The Dodgers reopen the 2016 season and resume play with a three game weekend series at Arizona against the Dbacks. The boys in blue have a 51-40 record and are in second place in the NL West, 6.5 games behind the Giants. The Dodgers also lead the NL Wild Card race by 2.5 games. The Dodgers will begin their quest to catch the Giants and win their fourth consecutive NL West division title. Otherwise they would have to earn one of the two wild card spots to reach the playoffs. The Dodgers have lined up their rotation and are ready to come out guns blazing to start the second half of the season.
They’ll begin that journey by giving the ball to Bud Norris in the opening game. Norris is making his third start with the Dodgers. In his last start he allowed three earned runs on three hits over five innings against Baltimore. Overall he’s 4-7 with a 3.98 ERA. He’s pitched well with the Dodgers, tossing 11 innings and allowing just three earned runs on eight hits with 13 strikeouts against 3 walks.
Norris has posted a 2.45 ERA in two starts with the Dodgers. Norris is 0-1 this year against Arizona and has never defeated the Dbacks. The veteran has always struggled against the Snakes and is winless in 8 career starts against the Dbacks. Norris has a 0-7 record with a 13.92 ERA. This includes 23 walks and 22 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched. Norris is 0-4 with a 15.07 ERA at Chase Field. Hopefully he leaves all that terrible pitching in the past.
Dodgers Lineup @ Arizona
Tonight’s Dodger lineup at D-backs:
Kendrick LF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
González 1B
Puig RF
Van Slyke CF
Grandal C
Taylor 2B
Norris P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 15, 2016
Bud Norris-4-7 vs. Patrick Corbin-4-7
Game Time – 6:40 PM – TV – SNLA
Norris vs. Dbacks
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 20 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | .278 | .350 | .444 | .794 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Ellis | 18 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .188 | .235 | .375 | .610 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Justin Turner | 17 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .400 | .471 | .400 | .871 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Van Slyke | 16 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .500 | .750 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 9 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .444 | .444 | .444 | .889 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Yasiel Puig | 9 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .778 | 1.111 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .000 | .111 | .000 | .111 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trayce Thompson | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Hyun-jin Ryu | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .667 | .667 | 1.333 | 2.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Utley | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .500 | .333 | .833 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenta Maeda | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Taylor | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 120 | 111 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 7 | 16 | .288 | .331 | .432 | .763 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
The Snakes will counter with left hander Patrick Corbin. The ace has struggled this season. He’s made 18 starts and posted a 4-7 record with a 4.94 ERA. Corbin has struck out 75 and walked 41 over 105.2 innings pitched while registering a 1.4 WHIP. Corbin has faced the Dodgers twice this season. The first time was on April 12 when he defeated the Dodgers 4-2. The second start he lost on June 15. Overall Corbin is 3-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 10 career starts against the Dodgers.
Corbin vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Rickie Weeks | 20 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | .313 | .450 | .688 | 1.138 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Michael Bourn | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .100 | .182 | .100 | .282 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Welington Castillo | 10 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .444 | .500 | .556 | 1.056 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Segura | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .143 | .143 | .143 | .286 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Paul Goldschmidt | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Ahmed | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | 1.500 | 2.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Drury | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 3.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shelby Miller | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 55 | 49 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 16 | .265 | .345 | .469 | .815 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
We should all be thankful right now for where the Dodgers are at. Because it could have been a hell of a lot worse. Yes being 6.5 games behind the Giants is annoying, but considering the alternative. Look at the Snakes. The DBacks are 38-52 and sit in last place in the NL West. They’ve had a truly miserable season. The Dodger’s miseries only lasted for two months.
The Dback’s miseries have lasted all season long. Zack Greinke got off to a slow start. The Dbacks recently announced the shocking news about the demotion of Shelby Miller to triple-A. The Dbacks gave up their top two prospects including the number one overall pick in the 2015 draft along with outfielder Ender Inciarte to acquire Miller and he’s been one of the worst pitchers in baseball. They lost center fielder A.J. Pollack for most of the season after he broke his elbow, and other hurlers like Rubby De La Rosa, and Patrick Corbin have struggled as well. Honestly, we can’t complain.
