings the night before. If the Dodgers still find a way to win, then look out. This recent run isn't ending anytime soon.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
One start in, the Nolasco trade looks golden
If Tuesday night is any indication, the front four of the Dodgers' rotation is ready to take on anybody.
Ricky Nolasco was simply awesome in his Dodger debut, giving up only one run on four hits in seven innings, walking none and striking out five. He also added an RBI single, as the Dodgers took an early lead and never looked back in downing the Diamondbacks for the second straight night, 6-1.
Much like the previous game, it was all Dodgers, and their starting pitcher had so much to do with it. Zack Greinke tossed seven scoreless inning on Monday, giving these two only one run surrendered in 14 innings with 12 strikeouts. It's hard to get much more out of your starting pitchers than that. And to think, those numbers are without Clayton Kershaw, who won't start until Friday.
Nolasco's RBI single in the second scored A.J. Ellis for the early 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Andre Ethier singled, stole second, and went to third on a throwing error from Miguel Montero. An RBI groundout by Skip Schumaker made it 2-0.
The Dodgers added a couple more in the fifth, though they got a gift in order to do so. It was Nolasco who started things with a double to right center. Carl Crawford laid down a perfect bunt for runners on first and third. Yasiel Puig walked, and the bases were loaded.
Up came Adrian Gonzalez, who lifted a long fly ball to dead center. Adam Eaton, a hot young prospect who finally made his season debut after missing time with an elbow injury, appeared to stumble a bit setting up to make the catch, and did, in fact, not catch it. Officially it was scored as a sac-fly RBI with an error, and both Nolasco and Crawford came in for the 4-0 advantage.
The last runs for the Dodgers were scored in the sixth. The bases were loaded once again, and this time Gonzalez left no doubt with an opposite field two-run double, putting his team up 6-0.
The only blemish on the evening for Nolasco came in the seventh. Aaron Hill doubled with one out, and then Martin Prado hit an RBI single with two outs to finally get the DBacks on the board after 15 scoreless innings.
J.P. Howell and Ronald Belisario handled the eighth and ninth, respectively, to close out the game.
There was a bit of drama in the ninth, though nothing more than that. On a two-strike count, Belisario beaned Montero in the foot, causing a warning to be issued to both teams. After the game, Belisario was quoted as saying that the issue is NOT over, yet he DIDN'T throw at Montero on purpose. Um, OK.
That came well after Ian Kennedy, who plunked Puig and Greinke at or near their heads back in June to ignite a brawl, beaned Hanley Ramirez on a changeup in the first. Nothing came of it, and even Don Mattingly admitted that it wasn't on purpose. What was on purpose was when Puig tried to run over Montero on the same play where Eaton dropped the ball in center, and was tagged out by a mile. It sure looked like Puig just wanted to get his licks in, and somewhat did. Again, nothing came of it.
There's still one more game for something to possibly happen, but for now, the focus will go towards the Dodgers' attempt at a sweep. Speaking of great starting pitching, Hyun-Jin Ryu takes the hill. He's been fantastic this year at 7-3 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 90 K's in 111 2/3 IP. He was a bit of an unknown when he was signed this past offseason, even though his success in Japan could not be denied. He certainly has handled pitching in America with ease.
If the Dodgers do get the sweep, then they'll only be 1 1/2 games in back of the DBacks for tops in the NL West. And then, almost improbably, they have a chance at gaining the top spot if they finish the first half strong against the Rockies. Wouldn't that be something?
Ricky Nolasco was simply awesome in his Dodger debut, giving up only one run on four hits in seven innings, walking none and striking out five. He also added an RBI single, as the Dodgers took an early lead and never looked back in downing the Diamondbacks for the second straight night, 6-1.
Much like the previous game, it was all Dodgers, and their starting pitcher had so much to do with it. Zack Greinke tossed seven scoreless inning on Monday, giving these two only one run surrendered in 14 innings with 12 strikeouts. It's hard to get much more out of your starting pitchers than that. And to think, those numbers are without Clayton Kershaw, who won't start until Friday.
Nolasco's RBI single in the second scored A.J. Ellis for the early 1-0 lead. In the fourth, Andre Ethier singled, stole second, and went to third on a throwing error from Miguel Montero. An RBI groundout by Skip Schumaker made it 2-0.
The Dodgers added a couple more in the fifth, though they got a gift in order to do so. It was Nolasco who started things with a double to right center. Carl Crawford laid down a perfect bunt for runners on first and third. Yasiel Puig walked, and the bases were loaded.
Up came Adrian Gonzalez, who lifted a long fly ball to dead center. Adam Eaton, a hot young prospect who finally made his season debut after missing time with an elbow injury, appeared to stumble a bit setting up to make the catch, and did, in fact, not catch it. Officially it was scored as a sac-fly RBI with an error, and both Nolasco and Crawford came in for the 4-0 advantage.
The last runs for the Dodgers were scored in the sixth. The bases were loaded once again, and this time Gonzalez left no doubt with an opposite field two-run double, putting his team up 6-0.
The only blemish on the evening for Nolasco came in the seventh. Aaron Hill doubled with one out, and then Martin Prado hit an RBI single with two outs to finally get the DBacks on the board after 15 scoreless innings.
J.P. Howell and Ronald Belisario handled the eighth and ninth, respectively, to close out the game.
There was a bit of drama in the ninth, though nothing more than that. On a two-strike count, Belisario beaned Montero in the foot, causing a warning to be issued to both teams. After the game, Belisario was quoted as saying that the issue is NOT over, yet he DIDN'T throw at Montero on purpose. Um, OK.
That came well after Ian Kennedy, who plunked Puig and Greinke at or near their heads back in June to ignite a brawl, beaned Hanley Ramirez on a changeup in the first. Nothing came of it, and even Don Mattingly admitted that it wasn't on purpose. What was on purpose was when Puig tried to run over Montero on the same play where Eaton dropped the ball in center, and was tagged out by a mile. It sure looked like Puig just wanted to get his licks in, and somewhat did. Again, nothing came of it.
There's still one more game for something to possibly happen, but for now, the focus will go towards the Dodgers' attempt at a sweep. Speaking of great starting pitching, Hyun-Jin Ryu takes the hill. He's been fantastic this year at 7-3 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 90 K's in 111 2/3 IP. He was a bit of an unknown when he was signed this past offseason, even though his success in Japan could not be denied. He certainly has handled pitching in America with ease.
If the Dodgers do get the sweep, then they'll only be 1 1/2 games in back of the DBacks for tops in the NL West. And then, almost improbably, they have a chance at gaining the top spot if they finish the first half strong against the Rockies. Wouldn't that be something?
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Greinke unstoppable as Dodgers roll in Arizona
With extra motivation, Zack Greinke made sure to leave it all on the field. Seven shutout innings and three hits at the plate later, he did just that.
The Dodgers collected 17 hits in easily beating the first-place Diamondbacks on Monday, 6-1. The lead for Arizona is now down to 3 1/2 games in the NL West, with two games left in this series.
While the Dodgers had no problems gathering hits, it took until the fourth for them to score against Randall Delgado. With Hanley Ramirez on second and Andre Ethier on first from singles, Juan Uribe's RBI single made it 1-0.
In the fifth, Greinke's leadoff single led to a couple more runs. Yasiel Puig singled with one out, and Adrian Gonzalez brought one in with an RBI single. Ramirez followed with one of his own, and it was now 3-0.
Greinke wouldn't budge at all, and the Dodgers started to really separate themselves in the seventh. Gonzalez took a walk with one down, but Ramirez fouled out to first. Ethier doubled to the wall in right center to score one, and A.J. Ellis's RBI single gave them a comfortable 5-0 lead.
Paco Rodriguez took over for Greinke in the eighth and pitched perfect inning with a couple of K's. An RBI fielder's choice by Ellis in the ninth scored another. Jose Dominguez pitched the ninth and gave up a run on a double by Eric Chavez. Martin Prado flew out to end the game.
Greinke came into this game sporting a healthy 6-2 record, but with a 4.30 ERA. Considering the bad blood between these two teams, and that the Dodgers had to place both Matt Kemp and Stephen Fife on the DL before the game, it was a big start for him. Seven innings, two hits, no runs, two walks, and seven strikeouts later, he more than carried his team.
It's a good thing, too, because the Dodgers needed him to pitch better. He said he's been working on his mechanics, and it showed. I don't think everyone should expect Clayton Kershaw-like numbers, but when you're getting paid $147 million, you're expected to be an ace. Monday night, he showed everyone why a Kershaw-Greinke 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation can be so good.
Perhaps lost in all of the Puig hoopla is the hitting streak of Ramirez, which just reached 19 games. After pinch-hitting and striking out against the Pirates on June 16, he hasn't looked back since. At the time he was hitting .258 and looking somewhat lost; now he's hitting .419 and looking incredible. It's a shame he missed so much time earlier in the season, or he'd be an easy All-Star selection. Oh well.
