Dodgers Notes From Monday's Game 5/31/2010

Memorial Day Game

Dodgers 5, Arizona 4

Box Score.

Walk-Off Balk! Thank You Kelly Johnson!

• Chad Billingsley went innings 8 very, very good innings (4 ER, 6 Hits, 11 K, 0 BB, 3 HR Allowed, 120 pitches - 82 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 2 K, 0 BB, 1 WP.
• Manny Ramirez hit his 4th HR of the season.
• Matt Kemp stole his 7th base of the season.
• Kemp (Double, 2 Singles) reached base 3 times, and Rafael Furcal (Double, Single) reached base twice.
• Andre Ethier was activated from the 15-day DL, healed enough from his pinkie injury. He failed to reach base in all 4 of his plate appearances. Xavier Paul was sent back to AAA, even though anyone with a brain or access to a computer knows Garret Anderson should have been designated for assignment. This is ridiculously ridiculous. Not unexpected, but awfully awful.
• The offense struck out 4 times, drew 2 walks, and had 3 extra-base hits.

[Image via DodgerBobble]

Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 5/30/2010

Dodgers 4, Colorado 3


Box Score.

• Clayton Kershaw went 5 innings (2 ER, 4 Hits, 9 K, 4 BB, 1 Hit Batter, 1 WP, 98 pitches - 60 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 4 IP, 1 Unearned Run, 1 Hit, 4 K, 1 BB. 4 Relievers.
• Matt Kemp (Double, BB), Rafael Furcal (2 Singles), and Xavier Paul (Single, BB) each reached base twice.
• The defense was charged with another 3 errors, and also lost a ball in the sun. There were a couple of nice defensive plays made though, one by Kemp and one by Paul.
• The offense struck out 9 times, walked twice, and had 3 extra-base hits.
• Scott Elbert was returned to AAA after his messy season debut on Saturday, and Travis Schlichting was called up to take his place.

[AP Photo Credit]

Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 5/23/2010

R.I.P. Jose Lima, who died at 37 earlier today. #LimaTime

Detroit 6, Dodgers 2

Box Score.

• Hiroki Kuroda went 6 innings (3 ER, 6 Hits, 5 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 88 pitches - 60 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 3 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed.
• Russell Martin (Single, BB), Blake DeWitt (2 Singles), Xavier Paul (2 Singles), Jamey Carroll (2 Singles), Garret Anderson (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
  
• The offense struck out 4 times, walked 3 times, and had 0 extra-base hits.
• Garrett Anderson started in left and batted sixth. Neither of those things should happen. Ever.
  

Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 5/22/2010

Dodgers 6, Detroit 4

Box Score.

• John Ely, coming in having not walked any of the last 84 batters he's faced, had his streak end at 89 batters in the first inning. He ended up going 6 solid innings (2 ER, 8 Hits, 3 K, 1 BB, 83 pitches - 57 for strikes), rebounding nicely from a rough go around in the 1st inning.

• Bullpen: 3 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 K, 2 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 1 Hit Batter.
• Matt Kemp hit his 9th HR, while Casey Blake hit his 6th HR of the season.
• Blake (HR, 2 Singles) and Xavier Paul (2 Singles, BB) each reached base 3 times, while Kemp (HR, Double) and James Loney (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
• The offense struck out 6 times, drew 2 walks, and clubbed 4 extra-base hits.
  

Dodgers Notes From Wednesday's Game 5/19/2010

San Diego 10, Dodgers 5

Box Score.

• Ramon Ortiz was atrocious again, getting pulled after 3.1 innings (5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 K, 3 BB [1 IBB], 1 Balk, 76 pitches - 45 for strikes). He's still on the team. Why, exactly? #ReleaseOrtiz
• Bullpen: 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 4 K, 5 BB [1 IBB], 2 HR Allowed, 1 WP, 1 Hit Batter. 4 Relievers.
• Casey Blake hit his 5th HR.
• Another Dodger goes down pregame: Manny Ramirez injured his left foot and was scratched, striking out in a pinch-hitting capacity. He's day-to-day.
• Russell Martin (Double, BB, HBP) and Blake (HR, 2 Singles) reached base 3 times, while Xavier Paul (Double, Single), Jamey Carroll (Single, BB), and Reed Johnson (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
• The offense struck out 5 times, drew 2 walks, and had 4 extra-base hits.
• The Padres stole 4 bases off of Martin and the pitching staff. Somehow Matt Stairs had a stolen base. I'm sad I missed what must have been awkward, clumsy, painful-looking glory.

