Dodger Thoughts

In Game wrap

Howard Smith/US PresswireRubby De La Rosa was oh-so-wild but managed to hold the Phillies to 1-for-8 hitting with runners in scoring position.

Matt Slocum/APDee Gordon forces Chase Utley out at second base.

Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com captures the end-of-game reaction to the debuts of Dee Gordon and Rubby De La Rosa, coming at the end of a 6-2 Dodger victory over a surprisingly inept Phillies team.

There were other surprises – the way that Gordon got hits in his first three at-bats, the way that De La Rosa recovered from a nervewracking start that seemed destined to send him or us to an asylum by retiring his final six batters.

But for those who fear change, there was the comforting sight of Matt Kemp knocking a double and then a home run, tying him for the league lead in that category.

One look at Jerry Sands, who went 0 for 4 to fall to 3 for 35 since his May 24 grand slam in Houston, reminds us that growing pains are practically inevitable, no matter how hot your start. But why do we love new, young players so much? Because who can resist the possibility that the glimpse of greatness we see might grow?

Mid-game Rubby/Dee update

In Uncategorized

I won’t have a wrap-up of tonight’s game until late tonight, but let’s just say that at the halfway point, it’s been anything but dull. Dee Gordon is 3 for 3 with a steal, while Rubby De La Rosa walked five in his first two innings and still was outpitching Roy Oswalt (thanks in part to some great Dodger defense). Dodgers 4, Phillies 1 in the fifth inning.

Rubby, Dee, meet Ruby Dee

In Game chat

APRuby Dee on stage with Sidney Poitier on March 26, 1959 during the Broadway run of “A Raisin in the Sun”

Dodgers at Phillies, 4:05 p.m.

Dee Gordon, SS
Casey Blake, 3B
Andre Ethier, LF
Matt Kemp, CF
Juan Uribe, 2B
James Loney, 1B
Dioner Navarro, C
Jerry Sands, LF
Rubby De La Rosa, P

In honor of the simultaneous first major-league starts of Rubby De La Rosa and Dee Gordon, here’s a portion of “A Raisin in the Sun” with Ruby Dee.

Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. has a great chart of how pitchers have done making their first major-league starts with the Dodgers in the past 10 years.

* * *

Here are not one but two updates on 2011 No. 1 draft choice Chris Reed from Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Third pick: catcher Pratt Maynard

In Draft

North Carolina State catcher Pratt Maynard is the Dodgers’ third-round pick in the draft. The 6-footer has a .414 on-base percentage and .474 slugging percentage in 2011. He also has pitched in the past, but did not do so for North Carolina State this year.

Here’s a profile on Maynard from Caulton Tudor of (Charlotte) Newsobserver.com:

When Pratt Maynard left South Granville High in 2008 to join N.C. State’s baseball team, he had never played a game as a catcher.

That changed fast.

Entering what might be the final game of his college career today, Maynard could be a catcher for many years to come. ….

… College programs have started creating catchers as much as trying to find them in recruiting.

“It’s really changed,” Avent said. “Pratt is the first guy we’ve tried it with, but a lot of programs have been doing it for years. Catcher is such an important position that you almost have to look at all possibilities.

“We were planning do it with Russell Martin [then a junior college infielder in 2002] and converting him, but the Los Angeles Dodgers had the same idea.”

Originally a pitcher-third baseman, Maynard made a smooth adjustment to the demanding catching tasks. And as a left-handed batter with power, he emerged as one of the best in the nation. …

That’ll be it for round-by-round draft updates for the time being. We’ll catch up on the Dodger draft later today, but in the meantime, you can track selections here.

Dodgers select third baseman Santana in second round of draft

In Draft

The Dodgers selected 6-foot-4, 200-pound third baseman Alex Santana from Mariner HS in Florida in the second round of the MLB amateur draft. He is the son of former major-league infielder Rafael Santana, who hit 13 career home runs but listed at 6-1, 165.

