Monthly Archives: April 2013

Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig was driving 97 mph in a 50-mph zone Sunday.

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Passing along a couple more details about the arrest of Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig:

According to the official report filed by the Chattanooga Police Department, Puig was driving his BMW x35i sports utility vehicle 97 mph in a 50-mph zone when he was arrested early Sunday morning. He told the arresting officer that he was the designated driver for an unnamed passenger, who translated Puig’s statement from Spanish.

As some have pointed out, Puig’s speed wasn’t even the fastest driven by a baseball player this season:

The report states that Puig’s car moved “from the left lane over the center white dash lines and then back into the left lane. The BMW came close to a vehicle that was occupying the right lane and obeying the traffic laws. It took blue lights and multiple siren blasts to get the driver to stop. … The driver was clearly driving with wanton disregard for the safety of other citizen drivers as well as himself and his passenger.”

Daily Distractions: More on Clayton Kershaw, Hanley Ramirez, and wrapped body parts.

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I could have written a lot more about Clayton Kershaw for my game story from the Dodgers’ win yesterday but I didn’t (mostly) for two reasons:

1. As great as he was, Kershaw pitches like that all the time
2. He didn’t talk to reporters after the game

Kershaw’s absence was due to a “personal matter,” a team spokesperson said. As Kershaw walked down the tunnel out of the Dodgers’ clubhouse, his left shoulder appeared to be heavily wrapped under his shirt — as it typically is after each game Kershaw pitches — which merely means that the pitcher wasted little time leaving the building.

More on Kershaw in a bit. I’m highlighting the point about his shoulder because this tweet caused a bit of a stir yesterday:

Underneath that wrap was a still-healing ligament in Ramirez’s right thumb. It’s easy to assume that the hand was wrapped because Ramirez re-injured the thumb. Folks at the game said that he slid awkwardly into second base in the fifth inning. Did he do something to his thumb sliding?

Probably not. Ramirez remained in the game to play another inning in the field after the slide. He was removed in the top of the seventh inning, which is exactly when the Dodgers wanted him to leave. It’s believed that Ramirez wrapped his thumb after the game merely as a precaution, much like a pitcher who just threw 117 pitches wraps a healthy shoulder.

More Monday bullet points:
Continue reading “Daily Distractions: More on Clayton Kershaw, Hanley Ramirez, and wrapped body parts.” »

Suddenly, the Dodgers are out of long relievers.

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Matt Guerrier

Matt Guerrier allowed two home runs in relief of Matt Magill on Saturday night, further depleting a short-handed Dodgers bullpen. (Associated Press photo)

For all the money the Dodgers have spent building their 2013 roster — about $230 million when the regular season began — they didn’t have a single pitcher available if last night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers had gone to the 12th inning.

That’s not exactly unusual. If taxed enough, any bullpen will run out of arms. The Dodgers didn’t even get to the 10th inning yesterday, but manager Don Mattingly had to line up his possibilities when the Dodgers had runners on second and third base with two outs in the ninth inning.

“I’ve got to bring Josh (Wall) back out” for the 10th inning, Mattingly said. “I’ve got one (inning) with Kenley (Jansen). Then it’s Schu.”

Continue reading “Suddenly, the Dodgers are out of long relievers.” »

Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig arrested in Tennessee.

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Yasiel Puig

Authorities in Chattanooga, Tennessee arrested Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig on charges of reckless driving, speeding and driving without proof of insurance Sunday, according to the Hamilton (Tenn.) County Sheriff.

The 22-year-old outfielder is currently on the roster of the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate, and is on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb.

Puig signed a seven-year, $42 million contract with the Dodgers last June after defecting from Cuba, and left a significant impression in spring training. His .517 batting average led all players in spring, and his 1.328 OPS was second, tagging Puig as a can’t-miss prospect.

“We’re aware of the situation and we take it very seriously,” a Dodgers spokesperson said. “We’ll be handling discipline internally.”

Continue reading “Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig arrested in Tennessee.” »

Dodgers’ Mark Ellis is ‘optimistic’ but the disabled list is still a possibility.

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Mark EllisMark Ellis was in good spirits after throwing and taking batting practice Sunday morning, two days after the Dodgers second baseman strained his right quadriceps running out a ground ball.

“So far I can swing the bat,” Ellis said. “I can throw fine. I’m still kind of day to day but I’m optimistic.”

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said it’s “still kind of up in the air” whether or not Ellis will go on the disabled list. To avoid the DL, Ellis needs to begin running soon.

The Dodgers have plenty of second basemen at their disposal, but fewer choices for a number-two hitter. Nick Punto‘s there today. A.J. Ellis, who caught last night’s game and batted second, gets the day off in favor of Ramon Hernandez, who is batting sixth.

None have matched the consistent production of Mark Ellis, who was hitting .342/.363/.452 at the time of the injury.

The 35-year-old, who has missed at least 30 games each of the last five seasons, is hoping to avoid the disabled list but acknowledged that “you never want to handcuff a manager or handcuff a team.”

Expect a decision in the next day or two.