Dodger Thoughts

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

Tag: Carlos Frias (Page 2 of 3)

Dodger minor league report No. 16: Mike Bolsinger, Carlos Frias, Jose Peraza and more

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By Jon Weisman

Mike Bolsinger and Carlos Frias, the two Dodger starting pitchers displaced by Mat Latos and Alex Wood, each had early exits from their first starts back with Triple-A Oklahoma City this week.

Bolsinger was hit in the forearm Tuesday by a batted ball and departed after three-plus innings, after allowing three runs on six hits. Don Mattingly relayed to reporters Wednesday that Bolsinger isn’t expected to miss his next scheduled start.

Frias, who was officially optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, started Wednesday for Oklahoma City, pitched one shutout inning and then took his leave. Mattingly told reporters after the Dodgers’ victory in Philadelphia last night that Frias “felt something” and was removed as a precaution, then added today that Frias was undergoing further tests.

Joe Wieland ended up pitching five innings in relief, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out five.

Two other recent Dodger starting pitchers have resumed work for Oklahoma City. Zach Lee allowed one earned run in seven innings (striking out three) August 2, and Brandon Beachy — who was accepted an assignment to Triple-A after clearing waivers — allowed five earned runs in six innings August 3.

Now, on with our tour of the Dodger minor leagues …

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In case you missed it: On the off day

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By Jon Weisman

Good day, everyone. I’ve got a long buildup of links to share, and today’s off day provides the opportunity.

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Carlos Frias placed on disabled list, Daniel Coulombe recalled for fifth time

By Jon Weisman

As was suspected, Carlos Frias has been placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to July 1) with lower back tightness, and Daniel Coulombe has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City for the fifth time since May 4.

From May 30 to June 9, Frias averaged nearly seven innings over his three starts, with a 1.77 ERA, though he allowed 29 baserunners against nine strikeouts. In four starts since, he has barely averaged five innings, with a 5.66 ERA (36 baserunners/12 strikeouts).

Juan Nicasio, who made one spot start this year for the Dodgers, last pitched June 30, throwing 29 pitches that night. The Dodgers haven’t announced whether they will call up a pitcher to take Frias’ start Monday, but that seems to be likely rather than going with a bullpen game.

With the Dodgers this year, Coulombe has appeared in four games and allowed runs all four times. He has pitched shutout ball in his last three outings at Oklahoma City, with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Coulombe’s 2015 itinerary:

  • March 24: Optioned to Oklahoma City
  • May 4: Recalled from Oklahoma City
  • May 6: Optioned to Oklahoma City
  • May 14: Recalled from Oklahoma City
  • May 15: Optioned to Oklahoma City
  • June 2: Recalled from Oklahoma City
  • June 5: Optioned to Oklahoma City
  • June 18: Recalled from Oklahoma City
  • June 22: Optioned to Oklahoma City
  • July 5: Recalled from Oklahoma City

Carlos Frias in doubt for Monday

Mets at Dodgers, 4:15 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Yasiel Puig, RF
Andre Ethier, LF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Zack Greinke, P

By Jon Weisman

While Zack Greinke and Mike Bolsinger are set to go in this weekend’s remaining games against the Mets, Carlos Frias’ start Monday against Philadelphia is uncertain.

From Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:

Frias has been dealing with lower back stiffness in his past two starts, lasting only five innings in both. Mattingly described the pain to be on the side of his lower back.

“Everything came out totally clean as far as structural problems, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still feeling something,” Mattingly said.

If Frias is unable to go Monday, Ian Thomas could be a fill-in, although Mattingly said that there have been no definite plans made as far as a potential replacement.

In the meantime, we’ve got Greinke vs. Matt Harvey tonight, followed by music and fireworks. Enjoy.

Starting rotation likely to shift in second half

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Arizona Diamondbacks

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m.
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Justin Turner, 3B
Yasiel Puig, RF
Scott Van Slyke, 1B
Alex Guerrero, LF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

With neither Mike Bolsinger nor Carlos Frias having reached six innings in a game since June 8-9, the Dodgers are prepared to separate them in the starting rotation so that the innings don’t pile up on the bullpen, Don Mattingly told reporters today.

