Author Archives: Robert Morales

Don Mattingly remembers a special Yogi-ism that makes him smile

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Yogi Berra/Photo by Associated Press

 

When manager Don Mattingly on Wednesday afternoon was talking with reporters about Yogi Berra, who died Tuesday at age 90, he was asked about any Yogi-isms Berra might have imparted at him as the two knew each other well.

Mattingly, who was a special instructor with the Yankees from 1997-2003, recalled one that made him smile.

“Spring training, it was one year before I actually became a full-time coach,” he said. “I was just coming in doing a month thing. (Manager) Joe (Torre) had me following Nick Johnson around; he was a young first baseman coming up. So we went to Bradenton (Florida) and Yogi didn’t go; he stayed back and worked out the other group.

“And they’re done at 1 o’clock. We come back around 5:30 and Yogi’s still sitting there. He dressed, and I go, ‘Yogi, have you been here all day? What are you doing here?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, it would have been all day at the hotel, too.’ “

After scare in June, Kenley Jansen will be available in Colorado

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Kenley Jansen

Kenley Jansen/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers

 

The Dodgers will be off to Colorado for a three-game series with the Rockies beginning Friday. The last time the Dodgers were there, closer Kenley Jansen was unavailable to pitch the final game of that series on June 3. It turns out, he had high blood pressure.

Mattingly on Tuesday said he expects Jansen to be fully available with no limitations when the team hits the Mile High city (Denver) again.

“I’m expecting him to be available, for sure,” Mattingly said. “I’m sure Stan (Conte) will have some precautions, things that we have to look out for and he’ll have to pay attention to going into that.”

Mattingly said one precaution all players need to take for the high elevation at Colorado is staying hydrated.

Conte is vice president of medical services for the Dodgers.

No. 1 draft choice Walker Buehler talks Tommy John surgery

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Walker Buehler

Walker Buehler/Photo courtesy of University of Vanderbilt

 

The Dodgers selected pitcher Walker Buehler as their No. 1 draft choice in the June draft, even though they knew he had an issue with his pitching elbow. Buehler then had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 6.

Buehler was on hand at Dodger Stadium on Saturday and spoke with reporters.

“I’m a little bit more than six weeks out from surgery, so I’ve been in Arizona five of those six weeks,” said Buehler, a right-hander who played his college ball at Vanderbilt. “Things went well, according to plan. Feel good.”

Buehler, who has been getting treatment at the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Phoenix, Ariz., went 5-2 with an ERA of 2.95 his junior year at Vanderbilt. He had 92 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings. He knew he had elbow issues during that campaign, but he didn’t think it would end up resulting in Tommy John surgery.

“It was one of those things where during the season I pitched through some stuff and the elbow wasn’t perfect,” he said. “But I didn’t think it was that. But I think now is the best time it could have happened, to be honest with you.

“I was surprised, but it’s not as bad as everybody thinks it is.”

Buehler, 21, is expected to be ready for the 2017 season.

According to a story on SB Nation, Walker – the 24th pick overall in the draft – signed for a bonus of $1.78 million, under the allotted slot value of $2,094,400. That was because the Dodgers had knowledge of his elbow problems.

Don Mattingly: Scott Van Slyke’s sore hand is on the mend

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Scott Van Slyke

Scott Van Slyke/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers

 

Reserve outfielder Scott Van Slyke has not played since Monday because of a sore right hand and remains day-to-day, manager Don Mattingly said.

“He was a lot better today,” he said Saturday as the Dodgers took batting practice ahead of their game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. “He’ll hit today out here. Today is maybe just a little bit cautious with him, but I think it’s something that’s getting better.”

Van Slyke was announced as a pinch-hitter in Tuesday’s game against Colorado, but did not take the at-bat when a pitching change was made.

 

Howie Kendrick finally back in the saddle after nearly six weeks

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Howie Kendrick

Howie Kendrick/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers

 

L.A. Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick was having a fine season, until he went down with a hamstring injury nearly six weeks ago. The Dodgers on Friday activated Kendrick, who had not played since Aug. 9.

That brought a smile to the face of manager Don Mattingly, who did not start Kendrick in Friday’s series opener with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but declared him 100 percent ready to roll.

“We’re just kind of looking at it like we’ve gotta get him back in,” Mattingly said. “He’s not going to go play rehab games, so we’re going to try to not just throw him out there every day.

“He’s basically under no restrictions, he can do anything, nobody’s telling me how to use him or whatever. But I know we do want to be careful with him as far as getting him back in there, not being four or five days in a row.”

Kendrick had been an integral part of the team’s offense. He still leads the team with a .296 batting average. He also has nine home runs and 49 RBIs and an on-base-percentage of .341.

Mattingly considered starting Kendrick on Friday.

“A little bit, but then we’re just kind of looking at both lefties,” he said of Pirates southpaws Jeff Locke and Francisco Liriano, Friday’s and Saturday starting pitchers, respectively. “You never know how the game’s going to go, (but) Liriano’s been a lot tougher on lefties, so if we’re going to try to go every other (day) a little bit to get Howie going, this lefty (Locke) is a lot better for us matchup-wise than tomorrow’s lefty is for Chase (Utley).”

Utley, a left-handed hitter, started Friday at second base against Locke.

The Dodgers went 22-12 without Kendrick.