September 2016 – Page 3 – Dodger Thoughts

The Dodger Insider ‘Vinathon’ begins at midnight

On September 29, 2016

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Padres, 6:10 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, 1B
Charlie Culberson, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Carlos Ruiz, C
Kiké Hernández, 2B
Rob Segedin, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Julio Urías, P

By Jon Weisman

Beginning at midnight and continuing through the start of Vin Scully’s final broadcast at 12:05 p.m. Sunday, Dodger Insider will present its Vinathon — a farewell tribute from this blog to the incomparable announcer.

Every hour on the hour, there will be photos, videos and stories from the Dodger Insider archives related to Vin — 60 posts in all.

To be honest, I worried that it might seem too much — even to honor Vin — but I decided to take the approach that for this occasion, too much still isn’t enough. Obviously, you can pick and choose which ones you look at.

My biggest warning and apologies, however, go out to those who get e-mail alerts each time Dodger Insider posts. My apologies in advance for inundating your in-box.

But that’s enough with the disclaimers. I hope you enjoy the Vinathon, and all the treasured moments we revisit.

Dodgers lock in 25-homer quartet in loss to Padres

By Jon Weisman

On September 28, 2016

In Postgame

Andrew Toles congratulates Joc Pederson on his 25th homer of the year. (Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

Jose De León got overwhelmed by the Hunter Renfroe Express, but Ross Stripling continued to look like a postseason pitcher, even though Stripling was charged with the Dodgers’ 6-5 loss to San Diego.

Corey Seager’s durability stands out in 2016

By Jon Weisman

On September 28, 2016

In Defense, Pregame

Dodgers at Padres, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Andrew Toles, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Jose De León, P

By Jon Weisman

Corey Seager, who in the starting lineup tonight for the 146th time in 158 games this season, has played 1,316 defensive innings in 2016.

That’s the third most by a Dodger shortstop in the 2000s, behind Cesar Izturis (1,386 in 2004) and Rafael Furcal (1,371 in 2006).

With all those innings, Seager has been the eighth most valuable defensive player in baseball this year, according to Fangraphs’ defensive rankings, which account for the value of each position.

The Legends’ Legend: Vin Appreciation Day

By Jon Weisman

On September 28, 2016

In History

Carl Erskine. Don Newcombe. Jamie Jarrín. And more, and more — all talking about Vin.

For our Dodger Insider tribute to Vin Scully, we presented numerous remembrances and tributes, offered in two different collections in the magazine.

The Legends’ Legend

Vin Appreciation Day

Please click each link above to read the full stories.

— Jon Weisman

Dodgers revise rotation to include Julio Urías

By Jon Weisman

On September 27, 2016

In Health/injuries, Pregame

Sandy Koufax speaks with Rich Hill, Julio Urias and interpreter Jesus Quinoes before the Vin Scully Appreciation Day ceremony September 23. Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Sandy Koufax speaks with Rich Hill, Julio Urías and interpreter Jesus Quinonez before the Vin Scully Appreciation Day ceremony September 23. Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Padres, 7:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Andrew Toles, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers have announced their starting pitchers for the regular season’s remaining six games, and while it is (as always) subject to change, there are some interesting tea leaves to read.

Fresh off a recent conversation with Sandy Koufax (above), Julio Urías has been pegged to start Thursday for the Dodgers, following — in a switch — Kenta Maeda tonight and Jose De León on Wednesday.

With Rich Hill, Clayton Kershaw and Maeda slated for the final series against the Giants, that means veterans Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy would appear to be all but out of consideration for the National League Division Series.

In their only appearances of the month, Anderson threw five innings September 22, Kazmir a single inning September 23 and McCarthy — most encouragingly — six innings of two-run ball September 25.

There’s never been any shortage of surprises with these Dodgers, but you’d be asking any of those pitchers to start on 2 1/2 weeks of rest, simulated innings aside. Game 4 of the NLDS would be played October 11.

Aside from the implications for finalizing the NLDS roster, the main question now is whether Urías, who has a 3.53 ERA this season but has thrown only two innings since September 13, is in a competition with De León to be positioned as No. 4 starter in the playoffs, or whether this is all a backup plan.

Based on Dodger playoff history from 2013-15, Clayton Kershaw would come back on three days’ rest to pitch in Game 4. His recovery from a disk herniation has mostly tabled that concept, but if Kershaw is feeling 100 percent, would you count him out?

Essentially, the Dodgers can start Kershaw in Game 4, turn to one of the rookies, or treat it as a glorified bullpen game, with Urías or De León combining with Ross Stripling to take the starter innings.

