May 2015 – Page 3 – Dodger Thoughts

On May 20, 2015

In Status report

By Jon Weisman

In 2014, the San Francisco Giants went 9-10 against the National League West champion Dodgers, 2-5 against the NL East champion Washington Nationals and 0-3 against the American League champion Kansas City Royals.

Against teams with winning records, the Giants were 27-31 last year.

Then they won the World Series.

That alone should stall any discussion that you need to beat winning teams in the regular season in order to be successful in the playoffs.

Mike Marshall went 5 for 26 with no walks against the Mets in 1988, then popped the champagne in October.

Mike Marshall went 5 for 26 with no walks against the Mets in the 1988 regular season, then popped the champagne in October.

Whispers that this is a problem for the Dodgers have begun — at a ridiculously early point in the season, given that the team has only played seven games against teams with winning records in 2015. Of course, all of those games have been against the Giants with only two victories to show for it, which doesn’t calm anyone’s nerves. But the insignificance of seven games out of 162-plus-October should be clear to anyone who didn’t start watching baseball this year.

Never mind that with one more victory, the San Diego Padres would have a winning record, and suddenly the Dodgers would have 200 percent more victories against winning teams, not to mention the same winning percentage (within .004) against winning teams as the Giants last year. That’s how goofy it is to be worried about this.

If only the Dodgers’ 4-3 record against St. Louis in 2014 had meant something — or for that matter, their two victories out three in Kansas City 11 months ago. Conversely, who that experienced it can forget the Dodgers’ 1-10 record against the New York Mets entering the 1988 playoffs? Or their 11-1 domination of the Phillies before the ill-fated 1983 postseason?

Last year, the Dodgers lost six of their first eight games to the Giants, then won eight of their last 11. This proved less useful than a Magic 8 Ball for predicting the future.

There’s nothing like getting shut out in San Francisco to make you want to, I don’t know, give up baseball entirely. But right now, the Dodgers’ only goals are to have the most wins they can possibly have over the next 124 games — against anybody — and have the best possible squad to ride the unstable roller coaster of October. So far, they’re well on their way.

Footnote: 88 years ago today, the 1927 Yankees scored one run against the Indians and lost. Cleveland would finish 66-87 that year. Sometimes, it’s just not your day.

Live-blog: Hector Olivera talks about becoming a Dodger

In Transactions

By Jon Weisman

New Dodger infielder Hector Olivera is speaking through a translator with reporters about the process of becoming a Dodger tonight. Here is a live-blog of some of his remarks:

There were five teams that were interested in me … in the end, I decided to sign with the Dodgers. I knew it was a great organization.
There are Cubans that play on this team, and I know I can do a great job for this organization.
Most of my career I have played second base, but I can also play first and third.
I talked to (Cubans on Dodgers) and they informed me of a lot of things. I know it’s difficult to make that transition. The Major Leagues is the best level of baseball in the world, and there has to be good preparation to play well on the big-league level.
Three or four weeks to prepare myself, and I should be ready by then to play at the big-league level. I know that the Dodgers have a great chance of winning.
Mentally, I’m very prepared. I know what it takes to be a Major Leaguer, and I also know the conditions. Physically, I prepare myself very well in the Dominican Republic at the Academy. I just have to do some refining at the complex and also in minor-league games.
My style of play is to play hard but relaxed.
When I agreed with the Dodgers, I immediately went to the Academy in the Dominican Republic, and I did basic preparation there. I just need the final touch, and that is what I’m going to do here in Arizona.
I’m just prepared to play, period. That’s what I want to do. I’m here to play, wherever they put me.
I don’t know where that rumor (about UCL in elbow) came from. I know there was a little inflammation in my arm. I did a lot at tryouts, and people know I played well. It was just fatigue.
I’m going to be the new kid on the block, and I just want to have a lot of support from the people, especially from my teammates. I’m going to work hard, I’m going to play every day — that’s what I’m hope – and I just hope to get a lot of support from the people of Los Angeles, because Los Angeles is going to be my team.
My whole career I played second base, but I don’t think I’m in the position to decide. … Wherever they put me, they’re going to see the results, because I’ve prepared myself and I will work hard.
Thank you very much, and hope to see you guys soon, and hopefully we can get the ring this year.

