Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Edwin Jackson, 10 years later

Edwin Jackson takes the mound at Dodger Stadium today, 9.97 years after his unforgettable Dodger debut on his 20th birthday against Randy Johnson in Arizona.

Time is crazy, and our journeys even crazier. From Dodger Thoughts, September 10, 2003:

‘You Just Hope He Never Changes’

So said Vin Scully about Edwin Jackson last night, and I couldn’t agree more. Especially because Vin was talking not only about Jackson’s pitching, but his smile.

Call me a sentimental fool, but there is nothing like seeing a young baseball player thrilled. And to see that ballplayer balance his excitement with poise – that’s pretty much the pinnacle of enjoyment for me as a fan.

If it weren’t for the television coverage and the 36,000 people in attendance, it would have been the same as watching a second-grader excel in the lead role of Tomato in the school play, Les Vegetables.

Anyway, it was a night the most casual observer could appreciate. As I wrote in April, a large part of appreciating baseball is just understanding the characters in the movie.

As for Jackson’s moundsmanship …

In his six innings against Arizona, Jackson allowed four hits, struck out four – and in a particularly amazing feat for a pitcher who walked or hit nearly four batters per nine innings in AA ball, he walked no one.

The righthander threw 80 pitches, 49 for strikes. He did not throw many first-pitch strikes: 11 out of 22 batters faced. But on only three occasions did he reach a 2-0 count, and only once did he go to 3-0. In fact, he went to three balls on only three batters.

He threw with heat – reports said he reached the high 90s – and movement. He had the requisite pitch tailing down and away that always foils batters like Raul Mondesi (who struck out twice against Jackson and once against Eric Gagne). Jackson also had a pitch that moved outside to inside on righthanded batters, almost like a screwball.

With Andy Ashby following Brian Jordan on the disabled highway out of Los Angeles, speculation has arisen that the Dodgers would add Jackson to a potential postseason roster in the same manner that the Angels added Francisco Rodriquez last season. Don’t count on this happening.

For one thing, the Dodgers seem very conscious of nurturing Jackson, and aware of the risks of stressing Jackson’s arm at age 20. Additionally, the Dodger staff is deeper than the Angel staff was in 2002 – a guy like Steve Colyer, who throws hard and from the left side, seems like a more likely addition. And that’s assuming that the Dodgers even went with 11 pitchers in a postseason that has more off days than the regular season does.

But with Hideo Nomo’s return date uncertain, and Kazuhisa Ishii’s September performance unsteady, there is every possibility that we haven’t seen the last of Edwin Jackson and his young man smile this season.

Cubs at Dodgers, 12:10 p.m.

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109 Comments

  1. From the press notes:

    Yasiel Puig went 2-for-5 with a stolen base last night, and, with his third-inning single, reached 100 career hits in just 285 at-bats. According to ESPN Stats & Information, only Ichiro Suzuki (282 AB) reached 100 hits faster among active players.

    • 3900 to go to match Ichiro?

      • dalegribel

        Better not let Pete hear you.

        • Vail Beach

          I wonder what the over/under is for when Plaschke writes his first column insisting that the Dodgers will never succeed unless they trade Puig? As an extra proposition, will that column include a quote from Larry Bowa?

          • btimmer

            If this were the NFL, we could discuss if Puig is an “elite” talent. Man, those are bad debates.

            I suppose hey would be akin to complaints about Billingsley being “no more than a 3”

        • SaMoDodger

          Don’t overlook the fact that Rose had 256 hits AFTER getting his 4,000th. At his age, that took him more than two years. Ichiro will have to put up some pretty good numbers to “catch” Rose.

          Puig, on the other hand, will reach 5,000 hits by the end of 2014.

  2. btimmer

    Steve Colyer would be traded in spring training of 2004 for …. Cody Ross

  3. dalegribel

    Not sure why this column bothered me so much, but it did. I found it lacking in research and bad assumptions. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/los-angeles-dodgers-best-team-baseball-bench-still-173100739.html

    • SaMoDodger

      Use a grain of salt with anything you read from the Yahoo Contributor Network. You too can write for them if you want to “build your brand” for no pay.

