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 time with hitting coach Mark McGwire, why they don’t play as hard as their opponents, why they continue to lose games in the little gray areas where good teams thrive. That is, why they don’t catch the ball as well as others, why they don’t toughen and produce with runners in scoring position, why they don’t finish hitters from the mound. These are supposed to be good players, right?

Is it Mattingly? Has this group of players gone soft under Mattingly, whose leadership method allows men to be men, and perhaps thins when the men refuse to live to that minimum standard?

So basically a compilation of complaints that I assume were gathered from fan rants on MLB.com and ESPN.com comments. Swell.

But besides the fact that basically every single Dodgers blogger has written a more complete and well-reasoned piece on Mattingly and his status, the consistent thing that always comes up from the mainstream media is the Dodgers’ ability (or inability) to hit with RISP.

Yes, the bullpen has been a mess lately. Yes, this here’s a team sport, and the Dodgers don’t look like a team that’s all that desperate to win. Still, Kemp and Ethier were a combined 15 for 81 with runners in scoring position going into the Milwaukee series, and just one of those 15 hits was for extra bases.

Standard stuff.

But the amusing thing about that type of narrative? Matt Kemp has actually been clutch on the season, and the Dodgers have been one of the most clutch teams in baseball over the past month.

Don’t believe me? I don’t blame you.

You’ve heard a lot about the Dodgers struggles with RISP because it’s everywhere: stories before the game, tweets during the game, stories after the game. And while the facts of the matter aren’t wrong in this case, the problem is that the statistic itself doesn’t account for their skill/performance outside of that specific situation.

In other words, put a regular fan at the plate with RISP and they will OPS .000, but it doesn’t mean they’re unclutch, it just means that they suck. That’s where the stat ‘Clutch’ comes into play, as it accounts for overall performance versus performance in clutch situations.

On the season, the Dodgers have done as poorly as you probably expected, checking in at 23rd in the MLB this year in Clutch, behind the Astros.

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So that appears to fit the narrative.

However, in the past 30 days, they’re fifth in the MLB in being so so so clutchy clutchy clutch.

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So if you wanted to fill in a narrative for this reality, you could. For example, “The Dodgers have been feeling the pressure mounting due to their terrible start to the year, but they are heroically responding under duress to fight for the manager they love dearly”, or some utter garbage like that.

As you probably figured out by now, though, creating an equally dumb counter-narrative isn’t my goal. Besides, the Dodgers still aren’t scoring more runs despite recently coming through when it matters, which is primarily due to that ‘WPA’ column barely being positive. Simply put, the Dodgers still aren’t able to put bodies across the plate because they still generally suck at hitting. The team didn’t suddenly become more clutch in the last 30 days, nor were they less clutch to start the season. Clutch is a statistic that fluctuates constantly because it’s not necessarily indicative of a skill, and the exact same caveat applies for hitting with RISP, as the team has a .296 BABIP overall, but a .263 BABIP with RISP.

Look, there’s always an ebb and flow to these situational numbers, so at the end of the day, the only thing you actually can rely on is the overall talent of hitters. The Dodgers struggles in the clutch or with RISP or whatever else are a result of a team that is simply struggling to hit in 2013, and it’s certainly not indicative of a squad that needs leadership or fire or whatever other garbage people are printing nowadays.

The painful reality is that there’s no Clutch or RISP coaching to be done, really. The players simply need to perform in the batter’s box, clutch situations or otherwise. Unfortunately, like most things, it’s easier said than done.

The news of Clayton Kershaw‘s allegedly imminent extension with the Dodgers was broken recently by Mike Petriello, and since then, reporters have chimed in, all confirming the existence of talks.

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Jon Heyman confirmed the negotiations and mentioned that Opening Day was not a hard deadline despite what Kershaw has previously said to have preferred.

Star left-hander Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers are quietly talking about a multiyear deal, people familiar with the situation say.

While the sides officially aren’t speaking publicly about it, based on how the new Dodgers ownership team has acted and the value it places on big-time players, it’s hard to imagine the Dodgers not locking up Kershaw at some point. Opening day isn’t necessarily a hard deadline, though Giants star Buster Posey and Tigers star Justin Verlander treated it as one before making their big deals, for $167 million and $180 million, respectively.

Tim Brown confirmed the talks but says a Dodger official shot down the report, though Kershaw himself seemed to tease that something was in the works.

Nudged again, asked if an agreement could be reached by Monday, Kershaw grinned accommodatingly and said, “Never know.” All lilting at the end, like “stay tuned” or “miracles happen,” one of the two.

