Since there has been a glut of injuries to Dodger players this season, I thought this might be a good topic of discussion. So far there have been, and hopefully will not be any career-threatening injuries. May, Rios, Nelson are all out for the year. Early in the season, May and Rios were injured and have already had their surgeries. Nelson still waiting to see how they will handle his.
But in the past, some Dodgers suffered serious injuries in season, or over the course of time that either cut short or severely damaged their ability to perform at a high level. We will start in Brooklyn.
Pete Reiser
Pete came up to the Dodgers in 1940. He was pretty good hitting .293 in 58 games. In 1941, he showed just how good he really was hitting .343 and winning the batting crown. He was an All-Star and finished 2nd in the MVP vote. In 1942, Pete was hitting .350. On July 19th, he crashed face-first into the wall in St. Louis trying to catch what turned out to be a game-winning inside-the-park homer by Enos Slaughter in the bottom of the 11th inning. The loss cut the Dodgers lead over the Cards to 6 games.
Reiser had a serious concussion, but only missed 4 games. He hit only .244 the rest of the way, dropping his average for the season to .310. Brooklyn ended up losing the pennant to St. Louis by 2 games. Reiser left after the season for 3 years in the Army.
Reiser always played all out. He fractured his skull crashing into an outfield once and still made the throw to the infield. He was temporarily paralyzed another time. He was taken off of the field on a stretcher 11 times in his career. Obviously, the way ballparks were constructed in those days had a lot to do with his injuries. The walls were concrete and not padded at all. Had he done these things in this day and age, he might have only been shaken up. Also, there were no concussion protocols in those days. It is doubtful he would have been allowed to play after that serious one in 1942.
Pete returned to the Dodgers in 1946. But he was clearly not the same player. He lasted with the Dodgers until 1948 when he was traded in the off-season to the Braves. He played 2 years with the Braves, 1 with the Pirates, and retired while a member of the Indians in 1952. He hit .295 for his career. But who knows how good he could have been had it not been for the injuries.
Don Zimmer
Don Zimmer was a very talented infielder in the Dodger system in the early 1950s. While playing at St. Paul in 1953, he was hit in the temple with a pitch. He was not fully conscious for 13 days and his weight dropped from 170 to 124. He could not walk or talk and his vision was blurred. The Dr.s had to drill small holes in his skull to reduce the swelling. He was told his baseball career was over. There was a rumor he had a steel plate in his skull, but that was false. They later did fill the holes with tantalum metal corkscrew-shaped buttons.
Despite what the Dr.s said, Zim made it to Brooklyn in 1954 playing in 24 games. In 1955 he got into 88 games hitting .239. He went 2-12 in the series that season, Brooklyn’s first-ever Championship. In 1956, Zim was beaned again. This time by Reds pitcher, Hal Jeffcoat. He suffered a broken cheekbone, and it nearly detached a retina. Despite this, Zim came back once again.
He played over 100 games only once as a Dodger, 1958 when he got into 127 games and hit .262 with 17 HRs. He was in line to be Pee Wee Reese’s replacement in 1959. But he got off to a terrible start in 59, he was replaced as the starting SS by Maury Wills and hit only .165 in 97 games. After the season, he was traded to the Cubs for John Goryl, an infielder, Lee Handley, and Ron Perranoski, and 25,000 dollars.
He went on to play with the Cubs, Reds, Mets, and Senators with a brief stop back in LA in 1963. Zim never really reached the heights they thought he might. But he became a coach, and then manager in the majors. Managing the Padres, Red Sox, Rangers, and Cubs. Zim won one division title, with the Cubs in 89, losing the NLCS to the Giants. Zim had 6 Championship rings – two with the Dodgers and four with the Yankees as a coach. He also is the reason major league players wear helmets. And the netting was installed in front of the dugouts after he was hit in the head by a foul ball in 1999. Zim passed in 2014 at 83.
Karl Spooner
Karl was from Oriskany New York. He signed a deal to pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951. He pitched in the minors not doing very well but showing flashes with a 25-36 record through 1953. Then in 1954 at Fort Worth, he won 21 games and had 262 K’s in 238 innings. That earned him a call-up to the Dodgers with a week left in the season. Karl made his major league debut on September 22, 1954, at the age of 23 against the Giants. He had a complete-game shutout, 3-0 striking out 15, and setting a record for the most strikeouts by a rookie in his major league debut.
Three days later, on the last day of the season, Spooner pitched a complete game 1-0 shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates striking out 12 and allowing 4 hits. He set another record for 27 K’s in 2 games was a National League record. Second only to Feller’s, 28.
During spring training in 1955, Spooner entered a game without warming up properly. As a result, he sustained a serious arm injury. He was out of action until May 15th. He appeared in 29 games for the Dodgers and finished with an 8-6 record. He initially was a spot starter but was moved to the bullpen after two bad starts. He bounced from the pen to the starting rotation. He made his final major league start and appearance in a game on the 3rd of October, 1955. He was shellacked by the Yankees for 5 runs and got the loss.
In 1956 he was sent down to AAA but only pitched in 4 games. Called up to the Dodgers in September, but he did not appear in any games. He was sent to the minors in 1957 to A ball. The Cardinals claimed him in the minor league draft, but he was sent to D ball in 1958 and called it quits during spring in 1959. His fastball, which had sat in the high 90’s pre-injury, was down to 90 and lower after. Karl moved to Vero Beach and got a job in the citrus industry where he stayed until his death at age 52 in 1984.
Sandy Koufax
Some will ask, “what is a Hall of Famer doing on this list? Well, considering Koufax was out of baseball at age 30, he belongs in here. We all know how great Sandy was from 1961 to 1966. He was the best I ever saw, and I have seen some great ones. Between those seasons he won 3 Cy Young awards, an MVP, and 2 World Series rings. Yet after the 1966 season, a year where he went 27-9 with a 1.73 ERA, the lowest of his career, struck out 317 batters and helped the Dodgers win the pennant, and he was done. He pitched 1 game in the 1966 series with the Orioles and lost. He would never toe the rubber at Dodger Stadium or anywhere else again…WHY?
The problems started in 1962. While hitting, Koufax was jammed by Earl Francis and his left index finger went numb. He kept pitching and was doing well, so he ignored the injury, hoping it would go away. But by July, his whole hand was numb and he was unable to pitch complete games. In a start in Cincinnati, his finger split open in the first inning. A vascular specialist determined that he had a crushed artery in his palm. 10 days of experimental medicine successfully opened the artery and he was finally able to pitch again in September. But after the long layoff, he was ineffective in 3 appearances and the Giants caught the Dodgers for the pennant. Asked to pitch game one, since Big D and Podres had already pitched on 2 days’ rest, Sandy did. As he said later, I had nothing. And the Giants knocked him around and took game one.
