Dodger Thoughts

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

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It’s your call — August 2015

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

It’s the sixth edition of our new Dodger Insider feature — also appearing in the print magazine — in which you get to play manager each month and pick the move to make in a hypothetical situation.

The setup: It’s the bottom of the 11th inning, and the Dodgers are tied with San Diego, 2-2 – but with two out, A.J. Ellis has walked. Kenley Jansen, who struck out the side on 10 pitches in the top of the 11th, is due up to bat. The Dodgers’ other catcher, Yasmani Grandal, is the only position player available off the bench. Adam Liberatore and Juan Nicasio are warming up in the bullpen, and Joc Pederson is due up next if anyone gets on base.

The quesiton: Do you …

A) let Jansen bat?
B) have Grandal pinch-hit?
C) use Zack Greinke, the next day’s starting pitcher, as a pinch-hitter?

Your call: Tweet your decision to @DodgerInsider with the hashtag #DIyourcall, or leave a comment on this blog post. We’ll highlight the results in the September issue of Dodger Insider.

Last month: Would you have Adrian Gonzalez bunt to break up a no-hitter in the ninth inning of a 1-0 game, swing away or try to work a walk?

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Kershaw’s streak is a prime 37

By Jon Weisman

Well, you figured an MVP was going to do well today.

In the first-ever regular-season meeting between reigning Most Valuable Players, pitcher vs. hitter, Clayton Kershaw got the best of Mike Trout, and rolled right on in his latest march toward history.

Setting the tone with a Trout-freezing curveball in the first inning for strike three, then allowing only three baserunners in his eight shutout innings during today’s 3-1 victory over the Angels, Kershaw has extended his current scoreless-innings streak to 37, which is …

  • four innings shy of his career high
  • 8 2/3 innings shy of Zack Greinke’s Dodger season high
  • 22 innings shy of Orel Hershiser’s Major League record.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kershaw is the first pitcher with two single-season scoreless streaks of at least 37 innings since Luis Tiant in 1968 and 1972.

Opponents are hitting .135/.148/.151 during the streak, for an OPS of .299.

Though he did walk his first batter since before the streak began (striking out 46 in between), Kershaw has thrown nine straight innings without a runner getting past first base and 25 straight without a runner getting past second base.

Only eight of the 128 batters Kershaw has faced during the streak have reached scoring position. Only two of 128 have reached third base.

The big lefty’s 2015 ERA is down to 2.37, which marks the first time this season that it is below his career ERA (now 2.47). In 12 starts since May 26, Kershaw has a 1.10 ERA with 119 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 89 2/3 innings, averaging 7.5 innings per start.

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Inside Clayton Kershaw’s scoreless-inning streak

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Atlanta Braves

Angels at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Kershaw CCXXX: Kershawdler on the Roof
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

By Jon Weisman

If he gets through the first inning of today’s start without allowing a run, Clayton Kershaw will be more than halfway to Orel Hershiser’s record streak of 59 consecutive scoreless innings.

Twice in the past two seasons, we’ve seen the second half of the climb prove unassailable, with Kershaw’s 41-inning streak last summer and Zack Greinke’s 45 2/3-inning runless run that ended Sunday. But Kershaw’s current run of 29 consecutive scoreless innings is worth a look.

Kershaw streak before July 31

During the streak, opponents have a .157 on-base percentage and .168 slugging percentage against Kershaw.

In retrospect, it’s a bit surprising Kershaw’s streak is as long as it is. Against the Phillies on July 8, he was in regular trouble, allowing eight hits, with six of them reaching scoring position.

However, Kershaw enters today having thrown 17 straight innings without a runner getting past second base. Only two opponents have been in scoring position in that time.

From the seventh inning against the Nationals through the sixth inning July 23 against the Mets, Kershaw retired 25 batters in a row.

Perhaps most impressively, Kershaw has struck out 42 batters during the streak without walking any (though he did hit Carlos Ruiz in the second inning July 8). Overall, Kershaw has struck out 45 batters in a row since his last walk, and 56 batters since he last gave up a home run — to Matt Szczur of the Cubs in the seventh inning June 22.

No one has an extra-base hit against Kershaw since Ruiz’s ninth-inning double more than three weeks ago.

The combined July numbers of Kershaw and Greinke were astounding: a 0.63 ERA with 79 strikeouts and eight walks.

Kershaw Greinke July

Dodger Insider magazine — August 2015 edition

August 2015 cover image

Sidebar AugustBy Jon Weisman

After making the NL All-Star team in his first year as a Dodger, Yasmani Grandal graces the cover of the August 2015 issue of Dodger Insider magazine (on sale beginning today). In the story, “Player To Be Famed Later,” we highlight Grandal’s journey from relative anonymity to becoming an All-Star and the most productive catcher in the National League this side of Buster Posey.

Dodger Insider’s biggest issue of the season to date also features Cary Osborne’s multifaceted, in-depth examination of Yasiel Puig and his effort to conquer baseball adversity, two years after making a smash big-league debut at age 22. We have charts and analysis from the intermingling scout and sabermetric branches of baseball, as well as introspective thoughts from Puig himself.