Regardless, this ends well for Kershaw. It probably ends well for the Dodgers. An Internet report Friday said the two were nearing agreement on an eight-year, $200 million extension. The Dodgers have not been of the mood to comment either way, though one official shook his head gravely at the report.

Negotiations proceed. As of Friday afternoon, there was nothing. A lot could change in a day, two, almost three. Presumably, if there is a handshake, it will be to seal something in the range of eight years, and something in the neighborhood of $200 million. That would appear to be where the market is headed.

Given that the official Dodgers executive position on the matter is that rule number one about the Kershaw contract negotiations is that there is no Kershaw contract negotiations, it doesn’t shock me that a random Dodgers official refused to confirm a deal.

Locally, Bill Shaikin also confirmed that negotiations are taking place.

People familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Friday that the Dodgers were having contract conversations with former National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

Perhaps most promising, though, were tweets by Ramona Shelburne, who yesterday after the game described the extension as “imminent” and that word around the clubhouse was the deal would “get done”.

So for everybody asking about it and worrying about it because Kershaw’s preferred deadline has already passed, I would advise you to calm down, because all indications seem to point to a deal being finished sometime soon.

After expected rumors of the Dodgers and Hyun Jin Ryu’s agent Scott Boras being far apart, the two sides eventually agreed to a contract worth $36 million over a six-year span, according to Jon Heyman. As far as incentives go, Ryu can earn up to $1 million per year based on innings pitched and can increase his base salary (via Dylan Hernandez) if he does well in the Cy Young Award voting. Additionally, Tim Brown reports that if he throws 750 innings over his first five years, he can opt out of the deal. The Dodgers won the rights to negotiate with Ryu for $25.7 million via the posting system, and that money will now be sent to the Hanwha Eagles.

We’ve gone over this on the site previously, but reports on Ryu’s potential range from a middle of the rotation starter to a middle reliever, but most agree he has the talent to slot in around #3/#4 in a rotation. Granted, he hails from the KBO and has no MLB track record, so he’s riskier than those on the free-agent market, but given the current market and the Dodgers payroll, it seems to be an acceptable risk to take for an investment that totals a little over $10 million annually to lock up all of his prime years.

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As for the state of the rotation, this now means that, in addition to Ryu, the Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett, Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano, and Ted Lilly in the stable. Furthermore, rumor has it that the team isn’t done yet and would still like to acquire another starter.

The acquisition of yet another starter would leave Ryu potentially questionable to enter the rotation right off the bat, especially if Billingsley is healthy and they can’t find trade partners for both Capuano and Harang. Still, that’s an awful good problem for the Dodgers to have, and given Billingsley’s questionable health, the stockpiling of starters is obviously by design as well. Regardless of where Ryu starts off the season though, he should slot into the back of the Dodgers rotation at some point if he’s as good as most expect him to be.

The Rangers are favorites to land Zack Greinke, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register.

For what it’s worth, I was told today the #Rangers are the favorites for Greinke. It could all just be posturing now. Wait and see.

That goes against what Jim Bowden of ESPN said though.

Los Angeles Dodgers are considered the front runner for Zack Greinke according to source with knowledge of the negotiations…. but NOT over

Of course, while Bowden is a former GM, he doesn’t come off as much of a reporter, and all the hype about Greinke to the Dodgers does seem a bit trumped up out of nowhere.

As I’ve stated before though, to any Dodger fan, he has to be the top choice of the off-season.

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Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports that Brian Wilson‘s first choice after the Giants is … the Dodgers.

Hearing Brian Wilson’s first choice to pitch in 2012 — outside of SF — is for the Dodgers. He lives in LA during offseason.

Rather than do any analysis of this, I’m just going to say that this would be a nightmare.

I don’t care if it’s a good price or not, just … ugh. No.

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Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles reports that the Dodgers have interest in Kyle Lohse.

Source: Dodgers showing interest in Kyle Lohse

I’d take this with a grain of salt since there’s no support for it elsewhere and because he also said Hiroki Kuroda was going somewhere in Los Angeles and that the Dodgers approached Torii Hunter with a two-year deal.

Needless to say, if the Dodgers payroll is what it’s rumored to be, this would be an utterly confusing signing.

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports says the Dodgers have traded Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin to the Phillies for Shane Victorino.

Phillies have traded Victorino to Dodgers for Lindblom and Ethan martin

— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) July 31, 2012

I’ll have analysis up later, but in the mean time, here’s Shane Victorino’s best contributions to baseball!

The trade deadline is now less than 48 hours away and the Dodgers are still looking for another bat and an upgrade to their rotation.

