Dodger Thoughts

June 16 game chat

On June 16, 2012

From the Dodger press notes: “The Dodgers are looking to move to 18 games over .500 for the first time all season. The club has lost on all four attempts (May 23 at Arizona, May 28 vs. Milwaukee, June 11 vs. the Angels and June 13 vs. the Angels) to reach that plateau this year.”

White Sox at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, SS
Elian Herrera, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B
Bobby Abreu, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
James Loney, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
Chad Billingsley, P

So far, Elian Herrera is making Dodger history

By Jon Weisman

On June 16, 2012

In Dodgers, History

Having a great first season in the majors while in your mid-20s is a rare thing. Sure, there are late bloomers – Paul Lo Duca and Maury Wills immediately come to mind – but most of those late bloomers need a cup of coffee or four before they make a noteworthy impact.

In fact, in the 55 seasons of the Los Angeles Dodgers, only 19 players have notched at least 100 plate appearances in their first season after turning 24. And of those 19 players, so far, Elian Herrera (who added two doubles and three RBI Friday to his magical 2012) has a higher on-base percentage and adjusted OPS than any of them.

Rk	Player	OPS+	PA	Year	Age	G	HR	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	Elian Herrera	118	115	2012	27	29	0	3	1	.395	.388	.782
2	Andre Ethier	113	441	2006	24	126	11	5	5	.365	.477	.842
3	Dick Gray	106	221	1958	26	58	9	1	1	.327	.472	.799
4	Norm Larker	102	291	1958	27	99	4	1	1	.352	.427	.779
5	Ted Sizemore	94	650	1969	24	159	4	5	5	.328	.342	.670
6	Mickey Hatcher	90	102	1979	24	33	1	1	3	.327	.366	.692
7	Wes Parker	87	240	1964	24	124	3	5	4	.303	.341	.644
8	Oscar Robles	86	399	2005	29	110	5	0	8	.332	.368	.700
9	Jack Fimple	83	167	1983	24	54	2	1	0	.300	.358	.658
10	Lee Lacy	80	266	1972	24	60	0	5	3	.312	.313	.625
11	Chad Fonville	75	338	1995	24	88	0	20	5	.328	.302	.630
12	Jason Repko	74	301	2005	24	129	8	5	0	.281	.384	.665
13	Eric Young	69	144	1992	25	49	1	6	1	.300	.288	.588
14	Henry Rodriguez	66	156	1992	24	53	3	0	0	.258	.329	.587
15	Justin Sellers	63	139	2011	25	36	1	1	0	.283	.301	.583
16	Tracy Woodson	62	148	1987	24	53	1	1	1	.284	.324	.607
17	Larry Burright	60	276	1962	24	115	4	4	3	.264	.317	.581
18	Mike Ramsey	57	138	1987	26	48	0	2	4	.287	.296	.583
19	Maury Wills	55	258	1959	26	83	0	7	3	.298	.298	.596

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used. Generated 6/16/2012.

It’s not as if he can claim a better first season than Andre Ethier had in 2006, for example, but it’s still pretty amazing. In fact, even if you eliminate the age component, Herrera still has the fifth-best season in adjusted OPS for a Dodger in his first season, and second-best OBP.

