For better or for worse, the Dodgers offense has basically followed Matt Kemp’s lead since 2010. Following a breakout 2009 and the departure of Manny Ramirez, Kemp slumped miserably in 2010 and the team’s offense followed suit. He then single-handedly buoyed a terrible lineup in 2011, and he was well on his way towards doing the same in 2012 before ... Read More »
Yesterday, Don Mattingly had what I call a “Wu-Tang moment”, inspired by the “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong” skit on Chappelle’s Show. Humorous? Yes, but what it mean to me is that Mattingly basically dropped all the fronts and simply went in on the Dodgers players and front office in surprisingly pointed comments. “We’re in last place in the ... Read More »
So you’ve heard a lot about Don Mattingly and his job security recently — hell, I just wrote about it — but this article from Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports spread around yesterday, and it touched on all the common refrains you’ve been hearing, including harping on the team’s hitting with RISP. They wonder why the players don’t spend more ... Read More »
The discontent with the Dodgers was loud and clear after yesterday’s loss, and for good reason. The team is last in the NL West, have the sixth-worst record in the MLB, and are tied for the fourth-worst run differential in baseball. It’s a horrible time to be the manager of the Dodgers right now, and we all know it, including ... Read More »
Seemingly out of nowhere, Dodgers third baseman/shortstop Luis Cruz has bone spurs in his throwing elbow. Dodgers infielder Luis Cruz said he was available to play Sunday after being unavailable Saturday night because of a bone spur flare-up in his right elbow. Cruz said he has three spurs in his throwing elbow, and they occasionally pinch a nerve. “Since I ... Read More »
The Dodgers handed Brandon League a three-year contract and the closer’s role heading into the 2013 season, but his predictable fall from temporary grace in the role has led to continued questions about his viability as the closer, especially with Kenley Jansen waiting in the wings. It’s easy to see why questions are being asked, as any comparison between the ... Read More »
After giving up back-to-back bloop singles to put runners on first and third to start the top of the eighth inning, Kenley Jansen managed to wriggle out of trouble without allowing a run and blowing the lead. Here’s how: That series of plate appearances set-up the Dodgers for the win, thus getting Zack Greinke a victory in his return from ... Read More »
Hyun Jin Ryu was captured playing catch with a boy, only known to me as “Deuce”, in the stands during batting practice. After Matt Kemp made headlines everywhere for being a great guy, something he’s done before, Ryu once again brings positive headlines to the Dodgers for off-the-field reasons. In what has been a horrible 2013 thus far for the ... Read More »
In six short days with the team in 2013, Dee Gordon has already showcased everything that once made him a top prospect and everything that made him one of the worst players in the MLB last year. It’s a tiny sample, yet he’s managed to fit in so much amazement and failure that his performance has been noteworthy, regardless. In ... Read More »
Mike Scioscia‘s job with the Angels is in jeopardy due to their slow start, much like people seem to think Don Mattingly‘s job is. Ken Rosenthal throws gas on both fires by suggesting that the Angels deal Scioscia to the Dodgers. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com believes Angels manager Mike Scioscia needs a fresh start and proposes the Dodgers as the ... Read More »
Zack Greinke appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from a broken collarbone. The original diagnosis after the surgery was for Greinke to return to pitching for the Dodgers in eight weeks after the Apr. 13 procedure, which would put him in line for a return around June 8. But given that Greinke is already throwing bullpen sessions, ... Read More »
Yasiel Puig, in addition to being shelved on the DL, has now been arrested in Chattanooga. Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig was arrested Sunday morning and charged with speeding, reckless driving and driving without proof of insurance. Puig was arrested by police in Chattanooga, Tenn., and spent a short time in the Hamilton County jail before he was released. Puig has ... Read More »
Luis Cruz has been … not-so-good in 2013. Okay, he’s been absolutely atrocious. Just terrible. Mike Petriello at Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness has gone through all the statistical hoops to show exactly how bad Cruz has been in 2013 (go read it, even I didn’t realize how terrible he’s been). Hint: It’s bad. 2013 lowest wOBA, min 50 PA 5. ... Read More »
Tom Garfinkel, President and CEO of the Padres, spoke with season-ticket holders about the Zack Greinke/Carlos Quentin brawl, and he placed the blame on Greinke for the incident. While somewhat deluded, it’s not all that surprising. However, also included on the tape that Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports acquired is audio of him essentially mocking Greinke (who has social anxiety ... Read More »
MLB doesn’t want to see things get ugly between the Dodgers and the Padres on Monday, and Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the league will try to make their ruling on the matter by the time the series rolls around. Major League Baseball is speeding up Carlos Quentin’s appeal of his eight-game suspension — a suspension ... Read More »
Chad Moriyama Dodgers, Sabermetrics, Scouting
