After the pitching catastrophe on Thursday afternoon in Cleveland Alex Wood provided us with a breath of fresh air with his eight innings of one-run ball. It might have been a shutout had I not jinxed him with my stupid tweet.
I am a total complete game shutout junkie. It's a guilty pleasure
— Ladodgerreport (@Ladodgerreport) June 17, 2017
Fortunately the Dodgers were already up 3-1 at that point and you know they have Kenley Jansen to pitch the ninth inning. Wood tossed eight innings allowing just one run on four hits with five whiffs and no walks. Wood not only did it with the glove, he also did it with the bat. His seventh inning single drove in Joc Pederson to put the Dodgers ahead 3-1. Wood improved to 7-0 on the season and continues to be good.
Dodgers 3 7 0
Reds 1 5 0
WP-Wood-7-0
LP-Adleman-
SV-Jansen-14
HR-Pederson-3
The Dodgers scored one run in the second, one run in the third and one on the eighth. Opposing starter Tim Adleman was tough, but the Dodgers scored twice against him. Adelman tossed six innings allowing two earned runs on five hits but walked four with four strikeouts.
The Dodgers got on the board first in the top of the second when Joc Pederson slammed a solo home run to right center field to put the Dodgers up 1-0. In the third frame Justin Turner walked with two outs and Cody Bellinger singled him to second. Chris Taylor’s line drive double down the left field line scored Turner, but Bellinger was thrown out at the plate by Adam Duvall and Eugenio Suarez.
Speaking of thrown out at the plate, Grandal did that to Suarez in the bottom of the second when he cut him down at the plate on former Dodger Jose Peraza’s grounder to shortstop. Suarez had doubled to lead-of the inning and moved to third on Scott Schebler’s ground out to second.
In the top of the eighth, Joc and Yasiel Puig both walked. Then Wood chopped a single down the right field line past Joey Votto to score Joc and put the Dodgers ahead 3-0. I was praying for a complete game shutout because you all know how much I love those. Unfortunately stupid Devin Mesoraco hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to ruin my dreams.
Thank goodness the Dodgers have the greatest closer of our generation in Kenley Jansen. Our big island boy came in and gave up a lead-off double to Bill Hamilton. But you know, it’s Kenley Jansen. So he whiffs Zack Cozart. He whiffs Votto, and then he whiffs Adam Duvall for the final out of the game. The Dodgers win 3-1!
The Dodgers now improve to 42-26 and we wait for the result of the Colorado/San Francisco game. The Dodgers are a half game behind Colorado at the moment. A Colorado loss should mean both clubs are tied for first place in the NL West. The series continues tomorrow as Hyun-jin Ryu is scheduled to take the mound for the Dodgers on Saturday afternoon. Right hander Asher Wojciechowski will counter for the Reds. The Dodgers beat him on the last home stand.
In other news the Dodgers sent Ross Stripling temporarily back to Oklahoma City. They recalled Josh Ravin. My guess is that Stripling rejoins the club again soon as the Dodgers probably wanted a fresh arm after Thursday’s pitching atomic bomb.
Other than a Dodger starter going 8, this game went as expected.
Yeah, Wood was great vs a good offense in a little league size park.
Great job, as we’ll likely need 6bp guys tomorrow with Ryu going
Fangraphs has an article up on Rich Hill. Lots of stats and charts, most of it not good. Hill has lots of this to fix and hopefully he figures it out by August.
I thought the Dodgers should have hit that pitcher better.
Joc did have a HR and a double, so that is a good sign from him.
Wood pitched a good game and I think he still needs to pitch at least one more game, to get him where he was, before he went out, to get is endurance built up again.
Both teams were pretty quiet, and part of the reason the Reds were, was because of Wood, but both teams looked a little tired, maybe the Dodgers are just getting use to the humidity, if anyone ever does.
I think that game is a great example of what can happen when you pound the strike zone with quality pitches. It’s like all of a sudden Wood knows what he’s doing. Where has this guy been?
I read that article YF. I find it interesting that there is so much quantifying to explain in minute detail the obvious. It’s like reading a page long fine point circumstantiate on why Melania married the Donald. Duh. Rich Hill is now 37 and is having trouble doing what he only did a few times in his entire career. Watch him pitch. I can sum it up without the use of algorithms. He can’t throw it hard enough to get it by anybody and he doesn’t have that curve, you know, the curve that caused a massive blister to rise and put him on the DL. Though the fangraphs article was an interesting read, thank you, it wasn’t really needed. Will Hill get it back? I’ll say the same thing I’ve said about McCarthty, Anderson, Latos, Kazmir, Beachy, Norris et al – I don’t expect much.
If Wood and McBrittle can take the ball every 5th day until November, this team has a real shot. It’s my guess that FAZ know better and are constructing a Plan B.
I’ve got another post stuck in moderation. I tried to copy and delete it, couldn’t do it. Frustrating. Am I the only one this happens to around here?
Attempting repost:
I think that game is a great example of what can happen when you pound the strike zone with quality pitches. It’s like all of a sudden Wood knows what he’s doing. Where has this guy been?