Rk	Player	OPS+	PA	Year	Age	G	HR	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	Bill Sudakis	165	102	1968	22	24	3	1	0	.382	.471	.854
2	Willy Aybar	140	105	2005	22	26	1	3	1	.448	.453	.901
3	James Loney	125	111	2006	22	48	4	1	0	.342	.559	.901
4	Steve Yeager	124	124	1972	23	35	4	0	0	.374	.406	.780
5	Elian Herrera	118	115	2012	27	29	0	3	1	.395	.388	.782
6	Andre Ethier	113	441	2006	24	126	11	5	5	.365	.477	.842
7	Jim Lefebvre	106	631	1965	23	157	12	3	5	.337	.369	.706
8	Dick Gray	106	221	1958	26	58	9	1	1	.327	.472	.799
9	Jerry Sands	102	227	2011	23	61	4	3	3	.338	.389	.727
10	Norm Larker	102	291	1958	27	99	4	1	1	.352	.427	.779
11	Russell Martin	101	468	2006	23	121	10	10	5	.355	.436	.792
12	Ted Sizemore	94	650	1969	24	159	4	5	5	.328	.342	.670
13	Blake DeWitt	93	421	2008	22	117	9	3	0	.344	.383	.728
14	Dee Gordon	92	233	2011	23	56	0	24	7	.325	.362	.686
15	Todd Hollandsworth	91	115	1995	22	41	5	2	1	.304	.398	.702
16	Steve Sax	91	127	1981	21	31	2	5	7	.317	.345	.662
17	Mickey Hatcher	90	102	1979	24	33	1	1	3	.327	.366	.692
18	Wes Parker	87	240	1964	24	124	3	5	4	.303	.341	.644
19	Oscar Robles	86	399	2005	29	110	5	0	8	.332	.368	.700
20	Bill Russell	86	238	1969	20	98	5	4	1	.301	.344	.645
21	Matt Kemp	85	166	2006	21	52	7	6	0	.289	.448	.737
22	Jack Fimple	83	167	1983	24	54	2	1	0	.300	.358	.658
23	Tony Abreu	82	178	2007	22	59	2	0	0	.309	.404	.713
24	Mike Scioscia	81	152	1980	21	54	1	1	0	.313	.328	.641
25	Henry Cruz	81	101	1975	23	53	0	1	1	.317	.319	.636
Rk	Player	OPS+	PA	Year	Age	G	HR	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
26	Nate Oliver	81	178	1963	22	65	1	3	4	.298	.307	.605
27	Mariano Duncan	80	620	1985	22	142	6	38	8	.293	.340	.633
28	Lee Lacy	80	266	1972	24	60	0	5	3	.312	.313	.625
29	Andy LaRoche	78	115	2007	23	35	1	2	1	.365	.312	.677
30	Chad Fonville	75	338	1995	24	88	0	20	5	.328	.302	.630
31	Jason Repko	74	301	2005	24	129	8	5	0	.281	.384	.665
32	Franklin Stubbs	74	245	1984	23	87	8	2	2	.273	.341	.614
33	Adrian Beltre	73	214	1998	19	77	7	3	1	.278	.369	.648
34	Billy Ashley	69	100	1992	21	29	2	0	0	.260	.337	.597
35	Eric Young	69	144	1992	25	49	1	6	1	.300	.288	.588
36	Henry Rodriguez	66	156	1992	24	53	3	0	0	.258	.329	.587
37	Jeff Hamilton	66	151	1986	22	71	5	0	0	.232	.361	.592
38	Justin Sellers	63	139	2011	25	36	1	1	0	.283	.301	.583
39	Tracy Woodson	62	148	1987	24	53	1	1	1	.284	.324	.607
40	Jim Fairey	61	166	1968	23	99	1	1	1	.241	.276	.517
41	Larry Burright	60	276	1962	24	115	4	4	3	.264	.317	.581
42	Mike Ramsey	57	138	1987	26	48	0	2	4	.287	.296	.583
43	Maury Wills	55	258	1959	26	83	0	7	3	.298	.298	.596
44	Dave Anderson	41	131	1983	22	61	1	6	3	.244	.261	.505

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used. Generated 6/16/2012.

Using Wins Above Replacement, a cumulative stat as measured by Baseball-Reference.com, Herrera is already the Dodgers’ 20th-best first-year major-leaguer … with room to climb.

Rk	Player	WAR/pos	PA	Year	Age	G	HR	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	Jim Lefebvre	4.2	631	1965	23	157	12	3	5	.337	.369	.706
2	Ted Sizemore	4.0	650	1969	24	159	4	5	5	.328	.342	.670
3	Andre Ethier	2.2	441	2006	24	126	11	5	5	.365	.477	.842
4	Russell Martin	1.9	468	2006	23	121	10	10	5	.355	.436	.792
5	Bill Russell	1.7	238	1969	20	98	5	4	1	.301	.344	.645
6	Mariano Duncan	1.5	620	1985	22	142	6	38	8	.293	.340	.633
7	Blake DeWitt	1.4	421	2008	22	117	9	3	0	.344	.383	.728
8	Lee Lacy	1.4	266	1972	24	60	0	5	3	.312	.313	.625
9	Bill Sudakis	1.2	102	1968	22	24	3	1	0	.382	.471	.854
10	Steve Yeager	1.0	124	1972	23	35	4	0	0	.374	.406	.780
11	Dick Gray	1.0	221	1958	26	58	9	1	1	.327	.472	.799
12	Tony Abreu	0.9	178	2007	22	59	2	0	0	.309	.404	.713
13	James Loney	0.9	111	2006	22	48	4	1	0	.342	.559	.901
14	Willy Aybar	0.9	105	2005	22	26	1	3	1	.448	.453	.901
15	Chad Fonville	0.9	338	1995	24	88	0	20	5	.328	.302	.630
16	Norm Larker	0.9	291	1958	27	99	4	1	1	.352	.427	.779
17	Justin Sellers	0.8	139	2011	25	36	1	1	0	.283	.301	.583
18	Jack Fimple	0.7	167	1983	24	54	2	1	0	.300	.358	.658
19	Wes Parker	0.7	240	1964	24	124	3	5	4	.303	.341	.644
20	Elian Herrera	0.6	115	2012	27	29	0	3	1	.395	.388	.782
21	Dee Gordon	0.6	233	2011	23	56	0	24	7	.325	.362	.686
22	Steve Sax	0.6	127	1981	21	31	2	5	7	.317	.345	.662
23	Mike Scioscia	0.4	152	1980	21	54	1	1	0	.313	.328	.641
24	Mickey Hatcher	0.4	102	1979	24	33	1	1	3	.327	.366	.692
25	Oscar Robles	0.3	399	2005	29	110	5	0	8	.332	.368	.700
Rk	Player	WAR/pos	PA	Year	Age	G	HR	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
26	Jerry Sands	0.1	227	2011	23	61	4	3	3	.338	.389	.727
27	Andy LaRoche	0.1	115	2007	23	35	1	2	1	.365	.312	.677
28	Adrian Beltre	0.1	214	1998	19	77	7	3	1	.278	.369	.648
29	Nate Oliver	0.0	178	1963	22	65	1	3	4	.298	.307	.605