Here’s a profile of the new draftee from Annabelle Tometich of the Fort Myers (Fla.) News Press:

Speaking on a static-riddled cellphone from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, fresh from a workout with the Seattle Mariners and on his way to another workout with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mariner High senior Alex Santana found a few minutes for an interview.

The Triton baseball player knows a thing or two about timing.

After what Santana called a so-so high school season (he only hit a team-best .402 with four home runs and 29 RBI), the 6-foot-4, 200-pound third baseman launched a grand slam to dig his team out of a three-run deficit at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s All-Star Baseball Classic championship game in Sebring last weekend.

The four-run shot, which glanced off the roof of a building behind left-center field, capped off Santana’s 3-for-4 performance the day before. He was named the Classic’s MVP.

“I’m not the guy who’s going to hit a ton of home runs, but when I connect I’d say they go a ways,” Santana said.

“I could see it on some of the scouts’ faces. It further proved my point, that I can perform with the best in the nation.”

He hopes major league teams agree. …

Santana would reportedly play at Florida Atlantic if he doesn’t sign with the Dodgers.

Santana has also pitched, as this Perfect Game profile notes:

Excellent athletic build, loose and strong. 6.97 runner, easy defensive actions, very good arm strength, throws carry, soft hands. Tall stance, easy low effort swing, very good extension, drives through the ball, good leverage at contact, can hit it hard to the opposite field, could be more aggressive. Also pitched, may have higher ceiling as RHP. Steady 88-89 mph fastball, have seen 91 mph in the past, smooth and easy arm action, good run/sink on fastball, repeats delivery very well, curveball flashed hard spin and bite, very good depth. Must be followed both ways. Good student, signed with Florida Atlantic.

Should Dee Gordon’s nickname be ‘Roadrunner’ or ‘Mneep Mneep’?

In Uncategorized

Let’s try the latter. MLB.com has video of how fast Dee “Mneep Mneep” Gordon went from first to third in his debut Monday.

Dodger momentum stalls against Lee, Phillies

In Game wrap

Drew Hallowell/Getty ImagesGosh, looks easy enough to hit from here …

Outside of seeing Dee Gordon fly from first base to third as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning tonight, there weren’t a lot of thrills for the Dodgers tonight in Philadelphia.

Los Angeles had nine hits – all singles – but were shut out until the ninth inning of a 3-1 loss to Cliff Lee and the Phillies.

Lee allowed game-opening singles to Jamey Carroll (3 for 4) and Aaron Miles (2 for 4), but as soon as Marcus Thames hit into a double play, Lee had the Dodgers under his thumb. He struck out 10 over seven innings before turning the game to his bullpen with a 2-0 lead, thanks to what otherwise would be a forgivable moment of weakness in the third inning by Ted Lilly (six innings, seven baserunners, four strikeouts).

Mike MacDougal gave up a third run in the bottom of the eighth, making the Dodgers’ attempt at a rally that much more difficult in the ninth. Juan Uribe (2 for 4) and James Loney singled, bringing up pinch-hitter Andre Ethier as the tying run, but Ethier grounded into a force play (scoring Gordon in his first major-league game), and then Rod Barajas and pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro whiffed.

Dodgers choose Stanford lefty Reed with No. 1 pick

In Draft

The Dodgers have gone to my alma mater for their first pick in the 2011 amateur draft, taking 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher Chris Reed from Stanford. Reports say that Reed was something of an unknown quantity entering the year — a reliever who will get a look as a starter, but might end up staying in the bullpen. It’s a surprising enough selection that it definitely asks you to put your faith in Dodger assistant general manager Logan White (or at least understand the financial constraints he’s probably working under).

Reed has 48 strikeouts against 54 baserunners in 49 2/3 innings this season for Stanford, which advanced to the Super Regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament this past weekend. Here’s the ESPN.com scouting report:

The genius of college coaches: Chris Reed, a 6-foot-4 left-hander who sits 92-94 as a reliever with two off-speed pitches that will at least flash above-average, has made exactly one start this year for Stanford, instead working out of the pen where he’s been successful but wasted.

