Dodger Thoughts

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

Author: Jon Weisman (Page 63 of 379)

Steve Cilladi earned every bit of his big-league dream

By

On May 10, 2016

In Coaching

Cilladi and others 031015js164

Steve Cilladi (82) during Spring Training in 2015 (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

Steve Cilladi’s lifetime professional statistics read like the baseball version of Oliver Twist.

Forty games. Seventeen hits. Two homers, one triple, no doubles. Six walks, three times hit by pitch. Thirty-five strikeouts.

That’s what the ledger shows for five seasons. Please, sir. I want some more.

But Cilladi is no unfortunate, and he would rebel at the very thought of it. He is a man of means, ambition and perspective — Dodger bullpen catcher today, who knows what tomorrow?

“To me, negativity is an absolute distraction,” Cilladi said. “The time that’s used to complain or mope or whatever else, can be time better utilized for the person next to you or for you, and I really take that to heart. Why am I going to complain? If I have a negative thought in my head, I’m going to turn that into something that can either be productive for myself or that’s going to help the person next to me, and I think that’s something we need more of.”

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Vin Scully on cover of Sports Illustrated

By

On May 10, 2016

In Broadcasting

COV0516.LO.indd

Vin Scully is the subject of an eloquent cover story by Tom Verducci for Sports Illustrated that you can see here.

— Jon Weisman

Dodger loss stands to Reese’n

By

On May 9, 2016

In Postgame

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

5.9.16 Retired Numbers Pin Series - Pee Wee Reese presented by 76It looked like the Dodgers and Scott Kazmir might be buried early by the Mets, but two assists in the third inning by left fielder Kiké Hernandez kept New York’s lead to three after three. Trayce Thompson’s 340-foot homer to right field in the fourth cut the deficit to a single run, but the Dodgers drew no closer and, after an unearned run in the sixth, fell to the Mets, 4-2.

Vin Scully told the story tonight of Pee Wee Reese speaking to Jackie Robinson after Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in 1951. “There’s one thing that I’ll never understand,” Reese said. “That this game hasn’t driven me crazy.”

— Jon Weisman

Justin Turner warming up as Mets come to town

By

On May 9, 2016

In Pregame

San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Mets at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Trayce Thompson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Charlie Culberson, SS
Scott Kazmir, P

By Jon Weisman

When Justin Turner hit his first homer of 2016 on Saturday, it capped his best four-game stretch of the season.

Turner went 6 for 16 with two doubles, two walks and the homer, raising his OPS from .631 to .714. Though Turner went 0 for 3 with a walk Sunday, Dave Roberts didn’t think the uptick in numbers was a fluke.

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Day by day, Brandon McCarthy keeps moving forward

By

On May 9, 2016

In Health/injuries

[wpvideo DmqKqfN6]

By Jon Weisman

It might have been just another day in the post-Tommy John surgery life of Brandon McCarthy, but every day forward is a good one.

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Stripling strong, result not wrong for Dodgers

By

On May 8, 2016

In Postgame

[mlbvideo id=”673061283″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

Though he didn’t get the win, Ross Stripling’s six one-hit innings didn’t go for naught, as the Dodgers rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits Sunday to defeat Toronto, 4-2, and end their series and road trip on an upbeat note.

Stripling struck out six and walked none, throwing 85 pitches. Joc Pederson homered in the top of the seventh, and after Chris Hatcher allowed an unearned run, Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick drove in runs in the eighth to put the Dodgers ahead.

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Happy Mother’s Day, Dodger-style

By

On May 8, 2016

In Pregame

Dodgers at Blue Jays, 10:07 a.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, 1B
Joc Pederson, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Trayce Thompson, RF
(Ross Stripling, P)

By Jon Weisman

Mother’s Day brunch meets the Dodgers with this morning’s game at Toronto.

Howie Kendrick, who has already started at second base, third base, left field and designated hitter for the Dodgers this year, takes the field at first base today. Kendrick has 573 1/3 career innings at first base, though none since 2011. He started 44 games there during his rookie season in 2006.

Ross Stripling takes the mound for the Dodgers on seven days’ rest. After going a total of 13 1/3 innings in his first two starts, he has gone 13 2/3 in his past three.

Mike Bolsinger, whose slot Stripling took in the starting rotation, threw 46 pitches (30 strikes) in his first rehab start of the year Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, walking none and striking out three. He pitched three shutout innings before surrendering two runs in his fourth.

And with that, Happy Mother’s Day! Start with this piece by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com on Corey Seager’s mom Jody, and go from there …

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Clayton Kershaw’s strikeout-walk feats go international

By

On May 7, 2016

In Postgame

Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs on eight hits, but again walked none while striking out 10. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs on eight hits, but again walked none while striking out 10. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw didn’t throw a 14-strikeout shutout today like he did six days ago, but his work today at Toronto was hardly less impressive.

Starting in an American League East ballpark for the first time in his career, Kershaw continued to showcase otherworldly control in pitching the Dodgers to a 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays.