      But I agree with him about SVS taking the place of Hairston. Glue guys like Hairston, Schumaker, and Punto are great over the long season, when you want to rest players periodically. But they’re less valuable in the playoffs, when you’re planning to play your starters every day. Your bench is going to be relegated largely to pinch-hitters. I’d much rather have a guy on the bench like Van Slyke, who can tie a game in a hurry, than HairPunMaker.

      Kudos to the first person to provide examples of a HairPunMaker’s craft.

      • ASW1

        One who makes Hairpun’s, of course – although killing whales has dramatically dropped over the years, Eskimo’s and the Japanese still hunt them.

    • Bob_Hendley

      I think he is right about SVS as well. That said, these guys do allow DM to double switch to his heart’s delight. They also allowed Ned to deal flexibly with some injuried/not injured, DL/Not DL situations.

  4. SaMoDodger

    Jackson doesn’t look 20 in that photo. He looks like an older version of Guillermo Mota.

  5. KT

    Good inning Ricky

  6. scooplew

    Anyone know why Gonzalez is not in the lineup against a righty and with an off-day tomorrow?

  7. KT

    Stadium looks empty

    • ASW1

      Not too many want to brave that direct sunlight – they are hiding in the shade.

  8. KT

    Should start letting people who just show up and to get the parking and concession fees

  9. Thrown out over a checked swing in the first? LOL. Good thing they’re not in a pennant race…

  10. Bob_Hendley

    Puig, Walk Machine.

  11. scooplew

    That was a fast ejection. For those of us without benefit of sight or sound for today’s game, what exactly merited that?

    • ASW1

      Arguing balls and strikes – wasn’t happy Puig checked his swing.

      • scooplew

        Thanks for the report. Perhaps he has tickets for a Wednesday matinee at the theatre.

    • Seems like he was thrown out simply for arguing balls and strikes. He must have been yelling out of the dugout at the first base ump, then they argued face to face. But nothing outrageous.

  12. ASW1

    Well – back to work for me – I should be able to listen in on the radio off and on – enjoy the game guys, and girls.
    Go Blue!

  13. KT

    hanley!!!!

  14. ASW1

    Good start!!!

  15. John_from_Aus

    Lets build the lead

  16. John_from_Aus

    Lets build the lead (take 2)

    • John_from_Aus

      I’m pleased they listened the second time :)

  17. John_from_Aus

    Have to go, I’m off with my schoolkids to the territories chess championships today. I’ll hopefully see good news much later today

  18. scooplew

    Does anyone know why Puig was removed from the game?

    • John_from_Aus

      hope it’s not serious

    • KT

      no word yet speculation from the radio booth having to do with the DP in the 1st inning where he didn’t slide into second…He in the dugout now and not in the training room so that’s a good sign

      • scooplew

        A taste of discipline, perhaps. Far better than an injury. If so, I wonder why it took a few innings to occur.

        • KT

          Anthony Jackson ‏@dodgerscribe52s
          Steiner: Puig removed due to manager’s discretion. No injury. so it’s Obviously disciplinary

          • scooplew

            I appreciate your report.

          • dalegribel

            Get the unfortunate feeling there is more too this. If it was really related to the first inning DP, why pull him from the game after he gets another plate appearance and/or time in the field.

          • KT

            could be a combination of things (how he catches a fly ball etc) but why speculate

  19. KT

    Juanito!

  20. KT

    Jackson throws it away!

  21. KT

    MLB ‏@MLB1m
    Hanley Ramirez hit a home run that was caught by a plant: http://atmlb.com/1fjRPn8

  22. KT

    Way to get into scoring position hanley

  23. Bob_Hendley

    Ricky’s got a nice string of zeros.

  24. Came in to the game late, thanks for the 411 on Dale’s ejection and Puig’s benching. Anything else I missed?

  25. KT

    STANDING O RICKY!!!!

