Jon Weisman – Page 89 – Dodger Thoughts

On October 12, 2015

In Uncategorized

Patrick Gee/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Here’s how close Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon came to catching Saturday’s seventh-inning line drive by Howie Kendrick that ultimately went through on one bounce to second baseman Daniel Murphy, who then tossed to shortstop Ruben Tejada ahead of an oncoming Chase Utley. (Click the photo above to enlarge.)

Reports today are the appeal of Utley’s suspension won’t be heard before Game 3 of the National League Division Series tonight, which would mean Utley will be in uniform when the Dodgers play at Citi Field.

Chase Utley suspended for two games — will appeal

In Discipline

By Jon Weisman

Major League Baseball tonight suspended Chase Utley for Games 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series for what it said in a statement was an “illegal slide” in Saturday’s Game 2.

Utley is appealing the suspension. The appeal is expected to be heard before Monday’s Game 3 in New York.

The Dodgers issued the following statement: “The Dodgers stand behind Chase Utley and his decision to appeal the suspension issued tonight by Major League Baseball. The club will have no further comment at this time.”

MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre outlined his reasons for the suspension in a statement.

Off-day report: Mattingly addresses Utley-Tejada

In Postseason

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By Jon Weisman

Speaking to reporters tonight after the Dodgers’ arrival in New York, manager Don Mattingly backed Chase Utley a day after his hard slide into Ruben Tejada.

Chase Utley slide joins most controversial plays in Dodger playoff history

In History

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By Jon Weisman

Jackie Robinson safe at home in 1949. Davey Lopes safe at first in 1977. The heat of Hanley Ramirez’s rib fractured by a pitch — two years ago this very day — still simmers. And above all, Reggie Jackson’s hip.

Nothing tops their notoriety in Dodger postseason history, but entering that pantheon is Chase Utley’s slide, a play we will be talking about for years.

Remembering ’65: World Series Game 5

In History, Remembering '65

By Jon Weisman

Pretty much the only drama in Game 5 of the 1965 World Series was whether Sandy Koufax would throw another perfect game or no-hitter.

Beyond the slide — how the Dodgers came back

In Postseason

Howie Kendrick slides safely into home ahead of the tag by the Mets’ Travis d’Arnaud.

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers went nearly 16 innings without the lead in their National League Division Series showdown with the Mets, and though their deficit was only a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning tonight, that run seemed like a mountain to climb.

After allowing solo home runs to Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto in the second inning, Zack Greinke did wonder if the Dodgers would scale the summit, as they ultimately did in a 5-2 victory.

Dodgers rally in controversial seventh to even NLDS

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

For nearly seven innings, it was another nail-biting pitchers’ duel, a rush of speed chess with the Dodgers again one move behind.

And then, the Dodgers flipped the board, suddenly and violently.

A four-run inning, lit aflame by Chase Utley’s takeout slide of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada at second base, lifted the Dodgers to a 5-2 victory in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, evening the matchup at one win apiece.

Tejada suffered a broken right fibula on the play, which we discuss at length in a separate story.

NLDS Game 2 lineups: Kendrick moves to leadoff

In Pregame

Mets at Dodgers, 6:07 p.m.

Dodgers
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Zack Greinke, P

Mets
Curtis Granderson, RF
David Wright, 3B
Yoenis Cespedes, CF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Travis d’Arnaud, C
Lucas Duda, 1B
Michael Conforto, LF
Ruben Tejada, SS
Noah Syndergaard, P

By Jon Weisman

Juggling their batting order for Game 2 of the National League Division Series tonight, the Dodgers have moved Howie Kendrick to the leadoff spot.

Kendrick did not make a start in the No. 1 slot in the order at all in 2005. His last start as a leadoff hitter was June 11, 2014 with the Angels.

The 32-year-old second baseman started as a leadoff hitter 14 times in 2014 and 11 times in 2010, and not once in any other year. He had a .336 on-base percentage this year.

Corey Seager, Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner and Andre Ethier are each moving up a spot in the order from Friday’s Game 1, with Carl Crawford dropping down to sixth.

Yamani Grandal, who has caught Zack Greinke most of the season, is in at catcher, while Kiké Hernandez is replacing Joc Pederson in center field.

If you’re coming to tonight’s game, remember to give yourself plenty of time. Auto gates open at 3:07 p.m.

Emotional reward: Ella Annear’s first pitch

In Uncategorized

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The video speaks for itself. In a world that always needs a dose of good news, we got some in the moments before Friday’s playoff opener. There’s no cheering in the press box, but last night I wondered if there could be crying. We’re so very happy for the Annear family.

— Jon Weisman

Meet frontier doctor Walter O’Malley

In History, Off the field, Television

By Jon Weisman

Fifty years ago today, in an episode that aired October 10, 1965, — yes, just hours after the Dodgers won Game 4 of the World Series — Dodger owner Walter O’Malley played a frontier doctor in the NBC TV western “Branded,” opposite series star Chuck Connors.

Connors was a former Brooklyn farmhand who had one at-bat with Brooklyn in 1949 and half a season with the Cubs in 1951, before embarking upon his acting career.

O’Malley was recruited to do the episode by Connors, after the Dodger chief asked him to entertain guests earlier that year, according to Times columnist Sid Ziff, who wrote about the filming of the episode in August 1965:

Remembering ’65: World Series Game 4

In History, Remembering '65

By Jon Weisman

After lasting only 2 2/3 innings in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series, Don Drysdale was his old self in Game 4.

Even better, the Dodger offense was a punishing crew, too.

Heat is on Dodgers after NLDS Game 1 defeat

On October 9, 2015

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

A scorching, sweating, exhausting night at Dodger Stadium tore open old wounds.

Corey Seager batting third in playoff debut

On October 9, 2015

In Postseason, Pregame

Mets at Dodgers, 6:45 p.m.

Dodgers
Carl Crawford, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

Mets
Curtis Granderson, RF
David Wright, 3B
Yoenis Cespedes, CF
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Travis d’Arnaud, C
Lucas Duda, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, LF
Ruben Tejada, SS
Jacob deGrom, P

By Jon Weisman

Corey Seager will not only be the youngest Dodger position player to start a postseason game, he will bat third for Los Angeles in the National League Division Series opener against the Mets tonight.

Seager, who has the highest OPS+ in Dodger history for a rookie, hit in the No. 3 slot twice in his 27-game Major League debut, on September 20 and 30.

One advantage with Seager is that because of his prowess against left-handed pitching, the Dodgers don’t have to worry much about batting him and Adrian Gonzalez back-to-back in the lineup.

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

At 21 years and 165 days old, Seager surpasses James Loney (22/153) by nearly a year to become the Dodgers’ youngest playoff starter among non-pitchers. Fernando Valenzuela’s NLDS appearance at 20 years, 339 days makes him the least aged among pitchers. Johnny Podres, Clayton Kershaw, Ralph Branca and Ismael Valdez were also younger than Seager.

Joc Pederson, at 23 years and 171 days, just missed making the Dodgers’ all-time playoff youth team:

P – Fernando Valenzuela (20/339)
SS – Corey Seager (21/165)
1B – James Loney (22/153)
OF – Pete Reiser (22/198)
OF – Yasiel Puig (22/300)
C – Mike Scioscia (22/313)
OF – Duke Snider (23/16)
3B – Eddie Miksis (23/26)
2B – Blake DeWitt (23/42)

Will playoffs take Dodgers over the moon?