Monthly Archives: July 2013

Daily Distractions: The Dodgers return to Canada.

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Dave Roberts

Who can forget all those memorable Dodgers-Expos battles over the years? Certainly not Dave Roberts and Brian Schneider. (Associated Press)

The Dodgers play the Toronto Blue Jays today at the Rogers Centre. Here’s a brief history of Dodgers in Canada:

1. From 1939-60, the Montreal Royals are the primary minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, churning out such notable talents as Jackie Robinson, Tommy Lasorda (then a pitcher) and Walter Alston (then a manager).

2. The Dodgers beat the Expos 5-3 in Montreal on May 27, 1969 in the Dodgers’ first regular-season game ever played in Canada.

3. Don Drysdale is found dead at his hotel room in Montreal on July 3, 1993, the same day he was scheduled to broadcast a Dodgers-Expos game.

4. Raul Mondesi is traded to Toronto for Shawn Green, Nov. 8, 1999.

5. June 8, 2007: The Dodgers beat the Blue Jays 4-3. The game features Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez for the Dodgers; Matt Stairs, Frank Thomas and Troy Glaus and Royce Clayton for the Blue Jays. Stunning that they were all still productive major-league hitters in 2007.

Today’s game will be just the 13th ever between the teams.

Some bullet points for a Monday morning:

Continue reading “Daily Distractions: The Dodgers return to Canada.” »

Dodgers hire Isao O’Jimi to head scouting staff in Japan.

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The Dodgers announced the hiring of Isao O’Jimi as Head Scout, Japan.

O’Jimi previously worked for the New York Mets from 1997-2011, starting as a scout before he was promoted to Director of Pacific Rim Scouting in December 2003. With the Mets, O’Jimi was involved in the club’s signings of Masato Yoshii, Jae Seo, Jorge Toca, Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Satoru Komiyama, Kazuo Matsui, Dae-sung Koo, Timo Perez and Takashi Kashiwada.

O’Jimi started his career in baseball as a catcher in the Seibu Lions’ farm system from 1976-1979, but never made it to Nippon Pro Baseball. Following his playing career, he coached the USA Junior High School squad in USA-City, Oita from 1980-1984. He spent the next few years studying English and International Trade in London before returning to baseball in 1990 as an interpreter and bullpen catcher for the Daiei Hawks, a position he held until 1994. O’Jimi also served as an interpreter for the 1995 Chiba Lotte Marines, working with Bobby Valentine.

Daily Distractions: What to watch for in the second half.

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Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp leaves the field with athletic trainer Nancy Patterson on after straining his right hamstring in a 4-3 loss to the Angels. (Associated Press)

The “second half” of the season will consist of 68 games for the Dodgers. Here’s what to watch for:

1. For lack of an obvious turning point in the Dodgers’ schedule over the next month, check out the Diamondbacks’ road trip from July 30 to August 4: Two in Tampa, one in Texas (a makeup game), followed by three in Boston. The Dodgers play the Cubs four times in that stretch, making it a good time to make up ground in the division.

2. The fourth and fifth spots in the rotation. They belong to Ricky Nolasco and Stephen Fife, once healthy, until further notice. The Dodgers are expected to announce a decision on Ted Lilly today — one that doesn’t involve him going back into the rotation — and move Chris Capuano to the bullpen once Fife returns from the disabled list.

3. The bullpen. As I indicated in my midseason report card, the Dodgers need more than three reliable pitchers out of the bullpen. With two open spots on the 40-man roster, count on one going to a relief pitcher over the next six weeks. Maybe it’s Carlos Marmol. Maybe it’s someone outside the organization who can provide a better right-handed complement to Kenley Jansen than deposed closer Brandon League.

4. Matt Kemp‘s shoulder. How much will a week’s worth of rest and a few rehab games do for Kemp’s swing? His power was almost nonexistent in the first half, as reflected in a devilish .666 OPS. Kemp could easily find himself batting fifth or lower when he returns next week from his latest stint on the disabled list.

5. Outfield playing time. Only left fielder Carl Crawford seems assured of an everyday place in the lineup. For all their talent, the others each have something to prove: Kemp that he doesn’t need occasional rest to be a productive hitter; Yasiel Puig that he’s not a strikeout machine; Andre Ethier that he’s not a platoon player (his batting average against left-handers is down to .245 and at home it’s .226).

Some bullet points to tide you through the weekend:

Continue reading “Daily Distractions: What to watch for in the second half.” »

Daily Distractions: Someone likes the Dodgers’ odds of winning a World Series.

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The online gambling website Bovada released its midseason list of World Series favorites, ranking the Dodgers – drumroll please – fifth, at 9-to-1.

Here are Bovada’s top 10:

Detroit Tigers                            13/2
St. Louis Cardinals                    7/1
Atlanta Braves                           8/1
Boston Red Sox                       9/1
Los Angeles Dodgers                9/1
Oakland Athletics                      10/1
Texas Rangers                          12/1
Cincinnati Reds                         15/1
Washington Nationals                15/1
Pittsburgh Pirates                      16/1

At a glance, this is a case of one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other. The Tigers, Cardinals, Braves and Red Sox are all in first place in their division, comfortably above .500. So are the A’s. The Rangers, Reds and Pirates are all in playoff position.

And then we have the Dodgers at 47-47, with plenty of flaws, 2 ½ games out of first place but only 6 games out of last place in the National League West. Bovada gives the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks a 20-to-1 chance of winning it all.

In spite of their slow start, in spite of the 25-year drought since they last won the World Series, don’t call the Dodgers underdogs. Apparently having a $230 million roster and a Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award runner-up speaks volumes.

And who’s ready for that 2006 and 1968 Tigers-Cardinals World Series rematch?

Some bullet points for a Nelson Mandela Day:

Continue reading “Daily Distractions: Someone likes the Dodgers’ odds of winning a World Series.” »

Report: Dodgers sign 16-year-old shortstop Alberto Estrella.

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The Dodgers have signed Alberto Estrella, a 16-year-old shortstop out of the Dominican Republic, according to BaseballAmerica.com:

Estrella, a 16-year-old who has played in the International Prospect League, stands out for his size (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) and righthanded power potential. Estrella, who has spent time at shortstop, might be able to play third base but with his build he could end up at first base or an outfield corner spot. He trains with Arquimedes Guerrero, whose nickname is “Pla,” and was also represented by Rob Plummer.