Dodger Thoughts

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

Page 101 of 381

Grandson of former Dodger Stadium PA announcer making MLB debut tonight at Dodger Stadium

John Ramsey
LambBy Mark Langill

If he can’t pitch in his “home” ballpark in Cincinnati, at least Reds rookie pitcher John Lamb can make his Major League debut tonight in the stadium his grandfather worked as the iconic public address announcer from 1962-82.

John Ramsey’s booming voice (you can hear it in these 1978 World Series introductions) was well known by Southern California sports fans because he seemed to work every event in town – Dodgers, Lakers, Kings, Angels, Rams and USC football. Ramsey joined the Dodgers in 1958 when the team played at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The New Hampshire native graduated from USC in 1954 and later obtained a Master’s degree in Business. Ramsey was also the first Super Bowl public address announcer when the Packers and Chiefs played at the Coliseum in 1967, although the game was billed “The First AFL-NFL Championship Game” at the time. Ramsey passed away at age 62 in 1990.

Lamb graduated from Laguna Hills High and was originally selected by Kansas City in the fifth round of the 2008 draft. A veteran of Tommy John surgery, Lamb came to the Reds in the recent Johnny Cueto trade.

Jim Johnson ‘True or False’ Test

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

1) True or false: A pitcher’s likelihood for success is entirely determined by how he pitched in his previous four games.

Pencils down.

* * *

Jim Johnson hasn’t pitched since suffering through an eight-run seventh inning Sunday at Pittsburgh — the single worst inning of his 505-inning career. He’s due to return in this four-game series against Cincinnati, perhaps as soon as tonight.

When he warms up, or when he enters the game, some will freak out over his unsightly 29.45 ERA through four games as a Dodger — somehow ignoring, for example, his 2.25 ERA in 49 games with Atlanta. (Not that we should be using ERA to evaluate relievers, but that’s the stat that has everyone’s attention.)

From June 9 through July 17, Johnson faced 64 batters, and none scored. Nor did an inherited runner score. (There was only one who could have, but he didn’t!) No one even got an extra-base hit.

Still, that didn’t mean Johnson would never allow any runs again — because this is baseball.

And over the past two weeks, did Johnson ever get reminded “this is baseball.”

So anyway, next time his number is called — next time any struggling player’s number is called — how about we skip the doomsday vision and just see what happens? Not saying you have to like it when things go south. Just suggesting not to assume they will.

Dodgers clear Justin Turner for landing

Reds at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Mat Latos, P

By Jon Weisman

Fresh from moonlighting with Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson at Southwest Airlines this morning, Justin Turner has been activated from the disabled list.

Turner, who has been sidelined since July 26, is available off the bench today and expected to start Friday, according to Don Mattingly.

Jose Peraza, who tripled and walked in seven plate appearances, has been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Technically, Turner has reached base in 10 consecutive games (July 12-26), going 17 for 37 with a .487 on-base percentage and .757 slugging percentage in that time.

Below, here are more tweets from today’s Dodger-Southwest promotion.

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Dodger minor league report No. 17: Wieland dealing, Hatcher healing

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

We begin this week’s Minor League Report with an update on two pitchers you saw with the Dodgers earlier this year.

Joe Wieland had his best game of the season Tuesday, with seven strikeouts in seven shutout innings in a 9-0 Triple-A Oklahoma City victory at New Orleans. For Wieland, continuing a comeback from 2012 and 2014 surgeries, it came two starts after he allowed only one run in seven innings at Memphis. Since July 26, Wieland has a 2.92 ERA.

Also, relief pitcher Chris Hatcher, on the 60-day disabled list, could be activated by the Dodgers as soon as this weekend.

Hatcher, who has been out since June 14 with a left oblique strain, picked up the save for the Dodgers on Opening Day before struggling to a 6.38 ERA in 18 1/3 innings, despite 19 strikeouts. He pitched a shutout inning Tuesday, but has allowed four runs on seven baserunners in 4 1/3 innings with Oklahoma City.

And now, this week’s tour …

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ThinkCure! Weekend arrives Friday

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

The annual ThinkCure! Weekend at Dodger Stadium begins Friday before the Dodgers’ game against the Reds.