The Dodgers took game two and were leading 4-2 in the top of the 9th in game three when the Giants scored 4 runs off of Roebuck and Williams and won the 1962 pennant. In 1963 Sandy was healthy again, and the Dodgers won the pennant and the World Series, with Sandy winning game one and game four for the sweep of the Yankees. Sandy was the first-ever unanimous winner of the Cy Young award, he won the Hickock Belt and the MVP award.
In 1964, the season started with huge expectations for Sandy, but on April the 22nd, he felt something let go in his left arm. He got 3 cortisone shots for his sore elbow and missed 3 starts. On June 4th, Koufax walked Richie Allen on a really close full-count pitch in the 4th inning. He was the only Phillie to reach base that day, and he was thrown out stealing. Koufax had his 3rd no-hitter in 3 years, matching Bob Feller for the most by a pitcher in MLB history. In August, Sandy jammed his pitching arm diving into 2nd base.
He managed to pitch and win two more games. But the morning after his 19th win, a game in which he struck out 13, he could not straighten his arm. Dr. Robert Kerlan, the Dodgers team physician, diagnosed Koufax with traumatic arthritis in his elbow. With the Dodgers out of the race, Koufax was shut down and finished 19-5
On March 31st in 1965, after pitching a complete spring game, Koufax woke up and found his arm completely black and blue from hemorrhaging. He returned to LA to consult with Kerlan who told him he would be lucky to pitch once a week, and that he would eventually lose the use of his arm. He resolved to not throw between games, but that lasted one start. He resorted to using Empirin with codeine for the pain. He took Butazolidin for inflammation and sometimes took another in the 5th inning. He also used capsaicin-based Capsolin ointment, (atomic balm) before each game, and put his arm in a tub of ice after each game.
He pitched the Dodgers to another pennant-winning 26 and winning the pitching triple crown, K’s, ERA, and wins. He went 2-1 in the World Series, winning game 7 on two days rest. He struck out a record 382 hitters that year. He also got his 4th no-no, a perfect game on Sept 9th against the Cubs. Nolan Ryan would break the record some years later.
In 1966, it was more of the same. Sandy and Big D held out together before spring training. They finally signed. Sandy went through pretty much the same routine to stay on the mound. He ended up with 27 wins and a 1.73 ERA. The Dodgers went to the World Series again and lost to the Orioles. Sandy pitched in game 2, he pitched well enough, but Willie Davis’s 3 errors helped the O’s win behind Jim Palmer.
Prior to the season, Kerlan told Koufax that it was time to retire. His arm could not make it through another season. Koufax kept that to himself and went out to pitch every 4th day. He had one of his best seasons. After the World Series loss, he told Bavasi he was going to retire, Bavasi wanted him to hold off with the announcement until the Dodgers could trade for another starter. Koufax refused and went ahead and made the announcement. Sandy was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972, his first year becoming at 36 the youngest player elected.
So I just wonder sometimes how good he would have been if his elbow had not betrayed him. He surely would have surpassed the 200 win plateau. He was great as it was, but you have to wonder, what if?
Matt Kemp
Matt was drafted by the Dodgers in 2003 in the 6th round. He spent his first pro season in Gulf Coast. In 2004 he went to Columbus and Vero Beach. He spent part of the 2005 season with Vero, and increased his power number from 18 HR’s to 27, and was on the FSL All-Star Team. He set a Vero Beach team record for HR’s and slugging pct .569.
In 2006 he started with the Jacksonville Suns, and he was called up to give CF Kenny Lofton some rest and also to spell the oft-injured RF, J.D. Drew. He started pretty fast. But faded and was sent to AAA Las Vegas in July. He was called back up when the rosters expanded on the 1st of September. He finished with 7 HR’s and a .253 avg.
Matt made the team out of spring training in 2007 but lost his place after suffering a shoulder injury running into the wall at Dodger Stadium chasing a fly ball. He did well in Las Vegas in his rehab stint. He was called up to LA on June 8th and finished the year with a .342, with 10 HRs and 42 RBI’s. In 2008, he started out as the Dodgers starting RF. He earned his first NL player of the week honor for Apr 28th to May 4th. He replaced the struggling Andruw Jones in CF after Jones suffered a knee injury. For the year Matt hit .290 with 18 HRs and 76 RBI’s.
Kemp improved his numbers in 2009 and earned his first gold glove and silver slugger awards. In 2010, he regressed some, dropping from a .297 BA to .249 with 28 HRs and 89 RBI’s. He still had a problem striking out a lot and broke his record of 153 from 09 and struck out 170 times.
2011. Kemp arrived in spring to work with new coach Davey Lopes on his baserunning skills. Which had been called into question the previous year. He ended up with 40 steals and was only caught 11 times. A marked improvement. But it was his hitting that really took off. He was leading the league in many categories and was selected for his first All-Star game. He singled and walked to become the first Dodger since Mike Piazza, in 1996 to get on base twice in an All Star game.
Matt finished the year with 39 HR’s, just missing becoming the Dodger’s first-ever 40-40 player. He hit .324, scored 111 runs, drove in 126, and was named by his teammates as the recipient of the Roy Campanella Award. It was given for leadership and spirit. He was beaten out by Ryan Braun for the MVP Award, who was later shown to have used PED’s. It was pure highway robbery and in my mind a disgrace that MLB did not strip Braun of the award. Especially after he ended up getting suspended. But I digress. Matt had about as good a season as any Dodger had ever had. He had a 10.0 WAR that season. He looked to improve on that in 2012.
Matt started off hot winning the player of the week award the first week. But on May 14th, he went on the DL with a strained hammy. That snapped his record of 399 consecutive games. Two days after he came off of the DL, he strained the hammy again. He returned and was hitting well over .300 when on the 28th of August, he crashed into the wall at Coors Field. reinjuring his shoulder and his knee.
He came back, but probably too early and his batting average tailed off to .303. He finished with 23 HRs. He hit .355 in the first half and .280 in the second. After the season he has surgery to repair a torn labrum and some minor damage to his rotator cuff. He was told he would not be able to swing a bat until January. In 2013 Kemp was struggling out of the gate and booed by the hometown fans. Teammate Adrian Gonzalez said Kemp was trying too hard.
Matt suffered hamstring injuries, a recurrence of pain in his surgically repaired shoulder. He suffered an ankle injury on a botched slide. And spent most of the season on the DL or rehabbing. He was shut down when a doctor revealed after an MRI that he had swelling in his ankle and one of the weight-bearing bones would break if he kept playing. He was shut down for the year, and the ankle was surgically repaired.