Dodgers Notes From Tuesday's Game 5/18/2010

Dodgers 7, Houston 3

ANDRE ETHIER BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT

Box Score.

• Hiroki Kuroda went 6 innings (3 ER, 7 Hits, 2 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 96 pitches - 62 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 3 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 2 K, 0 BB.
• Casey Blake hit his 4th HR.
• James Loney stole his 6th base of the season.
• Matt Kemp (Double, Single, BB) and Blake (HR, 2 Singles) reached base 3 times, while Manny Ramirez (Single, BB) and Loney (Single, BB) each reached base twice.
• The offense struck out 5 times, drew 5 walks, and had 2 extra-base hits.
• Andre Ethier officially hit the DL, but at least that unfortunate news was followed by the Dodgers doing the correct thing, which I and many others had called for: Xavier Paul was recalled and started in right.

Andre Ethier Injury Fallout

With the news that Andre Ethier fractured his pinkie, the likely, and smart outcome, is a DL stint. There's no reason to send Ethier out with an injured finger, which Dre himself has said would be affected when holding the bat (via True Blue L.A.):

"It's a flexion thing,'' he said. "I kind of position that pinky right above the knob, and it's a leverage point in my swing.''

The next question is who replaces Andre in the line-up. Garret Anderson, Reed Johnson, and Xavier Paul are the options. Though Paul has spent most of the year in AAA, this is an extremely easy decision.

Anderson's OBP .161, Johnson checks in at .233, and Paul sports the high-water mark at .323. Paul is also the best defender, has an absolute cannon for an arm, can play all three outfield positions well, and has upside, even though his best chance to start would be as a one-year gap filler until other prospects are ready to advance.

Johnson is a decent 4th OF, and Anderson is, of course, awful. He's a bad defender, can't hit, doesn't get on-base, has never walked, and is a walking corpse of a man.

Do the right thing Joe, and start Xavier Paul, assuming his injury suffered the same day as Ethier's wasn't serious. And if by chance it was bad enough to prevent him from coming up and playing, start Johnson.

Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 5/8/2010

Colorado 8, Dodgers 0

Box Score.

• Charlie Haeger, back in the rotation after a stint of literally just sitting in the bullpen, followed by a blowout long-relief appearance, did not record an out and was pulled after 4 batters (5 ER, 2 Hits, 0 K, 3 BB, 22 pitches - 8 for strikes). Ramon Ortiz was equally unappealing in relief.
• Haeger may have just signed his pink slip, though I would still keep him over Ortiz.
• Bullpen: 9 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 10 K, 2 BB. 4 Relievers.
• Manny Ramirez returned after a 15-day DL stint with a right calf injury and singled. As mentioned yesterday, Xavier Paul returned to AAA Albuquerque and Garret Anderson remained the luckiest man on the face of the Earth, employed for another day. Hopefully not with the Dodgers for much longer.
• Andre Ethier (Double, 2 Singles) reached base 3 times.
• The offense struck out 7 times, walked 2 times, and had 1 extra-base hit.
• It appears someone will be DL'd, phantom injury or otherwise, to allow John Ely to be recalled and start Tuesday. Unless I'm missing something, which is quite possible. I guess Jeff Weaver could start even with having thrown an inning tonight, but two days rest is a recipe for awful. Either way, lot of dead weight on the team right now. But they're veterans, so it's seasoned dead weight.
• Iron Man 2 was pretty good, so that's a positive for the day.

Ned Colletti Trashes Another Young Dodgers Player

A bit less publicly this time around, but still, Ned continues to show that he has no idea what constitutes a productive player or what logical team-building entails.

Blame me? No, it was that young productive player's fault.

Veterans, they're veterans you know. 