Live-blog: Andrew Friedman on Hector Olivera acquisition, Dodger health concerns

In Front office, Transactions

Andrew Friedman with Dodger clubhouse manager Mitch Poole in April (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman chatted with reporters beginning at 5 p.m. about the Hector Olivera and Pablo Fernandez signings (and presumably other Dodger-related matters). What follows is a live-blog of some of his remarks.

In the near term, we’re going to send (Olivera) to Arizona, get in game shape, work out for a few days and reassess from there. He’ll be there for a week or so, then head to Rancho for a few games … then get him to Oklahoma City and play there for a little while and reassess.
Having as many as good players as possible not only helps you in constructing your own roster but also allows you the opportunity to have more good players to talk about with other teams. If we’re ever complaining about having too much depth, that’s certainly a good problem to have. … Having a player who can impact the game offensively like Hector can is obviously a good thing.
We did a thorough medical review and feel good about where he is … he takes care of himself really well. We’ve had him at our academy in the Dominican for a month … seen how he bounces back day after day.
Versatility on the defensive side – he’ll tell you he’s most comfortable at second, but he’s had no problems moving around the infield. The reports (at second and third) are both good.
At this point it’s premature to speculate (how fast he’ll impact at the Major Leagues). We’ve seen with guys in the past that it’s hard to miss Spring Training and hit the ground running, but everybody’s different.
We feel at this point and time offense is at a premium in the game … his bat can have an impact.
We feel very confident he’s going to come up at some point this year and help us win games.
His hands play (defensively). … He’s a big physical guy and probably bigger than most people think of when they think of a Major League second baseman, but his hands work really well and his footwork is very good.
We’re going to stretch (Fernandez) out as a starter. We’ve talked to him about it and he’s excited about it. He’s got a five-pitch mix … and has had really good command throughout his career. (Friedman compared him to Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez.)
We’re very mindful of how difficult it is (to transition). … We’re going to do everything we can to help both guys navigate through.
(There might be new information on injured Dodger pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu on Wednesday.)
(Surgery discussion for Julio Urias) came up at the end of spring. … (goal for us) is doing what’s right by Julio.
(Concern over Ryu) is similar to what it’s been for a few weeks, that it hasn’t progressed as we hoped. … It’s not a black-and-white issue, but fortunately we have a tremendous doctor in (Neal) ElAttrache, and we’re putting our heads together to determine what makes sense.
Mentally, I’ve been thinking (Ryu might be lost for season) for a little while, because it’s better to err on that side. … Our mindset has been to treat it as if he’s not (coming back this year), because it’s easier to react the other way.
Both (Carlos Frias and Mike Bolsinger) have pitched really well. Any time you lose two starters, you’re always mindful of your depth. … We’re never going to be comfortable with our starting pitching depth. From where we’re sitting right now, if we can add an arm, it would certainly be helpful.

That’s the summary of the Friedman interview. Hector Olivera is scheduled to speak to beat writers (through a translator) later this evening.

Unlucky Joc: Pederson making better contact with worse results

In Pregame

Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andre Ethier, RF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Carlos Frias, P

By Jon Weisman

Joc Pederson is in his first slump of the 2015 season, though oddly, he’s been making better contact than when he was hot.

Through May 7, when talk of him being the ultimate Three True Outcomes hitter was peaking, Pederson had nine home runs, a .427 on-base percentage and a .674 slugging percentage, while striking out in exactly one third of his plate appearances (37 of 111).

May 7 was the day at Milwaukee that Pederson walked twice and then singled in the ninth inning, ending his streak of seven consecutive hits that were home runs. It was quite the transitional moment.

Since then, Pederson is 4 for 31 with one homer and five walks, but he has struck out a relatively reduced 21.6 percent of the time (eight times in 37 plate appearances).

Pederson has a .136 batting average on balls in play in those nine games, compared with a .350 BABIP in his first 28.

In his past five games, Pederson has been particularly unlucky. Across 19 plate appearances, Pederson has one homer, one hit-by-pitch, two strikeouts — and, on balls in play, one single and 14 outs (seven flies, seven grounders).

On top of everything else, he has zero walks in his past 26 plate appearances — the longest walkless stretch of his young career.

It’s almost as if Pederson wanted to reverse the conversation about himself. Baseball’s Three True Outcomes poster child has gone to the opposite … set of posters.