Then there is the news that Clayton Kershaw and Joc Pederson should be returning soon. Kershaw threw a 60-pitch bullpen session in Los Angeles on Wednesday and feels a lot better. The Dodgers are not going to force Kershaw to throw in a rehab game, he’s likely to rejoin the rotation next Thursday during the Washington series. Joc is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment and can return to the club on Tuesday in Washington as well.
Other Dodgers nearing returns include, Alex Wood, Brett Anderson, Yimi Garcia, and outfielder Andre Ethier. For Ethier, he’ll get another bone scan and if that comes back clean he’ll be ready to resume baseball activities. Rehab games loom in the future for pitchers Anderson, Wood, and Garcia. If the Dodgers get healthy and it looks like they are, then anything is possible. That includes a late season run at those jerk face Giants. Let’s continue to be positive as the Dodgers kick off the second half in style.
Go Blue!
I find it interesting that many her rail on Yasmani Grandal and then Houston Street (who is not a FAZ fan) says this about him and the Kemp trade:
Dec. 18, 2014: Traded catcher Tim Federowicz, outfielder Matt Kemp and cash to San Diego for pitcher Zach Elfin, catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitcher Joe Wieland. Let’s talk about Kemp for a moment. Yes, he drove in 100 runs last season, but by almost any metric, he was the worst defensive player in baseball. He is still brutal defensively and he has an on-base percentage of .275 this season. Of the 20 NL players who have played at least 20 games in right field, he is ranked 18th in WAR at -0.3. Meanwhile, Grandal is in the top half of every offensive category for NL catchers except batting average. Plus, he is solid defensively. Grade: B.
Houston Street? Top half in every offensive category except average…not showing off, not falling behind. Solid C.
Must have been Street as Mark just told us he’s 100% accurate. Coincidence that Mitchell said the exact same thing.
Grandal in the top half of every offensive category but hitting. Imagine what he could do if he could hit.
So, many people degrade Grandal, but Houston Mitchell says that the trade of Kemp for Grandal is a B. I say that Grandal’s best days are ahead and if they are, that might be an A!
The Gordon deal looked bad until we found out he was roided up. Let’s see what he does when he comes back. If he goes back to his pre-roid stats, that puts an entirely different spin on it doesn’t it? Add in the fact that Hatcher is a 2nd half pitcher (1.95 ERA the second half last year) and it’s a different dynamic. Then, we still have Hernandez and Barnes left from that deal. What they will be is long from decided.
FAZ signed Blanton and Maeda and Kaz (OK, he hasn’t been good… yet) and traded for Liberatore, Norris, Utley, Montas, Kendrick and Thompson and refused to trade De Leon, Urias and Seager. The farm is absolutely loaded and starting to produce a long, long, long line of players.
Yes, the first half was marred by the fact that the team lost more man days to the DL than any team in baseball. Yet, we are in the thick of it. The Cubs hit their skid – the Giants will too! We are getting healthy and have only two bad contracts left (A-Gon and Etheir), one of which will be gone next year.
I do not like Kasten and Guggs, but what FAZ has done is a stroke of genius. They have kept the team competitive while building a “monster!” Those of you who think FAZ’s job is in jeopardy need some serious help. The truth is 180! Of course, genius is not well received by the masses.
I shall end with what Jonathan Swift said:
“When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”
“They say we learn from our mistakes so I’m making as many as possible. Soon I’ll be a GENIUS!” Andy Friedman 2016
Who is it on this team that has actually kept the team competitive? Most of them were already here. We won’t know if these FAZ guys are pure genius or purulent geniculates for some time. What we do know is the Dodgers flamed miserably with their hand picked Game 3 pitchers combining for an 18.00 ERA, and while the giants signed Cueto we signed Kazmir. Yeah, the farm is stacked, and being stacked is very sexy, but what happens on the farm stays on the farm. Do it in Big League cities and I’ll be a believer.