We’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?

Meanwhile, Hill pitching before Kershaw this weekend in San Francisco shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as a change in the pecking order. It’s far more likely to give Hill an extra day of rest before he takes the mound in the playoffs. By pitching Saturday, Kershaw would open the NLDS on five days’ rest, with Hill on seven days’ rest.

However, if you want to mull something off the wall, consider this: There are three days’ rest between NLDS Game 1 (October 7) and Game 4, but four days’ rest between NLDS Games 2 (October 8) and Game 5 (October 13). So if you wanted Kershaw to pitch on normal rest for two games, a Game 2 start would be the way to go. In that case, though, you’re guaranteeing the need for a fourth starter in the series.

Update: Dave Roberts confirmed tonight that it would be Kershaw, Hill and Maeda to begin the playoffs, in that order.

AM 570 to simulcast Vin Scully’s entire final broadcast

By Jon Weisman

On September 26, 2016

In Broadcasting

Jill Weisleder/Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Vin Scully’s entire final broadcast Sunday in San Francisco will be simulcast on SportsNet LA, KTLA and AM 570 LA Sports, meaning that radio listeners will hear Scully from start to finish.

Dodgers face difficult task trimming roster for playoffs

By Jon Weisman

On September 26, 2016

In Postseason, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

With their place in the 2016 postseason assured, the Dodgers now have the final six games of the regular season to measure out rest to certain players — and begin final evaluations of who will go on the postseason roster.

Somehow, the Dodgers have to trim their 40-man squad — with every single player on it active — down to 25 by Game 1 of the National League Division Series on October 7. It won’t be easy.

Culberson joins pantheon of Dodger heroes

By Jon Weisman

On September 25, 2016

In Postseason, Profiles

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

He stood at the plate as Charlie Culberson. Twenty-four seconds later, his helmet flung in the air, his feet barely touching the ground, he returned … as Charlie Culberson.

Never before in Los Angeles Dodger history had a player stood in the batters’ box with no one on base, taken a swing — and won a division title. But that’s exactly what Culberson did today, sending the Dodgers to the playoffs with a 10th-inning, walkoff home run to beat Colorado.

The hero! @cculberson23 pic.twitter.com/ACYsTYL3Kf

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 26, 2016

“I’m floating right now,” Culberson said. “It’s awesome. I couldn’t have written it up any better.”

Culberson’s happy drive to left field was an intoxicating blend of Steve Finley, who delivered the 2004 National League West title with a grand slam, and Dick Nen.

Nen was the Dodger who, in his first Major League game on September 18, 1963, homered in the ninth inning to keep the Dodgers alive for a critical extra-inning victory in their World Series championship season.

[mlbvideo id=”1188614683″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

The 27-year-old Culberson is considerably more experienced — today’s was his 178th game in the big leagues — but still much closer on the fame-obscurity spectrum to Nen than Finley.

“It (speaks) to how he goes about what he does,” Andrew Friedman said. “Great role player. Knows his role, fits in really well with the clubhouse — how much he cares. There are so many different aspects that make him very fitting to be the one to hit the walkoff.”

This was hardly Culberson’s first big game for the Dodgers. It wasn’t even his first big 10th inning. On April 9, he saved Los Angeles in a game at San Francisco, making dazzling plays at both shortstop and left field, and going 2 for 5 with the game-winning double in a 3-2 victory.

[mlbvideo id=”1188569583″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

But it was the biggest, putting him in the ring of regular-season Dodger heroes that includes Nen, R.J. Reynolds, Finley and a select number of others.

“He was a non-roster invitee (to Spring Training), he was up and down all year long and he did whatever you asked,” Dave Roberts said. “I embraced him earlier, and he said outside of his baby, that’s the biggest moment of his life.”

Culberson finished the game 3 for 5, to raise his on-base percentage in 58 plate appearances with the Dodgers to .310 and his OPS to .696. For a defense-first player, that’ll do.

Still, he had gone 25 months since hitting a Major League home run. He had missed all but five games of the 2015 season recovering from a bulging disk and back surgery. He spent most of 2016 in Triple-A.

And now, he’s Charlie Culberson.

“The Dodgers gave me an opportunity to play,” he said. “Honestly, I’m just happy to be here and be part of this awesome team. … I’m just fortunate to put on a uniform and be able to play baseball.”

One celebration down, ‘three more celebrations’ to go for NL West champion Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

On September 25, 2016

In Front office, Postseason, Status report

By Jon Weisman

One of these years, it wasn’t going to happen. One of these years, the National League West title would go to someone else.