Next up is Ricky Nolasco, who makes his Dodger debut on Tuesday. He's made five career starts at Chase Field with a solid 3-1 record, but with a sky-high 5.32 ERA. Perhaps he's been a bit unlucky, as his WHIP is low at 1.16 with a .242 BAA. Five homers surrendered have probably been his downfall.
Nolasco will be opposed by Ian Kennedy, who's a complete prick and apparently sees nothing wrong with throwing at not one, but two batters' heads. You know the Dodgers can't wait to step in there against him tonight. I can't wait to watch.
The Dodgers collected 17 hits in easily beating the first-place Diamondbacks on Monday, 6-1. The lead for Arizona is now down to 3 1/2 games in the NL West, with two games left in this series.
While the Dodgers had no problems gathering hits, it took until the fourth for them to score against Randall Delgado. With Hanley Ramirez on second and Andre Ethier on first from singles, Juan Uribe's RBI single made it 1-0.
In the fifth, Greinke's leadoff single led to a couple more runs. Yasiel Puig singled with one out, and Adrian Gonzalez brought one in with an RBI single. Ramirez followed with one of his own, and it was now 3-0.
Greinke wouldn't budge at all, and the Dodgers started to really separate themselves in the seventh. Gonzalez took a walk with one down, but Ramirez fouled out to first. Ethier doubled to the wall in right center to score one, and A.J. Ellis's RBI single gave them a comfortable 5-0 lead.
Paco Rodriguez took over for Greinke in the eighth and pitched perfect inning with a couple of K's. An RBI fielder's choice by Ellis in the ninth scored another. Jose Dominguez pitched the ninth and gave up a run on a double by Eric Chavez. Martin Prado flew out to end the game.
Greinke came into this game sporting a healthy 6-2 record, but with a 4.30 ERA. Considering the bad blood between these two teams, and that the Dodgers had to place both Matt Kemp and Stephen Fife on the DL before the game, it was a big start for him. Seven innings, two hits, no runs, two walks, and seven strikeouts later, he more than carried his team.
It's a good thing, too, because the Dodgers needed him to pitch better. He said he's been working on his mechanics, and it showed. I don't think everyone should expect Clayton Kershaw-like numbers, but when you're getting paid $147 million, you're expected to be an ace. Monday night, he showed everyone why a Kershaw-Greinke 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation can be so good.
Perhaps lost in all of the Puig hoopla is the hitting streak of Ramirez, which just reached 19 games. After pinch-hitting and striking out against the Pirates on June 16, he hasn't looked back since. At the time he was hitting .258 and looking somewhat lost; now he's hitting .419 and looking incredible. It's a shame he missed so much time earlier in the season, or he'd be an easy All-Star selection. Oh well.
Next up is Ricky Nolasco, who makes his Dodger debut on Tuesday. He's made five career starts at Chase Field with a solid 3-1 record, but with a sky-high 5.32 ERA. Perhaps he's been a bit unlucky, as his WHIP is low at 1.16 with a .242 BAA. Five homers surrendered have probably been his downfall.
Nolasco will be opposed by Ian Kennedy, who's a complete prick and apparently sees nothing wrong with throwing at not one, but two batters' heads. You know the Dodgers can't wait to step in there against him tonight. I can't wait to watch.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Keep calm and watch A.J. swing
Bases loaded, two outs, ninth inning. Which Dodger would you like to see at the plate?
If you said A.J. Ellis, then go ahead and pat yourself on the back.
After Hanley Ramirez and Juan Uribe failed to drive in runs earlier in the inning, Ellis took a slider from Sergio Romo and cleared the bases with a double, lifting the Dodgers over the Giants, 4-1. The win gives the Dodgers sole possession of second in the NL West, 4 1/2 behind the Diamondbacks. Guess where the Dodgers go next for three? That's right, Arizona. It should be fun.
Whenever the Giants see Clayton Kershaw's name etched in as the starter, they know they're in for a long day, and this was no different. Kershaw is awesome, but it's hard to believe that a team that's won two of the last three World Series would literally have no clue against the same pitcher over and over. But then again, Kershaw is no ordinary pitcher.
Ramirez got things going in the second, as he lined a leadoff triple into "triple's alley" in right center. Andre Ethier found just enough room in shallow center for a bloop RBI single, making it 1-0.
The Giants tied it up in the third. Guillermo Quiroz, the #8 hitter, doubled leading off. A wild pitch soon sent him to third, where he scored on Andres Torres's sac-fly RBI, making it 1-1.
That score would hold up for quite some time, as neither Kershaw or the returning Chad Gaudin gave an inch. Kershaw ended up going eight innings for three hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts. To his credit, Gaudin was just as good, giving up a run in seven innings, striking out nine. The Dodgers didn't have many answers for him.
Thankfully he was pulled after seven, and the always way-too-cocky Romo pitched the ninth. Hey, the guy is good, but celebrates as if he's winning the World Series every game. Relax! His arrogance burned him in this one.
Yasiel Puig led off with a single, flipping the bat in the process and staring bullets through Romo. I love it! Adrian Gonzalez lined a sharp one to Buster Posey at first, who booted it, then threw it into left, allowing the always hustling Puig to get to third. Ramirez had a big chance to end the game here, but very questionably swung at a 3-0 count and only bounced back to the mound. Not a good decision.
Ethier was given the intentional pass to load the bases and pitch to Uribe. He was great on Friday, but not so much here with a strikeout. That left it all up to Ellis, who smashed a high fly ball that bounced to the wall in center for the three-run double. I don't think Ellis ever smiled about it, but he should. It was an awesome swing.
Kenley Jansen picked up his ninth save, only allowing a single to Posey, who pretty much can get a hit off of anybody. In other words, it was a job well done.
This was one of those games where you couldn't help but believe the Dodgers would not have won earlier in the season. So much is going their way right now, and they've earned it. Winning 12 of the last 15 is a run I never thought would happen even a month ago.
Puig had a very rough Saturday with the "Golden Sombrero," striking out four times. We saw the best and worst of him on Sunday. He had two singles, including the one that started the rally in the ninth. He stole second, which is good. But, he got nailed trying to swipe third with Ramirez at-bat in the same inning, which is not good. His speed can lead to bad judgment at times, as you saw there.
But, Puig also had an awesome diving catch in the eighth. The guy just continues to make his mark in one way or another, whether it's on offense or defense. Of course, it helps that he's already had multi-hit games in 16 of 32. That's just crazy.
The big swing was obviously from Ellis, who ended up being the perfect guy for the tense situation. He continues to do his thing, as his average is a modest .267, but his OBP is a nice .360. He also has 12 doubles and 23 RBIs, so he's getting the hits when he needs them. Tim Federowicz homered on Saturday, so hopefully this means Ned Colletti won't need to make silly trades for scrubs like Ramon Hernandez anymore. Enough of that.
No matter what happens in this three-game set in Arizona starting Monday, the DBacks will still be in first. All the Dodgers can do is put some pressure on them heading to the All-Star break. Zack Greinke and his misleading 6-2 record gets the call in the first one. It's another big start for him, who simply needs to pitch better. Hopefully this is the game he starts to do so.
If you said A.J. Ellis, then go ahead and pat yourself on the back.
After Hanley Ramirez and Juan Uribe failed to drive in runs earlier in the inning, Ellis took a slider from Sergio Romo and cleared the bases with a double, lifting the Dodgers over the Giants, 4-1. The win gives the Dodgers sole possession of second in the NL West, 4 1/2 behind the Diamondbacks. Guess where the Dodgers go next for three? That's right, Arizona. It should be fun.
Whenever the Giants see Clayton Kershaw's name etched in as the starter, they know they're in for a long day, and this was no different. Kershaw is awesome, but it's hard to believe that a team that's won two of the last three World Series would literally have no clue against the same pitcher over and over. But then again, Kershaw is no ordinary pitcher.
Ramirez got things going in the second, as he lined a leadoff triple into "triple's alley" in right center. Andre Ethier found just enough room in shallow center for a bloop RBI single, making it 1-0.
The Giants tied it up in the third. Guillermo Quiroz, the #8 hitter, doubled leading off. A wild pitch soon sent him to third, where he scored on Andres Torres's sac-fly RBI, making it 1-1.
That score would hold up for quite some time, as neither Kershaw or the returning Chad Gaudin gave an inch. Kershaw ended up going eight innings for three hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts. To his credit, Gaudin was just as good, giving up a run in seven innings, striking out nine. The Dodgers didn't have many answers for him.
Thankfully he was pulled after seven, and the always way-too-cocky Romo pitched the ninth. Hey, the guy is good, but celebrates as if he's winning the World Series every game. Relax! His arrogance burned him in this one.
Yasiel Puig led off with a single, flipping the bat in the process and staring bullets through Romo. I love it! Adrian Gonzalez lined a sharp one to Buster Posey at first, who booted it, then threw it into left, allowing the always hustling Puig to get to third. Ramirez had a big chance to end the game here, but very questionably swung at a 3-0 count and only bounced back to the mound. Not a good decision.