In 2014 Matt was rehabbing after his surgeries and did not play for most of the spring games. He stayed behind when the Dodgers went to Australia for the opener but was back with the team when they opened in LA. He struggled in the outfield and was openly criticized by Mattingly after a really bad series against the Mets. Ethier was installed as the new CF, and Matt missed 5 games learning his new position. He was openly vocal about the move, and never really felt comfortable in left. This outburst of course led to a lot of talk that he was a clubhouse cancer. He was later moved to RF, where he felt more comfortable and Puig moved to CF. Matt got hot in September. After only hitting 5 HR’s in April, and May, Matt hit 20 the rest of the way, and hit .322 in Sept and October.
In December, Matt was traded to the Padres for Grandal, Elfin, and Joe Weiland. Fed-Ex was traded with him. Over the next 3 years, Matt played for the Padres and the Braves. He continued to have issues in the field, but there was little wrong with his bat. He hit 23 HR’s and drove in 100 for the Padres in 2015. He was traded to the Braves after 100 games and hit 35 HR’s combined and drove in 108 in 2016. His BA was in the .269 range both seasons. In 17 he tailed off for the Braves battling some of the same old hammy problems.
After the season he was traded back to the Dodgers in a 4 for 1 trade that was viewed as a pure salary dump. He was not expected to make the 2018 Dodger roster. Matt surprised everybody and showed up to spring training in probably the best shape he had been in since 2011. Kemp had an outstanding first half. Hitting .310 and earning an All-Star berth. He faded in the second half, only hitting .255 with 6 HRs. He finished with 21 HRs and a .290 average. He hit his first and only World Series HR off Chris Sale in game one. Sadly, that was his last hurrah. Matt was sent to the Reds over the winter and released when he struggled out of the gate. He returned to the majors last season for a while with the Rockies… hitting .239 in 43 games.
Injuries no doubt derailed what should have been some of Matts’s better years. When healthy, he was one of the better hitters and an RBI machine in the league. But we will never know. The Bison did some good things in blue. I prefer to remember those.
Don Drysdale
Big D was a workhorse and rarely missed a start. But even a workhorse can have problems as they age and it all finally caught up with Big D in 1969. For the first time since his rookie year, Big D started less than 30 games. The reason? His rotator cuff injury. Had he been playing in this day and age, the condition could have been surgically repaired. But it was not done in those days, so Big D was done at the age of 32. Just 2 years older than Koufax was when he was forced to retire. He probably if healthy could have won 50 or more games the next few years. We will never know.
Overuse contributed to Fernando not being the pitcher he was early in his career after 1988. Though he pitched 9 more years, he never reached those lofty heights again. That is one of the reasons he has fallen short on all of the Hall ballots he was on. Orel stayed with the Dodgers for four seasons after his shoulder problems, but again, never again was the same pitcher he had been in 1988 and before. He played until 2000 with the Indians, Giants, Mets, and Dodgers before hanging them up.
Although he never pitched for LA, Mark Prior is another of those who you wonder what if? Prior debuted at age 21 with the Cubs in 2002. He went 6-6. By age 25, Prior was out of the league. He finished with a 42-29 record, 3.51 ERA, 757 K’s in 657 innings, and a 16.6 WAR. Shoulder injuries ended his career. So there you have it, just a few very promising, and some very good careers derailed by injuries.
Eric Davis
Darren Dreifort
Greg Miller [prospect edition]
Davis was a Dodger all of a year and a half, and his injuries were suffered in Cincinnati. I would put Bill Buckner in there though. Buckner suffered a badly sprained ankle on a slide at Dodger Stadium. And as a result he lost some of his speed. Bill had a pretty decent career once he left LA. He even won a batting crown. But he is mostly remembered for missing a ground ball in the World Series.
Bobby Valentine too.
When I was a kid in SoCal collecting baseball cards, I never understood what happened to Tommy Davis. (If only there was a doctors came up with a Tommy Davis procedure!) When my interests embraced the lore of the Brooklyn Dodgers, I remember sadly learning about the story of Pete Reiser.
And then of course Campy, though the injuries were not suffered on the field of play.
But of all these unfortunate events, they pale in comparison to the phrase that was often heard in the 1970s: the so-called “Angel jinx.”
It’s a tacky phrase, but there there is no denying Angels’ history of tragedy. That phrase was uttered even before the killing of Lyman Bostock, the car accident that claimed Nick Adenhart and the opioid overdose that killed Tyler Skaggs.
I would also include Tommy Davis and the Duke in this list. Maybe even Shawn Greene
Green played until age 34. What about Kal Daniels, who played until 28?
Kal Daniels had Tommy Davis-type hitting skills. His knees betrayed him starting at about age 22.
Hong Chi Kuo is another that comes to mind . When he was healthy he was almost unhittable.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!
Kuo’s problems started before he came to the US. He had already had one TJ surgery in Korea. Again, not in the majors or with LA long enough to make my list.
Tommy I should have included. Duke’s career numbers after 57 were good but not great. The dimensions in the coliseum were part of the problem. He did injure his elbow trying to throw a ball out of the coliseum in 58. And then he started having problems with his knee. He never reached his old power numbers in LA, but the first two seasons there he hit over .300. He was no longer the starting CF after 59. His numbers over his last 4 years contributed to his finishing with a .295 BA instead of being over .300.
Karl Spooner, if the Dodgers only had him sooner. That was what Dodgers fan said in 1954.
Some great names on it. None bigger than Sandy of course.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are not many who could pitch until their late 30’s with elite velocity: Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and of course, Sandy Koufax. Early in his career, Clayton Kershaw could, but he has evolved, maybe devolved. In my mind, Sandy is the most dominating pitcher I ever saw, but Clayton’s entire career has been excellent. Clayton was never as good as Sandy during the Five Amazing Years, but Sandy was not a force his whole career like Clayton. Apples to oranges. It will drive you banannas!
If Clayton would have been used like Koufax was he would have been done by age 27
I would have to agree on that. But it was a different era and mind set. Overuse probably contributed to Drysdale’s arm problems too. As we both know back in those days a player rarely told the team about injuries. One year contracts and fear of losing their jobs.
Every 4th day for 40 starts. Koufax was also used in relief a few times between starts. Kershaw would’ve blown a gasket early with that schedule. Kershaw hasn’t started 30 games since he was 27. Koufax started 40 three times AFTER he was 27.
What is more amazing is that he had 27 complete games in both of those seasons. Before then he never had more than 20 in ANY season. And when you consider how much pain the guy was in, it makes it all that much more impressive.
I think Nolan Ryan could hit the mid-80s when he was in his 60s!