Through ThinkCure!, the Dodgers support City of Hope’s efforts to find new treatments and cures for cancer while encouraging Dodgers fans to support that work as well. To date, ThinkCure! has provided $1.8 million in local cancer research grants, accelerating the search for cures and leveraging that investment into an additional $40 million in research support.

Donations can always be made to ThinkCure! by texting the word “CURE” to 50555 for a $10 donation, or by visiting the ThinkCure! website at www.thinkcure.org.

“Every day, 100 Angelenos and their families learn they have cancer,” ThinkCure! executive director Joe Fay said. “The disease affects all of our families, and it’s only with community-wide support for cancer research done locally that we will conquer it. We’re grateful to Dodgers fans for embracing this challenge and becoming part of our hometown team to help wipe out cancer.”

— Jon Weisman

Before Hershiser and Gibson in ’88, Tim Leary nearly stole the show

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Tim Leary is congratulated by Manny Mota after his walkoff hit.

By Jon Weisman

Chances are, if you remember Tim Leary’s days as a pitcher for the Dodgers, you remember his hit.

On this day in 1988, Leary came off the bench for the Dodgers and delivered an 11th-inning walkoff single up the middle for a 2-1 victory over the Giants.

And chances are that if you’ve forgotten anything about Tim Leary, it’s that on this day in 1988, Leary was a better bet for the National League Cy Young Award than Orel Hershiser.

The day before his pinch-hit, Leary had gone 8 1/3 innings in a 7-3 victory over San Francisco that left his ERA at 2.37.  The day after Leary’s pinch-hit, Hershiser was knocked out after only two innings, allowing eight runs (five earned). Hershiser’s ERA went all the way up to 3.06.

And so, in what was shaping up to be a wonderful season for Leary, his trip to the plate on August 13, 1988 was magical — even if the circumstances leading up to it were a bit bizarre.

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Kershaw tantalizes with another no-hit bid in Dodger victory

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Kershaw after noBy Jon Weisman

About 15 months ago, I studied every single start of Clayton Kershaw’s career to see how close he had come to throwing his first no-hitter. In his first 192 career starts, including the postseason, Kershaw has taken a no-hitter past the sixth inning only once.

Even since his now-famous June 18, 2014 no-hitter, it’s still rarer than you think, though I won’t press the point with Dodger fans who might think it’s happening all the time.

In the past month alone, Kershaw retired the first 18 New York Mets he faced July 18, and tonight, he set down the first 16 Washington Nationals before Michael Taylor’s booming double to dead center in the sixth inning of what became a 3-0 Dodger victory.

Pitching most of the game with a one-run lead provided by Carl Crawford’s RBI single in the third inning (scoring Joc Pederson), Kershaw had to approach his best work, and he did. He had the help of Kiké Hernandez, who made multiple sprawling plays while spot-starting at shortstop — including one that might have prevented Taylor from scoring in the sixth.

Kershaw allowed two more hits, but his closest call after that was Wilson Ramos’ deep fly that Crawford hauled in near the wall in left field. He left after eight innings, having walked none while striking out eight (becoming the first Dodger pitcher with six straight 200-strikeout seasons since Sandy Koufax).

One start after his 37-inning scoreless streak ended at Pittsburgh, Kershaw resumed the surge that has lowered his ERA from 4.32 on May 21 to 2.39 tonight.

In 103 2/3 innings over that stretch, Kershaw has a 1.30 ERA with 132 strikeouts against 80 baserunners. In his past 1,000 innings, Kershaw’s ERA is 2.12.

The Dodgers added some insurance in the bottom of the eighth when, after Pederson was hit by a pitch, pinch-hitter Andre Ethier doubled to the right-field corner. Both players scored when Anthony Rendon’s relay throw inexplicably sailed into the stands, though Crawford followed with his third hit of the night anyway.

Kenley Jansen struck out Bryce Harper to end the game, which at 2:20 was the third-shortest nine-inning game of the Dodger season. Washington was held scoreless for the final 19 innings of this series.