Ethier was given the intentional pass to load the bases and pitch to Uribe. He was great on Friday, but not so much here with a strikeout. That left it all up to Ellis, who smashed a high fly ball that bounced to the wall in center for the three-run double. I don't think Ellis ever smiled about it, but he should. It was an awesome swing.
Kenley Jansen picked up his ninth save, only allowing a single to Posey, who pretty much can get a hit off of anybody. In other words, it was a job well done.
This was one of those games where you couldn't help but believe the Dodgers would not have won earlier in the season. So much is going their way right now, and they've earned it. Winning 12 of the last 15 is a run I never thought would happen even a month ago.
Puig had a very rough Saturday with the "Golden Sombrero," striking out four times. We saw the best and worst of him on Sunday. He had two singles, including the one that started the rally in the ninth. He stole second, which is good. But, he got nailed trying to swipe third with Ramirez at-bat in the same inning, which is not good. His speed can lead to bad judgment at times, as you saw there.
But, Puig also had an awesome diving catch in the eighth. The guy just continues to make his mark in one way or another, whether it's on offense or defense. Of course, it helps that he's already had multi-hit games in 16 of 32. That's just crazy.
The big swing was obviously from Ellis, who ended up being the perfect guy for the tense situation. He continues to do his thing, as his average is a modest .267, but his OBP is a nice .360. He also has 12 doubles and 23 RBIs, so he's getting the hits when he needs them. Tim Federowicz homered on Saturday, so hopefully this means Ned Colletti won't need to make silly trades for scrubs like Ramon Hernandez anymore. Enough of that.
No matter what happens in this three-game set in Arizona starting Monday, the DBacks will still be in first. All the Dodgers can do is put some pressure on them heading to the All-Star break. Zack Greinke and his misleading 6-2 record gets the call in the first one. It's another big start for him, who simply needs to pitch better. Hopefully this is the game he starts to do so.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Dodgers add rotation depth with Nolasco
The Dodgers made the first "splash" in the trade deadline season by acquiring Ricky Nolasco from the Marlins on Saturday. The Dodgers have agreed to take on the remaining $5.5 million of his contract, which surely was a huge breaking point of the deal. In exchange, the Marlins get three minor league pitchers in Josh Wall, Steven Adams, and Angel Sanchez.
In addition, the Dodgers continue to add to their international signing bonus with another $197,000. They did a similar move when they swapped Matt Guerrier for Carlos Marmol a few days ago. For a team that claims it's serious about rebuilding the international market, this is a good and logical step.
Over the past week or two, the Dodgers have been linked to Nolasco, along with possibly Matt Garza. I imagine the price to get Nolasco was cheaper, as getting someone like Garza perhaps meant parting with guys like Stephen Fife and Matt Magill. That's not a big price either, but giving away three minor leaguers who don't figure into the Dodgers' long-term plans makes more sense.
This season, Nolasco is 5-8 with a 3.85 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 90 K's in 112 1/3 innings. You can practically throw the record out the window when you pitch for a team like the Marlins, who would be a decent Triple-A team at best. How anyone in the world can root for those guys and not go crazy, I have no idea.
The MO for Nolasco his whole career has been "potential," but doesn't seem to live up to it. He has an overall winning record at 81-72, but with an ERA of 4.44 and WHIP of 1.29. The positive is that even on a really bad team this season, his numbers (ignore the record) are better. And that's what made him tradeable.
I like the move, as the Dodgers needed to do something with their 4-5 starters. Fife has done his part with a 2.76 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in eight starts, so he deserves to keep going. Chris Capuano, on the other hand, has been bombed his last two outings, and should be moved back to the bullpen as the long reliever. He's just way too inconsistent, and only getting worse.
I would think the Dodgers can now roll with their rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Nolasco, and Fife. The focus will mostly turn to improving their bullpen, as adding Marmol is OK, but hardly the only answer. With the offense much-improved thanks to some rare good health, pitching in the late innings should now be the key issue.
In addition, the Dodgers continue to add to their international signing bonus with another $197,000. They did a similar move when they swapped Matt Guerrier for Carlos Marmol a few days ago. For a team that claims it's serious about rebuilding the international market, this is a good and logical step.
Over the past week or two, the Dodgers have been linked to Nolasco, along with possibly Matt Garza. I imagine the price to get Nolasco was cheaper, as getting someone like Garza perhaps meant parting with guys like Stephen Fife and Matt Magill. That's not a big price either, but giving away three minor leaguers who don't figure into the Dodgers' long-term plans makes more sense.
This season, Nolasco is 5-8 with a 3.85 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 90 K's in 112 1/3 innings. You can practically throw the record out the window when you pitch for a team like the Marlins, who would be a decent Triple-A team at best. How anyone in the world can root for those guys and not go crazy, I have no idea.
The MO for Nolasco his whole career has been "potential," but doesn't seem to live up to it. He has an overall winning record at 81-72, but with an ERA of 4.44 and WHIP of 1.29. The positive is that even on a really bad team this season, his numbers (ignore the record) are better. And that's what made him tradeable.
I like the move, as the Dodgers needed to do something with their 4-5 starters. Fife has done his part with a 2.76 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in eight starts, so he deserves to keep going. Chris Capuano, on the other hand, has been bombed his last two outings, and should be moved back to the bullpen as the long reliever. He's just way too inconsistent, and only getting worse.
I would think the Dodgers can now roll with their rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Nolasco, and Fife. The focus will mostly turn to improving their bullpen, as adding Marmol is OK, but hardly the only answer. With the offense much-improved thanks to some rare good health, pitching in the late innings should now be the key issue.
Kershaw is an All-Star, Puig and Gonzalez on Final Vote
For the third straight year, Clayton Kershaw will be representing the Dodgers in the Midsummer Classic with the National League. The last Dodger pitcher to be selected three straight years was closer Eric Gagne from 2002-2004, and the last starting pitcher was the great Orel Hershiser from 1987-1989. Some great company, indeed.
Kershaw will start today in San Francisco, which lines up his final start before the break on Friday, July 12. You can bet Bruce Bochy will get an inning or two out of him on four-day's rest as the NL looks to win their fourth consecutive ASG.
What's interesting about the pitchers for the NL is how inexperienced they are in the ASG. The only other starters with multiple selections are Cliff Lee (four) and Adam Wainwright (two). Craig Kimbrel (three) and Aroldis Chapman (two) are the only closers with more than one. I can imagine young studs like Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez will be leaning on the "grizzled veterans" of Kershaw and Lee on how to prepare for such a game like this one.
Perhaps the biggest news to come out of the selections is on the Final Vote, where both Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez have a chance to be voted in by the fans. I bet Gonzalez had a good laugh about this one, as he probably feels like he has no chance to get in over Puig. And who can blame him? Nothing against Gonzo, but it would be shocking if Puig lost.
I wonder if the ASG was on Puig's mind as he struck out four times in a loss to the Giants on Saturday. Everyone is due a stinker, and after 31 games, he finally had his. Even so, other than Gonzo, the remaining competition is Ian Desmond, Hunter Pence, and Freddie Freeman. They're all great players, but again, this seems like Puig's vote to lose.
Something everyone needs to remember is that injury replacements are always needed, especially with starting pitchers being ineligible to pitch in the ASG if they start the Sunday before the break. In that case, I bet Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenley Jansen have decent shots of being added. Heck, even Gonzo could make it if not voted in, as I can recall that happening to Andre Ethier a couple of years back. In other words, stay tuned.
Kershaw will start today in San Francisco, which lines up his final start before the break on Friday, July 12. You can bet Bruce Bochy will get an inning or two out of him on four-day's rest as the NL looks to win their fourth consecutive ASG.
What's interesting about the pitchers for the NL is how inexperienced they are in the ASG. The only other starters with multiple selections are Cliff Lee (four) and Adam Wainwright (two). Craig Kimbrel (three) and Aroldis Chapman (two) are the only closers with more than one. I can imagine young studs like Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez will be leaning on the "grizzled veterans" of Kershaw and Lee on how to prepare for such a game like this one.
Perhaps the biggest news to come out of the selections is on the Final Vote, where both Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez have a chance to be voted in by the fans. I bet Gonzalez had a good laugh about this one, as he probably feels like he has no chance to get in over Puig. And who can blame him? Nothing against Gonzo, but it would be shocking if Puig lost.
I wonder if the ASG was on Puig's mind as he struck out four times in a loss to the Giants on Saturday. Everyone is due a stinker, and after 31 games, he finally had his. Even so, other than Gonzo, the remaining competition is Ian Desmond, Hunter Pence, and Freddie Freeman. They're all great players, but again, this seems like Puig's vote to lose.