Reed adds a sharp, short slider in the 82-84 mph range to that fastball and will show a very hard-fading changeup in the upper 70s, throwing strikes with all three pitches but not yet showing the fastball command he’ll need to start in the big leagues. He comes from a slot just under three-quarters and repeats his delivery well enough to start, although he could stay upright longer and get more downhill plane on the fastball.

Many scouts like Reed as a potential starter, and we know he can pitch in the bullpen if that doesn’t work out, but I like his chances to end up a No. 2 or 3 starter once he’s stretched out.

Reed was born in London but went to Cleveland HS in the San Fernando Valley.

Dee-Day: Whirlwind of roster changes ends with Gordon callup

In Game chat, Transactions

Norm Hall/Getty ImagesUnderneath that helmet is newest Dodger major-leaguer Dee Gordon.

Dodgers at Phillies, 4:05 p.m.
Dodgers go hard-right against lefty Lee.

Jamey Carroll, SS
Aaron Miles, 2B
Marcus Thames, LF
Matt Kemp, CF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Casey Blake, 1B
Jerry Sands, RF
Rod Barajas, C
Ted Lilly, P

Jerry Sands getting an early promotion to the bigs didn’t surprise me much. Nor did Rubby De La Rosa.

But Dee Gordon getting the call — now that’s a commitment to youth.

With Rafael Furcal once again relegated to the disabled list for weeks, the Dodgers have called up the 23-year-old Gordon from Albuquerque, where he had a .361 on-base percentage and 22 steals in 25 attempts, but also only 14 walks and nine extra-base hits (.370 slugging) in 50 games. (Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com has the news story.)

Gordon has also had many questions about his fielding, particularly his ability to make the ordinary play (as opposed to the extraordinary one). On the bright side, his surge of errors in April has slowed considerably.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that while everyone has always raved about Gordon’s blinding speed, that .880 stolen-base percentage is a new bright spot. No one’s expecting power from Gordon, so if he can just get on base and stay out of his own way defensively, he could be a thrill to watch.

Gordon is not in tonight’s starting lineup, but unlike with someone such as Ivan De Jesus, Jr., you don’t call someone like Gordon up to ride the bench. Cynics might wonder if Gordon is being showcased for a trade, but I’ve never gotten the sense he’s someone the Dodgers want to part with.

To make room for Gordon and Marcus Thames, who was activated from the disabled list, the Dodgers designated Juan Castro and Jay Gibbons for assignment. This is also something of a surprise, given the Dodgers’ proclivity to protect depth — and by 2011 Dodger standards, the .668 OPS for Gibbons and .619 OPS for Castro aren’t the worst you could imagine. Sands could easily have been sent to the minors. But clearly, general manager Ned Colletti buys into the reality that they’re not going to miss much by losing Castro and Gibbons. (There’s also the not-slim possibility that the pair could end up back in Albuquerque if they clear waivers.)

Perhaps the way the young Dodger bullpen replacements have risen to the occasion has influenced Colletti.

Finally, the Dodgers optioned John Ely and De Jesus to make room for the return of Blake Hawksworth and Juan Uribe from the DL.

On the current 25-man active roster, 15 are below the age of 30.

* * *

Three years ago, I transcribed a Vin Scully excerpt on the anniversary of D-Day. This rubbed some people the wrong way, and a long discussion ensued in the comments of that thread. Just want to link to it to say I hadn’t forgotten what Scully said, nor the response that followed. It was a learning experience for me.

Draft day dope

In Draft, Uncategorized

The MLB draft begins today at 4 p.m. Three things we can be confident of with the Dodgers, who will have the 16th pick in the first round:

1) However unlikely it was that the Dodgers would spend more than $5 million to sign last year’s No. 1 pick, Zach Lee – and sure enough, they did it – multiply that by a factor of oodles this year.

2) However apparent the Dodgers’ needs are on the position player side, they’ll choose the best player available, which could very likely be a pitcher.

3) However much we make of the first pick, lower-round guys can definitely make a difference. It’s a wait-and-see proposition all around.