Three months ago, 2016 looked dangerously like it would be that year. The Dodgers began the season in pursuit of their fourth straight division championship, but on June 26, eight games down in the division, one ace down on the disabled list — it was a feeding frenzy for those looking to bury Los Angeles.

Exactly three months later, on September 26, the Dodgers will wake up not eight games down in the NL West, but eight games up — and playoff bound.

Instead of surrendering with Clayton Kershaw out, the Dodgers found a deep resolve. Not coincidentally, it came from a deep roster.

“We talked a lot at Spring Training about depth in the organization,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, in the bombastic clubhouse after today’s clinching victory over Colorado. “It wasn’t something that we were necessarily eager to showcase, as early as we did and as often as we did. But it’s an incredible organization. The number of fingerprints on this division title spans so many different players and so many different departments in our organization. So many people can be proud of it.

Vin Scully’s Dodger Stadium farewell is a lovefest

By Jon Weisman

On September 25, 2016

In Broadcasting, Dodger Stadium

By Jon Weisman

High above the champagne party in the Dodger clubhouse, the booth sits empty now. And yet it feels so full.

Vin Scully clocked in at Dodger Stadium for the final time today, a day that encapsulated so much of what made him baseball’s premier voice.

#4peat! Dodgers win NL West again

By Jon Weisman

On September 25, 2016

In Postgame, Postseason, Status report

By Jon Weisman

Fourmidable!

And for Vin Scully, unbelievable.

At Vin’s final day broadcasting at Dodger Stadium, as the shadows crept across the infield, Charlie Culberson homered — his first of the season — to give the Dodgers a 4-3 walkoff, 10-inning victory over the Colorado Rockies — and their fourth consecutive National League West title.

After going the life of the franchise without making the playoffs in three straight years until 2015, the Dodgers have extended their streak by one. Dave Roberts joined Tommy Lasorda as the only rookie managers ever to lead the Dodgers to a division title.

The victory sets up a National League Division Series matchup with the Washington Nationals, who clinched the NL East on Saturday. Game 1 of the NLDS will be October 7, with the Dodgers narrowly behind the Nationals in determining home-field advantage. The Dodgers own the tiebreaker if the teams finish with identical records.

In a season replete with resolve, the Dodgers rallied from two deficits — and won without leading until after the final pitch was thrown.

In his first MLB start since August 13, Brandon McCarthy made his longest appearance since July 22. Retiring the first six batters he faced on 25 pitches with four strikeouts, McCarthy then allowed two runs in the third inning, but recovered to face the minimum in the fourth and fifth innings.

For the day, McCarthy threw 79 pitches in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts, and notably walked only one. It was his three consecutive starts walking a career-high five in early August that signaled his need to return to the disabled list.

Following a Howie Kendrick single and Justin Turner double to begin the third, the Dodgers cut the Rockies’ lead in half on Yasiel Puig’s sacrifice fly, but couldn’t convert any of their other eight baserunners in the first six innings into runs.

After Turner singled in the seventh, however, Corey Seager ripped a shot down the right-field line — his team-leading fifth triple — and suddenly the Dodgers were tied, at home, with a direct look at the promised land. Then came the final at-bat …

David Dahl’s ninth-inning home run off Kenley Jansen looked to deny the Dodgers their opportunity to win their way into the NL West title. The immediate consolation, as Dahl’s drive sailed over the fence in right-center, was that San Diego took a 4-3 lead over San Francisco in the bottom of the seventh, extending the possibility of a home clinch.

But with two out in the bottom of the ninth, Seager drilled a 112 mph shot off Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino (aiming to rebound from his five-run, ninth-inning meltdown August 31 against the Dodgers) to tie the game again.

Joc Pederson, batting for Yasiel Puig, walked against Boone Logan. Gonzalez came to the plate and hit a solid opposite-field drive but a can of corn nonetheless, and we would play on.

Extra Vinnings :)

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 25, 2016

With two out in the bottom of the 10th, Culberson, who spent much of the season in the minors, no-doubted an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left, and the celebration began for the Dodgers — bot thanks to the Giants, but thanks to themselves.

Puig, Dodgers grieve over José Fernández

By Jon Weisman

On September 25, 2016

In Farewells

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

A number of Dodgers had personal connections with José Fernández, such as Austin Barnes, Chris Hatcher and Kiké Hernández, who all played in the Marlins organization with the All-Star right-hander.

But perhaps no one in Los Angeles was closer to the Miami All-Star, who died overnight in a boating accident, than Yasiel Puig.