Easy call for me on Koufax. He is on the shortlist of greatest ever.
Longevity is wonderful, but it doesn’t define greatness. Dozens of players have now hit more HRs than Lou Gehrig, but few are on his level.
Great article Bear! Serves as a reminder that in addition to this being a difficult game, the human body isn’t necessarily designed to throw a baseball 95 mph as often as these folks did. Nor is designed to take the torque of the arm and wrist movements when breaking off a 12-6 curve.
Tommy Davis, Darren Dreifort and Greg Miller were among those very, very talented players whose careers were derailed by injuries.
Thanks 2D2. Yes, I should have put Tommy D. in this. His broken ankle in 65 was a real blow to that team. He is the last Dodger to win a batting title. Tommy played for 10 more years after he left LA. He never hit for the same power, but had a long run to say the least. I totally forgot about Driefort, and I do not remember Miller. Kal Daniels, I never considered as a Dodger.
I don’t know if anyone has been paying attention, but Jeter Downs is hitting .170 at AAA in 313 PA’s. Yikes!
Another example why you do not think twice when you can get a true superstar like Mookie in his prime for prospects. You just never know how those prospects will work out
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yep, and not even a homegrown one. #flip’d
Dodgers: Hyun-il Choi, RHP (No. 26), High-A Great Lakes
Choi worked around four hits and two walks to spin five scoreless innings, marking his first scoreless outing since July 4. The 21-year-old tossed 42 of his 73 pitches for strikes as he fanned two batters in his seventh start of the year in which he’s gone at least five innings. Since getting the call to High-A on Aug. 3, Choi has pitched to a 1.93 ERA with an 18-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four starts.
sleeper.
gets penaluzed by limited upside but fuck that shit.
Kevin Quackenbush is 1-6 with a 0.86 ERA, meaning he just finds ways to lose!
Clayton Beeter-in his first AA game he went 3 innings, allowed 4 hits and 1 run while striking out 4 and walking 0. I’ll take it! On the other hand, Melvin Jiminez was rocked: 1 H, 4 BB in 0.2 IP (40.50 ERA).
28 man roster thoughts?
obviously another reliever.
maybe nuese?
no need for 3rd catcher.
The current 26 plus Mookie and Julio. Then we will have to see when CK comes back. And maybe TB.
Interesting times.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
Noisy hit his 10th HR last night, but I think he needs to play every day the rest of the season. He has played 2B, SS, 3B, LF and RF this year. He will never be Kike defensively, but he is a willing learner. I see him as a 2B, 3B, emergency SS.
I am not that enamored with Neuse. His bat has gotten better, but I never really trust AAA numbers. He seemed pretty much overmatched in the majors. He is strictly and always will be a backup, but not super sub material.
RH bench bat is the new LH reliever.
Always in demand.
Speaking of Kike, he is hitting .254 with a .344 OB% and .793 OPS. He has played 71 games in CF, 38 at 2B and 7 at SS. Kike’s OPS+ is 111.
Joc Pedrerson is hitting .242 with 15 HR this year, but his OPS+ (100 is average) is 98. He is hitting .273 against LHP, but with no power.
Nice article Bear, but I expected to see Clayton Kershaw at the end of this post. What could have been had he not been diagnosed with a herniated disk in his back which took 4 MPH off his fastball? How many more Cy Youngs would he have won if he would have had surgery to have it fixed instead of missing 5-10 starts just about every year since that injury?
The Giants got some more magic last night. A pinch hit 2 run homer in the top of the 9th inning against a closer that had 2 blown saves all year before yesterday’s game. Closers are not perfect, unless it’s Eric Gagne who converted all 55 save opportunities in 2003 earning him a Cy Young award in the midst of saving 84 in row! Are we ever going to see that again?
Not with Kenley, that’s for sure. I fully expected to see a post from Mark making a detailed argument on why Jansen should remain the closer over Blake Treinen after Blake served up the homer that should have been caught by just about any outfielder in the league. The ball actually landed on the top of the fence which is only 8 feet tall. At 6’1″, AJ Pollock really didn’t even need to jump in order grab it with a 13+” outfielder’s glove. But, that’s baseball where strange things happen almost routinely.
Even more strange was those “earned” runs were the first that Blake’s given up over the last two months, over 22 outings in which he’s given up just 7 hits and 6 walks while racking up 27 Ks. In the same time period Kenley has given up 11 ER in 18 appearances allowing 20 hits, 11 walks and 24 Ks. Ouch! After looking at those numbers, it’s really hard to justify Kenley keeping his job over Blake.
But, Kenley’s overall performance is solid for a closer. Out of the top 10 saves leaders, he sits just 3 saves higher than no 10 and 5 of the 10 have higher ERAs, 9 have a lower WHIP, 5 have a higher BAA, 5 have more Ks and 4 have as many or more blown saves. That puts him solidly as one of the top 5 closers in the league.
The dilemma is not so clear that Jansen has to be replaced as the closer. The dilemma is that Treinen might be the better closer on this team. But, does it makes sense to make that switch? Treinen is doing a great job in the highest of leverage situations for this team. He comes in a puts out fires, or is brought in close and late to face the toughest part of the lineup and is excelling in that role. So, which role is more valuable? A closer, or a fireman? Can Blake handle the closer role as good as Kenley? Can Kenley handle the fireman role as good as Blake? It makes little sense to make that change to find out so late in the season. If it ain’t broke…
The solution going forward? I really get nervous every time Kenley enters the game, then I’m pleased when he usually closes it out without incident. Kenley is Dodgers family. We’ve seen him grow up with the team. But, there’s something about him that I don’t like. I just read him as not being mentally tough. He’s gone through a lot being overworked in the 17 postseason run pitching sometimes 3-4 games in a row only to be cheated by the Astros. The heart condition setting him back has to be always in the back of his mind. The finicky trick pitch that he relied on so heavily has turned its back on him. And after those back to back choke jobs against the Giants, I just can’t ever fully trust him again.
I really think the Dodgers are handling it well. Publicly Jansen is the closer. This is good for his fragile ego. In reality, Doc will hopefully do what he did last year in the WS and pivot when he needs to. In the meantime, keep him in the ninth and make sure he pitches enough to stay sharp and rests enough to where he doesn’t fall into bad habits. It’s nice of Andrew to make sure Kenley has such a support system in the form of an abundance of former closers on the roster.
People are making way too many assumptions in regard to Bauer. Especially when it comes to the clubhouse. We just saw that two Padres teammates had a ride on the same town bike that got Bauer suspended. You don’t think the Dodgers’ clubhouse have avid bicycle aficionados? You think that the other rich and single guys in the clubhouse aren’t sympathetic about an extortion attempt? Do you really believe the BS in the media after being lied to constantly by the same media?