The split wouldn’t happen until after the All-Star Break, Mattingly said, adding that Frias, who was reportedly suffering from back tightness during his 98-pitch, five-inning outing Tuesday, is expected to make his next start. Either Frias or Bolsinger would go in between Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

After the All-Star Break is also when the Dodgers could be close to bringing Brandon Beachy into the starting rotation. Beachy, who is taking the mound for Oklahoma City in a rehab start as I write this, could have his rehab process complete by then. Entering tonight’s game, he had allowed one run on three hits and four walks in six Triple-A innings, with five strikeouts.

Each Dodger starting pitcher after tonight has two starts left before the break. That would set up Kershaw to take the first start of the second half (July 17 at Washington). Moving the No. 4 or 5 starter after Kershaw would put Greinke in the July 19 game. Of course, with Greinke a lock to get an All-Star invite and Kershaw a strong candidate, the Midsummer Classic would factor into any planning.

Relief pitcher Brandon League has completed his rehab and will come to Los Angeles, where a decision will be made on how he fits in, according to Mattingly.

The daymares of Carlos Frias

Carlos Frias xxx. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Carlos Frias allowed more earned runs in his fifth daytime start than in all the night starts of his career. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Dodgers at Cubs, 11:20 a.m.
Kiké Hernandez, CF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Justin Turner, 1B
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Alex Guerrero, LF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Carlos Frias, P

By Jon Weisman

The grand ol’ game of baseball has been primarily a night sport for decades and decades now — even Wrigley Field has been playing ‘neath the lights (when they’re working) for almost 30 years.

In his short MLB career, Carlos Frias has somehow defied that trend. The 25-year-old righty is making his 13th big-league start today — and his seventh in the sunshine.

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Jansen, Puig and more under-the-radar developments

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Los Angeles Dodgers

For more images from Tuesday, visit LA Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

Howie Kendrick’s home run and two-run single in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory Tuesday over Arizona practically speak for themselves, so here are some thoughts on some other Dodgers …

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In case you missed it: Grandal denies W for acha

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By Jon Weisman

On Saturday in St. Louis, Michael Wacha carried a shutout (OK, a no-hitter) into the seventh (OK, the sixth) inning, then gave up a couple of hits and a huge home run. Sound familiar, anyone?

Sure, the stakes were different in the Dodgers’ 5-1 victory than Game 4 of the National League Division Series, but otherwise it was something of a mirror image of Clayton Kershaw’s final October downfall.

Judging by what he told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny left Wacha in the game mainly to try to get him the “W” next to his name in the boxscore.

“You’ve got that situation there with an opportunity to pitch (Gonzalez) tough, fouled off a lot of pitches and that did, no question, wear him down pretty good,” Matheny said. “At that point we’ve got to try and keep him in that game. Try and get our offense back out there and get him a win. The ball jumped for Grandal and that was the big game-changer.

“If it’s a 1-1 game, it’s Michael’s game.”

Said Yasmani Grandal, who blasted the three-run shot off Wacha, to David Cobb of MLB.com: “It just so happened that [Wacha] made a mistake, probably the only mistake he made all night, and I was able to capitalize on it.”

MLB’s Statcast took a look at Grandal’s tiebreaking homer Saturday and noted that Grandal “has an average exit velocity of 94.5 mph on balls Statcast™ has tracked, which leads all catchers.”

Grandal’s .492 on-base percentage in May is the second-best mark in the National League this month behind Bryce Harper, according to the Dodgers’ PR department, and he is  third in slugging percentage (.698), behind Harper (.905) and Paul Goldschmidt (.720).

Grandal also provided benefits behind the plate for the Dodgers on Saturday. Grandal told Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles that starting pitcher Carlos Frias was trying to do too much too soon in his fruitless start a week ago against San Diego.

… “He wanted to use all four of his pitches from the beginning for some reason and I thought we could go with one or two pitches for the first three or four innings and all of a sudden mix in those other two,” Grandal said.

Frias talked about his trust with Grandal, saying he never shook him off Saturday. He was perfectly happy to cede the game plan to his catcher.

“If he’s thinking, he’s probably not doing his job right,” Grandal said. …

Despite an error by Howie Kendrick on his first batter and loading the bases before getting an out, Frias went seven innings and allowed only one run, unearned.

