Dodger Thoughts

On May 3, 2014

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By Jon Weisman

What can you say about Dee Gordon? He goes 5 for 6 with two RBI and three steals, while also making a huge defensive play.

And what can you say about Brandon League? Is he on the Juan Uribe redemption path? On a night the Dodgers were trying to buy Kenley Jansen another day of rest, League stepped in after Brian Wilson, Chris Withrow and Chris Perez couldn’t hold a 7-2 lead, and shut out Miami in the 10th and 11th innings of a 9-7 Dodger victory. League has now thrown 11 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

And while we’re at it, what can you say about Carl Crawford? Coming off the bench in the midst of a terrible slump, he blasted a two-run homer in the top of the 11th to lift give the Dodgers to victory one day before they face Marlins ace Jose Fernandez.

No, it wasn’t a walk in the park after Yasiel Puig’s titanic three-run homer. It was another extra-inning slog for a weary team. But that’s baseball – comedy, tragedy and triumph all rolled into one.

May 3 pregame: Is it getting easier for Ethier?

On May 3, 2014

In Pregame

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Dodgers at Marlins, 4:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Miguel Olivo, C
Paul Maholm, P

By Jon Weisman

Andre Ethier has delivered a bit more offense of late, going 7 for 15 with two doubles and three walks in his past five games.

The next step for Ethier would be to show some power. He has one homer (and no other extra-base hits) in his past 60 at-bats, April 19 against Arizona.

Ethier gets the start in left field today, with Matt Kemp in center. There’s no mystery of who is in right field: Yasiel Puig is starting his 13th consecutive game there.

Carl Crawford begins the game on the bench for the 13th time in 31 games this year. Crawford, who had a .905 OPS in April a year ago, had a .501 OPS when the calendar changed to May this year and is now down to .471 with a 1-for-9 start to the month.

Perhaps most strange: Crawford is 3 for 29 (with two walks and a sacrifice fly) since his last strikeout. His batting average on balls in play in that time is .100.

Tales of Tommy Lasorda

On May 3, 2014

In History

By Jon Weisman

You can’t deny that Tommy Lasorda is a storyteller like no other.

In his life-spanning interview for SportsNet LA’s “Connected With … Tommy Lasorda,” which premieres tonight at 8 p.m., Lasorda spins some of his favorites, starting with his childhood.

“I worked on the railroad when I was 15 years old,” Lasorda said. “I did a man’s job. I worked 10 hours a day, 55 cents an hour. Now I told ’em I was 18, but they kept saying, ‘You’ve got to show us proof that you’re 18,’ and I told them that the church that I was baptized in burned down and the birth certificates were no longer there. I kept getting them off, getting them off, until my father said, ‘Wait a minute — your brother Tommy’ — I had a brother prior to me, he was 2 years old and he died, and he was born in 1925. I’m born in 1927. I take his birth certificate. Now all of a sudden I’m 18 years old.”

May 2 pregame: Shutout relief is Wright on

In Bullpen, History, Pregame

Dodgers at Marlins, 4:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, CF
Miguel Olivo, C
Carl Crawford, LF
Chone Figgins, 3B
Josh Beckett, P

By Jon Weisman

Unsung hero of the Dodgers’ Thursday nightcap victory — Jamey Wright.

The 39-year-old shut out Minnesota from the ninth inning through the 11th, scattering a single and a walk and lowering his 2014 ERA to 2.70. It was the longest stint of his Grover Cleveland-esque Dodger career.

The list of recent Dodger relievers who have thrown at least three shutout innings is an interesting one. Before Wright, Chris Withrow was the only Dodger to do it since 2010, when Jeff Weaver and Ronald Belisario did it in the same game. Weaver accomplished the feat four times in all in 2009.

The last time a Dodger pitched four innings of shutout relief was June 2, 2010, when Travis Schlichting did so in the game won by a Garret Anderson walkoff single in the 14th.