I read that article YF. I find it interesting that there is so much quantifying to explain in minute detail the obvious. It’s like reading a page long fine point circumstantiate on why Melania married the Donald. Duh. Rich Hill is now 37 and is having trouble doing what he only did a few times in his entire career. Watch him pitch. I can sum it up without the use of algorithms. He can’t throw it hard enough to get it by anybody and he doesn’t have that curve, you know, the curve that caused a massive blister to rise and put him on the DL. Though the fangraphs article was an interesting read, thank you, it wasn’t really needed. Will Hill get it back? I’ll say the same thing I’ve said about McCarthty, Anderson, Latos, Kazmir, Beachy, Norris et al – I don’t expect much.
If Wood and McBrittle can take the ball every 5th day until November, this team has a real shot. It’s my guess that FAZ know better and are constructing a Plan B.
Badger
You right sometimes there is just to much over analyzation, for the obvious.
I just would like to know what the doctors thought what caused Wood’s soreness, in that particular area.
I know he isn’t delivering his pitches quite the same way as he did before, and I would just like to know, if it is from his new delivery, or something else.
Because that is the only thing I worry about, when it comes to Wood.
Because Wood is pitching better then Kershaw right now, and I hope he can do this, all season long.
Well, he’s started 10, and we are 42% through the season. Only about 24 more to go counting post season. What do you suppose those odds are? I’m sure there is an all-go-rhythm for it.
Peterson, Puig, Urias and Sheffield for Trout. That’s my narcissist imitation and my final offer. LA gets a much needed star and the Angels get more frustration than they have now. I didn’t give that a lot of thought, but then it was an imitation. No thought required.
Badger
It seems like you feel a little different about Puig, then before.
Do you really think he will hit major league pitching, like Cespedes has?
I know they are not quite the same kind of players or hitters, but Cespedes has produced much more offensively, then Puig has.
I know there is also an age difference too.
Cespedes is a horse of a different color, and he had a lot more experience than Puig when he came to the majors. The big thing that is the difference is that Cespedes adjusts to the pitchers almost every at bat. He has an idea now of how they are going to pitch him. I think Badger put Puig in that phantom trade for Trout because Trout is a STAR in every sense of the word. He is a polished major league player. And how fast do you think George Lombard would give up his #27 jersey of Trout came to the Dodgers? The Angels might someday trade Mike, but I doubt it, if they did, they would NEVER trade him to the Dodgers because their fans would revolt.
Interesting read. Including the comments.
DRA:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=29119
Damn Reasonable Approach.
Michael
I know both players back ground.
The difference is that Cespedes has got better almost every year, and Puig has done just the opposite..
And that wasn’t the only remark I have seen Badger make, about Puig.
I was asking Badger.
That’s cool. But age is a factor….I think Puig got caught up in a lot of things he probably should not have. I kind of gave him a pass because of his youth at the time, and the Hammy problems. But I expect more out of him now. He hit a HR today along with Joc and Bellinger. I do know this, if that kid ever harnesses his skills and really works at being good, he can be a real difference maker in the lineup. Whether or not he does that, well that is the big question. He still is just a big kid. Watch him in the dugout, he is, like Kike, very playful. He picks on Turner Ward all the time. What does impress me is that after almost every at bat he is over by Ward talking about the at bat.
Michael
I am happy for Joc, but the Reds pitching, is more like AAA pitching right now, especially there starting pitching.
I want to see what we do against the Mets.
I don’t know if the Mets, still have good pitching, because of their injury problems.
But if the Mets mostly have good pitching, I would like to see how the team does then.
I guess I expect our team to do well, against the Reds, because of their pitching.
Most of their starters have not been much over 92.
The Mets starters are not all that great this year. In fact, none of their starters that are pitching now has an ERA under 4. Syndergaard, arguably their best pitcher is out, so is Harvey. Walker, their 2nd baseman is out also. deGrom is 5-3 with an ERA of 4.33. Gsellman is 5-4 with a 5.55 Era, Wheeler is 3-4 with an ERA of 4.48. With Syndergaard and Harvey out, their staff is not all that good. deGrom is always tough and he strikes out a lot of guys. The Mets are at 30-36. They are a sub .500 team, so the Dodgers should handle them easily. As for the Reds pitching, well, they are in the majors, and no matter how good or bad they are you still have to hit the ball. As we have seen with Logan Forsythe, that is not as easy as it seems. He got the last Dodger hit, and it did not even make it out of the infield. Mets team ERA is 4.89…The Reds is 4.93…..not all that much difference. The Mets have won exactly 1 more game than the Reds. So, the pitching is pretty bad for both.
Turner not in the lineup today. Taylor batting 3rd. Forsythe playing 3B. Otherwise it is the same bunch as yesterday. Read a story about Verdugo on Yardbarker. He has struck out only 24 times in over 220 at bats. That’s really good. He is hitting over .400 his last 10 games or so. He might be almost ready to really contribute.
Wood has to be considered the #2 on this staff. He has really taken the opportunity by the cojones and run with it. If he stays healthy and keeps this up, he is definitely the best pick up FAZ has made. Taylor is up there too.