“Last time he was all over the place,” Don Mattingly told Cobb. “Tonight, he seemed to be hitting his spots. He used his slider some. As the game went on, he started using his curveball. That’s the key.”

Here are some more notes from the weekend …

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In case you missed it: Catch a falling star

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For photos from Sunday, visit LA Photog Blog.

Braves at Dodgers, 5:10 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Justin Turner, 3B
Andre Ethier, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Brett Anderson, P

By Jon Weisman

Boy, that Bobby Crosby is something. He is more coordinated with a baseball flying at blazing speed toward him than I am at … anything.

See above for his latest cameraball feat, and see the bottom of this post for our May 2014 Dodger Insider magazine profile on him.

  • Carlos Frias matched the worst start in Dodger history Sunday by allowing 10 runs, but it’s not even the worst start in the Majors this weekend. Today, Kansas City righty Jeremy Guthrie allowed 11 runs while getting only three batters out.
  • Frias’ game score of -4 was the worst in Los Angeles Dodger history and the worst in the franchise since Johnny Babich’s record -21, when he gave up 13 runs on 16 hits and two walks with one strikeout almost exactly 80 years ago, on June 23, 1935.
  • In his 61-inning MLB career, Frias has allowed 39 runs — 18 of those runs in the 4 2/3 combined innings of his starts Sunday against San Diego and September 17 in Colorado. In his remaining 56 1/3 innings, Frias has allowed 21 runs.
  • Brett Anderson has not only been rained on in three straight starts, he has drawn a base on balls while batting as well, notes Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.
  • Yasmani Grandal will play designated hitter for Triple-A Oklahoma City this week, ahead of his expected reactivation by the Dodgers on Saturday.
  • Brandons Beachy and League are headed for Camelback Ranch later this week for the next step of their respective journeys back to action, with minor-league rehabilitation assignments apparently on the horizon for June.
  • Erik Bedard took the mound in a game for the first time since Spring Training, starting for single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Crosby

In case you missed it: New stat places A.J. Ellis No. 1 in game-calling

San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers

For more photos from Friday, visit LA Photog Blog.

By Jon Weisman

Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis — who was thrust into action midway through Friday’s 2-1 victory over San Diego after Yasmani Grandal was injured — has taken some grief in recent times for not being a strong pitch framer. However, according to a report by Harry Pavlidis for ESPN.com, Ellis ranks No. 1 in Major League Baseball in a new statistic measuring game calling: game-calling runs above average (GCAA).

Here’s a fun task: Try quantifying something as ephemeral as game-calling. Well, after a decade of research, that’s just what we’ve managed to do — by crafting a statistical model that attempts to quantify the value of everything from stolen-base prevention and directing pace of play to identifying hitter tendencies like swing behavior in various game situations and knowing which batters expand hit zones in RBI opportunities. Sound complicated? Oh, it is. But based on these factors, and controlling for others, we can now quantify, in runs saved, how well catchers manage their pitchers. …

… Ellis is the best game caller in the business, and now we can actually prove it. His game-calling alone saved the Dodgers 38 runs from 2012 to 2014, though he gave back 19 of those runs with everything else he did behind the plate (see below). Does it hurt to be Ellis? At times, perhaps. But at least now, when that ninth foul tip slaps his once-unheralded (but now-appreciated) inner thigh, it might not sting quite so much.

There’s not a whole lot of detail in describing the methodology behind GCAA, so we’ll see how it stands up to scrutiny. Update: On his Twitter feed, Pavlidis has been adding to the discussion.

Grandal, meanwhile, is uncertain for tonight’s game after being hit in the face in consecutive innings Friday by Yangervis Solarte’s bat and a Matt Kemp foul ball. Triple-A catcher Austin Barnes was removed midway through Oklahoma City’s game Friday in case he needs to be called up. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com has more details.