Another fun piece in the issue, in addition to all you see at right, is team historian Mark Langill’s look at some of the great unlikely heroes of past Dodger stretch runs. Also, Mike Petriello gives  us more insight into how MLB’s Statcast helps fill in the blanks of our baseball comprehension.

In total, there are more than two dozen stories, plus all the usual great photos, games, tidbits and more. For $5 at the ballpark, it’s a bargain.

The August 2015 Dodger Insider magazine is available at all Dodger team stores. To subscribe, visit dodgers.com/magazine. Orders taken through August 7 will begin with the September issue.

Farhan Zaidi offers insight into dealmaking process

FZBy Jon Weisman

As you might suspect, Major League trades — especially when there’s a deadline — don’t come in a neat and tidy process. It’s sloppy and time-consuming and anything but linear.

Tonight, Dodger general manager Farhan Zaidi spoke tonight the Dodgers’ deadline deals, and offered some interesting perspective about how they actually get approached and executed.

Here is a sampling of what he said. Well, not really a sampling — a rather large, detailed chunk …

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Johnson, Avilan and Wood on becoming Dodgers

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New Dodger pitchers Jim Johnson, Luis Avilan and Alex Wood spoke to reporters this afternoon about their trade from Atlanta to Los Angeles. (Mat Latos has not landed in Los Angeles yet) Watch the video above.

— Jon Weisman

Greinke faces Trout again, as Kershaw rests one more day

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

After delaying his scheduled Wednesday start because of a sore hip, Clayton Kershaw threw a bullpen session Thursday and was pronounced fit.

But with the luxury of having Zack Greinke available on four days’ rest tonight, the Dodgers are giving Kershaw one more day of rest before bringing him back the mound Saturday.

Greinke will be starting for the first time since Sunday, when his 45 2/3-inning scoreless streak ended. The third batter he faces will be Angels star Mike Trout, who himself missed time this week with a sore wrist. The two faced each other July 14 in the first inning of the All-Star Game, when Trout hit a leadoff home run.

Kershaw and Greinke have a chance, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, to become the teammates with the lowest ERA in a calendar month ever. The record is 0.49 by Orel Hershiser and Tim Belcher in (surprise) September 1988. Greinke basically needs to pitch shutout ball, because even if he allows only one run in a complete game, the duo’s ERA would rise to 0.50.

Kershaw Greinke through July 30

Southern California’s other 23-year-old center fielder, Joc Pederson, is resting tonight, and Don Mattingly said that Pederson might sit out one or two more games this weekend to get him some rest and allow him to regroup mentally from a July in which he has had a .488 OPS. Mattingly made clear that it was not a punitive benching.

Turner placed on disabled list, Bolsinger and Lee optioned

Oakland Athletics vs Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

To make room on the 25-man roster for newly acquired pitchers Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson and Alex Wood, the Dodgers have optioned Mike Bolsinger and Zach Lee to Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed Justin Turner on the 15-day disabled list.

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Dodgers exchange Michael Morse for Jose Tabata

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By Jon Weisman

Michael Morse, who was designated for assignment Thursday by the Dodgers after coming to the organization in the Mat Latos deal, has been traded to the Pirates (with cash considerations) for outfielder Jose Tabata.

Tabata, 26, was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh with a .341 on-base percentage and .289 slugging percentage in 41 plate appearances (including one certain hit-by-pitch with two out in the ninth inning against no-hit throwing Max Scherzer of Washington). He is not on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and will be assigned Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Tabata made his MLB debut at age 21 in 2010. He has a career .336 OBP and .377 slugging percentage in 1,765 plate appearances. His best year was in 2013, when he had a .771 OPS (118 OPS+)

Busy off day with trades and PingPong4Purpose

[mlbvideo id=”314999183″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

There was no Dodger game Thursday, but it wasn’t exactly a day for lounging on the couch at home.

In addition to all the player trades — which Don Mattingly, Orel Hershiser, Charley Steiner and A.J. Ellis react to above — Adrian Gonzalez hosted his Adrian Gonzalez Baseball ProCamp at Granada Hills Charter High School, as David Adler writes at MLB.com.

And of course, Clayton and Ellen Kershaw hosted their annual Kershaw’s Challenge PingPong4Purpose event, which was well attended by celebrities and ballplayers alike.

Steve Bourbon of MLB.com has a report from the event. Some video and photos follow.

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Live-blog: Andrew Friedman discusses today’s deals

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is speaking to reporters this evening about today’s three-team trade and other developments. Here’s a live-blog of his comments:

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Beachy, Heisey, Tsao designated for assignment in roster shuffle

Brandon Beachy (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Brandon Beachy (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Jon Weisman

With today’s big transactions, the Dodgers had to reconfigure space on the 40-man roster to make all the pieces fit.

Three players who have suited up for the Dodgers this year — Brandon Beachy, Chris Heisey and Chin-hui Tsao — were designated for assignment.