But the longest shutout relief stint in Dodger history was turned in by Orel Hershiser, who put zeroes on the scoreboard from the 14th inning through the 20th in the June 3, 1989 game at Houston, which ended in the 22nd with a two-strike, two-out single by Rafael Ramirez off third baseman-turned-relief pitcher Jeff Hamilton.

Hyun-Jin Ryu goes on disabled list

In Health/injuries, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw might be close to a return to active duty, but an optimal starting rotation for the Dodgers will have to wait for another couple of weeks at least.

Hyun-Jun Ryu has been placed on the disabled list, retroactive to April 28, with left shoulder inflammation as one of a series of roster moves today by the Dodgers.

Los Angeles is also sending reliever Paco Rodriguez and 26th man Red Patterson to Albuquerque, and recalling utility man Chone Figgins and reliever Jose Dominguez.

Ryu has pitched shutout ball in four of his seven starts this year, allowed two runs in another and was hit hard in this third start and his seventh, both day games in Los Angeles. Assuming they don’t want to start Zack Greinke on three days’ rest, the Dodgers will need to make another roster move to replace Ryu for Sunday’s start against Miami’s Jose Fernandez. Tentatively, Zack Greinke and Kershaw (if activated from the DL) are scheduled to pitch Monday and Tuesday in Washington.

Mattingly said Ryu has shoulder inflammation. Cropped up after last start and did not improve. No MRI planned.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 2, 2014

Mattingly said Ryu"s injury is not believed serious.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 2, 2014

Rodriguez allowed three runs and five baserunners in 1 1/3 innings in his two outings since returning from Albuquerque earlier this week, while Dominguez has been scored upon in three of his four MLB outings in 2014, allowing six runs in five innings. This will be the fourth separate stint with the Dodgers for Dominguez. After making the trip to Australia, he was optioned March 29, recalled April 2, optioned April 9, recalled April 21 and optioned April 27 before being recalled again today.

Patterson pitched 4 2/3 innings in Thursday’s nightcap, allowing one run while looking good in his middle three innings. Figgins has gone 7 for 25 with six walks for a .419 on-base percentage with the Isotopes.

New Dodger Stadium offerings impress food bloggers

In Dodger Stadium

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By Jon Weisman

Some different food bloggers have taken a taste of the new offerings at Dodger Stadium in the outfield plazas, and they like what they are tasting.

Sandie Ward, aka The Food Stalker, said the pizza at Tommy Lasorda’s Trattoria had “just the right amount of oil and gooey cheese” and called the cannoli “decadent,” while the Think Blue BBQ has “hands down the best single food item in the entire stadium.”

At first you find yourself searching for flavors, fascinated by the way they are woven together. In the end, you just give in and allow yourself to be seduced by the tender meat, sautéed onions with a hint of pickle. Chef slow cooks the brisket at 180 degrees for about 17 hours. The meat is so juicy and flavorful it would make me want to miss a sale at Barney’s. No kidding, it’s that good! The cheesesteak with grilled onions, peppers and cheese had me longing for my Philly roots. For the record, they should change the name of the sweet corn on the cob on a stick to “Death By Mayonaise”. With a delicious combination of mayonaise and herbs, it had me knawing at the cob for more. Finger-lickin’ good.

Rachael Narins had similar reactions at L.A. Weekly, calling the pizza “well worth seeking out.”

Over at Jay Eats Worldwide, restaurant consultant et al Jay Terauchi said of the Trattoria, “Not sure if other sports venues across the country has Italian food this good. I hope they’re jealous.” Terauchi also praised the barbecue beef and the elote (Mexican corn on the cob), although you can still find great food in other restaurants you can find at the straight blog online.

At LAist, Kristie Hang starts off by saying that the new plazas have helped make Dodger Stadium “a food haven.” Her favorite dish, a la Lasorda, was the penne with meatballs, along with the barbecue.

The brisket is smoked for a minimum of 12 hours (most are smoked about 17 hours). Chef Jason’s secret, tangy cider BBQ sauce is then added on top along with Bermuda onion and sour pickle slices on a potato roll. This is a must-try!