After choosing to send Xavier Paul to AAA instead of the atrocious Garret Anderson (at the risk of losing Anderson on waivers - oh what a gift shame that would be), in order to activate Manny Ramirez from the DL, Colletti informed Paul of why he was the player on the short end of the stick. Via Ken Gurnick (and thanks to Josh S. for pointing me towards this article), Colletti told Paul:

 Paul said he was told by general manager Ned Colletti to work on his mental approach to the game "and being a big leaguer."

For those of you who believe confidence is a key and something that can be lost in young players easily, this certainly can't help.

Paul said upon hearing the news:

"I don't fit here right now, that's it," Paul said after being consoled by teammates Casey Blake and Matt Kemp. "Right now, I just don't cut it here."

At least his mindset going forward is strong:

"As a player, I have to respect that. It's his team. At the end of the day, my thought is to keep working hard and keep playing like every day is my last. I know the situation with Manny coming back tomorrow. It is what it is. It's a decision they have to make." 

What exactly constitutes a "big leaguer". Because Paul can play all three outfield positions, has a cannon for an arm, can steal a base, has some pop in his bat, a solid eye at the plate, and clearly has room to grow and improve. Garret Anderson, on the other hand, has proven over his long career that getting on-base is not something he excels at, there's no room for growth, he's not suddenly going to find the fountain of youth, and oh yeah, he's horrid on both sides of the ball now. Paul's OBP is .323, Anderson's is .167 in 17 more plate appearances. Paul has earned a roster spot, Anderson has not.

So tell me Ned, if Paul has to work on his mental approach, why not tell Anderson to work on his being a productive player approach? Oh yes, I forgot, you won't do that, because Anderson is a veteran, and if you criticize him or cut him, it makes you look bad.

And all this time, I thought it was the General Manager's job to put together a team with the best chance of making the playoffs. I thought it was his job to put together a team that would win games.

Silly me.

Garret Anderson Stays With Team, Xavier Paul Back To AAA

Jimmy Bramlett, via Twitter, reports awful news: Garret Anderson will keep his job while Xavier Paul is optioned back to AAA to make room on the 25-man roster for the return of Manny Ramirez.

Fuck you Dodgers, fuck you.

FUCK YOU!

Dodgers Notes From Friday's Game 5/7/2010

Dodgers 6, Rockies 5

Box Score.

• Hiroki Kuroda went 5.1 innings in his worst start of the season (5 Runs [4 ER], 9 Hits, 3 K, 5 BB [2 IBB], 1 Throwing Error, 96 pitches - 56 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 3.2 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 4 K, 2 BB.
• Matt Kemp stole his 4th base, while Xavier Paul swiped his 3rd.
• Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless 9th, whiffing 2, to nail down his second save. He has an otherworldly 18:1 K:BB ratio through 10.2 IP.
• Andre Ethier (Double, Single), Russell Martin (Single, BB), Casey Blake (Double, Single), Paul (Double, BB), and Jamey Carroll (Double, Single) all reached base twice.
• The offense struck out 7 times, walked 2 times, and had 5 extra-base hits.

Dodgers Notes From Thursday's Game 5/6/2010

Dodgers 7, Milwaukee 3

Box Score.

• John Ely, making his second major league appearance and start, went 6.2 excellent innings (1 ER, 4 Hits, 7 K, 0 BB, 108 pitches - 72 for strikes). He should get another start.
• Bullpen: 2.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 K, 0 BB, 1 WP.
• Andre Ethier hit his 10th HR of the season, a walk-off grand slam. #GayForDre! #DreDoesItAgain!
• Xavier Paul stole his 2nd base of the season.
• Ethier (HR, Single, BB) and Paul (Double, Single, BB) reached base 3 times, while Matt Kemp (2 BB), Blake DeWitt (Single, BB), Casey Blake (2 BB), and Jamey Carroll (Double, Single) each reached base twice.
• The offense struck out 7 times but also coaxed 7 walks.
• HOFer Dave Winfield, as well as actor Dennis Haysbert, were in attendance. Major League and 24, two great works of art. Pedro Cerrano and President David Palmer FTW!

Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 5/2/2010

Dodgers 9, Pittsburgh 3

Box Score.

• Hiroki Kuroda went 8 very good innings (1 ER, 5 Hits, 3 K, 1 BB, 1 WP, 97 pitches - 70 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 1 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 K, 1 BB.
• Andre Ethier hit his 8th and 9th HRs of the season.
• Blake DeWitt (2 Doubles, 2 Singles) reached base 4 times, Matt Kemp (Double, Single, BB), Ethier (2 HR, Single), James Loney (Double, 2 Singles), and Jamey Carroll (2 Singles, BB) each reached base 3 times, while Xavier Paul (Triple, Single) reached base twice.
• The offense struck out 6 times, walked just twice, but clubbed 7 extra-base hits.
• Ethier drove in 4 runs and DeWitt knocked in 3 during his perfect 4-4 day at the plate.
• Kemp made a great diving catch in left-center.
  
• Why was Ronald Belisario brought in to get one out when the score is 9-3? If George Sherrill, or anyone for that matter, can't get one out with a 6-run lead, they shouldn't be anywhere near a major league roster or field. Just more proof that Joe Torre can't manage a pitching staff, specifically a bullpen. I'm just shocked he didn't bring in Ramon Troncoso to get the out, what with his 896-game pace he finds himself on.
  

Dodgers Notes From Friday's Game 4/30/2010

Dodgers 6, Pittsburgh 2

UCLA Night.

Box Score.

• Chad Billingsley went 6 effective innings (2 ER, 6 Hits, 4 K, 3 BB [1 IBB], 97 pitches - 57 for strikes).
  
• Bullpen: 3 IP, 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 3 K, 1 BB.
• Andre Ethier (6) and James "Road" Loney (1) each homered. It's a rare occasion when James homers, especially at home. He did it all of once last season, so it's progress I suppose. Progress in his OBP would be a better area to improve upon.
• Loney (HR, 2 Singles, BB) reached base 4 times, while Jamey Carroll (Single, IBB) reached base twice.
  
• Xavier Paul correctly got the start in left and batted lead-off, though Russell Martin makes the most sense in that spot right now. Paul stole his first base of the season, singled, and came around to score 2 runs.
  
• Matt Kemp had a rough night at the plate, going 0-4 with 3 Ks.
• The offense struck out 9 times and only drew 2 walks.
  

Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 4/25/2010

Washington 1, Dodgers 0

Box Score.

• Chad Billingsley was very, very good over 6 innings (1 ER, 4 Hits, 5 K, 2 BB [1 IBB], 86 pitches - 55 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 2 IP, O Runs, O Hits, 2 K, 1 BB.
• Casey Blake (Double, Single) and James Loney (2 Singles) reached base twice.
• Garret Anderson: 0-4, 3 K. -- FREE XAVIER PAUL --
• Andre Ethier and Blake DeWitt, with the Nats throwing a lefty, got the day off.
• The Dodgers loaded the bases on 3 consecutive singles with one out in the 1st inning, then followed that with a K and flyout.
• The offense drew 1 walk while striking out 9 times.
• With the players he decided to suit up today, I thought Joe Torre put together a good lineup, keeping the low-OBP guys down at the bottom of the order. Russell Martin in the 2-hole was nice, though in reality I'd like to see him leading off with a hot Rafael Furcal second, and a stumbling Furcal in the 8-hole.
  

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Some site changes, look-wise, the next day or so. At least that's the plan.

Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 4/24/2010

Dodgers 4, Washington 3

Box Score.

• Clayton Kershaw went 6 innings (2 ER, 8 Hits, 6 K, 3 BB, 1 WP, 1 Balk, 111 pitches - 69 for strikes). A fielding miscue added on at least a dozen pitches, but another good outing from Clayton.
  
• Bullpen: 7 IP, 1 Run [0 ER], 6 Hits, 5 K, 0 BB, 1 Hit Batter.
• Carlos Monasterios pitched very well over the final 2.2 innings allotted to him, and in doing so saved us from Ramon Ortiz trying to close out a game.
  