Justin Turner’s scary saga

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Florida Marlns

Justin Turner returned to the Dodger clubhouse today and revealed just how serious his thigh infection was in an interview with reporters, chronicled by David Adler of MLB.com.

— Jon Weisman

 

 

What if the Dodgers had traded a 19-year-old Clayton Kershaw?

By Jon Weisman

Pitching prospect Julio Urias turned 19 today, 19 and still a Dodger, 12 days after the MLB non-waiver trade deadline.

Among other things, the occasion made me wonder whom a 19-year-old Clayton Kershaw might have been traded for, back in 2007.

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Kershaw’s next field feat: 6 x 200

Washington Nationals vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXXII: Kershawtizen Kane
Carl Crawford, LF
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Jose Peraza, 2B
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

With three strikeouts tonight, Clayton Kershaw will have his sixth consecutive 200-strikeout season.

The only Dodger to strike out 200 in six straight years is Sandy Koufax (1961-66). The only other Major Leaguers to do it are …

  • Tom Seaver (nine seasons, 1968-76)
  • Walter Johnson (seven seasons, 1910-16)
  • Roger Clemens (seven seasons, 1986-92)
  • Sam McDowell (six seasons, 1965-70)
  • Mickey Lolich (six seasons, 1969-74)
  • Bert Blyleven (six seasons, 1971-76)
  • Randy Johnson (six seasons, 1997-2002)
  • Felix Hernandez (six seasons, 2009-14)

Hernandez has 145 strikeouts this season.

Dodgers recall Yimi Garcia, place Joel Peralta on disabled list

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m. Jimmy Rollins, SS
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Andre Ethier, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Kiké Hernandez, 2B
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

Yimi Garcia has returned to the Dodgers from Triple-A Oklahoma City, with Joel Peralta going on the disabled list with a right neck strain.

In his past six games — five in the minors, one July 28 with the Dodgers — Garcia hasn’t allowed a run in 7 1/3 innings, scattering six baserunners while striking out six. With the Dodgers this year, Garcia — who turns 25 a week from today — has a 3.99 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Peralta, who has been having trouble finishing pitches, has allowed 12 runs in 14 1/3 innings since coming off the disabled list in June. Before that, in April, he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Dodger bullpen has allowed runs in nine of its past 10 games, but don’t blame Pedro Baez. He has a streak of 11 consecutive scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts against eight baserunners. Forced into action Monday after others were used Sunday, Baez and Kenley Jansen combined to strike out seven of the nine batters they faced, using 35 pitches.

Kiké Hernandez is ceaselessly more than you realize

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs

By Jon Weisman

Kiké Hernandez is nothing if not a man of personas. And if we know nothing else, we know he’s not nothing.

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At 21, Jose Peraza called up for MLB debut — youngest Dodger since Kershaw

Nationals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Jose Peraza, 2B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Alex Guerrero, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

“Life moves pretty fast,” warned Ferris Bueller, no doubt with Jose Peraza in mind.

With Howie Kendrick and his strained left hamstring officially headed to the disabled list, Peraza — the 21-year-old infielder acquired from Atlanta in the Dodgers’ July 30 three-team deal — has been called up to make his Major League debut for Los Angeles.

Born on April 30, 1994 — the day that the Dodgers rallied from a 10-5, eighth-inning deficit to beat the Mets — Peraza is poised to become the youngest Dodger since Clayton Kershaw made his debut on May 25, 2008 at 20 years and 67 days. And, he’ll be the Dodgers’ youngest position player since Adrian Beltre, who was 19 when he was called up in 1998.

Peraza has a .318 on-base percentage and .379 slugging percentage in Triple-A this season, numbers that have soared to .415 and .590 since moving to Oklahoma City. He has also stolen 27 bases in 34 attempts this year.

Kendrick has a .341 OBP and .418 slugging percentage in his first season with the Dodgers and is fifth among National League second basemen in wins above replacement. Since July 20, Kendrick was hitting .396/.420/.583.

Also tonight, Scott Van Slyke is making his second career start batting in the No. 3 spot, and first since May 15, 2012. Kiké Hernandez is making his third career start batting fifth.

