Dodger Thoughts

In Front office, Transactions

By Jon Weisman

In the wake of tonight’s acquisition of Chase Utley, Dodger general manager Farhan Zaidi spoke on a conference call with reporters. Here are some selected quotes …

Alberto Callaspo designated for assignment

In Transactions

To make room for Chase Utley on the 25-man and 40-man rosters, the Dodgers have designated infielder Alberto Callaspo for assignment. A solid fielder at third base, Callaspo had a .336 on-base percentage and .301 slugging percentage in 138 plate appearances for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers retain pitchers Ian Thomas, Juan Jaime and Eric Stults from the Juan Uribe/Chris Withrow trade.

– Jon Weisman

Dodgers add Chase Utley for postseason pursuit

In Transactions

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By Jon Weisman

On Monday, MLB.com Statcast analyst and Dodger Insider magazine contributor Mike Petriello wrote about a key reason general managers might be interested in Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, who has for most of 2015 been having the worst season of his career.

Forget the .213 batting average, this chart shows why teams are still interested in Chase Utley. pic.twitter.com/odK2Qt24L6

— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) August 17, 2015

“Utley’s average exit velocity jumped more than five full mph (since returning from the disabled list),” wrote Petriello, “and his average batted-ball distance increased more than 25 feet. In 28 plate appearances since returning, he’s got 13 hits, including six extra-base hits. To put that into context, Utley has just 18 extra-base hits all year long; a full one-third of them have come in the last week.”

Combine that with Utley’s long-term track record in regular-season and postseason play, and the never-ending desire to upgrade the active roster, and you have an inkling why the Dodgers traded minor leaguers Darnell Sweeney and John Richy to the Phillies today for Utley and cash considerations.

Utley’s presence will supplement the Dodgers off the bench and in the infield, especially while second baseman Howie Kendrick remains injured, freeing Kiké Hernandez to roam the diamond more. The Dodgers have not announced who will vacate the 25-man roster to make room for Utley.

Drafted by the Dodgers in 1997, Utley chose instead to attend UCLA, as this 2008 Times story by Bill Shaikin relates. After signing as a first-round pick with the Phillies in 2000 and making his MLB debut in 2003, Utley would go on to have a .366 on-base percentage and .481 slugging percentage in 6,617 plate appearances.

In 2014, had a .339 OBP and slugged .407, before falling to .257/.275 this year until he went on the DL on June 22. In his return, he is 15 for 31 with a 1.227 OPS.

Sweeney, a 24-year-old infielder-outfielder taken in the 13th round of the 2012 draft, has a .332 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He leads the Pacific Coast League with 32 steals (in 45 attempts).

The 23-year-old Richy, a third-round selection in last year’s draft, has a 4.20 ERA in 124 1/3 innings this year for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga with 105 strikeouts against 181 baserunners.

Today’s acquisition, of course, reunites Utley with his longtime double-play partner in Philadelphia, shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Both players will be free agents after this season. The last pitch Utley saw as a Dodger opponent was the final pitch of Josh Beckett’s no-hitter on May 25, 2014.

It was only two Augusts ago that the Dodgers acquired another 36-year-old infielder from Philadelphia: Michael Young. The long-time Ranger, short-time National Leaguer hit .314 with the Dodgers in 53 plate appearances, though with only one walk and three extra-base hits. Young then went 1 for 10 in the playoffs.

In August 2006, the Dodgers had unqualified success with another former Phillies infielder, Marlon Anderson. Coming over from the Nationals at age 32, Anderson hit .375/.431/.813 in 73 plate appearances, including his 5-for-5, two-homer extravaganza in the 4+1 game.

And continuing with the NL East in August theme, there was Ronnie Belliard in 2008. Another National expatriate, the 34-year-old Belliard hit .351/.398/.636 to finish the regular season, then batted .300 with hits in all eight Dodger playoff games, including the tying RBI in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ National League Division Series Game 2 comeback win.

The two minor-leaguers sent by the Dodgers to Philadelphia for Rollins have nearly completed their first seasons for Double-A Reading. Starting pitcher Zach Eflin, a 21-year-old righty, has a 3.43 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 4.5 K/9 in 107 2/3 innings, while 23-year-old lefty Tom Windle has a 4.47 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 5.9 K/9 in 90 2/3 innings. Windle was moved to the bullpen June 30 after starting his first 14 games.