Something everyone needs to remember is that injury replacements are always needed, especially with starting pitchers being ineligible to pitch in the ASG if they start the Sunday before the break. In that case, I bet Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenley Jansen have decent shots of being added. Heck, even Gonzo could make it if not voted in, as I can recall that happening to Andre Ethier a couple of years back. In other words, stay tuned.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Uribe (yes, really!) leads Dodgers romp over Giants
The Giants have looked anything but like a defending World Series champion entering Friday night's home game, so when they got up 1-0 after one, the home crowd was excited.
And then the Dodgers started tagging Matt Cain, and they never looked back.
Led by the best night in an otherwise horrible three-year career in LA of Juan Uribe, the Dodgers continued to roll their competition with a 10-2 victory. While the Giants have lost 9 of their last 10, the Dodgers have climbed into a second place tie thanks to winning 11 of their last 13.
Hyun-Jin Ryu ended up throwing a solid game, but it didn't start that way in the first. Andres Torres led off with a single and Marco Scutaro took a walk. After Pablo Sandoval popped up, Buster Posey also walked to load the bases. Hunter Pence got a run home on a fielder's choice, but that was all the damage.
The Uribe Show started in the second, giving the Dodgers a lead they would never relinquish in what turned out to be a laugher. The bases became loaded right away on a walk to Hanley Ramirez, a double by Andre Ethier, and another walk to Matt Kemp, who ended up leaving the game shortly after when he felt a twinge in his left shoulder. He's listed as day-to-day, thankfully. Uribe then lined a two-run double, putting the Dodgers up 2-1.
The third is when the Dodgers chased Cain, who looked about as bad as I've ever seen him. Between the Dodgers lacing the ball and pitch after pitch in the dirt, it was a horrific performance for him. It all started when Yasiel Puig hit a leadoff double, then Adrian Gonzalez walked. Ramirez singled up the middle, and it was 3-1.
The returning Carl Crawford soon hit for Kemp and walked to again load the bases. A.J. Ellis hit an RBI single to go up 4-1. The big blow then came when Uribe hit a sinking liner to left that was just out of the reach of a diving Cole Gillespie, going all the way to the wall for a three-run triple. Even Ryu added an RBI single. Add it all up, and the Dodgers held an 8-1 advantage.
The game was obviously over from there, but Uribe wasn't done. He added to his personal highlight reel with a two-run shot in the seventh, running his RBI total up to seven. He actually had a chance for the cycle in the ninth, but struck out needing a single.
It's safe to say that this game was BY FAR the best game Uribe has played in his 2 1/2 year career in Dodger blue. The ball was jumping off his bat, and even if the triple was caught in the third, he still would've had a big night. Plus, let's not ignore the sharp grounders he gloved at third all night long. He definitely put it all together.
In looking at his stats, Uribe is having a quietly effective season. He's now hitting .280 with a .355 OBP, to go along with 10 doubles, a triple, 5 home runs, and 27 RBIs. Those numbers won't "wow" you, but he's definitely contributing during this recent Dodgers' run of success. Lord know he's taken enough flak the last three years (myself, and just about everyone else included). So you know what? Good for him for shutting everyone up with a game like this. Let's hope he keeps doing that.
Ryu settled down after a shaky first to go 6 2/3 innings for four hits, two runs, three walks, and three strikeouts. He's now 7-3 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. You don't hear his name being brought up for the All-Star Game, but why not? He would more than deserve a slot.
The Dodgers have to feel good about the two weekend games. First they hand the ball to Stephen Fife on Saturday, who's been pitching very well of late. Then it's Clayton Kershaw time on Sunday. This could be two straight sweeps of the rivals.
And then the Dodgers started tagging Matt Cain, and they never looked back.
Led by the best night in an otherwise horrible three-year career in LA of Juan Uribe, the Dodgers continued to roll their competition with a 10-2 victory. While the Giants have lost 9 of their last 10, the Dodgers have climbed into a second place tie thanks to winning 11 of their last 13.
Hyun-Jin Ryu ended up throwing a solid game, but it didn't start that way in the first. Andres Torres led off with a single and Marco Scutaro took a walk. After Pablo Sandoval popped up, Buster Posey also walked to load the bases. Hunter Pence got a run home on a fielder's choice, but that was all the damage.
The Uribe Show started in the second, giving the Dodgers a lead they would never relinquish in what turned out to be a laugher. The bases became loaded right away on a walk to Hanley Ramirez, a double by Andre Ethier, and another walk to Matt Kemp, who ended up leaving the game shortly after when he felt a twinge in his left shoulder. He's listed as day-to-day, thankfully. Uribe then lined a two-run double, putting the Dodgers up 2-1.
The third is when the Dodgers chased Cain, who looked about as bad as I've ever seen him. Between the Dodgers lacing the ball and pitch after pitch in the dirt, it was a horrific performance for him. It all started when Yasiel Puig hit a leadoff double, then Adrian Gonzalez walked. Ramirez singled up the middle, and it was 3-1.
The returning Carl Crawford soon hit for Kemp and walked to again load the bases. A.J. Ellis hit an RBI single to go up 4-1. The big blow then came when Uribe hit a sinking liner to left that was just out of the reach of a diving Cole Gillespie, going all the way to the wall for a three-run triple. Even Ryu added an RBI single. Add it all up, and the Dodgers held an 8-1 advantage.
The game was obviously over from there, but Uribe wasn't done. He added to his personal highlight reel with a two-run shot in the seventh, running his RBI total up to seven. He actually had a chance for the cycle in the ninth, but struck out needing a single.
It's safe to say that this game was BY FAR the best game Uribe has played in his 2 1/2 year career in Dodger blue. The ball was jumping off his bat, and even if the triple was caught in the third, he still would've had a big night. Plus, let's not ignore the sharp grounders he gloved at third all night long. He definitely put it all together.
In looking at his stats, Uribe is having a quietly effective season. He's now hitting .280 with a .355 OBP, to go along with 10 doubles, a triple, 5 home runs, and 27 RBIs. Those numbers won't "wow" you, but he's definitely contributing during this recent Dodgers' run of success. Lord know he's taken enough flak the last three years (myself, and just about everyone else included). So you know what? Good for him for shutting everyone up with a game like this. Let's hope he keeps doing that.
Ryu settled down after a shaky first to go 6 2/3 innings for four hits, two runs, three walks, and three strikeouts. He's now 7-3 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. You don't hear his name being brought up for the All-Star Game, but why not? He would more than deserve a slot.
The Dodgers have to feel good about the two weekend games. First they hand the ball to Stephen Fife on Saturday, who's been pitching very well of late. Then it's Clayton Kershaw time on Sunday. This could be two straight sweeps of the rivals.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Crawford returns, so the outfield logjam is upon us
Carl Crawford has been activated from the 15-day DL, where he spent just over a month with a strained left hamstring. He takes the spot of Scott Van Slyke, who will go back to Triple-A Albuquerque as a victim of the numbers game.
Crawford started off the year as a big spark in the leadoff spot, hitting .308 with four homers and four steals in April. Injuries here and there slowed him down some since then, as he only appeared in one game in June before hitting the DL. Still, he's at .301 with 32 runs scored, so he'll look to pick things back up in his old spot.
Of course, getting his old spot back everyday is not a given, as Don Mattingly now has his hands full with Crawford, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier all healthy in the outfield. It's a good problem to have, but no matter what, someone with big talent (and a bigger contract) will have to sit at the start of each game. As a matter of fact, it's Crawford who will sit out Friday night's game in San Francisco.
There's no way Puig will sit at all with the way he's set the world on fire, so that leaves three guys for two spots. Kemp is slowly getting his power back with two homers in his last two games, so it's hard to yank him. And as much as Ethier has struggled at the plate this year, he did pick it up some in June at .261, his most productive month. Plus, he deserves a lot of credit for playing all three outfield positions very, very well.
With the way Crawford and Kemp have been banged up this year, and dating back into last as well, I don't expect them to be locks to play everyday. Ethier probably will get the least amount of starts, but if there's one thing the Dodgers know, it's that injuries happen at any moment. Even Puig is nursing a sore left leg from crashing into the wall in Colorado, so maybe he'll soon need some rest.
Van Slyke is an easy player to like, as he's a power threat. But in 13 games in June, he's hitting only .185 with a couple homers. I like his future, and you know he'll be back in an instant if there's another injury, or when rosters are expanded in September. Keep an eye out for him.
Crawford started off the year as a big spark in the leadoff spot, hitting .308 with four homers and four steals in April. Injuries here and there slowed him down some since then, as he only appeared in one game in June before hitting the DL. Still, he's at .301 with 32 runs scored, so he'll look to pick things back up in his old spot.
Of course, getting his old spot back everyday is not a given, as Don Mattingly now has his hands full with Crawford, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier all healthy in the outfield. It's a good problem to have, but no matter what, someone with big talent (and a bigger contract) will have to sit at the start of each game. As a matter of fact, it's Crawford who will sit out Friday night's game in San Francisco.