Two “Unnamed Sources” familiar with the inner workings of the clubhouse dynamics say that “Most” of Bauer’s teammates don’t want him back. If those unnamed sources were players or coaches it would have been stated as such in order to give that statement more credibility. So, who are we really talking about? The clubbie that picks up jock straps and underwear off the floor? Is that really a reliable source?
Before the season started those same concerns about how Trevor will fit into the clubhouse were completely overblown and disproven when everyone was hanging out with Bauer talking baseball and taking his tips on how to throw a changeup.
I seriously doubt that his teammates who are trying to get the first repeat in 20 years with a 3 man rotation aren’t willing to give a former Cy Young winner another chance down the stretch especially now that the facts are coming in and a court judgement just came in his favor.
Totally blew it with Kersh. Was not even thinking how much time he has spent on the IL the last several seasons. Probably cost him 20 wins or so. And yeah, he probably would have at least one more Cy Young. The load starters carry has changed so much over the years.
Yesterday’s game changes nothing with Jansen or Trinen. It’s just one game. I still believe Treinen, Knebel, Kelly and others will close this year, but Jansen is still the closer. BTW,, Kenley is Dodger and so I am a fan, but I have no horse in the closer hunt. It’s whatever works.
Many fans say that Kenley should not pitch on Back-to-back days. I guarantee that the front office has a lot more info on that than we do, although it worked out fine yesterday.
I think it has to do with a lot of things, such as # of pitches, type of pitches and his mechanics. We are playing checkers…
He only made 7 the prior day. And he would have never had to face Alonzo had Turner handled Pollocks throw cleanly. Pillar was out from me to you.
Good write up today Bear. I’ve thought many times about how careers were cut short with injuries that could be repaired today. I remember a couple of years back, that half the All-Star pitching roster included guys who’d had Tommy John. Prior to 74, those guys would have been washed up. You come up will interesting topics especially with all the injuries this season.
* Sorry to lose Tom T. Hall, Friday, the “Story Teller”. My favorite was “The Year Clayton Delaney Died” and “I Love”. He also wrote “Harper Valley PTA” done by Jeannie C, Riley.
* Great win yesterday and a super exciting game to watch. Good on KJ. I’m not a fan of him throwing back to back games but only 7 pitches the night before helped. As I suggested, along w/ B&P, he’s a different guy since he’s become so much less reliant on that cutter. He’s found new juice with that fastball. It could have been a clean inning if TT had picked the tough tweeter hop at 2nd.
* Damn those Giants are finding a way but this race is great. Competition down the stretch. I love it. I still think we will win the Division.
* We could have put this baby to bed earlier. Smith and Belli had useless at bats bottom 6. 5 walks in a 1/2 inning and we score 1 run.
* Treinen’s been awesome but that damn 2 out walk to get to Alonzo was a major mistake. Of course Alonzo takes Treinen deep. That SOB can hit for power.
* I was hoping Doc would steal with Doc steal with TT in the 5th and/or 7th. These seemed like green light specials to me in a tight game. And steal early to allow Muncy an RBI opportunity. IMO, an opportunity wasted as there’s little to lose in both situations and a lot of gain. Don’t put a saddle on this kid.
* Max certainly didn’t have his A game but I love to watch him compete.
* I enjoyed listening to Joe describe Max’s bullpen sessions and Game Day focus.
He sound as eccentric as Bauer (in a baseball way) with his unconventional ideas and prep. Different cat. He wants himself, the catcher and all the surrounding personnel to be in full uniform for side session bullpens. He wants it as close to game reality as possibe. Practice like you play. As I have previously mentioned, I attribute injuries to practicing at 50%. Don’t talk or touch Max on game day. Bauer was different in-game but still very much innovative and unique in his preparation.
The floor is now open for Bauer jokes on his unique prep and performance. I’ll wait.
* Nomar is an old school hit guy. He does not seem to advocate the lift and separate, 3 outcome approach to hitting. He values contact.
* Nomar had a great analysis of what’s wrong with Belli and what’s different from his MVP year. I’ll paraphrase his ideas. The analysis happened right after Belli swung right through an 87 mph, Dick Mountain c**kshot. Nomar offered lots of theories regarding Belli’s struggles. He offered it’s not speed that’s getting him (although he’s hitting less than .100 on 95+) it’s his mechanics that are off. He is unable now to cut his swing down to make contact which he could do before. Nomar said it’s not with just 2 strikes but for situational hitting, as well. He said Belli “has nothing to go to, that he can trust, when he’s not hitting”. Something that would allow him to just shorten up and put the ball in play. Contact first. The power will come. Then confidence will come. Until he adjusts he’ll keep getting the pitches he can’t hit. Right now he’s “a swing hoping to hit the ball. One type swing hoping the pitcher throws the ball in that swing path”. Pretty bold and descriptive comments. And accurate, I think.
* Belli has shown sporadic improvement lately but I’ve said it many times and will says it again; I don’t like his swing. When his timing is right, he can get on fire. But his long complicated hack, with that traveling head, it makes him inconsistent. I’ve heard how his shoulder injury has caused his problems and while that I can’t disregarded that, I have 2 questions; if his shoulder was so weak and not 100%, why hasn’t he cut down on that violent hack? And what about him actually having better production with a bum shoulder, that moved him to the outfield, prior to surgery?
Look around at other players in the league. Nobody hits like Bellinger. Just watch Muncy’s head. Mookie’s. Seager’s. Pete Alonzo, Nelson Cruz. With all good hitters, there’s minimal head dip and minimal travel forward toward the pitcher, until there swing takes it there.. Nobody drops their head down 15 inches from that stiff upright stance and then forward to hit a moving fastball, with moving eyes. He’s so athletic he can actually do it….sometimes. He has likely hit his way forever and it’s worked in the past, until 1/2 way through his MVP season. But injury, reduced flexibility, pitcher’s adjusting and age have and will cut into his production. When that flexible back starts going, you tell me how he will hit with that long swing? I have said before, next year will tell the story and earn him stupid money or make him risky business for a long-term deal. I wouldn’t touch him with a long contract that takes him into his 30’s. That’s just my opinion.
* So, what would I do now with Belli? Absolutely nothing! Just put him in the 7 or 8 hole and leave him alone. And hope he can occasionally run into one and get hot at the right time. Keep his valuable defense and speed in the line up and play it out.
