[mlbvideo id=”32851495″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
The devilish underhanded fastball from Martiza Puig shows how her son Yasiel must have trained to become such a great hitter.
— Jon Weisman
Author: Jon Weisman (Page 178 of 379)
By Jon Weisman
Hi, I’m Josh Beckett. (Note: This isn’t really Josh Beckett.) I had no wins and one rib lost last year. People didn’t expect much from me this year. And sure enough, in my first start of 2014, I only lasted four innings and gave up four earned runs.
Oh, but here’s what I’ve done in my six starts since, including tonight’s 7-1 victory over Miami: 37 2/3 innings, 39 baserunners, 36 strikeouts and a 1.67 ERA.
That’s right, suckers. Sure, it’s my first win since 2012, but that’s a dumb stat anyway. (Note: I don’t know if Josh Beckett really feels that way, but he should.) Time for the baseball world to stand up and notice. I’m kinda back.
[mlbvideo id=”32824543″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Josh Beckett, P
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Josh Beckett, P
By Jon Weisman
A.J. Ellis is back in town after completing his rehab assignment but, no surprise, won’t be activated today.
Juan Uribe is available off the bench, but ideally might not play before Thursday’s off day just to be on the safe side.
Also, Hyun-Jin Ryu threw a 40-pitch bullpen session, his biggest step since going on the disabled list following his April 27 start.
Busy on the field at Dodger Stadium. A.J. Ellis & Juan Uribe taking BP, Chad Billingsley throwing bullpen session, Hyun-jin Ryu about to
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) May 13, 2014
Let’s go with some links …
- First, here’s Jon SooHoo’s photo collection from Monday’s game, at LA Photog Blog.
- In the video up top, Vin Scully tells a great story about Miami manager Mike Redmond going the full Marlin during batting practice.
- Just how has Yasiel Puig become so much more disciplined at the plate? Jeff Sullivan provides the analysis at Fangraphs.
Yasiel Puig has 17 walks and 31 strikeouts in 2014. Last year, Puig struck out 57 times before his 17th walk.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 13, 2014
- “The Wild Blue Yonder: Films inspired by Yasiel Puig” at SB Nation. Speaks for itself.
- The entire Dodger outfield has a .952 OPS in May. Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. delves into the stats.
- Dee Gordon’s success partly comes from using the opposite field more. Alec Dopp illustrates at Gammons Daily.
- Since April 23, Drew Butera has gone 9 for 33 with two doubles, two homers and four walks for an .865 OPS, raising his 2014 adjusted OPS to an even 100. The Dodgers are 10-4 when Butera starts.
- Happy birthday to my special gal. The stats says she’s getting old, but the scouts aren’t seeing it.
By Jon Weisman
To aid those whose lives have been harmed by a devastating fire at the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission, the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation are leading an online donation effort now through May 19 and a collection of items at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.
Damage sustained included the destruction of the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission’s emergency shelter, vehicle fleet, clothing warehouse includes modern facility dry storage space and food pantry, all of which were vital in aiding those of need in the San Fernando Valley.
Monetary donations are being taken at www.dodgers.com/ladf. All donations received this week will go directly to the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission.
In addition, fans are also invited to drive through Dodger Stadium on Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to drop off donations in Lot 1. The Dodgers will be joined by members of the Dodger Alumni League, Dodger wives, staff from City Council offices as well as the Los Angeles Fire Department and San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission in their collection of items for the mission.
The Dodgers and LADF suggest donations at Dodger Stadium of new or gently-worn clothing and shoes, new or used blankets, bedding and towels, toiletries, baby items and canned and dry food items.
Additionally, more than 15 families affected by the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission fire will attend Wednesday’s 7:10 p.m. game vs. Miami, courtesy of the Dodgers. One of the young children affected by the fire lost his favorite Dodger blanket; the Dodgers will be providing him along with all families in attendance with new Dodger blankets.
Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department will also be collecting monetary donations during Wednesday’s game and at Thursday’s event.
“The Dodger community spans far and wide, and we feel strongly about the unfortunate circumstances affecting our neighbors at the San Fernando Valley Mission,” said Dodger senior vice president of external affairs Renata Simril. “We invite all Dodger fans to lend a helping hand to the Mission while they attend any of our games against Miami or by stopping by this Thursday.”
Said Los Angeles City Council member Paul Krekorian: “The moment the Dodgers heard about the terrible loss suffered by the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission and the families it serves, they offered to step up and help rescue the Mission. I urge everyone to follow the Dodgers’ lead this week by donating money, clothing and personal items in whatever amount possible.”
Founded in 1998, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission began as the Rescue Survival Outreach Services (S.O.S.) Program serving meals to the Valley’s homeless. In 2002, the Mission launched the Family Shelter program in a collaborative effort with San Fernando Valley area churches in response to the critical unmet need for a year round emergency shelter. The program has been designed to provide homeless men, women, children and families an opportunity, not only to obtain food, shelter, and basic life necessities, but also provides a foundation for individual and family restoration by developing a personalized plan based on their needs for achieving personal growth, employment, and housing. For more information, log on to www.sfvrescuemission.org or call 818-304-7593.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_xNvdptsXY]
In the post-apocasomething world of upcoming Fox series “The Last Man on Earth” with Will Forte, Dodger Stadium still stands tall. Start the video at the 1:30 mark.