An additional bat should be the priority, but the Dodgers seem intent on securing an arm instead.

Either way, what are the rumors today?

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Remember that Ryan Dempster thing? Well, it’s still going on.

The Cubs and Dodgers are still discussing righty Ryan Dempster, tweets Yahoo’s Tim Brown. Left fielder Alfonso Soriano remains part of these trade talks, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Dodgers are said to be Dempster’s first choice, and he controls the process with 10-and-5 rights.

I think a package deal of Dempster and Alfonso Soriano is the most likely move the Dodgers make before the deadline.

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Jayson Stark of ESPN has the Dodgers in active pursuit of Josh Johnson.

Clubs identify the Dodgers, Orioles and Blue Jays as other aggressive suitors for Johnson while the White Sox, Red Sox, Braves, and Royals have checked in.

Still don’t think they could form an appealing package for him even if they wanted to.

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Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times says the team is chasing James Shields as well.

The Braves, Dodgers, Indians and Rangers are the teams most interested in Shields, who, along with Miami’s Josh Johnson, are two of the most prominent starters being talked about in advance of Tuesday’s deadline for nonwaiver deals.

Not entirely sure how much of an upgrade he actually is at this point.

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Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly puts the Dodgers on Shane Victorino.

Multiple baseball sources indicated on Saturday that the Phils’ talks involving Victorino were getting warm. The Reds, Pirates, Dodgers and Giants all have interest in Victorino, and scouts from those clubs have peeked in on the Phillies lately. The Dodgers have two scouts eye-balling the Phillies in Atlanta, and the Reds also have a scout in town for the Phils-Braves series. The Reds also like outfielder Juan Pierre.

Please no.

Moving on to actual potential upgrades, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports says the Dodgers would like to get Shin Soo Choo, but Buster Olney of ESPN plays Johnny Raincloud and says it would take a ton for the Indians to move him.

Count the Dodgers among teams interested in Choo.

— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) July 30, 2012

Indians think it’s unlikely they’ll move Shin-Soo Choo. They’d need the perfect offer to make it happen.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 30, 2012

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the Dodgers have interest in Justin Morneau.

At least the Dodgers, Blue Jays and Giants appear to have some interest in Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who is making a nice comeback this year.

Despite all the rumors, it doesn’t appear as if anything is imminent. The Dempster/Soriano deal is closest to being done, but most of the other rumors have the Dodgers just interested for now.

With that said, I doubt the Dodgers are done for 2012 in the trade market, so I anticipate things escalating quickly.

Hanley Ramirez‘s agent Adam Katz told Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports that his client is thrilled:

Hanley agent Adam Katz:”If he was going to be moved then this was his first choice. He can’t wait to get here, compete, do what’s asked.”

— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) July 25, 2012

Well, at least the most important guy likes the trade.

Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness: Mike Petriello likes the deal for the Dodgers.

So for the price of a decent pitching prospect, a low-level minor leaguer, and giving Miami salary relief, the Dodgers have filled two huge holes. If Ramirez doesn’t get his mojo back, then this is probably a win/win for both sides, since even a lessened Ramirez is superior to Uribe and Miami gets Eovaldi and out from Ramirez’ salary. If Hanley rebounds to be something like what he was before – and at 28, there’s still time for him to do so – then this becomes a massive steal for the Dodgers.

It’ll be a while before we know how this turns out, because it could be years until we see what Eovaldi really turns into. Today, on the morning of the deal, I can at least say something I don’t really get to say too often around here: good job, Ned. This isn’t a slam dunk deal, but with everything considered, it is one that is absolutely worth making.

Feelin’ Kinda Blue: Chad Moriyama‘s own Dustin Nosler loves the trade.

So, the Dodgers gave up a couple talented arms for a former and potential superstar (seems weird to write that). The Dodgers were able to use their best asset — deep pockets — to make this deal happen. It seemed the Dodgers weren’t going to be able to swing a deal or acquire a decent player without giving up Zach Lee. However, they found middle ground with the Marlins and were able to absorb all the money, allowing them to acquire Ramirez.

And by moving Eovaldi, the Dodgers are almost a lock to trade for a starting pitcher (*cough* Ryan Dempster *cough*) before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

I absolutely love this deal and I still can’t believe it happened. I wish Eovaldi and McGough all the luck in the world, but the Dodgers got the better end of this deal.

Marlins Daily: Dave Gershman doesn’t think the Dodgers package was worth Hanley Ramirez.