In other developments …

  • Hyun-Jin Ryu spoke to reporters post-surgery Friday, and revealed that there was knowledge about his labrum tear two years and 344 innings of 3.17 ERA ago. ” Ryu, his left arm in a sling during a Dodger Stadium news conference, said he was always able to pitch with it and figured he’d be able to again after it flared up in Spring Training,” wrote Gurnick.
  • Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford are not much closer to returning to the Dodger outfield, Don Mattingly told reporters Friday. Puig, who has an .845 OPS in 50 plate appearances, has felt tightness trying to even jog.
  • Double-A Tulsa righty pitcher (and converted outfielder) Blake Smith was traded by the Dodgers to the White Sox for right-handed pitcher Eric Surkamp. Both are 27 years old. In 53 2/3 career MLB innings, Surkamp has a 6.20 ERA with 33 strikeouts against 98 baserunners. For Triple-A Charlotte this year, Surkamp has a 2.81 ERA with 30 strikeouts against 28 baserunners in 25 2/3 innings.
  • Carlos Frias’ ongoing adjustments are the subject of Daniel Brim’s piece on Carlos Frias today at Dodgers Digest.
  • The Dodgers’ offensive scoreless-inning streak ended at a record-tying 35 innings with Andre Ethier’s RBI double in the fifth, though they didn’t score an earned run until Joc Pederson’s game-winning homer three innings later.
  • Chris Hatcher, who threw 1/105th of the pitches that Zack Greinke threw, was credited with his first career Dodger victory.
  • Kenley Jansen struck out two in his perfect ninth inning. His K/9 dropped to 21.0.
  • Pederson has struck out four times in his past 39 plate appearances (10.3 percent). Prior to that in 2015, he had struck out 43 times in 127 plate appearances (33.9 percent).

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In case you missed it: Turner’s transformation

Justin Turner has a .918 OPS in 383 plate appearances as a Dodger. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Justin Turner has a .918 OPS in 383 plate appearances as a Dodger. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

For images from Tuesday, visit LA Photog Blog.

Marlins at Dodgers, 4:50 p.m.
Joc Pederson, CF
Justin Turner, 3B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Alex Guerrero, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andre Ethier, RF
Kiké Hernandez, SS
Carlos Frias, P

By Jon Weisman

When you’re 22-10 overall and have won 25 of your past 29 home games, you tend to generate a lot of stories. Here are a few …

  • Justin Turner reinvented himself as a hitter after former Mets teammate Marlon Byrd suggested he reverse his past approach and “move his contact point more out in front,” Turner tells Eno Sarris of Fangraphs.
  • Clayton Kershaw talked to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports about luck and execution. Not surprisingly, Kershaw believes his problem has been the latter.
  • We’ve talked already about how powerful the Dodger offense has been relative to franchise history. Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs does the work to show that in MLB history, the team is on pace to do something unprecedented.

    …The Dodgers, without their pitchers, stand with a wRC+ of 142. The Royals are still in second, at 116. A few things about this. First, the highest team wRC+ marks since 1950, leaving pitchers out:

    FG chart

    It’s the Dodgers, and it’s the Dodgers by a landslide. The Dodgers, obviously, have played only a partial season. The Dodgers, probably obviously, won’t finish this season as high as 142. They’ll come back to the pack, and I have to imagine the probability is they won’t be No. 1 on this list come season’s end. But, who’s to say? What’s happened is what’s happened, and it hasn’t all been a fluke. And besides, this isn’t a projection post. This is a post intended to review what has taken place. The Dodgers have basically hit like a lineup full of All-Stars. Not uncommon to see for a few games in a row. Far less common to see for several weeks.

  • Thirty years ago today, in the midst of an American League MVP season, Don Mattingly capped a Yankee comeback from an 8-1 deficit with a three-run walkoff homer in the ninth inning, as Chris Landers recollects at Cut4.
  • Carson Cistulli of Fangraphs on today’s starter, Carlos Frias:

    … Frias, a relative unknown before joining the Dodgers bullpen last year — and still something other than a household name — has recorded both an expected FIP and average fastball velocity both more than 1.5 standard deviations better than the respective means produced by the league’s starters. He also throws strikes at a rate roughly one standard deviation better than those same starters. What this particular game represents is an opportunity to observe Frias en route to excellence. It is, in short, an emergent need that requires the attention of the reader …

Puig, Peralta head to DL, while McCarthy awaits MRI

Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres

For more images from Saturday, visit LA Photog Blog — here and here.

Dodgers at Padres, 1:10 p.m.
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Andre Ethier, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Justin Turner, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Alex Guerrero, 3B
Joc Pederson, CF
Scott Baker, P

By Jon Weisman

There’s not likely to be any update until at least Monday on the condition of Brandon McCarthy, who reported elbow tightness during his five-inning outing Saturday, after he undergoes an MRI.