Perhaps a happy medium awaits.

Former Dodger shortstop Rafael Furcal retires

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Through the Kansas City Royals, with whom he had signed a minor-league contract this year, former Dodger shortstop Rafael Furcal announced his retirement at age 37.

Among shortstops with at least 2,000 plate appearances with the Dodgers, Furcal ranks first all-time in adjusted OPS. (Hanley Ramirez would be on top if you reduced the minimum to 1,000 plate appearances). Furcal had a .357 on-base percentage and .406 slugging percentage as a Dodger, peaking in 2006 when he had 196 hits, 32 doubles, nine triples, 15 homers and 37 steals.

Furcal signed with the Dodgers in December 2005 and re-upped after the 2008 season. Despite his injuries, he played more games at shortstop for the Dodgers than anyone since Bill Russell and (after Maury Wills) is third in Los Angeles history in games played at the position.

He finishes his 14-year MLB career with 1,817 hits, and is one of 43 players with 300 doubles, 100 homers and 300 steals. According to Aaron Gleeman of Hardball Talk, Fucal ranks fourth in Wins Above Replacement among all MLB shortstops since 2000, trailing only Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins and Miguel Tejada.

Dodgers to co-host January fan baseball camp at Camelback Ranch

In Fans

By Jon Weisman

A new baseball fantasy camp at Camelback Ranch, co-hosted by the Dodgers and White Sox, will take place for adults 21 and older January 18-24, 2016.

“This is the first time that we are staging a Dodgers’ baseball camp at our Arizona spring training home,” said Dodgers executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen, “and partnering with our neighbors, the White Sox, should make this a memorable experience for our campers.”

Former third basemen Ron Cey of the Dodgers and Bill Melton of the White Sox will serve as co-commissioners of the camp, officially sanctioned by the Dodgers. They are scheduled to be joined by Dodger legends including Tommy Lasorda, Rick Monday, Eric Karros and Steve Yeager, along with such former White Sox stars as Harold Baines, Bobby Thigpen, Rich Dotson, Tom Paciorek, Carlos May, Ron Kittle and Aaron Rowand.

Here’s more information from today’s announcement

Throughout the six nights and seven days of the camp, participants will be able to interact with and receive instruction from Dodger and White Sox greats on the field and to enjoy hours of baseball stories from the stars of the past off the field. It is 24/7 first-class baseball experience, during which campers will be treated just like the Dodgers and White Sox players when they train in Glendale in preparation for a Major League season.

The camp price includes two meals a day; single occupancy lodging at nearby hotels used by the two organizations; an authentic personalized Dodgers or White Sox uniform including jersey, pants and cap, personalized baseball cards with the camper’s photo and camp participation, in addition to so much more. Campers will play games every day, including doubleheaders on most days, at the premier facilities and fields at Camelback Ranch.

For more information or to reserve your roster spot, please call (623) 302-5078, e-mail fantasycamp@camelbackranchbaseball.com or visit dodgers.com/fantasycamp.

In case you missed it: Julio Urias to have elective surgery

On May 18, 2015

In Baserunning, Health/injuries, In case you missed it, Offense

Julio Urias (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

At age 18, Julio Urias has a 3.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings for Double-A Tulsa this year. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Sorry for the near silence the past couple days — deadline for the June issue of Dodger Insider magazine is coming in hard and fast. But let’s catch you up …

Julio Urias is having surgery, but it’s nothing to worry about, as Ken Gurnick notes at MLB.com.

Urias will undergo elective cosmetic surgery on his left eye to repair a defect and be sidelined for about a month.
In the event of an unsuccessful surgery, it may be categorized as a medical malpractice, necessitating the engagement of legal counsel. A skilled medical malpractice lawyer specializes in seeking justice for individuals who have suffered injuries caused by doctors.

Urias will have the procedure — peri orbital benign mass removal — on May 28 in Phoenix. He will resume baseball activity in the middle of June and is expected to be back in games by the end of the month.

“He deserves this level of support and we are thrilled to give it to him,” said director of player development Gabe Kapler.