• Casey Blake knocked out his 2nd and 3rd HRs of the season.
• Rafael Furcal stole his 8th base, while Russell Martin stole his 1st base of the season.
  
• Blake (2 HRs, Single) and Furcal (Triple, Single, BB) reached base 3 times, while Matt Kemp (2 Singles), Andre Ethier (Single, IBB), and James Loney (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
  
• Martin and Furcal made bad errors, as the Dodger defense continues to struggle mightily.
  
• Xavier Paul got the start in left for the injured Manny Ramirez, seeing his first action of the young season. I had hoped for this to happen, and hopefully it will continue to happen over the extent of Manny's DL stint. Xavier should really be in RF though, with Ethier in LF. A nice relay from XP to cut down a runner at third and save a run.
• I'm not a fan of EVER double-switching out your best player.
• The offense struck out 8 times while drawing just 2 walks, one of them intentional.
  

Dodger Roster Moves Weekend Roundup: Manny Ramirez, Xavier Paul, Hong-Chih Kuo & More!

Reviewing recent roster moves made by the club, we find:

Manny Ramirez heads to the 15-day DL due to a right calf strain. Xavier Paul has been recalled to take ManRam's place, though it is likely he will serve in a reserve role and spell the tandem of Garrett Anderson and Reed Johnson, with Anderson likely to get the bulk of the playing time.

I would personally like to see Paul get the majority of the starts over the next 2 week. Highest upside, clearly, and what's the point of calling him up to be a reserve when he could be playing full-time in AAA? Isn't that the reason why he wasn't our 4th OF to begin the season? Paul's AAA numbers: .361/.409/.574/.983 through 15 Games and 66 plate appearances.

FREE XAVIER PAUL

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Ronald Belisario returns, and Jon Link heads back to AAA after making one appearance and throwing 2 scoreless innings. Link looked good, and will probably see time up in the show again this season, certainly when rosters expand, if not sooner.

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Hong-Chih Kuo returned from elbow issues, while a corresponding move saw Jeff Weaver head to the disabled list with a strained lower back.

Dodgers Notes From Friday's Game 4/23/2010

Washington 5, Dodgers 1

Box Score.

• Charlie Haeger went 5.1 IP (4 Runs [3 ER], 5 Hits, 3 K, 2 BB, 2 HR Allowed, 110 pitches - 67 for strikes). Two HRs from Adam Dunn did him in, but there's no shame in being taken yard by Dunn. Dunn's first long-ball was truly a majestic shot.
• Bullpen: 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, O K, 4 BB. All Ramon Ortiz, still hanging on to that valuable roster spot.
  
• Ronnie Belliard (2 Singles, BB) reached base 3 times, while Blake DeWitt (Double, IBB) reached twice.
• Matt Kemp did not reach base, the first time all season he has failed to reach base in a game.
• Manny Ramirez hit the 15-day DL due to his right calf injury, and is replaced on the roster by Xavier Paul.
• Russell Martin and Casey Blake had the day off. Both made appearances late in the contest as pinch-hitters.
• The offense drew just 2 walks, one of which was intentional.
  

Three More Optioned To AAA

Xavier Paul, A.J. Ellis, and Chin-lung Hu were optioned to AAA Albuquerque after Saturday's preseason game.

Ellis's optioning means Russ Martin will in fact be ready for Opening Day on Monday, though Joe Torre admits Martin "may still be a little behind on the offensive side".

Brian Giles? It Just Never Ends

The Dodgers have signed Brian Giles - Brian Giles?!?! - to a minor league, 1-year deal. Invitation to Spring Training included.

I really don't know what to say anymore, and I've stopped guessing what the hell Ned Colletti is trying to do. My initial thought: Xavier Paul, Brian Barton, Jason Repko, Reed Johnson.

Giles, 39 and a native of El Cajon, CA, has played for 15 seasons, splitting time between Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and San Diego.

The career numbers are actually quite impressive: .400 OBP, .502 SLG %, 136 OPS+. The man knows how to take a walk. All of this would have been great, if not for the fact that he's 39. Oh, and he may have beat his girlfriend, while pregnant, causing her to miscarry. Lovely.