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used. Generated 6/16/2012.

This won’t guarantee future stardom – several of these players are balloons that inflated quickly and then popped. It’s not like Dick Gray carved out a legendary career But it is a measure of just how valuable Herrera has been to this point. I can’t think of a bigger surprise for the Dodgers in 2012.

Two words

By Jon Weisman

On June 15, 2012

In Dodgers

Wonder team.

Vin.1

By Jon Weisman

On June 15, 2012

In Dodgers

Observation: Vin Scully is the only person I know of who typically expresses ERA to one decimal place.

White Sox at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Kershaw CXXX: Kershawtter Pops
Dee Gordon, SS
Elian Herrera, LF
Juan Rivera, 1B
Andre Ethier, RF
Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
Juan Uribe, 3B
Tony Gwynn Jr., CF
Clayton Kershaw, P

Working my way back to you

By Jon Weisman

On June 15, 2012

In Dodgers

It’s been so long since I’ve pointed some bullets …

Cardboard Gods genius Josh Wilker writes, as only he can, about the Dodgers’ ill-fated No. 1 draft choice of yesteryear, Bill Bene.
David Schoenfield of ESPN.com’s Sweet Spot traces the sad evolution of the closer.
Grant Brisbee of McCovey Chronicles explores a question that the Giants are lucky they don’t have to answer right now — what would you offer Tim Lincecum if his contract were up?
Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness checks out the potential trade market for James Loney upgrades, and finds it, to no great surprise, sketchy.
“If you, like me, are sick of athletes who don’t do anything about blasting caps, and touching them, and not telling firefighters when you find them, well finally here you go,” writes Sam Miller of Baseball Prospectus.
Make sure you’re checking out my Variety blog, The Vote.

Digging into Matt Kemp

By Jon Weisman

On June 14, 2012

In Dodgers

Molly Knight this week gives us an ESPN the Magazine cover story on Matt Kemp that begins with the moment he re-injured his hamstring: “The harder the game treats him, the more he respects it, cares about it — and the better he plays.”

It’s a terrific story, and the only issue I take with it is a nitpicky one about its micro-analysis of how Kemp reacted to his latest injury. I can only speak for myself, but I’m surprised by the idea that at this moment, people were making judgments about Kemp’s demeanor — whether “placid, seemingly indifferent” in the immediate aftermath or “a guy whose talent is as raw as his composure is unformed” as he digested the severity.

Doubts about Kemp’s attitude were resolved before May 30, and I think the prevailing concern was just whether this player who had reached the pinnacle of his game — mentally as well as in terms of performance — was going to be lost again to injury. By this time, I believe, Kemp had won all but the most reactionary critics over.

Perhaps I’m wrong. Either way, the story offers insight on Kemp that you haven’t seen elsewhere, so give it a read.

Dodgers pinched, 2-1

By Jon Weisman

On June 13, 2012

In Dodgers

The Angels lead the Dodgers, 2-1, in the bottom of the ninth of tonight’s game, following a tiebreaking home run by Erick Aybar off Kenley Jansen to start the inning.

A.J. Ellis walks obligatorily, and James Loney singles him to third.

Angels right-hander Ernesto Frieri, with a 0.00 ERA, is on the mound. Juan Uribe is up, with Tony Gwynn Jr. and Dee Gordon on deck.

I wouldn’t wait. I would send Bobby Abreu up to hit for Uribe right then.