Dodgers hold pregame bullpen meeting

In Bullpen, Pregame

Yimi Garcia (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers at A’s, 12:35 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Scott Van Slyke, DH
Joc Pederson, CF
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
(Alex Wood, P)
Note: Yasiel Puig is day to day with his right hamstring injury. He will not play today, but could serve as a designated hitter this weekend in Houston.

By Jon Weisman

Even amid the struggles of the bullpen over the past two months, Tuesday’s loss to Oakland after leading 4-1 in the eighth hit the Dodgers (like their fans) particularly hard.

As I write this, members of the bullpen are having an unusual on-field meeting out in right field of Oakland’s O.co Coliseum. Bullpen coach Chuck Crim is leading the meeting, according to KLAC’s David Vassegh, Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles added that “Kenley Jansen is doing a lot of talking.”

Dodgers go from aggravated to elated to defeated

In Bullpen, Health/injuries, Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Some notes to pass along after a tough 5-4, 10-inning Dodger loss to the A’s tonight …

Clayton Kershaw lowered his ERA again, to 2.34, after allowing one run in seven innings and 116 pitches. It was a fiery night from Kershaw, who fired a baseball into the Dodger dugout (low enough not to harm anyone) after failing to make a play on an infield chopper to his right.
A.J. Ellis had a tiebreaking three-run home run in the eighth inning and four walks tonight, becoming the first Major Leaguer to do so since Jose Canseco in 1996 (noted by Bob Timmermann). Ellis also had his angry moment, jawing with home-plate umpire Tim Tichenor over a late timeout call.
Pedro Baez surrendered three runs and the lead in the bottom of the eighth. In the past month, opponents had a 0.68 ERA and 0.68 WHIP against Baez with a .200 on-base percentage.
Yimi Garcia pitched a perfect ninth inning, but allowed back-to-back doubles with none out in the 10th to end the game. Garcia had thrown 6 1/3 shutout innings this month, stranding two inherited runners, before those doubles.
Yasiel Puig left tonight’s game in the eighth inning with right hamstring tightness after beating out an infield single. As Ken Gurnick of MLB.com notes, it was a strained left hamstring that sidelined Puig earlier this season.
The Dodgers walked nine times in a loss for the first time since an April 7, 2010 defeat against the Pirates.
Ron Roenicke, Don Mattingly and Farhan Zaidi discussed Roenicke’s hiring as Dodger third-base coach, Gurnick reports.

Mat Latos to be skipped in Dodger rotation

In Uncategorized

Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Don Mattingly told reporters today that Mat Latos would pitch out of the bullpen during this roadtrip, with Alex Wood moving up to start Wednesday at Oakland.

Latos has allowed 21 baserunners while striking out eight in 14 2/3 innings since being acquired by the Dodgers. He pitched six innings of one-run ball in his Dodger debut August 2, but allowed 10 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings over his next two starts.

The move also could help ensure Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw both pitch in the series against the Giants at Dodger Stadium from August 31-September 2, though obviously that is still a couple weeks off.

Joc Pederson fulfills the prophecy

In Pregame

Prediction: @yungjoc650 starts in seven different spots in the batting order during the 2015 regular season.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) March 25, 2015

Dodgers at A’s, 7:05 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXIII: Kershaw Me a Hero
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Alex Guerrero, DH
A.J. Ellis, C
Joc Pederson, CF
(Clayton Kershaw, P)

By Jon Weisman

It took a bit less than five months for my Spring Training prediction to come true.

With the Dodgers using the designated hitter tonight at Oakland, Joc Pederson is batting ninth — the seventh different batting slot he has started at in 2015.

Chronologically, here’s when he’s made his first appearance at each …

1 – April 29
2 – June 19
3 –
4 –
5 – July 12
6 – July 8
7 – April 6
8 – April 7
9 – August 18

The chances of Pederson batting third or fourth this year seem pretty slim as long as Adrian Gonzalez is playing, because Gonzalez bats nowhere but third and fourth, and Don Mattingly isn’t likely to bat lefties Pederson and Gonzalez back-to-back, even once Pederson regains his form from earlier this year. However, it’s certainly possible, especially if the Dodgers were to clinch a division title before the end of the season.