Another article on Yardbarker was that the Nationals are convinced that the Dodgers are going to bid for Bryce Harper after the 2018 season when he becomes a free agent. The speculation is that Harper is going to get a 400 million dollar contract. 40 million a year. He will be 26 when he is a free agent and coming into his prime. But that is a lot of cash to spend on one player. Call me stupid, but I am not putting out that much for an obviously very talented, but not a very likeable guy.
I’d save the $400 million to build around Seager, Bellinger, Taylor (whom I think is not a fluke and another Justin Turner), and our bevy of young pitchers.
The Dodgers can afford it. My questions about him are 1. Will he ever put the team ahead of himself 2. Will he be a 5 WAR player for 9 years in LA. 3. Will he get along with Seager and Bellinger. If all the questions are answered yes then yeah, sure, put him in the lineup with the other two left handed sluggers. You can platoon the other 5 positions.
Badger
He hasn’t been consistent like Trout has.
Trout doesn’t let his emotions get the best of him, like Harper tends to do.
Nobody is as good as Trout. Why bring him into the discussion.
Bluto
I didn’t think we had to check with you first, before we talked about Trout!
Badger suggested a trade for Trout.
And if Harper is going to ask for Trout money, teams are going to expect Trout numbers.
These two were compared a lot when they first came up, but that stopped, because Harper hasn’t put up consistent numbers, like Trout has.
HA HA.
Very good response.
I’d definitely trade for Trout, I’m mellowing on Harper. He swoons too much for my taste buds.
Well Ryu was not at his best today, but he avoided a total meltdown ala Hill. That was a rough 5 innings. Give it to the bullpen, and get the win. Pederson heating up, Puig gets a dinger, and Bellinger just missed having 2.
None of these offensive stats count. This Reds staff is minor league.
Really?? Oh damn, and Yasiel hit 2 dingers. He has more now than he hit all of last year.
But Badger is right, the Reds don’t have good pitching.
Puig hit those after the game was over with.
And he also struck out twice to AAA pitching.
Let’s see what the team does next week.
Look at Puig’s OPS that is his true production.
Puig only had 300 at bats last year, because he didn’t play everyday or stay in the line up.
Game is not over until the last out. Remember what the Dodger offense did to the Reds last week. They have a very good offense and are perfectly capable of putting up a crooked number. Puig struck out once, but he did exactly what you are supposed to do when someone throws you a cookie. He belted it. And MJ, if they are in the majors, they are big league pitchers. They might not be great pitchers, but they are on a major league staff none the less. You still have to hit the ball. Puig struck out on a really good slider that the bottom dropped out of. Both real good pitches. The Mets pitching is about as bad as the Reds, so the Dodgers should punish Met pitching this week. As for the HR’s Cody and Joc hit, you can make the same statement. They were hit off of mediocre pitching. Does that mean they are any less important than Puig’s?? They scored 6 runs off of the starter, and the way Ryu was pitching it was looking like they were going to need more than that. Runs in any inning are important. And Puig’s OPS might not be great, but he is 2nd on the team in HR’s and RBI’s, 4th in runs scored. His OPS is higher than Grandal’s as is his OBP, he is .012 behind Hernandez in OPS. He has 21 extra base hits now, which puts him 1 behind Kike. His batting average is now at .247, 20 points higher than Kike. He has been hitting .313 this month. Grandal is hitting .163. Those are the stats. Runs win games. It matters not when you score or drive them in. He makes the lineup longer and is doing a pretty good job hitting 8th. The team likes him there. He is hitting .275 in the 8 hole with 6 HR’s and 16 RBI’s. His OPS in the 8 hole is 870, which is pretty damn good. He is earning his playing time and his batting average and OPS are getting better. He is not perfect by any means, but trying to diminish was he is doing by trivializing it with some BS about the quality of the pitching he is facing is just wrong. Forsythe who has more experience, could not manage any hits off those guys until the mop up guy was in and his hit was a grounder that did not even get out of the infield. Table your vitriol for the guy and recognize he is doing better. He may never be the 2013 version, but guys like Rob Deer, and Dave Kingman had very productive career’s and were no where near .250. But both were HR hitting machines. Neither had Puig’s fielding skills. He also had a sac fly in the game….2-4 with 2 dingers and 3 RBI’s…I will take that any day.
Hottest team in all of MLB?
Arizona. 9-1.
Colorado, Arizona ans LA are all on win streaks. All are playing last place NL clubs. That seems peculiar, but probably isn’t.
Cincinatti is 28th in pitching. They are first in giving up home runs.
Reds are 15th in the NL, dead last, Mets are 13th, not much better. Era’s for both teams just a shade under 5, and WHIP’s are very close, NY’s is 1.48 and Reds 1.42. Mets BA against is .271, Reds is .257…..Pretty close. They both suck.
Puig spent about a month in the minors last year and he spent over 30 days on the DL, so he missed close to 60 games. That is why he had only 300 at bats. Had he been healthy, he would probably had closer to 400 AB’s. Cyngrani and Bryce are actually decent pitchers. Both with ERA’s below 4.