My feelings are moot. Uribe grounds to short, with Ellis being retired on a fielder’s choice. Loney advances to third on the play and Uribe to second. Gwynn strikes out, and Abreu, batting for Dee Gordon, hits a grounder up the middle that Frieri flags for the final out of the game.

Playing 20 games in 20 days, 10 at home and 10 on the road, the Dodgers won 10 and lost 10.

Both starting pitchers dodged their share of bullets before ending up with no decision. Most notably, Nathan Eovaldi, who remained winless as he lowered his ERA to 1.82, got out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the fourth, thanks largely to a Loney-Ellis-Loney double play.

The batter? Aybar, of course – the guy who would later win the game with his first home run since September 18.

And in San Francisco, Matt Cain pitches a whale of a game, matching Sandy Koufax for the most strikeouts in a perfect game with 14.

* * *

Kings broadcaster Bob Miller wrote a lovely first-person piece for the Times in the aftermath of the Stanley Cup.

Miles to sleep before he goes

By Jon Weisman

On June 13, 2012

In Dodgers

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, SS
Elian Herrera, CF
Juan Rivera, LF
Andre Ethier, RF
Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
James Loney, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
Nathan Eovaldi, P

Aaron Miles, who re-signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers during their May injury wave, is now going to retire, according to Christopher Jackson of Albuquerque Baseball Examiner. (In addition, minor-league third baseman Jeff Baisley has been released.)

“All the things with him, no spring training, all the things he was trying to get done here, the bottom line with him was that passion, that fire that’s allowed him to continue … it wasn’t there,” Isotopes manager Lorenzo Bundy told Jackson.

Matthew Pouliot has a wrap-up of Miles’ career at Hardball Talk, while you can read my Remembering 2011 piece on him here.

Vin Scully and Bob Miller in drive time

By Jon Weisman

On June 13, 2012

In Broadcasting

In case you missed it Tuesday, here’s the great chat between Vin Scully and Bob Miller on ESPN AM 710.

Dodgers escape their Waterloo, 5-2

By Jon Weisman

On June 12, 2012

In Dodgers

‘Twas a defeated night indeed for questionable starter Adam Kennedy, who made an error that allowed an unearned run to score for the Angels in the third inning and a decision that contributed to a second unearned run in the sixth. Add in a 0-for-3 night that included hitting into an inning-ending double play with runners at the corners in the fourth inning, and you have what will probably be the lasting memory of Kennedy as a Dodger.

Not that Andre Ethier didn’t do his darndest to make everyone forget. Hours after his contract-extension press conference, Ethier helped the Dodgers get over the Kennedy hump and come away with a 5-2 victory.

Ethier had the middle single in the Dodgers’ three-hit fourth inning, sent Mike Trout to the center-field wall in the sixth inning to haul in a deep fly, and made a diving catch to end the seventh inning with two runners on and the Dodgers trailing, 2-1. Most importantly, with Dee Gordon and A.J. Ellis on first base and two out in the eighth inning, Ethier lined a single to right field to drive in the tying run.

Juan Rivera, coming to the plate with a .589 OPS, then blasted a no-doubt three-run homer to left for the go-ahead blow, victimizing Jerome Williams, who had allowed one run on five baserunners in the first seven innings, and Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who left Williams in past the point of no return. A crestfallen Williams sat in the dugout with his head in his hands after finally coming out of the game.

Aaron Harang allowed six hits and four walks in seven innings, striking out five and lowering his ERA to 3.59. But Harang was all but destined to take a loss when, with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth, Kennedy surprised Gordon by throwing to second base instead of going for an easier out at first base on a grounder hit by Williams. The throw, however ill-chosen, went right to Gordon’s glove as he put his foot on the base, but it clanked off for an error that put the Angels ahead.

But the Dodgers rallied in the eighth, and Kenley Jansen bounced back from his own loss Monday to save the game.

The guy you hadn’t heard of before May isn’t playing, and you’re disappointed

By Jon Weisman

On June 12, 2012

In Dodgers

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Rivera, 1B
Bobby Abreu, LF
Adam Kennedy, 2B
Juan Uribe, 3B
Tony Gwynn Jr., CF
Aaron Harang, P

Switch-hitting trade-of-all-jackers Elian Herrera will see a streak of 10 consecutive starts end tonight, a streak in which he had a .366 on-base percentage. That actually constitutes a slump for the unexpected spark plug, who has a .394 on-base percentage through 105 plate appearances in his first taste of the big leagues.