There's no way Puig will sit at all with the way he's set the world on fire, so that leaves three guys for two spots. Kemp is slowly getting his power back with two homers in his last two games, so it's hard to yank him. And as much as Ethier has struggled at the plate this year, he did pick it up some in June at .261, his most productive month. Plus, he deserves a lot of credit for playing all three outfield positions very, very well.
With the way Crawford and Kemp have been banged up this year, and dating back into last as well, I don't expect them to be locks to play everyday. Ethier probably will get the least amount of starts, but if there's one thing the Dodgers know, it's that injuries happen at any moment. Even Puig is nursing a sore left leg from crashing into the wall in Colorado, so maybe he'll soon need some rest.
Van Slyke is an easy player to like, as he's a power threat. But in 13 games in June, he's hitting only .185 with a couple homers. I like his future, and you know he'll be back in an instant if there's another injury, or when rosters are expanded in September. Keep an eye out for him.
Capuano, League, and Belisario all pitched...
So take a wild guess what happened?
The four-game winning streak came to a halt 9-5, as the Rockies got all the big hits with runners on, while the Dodgers did not. And oh yeah, anytime you see the three pitchers listed above as appearing in the same game, you know it's a loss.
The game started off well for the Dodgers, as Matt Kemp hit a two-run bomb to left center in the second to go up 2-1. With Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez playing as well as they are, if Kemp can keep going (two homers in two games), then look out. This team can do some serious damage.
Of course, the age old problem of driving runners in came back to haunt them in the early inning. After Kemp homered, Tim Federowicz and Nick Punto each singled. Capuano failed to advance Federowicz to third when he was tagged out, and Mark Ellis and Puig both struck out.
In the third, the bases became loaded with one out when Adrian Gonzalez singled, Ramirez walked, and Kemp singled. Federowicz had a horrible at-bat by popping up and Punto struck out, tossing his helmet and bat in frustration.
That was a huge momentum changer, as the Rockies pounded Capuano in the third. Three straight singles started the inning, as pitcher Jhoulys Chacin had the first one. The red hot Michael Cuddyer had the big blow with a two-run double, and Wilin Rosario's sac-fly RBI made it 5-2.
Capuano was chased with one out in the fifth as Josh Rutledge was on second with a leadoff double. In came Brandon League, and if you recall, Don Mattingly said he'd only be used if it was a non-pressure situation. Well, pressure or not, it didn't make one bit of difference. He was absolutely horrendous once again, as three of the four batters he faced reached base, with Rosario and Todd Helton picking up RBI singles. J.P. Howell had to get the last out, but by then it was 8-2.
The Dodgers tried to chip away here and there, but never seriously threatened the rest of the way. Puig picked up his only hit of the night in the sixth, an RBI single to center. A day after leaving the game because of crashing into the wall, it was good just to see him in the lineup. Gonzalez had an RBI double, then added a solo homer in the ninth, but the game was long decided by then.
The bats definitely blew huge opportunities in the early stages, as the runners left on base in the second and third was something they never recovered from. I guess they could've used a couple of those 10 extra-base hits from the night before. It didn't happen, and as a result, 11 men were left on compared to the Rockies' five.
Despite the number of men left on, this game was barely winnable in the first place with Capuano on the mound. Boy has he crashed and burned of late. After a horrific start last Friday in getting pounded by the Phillies 16-1, he only lasted 4 1/3 innings in this one for seven hits, six runs (five earned), one walk, and three strikeouts. I know it's Coors Field, but he still stunk.
Capuano actually had two straight great starts against the Yankees and Padres before getting crushed in these last two. His ERA has shot up over a run from 4.09 to 5.19. For a guy with a history of slowing down in the second half (3.82 before, 4.94 after), you can bet the trade rumors for guys like Ricky Nolasco and Matt Garza will only heat up more. And rightfully so because Capuano should not be starting games anymore. He's terrible.
Then there's League, who's somehow worse. Can you imagine that? He's gotten so bad, you can't help but possibly feel bad for him. Then you remember he's getting paid $5.5 million this season, and your sympathy probably goes away. His ERA and WHIP have gone all the way up to 6.37 and 1.62. Wow is he just awful.
Belisario had a scoreless inning. Yes, you really did just read that. Then again, there was no lead to blow as the Dodgers were down 9-4 at the time. He lowered his WHIP all the way to 1.68. That's awesome!
Even with the loss, the Dodgers took two of three on the road, which is something they've struggled with big time. They now head to San Francisco for three. I don't care how much the Giants are struggling right now, these games are always tough. Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the call against Matt Cain.
The four-game winning streak came to a halt 9-5, as the Rockies got all the big hits with runners on, while the Dodgers did not. And oh yeah, anytime you see the three pitchers listed above as appearing in the same game, you know it's a loss.
The game started off well for the Dodgers, as Matt Kemp hit a two-run bomb to left center in the second to go up 2-1. With Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez playing as well as they are, if Kemp can keep going (two homers in two games), then look out. This team can do some serious damage.
Of course, the age old problem of driving runners in came back to haunt them in the early inning. After Kemp homered, Tim Federowicz and Nick Punto each singled. Capuano failed to advance Federowicz to third when he was tagged out, and Mark Ellis and Puig both struck out.
In the third, the bases became loaded with one out when Adrian Gonzalez singled, Ramirez walked, and Kemp singled. Federowicz had a horrible at-bat by popping up and Punto struck out, tossing his helmet and bat in frustration.
That was a huge momentum changer, as the Rockies pounded Capuano in the third. Three straight singles started the inning, as pitcher Jhoulys Chacin had the first one. The red hot Michael Cuddyer had the big blow with a two-run double, and Wilin Rosario's sac-fly RBI made it 5-2.
Capuano was chased with one out in the fifth as Josh Rutledge was on second with a leadoff double. In came Brandon League, and if you recall, Don Mattingly said he'd only be used if it was a non-pressure situation. Well, pressure or not, it didn't make one bit of difference. He was absolutely horrendous once again, as three of the four batters he faced reached base, with Rosario and Todd Helton picking up RBI singles. J.P. Howell had to get the last out, but by then it was 8-2.
The Dodgers tried to chip away here and there, but never seriously threatened the rest of the way. Puig picked up his only hit of the night in the sixth, an RBI single to center. A day after leaving the game because of crashing into the wall, it was good just to see him in the lineup. Gonzalez had an RBI double, then added a solo homer in the ninth, but the game was long decided by then.
The bats definitely blew huge opportunities in the early stages, as the runners left on base in the second and third was something they never recovered from. I guess they could've used a couple of those 10 extra-base hits from the night before. It didn't happen, and as a result, 11 men were left on compared to the Rockies' five.
Despite the number of men left on, this game was barely winnable in the first place with Capuano on the mound. Boy has he crashed and burned of late. After a horrific start last Friday in getting pounded by the Phillies 16-1, he only lasted 4 1/3 innings in this one for seven hits, six runs (five earned), one walk, and three strikeouts. I know it's Coors Field, but he still stunk.
Capuano actually had two straight great starts against the Yankees and Padres before getting crushed in these last two. His ERA has shot up over a run from 4.09 to 5.19. For a guy with a history of slowing down in the second half (3.82 before, 4.94 after), you can bet the trade rumors for guys like Ricky Nolasco and Matt Garza will only heat up more. And rightfully so because Capuano should not be starting games anymore. He's terrible.
Then there's League, who's somehow worse. Can you imagine that? He's gotten so bad, you can't help but possibly feel bad for him. Then you remember he's getting paid $5.5 million this season, and your sympathy probably goes away. His ERA and WHIP have gone all the way up to 6.37 and 1.62. Wow is he just awful.
Belisario had a scoreless inning. Yes, you really did just read that. Then again, there was no lead to blow as the Dodgers were down 9-4 at the time. He lowered his WHIP all the way to 1.68. That's awesome!
Even with the loss, the Dodgers took two of three on the road, which is something they've struggled with big time. They now head to San Francisco for three. I don't care how much the Giants are struggling right now, these games are always tough. Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the call against Matt Cain.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Puig gets the pub, but Hanley is a star again
All of the praise heaped upon Yasiel Puig has been completely justified and well-deserved. After all, anyone who wins both the Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month is a stud. Throw in the fact that it's his first month in the big leagues, and it's amazing to reflect at all he's already accomplished.
But let's not overlook the reason the Dodgers are winning again. It's because of Hanley Ramirez.
That's of no fault of Puig, who has been awesome since day one. But, for the first three weeks of his debut, the Dodgers only had a 7-10 record. It seemed like the story of each game would be "Puig shines, but the Dodgers still lose." He couldn't overcome the lack of production from the bums around him.
Enter Ramirez. His season never really got started until June 4 thanks to a torn thumb ligament in the World Baseball Classic and a strained hamstring running the bases against the Giants. Even when he returned, he was relegated to pinch-hitting duties and missed three straight games because of precaution. It sure looked like the Dodgers wouldn't get much out of him this season.