‘Let’s see him do it in the postseason’

In Postseason

By Jon Weisman

Now that Clayton Kershaw is pitching the way everyone expects him to — which is to say, completely out of this world — the slings and arrows have been reduced to one lone sling.

The postseason.

It’s a credit to Kershaw that his latest accomplishments are so par for his course that some people don’t care about any of it because of the calendar. And Kershaw would be the first to take responsibility for not having finished more postseason starts with victory in hand.

But I’ll say this. It kills me to see fans near or far toss aside eight or nine shutout innings by Kershaw as irrelevant because it’s summer and not fall.

For one thing, Kershaw’s doesn’t deserve a reputation as a playoff goat. Let’s go through this again …

Reading between the baselines

In Community

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Erin Edwards

Those who attended the August 11 game against the Nationals not only got to see Zack Greinke’s six scoreless innings and Yasiel Puig’s five RBI, they could also witness another one of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s Giving Moments.

Sasha Murillo, a sixth-grade student from Hollenbeck Middle School, was recognized for her success in the “Take Me Out to the Book Game” reading challenge. Sasha read 82 books and is now reading at an 11th-grade level.

Murillo’s success was due in part to LADF grantee City Year LA, which deployed 28 AmeriCorps members to Clinton and Hollenbeck middle schools to help raise reading levels. The AmeriCorps members met with students during and after school, and were able to add 40 minutes of reading per week for each student that attended.

“City Year is a great place to learn,” Murillo said. “It gives you confidence, and it’s inspiring.”

Murillo, who wants to be a lawyer when she grows up, said the best book she read was “Freak the Mighty.”

More than 350 City Year Corps members and staff attended the game to cheer on Murillo and the Dodgers. Visit dodgers.com/ladf to learn more about LADF.

Dodger fantasy football breeds strange tweetfellows

In Other sports

Soooo who did it best?! #dodger #FantasyFootball pic.twitter.com/EHUugbgina

— Alex Wood (@Awood45) August 18, 2015

The Dodgers held their annual fantasy football draft Monday, an event that seems to beg for wider media coverage, if these tweets above and below are any indication.

— Jon Weisman

https://twitter.com/redturn2/status/633547774693236736

@redturn2 @Dodgers well the important thing is you had fun at least

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) August 18, 2015

This is what I did during the Dodgers fantasy football draft. pic.twitter.com/On7y8zCbV8

— Brett Anderson (@BAnderson3737) August 18, 2015

@AJEllis17 THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO LIVE FOR RIGHT NOW AJ PLEASE DON'T POKE FUN

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) August 18, 2015

Understood…..just felt Jameis Winston in 3rd round was a reach…. https://t.co/o8ekilP8Ld

— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) August 18, 2015

Remembering ’65: Summer of spitballs?

On August 17, 2015

In History, Remembering '65

By Jon Weisman

Along with everything else in a hot pennant race 50 years ago, a spitball controversy revved up between the Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves.

“Drysdale may call ’em sinkers, but I got three wet ones in a row when he fanned me in the third,” Hank Aaron told Frank Finch of the Times after a 4-3 victory Milwaukee victory August 4.

Aaron’s comments might have been calculated at least in part to take the spotlight off Braves manager Bobby Bragan, who was in the midst of a spitball controversy of his own.

“How long is NL president Warren Giles going to allow Bobby Bragan to flout authority by publicizing the fact that he has his pitchers under orders to throw spitters?” Finch had asked in print two days earlier. “To be sure, every club has spitball pitchers, but they don’t advertise.”

For his part, Bragan remained sanguine about the whole thing.

“If a pitcher can control the spitters, he’s crazy not to throw it,” Bragan told Finch. “Sure, we’ve got a couple of guys who throw it real good. Dan Osinski told a writer that he’s been using one for seven years.”

If you want to call it praise, Bragan added that Drysdale “throws the best spitter in the game,” according to Finch.

Whatever the case, it didn’t help Drysdale in Milwaukee that August 4. Allowing homers to both Aaron and Gene Oliver, Drysdale pitched an eight-inning complete game but took the loss.