A sampling of Dodger draft picks of the past 10 years, with the round they were drafted in (via Baseball-Reference.com):

1 – James Loney (2002)
1 – Chad Billingsley (2003)
1 – Scott Elbert (2004)
1 – Blake DeWitt (2004)
1 – Luke Hochevar (2005)
1 – Clayton Kershaw (2006)
1 – Zach Lee (2010)

2 – Jonathan Broxton (2002)
2 – Ivan De Jesus, Jr. (2005)
2 – Josh Lindblom (2008)
2 – Garrett Gould (2009)

4 – Delwyn Young (2002)
4 – Xavier Paul (2003)
4 – Javy Guerra (2004)
4 – Josh Bell (2005)
4 – Dee Gordon (2008)

5 – Jon Meloan (2005)

6 – Edwin Jackson (2001)
6 – Matt Kemp (2003)
6 – Brent Leach (2005)

10 – Cory Wade (2004)
10 – Trayvon Robinson (2005)

11 – James McDonald (2002)
11 – Nathan Eovaldi (2008)

15 – Eric Stults (2002)
15 – Russ Mitchell (2003)

17 – Russell Martin (2002)

18 – A.J. Ellis (2003)
18 – Allen Webster (2008)

19 – David Price (2004)

24 – Andy LaRoche (2003)

25 – Jerry Sands (2008)

30 – Shawn Tolleson (2010)

Sluggin’ Billingsley powers Dodgers, 9-6

On June 5, 2011

In Game wrap

David Kohl/APAaron Miles congratulates Chad Billingsley on hitting his second home run since Miles last hit one.

Chad Billingsley couldn’t bring it today on the mound, but he sure brought it at the plate.

Billingsley somehow managed to overshadow Matt Kemp’s third home run in two days by going deep himself in the second inning, walking with the bases loaded in the third and doubling in a run in the fifth inning, helping the Dodgers to a 9-6 victory.

Billingsley, who entered the game OPS-ing a career-high .638 (5 for 21 with two doubles), surged to .950, which is second in the major leagues among pitchers to J.A. Happ’s .959. (Today’s double wasn’t cheap, either – it landed on the warning track and one-hopped against the wall.) His efforts, combined with Kemp’s prodigious two-run home run in the first inning and a total of 13 hits and 10 walks from the Dodger offense, boosted the Dodgers to 20 runs over the past two days, 17 of them coming in a eight-inning span.

Kemp was 2 for 3 with three walks, Andre Ethier 2 for 4 with a walk, Jamey Carroll 1 for 4 with two walks, James Loney (batting eighth) 1 for 2 with three walks, Aaron Miles 2 for 6. Rod Barajas added a significant two-run double. Ethier and Kemp (who reached base five times for the third time in his career) each lifted their 2011 on-base percentages back over .400.

Sobering for the Dodgers was this: This wasn’t the first time Billingsley homered and doubled in the same game, and things went more than a little rough when it happened before. On July 5, 2009, Billingsley did the same in San Diego while holding the Padres to one run over the first eight innings, only to have the Dodgers blow a 6-1 in the ninth inning in a game that, following the 2008 playoffs, helped make Jonathan Broxton very unpopular among many Dodger fans. (The Dodgers ultimately won, 7-6.)

So what would happen today? Los Angeles ultimately removed Billingsley after five innings, four runs, 12 baserunners and 106 pitches. John Ely, called up to support the injury-depleted pitching staff, had an opportunity for a four-inning save. He started a little shaky, giving up four baserunners and a run in his first two innings, but had a nice eighth inning in which he retired Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce in order. It was the first time in the game either team had a 1-2-3 inning.

Ely came out for the ninth, but lost his save opportunity when he walked Ryan Hanigan and Don Mattingly replaced him with Josh Lindblom, who started out by walking Miguel “33 homers in 1,359 games” Cairo and, looking really wild, hitting Ramon Hernandez in the shoulder to load the bases. Tying run up at the plate, nobody out.