That all changed on June 19 in Yankee Stadium. As the Dodgers split a day-night doubleheader, Ramirez went 6-for-8 with three runs, a homer, a double, and four RBIs. He never looked back. Since then, he's been on a 14-game hitting streak with five homers and 15 RBIs along the way. Simply put, he's been awesome and just crushing the ball on seemingly every swing.
He's also been extremely valuable, because his return to MVP form has brought the Dodgers win after win. Currently they've taken 10 of 11 and are sitting 2 1/2 games in back of the Diamondbacks in the NL West. Where were they a month ago today? Try dead last and 7 1/2 back. It was ugly.
There are many other things that have gone well for the Dodgers, too. Kenley Jansen has been great as the closer. Clayton Kershaw has been... well, Clayton Kershaw. Juan Uribe has actually hit this year. Andre Ethier has played great defense and has picked it up some at the dish. Plus, getting rid of underachievers Luis Cruz and Matt Guerrier has been addition by subtraction (I wish I could say the same about Brandon League, but I digress).
It's been a team effort to get this winning streak going, but make no mistake about it, Ramirez's impact has pushed this team over the top. Puig set the tone, now Ramirez has turned that tone into wins. So while we all marvel over the greatness of Puig, don't forget what Ramirez offers as well.
Now please, just stay healthy!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
It's time for Greinke to join the fun
The Dodgers demolished the Rockies on Tuesday night 8-0 behind another awesome night by Yasiel Puig, and a complete game shutout by Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw also ended Michael Cuddyer's hitting streak at 27 games, who flied out to end the game. It was their ninth win in the last 10, moving them to 2 1/2 games in back of first place in the NL West.
The big stars brought in by management to shine did just that. In addition to Puig and Kershaw, Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer, Hanley Ramirez upped his hitting streak to 13 games and scored a couple runs, and Andre Ethier had two hits and a stolen base. Matt Kemp was hitless, but did collect an RBI at least.
After the game I took a peak at the starting pitchers for Wednesday night and saw Zack Greinke's name. The first thing I said to myself was, "Now it's his turn."
Yes, with the Dodgers the hottest team in baseball, it's time for the "other" ace to lead the way.
So far I'd put Greinke's season at the decent to pretty good range. Nothing awful, but certainly nothing special either. He's just kind of been there. He currently stands at 5-2 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 48 K's in 64 IP. Again, nothing bad, but nothing spectacular either.
Whether he likes it or not, his massive contract he inked this past offseason (six years, $147 million) gives him higher expectations. He wasn't signed to be pretty good. He was signed to take the ball the day after Kershaw and put up dominant numbers as well. So far, that hasn't been the case.
We should remember that Greinke was supposed to miss up to two months after that idiot Carlos Quentin charged the mound in April and broke his collarbone, but he ended up returning about a month early. I've always wondered if he was still feeling some effects of that, as his ERA in May was 6.75. Maybe he was but didn't want to sit again, feeling pressure to perform. Who knows.
What I do know is that he seems to have fallen into a pattern of one good start, one not-so-good start. Take a look at his last four trips to the mound:
6/11 vs. Arizona: 7 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (no-decision)
6/16 at Pittsburgh: 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (loss)
6/22 at San Diego: 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (win)
6/27 vs. Philadelphia: 7 IP, 12 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (win)
Again, it's not like he's getting shelled, but he certainly hasn't been the consistent top-tier starter the Dodgers signed him to be. Even though he won his last start agains the Phillies, he was hardly sharp, and for once got a win because of his offense.
After tonight's start in Colorado, he's lined up for two more starts before the All-Star break: in Arizona and home against the Rockies. Obviously, that's three starts against division opponents, so the wins count for that much more.
If there's a reason for optimism that Greinke is about to put up better numbers, then it's his career splits between before and after the break. Since he debuted with the Royals in 2004, he has a 3.93 ERA before, and 3.60 after. Then you take into account the tremendous difference in ERA between home and away (3.39 vs. 4.20), and you start to like seeing him down the stretch on the mound in Dodger Stadium even more.
While the 12th start of the season shouldn't be the most important, it could be for Greinke as he looks to continue the Dodgers' hot run. If the Dodgers gave him all of this money with starts like this in mind, then it's time to step up and deliver the goods.
The big stars brought in by management to shine did just that. In addition to Puig and Kershaw, Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer, Hanley Ramirez upped his hitting streak to 13 games and scored a couple runs, and Andre Ethier had two hits and a stolen base. Matt Kemp was hitless, but did collect an RBI at least.
After the game I took a peak at the starting pitchers for Wednesday night and saw Zack Greinke's name. The first thing I said to myself was, "Now it's his turn."
Yes, with the Dodgers the hottest team in baseball, it's time for the "other" ace to lead the way.
So far I'd put Greinke's season at the decent to pretty good range. Nothing awful, but certainly nothing special either. He's just kind of been there. He currently stands at 5-2 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 48 K's in 64 IP. Again, nothing bad, but nothing spectacular either.
Whether he likes it or not, his massive contract he inked this past offseason (six years, $147 million) gives him higher expectations. He wasn't signed to be pretty good. He was signed to take the ball the day after Kershaw and put up dominant numbers as well. So far, that hasn't been the case.
We should remember that Greinke was supposed to miss up to two months after that idiot Carlos Quentin charged the mound in April and broke his collarbone, but he ended up returning about a month early. I've always wondered if he was still feeling some effects of that, as his ERA in May was 6.75. Maybe he was but didn't want to sit again, feeling pressure to perform. Who knows.
What I do know is that he seems to have fallen into a pattern of one good start, one not-so-good start. Take a look at his last four trips to the mound:
6/11 vs. Arizona: 7 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (no-decision)
6/16 at Pittsburgh: 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (loss)
6/22 at San Diego: 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (win)
6/27 vs. Philadelphia: 7 IP, 12 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (win)
Again, it's not like he's getting shelled, but he certainly hasn't been the consistent top-tier starter the Dodgers signed him to be. Even though he won his last start agains the Phillies, he was hardly sharp, and for once got a win because of his offense.
After tonight's start in Colorado, he's lined up for two more starts before the All-Star break: in Arizona and home against the Rockies. Obviously, that's three starts against division opponents, so the wins count for that much more.
If there's a reason for optimism that Greinke is about to put up better numbers, then it's his career splits between before and after the break. Since he debuted with the Royals in 2004, he has a 3.93 ERA before, and 3.60 after. Then you take into account the tremendous difference in ERA between home and away (3.39 vs. 4.20), and you start to like seeing him down the stretch on the mound in Dodger Stadium even more.
While the 12th start of the season shouldn't be the most important, it could be for Greinke as he looks to continue the Dodgers' hot run. If the Dodgers gave him all of this money with starts like this in mind, then it's time to step up and deliver the goods.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
The stomach ache (Guerrier) gets traded for the headache (Marmol)
If there was ever a definition of trading one bad player for another for a "change of scenery," this is it.
Both the Dodgers and Cubs can only hope that's true, as Carlos Marmol has been shipped to the Dodgers for Matt Guerrier. Both have healthy contracts, and both have struggled mightily this year. In addition, the Dodgers will receive extra cash along with $209,000 in international signing considerations.
And if you don't think the Dodgers value the international market, I ask you to take a peek at the stats of some guy named Yasiel Puig. So this was a good add-on to the trade.
Marmol has had quite the up and down career, but 2013 has been pretty much rock bottom. He's only 2-5 in save opportunities, to go along with a whopping 5.83 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. Yikes. Much like Dodger fans felt each time Brandon League took the ball with a lead in the ninth, Cub fans knew to expect the worst. And neither did anything to change that.
What can Marmol do for LA? As I mentioned above, it's all about the infamous "change of scenery" for struggling players. From 2010-2012, he saved 38, 34, 20 games, respectively. So the history of pitching effectively late in games is there. The Dodgers tweeted out an interesting fact: since 2007, Marmol leads all relievers with 644 K's, and is fourth with a .174 BAA.
That's all well and good, but obviously Marmol is a different pitcher now. The Dodgers recently promoted Jose Dominguez and Chris Withrow to pitch in middle relief. They certainly have good stuff, but are still rookies. Ronald Belisario and League are awful. Paco Rodriguez and J.P. Howell are reliable lefties.
So this certainly gives Marmol a chance to get some holds, bridging the gap to Kenley Jansen. In a perfect world, League would get DFA'd, but not with that contract. Maybe Belisario? I'd be fine with that. I have a feeling it will be Withrow, since Dominguez throws near 100 MPH and wowed everybody in his one inning on Sunday.
The biggest hurdle Marmol will have is lowering his walks, as 21 in 27 2/3 innings is way too many. He has 32 strikeouts, so he still shows the ability to get hitters to swing and miss. Rick Honeycutt doesn't have much to lose by working with him, so let's see where this goes.
As for Guerrier, he leaves as a major disappointment. He signed a three-year, $12 million deal before 2011 to be the primary setup guy. It never worked out. He appeared in 70 games in '11 with a 4.07 ERA, and injuries limited him to only 16 games last year. In 34 appearances this year, he had a 4.80 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He was DFA'd a few days ago, so he was on his way out regardless.