Could you please identify the nine so I can follow?
Seager
AGon
Utley
Turner
Puig?
Kendrick?
Pederson?
?
?
You’ve got them. Check out Dodger WAR leaders. Add Jansen. I’m watching news as I tried to type that. My apologies if not totally accurate. The point of course is our best players were here when FAZ arrived. As as been pointed out by MANY for months, the additions are mostly peripheral ML players and prospects. If Ethier was healthy, as he was last year, he too would be on the list.
Well, FAZ didn’t trade them so now they are theirs.
I want to see who Mattingly plays, when Gordon comes back.
The kid taking his place right now, is batting in the three hundreds, and plays good defense at second.
As smart as you are Mark and you mis spell Ethier? tsk tsk
In Mark’s defense, I don’t believe he ever said he was smart. He said we were all stupid.
My bad
If I have my numbers correct we won 18 of the final 27 games before the break. That is a .667 winning rate. That is the reason we have our current record. Now can we keep winning at that rate? That’s easy NO. But that’s OK. The more important question is can we avoid a losing streak of that rate during these final 71 games? Can the Dodgers avoid losing 20 out of 30? Mediocre teams go through those stretches. Even good teams have them. We shall see…and keep our fingers crossed!
Artie boy
I think the fact that the Dodgers are playing so well, is because the Giants, are playing really well.
I think the Dodger’s players, are doing everything they can, to stay with the Giants.
Wow – so we are back to the personal insults and non sequiturs in lieu of normal discussion. Great.
I thought that Houston Mitchell’s chronology of some of the moves made by the Braintrust was pretty fair. I thought that Mitchell gave them the benefit of the doubt on some occasions. I also note that the millions of waiver pick-ups and releases and all of the Cubans weren’t discussed.
The Braintrust has added a few pieces that have contributed. They have made very few impact deals. They have largely stood pat which you would expect of the management of a team which has had winning seasons, but they have not made the moves necessary to put the team over the top in 2015 or 2016.
I can see why many believe that the Braintrust is playing for 2018 and not for 2016. I am not as sanguine about the future as some here as I don’t have the faith that the Braintrust will add the big pieces to the kids that will come up from the minors over the next few years necessary to win. They have not done so yet; they didn’t do so in their earlier stops (except Anthopolous with Toronto).
I do not believe that the Braintrust has built a “monster” – I see very few position player top prospects – no one of the moment of Chris Bryant, Bryce Harper, et al. And of course, NOT ALL PROSPECTS MAKE IT. Obtaining real major leaguers once in a while would be helpful.
Look at that the Bosox just did – they got a top notch major league starter for it’s top pitching prospect. They have traded a maybe for a sure thing. That’s what you do some time when you are actually trying to win.
I agree with your assessment. I know the farm is loaded with a ton of pitching prospects, but until they make an impact at the major league level that is all they are..prospects….there are few top notch position guys, and none really at AAA where they could be of immediate help. I feel that they are more concerned with winning down the road than winning now. That is one reason I doubt they come up with an Elite player at the deadline. That of course is my opinion and I do not expect everyone to agree….
Pomeranz is a top notch major league starter, now? OK. A sure thing? Maybe… What is the highest number of innings he has pitched? 102 and that is THIS season. It’s likely he will hit that wall this year and his BABIP is unusually low. He might be a nice acquisition but half a season does not make him a sure thing by any stretch of the imagination. He has had a nice half season – that’s it!
Insofar as IMPACT DEALS – IT AIN’T HAPPENING UNLESS they can find a reasonable trade partner. Pure and Simple – they are not trading top prospects! Once the farm starts producing, they will add what is necessary, except stupid contracts (i.e., long term to aging vets).