Tip for pros: Starting at 0:53, can you recognize the shooting location of the museum scene?
— Jon Weisman
[mlbvideo id=”32824549″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
By Jon Weisman
Yasiel Puig …
- has a .318 batting average, .408 on-base percentage and .553 slugging percentage — all improvements over his stunning rookie season.
- has a .961 OPS. Mike Trout has an .883 OPS.
- has the fourth-best OPS among NL outfielders.
- is now tied for first on the Dodgers with 17 walks.
- has eight walks in May, tied for third in the NL.
- in 20 games since April 20, is hitting .370/.446/.667/1.113.
- was 10th in the Major Leagues in Wins Above Replacement, according to Fangraphs, before walking twice and hitting a three-run home run Monday in the Dodgers’ 6-5 victory over Florida.
- is on fire.
[mlbvideo id=”32803179″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Dan Haren, P
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Dan Haren, P
By Jon Weisman
This morning, we celebrated an anniversary. Tonight, we celebrate a milestone.
When he takes the field tonight, 4 1/2 months shy of his 30th birthday, Matt Kemp will be playing in his 1,000th Major League game.
Kemp was 21 when the Dodgers called him up on May 28, 2006, taking the roster spot of, oddly enough, relief pitcher Lance Carter. That night, the Dodgers started four rookies: Kemp, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin and Willy Aybar.
Now, Kemp and Ethier (who is playing in his 1,180th game) are the club’s elder statesmen, as well as players moving up on the Dodgers’ list of all-time leaders.
Among those who have played at least 999 games with the Dodgers, Kemp is sixth all-time in adjusted OPS and the highest of anyone since No. 1 Pedro Guerrero. He trails only Guerrero, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Zack Wheat and Dixie Walker.
Kemp has 162 career home runs, one behind Raul Mondesi for 10th on the all-time Dodger homer list. Kemp has almost exactly the same number of stolen bases (165) and will enter the top 10 with 15 more. Kemp is the only player in history with at least 160 home runs and 160 stolen bases as a Dodger.
He’s also kicking it into gear, more and more. In 18 games since April 23, Kemp has a .371 on-base percentage and .523 slugging percentage, each higher than his career marks of .350 and .493.
Tonight, I talked to Kemp about playing in his 1,000th game. You read the interview below, but you can also enjoy listening to it as well in his own voice.
By Jon Weisman
When looking at a team whose fortunes are sinking, people are fond of moralizing and other snap judgments. If a team isn’t winning, it must not be trying. Or the team is just not good.
It takes backbone to see streaks as an exaggeration of reality, rather than a reflection of reality, even though almost by definition, streaks tend to be unusual.
We understand that batting averages and ERAs and every other statistic will fluctuate from week to week, month to month. Not one .333 hitter actually goes 1 for 3 in every game. Yet somehow, winning teams are expected to always be winning.
Having lost six of their past eight since matching a season-high five games over .500 on May 3, the Dodgers are drawing catcalls. It’s part of the game, I suppose. But we don’t know who the real Dodgers are.
Are they the team that started 9-4? The team that then went 9-9? Or the team that is most recently 2-6? Are they even the team that is 20-19 overall this season?
By Jon Weisman
Ten years ago tonight, Alex Cora stepped into the batters’ box in the bottom of the seventh inning against Matt Clement of the Cubs.
You could be excused for thinking that 10 years went by before he stepped out.
Giants at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Kershaw CLXXXV: Kershawnger Games: Catching Fire
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Clayton Kershaw, P
Kershaw CLXXXV: Kershawnger Games: Catching Fire
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Clayton Kershaw, P
By Jon Weisman
Saturday’s 6-2 victory over San Francisco marked the Dodgers second comeback victory of the season after being down by at least two runs, and first when trailing by at least two runs after the fifth inning.
The 2014 Dodgers’ other major comeback was when they gave up four runs to Arizona in the third inning on April 19 but scored three in the fourth and five in the fifth.
The last time the Dodgers rallied from trailing by at least two runs after the fifth inning was August 14 against the Mets, in which the Dodgers fell behind 4-0 early, but scored two in the sixth and then got a game-tying, two-run homer from Andre Ethier in the ninth. Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez hit back-to-back doubles in the 12th to win it.
In general, the Dodgers have been a team that wins by getting leads early and holding them, which, for all the excitement a great rally brings, isn’t a bad formula. But in last year’s 42-8 run, the Dodgers had 11 comeback victories, five of them after being down by at least two runs in the sixth inning or later. Show me the magic:
- June 27 (down by a run to the Phillies in the seventh)
- July 3 (down by three runs to the Rockies in the fourth)
- July 10 (down by two runs to the Diamondbacks in the seventh)
- July 19 (down by a run to the Nationals in the third)
- July 23 (down by five runs to the Blue Jays in the seventh)
- August 1 (down by two runs to the Cubs in the third)
- August 5 (down by one run to the Cardinals in the fourth)
- August 9 (down by six runs to the Rays in the seventh)
- August 12 (down by two runs to the Mets in the sixth)
- August 13 (down by one run to the Mets in the fifth)
- August 14 (down by two runs to the Mets in the sixth)
[mlbvideo id=”32780009″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
Video highlights of Saturday’s great Old-Timers Day above, and photo highlights from Jon SooHoo by clicking the link.
