“Summer, it turns me upside down
Summer, summer, summer
It’s like a merry go round”
~The Cars
After four torturous days without Dodgers baseball, it is here — the first day of the second half. The first half felt long and tenuous at times, so I thought I’d take a quick look back at what I think are the Top Five highlights.
With 71 games remaining on the schedule and the hot stove just beginning to percolate, many fans of the Dodgers are wondering if the squad has what it takes to make a playoff run in the second half of the year — most specifically in the starting pitching department.
Continue reading “Can Dodgers Field a Formidable Starting Rotation for Playoffs?”
“Talk, talk is cheap
Give me a word you can keep
Cause you’re halfway gone and I’m on my way
And I’m feelin, feelin feelin this way”
~Lifehouse
This is only my first season writing about the Dodgers, and so far it has given me plenty of fodder. Between the injuries, and the losing streaks, and the injuries, and the Giants, and the injuries… it’s been quite the first half. It started off on such an amazing high, a 15-0 rout of the San Diego Padres. And then…There have been many, many references on my part to this team is the reason I drink. There has been quite the lively discussions among fans about everything from the rookie skipper Dave Roberts to the bullpen usage and everything in between. But more than anything, it has been defined by all the injuries.
It seems like it happens almost every year around this time — the front office crew of the Dodgers putting their heads together trying to decide whether the potentially positive traits around right-fielder Yasiel Puig outweigh those of the negative nature, and determining if the 25-year-old Cuban native fits into the long term plans of the club moving forward.
Continue reading “Yasiel Puig Trade Rumors Surfacing Yet Again”
Having been mired in a nasty slump for the entirety of the season’s first half, catcher Yasmani Grandal‘s bat came through in a big way on Friday night, rescuing the Dodgers from a three-game losing streak and propelling the club to a 10-6 win against the Padres at Dodger Stadium.
Continue reading “Dodgers’ Offense Could Soar if Grandal Stays Hot”
“Well you’re a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me
That’s okay, let’s see how you do it
Put up you dukes, let’s get down to it”
~Pat Benatar
Here we are, coming up on another “Midsummer Classic.” And, as a side show to the All-Star game, the Home Run Derby. This will be the third straight year that the Dodgers have had a participant. In 2014, Yasiel Puig did not hit a single home run. In 2015, Joc Pederson made it all the way to the finals before losing by one to winner Todd Frazier, then with the Cincinnati Reds. This year, the Dodgers’ participant is rookie extraordinaire Corey Seager. Seager is the seventh rookie to appear in the Derby, as well as the eighth Dodger player.
Although it’s no secret that the Dodgers have a keen interest in upgrading their bullpen as the trade deadline approaches, the club has been linked to Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce on several occasions, while many fans are left wondering where exactly an offensive upgrade of that nature would fit into the everyday lineup.
Continue reading “Should Dodgers Pursue Offensive Help at Trade Deadline?”
While most of Andre Ethier‘s time on the disabled list has been relatively quiet in terms of news surrounding the healing of his cracked tibia, Dodgers‘ manager Dave Roberts gave the media a brief update on Wednesday which revealed an August 2 target date of returning to the bigs.
Continue reading “Dodgers’ Ethier Eyeing Early August Return”
The Dodgers will take another step in attempting to bolster their starting rotation on Thursday when the club activates lefty Hyun-jin Ryu from the 60-day disabled list to start the series opener against the Padres.
Continue reading “Ryu Set for Thursday Start, Urías Likely Headed to OKC”
“You were pretty as can be, sitting in the front seat
Looking at me, telling me you love me
And your happy to be with me on the 4th of July”
~Shooter Jennings
It’s been four days since the news came that Clayton Kershaw would be put on the disabled list for his back. I’m definitely feeling better now than I did then. In those four days, all the Dodgers have done is win every game, allowing only one run from opposing teams, welcomed back a long lost starter, and gained a game on San Francisco Giants in the standings.
Think Blue Planning Committee 