The Cubans can’t be evaluated for 2-3 years – the same with the Cueto and Greinke “non-signings.” Let’s see how that works out in 2 to 3 years….
That is all MCCarthy had, a half season.
Yes, and we didn’t lose our top pitching prospect for him…
Why suddenly are you saying 2-3 years? You’ve been the 95 win now guy since the Moneyball takeover. Coming to your senses?
Nah.
I have said from Jump Street that Cueto and Greinke were bad long term contracts. I am not saying anything different now. Let’s see how those two deals look in 2 -3 years. I’m not suddenly saying 2-3 years – I’ve always said that contracts aren’t evaluated after just one year. That is just logic and reason – something you evidently don’t know about.
I have enough trouble spelling Ethier and Mitchel – don’t make $hit up!
For the record, here is what I predicted on February 15th:
1. Puig returns to his rookie form;
2. Pederson is the Joc of the first half;
3. Utley returns to form;
4. Grandal is healthy;
5. Ryu is healthy;
6. McCarthy is healthy;
7. Madea stays healthy;
8. Kazmir is healthy;
9. Wood returns to his ATL form;
10.Seager is s budding superstar;
11.Ethier or Crawford stays healthy;
12.Adrian doesn’t age;
13.Turner is healthy;
14.Kendrick hits his usual .285 to .295;
15.Kershaw is still Cy Young;
16.De Leon or Urias steps up;
17.Blanton pitches like he did for Pittsburgh;
18.Anderson pitches at least 190 innings;
19.Beachy is healthy and returns to form;
20.Four relievers step up;
21.Johnson or Thompson break out;
22.Kike Hernandez continues to dazzle;
23.Roberts and his staff can change the culture;
24.Turner Ward can teach these guys how to hit as a team; and
25.Austin Barnes is MLB ready.
If some or all of those things happen, here is the probability of the Dodgers winning:
5 Things – 75 Wins
10 Things – 85 Wins
15 Things – 92 Wins
20 Things – 98 Wins
25 Things – World Series
Like all teams, there are lots of IF’s!
yep…been saying that all year
I don’t understand the desire to demean FAZ. Last year it was Mattingly.
Mark, every game that I have seen Kemp play in he has made every catch and made every throw accurately and to the right person. He passes the eyeball test.
For those that do not like saber-metrics, why do you use them to make a point?
Those saber metric numbers about defense, I don’t think are that accurate.
And how many times in just a week, does an outfielder, make great play, that helps win a game?
You see routine fly balls, more then anything.
It isn’t the math, it’s the mathematicians.
I’ve explained it many times. Brooklyn and friddo talked very articulately about it last year before being censored for making too much sense. Rick, Scott, Michael and others have said it for months. FAZ’s success rate since taking over kinda sucks. The team on the field has not improved, while others in the league have.
Banned for making too much sense?
Ha Ha!!! You have proved yourself to be delusional!
Bum
I’m sorry most Dodger fans, didn’t like how Mattingly managed the team.
He had some nerve pouting on a national broadcast, because Colletti had not gave him a multi year contract yet.
He was given the job, he didn’t earn it.
I said maybe too many times that Mattingly was much better at winning a war than he was winning a battle. So we mostly agree MJ about Mattintly’s in game decisions. His comment on national TV was inappropriate. Agree with that as well.
It just got really boring to keep reading in here that Mattingly should be fired. The name calling was inappropriate as few in here would have been better at handling players and keeping the players hustling, which Mattingly did. He won three Division titles. And, no one here knew who Mattingly was disciplining or resting due to injury when he was accused of making out bad lineups.
I never name call, but I hated Mattingly as the Dodgers manager.
I didn’t think he was good with the different personalities.
I don’t think he handled Matt Kemp right either.
And Mattingly had some really good pitchers, and players, that Roberts doesn’t have on this team right now too.
We are both happy Mattingly is enjoying success in Miami.