A fourth, Chris Hatcher, was moved to the 60-day disabled list, meaning that he can’t be activated until mid-August.

Michael Morse, who came from Miami today, was also designated for assignment. Taking on Morse’s contract helped the Dodgers acquire Mat Latos without sacrificing more in prospects than Jeff Brigham, Victor Araujo and Kevin Guzman.

Bronson Arroyo, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, was placed on the 60-day disabled list, while infield prospect Jose Peraza was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

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Moving day brings major additions to Dodgers

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By Jon Weisman

It’s a massive move that puts five established pitchers in the Dodger starting rotation from now through October.

It’s a win-now, win-later maneuver that deepens the franchise for years to come.

In a three-team deal with Atlanta and Miami, the Dodgers have acquired left-handed pitchers Alex Wood and Luis Avilan, right-handers Mat Latos, Jim Johnson and Bronson Arroyo, second baseman-shortstop Jose Peraza and outfielder-first baseman Michael Morse.

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Kershaw start delayed until Friday — Bolsinger to start tonight

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Atlanta Braves

A’s at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andre Ethier, LF
Yasiel Puig, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Mike Bolsinger, P

By Jon Weisman

Clayton Kershaw’s scheduled start tonight has been moved to Friday by the Dodgers, amid reports of a sore left hip or glute muscle.

Mike Bolsinger, who threw seven innings and allowed no earned runs seven days ago in Atlanta, will start in Kershaw’s place. Bolsinger has a 2.79 ERA this season — 1.59 in his past three starts.

Kershaw will bring his 29-inning scoreless inning streak up against the Angels on Friday.

Justin Turner, who is suffering from a leg infection, remains sidelined. Alex Guerrero is scheduled to make his first start at third base since May 19.

Joc Pederson is batting seventh, his lowest spot in the order since July 5. Pederson has a .239 on-base percentage and .271 slugging percentage in July, with one homer and four walks against 28 strikeouts.

“He’s working on different things,” Don Mattingly said after Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Oakland, according to Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. “It’s not like he’s just going up there, I know it looks like he’s swinging for the fences all the time. That’s not what he’s trying to do. … He’s trying to get inside the ball a little bit using his bottom hand. He’s frustrated.

“At some point Joc’s going to get that front side thing, and he’s going to be a monster. He’s going to be tough to get out.”

The long view of Yasiel Puig

[mlbvideo id=”29236055″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]

By Jon Weisman

Two years to the day after 22-year-old Yasiel Puig’s thrilling, extra-inning walkoff homer to beat the Reds, it’s fascinating to see how many people are ready to shut the door on 24-year-old Yasiel Puig’s future as a baseball player.

Puig’s in a slump, it’s fair to say. He’s coming off a mixed bag of a week in which his only two hits were home runs, and his OPS has dropped from 1.047 on June 12 to .750 today.

Here’s where I point out what should be obvious:

1) His OPS was 1.047 on June 12. That’s very good.

2) One good week would halt the complaining, and one good month would render it laughable.

It would take a deep level of cynicism to assume Puig wasn’t capable of such a turnaround.

Though they are not the same player, I continue finding it hard to resist comparing Puig with the four other hitters in Los Angeles Dodger history that have made the greatest impact by age 22: Tommy Davis, Willie Davis, Steve Sax and Adrian Beltre.

Beltre PuigSax DavisLook at their adjusted OPS year-by-year, and how inconsistent the path is. (Needless to say, although he isn’t included in this chart, Matt Kemp would fit as well.)

The impatience with Beltre, one of the greatest all-around third basemen baseball has seen, is still a viscerally unpleasant memory for me.

It’s so convenient, even comforting, to think that young players develop in a solidly upward trajectory, but it’s just a fantasy. Kids have growing pains — mental and physical — and adjustments can take weeks, months or even years. Or haven’t you noticed?

What kind of player will Puig ultimately be? I have no idea. But this idea that the clock has run out on him, that if he hasn’t fixed what’s bothering him yet, he won’t fix it at all, is far too reactionary for my tastes.

And not for nothing: Puig at his worst is still a player with value.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Mets

Dodger manager Don Mattingly said that Puig has shown signs of improvement since the All-Star Break.

“I think he’s been better lately,” Mattingly said. “Before the break, he looked a little rough. … I know he’s been working in the cage, doing certain things, trying to keep his lines a little straighter, a little less turned. I think he understands he’s not swinging as well as he’s capable of.

“We’re trying to get him straight, but he’s just got a lot of body turn — stuck in. It’s kind of, ‘Which came first — the chicken or the egg?’ You line up turned in, and you end up having to spin. It creates length, and it creates vision problems and everything else. So we’re just trying to get him straight.”

Needless to say, it would be naive to expect a sudden mellowing of opinions on Puig.

“Yasiel, obviously, is pretty much of a lightning rod in all areas,” Mattingly said. “No matter if he’s doing good or doing bad, or makes a good throw or makes a bad throw, or gets a hit or doesn’t get a hit, he’s pretty much a lightning rod.”

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