Then use the winter to work on changing some things if he chooses to do it. I bet he won’t. If he does, I’d start with with a new stance, getting off the plate, spreading out and bending the knees to get into a normal launch position right at the start so he doesn’t have to dip his head and flex into a launch position. Start there to eliminate some of the moving parts while the pitch is on the way. That’s a start. But, I seriously don’t think he will change a thing.
But what do I know? I’m pretty sure I’ll hear what I don’t know here pretty soon.
* Keep throwing the A Team out there Doc.
Cody has to play. Period! He will get untracked in a week or a month.
What you say about Bellinger looks 1000% accurate to me. Do not put a ring on that finger of his until he can prove he is consistent, which I believe will not happen. That brings me no great pleasure to type out, I want nothing but greatness from him.
Definitely agree with someone above about Darren Dreifort. When Tony Gwynn said he had the best stuff he’s ever seen, you take notice! (or something close to that)
I alway thought Matt Kemp, had he stayed here and stayed healthy, had a shot at being the greatest LA Dodger player ever. Oh well.
Here’s a great read on DD, written in 2001:
https://vault.si.com/vault/2001/03/26/worth-the-wait-if-former-underachiever-darren-dreiforts-midseason-mound-turnaround-proves-to-be-permanent-the-dodgers-may-have-gotten-a-steal-when-they-signed-him-for-55-million
That Dreifort/Mota/Gagne combo in 2003/2004 was absolutely devastating
Kuo came up in 2005
Kemp was on his way to super stardom for sure. I had forgotten until I read his wikipedia page about his first shoulder injury. That is why I have been so patient about Bellinger. It took Matt over a year to get that shoulder right. Belli is only about 10 months removed from his.
great point
Bellinger had his surgery in mid November. So it’s been around 9 months.
I was not sure exactly when he had it, so I guessed.
IF we have all of our position players back and available for the playoffs, and if Belli is still having these problems, how do you justify starting him? Yes his defense is spectacular but do you bench Pollock or CT3 in order to play him? If Pollock goes back to what he has been, I suppose you could platoon Cody and AJ, but if AJ continues to hit as he has this year, it seems to me that he and Taylor deserve to start every playoff game.
Might not but they are going to use his defense in CF one way or another.
Thanks Phil. Music lost another today. Don Everly of the Everly Brothers passed. His brother died in 2014. I loved their music and harmony’s. My favorite tunes they did were Ebony Eyes and Bowling Green. RIP.
All I have to do is Dream is an all time great
I love music from before I was born!
There were times in high school when I was Kathy’s Clown.
Sad news! I’ve been Kathy’s clown for 43 years!
I had 2 girlfriends named Kathy…..both were pretty nice. But I never felt clownish around either of them……
I knew a bird named Kathy with blonde hair and a light brown p—-.
So sorry to hear about Don’s passing. The Everly Bros had such a unique harmony. I agree Bear, “Ebony Eyes” was one of my favorites. I also liked “Problems” and “Devoted to You.” I grew up listening to them. I still have some of their 45’s. BTW “Cathy’s Clown” was spelled with a “C”. 🙂
My bad, but blame the two posts prior to mine! All I have to do is dream is one I still do in a rock n roll medley I have done for years.
Afternoon Baseball Lineup:
HITTERS H-AB RBI HR SB AVG
T. Turner2B 144-442 54 19 24 .326
M. Muncy1B 99-367 76 28 2 .270
J. Turner3B 115-399 69 21 1 .288
C. SeagerSS 61-219 31 6 1 .279
W. SmithC 83-319 59 18 2 .260
C. TaylorRF 118-422 66 18 11 .280
A. PollockLF 97-317 51 15 8 .306
C. BellingerCF 40-232 29 9 2 .172
D. PriceP 3-12 2 0 0 .250
08/20/21 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Joe Kelly on a rehab assignment to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Yep, he struck out one and walked two in his Friday outing.
Today is August 22 and the last day of the season is October 3. Why do we have to make a decision on Bellinger today? CT3 is back to his Super Utility role whenever Betts returns and with a banged up Mookie, JT, AJ and Belli, there’s plenty of playing time for CT3 who is currently the most used player on the team and could probably use a breather himself down the stretch.
We all know that things have a way of working themselves out. It could be that Pollock, JT or Mookie will need to sit due to injuries or performance. It’s just so silly to me that people want to anoint the team’s K leader as the starting Center Fielder over the gold glover and former MVP when there’s so much of the season remaining.
CT3 is a very solid player and he’s having the best year of his career. But, he’s also top 10 in the league in strikeouts! Unlike Bellinger, he completely healthy and is about 5 years older than our former MVP Center Fielder. He’s also a great clutch hitter off the bench.
Everything is fine, we’re 1.5 games back and we should have a huge lead if it weren’t for injuries. Only the Mets have lost more WAR to the IL than the Dodgers, so much for the “Insert team name here” also had injuries to deal with narrative. Like with Kenley, there’s no reason to declare anyone anything. Just keep playing and winning ballgames.
Mookie will take simulated AB’s tomorrow and Tuesday, might be activated by Thursday. Kelly will have one more rehab game.
Two of my favorite fellow Trojans were never the same after injuries, even though one went on to win a batting championship.
Bobby Valentine – Started out slow because of a knee injury after a touch football game, and then just when things started to go well for him at 23 he had his absolutely horrendous leg break. Chasing a Dick Green fly ball, he crashed into the Angel Stadium vinyl fence, and what ensued was described by SI:
“The ball missed Valentine’s glove by an inch, and his leg drove into the vinyl between the two support poles so that the tarp first yielded, then ensheathed his calf like a vise before flinging him back to the ground with a grotesque bend in the middle of the shin.
The incident fractured both of the bones in Valentine’s lower right leg, and he spent nearly six months in two different casts. When the second one was removed, doctors discovered that the bones had knit poorly—leaving an 18-degree bend between his knee and ankle.
Valentine had two choices: suck it up and learn to play in pain, or spend 13-16 more months undergoing surgery and leg reconstruction with screws and plates.
“In my mind,” he told SI, “to go with their plan meant not to be a ballplayer.” Doctors gave him a few months to decide, and by spring training he was jogging and ready to play. Valentine had a huge lump on his knee, a constant limp and his speed was gone. But he played 117 games anyway, batting .261 in his transition from superstar prospect to fringe performer.”
He was never the same after that injury.
Billy Buckner – Buckner suffered a severely sprained left ankle sliding into second base against the Giants on April 18. Forced to wear a cast, he did not return to the playing field until May 16, and he went hitless in eight of his first nine games back. His ankle never healed. Suffering from a pulled thigh muscle as well, he remained in the lineup, saying, “Every game is critical now, so I’ve got to keep playing. Between that and the bad ankle, I must be carrying three pounds of tape around every night. I can’t be as aggressive as I want to be. I can’t bunt. If I hit grounders on the infield I can’t beat ’em out. That’s probably 35 or 40 hits over the whole season.”25 Managing a meager .243 batting average in just 92 games, Buckner was finally shelved in late August and had ankle surgery on September 1.