Because the overpowering left-hander is only 18, the recovery time will also serve as an innings limiter that management welcomes. Conceivably, a freshened Urias could pitch for the Dodgers beyond the Minor League season, although the club has never given that indication. …
Not unrelated: pitching prospect Jose De Leon is being promoted from Class A Rancho Cucamonga to Double-A Tulsa. In 37 2/3 innings this season for the Quakes, De Leon has struck out 58 while allowing only seven earned runs (1.67 ERA) on 38 baserunners.
Billy Bean wrote for MLB.com about his experience participating in Saturday’s Old-Timers Game. As Bean notes, it was the first time “an openly gay player, past or present, would wear a big league uniform and play in a Major League stadium.”
Here’s another piece on what is and isn’t wrong with Clayton Kershaw (mostly isn’t), from Owen Wilson at Fox Sports’ Just a Bit Outside.
Some numberific nuggets on Kershaw’s 100-victory milestone come from Adam Berry at MLB.com.
Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles looks how much the Dodgers can maintain their Dodgers’ fiery offensive production to date this season.
The Dodgers are on pace for their worst basestealing season since 1941 (the year, not the movie), writes Bill Shaikin of the Times.

Video: Talkin’ about Saturday’s Old-Timers Game

On May 17, 2015

[mlbvideo id=”119337383″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

[mlbvideo id=”119303583″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Nicasio at night: Juan at one with relieving

On May 16, 2015

In Pregame

Rockies at Dodgers, 6:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 1B
Alex Guerrero, LF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Juan Nicasio’s first Major League save might be his last for a while now that Kenley Jansen is back, but let’s take a moment to appreciate how useful the new Dodger reliever has been.

The converted starter has a 1.02 ERA in 17 2/3 innings this season with 25 strikeouts (12.7 per nine innings) and only nine hits allowed. Since taking the extra-inning loss April 23 at San Francisco, Nicasio has pitched 10 1/3 consecutive shutout innings with 15 strikeouts, allowing two singles and four walks. He stranded three of four inherited runners in that time.

Showing his versatility, Nicasio is the third Dodger in the past 10 years to have a three-inning relief win and a separate save in the same year, after Chan Ho Park in 2008 and Chris Withrow in 2013. And just to play off the headline, opponents have a .115 slugging percentage in night games against Nicasio so far this year.

In his rookie season, Nicasio a fractured vertebra in his neck after taking a line drive to the head on August 5, 2011, and was a mixed bag as a starting pitcher thereafter. He is still only 28 years old, and having been liberated from Colorado’s Coors Field, has done little to discourage his future prospects as a reliever.

Footnote: Four Dodgers have saves this year, and Kenley Jansen figures to soon become the fifth, but that’s not close to a record. In 1979, 11 Dodgers had saves, led by Bobby Castillo with seven. Don Sutton, Jerry Reuss and Bob Welch each had at least one complete game and one save.

VIdeo: Vin Scully talks to Roy Firestone, 1990

On May 16, 2015

Here’s 20 minutes of Vin Scully talking to Roy Firestone in 1990 on ESPN’s “SportsLook,” which also includes an unforgettable clip of his Hall of Fame speech at Cooperstown.

Scully on the post-war Brooklyn Dodgers: “It was a team with nicknames that stuck to the ribs.”

– Jon Weisman

4-K Kenley and the rarest of rare feats

On May 16, 2015

[mlbvideo id=”117539683″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

For more photos from Friday, visit LA Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

In the wake of Kenley Jansen’s amazing 36.0 K/9 season debut in the eighth inning Friday, I thought I’d place that in context of other Dodger unusualities.

