Daily Archives: May 13, 2014

Juan Uribe is available but isn’t in the Dodgers’ starting lineup.

Posted on by
Reply

Juan Uribe took batting practice prior to the Dodgers’ game against the Miami Marlins for the second straight day, but is not in Don Mattingly‘s starting lineup tonight. Justin Turner will get the start at third base for the third straight day.

Uribe looks healthy, but might be more than two days away from returning to the Dodgers’ starting lineup.

“We’re going to try to buy him as much time through the off-day, try to buy him to Arizona before I start him,” Mattingly said. “Everybody’s basically telling me he’s available to double-switch, to go into a game situation like that.”

Here are the full starting lineups for both teams:
Continue reading “Juan Uribe is available but isn’t in the Dodgers’ starting lineup.” »

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis takes batting practice, but return from the disabled list is on hold.

Posted on by
Reply

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday. He took batting practice in the afternoon along with Juan Uribe, separate from the rest of the club.

Though he looked healthy, the Dodgers will wait at least a day before activating the catcher from the 15-day disabled list.

“We feel like today tells us if he feels good, he bounces back after catching two days,” Mattingly said. “He feels like he’s ready to play. Medical feels like he’s ready to play. It’s soon.”

Drew Butera is catching Josh Beckett and Miguel Olivo is serving as the backup.

Chad Billingsley takes a small step forward with 30-pitch bullpen session.

Posted on by
Reply

Chad Billingsley

Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley lasted 1 1/3 innings in his only rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on April 6. (Associated Press photo)

Chad Billingsley threw 30 pitches off the bullpen mound Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

“Nice and easy,” he said. “Fastballs, changeups. I wasn’t trying to throw hard. It was nice and easy.”

Billingsley hadn’t been throwing for three weeks before last week in Miami, when he resumed playing catch off flat ground. Tuesday’s bullpen session was only his second since his three-week break.

Because of that, Billingsley said he was told to dial back after hitting 82 mph on the radar gun.

“I’m mostly focused on building endurance,” he said.

Billingsley is basically re-starting the rehab process that preceded his only rehabilitation start a month ago for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. During that game, he felt pain in his elbow, forcing him to essentially re-start a throwing program that he started in the off-season.

The 29-year-old right-hander hasn’t begun throwing curveballs yet, but might do so off flat ground next week. That will happen sometime during the Dodgers’ 10-day, three-city road trip that begins Friday in Phoenix.

Billingsley, who had Tommy John surgery in April 2013, admitted that re-starting the process has been “deflating.”

“When you’re doing so well throwing in a rehab game, I’m four more outings away from being back,” he said. “It happens. It’s definitely deflating. You start getting so close, pull the reins back, and something happens. It’s tough. Got to go through that whole rehab process, treatments and everything. Building back there again.”

Dodgers collecting donations to benefit San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission.

Posted on by
Reply

The Dodgers are leading an online donation effort through May 19, and collecting items at Dodger Stadium Thursday, in support of the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission.

The Mission experienced a devastating fire May 3. Fans can donate monetary gifts now online. All donations received this week will go directly to the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission. Fans are also invited to drive through Dodger Stadium on Thursday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. in Lot 1 to drop off donations.

Additionally, more than 15 families affected by the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission fire will attend Wednesday’s game (7 p.m. vs. Miami) courtesy of the Dodgers. One of the young children affected by the fire lost his favorite Dodger blanket. The club will be providing him, along with all families in attendance, with new Dodger blankets. Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department will also be collecting monetary donations during Wednesday’s game and at Thursday’s collection event.

“The Dodger community spans far and wide and we feel strongly about the unfortunate circumstances affecting our neighbors at the San Fernando Valley Mission,” Renata Simril, the Dodgers’ senior vice president external affairs, said in a statement. “We invite all Dodger fans to lend a helping hand to the Mission while they attend any of our games against Miami or by stopping by this Thursday.”

Suggested donations include new or gently-worn clothing and shoes, new or used blankets, bedding and towels, toiletries, baby items and canned and dry food items.

Daily Distractions: April Dodger Pride award winners include a couple top prospects.

Posted on by
1
Corey Seager

Shortstop Corey Seager had a strong month of April at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (Staff photo)

The end of the month is always a good time to check in on the Dodgers’ farm system, because a good month comes with an award.