Also, Carlos Frias is back on the disabled list with lower back tightness. Frias was optioned to the minors earlier this month, but technically, that action has been voided.

Update: Van Slyke and Puig have shifted spots in the lineup.

The intricacies of Ebbets Field ground rules, 1956

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In the wake of Neil Walker’s “What does a yellow line mean?” triple Sunday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, I thought you might enjoy this snapshot of not-so-simple Ebbets Field ground rules, straight from page 38 of the 1956 Dodger Yearbook.

— Jon Weisman

Ebbets Field ground rules larger

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What time is it?

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By Jon Weisman

“Darkest before the dawn” can be a tough sell, especially when “darkest before it gets even darker” is also true. It’s hard to know whether it’s midnight or 5 a.m.

Individual games and series disappear quickly behind you, succumbing to the omnipotence of “What just happened?” Just as the sweep over the Angels or the two victories against the Phillies are already distant memories, so too will be the three excruciating Dodger losses this weekend to the Pirates. A walkoff defeat in the 10th, a one-run loss with the tying run in scoring position in the ninth, and then Sunday’s come-from-ahead, 13-6 electroshock featuring a numbing nine-run seventh.

By this time Tuesday, we’ll be talking about how the Dodgers found a ray of daylight against the Nationals, or how they slipped deeper into the void by losing their fourth game in a row for the first time this year. Los Angeles is 5-0 after it has lost three games this season.

Complicating our vision is what appears to be a rather serious injury to Howie Kendrick, a strained left hamstring that will receive an MRI today but that already has the Dodgers preparing for an extended absence. Until third baseman Justin Turner returns, the Dodgers are without half their starting infield. Kiké Hernandez, hitting .400/.450/.714 (but mostly against southpaws) is a candidate to take some at-bats, with newly acquired Jose Peraza (.385/.415/.590 for Triple-A Oklahoma City) perhaps getting a call.

The Dodgers are also looking for salvation for their bullpen. Saturday’s four shutout innings ended a streak of eight straight games that the Dodger relievers had allowed a run, but faced with an equal task Sunday, Jim Johnson entered a nightmare, with eight batters reaching base, interrupted only by a sacrifice fly and topped off by a three-run homer off Joel Peralta by Jung Ho Kang.

So yes, darkness.

At the outset of Sunday’s game, I ranted out several tweets that might have seemed ill-timed by the ugly seventh inning, but that actually were all the more appropriate. Here is the text:

  • Dodgers have been hustling on the bases and in the field all weekend, but nothing will sway ESPN from calling them lethargic.
  • (Yasiel) Puig not starting today, or we’d have heard how he’s most lethargic of all, a day after a 9-6 forceout and hustle down the basepaths.
  • ESPN also said “I don’t know what this team is,” even though, like ’em or not, HR power and front-line SP have defined the team for months.
  • Have Dodgers been inconsistent? Days in first place: Dodgers 115, Giants 3. Months below .500: Dodgers 0, Giants 3.
  • No, Dodgers haven’t proven they’re the best team in baseball. This time last year, neither had the Giants.
  • Should Dodgers be better? Sure, why not? But how much better? Team has 62 wins. A 100-win pace would be 68 wins, or 1.5 extra wins per month.
  • Happily accept idea that there’s room to improve. Absolutely refuse to buy notion that a team playing .564 ball is a huge disappointment.
  • Looking for improvement? If this matters to you, here’s Dodgers’ record vs. winning teams since July 1: Road: 4-5, home: 5-1, total: 9-6. (After Sunday, you can add one more road loss to this.)

Imperfection is not the same as incompetence. Not having reached the ideal — especially in August — does not mean the season is lost.

Look, I understand that until a new World Series title is won, many Dodger fans live in a binary world, where nothing is good unless everything is good. I understand that. I do. I could feel the rising anger with every run the Pirates scored.

I also know that the Dodgers could have the best record in baseball, and while the national coverage in that case might be good, for sure there would still be concern here at home over what was lacking. Going 26 years and 10 months without a championship makes insecurity a permanent condition.

There are good signs for this team, and there are bad. But the best sign of all is there are still games to play. Whether it’s midnight or 5 a.m., the night is far from over.

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