Here’s what else was happening with the Dodgers, who were 1 1/2 games ahead in the National League on August 1 and 1 1/2 games ahead in the National League on August 15.

Dodgers hire Ron Roenicke as third-base coach, Lorenzo Bundy remains outfield coordinator

On August 17, 2015

In Coaching, Transactions

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

One-time Dodger outfielder and former Brewers manager Ron Roenicke has joined the Dodgers as their third-base coach, with Lorenzo Bundy remaining in the dugout as outfield coordinator.

It’s a homecoming for Roenicke, who was the Dodgers’ first-round draft pick (17th overall) in 1977. Roenicke played in 212 games for the Dodgers at the outset of a 527-game MLB career. He would later manage in the minors for the Dodgers in the 1990s, including a Texas League title with Double-A San Antonio in 1997.

As manager of the Brewers, Roenicke was 342-331 from 2011 through May 2015, winning the 2011 National League Central title.

Bundy is in his second year as a Dodger coach and eighth year in the organization, including three years as manager of Triple-A Albuquerque from 2011-13.

In case I missed it: Notes from a three-game winning streak

On August 17, 2015

In Awards, Dodger Stadium, In case you missed it

Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Dodger Insider is going to be quiet most of the weekend for family events. Hope to return to victory celebrations!

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 15, 2015

Well, that worked. Three games away, three victories in the books. And a nice opportunity to celebrate them, with an off day today and Clayton Kershaw on the mound at Oakland on Tuesday.

Let me take this opportunity to tie a bunch of loose ends together …

With 13 innings of one-run ball last week (14 baserunners, 14 strikeouts), Zack Greinke managed to reassert control in the National League Cy Young Award race, even as Kershaw threw eight shutout innings of his own.
Could Greinke, whose adjusted ERA (in an MLB-leading 165 1/3 innings) is the best in baseball since Pedro Martinez in 2000, follow Kershaw as a Most Valuable Player? The award remains Bryce Harper’s to lose, and though the Nationals have slumped terribly, Harper (.415 on-base percentage in August) isn’t to blame. I don’t believe that MVP contention should be tied to a team’s record, but for those voters who do, Greinke’s top competition if the Nationals disappear would probably be San Francisco’s Buster Posey.
Would most people be surprised to find that the Dodgers are on pace for a record number of home victories? Los Angeles is playing .677 ball at Dodger Stadium, which would yield a 55-26 home record if that plays out over their final 19 games here. That would match the 1980 Dodgers in victories, but that team unfortunately lost home game No. 82, the one-game NL West playoff against the Astros.
Looking for the next test? The Dodgers’ next two home series will be against NL playoff contenders Chicago (August 28-30) and San Francisco (August 31-September 2). The Dodgers have lost three home series all season, to the Cardinals, Giants and Mets.
Since sitting out two of the three games against the Angels, Joc Pederson is hitting .167/.447/.400. In 47 plate appearances, he has two singles, a double, two homers, a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice fly and 15 walks. There are worse things in the world from a No. 8 hitter than that, plus great defensive range.
Yasiel Puig’s 10th homer of the year Saturday gave the Dodgers eight players with double-digit homers, their most since a team-record nine players in 2004. The Dodgers will need one more homer from Howie Kendrick when he comes off the disabled list to tie the record, but what about breaking it? Four more homers from Kiké Hernandez in the final 44 games of the season no longer seems like crazy talk.
Carl Crawford’s OBP in August as a Dodger: .353 in 2013, .360 in 2014, .538 in 2015 (27 plate appearances).
Dad-for-the-second-time Kenley Jansen’s four-out save Sunday was his first of 2015 and eighth of his career. He has never had a longer outing for a save. But in 34 outings of more than one inning in his career, Jansen’s ERA is 0.50 with 23 hits, 18 walks and 80 strikeouts in 54 innings.
Jansen has entered 29 games with a lead this year, and the Dodgers have won them all. After his only blown save of 2015, when Arizona’s A.J. Pollock hit a ninth-inning solo homer June 10, Kendrick had a walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth.

Juan Nicasio placed on disabled list, Chris Hatcher activated