Despite being under heavy scrutiny from both the media and the fans, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still among the contending squads in an underachieving National League West, but could find themselves slipping if some of their first quarter tendencies hold true through the early summer.
Continue reading “Dodgers Aim to Improve as Roster Decisions Loom”
Although it seems like he’s been around forever, it’s difficult to believe that lefty phenom Julio Urias is still only 19 years of age. Having begun his professional career with Low-A Great Lakes in 2013, the Dodgers‘ top pitching prospect has zipped to the peak of Triple-A Oklahoma City‘s starting rotation in less than three full seasons, and could be primed to make a big league appearance sooner than many think.
Continue reading “Can Julio Urías Save the Los Angeles Dodgers Bullpen?”
You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you? Don’t you?
~Carly Simon
As a fan, sometimes it feels as though the national media may be against your team. It really seemed that the ESPN Sunday Night game was very Cardinals heavy, and not so much about the Dodgers. I decided to go back through the game and time how much each team, and subsequent filler, were talked about.
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin’ just to find emotion
Hidin’ somewhere in the night
Going into the previous week, I was a little worried about how the Dodgers would be able to handle two good teams back-to-back, starting with a four-game series versus the defending National League Champion New York Mets, and the ever tough to play St. Louis Cardinals. And it ended up about as good as I could’ve hoped, with a split with the Mets and taking two of three from the Cards.
Julio Urias continued his domination of the Pacific Coast League on Saturday night, throwing six scoreless innings while surrendering only three hits and two walks, as Oklahoma City defeated Las Vegas, 1-0.
The 19-year-old southpaw struck out six opposing batters and extended his scoreless innings streak to 22 consecutive innings. He threw a total of 82 pitches, 51 of which were strikes. Urias also induced two double plays and picked two runners off first base — his third and fourth pickoffs over his last three starts.
Continue reading “Dodgers Prospects: Bellinger, Urias Stellar on Saturday”
In terms of perceived baseball chemistry, it’s not easy for the Dodgers to establish a sense of continuity when a different batting order appears on the lineup card almost nightly. Conversely, if the squad is winning, it makes the management team look brilliant. However, as soon as the club falls victim to any type of losing skid, the concept of the platoon and the sabermetric philosophy in general are trashed by the majority of the fans — without hesitation.
Continue reading “Are the Los Angeles Dodgers Platooning to the Extreme?”
“Nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby you’re the best”
~Carly Simon
A little something different on the blog tonight. I will be doing a play-by-play of sorts, following the game along from my point of view and that of DodgerFam on Twitter.
When a team is succeeding and winning at a very high rate, very few statistical aspects of the game are carefully analyzed under a microscope, at least by the fans. Yet when the same squad is underachieving or playing below a set level of expectations, constant scrutiny tends to soar to incredible levels.
Continue reading “Better Outfield Option: Trayce Thompson or Carl Crawford?”
If you’re a close follower of the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ minor league affiliates, you probably had a very busy evening Tuesday night. You were likely watching righty Zach Lee throw seven-plus innings of solid ball for Triple-A OKC, but if you happened to check on the High-A Quakes game to see Yaisel Sierra pitch or Alex Guerrero bat cleanup, the final at-bat in the eighth inning for shortstop Tim Locastro certainly provided the most excitement of all.
Continue reading “Dodgers Prospects: Quakes’ Locastro Hits for Cycle”
If the current five members of the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ starting rotation can find a way to battle and stay effective for about another four to six weeks, veteran help may be arriving to provide some much needed vigor and support. However, if one or more of the present starters takes a turn for the worse, the club may have to turn to the farm as an alternative in the interim.
Continue reading “Dodgers Injury Notes: McCarthy, Ryu Nearing Rehab Starts”
Think Blue Planning Committee 