He did win a batting championship later in his career, but how many more did he miss out on because of the ankle. He needed 285 more hits to make 3,000 and probably a walk into the HOF. How many hits did that ankle injury hold him back from.
I met both Buck and Valentine at USC, and they became my favorite players since then. Because both signed professionally, neither played for Rod Dedeaux, but were often seen a winter practices. They “enjoyed” school.
I remember that incident. I was at Dodger Stadium when Buckner got hurt. I always thought he was one of their better hitters and I was sad when he went to the Cubs in a trade. But it worked out well for the Dodgers. Valentine’s career was certainly derailed by his crash into the wall. Physically, he was much like Reiser.
Jeff, I remember the 1970 Spokane Indians team as the best AAA team I’ve ever seen. I was positive that Bobby Valentine would be the next Dodger shortstop. Russell and Lopes were in the outfield. He was a big time football recruit out of Connecticut recruited hard by USC for football and baseball. I heard OJ was his host at USC. Maybe you or Bear can fill me in why he was traded to the Angels prior to his injury? He was never the same after that with his past speed compromised. I loved him as a player and couldn’t stand him as a manager.
The Dodgers REALLY wanted Messersmith.
Yeah, and Alston REALLY wanted to get Frank Robinson off of his team. Pretty lopsided trade though 5 for Messersmith and McMullen.
But they Really Really wanted Messersmith.
Just checking in after I fell asleep immediately after KJ closed things out last night, and I check the Standings to look good we look .5 back on SF, but no it says 1.5!!
Those bums aren’t giving up are they?
Still hoping to see Trev back in Dodger Blue soon.
Giants got a pinch hit 2 run shot off of the closer. I do not expect them to give up. I do not think Bauer will be back this season at all. His leave extended to next week, and if, and only if, he is reinstated, he still needs time to get in game shape. With a month left at most, I do not think he will be any help at all. With Kersh and Urias coming back, it ain’t happening.
Great article, as usual. I also think we should add Andre Ethier. Last two years with freak injuries ended his career.
I’m surprised that Campy wasn’t included on this list. True he was towards the end of his career but nevertheless he would have been a player until he retired if that accident had not happened in January 1958.
I thought about adding Campy, but he was well past his prime when the car accident happened. At best at age 36 he and Rosey would have shared the duty. He played only 103 games and hit ,242 his last year. 13 HR’s. It would have been cool to see how many HR’s he would hit over the screen in LF, but it was not to be. As for Ethier, he had already been replaced in RF by Puig. He only played 38 games over his last 2 seasons and he was 35 when he retired. He had a decent career, and his last full season he hit .294. Had he been healthy, those numbers would have been better. But by by 2016, AF was moving in a different direction, unloading some of the vets. That he finished as a Dodger was mostly out of respect from the organization, and his solid post season numbers along with the fact that he had signed a long term deal in 2012 and was owed close to 35 mil. Andre did fracture his leg in spring training when he fouled a ball off of his shin. It was said the injury would take up to 14 weeks, but it did not heal the way they thought it would. But he did not come back until September. Then the next spring he came down with a herniated disc in his back. He was again out until September. That winter the team declined his option, and he became a free agent. When he went unsigned, he announced his retirement.
Am I correct that Andre had six walk off hits one year?
Yes he did, that is where he got the nick name Captain Clutch. That was 2009. He had 6 walk off hits, 4 of which were HR’s.
Endre
Baez back in the lineup for the Mets today. He and Alonzo hitting back to back. Price is going to have his work cut out for him today. Dodgers have only a couple of players who have ever faced Stroman.
Congratulations to Miguel Cabrera on hitting HR #500 today! Webb faces Montas in Oakland today. Dodger game starts 3 minutes after the Giants.
That Koufax 1962 Bell Brand card, in prime condition can sell for as much as 5,000 dollars. I had a bunch of those back in the day. They are way too expensive for my blood now. I ate a lot of Bell Brand chips back in those days.
Poor command by Price and bad defense. Not a good way to start the game but it’s still early. Lucky we have a day off tomorrow if Price doesn’t get it straightened out we’ll have to really use the bullpen
We haven’t faced Stroman before, but I have faith in our offense
Good test.
Sometimes it’s not easy.
New Laker Russell Westbrook threw out the first pitch today at Lakers Day
https://youtu.be/WkAdk63P6ow
I’d like to see Price pitch in relief during the postseason. He’s got ice water in his veins and could be a huge piece.
On Dodger Injuries:
I think the list is very, very long and if Bear had included everyone, he would still be writing come the World Series.
Most likely. Tom Paciorek got hurt the same game Buckner did. And there were others.
This might be a game where the Dodgers forgot their bats… and gloves.
Bats and gloves in route from Colorado and Minnesota
Don’t say that Mark. I brought my broom out before the start of the game and I intend to use it.
WTF was that ? If you try to steal that run Pollock has to come to the plate. Now they used up the pinch hitter because they will have to bring in a relief pitcher. Stupid, stupid play.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!111
At least Cody brought home two. I think Pollock missed the sign. He should have broke as soon as the catcher let go of the ball.
A’s up 1-0 in the bottom of the 6th. Giants with only 2 hits off of Montas. 2 on with no out. Call reversed one out one on. Phillies up 5-1 in SD,
Oakland takes the lead. Still not done. First and third nobody out
Graterol throws the most hittable 100 in baseball history
Yeah, but dont tell him. Houdini work to get out of that jam.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!
Giants get another 2 run pinch hit HR in the 8th, take a 2-1 lead. Unbelievable.
And Mets get a 2 run HR of Bickford. F…
Go Dodgers!!!!!
Mets up 5-2 on a HR by Davis. Giants go up 2-1 in the top of the 8th.
Bellinger must be high
Must be the sunshine
That’s an issue!
Another instance of poor Dodger defense costing us. Pollock makes anywhere near a decent throw to second and Baez is a dead duck and inning over.
Well not every AF pick up is a winner! I prefer the other Greene!
Well, they were not going to go on a 30 game winning streak. Mets pitched well and the offense did not do it’s job. You are not going to win many games scoring 2. You can nit pick plays all you want but the end result is all that matters. Giants fly to New York to play the Mets, We head south to play the Padres, who lost again, and then we come home for 3 with the Rockies. After the Atlanta series, they come back to SF to play the Brewers. Then the Dodgers come to town. Greene was another reach. Feliz looked better.