Kemp was the one who threw a temper tantrum about that and he did it publicly. So the blame swings both ways. DM handled his players well. His biggest fault was his in game management…
Kemp’s Range Factor is rapidly declining. He does catch most balls, although he had 8 errors last year. That’s a lot for an outfielder! Kemp has ZERO SB attempts this year and a .275 OB% YIKES!
To me that is not sabermetrics, it’s just information. Matt Kemp is at the end of his career unless he can re-invent himself as a DH!
I hate this line up.
Scott is playing centerfield, and that new utility guy is playing second.
And Roberts has Turner hitting against a leftie again.
Turner absolutely crushed that ball for you there!
Turner made me eat my words.
I hope he keeps it up!
I like Taylor at second against lefties if Kendrick is going to play LF.
Turner objected to your comment about him hitting against lefties MJ.
I hope Turner keeps it up!
That was also a very quick, and good throw by Turner too!
Did you see that Joc is batting second tonight?
The whole line up is making me eat my words.
And that makes me happy!
Hey guys
I swear it wasn’t me…
😉
I don’t think I called Mattingly any names. I just said he should be fired.
I have no problems with lineups. I think that’s overblown. I just did not think Mattingly was a good manager and leader of men.
And Mark you were right!
Badger, If you like I will be glad to explain to everyone why you were banned. Only with your permission…
Talk to the hand.
That’s what I thought!
Grandal back handing a strike three in the dirt. Very poor technique.
Another questionable strike zone tonight.
Gonna be another bullpen night.
Badger
I thought Puig was doing good in his at bats, but the umpire didn’t help with his bad strike zone!
Well the bullpen has been excellent. Thank god Kersh is coming back soon.
Who is the moron that traded for Taylor?
Taylor is not bad at all
I think that was tongue in cheek there Scott
I think the Giants winning on this pace is making the Dodgers play better baseball too!
After reading all the comments here, some Dodger related and some playground spat related, I’ll focus on the Dodger ones:
1) Yes, Taylor seems to be a very nice pickup! I liked what I saw from Culberson as well, but this guy seems to be a teeny bit better. Maybe they’re just the same guy?
2) Bud pitching very well today. But he’s already at 79 pitches thru 4. If he can give us 6 today, that’d be great.
3) Grant Holmes went 5ip today, 2 hits, 1run, 2bb, 3k. I’m guessing he gets promoted soon?
4) DeLeon going for OKC today. So far 2 runs in 5ip, with 10k. I”m guessing he gets promoted soon as well.
5) I like the Boston/SD trade. I hope we do something similar, perhaps a Grant Holmes type for a young, controlled starter that can be our 2 for the next few years
6) Edwin Rios has 2 more HR today and his hitting over .360. He may be going to Tulsa soon?
Bobby,
1. Culberson really is not a SS – Taylor is.
2. 5
3. Tulsa by August.
4. Yep!
5. Nope.
6. Yep!
😉
FAZ swindled Seattle. Zack Lee for this?
Granny!!@%$%$#@%^^%
Meanwhile, for Tacoma, Seattle’s AAA team, Zack Lee in 4 starts:
0-2, 7.58era, 19ip, 8bb, 11k
So far, yes, we have won this trade!
Logan wouldn’t listen to me but I told him Zach was Crap!
Man, these guys are having fun.
This is very cool.
Hitters ate their Wheaties during the Break.
Another 5 inning start – even though the offense has already scored 12.
MJ, there’s another HR given up by Fien for u
And MJ, there’s ANOTHER HR given up by Fien for you!!
Bobby
Like I told Michael, I want Fien to do well, for himself, and for the Dodgers.
He is a southern California guy.
But his HRs are alarming.
He has good stuff, and a good fastball, so it is probably a command problem, but I am no expert.
But look at his total just since he came to the Dodgers.
I hope Honeycutt, or the bullpen coach, as well as Fien, are trying to make him better, so this doesn’t keep happening.
Casey Fien is hereby “Dope Fien(d)”
Urias will take Dope Fiends place soon.