Both the Dodgers and Cubs can only hope that's true, as Carlos Marmol has been shipped to the Dodgers for Matt Guerrier. Both have healthy contracts, and both have struggled mightily this year. In addition, the Dodgers will receive extra cash along with $209,000 in international signing considerations.
And if you don't think the Dodgers value the international market, I ask you to take a peek at the stats of some guy named Yasiel Puig. So this was a good add-on to the trade.
Marmol has had quite the up and down career, but 2013 has been pretty much rock bottom. He's only 2-5 in save opportunities, to go along with a whopping 5.83 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. Yikes. Much like Dodger fans felt each time Brandon League took the ball with a lead in the ninth, Cub fans knew to expect the worst. And neither did anything to change that.
What can Marmol do for LA? As I mentioned above, it's all about the infamous "change of scenery" for struggling players. From 2010-2012, he saved 38, 34, 20 games, respectively. So the history of pitching effectively late in games is there. The Dodgers tweeted out an interesting fact: since 2007, Marmol leads all relievers with 644 K's, and is fourth with a .174 BAA.
That's all well and good, but obviously Marmol is a different pitcher now. The Dodgers recently promoted Jose Dominguez and Chris Withrow to pitch in middle relief. They certainly have good stuff, but are still rookies. Ronald Belisario and League are awful. Paco Rodriguez and J.P. Howell are reliable lefties.
So this certainly gives Marmol a chance to get some holds, bridging the gap to Kenley Jansen. In a perfect world, League would get DFA'd, but not with that contract. Maybe Belisario? I'd be fine with that. I have a feeling it will be Withrow, since Dominguez throws near 100 MPH and wowed everybody in his one inning on Sunday.
The biggest hurdle Marmol will have is lowering his walks, as 21 in 27 2/3 innings is way too many. He has 32 strikeouts, so he still shows the ability to get hitters to swing and miss. Rick Honeycutt doesn't have much to lose by working with him, so let's see where this goes.
As for Guerrier, he leaves as a major disappointment. He signed a three-year, $12 million deal before 2011 to be the primary setup guy. It never worked out. He appeared in 70 games in '11 with a 4.07 ERA, and injuries limited him to only 16 games last year. In 34 appearances this year, he had a 4.80 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He was DFA'd a few days ago, so he was on his way out regardless.
Utley could be on the Dodgers' radar
The Dodgers appear to be on the verge of adding Carlos Marmol, who's had an absolutely atrocious season with the Cubs. They also could be interested in another Cub, Matt Garza.
Now word is coming from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the Dodgers could be in pursuit of Chase Utley.
Utley is a California native, having attended high school in Long Beach before taking his talents to UCLA. The Dodgers have a need at second base as Mark Ellis has struggled to stay healthy, and utility players like Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker are decent, but certainly not in the class of Utley.
I'm sure that interest was ramped up a few notches after Utley's four-game stay in Dodger Stadium this past week. He stroked three homers to go along with eight hits, and looked like a young star again. The Dodgers took three of four, but certainly not because they shut him down.
If Utley does express interest in being a Dodger (the organization originally drafted him back in 1997 before he opted for UCLA instead), then I have to imagine Ned Colletti would jump all over it. Injuries and age have taken their toll on Utley, as there's no way he'll return to his 30 homer, 100 RBI days. But, he's still a big name, and has shown this season, especially against the Dodgers, that he's swinging a healthy bat. He's already at 11 homers, which is the same amount he hit in each of the previous two seasons.
There are hurdles to this deal, however. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro is obviously a big fan of Utley, as he's still a link to their championship team from 2008. He's playing much better this season and is someone people will pay their money to see. Plus, there's the $15 million he's owed this season. That doesn't just magically go away...
... unless you're the Dodgers, and you've shown a willingness to take on large contracts. With that said, Utley would have to waive his no-trade clause, and the Dodgers would have to send some good prospects to make this happen.
I wouldn't say a deal sounds likely at this point, but it's worth keeping an eye on as the month of July progresses.
Now word is coming from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the Dodgers could be in pursuit of Chase Utley.
Utley is a California native, having attended high school in Long Beach before taking his talents to UCLA. The Dodgers have a need at second base as Mark Ellis has struggled to stay healthy, and utility players like Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker are decent, but certainly not in the class of Utley.
I'm sure that interest was ramped up a few notches after Utley's four-game stay in Dodger Stadium this past week. He stroked three homers to go along with eight hits, and looked like a young star again. The Dodgers took three of four, but certainly not because they shut him down.
If Utley does express interest in being a Dodger (the organization originally drafted him back in 1997 before he opted for UCLA instead), then I have to imagine Ned Colletti would jump all over it. Injuries and age have taken their toll on Utley, as there's no way he'll return to his 30 homer, 100 RBI days. But, he's still a big name, and has shown this season, especially against the Dodgers, that he's swinging a healthy bat. He's already at 11 homers, which is the same amount he hit in each of the previous two seasons.
There are hurdles to this deal, however. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro is obviously a big fan of Utley, as he's still a link to their championship team from 2008. He's playing much better this season and is someone people will pay their money to see. Plus, there's the $15 million he's owed this season. That doesn't just magically go away...
... unless you're the Dodgers, and you've shown a willingness to take on large contracts. With that said, Utley would have to waive his no-trade clause, and the Dodgers would have to send some good prospects to make this happen.
I wouldn't say a deal sounds likely at this point, but it's worth keeping an eye on as the month of July progresses.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Dodgers in the mix for Matt Garza
The calendar hit July 1 today, and with that, trade rumors will start to swirl more and more each day. We all know that's just the way the Dodgers like it as the deadline approaches on July 31.
Now that they've won eight of nine and are only four games in back of first in the NL West, you can bet Ned Colletti will be as motivated as ever to get this team back over the hump.
The biggest areas of need are third base, middle relief, and back end of the rotation. Today, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com wrote about five possible destinations for Cubs' starter Matt Garza (Insider only). The Cubs are facing yet another rebuilding season, so let's take a look at the proposed deal (which isn't real keep in mind, just what Bowden suggests) and if I would pull the trigger on it.
Garza to the Dodgers for RHPs Stephen Fife and Matt Magill
Garza: He got a late start to the season thanks to a strained lat muscle, and as the Reds' Johnny Cueto can attest to, that's not an easy injury to get rid of. But, Garza has pitched well in his eight starts, posting a 3-1 record with a 3.83 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. His strikeouts have been growing with each start, as he has 18 in his last couple.
He's a very consistent pitcher, as the only time he's topped a 3.95 ERA was when he was a young rookie with Minnesota in 2006. He posted a very low .236 BAA last season, and .230 so far this season. In other words, he doesn't allow many baserunners, and can be relied on for it.
Fife: After tossing seven scoreless innings on Sunday against the Phillies, who came in scorching the ball against Dodgers' pitching, you know his value just went up. This season he's 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He's only made 12 starts in his career spanning two seasons, but with a very good line of a 2.78 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.
Magill: The transition to the majors has not gone nearly as smooth for him, as he's been roughed up in his six starts to the tune of a 6.51 ERA and 1.99 WHIP. He's walked 28 in 27 2/3 innings, which is obviously way too many. To his defense, he's had to make some starts on pretty short notice thanks to the never ending injury situation in LA, but even with that, he's been pretty horrendous.
Bottom Line: As much as I like Fife, I would pull the trigger on this deal. Garza is only 29 and has pitched in big games before. He won the 2008 ALCS MVP thanks to two wins over the Red Sox, giving up two runs in 13 innings. Yes, that was five years ago, but in five career postseason starts (including one more in 2010), he's 2-1 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.
Garza strikes me as a guy who would thrive in the spotlight of LA, where he would get to make big starts down the stretch. He made many big starts with the Rays from 2008-2010, and was one of their top pitchers. Plus a rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Garza is pretty nasty. That would be hard for any team to matchup with.
I would miss Fife because he is getting better at mixing his pitches and seems to step up to the challenge. But, it's the old saying of in order to get something, you have to give up something. Fife would be that guy. I'd be perfectly happy if he does stay a Dodger though, don't get me wrong.
I don't have much confidence in Magill, who just doesn't strike me as anything special. I know he won't always walk so many in future, but he just has "OK" written all over him. No big deal if he goes.
Now that they've won eight of nine and are only four games in back of first in the NL West, you can bet Ned Colletti will be as motivated as ever to get this team back over the hump.
The biggest areas of need are third base, middle relief, and back end of the rotation. Today, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com wrote about five possible destinations for Cubs' starter Matt Garza (Insider only). The Cubs are facing yet another rebuilding season, so let's take a look at the proposed deal (which isn't real keep in mind, just what Bowden suggests) and if I would pull the trigger on it.