The problems still come back to an inconsistent offense. Even over this 9 game streak, they have rarely scored late. Especially when they are behind. The sooner they get Mookie back, the better. Urias coming back to pitch the opener of the Padres series.
Stroman is a good pitcher They gave him an early lead so he could relax
I’ll take three or four from the Mets any day. It’s hard to win a four-game series no matter who you play and the Mets are desperate right now
Defense certainly didn’t help. I hope we can straighten that out before the end of the season. Bad defense is deadly in the playoffs
I’m not going to bitch and complain about todays loss. I’ll take 9 out of 10 anytime. It was due to happen especially when your top 5 hitters go 1 for 20.
We took the season series from the Mets 6-1. We won’t see them again until next year. I doubt they’ll be in the post season.
Yes, you are right. But what hurts is that the Giants have won the last two days with late pinch hit home runs and took 2-3 in OAK when they easily could have been swept.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are smart.
The only thing wrong with Cody Bellinger is a shoulder which is still not yet fully recovered from off-season surgery, which I believe was similar to the surgery that Matt Kemp had and so did Adrian Gonzalez before he came to the Dodgers. If memory serves, I believe that surgery has a 2-year recovery period.
If that’s the case, then we may not see the real Cody Bellinger until next year. Perhaps—and I really don’t know the answer to this one—Bellinger should not even have played this year.
I think Bellinger‘s surgery was minor compared to the other two
I don’t think we’ve seen the real Bellinger in a long time. He’s had some key hits in the playoffs but so has Joc and Kike
I think the problem is between his ears
Agree totally. He never seemed like the most mature person anyway. I’m still rooting for him like I’m sure most dodger fans are because he seems like a good person and has a lot of talent
I gotta go but I have to post this to get conversation going for tomorrow when I have time to discuss our 1st and 3rd double-steal execution.
I’m not sure what was up in the bottom of the 5th with Pollock at 3rd and Belli on first after his hit. I can only assume it was a double steal but you would typically do that to steal a run with 2 outs, with the pitcher up. Not a pinch hitter.
Assuming it was a double-steal, it was the most poorly executed effort. Nobody did it right, including the Mets.
Heres’s what was wrong:
* Was Pollock in on the play? He looked like he had no idea what to do. He never acting like he had any intention of getting off 3rd and break home at the right time.
* Belli ran too far before stopping as the ball was thrown to Báez at 2nd. That allowed him to look at 3rd and freeze Pollock who still should not have been 4 feet from 3rd. Then Báez started towards Belli and that’s when Pollock has to break or fake a break to draw a throw home. You want to have the right-handed infielder to have to wheel around to throw home. * Pollock just stood there at 3rd as Belli was tagged out.
Bazaar.
* The Mets didn’t execute it right, either, other than Báez looking Pollock back to 3rd. Alonzo was asleep at 1st. The first baseman should hold his ground until the catcher receives the pitch. After the pitch gets to the catcher, the first baseman should chase behind Bellinger to close the distance toward 2nd. When Belli stops and starts to retreat to 1st, Alonzo would be there to receive the throw from Báez on the move so he can take a couple of steps and tag the runner. The idea with 2 outs is to always tag that runner out before a breaking runner from 3rd can score. Alonzo was planted at 1st watching the rundown.
The whole play was a cluster.
Doc said after the game that it was a miscommunication by him.
He wanted just a straight steal by Belli.
Oh. If that’s the case my analysis is out the window, huh? I will say if it was a straight steal for Belli, how come when he pulled up short of 2nd, Pollock didn’t notice and switch to Plan B?
Cmon Phil, execution and fundamentals is sooo old school! It’s all about the long ball! The other stuff is so below these guys today!
My bad Cassidy. Sometimes I forget……..
On the bright side…
Bellinger crushed two balls today, but that last AB ruined an otherwise productive day as he chased 3 balls out of the zone.
Greene looked very rusty, but his velocity was good sitting 91-93 on that sinker. But, he really had control problems.
Feliz looked good with a lot of 95 and a little 96 and a good slider.
That’s it! It was pretty ugly right from the get go with Price giving up three with one hard hit ball. The defense was sub par, the umpire sucked and most of the balls that were scorched on a line right to a glove.
The Padres are 2-8 in their last 10 and Mookie won’t come off the DL until the last game of the series at the earliest. We have good pitching lined up and there’s plenty of bullpen arms available including the possibility of a Joe Kelly activation.
We’re 9-1 in our lest 10 and just 2.5 behind. Nothing to worry about.
I think Shane Greene revealed the downside of the Dodgers’ practice of claiming and signing so many struggling relievers, think that the Dodgers can work their magic. Dodgers could be headed for a new record on the number of RPs used in a season–but shouldn’t the quantity be tempered with more quality. (Should I mention Jake McGee again? He’s the one that got away–and a big reason the Dodgers are looking up at the Giants.)
This latest game reminded me how baseball often turns on small dramas.
–One was that botched quasi-steal by Bellinger, which Roberts said was his fault for miscommunication.
–Another was how Pollock’s throw was just a couple feet off line, enabling Baez to slide safely into second.
My 11-year-old is acutely aware of the “if onlies.” Pitching in his latest game, he faced a bases-loaded, two outs situation. Then, with two strikes, he threw a knee-level pitch over the plate, but the ump didn’t give him the call. His next pitch was, as they say, down Broadway. It went off Ollie’s glove in left and three runs scored.
If only he’d gotten the call, if only Ollie had made the catch…..
That’s baseball.
Why did Knack exit early?
They were guessing it was a hamstring issue on Twitter, but no definite word yet.
thx
The Dodgers are planning on reinstating Mookie Betts from the injured list on Thursday, per Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times. The outfielder has been dealing with hip pain all year and is currently in the midst of his second IL placement this season because of it. Despite the nagging hip situation, Betts has still been tremendously valuable when on the field. In 87 games this year, he’s hitting .277/.378/.521, for a wRC+ of 143. Getting him healthy will be a huge boost to the Dodgers as they attempt to chase down the Giants and make up the 2 1/2 games that separate them in the race for the NL West crown.
The Dodgers could also welcome Joe Kelly back into the fold this week, per Castillo. Kelly was placed on the IL without explanation on August 10th, but a source of Castillo’s confirmed that it was because of a positive COVID test. The righty has seemingly recovered, given that he started a rehab assignment on Friday. He’s done some quality work this year, throwing 29 2/3 innings of 3.34 ERA ball. The bullpen could use his fresh arm, since it’s recently put Garrett Cleavinger and Evan Phillips on the 10-day IL, as well as Jimmy Nelson going under the knife for season-ending Tommy John surgery earlier this month.