Dodgers Prospects: Chase De Jong Poised for Success

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(Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo)

Even at the Double-A level, Dodgers’ pitching prospect Chase De Jong takes a very disciplined, Clayton Kershaw-like approach in the days leading up to his starts, spending hours in the video room analyzing opponents and developing strategies, which could quite easily set him apart from others around him.

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So Why Don’t You Slide

“Do you wake up on your own
And wonder where you are?
You live with all your faults”
~Johnny Rzeznik

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My first memories of Chase Utley are with the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Red Barons. The Red Barons were my local Triple-A affiliate and there was quite the crew there for awhile — in addition to Chase, there was also Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Shane Victorino. Utley was only in Scranton for a year, and even though I’m not a Phillies fan, I have always continued to follow him and the others throughout their careers.

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Four Pitchers Who Could Help the Dodgers’ Starting Rotation

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(Photo Credit: totalprosports.com)

While the 2016 season is only 28-games-old and still extremely young, the Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning to establish a bit of a defined identity on paper as several areas of weakness and need are already becoming visible.

A few other departments could actually be considered worse off than the starting rotation, yet in order for the Dodgers to demonstrate their ability to contend throughout the year, one or two starting pitchers may need to be added sooner rather than later.

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Dodgers Prospects: De León, Urias Impressive in Succession

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(Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo)

Just one day after the second-best pitching prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization struck out nine batters and threw five innings of shutout ball, the highest ranked player on the farm tossed six brilliant frames of near-perfect baseball.

Perhaps fueled by the friendly fire of competition, Julio Urias went six very strong innings in an early affair on Wednesday, striking out six batters and allowing no runs, hits or walks.

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Dodgers Injury Notes: Van Slyke, Ethier, Guerrero & More

Scott Van Slyke
(AP Photo/Al Behrman)

With the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ disabled list count still in double digits, numerous injury reports are finally beginning to emerge which indicate time frames for the returns of several key players.

While it would have been very handy to have outfielder Scott Van Slyke available early this week to DH against the Rays’ lefty tandem of Matt Moore and Drew Smyly, manager Dave Roberts told the media that Van Slyke’s back is still about a week away from sustaining any type of baseball related activities.

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Mr(s) Brightside 

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This was a craptastic, forgettable week for the Dodgers. I, your resident source of Optimism and Sunshine, will recap only the good and beautiful from the past week. It may be a short post.

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Kershaw Shines as Dodgers Snap Six-Game Losing Skid

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(Photo Credit: RealTalkSportsMania)

It only took Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers (mostly Kershaw) two hours and seven minutes to halt a disastrous six game losing streak on Sunday afternoon, while at the same time preventing the Padres from completing the three game sweep in Los Angeles.

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Stripling, Dodgers Strive for Redemption Against Padres

USP MLB: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AT LOS ANGELES DODGE S [BBA OR BBN] USA CA
April 14, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Ross Stripling (68) throws in the first inning against Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Often criticized during the initial month of the 2016 campaign, Alex Wood couldn’t have thrown any better against the Padres on Friday night. The lefty starter lasted seven strong innings and scattered only five hits and a walk, while allowing just one earned run and striking out a season-high nine batters.

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Frustration Mounting Amongst Dodgers Fans

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(Photo Credit: flickr.com)

Prior to the start of the four-game series against the Marlins, the Dodgers boasted a respectable 12-7 record atop the NL West, while Miami was struggling at 6-11 and dwelling in the cellar of the NL East.

At the same time, the pitching matchups seemed to favor Los Angeles — surely the combination of Ross Stripling, Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda would yield a series win, if not a sweep, against the lowly Marlins.

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Zach Lee, Julio Urias to Split Time Against Storm Chasers

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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

In what is turning out to be a very curious development in Omaha, the Oklahoma City Dodgers have decided to split time between righty Zach Lee and lefty Julio Urias on Thursday evening.

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