As Ramon Troncoso began warming up in the bullpen, Paul Janish, who was 3 for 3 at that point, fouled out to Barajas. Pinch-hitter Chris Heisey flied deep to right for a “we’ll take it” sacrifice fly.

Facing Drew Stubbs, who had a chance to follow his leadoff homer in the first inning with a game-tying homer in the ninth, Lindblom fell behind in the count, 2-1. But then it all came together for Lindblom. The next two pitches were nasty fastballs at the knees, and Stubbs whiffed at both … and the Dodgers had held on.

Weird note: The Dodgers average 3.7 runs per game, but haven’t finished a game with exactly four runs since May 13.

Where’s Kempo

On June 5, 2011

In Dodger Stadium, History

Dodgers at Reds, 10:10 a.m.

Jamey Carroll, SS
Aaron Miles, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Matt Kemp, CF
Casey Blake, 3B
Jerry Sands, LF
Rod Barajas, C
James Loney, 1B
Chad Billingsley, P

Where Matt Kemp ranks among National Leaguers, according to Baseball-Reference.com:

1. – offensive wins above replacement (2.9)
1. – power-speed number (14.5)
1t – RBI (46)
1t – total bases (125)
2. – games played (59)
2. – home runs (15)
2. – slugging percentage (.576)
3. – runs created (49)
3. – win probability added (2.6)
4. – at-bats per home run (14.5)
4t – adjusted OPS (170)
4t – intentional walks (6)
4t – times on base (98)
4t – wins above replacement (2.9)
5. – offensive win percentage (.759)
5. – OPS (.971)
5t – stolen bases (14)
6t – strikeouts (55)
7t – hits (69)
8. – on-base percentage (.395)
8t – extra-base hits (26)
9. – batting average (.318)

Kemp is fifth in the NL in total average (.341), according to Baseball Prospectus. Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness has more on what Kemp could achieve this year.

* * *

Fasten your seat belts. Here are the scheduled pitching matchups for the upcoming Philadelphia series:
Monday – Ted Lilly vs. Cliff Lee
Tuesday – Rubby De La Rosa vs. Roy Oswalt
Wednesday – Hiroki Kuroda vs. Cole Hamels

The Phillies have lost four straight games, two each to Washington and Pittsburgh.
Via Baseball Think Factory comes this March 1957 Sports Illustrated piece that is said to be the first mention of “Chavez Ravine” in the magazine. It acknowledges that Walter O’Malley’s primary desire was to stay in Brooklyn, but here’s my favorite line: “It was even suggested that with the coming of the jet age, when the Atlantic and Pacific coasts will be only three or four hours apart, New Yorkers could get to a Dodger game in Chavez Ravine in less time than it now takes to reach Ebbets Field.”
Conclusion: “The next chapter in the serial will now have to be written by the City of New York some time before next October. Should they fail to get busy, O’Malley and his Dodgers will almost surely head west like so many other overcrowded, ill-housed Easterners. In that event, major league baseball will be a coast-to-coast reality no later than 1960.”
Orel Hershiser has joined Steve Garvey’s group that’s interested in purchasing the Dodgers, reports Jill Painter of the Daily News. It’s still not clear what kind of financing the Garvey-Hershiser group would have, because initial reports linking it to billionaire Ron Burkle have been disputed.
Red-hot Dodger minor-league reliever Shawn Tolleson (0.63 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings this year) and Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw were groomsmen at each other’s weddings this offseason, notes Inside the Dodgers, which passes on a link to an upcoming Dodgers Magazine feature on the pair.
Dennys Reyes, who made his major-league debut with the Dodgers in 1997, is one of 21 players to steal a base in his first game and then never do so again in his career, according to Baseball-Reference.com. Reyes has by far the most appearances of anyone on the list. On July 13, 1997, Reyes walked, went to second on a single, stole third and scored on an error. He pitched six innings that game and got the win, one of 10 in his career as a starting pitcher.
Oakland has designated former Dodger Andy LaRoche (.654 OPS) for assignment.
Not a Dodger note, but I thought it was cool: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jose Reyes is only the second player since 1926 to have 10 triples by June 4. Willie Wilson in 1985 was the other.