In seven innings, Kershaw struck out 10 and walked none, which means the following:

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Dodgers mulling Julio Urias callup

By

On May 7, 2016

In History, Minor leagues

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Bolsinger to make rehab start
Mike Bolsinger is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with a start at Triple-A Oklahoma City tonight. Bolsinger has been out since March with an oblique injury.

By Jon Weisman

Dave Roberts told reporters today that the Dodgers are considering bringing up 19-year-old Julio Urias, potentially to pitch out of the bullpen.

Urias is among several options the Dodgers are considering to shore up the relief corps, but could be considered the primary one.

After pitching six no-hit innings Wednesday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Urias has a 1.88 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and only three walks in 24 innings.

Urias turns 20 on August 12. In the closest recent comparison, Clayton Kershaw made his MLB debut on May 25, 2008, at age 20 years and 67 days.

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Kershaw looks to cure what ALs Dodgers

By

On May 7, 2016

In Pregame

Miami Marlins vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers at Blue Jays, 10:07 a.m.
Kershaw CCXLIX: Kershaw-ish
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Howie Kendrick, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
Carl Crawford, DH
(Clayton Kershaw, P)

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers are 1-2 to start interleague play, 2-8 in their past 10 games and 14-15 on the season.

Enter Clayton Kershaw.

Today, Kershaw appears in his 100th game since the beginning of the 2013 season, a run that began with his Opening Day shutout (and eighth-inning, tiebreaking home run) against the Giants.

In 713 innings over his past 99 games, Kershaw has a 1.92 ERA with 826 strikeouts. This is what his average start in that time looks like: 7 1/3 innings, five hits, 1.7 runs (1.5 earned), 1.3 walks, 8.3 strikeouts.

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Interview: Forging a career in baseball operations

By

On May 6, 2016

In Front office

Emilee Fragapane 2015 012815js279

Emilee Fragapane

Megan Schroeder 2016 011316js088

Megan Schroeder

Providing an enlightening window into the evolving Dodger front office, senior research and development analyst Megan Schroeder and baseball operations coordinator Emilee Fragapane spoke to Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller on Baseball Prospectus’ “Effectively Wild” podcast about what they do, the impressive level of study that prepared them, and their rare gender status in their roles.  Give it a listen …

— Jon Weisman

Joc Pederson’s quiet offensive surge

By

On May 6, 2016

In Pregame

get in emmmmm #Defense

A post shared by Joc Pederson (@yungjoc650) on

Dodgers at Blue Jays, 4:07 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Howie Kendrick, DH
Joc Pederson, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
(Kenta Maeda, P)

By Jon Weisman

Joc Pederson isn’t just about tight man-to-man defense, as seen in the above video.

Under the radar and near the bottom of the batting order, Pederson is quietly reducing fears about his offense after last season’s post-June slump.

Overall in 2016, the 24-year-old has a .386 on-base percentage (.403 against right-handed pitching) with a .500 slugging percentage, .380 weighted on-base average and 137 weighted runs created.

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Beyoncé coming to Dodger Stadium on September 14

By

On May 6, 2016

In Dodger Stadium, Entertainment

LNLA-Beyonce-1024x512-LADodger

Dodger Stadium will host Beyoncé’s “The Formation World Tour” on September 14. Tickets go on sale to the general public May 13, but Dodger fans can jump ahead with a presale that runs from 10 a.m. May 11 to 5 p.m. May 12 by visiting dodgers.com/beyonce.

The Dodgers are playing an afternoon game at Yankee Stadium that day, part of a 10-game road trip September 9-18 to Miami, New York and Arizona that is their longest of the season.

— Jon Weisman

Video: Vin Scully wishes Willie Mays a happy 85th

By

On May 6, 2016

In History

[wpvideo eLEuw539]

WillieMays13By Jon Weisman

Baseball legend Willie Mays turns 85 today. Mays was always a favorite of Vin Scully, and Scully taped a birthday greeting that is more than just platitudes — it’s a celebration of greatness.

Scully’s praise for Mays is for good reason, and not just for his legendary catches. If you haven’t looked at Mays’ stats recently, or recollected anything beyond his 660 home runs, take a moment to refresh.

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Video: Irving Piken, 107-year-old Dodger fan

By

On May 6, 2016

In History

[mlbvideo id=”662739983″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
Irving Piken, at age 107 believed to be the Dodgers’ oldest living fan and an actual trolley dodger, was profiled in this piece by SportsNet LA’s “Backstage: Dodgers,” in which he meets that young reporter nearly 20 years his junior, Vin Scully.

— Jon Weisman

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Attendance

1991-2013
Dodgers at home: 1,028-812 (.558695)
When Jon attended: 338-267 (.558677)*
When Jon didn’t: 695-554 (.556)
* includes road games attended

2013
Dodgers at home: 51-35 (.593)
When Jon attended: 5-2 (.714)
When Jon didn’t: 46-33 (.582)

Note: I got so busy working for the Dodgers that in 2014, I stopped keeping track, much to my regret. 

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