Garza to the Dodgers for RHPs Stephen Fife and Matt Magill
Garza: He got a late start to the season thanks to a strained lat muscle, and as the Reds' Johnny Cueto can attest to, that's not an easy injury to get rid of. But, Garza has pitched well in his eight starts, posting a 3-1 record with a 3.83 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. His strikeouts have been growing with each start, as he has 18 in his last couple.
He's a very consistent pitcher, as the only time he's topped a 3.95 ERA was when he was a young rookie with Minnesota in 2006. He posted a very low .236 BAA last season, and .230 so far this season. In other words, he doesn't allow many baserunners, and can be relied on for it.
Fife: After tossing seven scoreless innings on Sunday against the Phillies, who came in scorching the ball against Dodgers' pitching, you know his value just went up. This season he's 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He's only made 12 starts in his career spanning two seasons, but with a very good line of a 2.78 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.
Magill: The transition to the majors has not gone nearly as smooth for him, as he's been roughed up in his six starts to the tune of a 6.51 ERA and 1.99 WHIP. He's walked 28 in 27 2/3 innings, which is obviously way too many. To his defense, he's had to make some starts on pretty short notice thanks to the never ending injury situation in LA, but even with that, he's been pretty horrendous.
Bottom Line: As much as I like Fife, I would pull the trigger on this deal. Garza is only 29 and has pitched in big games before. He won the 2008 ALCS MVP thanks to two wins over the Red Sox, giving up two runs in 13 innings. Yes, that was five years ago, but in five career postseason starts (including one more in 2010), he's 2-1 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.
Garza strikes me as a guy who would thrive in the spotlight of LA, where he would get to make big starts down the stretch. He made many big starts with the Rays from 2008-2010, and was one of their top pitchers. Plus a rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Garza is pretty nasty. That would be hard for any team to matchup with.
I would miss Fife because he is getting better at mixing his pitches and seems to step up to the challenge. But, it's the old saying of in order to get something, you have to give up something. Fife would be that guy. I'd be perfectly happy if he does stay a Dodger though, don't get me wrong.
I don't have much confidence in Magill, who just doesn't strike me as anything special. I know he won't always walk so many in future, but he just has "OK" written all over him. No big deal if he goes.
Youth is served as Dodgers dismantle Phillies
It was a perfect and fitting end to the month of June, which saw the Dodgers go from pushover to a team on the rise.
Youth has been served, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
With big games from Yasiel Puig and Stephen Fife, and contributions along the way from Jose Dominguez, Paco Rodriguez, and Scott Van Slyke, the Dodgers won an easy one over the Phillies on Sunday, 6-1. The win gave them three of four, and eight of their last nine.
It took until the fourth before either team scored, where the Dodgers certainly got to Kyle Kendrick. Puig hit his second infield single and soon stole second. An out later, Hanley Ramirez stroked an RBI single to go up 1-0. Ramirez got in on the running with a steal of second, and Matt Kemp's RBI single to left made it 2-0.
A balk by Kendrick put Kemp at second, and A.J. Ellis hit an infield single for runners on the corners. An RBI single by Jerry Hairston later, the Dodgers were in control at 3-0.
The heart of the order of Puig and Adrian Gonzalez teamed up to create another run in the fifth. Puig lifted a popup to right that landed and scooted away from Delmon Young in right, allowing Puig to get a triple out of it. Gonzalez lined an RBI double to right, and it was 4-0.
For as much as Dodger fans complain about their bullpen (and rightfully so), the Phillies are just as bad, if not worse. The Dodgers scored a couple more runs off of them in the eighth. With Jacob Diekman in, Kemp singled and scored all the way from first on an RBI double by Ellis, who had three hits on the day. Van Slyke pinch-hit and hit an RBI single to score Ellis, making it 6-0.
Dominguez made his Major League debut in the top of the eighth, and boy did he leave his mark. Throwing gas around 100 MPH, he immediately struck out Young, then got Ben Revere to ground to short. On a full count to Carlos Ruiz, he hurled a change-up at about 83 MPH, popping him up to second. Not only was it great to see that, but the fact he's replacing the recently designated Matt Guerrier makes it even sweeter!
Chris Withrow started the ninth and got a couple of outs right away before allowing consecutive singles to Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, allowing Utley to score. Rodriguez came in and got Ryan Howard swinging to end the game.
There was so much about this game that should leave the home fans feeling good as they left Dodger Stadium. As I mentioned before, the youth strutted their stuff the whole day. Puig continues to just marvel. A 4-for-5 day at the plate gives him a .436 average, which is simply insane. That's the highest average for a player in a calendar month making his Major League debut in the modern era. Only Joe DiMaggio had more hits at 46 (to Puig's 44), and he had 25 more plate appearances. Wow!
We all know how good Puig is, but let's give credit to Fife for stepping up and delivering a fantastic game on the mound. In seven start this year, he's gone 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Only one of his starts has he given up more than three runs, and that was the first one. His name was nowhere on the list of potential rotation candidates to start the season, but due to injuries, he's more than justified his spot.
Watching Dominguez and Withrow was refreshing, mostly because we didn't have to suffer through watching clowns like Brandon League, Ronald Belisuckio, and Guerrier. Paco is turning into a quality reliever against any hitter, as lefties are hitting .143, and righties .163. Maybe the Dodgers are finally ready for quality middle relief to get the ball to Kenley Jansen in the ninth. We can only hope.
Going 6-1 on the homestand was sweet, but now it's time to improve on that 13-22 road record, which is nearly the worst in all of baseball. They'll get plenty of chances to do so coming up, as they start with three in Colorado on Tuesday, followed by three in San Francisco, and concluding with three in Arizona. Clayton Kershaw gets the call on Tuesday.
Youth has been served, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
With big games from Yasiel Puig and Stephen Fife, and contributions along the way from Jose Dominguez, Paco Rodriguez, and Scott Van Slyke, the Dodgers won an easy one over the Phillies on Sunday, 6-1. The win gave them three of four, and eight of their last nine.
It took until the fourth before either team scored, where the Dodgers certainly got to Kyle Kendrick. Puig hit his second infield single and soon stole second. An out later, Hanley Ramirez stroked an RBI single to go up 1-0. Ramirez got in on the running with a steal of second, and Matt Kemp's RBI single to left made it 2-0.
A balk by Kendrick put Kemp at second, and A.J. Ellis hit an infield single for runners on the corners. An RBI single by Jerry Hairston later, the Dodgers were in control at 3-0.
The heart of the order of Puig and Adrian Gonzalez teamed up to create another run in the fifth. Puig lifted a popup to right that landed and scooted away from Delmon Young in right, allowing Puig to get a triple out of it. Gonzalez lined an RBI double to right, and it was 4-0.
For as much as Dodger fans complain about their bullpen (and rightfully so), the Phillies are just as bad, if not worse. The Dodgers scored a couple more runs off of them in the eighth. With Jacob Diekman in, Kemp singled and scored all the way from first on an RBI double by Ellis, who had three hits on the day. Van Slyke pinch-hit and hit an RBI single to score Ellis, making it 6-0.
Dominguez made his Major League debut in the top of the eighth, and boy did he leave his mark. Throwing gas around 100 MPH, he immediately struck out Young, then got Ben Revere to ground to short. On a full count to Carlos Ruiz, he hurled a change-up at about 83 MPH, popping him up to second. Not only was it great to see that, but the fact he's replacing the recently designated Matt Guerrier makes it even sweeter!
Chris Withrow started the ninth and got a couple of outs right away before allowing consecutive singles to Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, allowing Utley to score. Rodriguez came in and got Ryan Howard swinging to end the game.
There was so much about this game that should leave the home fans feeling good as they left Dodger Stadium. As I mentioned before, the youth strutted their stuff the whole day. Puig continues to just marvel. A 4-for-5 day at the plate gives him a .436 average, which is simply insane. That's the highest average for a player in a calendar month making his Major League debut in the modern era. Only Joe DiMaggio had more hits at 46 (to Puig's 44), and he had 25 more plate appearances. Wow!
We all know how good Puig is, but let's give credit to Fife for stepping up and delivering a fantastic game on the mound. In seven start this year, he's gone 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Only one of his starts has he given up more than three runs, and that was the first one. His name was nowhere on the list of potential rotation candidates to start the season, but due to injuries, he's more than justified his spot.
Watching Dominguez and Withrow was refreshing, mostly because we didn't have to suffer through watching clowns like Brandon League, Ronald Belisuckio, and Guerrier. Paco is turning into a quality reliever against any hitter, as lefties are hitting .143, and righties .163. Maybe the Dodgers are finally ready for quality middle relief to get the ball to Kenley Jansen in the ninth. We can only hope.
Going 6-1 on the homestand was sweet, but now it's time to improve on that 13-22 road record, which is nearly the worst in all of baseball. They'll get plenty of chances to do so coming up, as they start with three in Colorado on Tuesday, followed by three in San Francisco, and concluding with three in Arizona. Clayton Kershaw gets the call on Tuesday.
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