  26. KT

    Los Angeles Dodgers ‏@Dodgers5m
    A season high 11 strikeouts for Ricky Nolasco — #Dodgers lead 4-0 heading into the bottom of the 8th. #whiff

  27. KT

    Jon Weisman ‏@jonweisman3m
    Ricky Nolasco’s last two starts: 16 innings, no runs, five hits, one walk, one hit batter, 17 strikeouts. Niiiice. #dodgers #mlb

  28. KT

    Eric Stephen ‏@truebluela2m
    Dodgers ERAs in August: Kershaw 1.01, Greinke 1.23, Nolasco 1.64. Noted slacker Hyun-jin Ryu and his 2.84 August ERA starts Friday

  29. KT

    Los Angeles Dodgers ‏@Dodgers3mView translation
    August NL Pitcher of the Month? Rick Honeycutt.
    Kershaw: 1.01 (4 ER/ 35.2 IP)
    Greinke: 1.23 (5 ER/ 36.2 IP)
    Nolasco: 1.64 (7 ER/ 38.1 IP)

  30. KT

    Ball Game Dodgers Win!!!! 23 games over .500

    Good to see our home record (40-28) is getting better than our road record (38-27)

    won 21 of last 27 gms (.778) in August, 31-8 since ASB (.795) , 48-13 since 6/22 (.788),

    9 gms ahead of the Dbags, 2nd largest lead by a division leader

    Dodgers 2 games back of the Barves for MLB’s best record

    Last 20 series 15-1-4, 19 shutouts most in the majors

    http://i.imgur.com/AMbO5zV.jpg

  31. KT

    Dodgers are in 3rd place in the MLB standings.

    .5 game behind the Cards

    2 games behind the Barves….We got this…Go BLUE!!!!

    pic.twitter.com/R0s1kaupQq

  32. KT

    J.P. Hoornstra ‏@jphoornstra1m
    Ricky Nolasco says that Yasiel Puig “knows what he did” in this postgame interview. #Dodgers http://www.tout.com/m/ir2020?ref=tw4tko8i

  33. KT

    Los Angeles Dodgers ‏@Dodgers1m
    RECAP: @RNolasco47 tosses eight dominant innings, fans 11 as #Dodgers shut out Cubs, 4-0. http://atmlb.com/1dR5xzZ pic.twitter.com/SrdQZV5P0p

  34. KT

    Molly Knight ‏@molly_knight6m
    Dodgers clubhouse is still closed. Players dressed and leaving and we can’t get in.

  35. KT

    Dodgers PR ‏@DodgersPR11m
    Kenley Jansen struck out 3 in a scoreless 9th and has a 0.93 ERA (19.1 IP) and a .065 opponents’ batting average (4-for-62) since 7/19.

    • scooplew

      And one of the two runs he has allowed since then was set up by defensive indifference.

  36. KT

    J.P. Hoornstra @jphoornstra

    Nolasco said that “what (Yasiel Puig) was doing today wasn’t acceptable,” then admitted he doesn’t know what Puig did that was unacceptable.

  37. KT

    Eric Stephen ‏@truebluela2m
    Matt Kemp will play in rehab game with Class-A Rancho on Thursday. Likely DH

  38. KT

    Anthony Jackson ‏@dodgerscribe6s
    Closed-door meeting in Mattingly’s office involved Mattingly, Puig and Colletti

    • KT

      No translator…must have meant it was a one sided conversation ^_^

      • NoahUCLA

        Sounds like more than just not sliding in to second base. Now I’m a little nervous he did something behind the scenes.

  39. KT

    PUIG didn’t transfer a caught ball to his hand and threw it into the stands. Could’ve been called a HR. (An issue that has been addressed before.) Saw it on Prime Ticket Dodgers Live post Game

    Jim Joyce warned the team about this a couple weeks ago

    • scooplew

      That would seem to be something that Mattingly could handle without the need for Colletti to intervene. But perhaps there have been several things that have accumulated and this was just one straw too many. It will be interesting to see what Mattingly says in his post-game conference. Perhaps they will suspend him for a few days. I know that I am simply speculating and I could be entirely wrong.