The Los Angeles DLers roster

On June 4, 2011

In Health/injuries

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesRafael Furcal has reached base 17 times this season while missing 42 games and counting.

The roster of the Los Angeles DLers, day by day this season:

23 Casey Blake
21 Jon Garland
31 Jay Gibbons
30 Dioner Navarro
44 Vicente Padilla
9 Hector Gimenez
15 Rafael Furcal
56 Hong-Chih Kuo
33 Marcus Thames
51 Jonathan Broxton
36 Blake Hawksworth
5 Juan Uribe
74 Kenley Jansen


Date/Uniform No.	23	21	31	30	44	9	15	56	33	51	36	5	74	Total players
3/31	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/1	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/2	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/3	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/4	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/5	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/6	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/7	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/8	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/9	x	x	x	x	x									5
4/10	x	x	x	x	x	x								6
4/11	x	x	x	x	x	x								6
4/12	x	x	x	x	x	x	x							7
4/13	x	x	x	x	x	x	x							7
4/14	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x						8
4/15	x		x	x	x	x	x	x						7
4/16	x		x	x	x	x	x	x						7
4/17	x		x	x	x	x	x	x						7
4/18	x		x	x	x	x	x	x						7
4/19	x		x	x	x	x	x	x						7
4/20	x		x	x	x	x	x	x						7
4/21	x		x	x	x	x	x	x						7
4/22			x	x		x	x	x						5
4/23			x	x		x	x	x						5
4/24			x	x		x	x	x						5
4/25	x		x			x	x	x						5
4/26	x		x			x	x	x						5
4/27	x		x			x	x	x						5
4/28	x		x			x	x	x						5
4/29	x		x			x	x	x						5
4/30	x		x			x	x	x						5
Date/Uniform No.	23	21	31	30	44	9	15	56	33	51	36	5	74	Total players
5/1	x		x			x	x							4
5/2	x		x			x	x							4
5/3	x					x	x		x					4
5/4	x					x	x		x	x				5
5/5	x					x	x		x	x				5
5/6	x					x	x		x	x				5
5/7	x					x	x		x	x				5
5/8	x					x	x		x	x				5
5/9	x					x	x		x	x				5
5/10	x					x	x	x	x	x				6
5/11	x					x	x	x	x	x	x			7
5/12	x					x	x	x	x	x	x			7
5/13	x					x	x	x	x	x	x			7
5/14	x				x	x	x	x	x	x	x			8
5/15	x				x	x	x	x	x	x	x			8
5/16	x				x	x	x	x	x	x	x			8
5/17	x				x	x	x	x	x	x	x			8
5/18	x				x	x	x	x	x	x	x			8
5/19	x				x	x	x	x	x	x	x			8
5/20	x				x	x	x	x	x	x	x			8
5/21	x				x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		9
5/22	x				x	x		x	x	x	x	x		8
5/23	x				x	x		x	x	x	x	x		8
5/24	x				x	x		x	x	x	x	x		8
5/25	x				x	x		x	x	x	x	x		8
5/26	x				x	x		x	x	x	x	x		8
5/27					x	x		x	x	x	x	x		7
5/28					x	x		x	x	x	x	x		7
5/29					x	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	8
5/30					x	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	8
5/31					x	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	8
Date/Uniform No.	23	21	31	30	44	9	15	56	33	51	36	5	74	Total players
6/1					x	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	8
6/2					x	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	8
6/3					x	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	8
6/4		x			x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	10
Total days	54	16	34	25	44	56	41	43	33	32	25	15	7	425

23 Casey Blake
21 Jon Garland
31 Jay Gibbons
30 Dioner Navarro
44 Vicente Padilla
9 Hector Gimenez
15 Rafael Furcal
56 Hong-Chih Kuo
33 Marcus Thames
51 Jonathan Broxton
36 Blake Hawksworth
5 Juan Uribe
74 Kenley Jansen

Majestic Bison and the Bisonettes rescue Dodgers, 11-8