I think Don Mattingly is probably the best manager the Dodgers have had since Tommy Lasorda, but his management of yesterday’s game against the Giants exposed what is probably his most glaring weakness. —– In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Dodgers down one run, the team basically hit the lottery by somehow managing to get Juan Rivera ... Read More »
The Dodgers won yesterday’s game against the Braves 7 to 2, but the logistics of how they got that win is the interesting part. The team finished the game with 29 AB, 2 K, and 15 H. That means for balls-in-play, the Dodgers finished 15-for-27 for a team BABIP of .556 on the night. Furthermore, they had only one extra-base ... Read More »
Don Mattingly revealed that James Loney is a swing tinkerer. About the last thing Dodgers manager Don Mattingly wants is Loney doing anything that will change his batting swing, which is Loney’s tendency. For example, after going 3-for-11 during the three-game series in Milwaukee, Loney struck out in his first at-bat in Houston on Friday night and Mattingly immediately noticed ... Read More »
Coming off of a 2009 season full of late-game heroics, 2010 and beyond appeared to hold great promise offensively for Andre Ethier. However, a pinkie injury in ’10 followed by a knee injury last season – along with any existing offensive flaws and limitations that remained – threw a wrench in his plans. Limited to 139 and 135 games over ... Read More »
When you’re a team full of over-the-hill or never-were veterans, a team that is offensively-challenged to the umpteenth degree beyond your dominating center fielder, and a team that has a broke owner, playing your top offensive prospect who doesn’t make a lot of money and has the most upside of any of your left field candidates is the obvious and ... Read More »
Heading into 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have a new face manning the shortstop position. With Rafael Furcal traded away in 2011 and Jamey Carroll off to the Minnesota Twins, Dee Gordon will take the reins and look to utilize his speed, range, and strong arm. One of the team’s top prospects heading into 2011, Gordon got a chance ... Read More »
“A Tale of Two James Loneys” would be a great title for a novella, and it’s also the most apt description of Loney’s 2011 season. Manning first in what was another season of “James Loney will finally hit for power and win a Gold Glove” vs. “James Loney will continue to under-perform, and by God we can do better”, Loney ... Read More »
NFL veteran Jarrad Page, who showed up to the Los Angeles Dodgers open tryout, was signed to a minor league contract by the team over the weekend. Page, 27, played football and baseball at UCLA. He pursued an NFL career and played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006-09, for the New England Patriots in 2010 and for the Philadelphia ... Read More »
Eric Stephen of True Blue LA finds out that A.J. Ellis probably doesn’t think he’ll be hitting second. I asked catcher A.J. Ellis whether or not he could hit second in the lineup, and he joked, “I could be at the top, I could steal some bags.” But Ellis then noted he isn’t really concerned with where he hits in ... Read More »
Tony Jackson of ESPN Los Angeles took a look at the mechanical changes that Chad Billingsley has been making. It is along those lines that Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley is attempting a change to his mechanics this spring. It is a small thing, really, but the hope is that over time, it will make a big difference in Billingsley’s results. ... Read More »
Juan Uribe tells Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times that he’s IN THE BEST SHAPE OF HIS LIFE, YOU GUYS! Juan Uribe’s face brightened when he was told he looked different than he did last year. “Skinnier?” he asked. Uribe said he lost weight over the winter, though he wouldn’t specify how many pounds he dropped. His arms and ... Read More »
Clayton Kershaw is injured! Everybody panic! Dodgers Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw missed his first bullpen session of Spring Training on Wednesday as a precautionary measure due to mild back tightness. Oh, it’s just back tightness. Speaking of injuries, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that Rubby De La Rosa is progressing quickly. Rubby De La Rosa is a pitcher, not ... Read More »
MSTI: Things might not be looking up for Juan Uribe in 2012. MLB Trade Rumors: Ned Colletti would like to extend Andre Ethier. My question? Why is he allowed to work on these deals? —– SB Nation: Jon Bois has one of the better posts I’ve seen addressing Jeremy Lin and racism. Deadspin: Speaking of Jeremy Lin and racism, here’s ... Read More »
Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times wrote yesterday that if the Los Angeles Dodgers are confident that Andre Ethier will return to form, they should extend him before the 2012 season begins. If the Dodgers believe in Andre Ethier, if they are confident he will rebound and have a successful 2012 season, they need to sign him to a ... Read More »
MSTI: Mike Petriello asks how good Matt Kemp‘s contract looks in light of other long term deals. Pretty awesome, I’d say. Grantland: Bill James goes through the best pitcher duels of 2011 and the Dodgers land on the list 10 times. 3. July 20, 2011, Dodgers at San Francisco, Clayton Kershaw against Tim Lincecum 5. September 9, 2011, Dodgers in ... Read More »
Chad Moriyama Dodgers, Sabermetrics, Scouting