– Jon Weisman
[mlbvideo id=”32421285″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
Giants at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Chone Figgins, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Zack Greinke, P
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Chone Figgins, 3B
Drew Butera, C
Zack Greinke, P
By Jon Weisman
Chris Withrow has now faced exactly 200 batters in his career, and the numbers are pretty fascinating. He has allowed 23 hits (for a .134 opponents’ batting average) but walked 27. The extremes are even more extreme this season: opponents are 3 for 51 against him with 14 walks.
Though the .250 career on-base percentage against him is still fairly modest, the walks do get Withrow in trouble. Nevertheless, his career ERA is only 1.92, and he has stranded all 14 runners he has inherited.
Strikeouts — 11.7 per nine innings — are one way Withrow is such an escape artist. But another thing is that opponents practically can’t buy an extra-base hit against him. In his career, Withrow has given up five home runs (all last year) and one double. That’s it.
* * *
In his recap of Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Giants, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com discusses the Yasiel Puig-Madison Bumbarner confrontation, but also quietly hits on what may be the story of the series.
“Meanwhile, the Giants are deploying exaggerated defensive shifts on most of the Dodgers’ potent hitters, even the right-handers, and it’s working, as hitters who don’t use the whole field have become easier to defend,” Gurnick writes.
There’s an article on defensive shifts in the current issue of Dodger Insider magazine.
* * *
Catcher A.J. Ellis will start a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Albuquerque, Gurnick reported on Twitter.
Giants at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Miguel Olivo, C
Justin Turner, 3B
Paul Maholm, P
Dee Gordon, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Miguel Olivo, C
Justin Turner, 3B
Paul Maholm, P
By Jon Weisman
Dodger fans bring on the noise, and the Dodgers bring on the funk. But I suppose this isn’t the funk everyone had in mind.
Since a 9-4 start, the Dodgers are 12-13 in their past 25 games, which isn’t awful, exactly. In fact, if that’s the worst they do in a 25-game stretch, they’re probably going to end up having a great season. But as the pregame meeting held Thursday indicated, it’s not just the fans who might be getting impatient.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNlg62VNxyo&w=550&h=309]
CBS broadcaster Verne Lundquist received the seventh annual Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday. Jake Kring-Schreifels covered the event for MLB.com.
“If you are in the business of radio/television, there’s no better way to begin a work week than by receiving a call and hearing the wonderful, rich baritone voice of Vin Scully saying, ‘Congratulations, and welcome to the club,'” said Lundquist. “That happened to me in December. I was overwhelmed then, and I’m overwhelmed tonight.”
Scully, the longtime voice of the Dodgers and a proud alumnus of Fordham University and WFUV radio — which distributes the awards and hosts the event each year — presented a video message to Lundquist beforehand from his familiar broadcast perch in Dodger Stadium.
“[Lundquist has] done so many sports, so many. How do you define that? He has done 20 different sports. In fact, I think Verne owes it to all of us that during his acceptance speech, he should name 20 different sports,” mused Scully. “You fulfill every definition of a national and successful sportscaster. We welcome you with open arms.” …
… While Lundquist has a distant relationship with baseball, he fondly recalled attending his first Major League game, between the Chicago Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers at Wrigley Field.
“Don Newcombe was pitching, Roy Campanella was behind the plate, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Furillo , Duke Snider … and in the dugout, a couple of young puppies named Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax,” remembered Lundquist. “We had seats right beyond the first-base line. I remember early in the game looking over my left shoulder and peering up into the broadcast booth, and that’s the first time I ever saw Vin Scully. He was 29 years old.”
Read the full story here. Past winners of the award include Dick Enberg, Ernie Harwell, Pat Summerall, Al Michaels, Bob Costas and Scully himself.
By Jon Weisman
Ron Cey, Tommy Davis, Steve Garvey, Mickey Hatcher, Eric Karros, Rick Monday, Steve Sax, Don Sutton, Maury Wills and Steve Yeager form the outstanding list of initial instructors for the 51st Los Angeles Dodgers Adult Baseball Camp at Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida from November 9-15, 2014.
In addition, Guy Wellman will serve as camp coordinator, as he has at every camp since 1983.
Of the 10 former players, nine were past All-Stars (you’re an All-Star in our hearts, Mickey) and nine played on a World Series champion (you’re a champion in our hearts, Eric).
“This All-Star group of instructors brings enormous credentials and years of accomplishments,” Historic Dodgertown vice president Craig Callan said. “Campers will enjoy interacting with all these legends during their six nights and five days stay at Historic Dodgertown. This will truly be a memorable experience.”
Enrollment has begun and the camp is expected to reach capacity. For more information or to make reservations, call (844) 670-2735 or visit historicdodgertown.com.