  40. These beat writers freaking out about how long it took Mattingly to get to his post-game interview is a bit ridiculous. And as Jon implied in a tweet I don’t think we have to know his exact reasons for pulling Puig out. But I guess that’s the nature of today’s media culture and the desire to know everything and as soon as possible.

  41. DS1981

    I love how a player who’s here just as a 3 month rental (Nolasco) is now acting as some kind of clubhouse regulator.

  42. Bumsrap

    If I am getting tired of Puig’s demeanor, I would think Mattingley would be as well. Good to see that Colletti and Mattingley are meeting with Puig as a group.

    • DS1981

      Actually it’s not good. There was no reason for them to make a scene out of this. Now the world will be subjected to more brain cell losing Plaschke articles.

  43. btimmer

    Remember it’s Edinson Volquez, not Edison. I stand up for the extra N.

  44. ASW1

    Was a fun game to listen to on the radio – it had everything – HR’s – saw the Hanley HR, then heard the Ethier line drive – it had a great pitching performance – it had INTRIGUE – Puig got pulled? WTF? – which caused anxiety and suspense – and it had the best of all things – a Dodgers victory.

    Now, what the heck are the Dodgers going to do about this untamed wildman?

    • foul tip

      Actually, Marmol is showing more ability to throw strikes lately.

      Oh…, you meant Puig….

  45. KT

    very interesting game going on in Coors

  46. Spence

    So Donnie pulls Puig from the game for not sliding into 2nd base to try to break up a DP? Unless he had alcohol on his breath and was completely hung over, there are no excuses to pull him like he did today. If you want to give him a day off, then do it Donnie. Dont start him. But inflaming the press is just going to cause more undeserved attention.

    • ASW1

      You are misinformed. Donnie had a much better reason than JUST the non-slide into 2nd base. Remember : information is King. To spout off without having all the information is asinine.

    • KT

      Yea and He also flipped the ball from his glove directly into the outfield stands which could have been ruled a home run after being warned not to do it after he flipped the ball right from his glove to Dre weeks earlier

    • ASW1

      Asinine might be too harsh of a word to use here – sorry about that – I mean to say without knowing all the facts before speaking one is bound to come across as misguided. Apparently, there have been many things building up (I heard Puig’s AB’s before he was pulled we terrible but I didn’t see them) and Donnie had seen enough – I’m sure Mattingly has a pulse on this team better than anyone else – I don’t question the move in the least – this team is much more than Puig – if Donnie decided he’d seen enough, I’m behind the move 100%.

      • Bob_Hendley

        In his first PA he walked and got the Cubs manager tossed to boot. Didn’t see the next one.

  47. KT

    no longer interesting in Coors…turns the channel

  48. KT

    Jon SooHoo @JonSooHoo

    8/28/13-Something Current-LAD-4,CHC-0 by Jon SooHoo and Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers http://wp.me/p1rXwm-8Z1C

  49. ASW1

    From a White Sox fan over on MLB.COM :

    “He’s young. He’s massively talented. He’s played very little “pro” ball. He’s a rookie and he got your team going when the season looked like it was DOA. He’s the reason I started watching Dodger games (although I always try and catch a Kershaw game) and he is the most exciting player in MLB right now. The kid will learn and he will screw up. But I can pretty much say that there are 29 other teams who would make room for him real quick should you tire of him. He sure looks like the real deal as far as being the total package. He said all the right things after the game. Mattingly did what he needed to do. And oh yeah, you guys won another game and another series. As a White Sox fan, oh how I’d love your “problems”. Go Dodgers.”

    Pretty much sums it up.

  50. RBI

    Pads up 5-1 in the 9th. Let’s see if they can hold on today.

  51. KT

    Magic number is now Zack Greinke…..21

    Night All

  52. foul tip

    Video of longest MLB HRs. Have seen only first part, but AGon has one at 471.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm0YvdT1X3Q

    • Bob_Hendley

      This include video of Mantle at Griffin?

      • foul tip

        Dunno. Haven’t yet been able to see more than first part.

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