Tammy La has a nice video piece of her Dodger Stadium food tour, culminating in the new, enormous, 64-ounce helmet-sized nachos, while Ron Cervenka at Think Blue L.A. offers the hardcore Dodger fan perspective. (Cervenka favors the chicken parmesan sandwich at Lasorda’s.)

With so much to try, make sure you leave room in your stomach for the next homestand, beginning May 8.

Mother’s Day at Dodger Stadium

In Promotions

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On their way to Miami, Dodgers get a good night’s sweep

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By Jon Weisman

With a 4-3 victory tonight over Minnesota, thanks to 12th-inning home runs by Scott Van Slyke and Drew Butera, the Dodgers sweep a doubleheader for the first time since April 28, 2002 at Wrigley Field.

Dodger record for extra-inning games in a season is 26 in 1967. This year’s team is on pace for 39. — Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 2, 2014

Before today, the Dodgers hadn’t won the first game of a doubleheader since 9/27/03. They had lost six straight lidlifters.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 1, 2014

Drew Butera’s sixth career homer is his first since July 1, 2012.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 2, 2014

The Twins and Dodgers combined to throw 478 pitches in Game 2. Dodger pitchers threw 362 pitches today.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 2, 2014

Dodger batters walked 12 times in a game for first time since 2011 and second time this century. http://t.co/qX33XMio1G

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 2, 2014

May 1 pregame, the sequel: Chris Perez nearly flawless in 2014

In Bullpen

Dodgers at Twins, 4:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Justin Turner, SS
Drew Butera, C
(Red Patterson, P)

By Jon Weisman

It’s been a near-perfect start to the season for Chris Perez, the righthanded reliever the Dodgers signed this past offseason.

With his five-out save today, Perez has pitched scoreless baseball in 13 of his 14 outings in 2014, while stranding 11 of 12 inherited runners. Of the 45 batters he has faced, only nine have reached base, on two doubles, three singles, three walks and a hit batter.

Really the only blemish against Perez this season was the two runs he allowed in the top of the 12th inning against Arizona, in his second inning of work that night.

Perez used 22 pitches to retire the final five batters of the first game of today’s doubleheader, striking out two. He now has nine strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings to go with his 1.35 ERA and 0.60 WHIP this season.

Previously on Dodger Insider: Chris Perez hopes health is on his side in 2014

Photo: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers celebrate 10,000th NL win June 4 with pin, $10 tickets

In Dodger Stadium, History, Promotions

By Jon Weisman

To celebrate the 10,000th National League victory in franchise history, the Dodgers have added a commemorative pin giveaway — as well as a special $10 ticket offer — for the 7:10 p.m. June 4 game against the White Sox.

The first 40,000 fans in attendance June 4 will receive the 10,000 wins commemorative pin. A pregame ceremony, including a DodgerVision video tribute, will take place prior to the game.

In addition, a limited amount of $10 reserved and left-field pavilion tickets are available for purchase now, while supplies last, at www.dodgers.com/10k or by calling (866) DODGERS.

Even on 0-for-5 day, Gordon’s speed a factor in Dodger victory

By Jon Weisman

For the second game in a row, Dodger bats were hot in the cold, the team reaching base 21 times — led by Yasiel Puig with five — in a 9-4 victory over Minnesota to start today’s doubleheader.

Because I featured Puig on Wednesday, let’s focus on a huge play in the game that came early, after the Dodgers made two errors in a two-run first inning for the Twins.

Andre Ethier and Juan Uribe singled to start the top of the second, and Miguel Olivo (2 for 3 with a sacrifice fly in his Dodger debut) walked to load the bases. Carl Crawford grounded into a force at home for the first out.

Dee Gordon came up and hit what appeared to be a sure double-play grounder to short. But with his amazing speed, he narrowly beat the throw to first base, scoring a run and keeping the inning alive.

Puig then slammed a double to deep left-center to score Crawford and Gordon, and the Dodgers were on their way.