Baseball mourns death of José Fernández

By Jon Weisman

On September 25, 2016

In Farewells

Yasiel Puig embraces José Fernández at Marlins Park on August 19, 2013. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Baseball fans woke to tragedy and shock this morning with the news that José Fernández and two others had been killed overnight in a boating accident.

“José Fernández was one of the nicest, most respectful, young players I ever had the pleasure of getting to know. My heart is shattered,” SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo said on Twitter this morning, expressing the sentiments of so many.

“The fact that José, his mom and others risked their lives to flee Cuba, saved her from drowning, only to die in this way, is incomprehensible,” she added.

Hermano, wherever you are, you know how much I loved you. Sin palabras. My heart is with the families. pic.twitter.com/JGVSRYXlMf

— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) September 25, 2016

Said former Dodger pitcher Dan Haren on Twitter: “José Fernández is one of the most genuine guys I’ve ever played with. He loved life, he loved baseball. … He will be missed dearly.”

For Dodger fans of my age, it was instinctive upon hearing the news to think instantly of former Dodger pitchers Tim Crews and Bobby Ojeda, who were in a 1993 Spring Training boating accident that took the life of Crews and their new Cleveland Indians teammate, Steve Olin. Gary Smith of Sports Illustrated wrote a devastating story four months after that accident, and Jon Saraceno and Bob Nightengale of USA Today revisited in 2013.

Fernandez was 24 years old.

The Dodgers share in baseball's devastation over the death of José Fernández and offer his family and friends our sincere condolences. pic.twitter.com/dvSzF80FxM

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/redturn2/status/780058118914834432

Despite division delay, Dodgers delight in Kershaw

By Jon Weisman

On September 24, 2016

In Pitching

#ITFDB

A post shared by Los Angeles Dodgers (@dodgers) on Sep 24, 2016 at 6:11pm PDT

By Jon Weisman

San Francisco hung on for a 9-6 victory over San Diego, and the Dodgers put the bubbly away for at least another day.

But after his seven shutout innings in their 14-1 victory tonight, they could break it out just to celebrate this little fact: Heading into the playoffs, Clayton Kershaw is on a roll.

Dodgers clinch tie for NL West, with Giants holding up the party

By Jon Weisman

On September 24, 2016

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Well, hello there, from inside a tantalizing moment.

Behind a dominant performance by Clayton Kershaw and the offense, the Dodgers have clinched a tie for the National League West title after annihilating the Colorado Rockies, 14-1.

In theory, that should have settled the issue for the night of whether the Dodgers are division champions. But the Giants, who started their game at San Diego 30 minutes before the Dodgers did in Los Angeles, were still playing.

San Francisco led 3-0 after the first inning and 6-0 in the fourth, in a game started by Madison Bumgarner, before San Diego scored in four consecutive innings to tie the game. Moments before the Dodger game ended, the Giants took a 9-6 lead in the 10th inning.

That was the only tension in a night that was otherwise Carnival at Chavez Ravine.

Kershaw struck out six in seven innings of 91-pitch shutout ball, extending his streak without allowing an earned run to 19. He’ll have one more start before the postseason, but — just between us folks — he looks ready.

For Kershaw, it was his first win since returning from the disabled list. Sixteen Dodger pitchers had been credited with victories in between.

Meanwhile, the Dodger bats poured it on against Colorado with four in the second inning, four more in the middle innings and sixth in the seventh, capped by Josh Reddick’s first Dodger grand slam.

Justin Turner tied a career high by reaching base five times, with the Dodgers tallying 21 baserunners in all.

And the waiting continues …

Dodger Thoughts

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

Month: September 2016 (Page 3 of 9)

The Dodger Insider ‘Vinathon’ begins at midnight

Dodgers lock in 25-homer quartet in loss to Padres

Corey Seager’s durability stands out in 2016

The Legends’ Legend: Vin Appreciation Day

Dodgers revise rotation to include Julio Urías

AM 570 to simulcast Vin Scully’s entire final broadcast

Dodgers face difficult task trimming roster for playoffs

Culberson joins pantheon of Dodger heroes

One celebration down, ‘three more celebrations’ to go for NL West champion Dodgers

Vin Scully’s Dodger Stadium farewell is a lovefest

#4peat! Dodgers win NL West again

Puig, Dodgers grieve over José Fernández

Baseball mourns death of José Fernández

Despite division delay, Dodgers delight in Kershaw

Dodgers clinch tie for NL West, with Giants holding up the party

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