Herrera has odd splits in his short career so far. Against righties, he has a .406 OBP and .302 slugging, while against lefties he goes .351/.457, with five doubles in 35 at-bats. In any case, a lineup that begins with Herrera, A.J. Ellis and Andre Ethier against Angels righty Jerome Williams doesn’t sound half-bad.

Instead, Herrera, who has started at center field, second base and third base, is riding the Dodger bench in favor of Tony Gwynn Jr., Adam Kennedy and Juan Uribe. Gwynn is a left-handed swinger who plays great defense, while Uribe is due for a start, having gone exactly one month since his last one.

Then there’s Kennedy, who will be making his fifth start of June. The difference between Kennedy and Herrera is probably less than people believe, but still, Kennedy’s name on the lineup card seems untimely. However, for the Adam Kennedy Marching & Chowder Society, there’s this: He went 4 for 9 last week.

One stat in which the two are closely matched is pitches per plate appearance. Herrera has seen 4.1 P/PA, Kennedy 4.0.

Andre Ethier set to sign five-year contract extension

By Jon Weisman

On June 12, 2012

In Dodgers, Transactions

At ESPN.com’s Sweet Spot, I react to Andre Ethier’s imminent new contract:

The news came late Monday that Andre Ethier and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms on a contract extension that would keep him in Dodger white and blue through at least 2017, at the cost of $85 million over five years – an average of $17 million per year – with a $17.5 million option (against a $2.5 million buyout) for 2018.

Does it seem like a lot of money to you for Ethier, a 30-year-old who ranks 24th in the majors in park-adjusted OPS since 2006, but who has some lingering concerns about his health and ability to hit lefties?

Well, it is, and it isn’t.

Read the entire piece here.

Champions!

By Jon Weisman

On June 11, 2012

In Dodgers

Glorious congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings and their fans – Stanley Cup champions. A wonder team, indeed.

Now, how about just not tearing downtown apart … okay?

Farewell, Yutaka Shimizu

By Jon Weisman

On June 11, 2012

In Dodgers

When I began my full-time sportswriting career with the Daily News in 1989, covering high school sports, a major figure was the boys basketball coach at Kennedy High in Granada Hills, Yutaka Shimizu. In fact, I interviewed Shimuzu for my first piece as a full-timer, on a Kennedy hoops star named Garret Anderson.

Eric Sondheimer (of course) of the Times is the one to pass along the sad news that Shimizu has passed away.

Yutaka Shimizu, a second-generation Japanese American who coached high school basketball in Los Angeles for more than 50 years and spent three years in an internment camp during World War II, died Sunday at a Lakewood hospital. He was 84 and had a lung ailment.

Shimizu was the head coach at Hamilton High from 1959 to 1981, coaching future UCLA All-America Sidney Wicks and leading the team to a City Section runner-up finish in 1965. He was the head coach at Granada Hills Kennedy High from 1982 to 1999.

He later became a trusted assistant coach and advisor to Derrick Taylor at Woodland Hills Taft and Bellflower St. John Bosco, staying in the background while offering words of wisdom.

“He’s the most underrated, great high school coach in our era,” Taylor said. “No one understood how good a coach and how brilliant a basketball mind he is.”

Shimizu was well known in Los Angeles. In 2007, when Taylor was coaching in the McDonald’s All-American game and walked into a room for breakfast with Shimizu, a familiar voice spoke up: “Coach Shimizu.”

It was John Wooden, the former UCLA coach. “That’s when you know you’re the man, when the ultimate coach calls you over,” Taylor said. …

The story that always sticks with me is that when I first came to know him, I knew him only as Coach Shimizu. When I asked for his first name, for publication purposes, he would only say, “Y.” (Or maybe it was “Why?”) Either way, “Y.” is how it ran.

Farewell, sir.

Dodgers activate Uribe

By Jon Weisman

On June 11, 2012

In Dodgers

This afternoon, the Dodgers activated Juan Uribe from the disabled list and optioned Alex Castellanos to Albuquerque.

Angels at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, SS
Elian Herrera, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Bobby Abreu, LF
Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B
James Loney, 1B
A.J. Ellis, C
Tony Gwynn Jr., CF
Chris Capuano, P

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

Page 246 of 381

June 16 game chat

So far, Elian Herrera is making Dodger history

Two words

Vin.1

Working my way back to you

Digging into Matt Kemp

Dodgers pinched, 2-1

Miles to sleep before he goes

Vin Scully and Bob Miller in drive time

Dodgers escape their Waterloo, 5-2

The guy you hadn’t heard of before May isn’t playing, and you’re disappointed

Andre Ethier set to sign five-year contract extension

Champions!

Farewell, Yutaka Shimizu

Dodgers activate Uribe

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