The Dodger Pride Awards were created in 2008 by GM Ned Colletti to reward one pitcher and one position player at each level of the system “who play the game with a hustling, smart, aggressive style.” The players and staff on each respective club vote for the monthly awards.

Your April winners:

Albuquerque (AAA)

Pitcher: Henry Sosa posted a 1-0 record with a 2.61 ERA (9 ER/31.0 IP) in April, striking out 21 batters against seven walks in five starts. The right-hander held opposing batters to a .233 batting average (27-for-116), while allowing only one home run in the month. The 12-year professional, who made 10 starts for the Houston Astros in 2011, was signed by the Dodgers as a free agent on December 13, 2013.

Player: Joc Pederson finished April among the Pacific Coast League leaders in several offensive categories including batting average (.398, 2nd), runs (22, T-3rd), hits (39, 1st), home runs (6, T-3rd), and stolen bases (9, T-2nd). On the year, the left-handed hitting outfielder is batting .368 (50-for-136) with 11 home runs and 22 RBI, including a .418 batting average (38-for-91) against right-handed pitching. Through 36 games this season, Pederson has also tallied 15 multi-hit games, including six performances with three or more hits. He entered 2014 as the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America.  

Chattanooga (AA)

Pitcher: Tyson Brummett went 2-1 and allowed only one run in 23.0 innings spanning four April starts, leading the Southern League in ERA (0.39) and ranking sixth in opponents’ batting average (.181). On the season, the former UCLA pitcher is 3-3 with a 0.83 ERA (4 ER/43.1 IP) and has allowed one run or less in six of his seven starts for the Lookouts. With runners in scoring position this season, the right-hander has allowed only four hits (4-for-36), good for a .111 batting average. Brummett signed with the Dodgers as a free agent on February 20, 2014, after being drafted by the Phillies in the seventh round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

Player: Scott Schebler drove in 16 runs (T-7th, Southern League) and clubbed five homers (T-2nd, Southern League) in 25 April games. The Iowa native had a .258 batting average with six homers, four triples and 21 RBI, and has excelled in clutch situations, batting .300 (9-for-30) with runners in scoring position. The 23-year-old, a 26th-round draft pick in 2010, was the Dodgers’ 2013 Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year after batting .296 in 125 games for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga last season.

Rancho Cucamonga (High-A)

Pitcher: Matt Shelton went 1-1 in April with a 1.76 ERA (3 ER/15.1 IP) in eight appearances for the Quakes, limiting opponents to a .228 batting average (13-for-57) and pitching scoreless relief in seven of his eight outings. The Texas native struck out 14 batters and walked only one in April before being promoted to Chattanooga on May 1. The 25-year-old was selected in the 24th round of the 2011 draft.

Player: Corey Seager batted .294 (25-for-85) in April with 10 extra-base hits, while tallying 13 RBI in 20 games. The 20-year-old has raised his average to .333 (40-for-120) with two homers, 11 doubles, two triples and 15 RBI, batting .429 (15-for-35) with a .512 on-base percentage in nine May games. Seager entered 2014 as the Dodgers’ second-best prospect according to Baseball America.

Great Lakes (Low-A)

Pitcher: Michael Johnson posted a 1-1 record with a 1.35 ERA (2 ER/13.1 IP) and a save in eight April appearances. The right-handed reliever limited opposing hitters to a .200 batting average (10-for-50) with 19 strikeouts and five walks. On the season, the Massachusetts native has a 1.47 ERA (3 ER/18.1 IP) and 22 strikeouts in 11 appearances for the Loons. The 23-year-old, a 14th-round pick in the 2013 draft, led the Ivy League with seven wins as a senior at Dartmouth College in 2012.

Player: Joey Curletta had a terrific April, finishing among the Midwest League leaders in batting average (.368, 2nd), runs (18, T-3rd), hits (39, 1st), doubles (9, T-3rd) and RBI (15, T-6th) in 25 games for Great Lakes. Overall, Curletta has posted a .356 batting average (52-for-146) in 35 games, second among Midwest League hitters, and has seven three-hit performances for Great Lakes. The Arizona native was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2012 draft.

Some bullet points for a Frog Jumping Day:

Continue reading “Daily Distractions: April Dodger Pride award winners include a couple top prospects.” »