1 Five steals in a game (Davey Lopes)
1 Three HBP in a game (Nomar Garciaparra)
2 Four homers in a game (Gil Hodges, Shawn Green)
2 30-game hitting streaks (Willie Davis, Andre Ethier)
3 30 homer-30 steal seasons (Raul Mondesi twice, Matt Kemp)
3 Home runs in last career at-bat (John Miller, Tony Brewer, Adam Kennedy)
4 Stole second, third and home in same inning (Red Smith, Jimmy Johnston, Harvey Hendrick, Dee Gordon)
5 18 strikeouts by pitchers in a nine-inning game (this includes Friday’s game as well)
5 Eight RBI or more in a game (Gil Hodges twice, Ron Cey, James Loney, Yasmani Grandal)
6 Four strikeouts in an inning (Pete Richert, Don Drysdale, Darren Dreifort, Brad Penny, Zack Greinke, Jansen)
6 Three strikeouts on nine pitches (Pat Ragan, Dazzy Vance, Sandy Koufax thrice, Todd Worrell)
6 Homers in first career at-bat (Clise Dudley, Gordon Slade, Ernie Kay, Dan Bankhead, Jose Offerman, Garey Ingram)
8 Six-hit games (George Cutshaw, Jack Fournier, Hank DeBerry, Wally Gilbert, Cookie Lavagetto, Willie Davis, Paul Lo Duca, Shawn Green)
10 Homers from both sides of the plate in one game (Jim Russell, Maury Wills, Jim Lefebvre, Wes Parker, Eddie Murray twice, Milton Bradley twice, Jose Cruz Jr., Orlando Hudson)
11 Position players who pitched in Los Angeles (Jim Hickman, Danny Heep, Jeff Hamilton, Mickey Hatcher, Chris Donnels, Robin Ventura, Mark Loretta, Skip Schumaker twice, Drew Butera twice)
12 20-homer/20-steal seasons (Willie Davis, Davey Lopes, Pedro Guerrero twice, Kirk Gibson, Raul Mondesi thrice, Shawn Green twice, Matt Kemp twice)
16 20-run games since 1900
20 Opponent no-hitters
22 Triple plays
22 No-hitters

What to expect from Kenley Jansen

On May 15, 2015

In Bullpen, Pregame, Transactions

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

For images from Thursday, visit LA Photog Blog.

Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXVII: The Kershawx-Bow Incident
Joc Pederson, CF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andre Ethier, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

Activated from the disabled list today, Kenley Jansen doesn’t come back as a savior.

For one thing, even with this week’s bullpen struggles, I’m not sure the Dodger bullpen needs saving. For another, Jansen couldn’t do it by himself anyway.

And something else to keep in mind about Jansen, who takes the roster spot of the re-optioned Daniel Coulombe, is that he has historically been a second-half pitcher. Whether that’s a statistical anomaly or not, I can’t say, but at least in the past, he has taken time to reach his toppiest of top form:

Career

2.96 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 13.8 K/9 before All-Star Game
1.42 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 14.2 K/9 after All-Star Game

2014

3.49 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 14.4 K/9 before All-Star Game
1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 13.2 K/9 after All-Star Game

Honestly, BABIP could be the reason as much as anything — opponents hit .395 on balls in play before the 2014 All-Star Game, according to Baseball-Reference.com, .286 after. And he’s been no slouch at any point, first half or second.

In any case, expecting perfection from Jansen is as unreasonable as requiring perfection for him to be useful.

Shelter from storm gave way for Dodgers

On May 15, 2015

In Postgame

[mlbvideo id=”115827783″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman

For the third time in four days, the Dodger bullpen surrendered a lead, and for the second consecutive night, the offense couldn’t bail them out.

Thursday’s 5-4 loss to Colorado left a soggy sting, coming after the 85-minute rain delay and Brett Anderson’s second consecutive triumph over the elements. After pitching the five-inning rain-shortened complete game in Denver last week, Anderson struck out a season-high eight at unusually wet Dodger Stadium.

For the month of May, Anderson has a 1.10 ERA and 13 strikeouts against 19 baserunners in 16 1/3 innings. Opponents have a .645 OPS against him.

“My breaking ball was the most consistent it has been,” Anderson said, according to Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. “My slider was the best its been all season. I was able to throw it back foot to righties more consistently and get some swings and misses.”

While Juan Nicasio shined after the rain delay with four strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings and Chris Hatcher found quick redemption from a rough Wednesday outing with a perfect eighth, Yimi Garcia, nearly flawless in 2015 before this week, gave up his second ninth-inning homer in as many appearances — this time on a 2-1 fastball that, as Don Mattingly said, just missed its spot.

[mlbvideo id=”116086783″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

“I thought his stuff was good again,” Mattingly said. “Threw the ball in the wrong area. If we throw the ball where we want, I feel like we get him there.”

It was a shame that the Dodger fans who braved the entire night of rainball weren’t rewarded, but all part of the ebb and flow of the season.

One piece of trivia: Joc Pederson, who went 0 for 5, has started 35 games this season. Thursday’s game was only the second time he didn’t have a walk, home run or strikeout, and the first since April 10.

Whither the weather, Dodgers and Rockies will get it together