In light of losing ace Clayton Kershaw to the disabled list with a herniated disc in his lower back, the Dodgers announced on Thursday the acquisition of pitcher Bud Norris, minor league outfielder Dian Toscano, a player to be named later and cash from the Braves in exchange for minor league pitchers Caleb Dirks and Phil Pfeifer.
It almost feels like déjà vu all over again.
Last Tuesday, a brief scare occurred when starting pitcher Kenta Maeda took a line drive off his shin that left many pundits guessing who would fill the Japanese right-hander’s rotation turn should he miss a start.
Continue reading “Who Fills Empty Spot in Dodgers’ Starting Rotation?”
Because 19-year-old rookie Julio Urias was on a predetermined innings limit at the beginning of the season, the Dodgers‘ lefty could be on schedule to make only one more big league start in 2016, regardless of how well he performs his next time out.
Continue reading “Urías Still Improving, but Future Starts Are Numbered”
While starting pitcher Kenta Maeda was lying on the ground grimacing in pain after being hit by a line drive in Tuesday night’s game against the Diamondbacks, the initial thought that registered in the minds of many Dodgers‘ fans was the concern for the Japanese right-hander’s general well being.
However, after letting the situation digest and seeing that he needed assistance to leave the field, those same fans wondered who would be the next best starting pitcher to fill a rotation slot should Maeda need an extended period of time to heal.
Continue reading “Who is Dodgers’ Next Best Starting Pitching Option?”
If we all took a brief moment to drift back to this past offseason, many would find it tough to believe that the Dodgers are already dipping into the plentiful stash of pitching at the Triple-A level. After all, at the point when the calendar flipped to 2016, quite a few of the more impulsive fans were hastily calling for a trade of lefty starter Alex Wood.
Continue reading “The Current State of the Dodgers’ Starting Rotation”
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”
Several changes may be coming for the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff in the foreseeable future. With the peak of the hot stove season still about a month and change away, the club will utilize other avenues — most specifically, waiver claims, players returning from the disabled list, and promotions from the farm system — in hopes of creating a more effective corps of throwers.
Continue reading “Changes Ahead for Dodgers’ Pitching Staff”
(Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports)
After being probably the biggest question mark encompassing most of the Dodgers’ spring camp, manager Dave Roberts finally named the fifth starter in the pitching rotation Friday afternoon, announcing that 26-year old righty Ross Stripling will take the hill on April 8 against the Giants.
Continue reading “Ross Stripling Earns Dodgers’ Fifth Rotation Spot”
(Photo Credit: mlb.com)
During the final days leading up to the beginning of the 2016 Cactus League season, very few questions remained regarding how exactly the Dodgers’ 25-man roster would be constructed to start the regular season. Today, however, with each passing hour, some of the best Dodger bloggers in the business are finding it difficult to keep up with every single developing story that affects the team’s prospective roster.
Continue reading “Who Earns Fifth Spot in Dodgers Starting Rotation?”
(Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri/USA TODAY Sports)
After discussing the early progress of Japanese righty Kenta Maeda on Wednesday, today we’ll stay with the starting rotation, but change course a bit and have a quick peek at Dodgers’ left-hander Scott Kazmir.
Based on his first several outings of spring camp, the initial evaluations have not been good. Seeing a decrease in velocity and lack of consistent control, Kazmir may be creating feelings of apprehension among the Dodgers’ fan base, if only in the early stages of spring training.
Kazmir has made two “official” Cactus League starts so far, and the results have been dreadful. He’s tallied only 3-2/3 innings, surrendering 12 hits, two walks and seven earned runs, calculating to a 17.18 ERA and a 3.818 WHIP.
He was also able to work in a “B” game on Monday, facing a mix of White Sox major league and minor league hitters on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. Kazmir said his arm felt “great,” despite an ugly outcome.
Per Bill Shaikin of the LA Times:
“In the first inning, three of the first four batters got hits, and the Dodgers ended the inning because Kazmir had thrown enough pitches. In the second, two of the first three batters got hits, and the Dodgers ended that inning, too. In the third, Kazmir mostly abandoned his fastball, and he hit two batters on breaking pitches.”
Over the course of the first three weeks of spring training, his fastball has been measured at 84-88 MPH, after averaging over 93 MPH on his four-seamer in 2015.
“I’m not trying to overthrow. I’m still trying to build up arm strength,” Kazmir told Eric Stephen of True Blue LA. “That’s something that comes. You don’t try to let it go too much trying to get velocity. It’s about repeating delivery right now.”
He said he expects his velocity to increase as he builds arm strength over the next few weeks, and wants to continue to focus on sharpening his mechanics.
After the sim game on Monday, Kazmir told Stephen that developing a rhythm with his catchers is a point of emphasis for him during camp, and that he feels like he’s making progress.
“That’s what spring training is about, to have that relationship where he knows what I’m thinking and I know what he’s thinking. It’s at that point where we’re playing off each other, having a good rhythm, knowing how fast I like to work,” Kazmir said. “There are a lot of things in the pitcher-catcher relationship, and I feel like we ironed it out in the later innings.”
Despite the rough outings, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts isn’t concerned.
“With veterans you definitely give them a little bit more rope. With a guy that’s proven and he’s done it, time and time again,” Roberts said. “There’s definitely no concern right now, and he knows the adjustments he needs to make.”
Kazmir was signed to a three-year, $48 million contract in December, which also includes a player clause to opt out after only one season. The deal involves deferred money as well, consisting of three payments of $8 million each, spread out from 2019-2021.
At 20 years of age, Kazmir began his career in Tampa Bay with Andrew Friedman as his GM. Despite his young age, Kazmir quickly became one of the better left-handed starting pitchers in the American League, primarily relying on a mid-90s fastball coupled with an extremely effective slider.
Nagging injuries led to inconsistencies from 2008-2011, and eventually forced Kazmir out of MLB entirely. After logging endless hours of individual work and persevering through several independent and winter league seasons, Kazmir signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians before the 2013 season and eventually earned a spot in their big league rotation .
Since returning to the Majors, Kazmir, who turns 32 in January, has compiled a 3.54 ERA with a 8.1 K/9 and a 2.6 BB/9. In 2015, he was 7-11 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.208 WHIP in 31 starts between Oakland and Houston, recording 155 strikeouts and 59 walks in 183 innings of work.
Kazmir hopes to help the Dodgers fill the void left by All-Star hurler Zack Greinke, who left for Arizona and $206 million.
The Dodgers already have three starting pitchers, Brett Anderson, Hyun-jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy, set to begin the season on the disabled list. Frankie Montas, who may be utilized as a starter at some point in the future, is already on the 60-day disabled list after having rib resection surgery.
Alex Wood, who has had minor setbacks due to forearm soreness, is expected to start against the Royals on Thursday.
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