Gordon also stole his 14th base of the season, giving him 80 for his career in exactly 100 attempts. You do the math.

With four hits and a walk, Puig, whose OPS has risen to .900, became the first Dodger to reach base five times in a game since Carl Crawford on August 7. Juan Uribe had three hits (his seventh such game in 2014), while Adrian Gonzalez had a single and three walks. Hanley Ramirez went 0 for 5 but had two sparking plays on defense, one a glove flip to Gordon for a double-play, with an assist from instant replay.

Dan Haren allowed three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven. Chris Perez earned an unusual save, because he entered the game in the bottom of the eighth with the tying run on deck and then finished it out in the ninth.

May 1 pregame: Readying for Red

In Pregame, Transactions

Dodgers at Twins, 10:10 a.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, DH
Andre Ethier, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Miguel Olivo, C
Carl Crawford, LF
(Dan Haren, P)

By Jon Weisman

Though Dan Haren takes the mound at the top of the hour for Game 1 of today’s impromptu doubleheader, it’s hard not to look ahead to the nightcap, when Red Patterson will make his Major League debut.

It’s likely a cameo for Patterson, who comes via the 26th man rule. A 6-foot-3 righthander who turns 27 in May, Patterson followed up two strong back-to-back starts in mid-April by getting hit pretty hard in his most recent outing for Albuquerque, allowing five runs on 11 baserunners in 5 1/3 innings. For the year to date, he has 14 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings, though last year, he averaged more than a fan a frame.

Don Mattingly told reporters today that Patterson impressed the organization during Spring Training and that he’s a strike thrower, which is valuable against a patient team like the Twins.

Eric Stephen noted at True Blue L.A. that Patterson “will be the oldest non-Japanese Dodgers starting pitcher to make his major league debut since Larry Miller, who was 27 years, two days old on June 21, 1964, also in the second game of a doubleheader.”

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated outfielder Nick Buss for assignment. Buss, 27, had a .330 on-base percentage and .391 slugging for the Isotopes, after going .363/.525 last year. He went 2 for 19 for the Dodgers in 2013.

Um, so, Yasiel Puig is having a good season

On April 30, 2014

No. 10,000! pic.twitter.com/Hut8ak1Uj4

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 1, 2014

By Jon Weisman

So yeah, Zack Greinke is amazing and yeah, Adrian Gonzalez keeps on rockin’ and yeah, Dee Gordon is greased lightnin’.

So who is quietly – that’s right, quietly, off the radar, with little fanfare or media attention – one of the Dodgers’ top contributors in 2014.

Some guy named Yasiel Puig.

According to Fangraphs, Puig was the 2014 Dodgers’ fourth most valuable position player entering play tonight, trailing Gordon, Juan Uribe and Gonzalez. He was also neck-and-neck-and-neck with Ryan Braun and Jason Heyward for third place among National League right fielders.

And that was before Puig went 2 for 4 in the Dodgers’ 6-4 victory over Minnesota, raising his on-base percentage to .364 and slugging percentage to .471.

But you wouldn’t know it, given that almost all the discussion about Puig this year has been about his shortcomings and other off-the-field stories.

Admittedly, with three home runs in 27 games, it doesn’t really feel like Puig has unleashed the power the way he did upon his arrival in 2013. On the other hand, we keep hearing about pitchers are adjusting to Puig, and he hasn’t exactly fallen apart. Far from it.

Tonight was Puig’s 190th game on American soil, including Double-A, Single-A and the Dodgers’ Arizona Rookie League team. That’s it. It’s still reasonable to say the guy is just getting started, and his career Major League OPS remains above .900.

With Clayton Kershaw passing his latest test, Greinke extending his authoritative pitching with a six-inning, one-run (unearned) outing, the offense amassing 16 baserunners and the franchise recording its 10,000th NL victory, it was a good night. Even if the bottom of the ninth was an adventure.

April 30 pregame: Splash mountin’