A weird start to the day here on the East Coast, and who knows, it could get weirder if the Marlins continue unloaded pieces whom they don’t see as part of their future plans. For now this one deserves to soak in. Eovaldi is a guy with hard stuff which includes an explosive fastball, something of a potential #2 or #3, I’d say, but I don’t think he’s worth Hanley Ramirez.

FanGraphs: Jack Moore points out that the Dodgers needed to improve and they did.

This Hanley Ramirez is no longer a superstar, but he fills the holes of the Los Angeles Dodgers nearly perfectly. If the Dodgers are going to make a run at the playoffs, they need contributions from the left side of their infield, and Ramirez makes that a possibility again.

Baseball Prospectus: Colin Wyers, Kevin Goldstein, and R.J. Anderson analyze the pieces in the trade.

If Hanley’s upside is a return to something approaching his All-Star years and his downside is puttering along at around league average, the Dodgers have made a gamble they simply can’t lose. Don Mattingly is going to have his own version of Sophie’s choice to make when Gordon returns: “You can lose Juan Uribe or Dee Gordon from your lineup. Pick one and only one.” But either way, the Dodgers have improved their lineup over what it was yesterday.

Sports Illustrated: Cliff Corcoran offered a rare negative take on the Dodgers side of things.

Ramirez has now hit .245/.328/.405 (.249 GPA) in 776 plate appearances over the last two seasons combined. That is not a $15-million-per-year player. That, plus his poor fielding (by the advanced stats, which are generally in agreement, he grades out as every bit as much of a liability in the field at third base as he was at shortstop), means he is not a player who is going to single-handedly put the Dodgers into the playoffs.

Even the diminished Ramirez will be an upgrade over the production Los Angeles has been getting from the left side of the infield (it’s not yet known where he’ll play for the Dodgers). There’s also the “change of scenery” fantasy. The last imagines that getting away from manager Ozzie Guillen, with whom he butted heads, and from a team on which he was literally pushed aside by a new $106 million bauble named Jose Reyes, who has been no more valuable than Ramirez this season, could give Ramirez a fresh start that would rejuvenate his bat. That, however, is wishful thinking, not sound decision-making.

So Nate Eovaldi is indeed headed to the Dodgers to take the place of Ted Lilly in the rotation.

Either the left shoulder injury that put Dodgers starter Ted Lilly on the disabled list Monday isn’t serious or Lilly doesn’t want to know it’s serious, because no MRI has been taken.

Lilly had a cortisone injection and is taking anti-inflammatory medication for an injury he said he first felt after a winning May 18 start against St. Louis, and again after his first loss of the year last Wednesday in Arizona. The Dodgers have issued the non-specific diagnosis of shoulder inflammation.

Lilly said he hopes to be throwing again by the end of the week.

“If that’s the case, we’re feeling it’s short-term,” said manager Don Mattingly. “He’s had stuff before, and it sounds like something he caught early. In the past he would have thrown another game with it. Hopefully, that’s a good sign for us.”

Shoulder woes are the root cause of Lilly’s trip to the disabled list, and it’s enough of a concern that Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports says the Dodgers have made an offer to Roy Oswalt.

The Dodgers have made an offer to Roy Oswalt. Rangers, Oswalt’s likely preference, still in mix, among other clubs.

— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) May 29, 2012

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Oh yeah, Michael Antonini was with the Dodgers today … for just today.

Speaking of short term, the Dodgers called up left-hander Michael Antonini from Triple-A Albuquerque for a day, then will replace him for Tuesday night’s start with Nathan Eovaldi. Mattingly said Antonini was called up because he’s a true long reliever, a curious observation as the Dodgers haven’t needed one while compiling the best record in baseball.

Sucks.

Moments ago, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports mentioned on Twitter that Matt Kemp and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in “serious discussions” on an 8 year/160 million dollar extension that would lock him up through his age 34 season. Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports later confirmed the story.

Kemp is set to be a free agent after 2012, so he’s close to market value in arbitration already, and any price can be compared with a free agent offer for all intents and purposes. Considering that teams usually pay a premium for elite level talent and that Kemp was worth over 40 million on the field last year, 20 million annually seems to be a bit of a discount. Despite all his talk on Twitter about wanting to remain in Los Angeles, I figured it was just a player talking it up to fans, but it seems as if he does want to stay with the Dodgers, as I think he could easily fetch more money in 2012.

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Of course, there’s always the risk that Kemp fails to live up to 2011, and I think asking for a repeat of that performance would be difficult for anybody, but all he really needs to do is come close and 20 million per for an elite level player will be looked at as a bargain.