But two other Dodgers have been placed on the 15-day disabled list today: Yasiel Puig (for the first time in his career) and Joel Peralta. Coming from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take their roster spots are pitchers Carlos Frias and Scott Baker. The latter, as previously discussed, is starting today’s game.

Brandon League will move to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Baker on the 40-man roster.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego PadresAs for today’s starting lineup, Howie Kendrick — who had played every inning this season — will begin today on the bench alongside Juan Uribe and the injured Yasiel Puig.

Yasmani Grandal, who is 4 for 7 with two walks and two doubles (1.524 OPS) in this series, is batting cleanup. Grandal is fifth among NL catchers in WAR.

Justin Turner, who is starting in the No. 5 slot of the batting order for the second time as a Dodger, has reached base eight times this season — four of those a week ago today.

Carlos Frias recalled, David Huff designated for assignment

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Arizona Diamondbacks

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers made a triangle of roster moves today, designating Tuesday starter David Huff for assignment, recalling Carlos Frias from Triple-A Oklahoma City and claiming lefty reliever Ryan Dennick from the Reds for Double-A Tulsa.

Huff had no options, so he couldn’t be sent back to the minor leagues. If he clears waivers, he could potentially rejoin the organization.

Knowing that Juan Nicasio would be needed for extended work behind Huff on Tuesday, the Dodgers planned the addition of Frias, who pitched 5 1/3 innings for Oklahoma City on April 8, as a long reliever. Frias could start for the Dodgers on April 25, the next time they’re scheduled to need a fifth starter, but the team hasn’t committed to that.

Dennick, who turned 28 in January, had a 2.36 ERA for Triple-A Louisville last season with 39 strikeouts against 61 baserunners in 49 2/3 innings. He also surrendered six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings while making his MLB debut for the Reds in September.

Dodgers send five starting pitchers to minors

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A’s at Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Justin Turner, 1B
Darwin Barney, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, DH
Juan Uribe, 3B
Andre Ethier, LF
Scott Van Slyke, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kike Hernandez, 2B
(Zack Greinke, P)

By Jon Weisman

Five pitchers who all figure to start games at some point for Triple-A Oklahoma City — Zach Lee, Chris Reed, Mike Bolsinger, Joe Wieland and Carlos Frias — were optioned to minor-league camp before today’s game.

Erik Bedard, Chad Gaudin and David Huff are among the potential minor-league starters or swingmen that remain with the big-league club for now.

Outfield competition front in center as Cactus League opens

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Chicago White Sox v Los Angeles DodgersBy Jon Weisman

On the first day of Cactus League play, Joc Pederson had two hits while playing designated hitter. Andre Ethier struck out twice while playing center field, but he probably wouldn’t have minded that much if he had made a diving catch at the warning track.

Well, there’s always the next game.

“Just a tough play,” Ethier told Phil Rogers of MLB.com. “It’s one where you have to make a break on it, try to keep an eye on the ball the best you can, not lose it. I got there, just didn’t bring it in.”

Said Don Mattingly: “As we get into spring, he catches that ball all day long.”

Despite losing to the White Sox, 6-4, it was a pretty eventful day in general for the Dodgers. Most of the action came after the starters were pulled …

  • O’Koyea Dickson hit the Dodgers’ first homer of the exhibition season, turning on a ball at his knees and pulling it over the wall in left.
  • Alex Guerrero had two hits off the bench, playing third base.
  • Corey Seager and Darnell Sweeney each singled and walked.
  • Jimmy Rollins went 1 for 2, but fellow newcomers Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes each went 0 for 2.
  • Juan Nicasio was the domino that fell over after Ethier’s near-miss, allowing three runs in the third inning.
  • Carlos Frias allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, but struck out five. Batting average on balls in play: .750.
  • Sergio Santos, Adam Liberatore and Josh Ravin each pitched a perfect inning. Liberatore struck out two.
  • The Dodgers had the tying runs on base with none out in the ninth after singles by Sweeney, Guerrero and Seager scored their fourth run, but Kyle Jensen flied out, Kiké Hernandez struck out and Scott Schebler grounded out.

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