‘Odds are decreasing’ that Yasmani Grandal will be healthy by Opening Day.

Yasmani Grandal

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, right, hasn’t played since Monday. (Getty Images)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Maybe the most nerve-wracking thing about Yasmani Grandal’s strained right forearm is that it doesn’t hurt when he’s at rest. So the Dodgers catcher has stood at his locker and dutifully answered questions about the pain and says simply, honestly, that he isn’t in pain.

But then he’ll get back to work and the pain will return, and that’s why he hasn’t appeared in a game since Monday. He won’t be back next Monday, either.
Continue reading “‘Odds are decreasing’ that Yasmani Grandal will be healthy by Opening Day.” »

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal leaves game after two innings. Update.

Yasmani Grandal

Yasmani Grandal, right, caught two innings of Kenta Maeda’s latest start before he was removed because of an injury to his forearms. (Getty Images)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Catcher Yasmani Grandal was removed from the Dodgers’ Cactus league game against the Seattle Mariners on Monday after two innings and one at-bat. No reason was immediately given.

As he left the Dodgers’ clubhouse, Grandal insisted that he was healthy but had to leave for a doctor’s appointment.

Austin Barnes took over as the Dodgers’ catcher in the third inning.

Update (4:10 p.m.): Dave Roberts clarified that Grandal was removed as a precaution, after the manager noticed a grimace on Grandal’s face when he struck out in the second inning.

Continue reading “Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal leaves game after two innings. Update.” »

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis taking pitch framing to the next level.

A.J. Ellis

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis is working to improve how he receives pitches around the bottom of the strike zone. (Getty Images)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A.J. Ellis answered a lot of questions about pitch framing when spring training commenced last year. He’d lost 111 calls on balls that “should have been” strikes in 2014, according to Pitch F/X data on the website StatCorner.com. Now, Ellis had a general manager who had heard of StatCorner.com.
Continue reading “Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis taking pitch framing to the next level.” »

A.J. Ellis, Dodgers avoid arbitration with $4.5 million contract.

A.J. Ellis

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis caught 45 percent of attempted base stealers in 2015. (Associated Press photo)

The Dodgers re-signed A.J. Ellis to a one-year contract worth $4.5 million Wednesday, avoiding arbitration.

Ellis earned $4.25 million in 2015, his fourth full major league season. He proceeded to bat .238 — .277 from June 1 onward — with seven home runs in 63 games as the backup catcher to Yasmani Grandal.

Behind the plate, Ellis threw out a league-leading 45 percent of attempted base stealers and improved his pitch framing.

If Ellis is the only player who signs prior to today’s tender/non-tender deadline, the Dodgers will have seven arbitration-eligible players remaining on their 40-man roster: Luis Avilan, Grandal, Chris Hatcher, Kenley Jansen, Juan Nicasio, Justin Turner and Scott Van Slyke.

Continue reading “A.J. Ellis, Dodgers avoid arbitration with $4.5 million contract.” »

Season in review about nothing: A.J. Ellis, ‘The Pool Guy.’

A.J. Ellis

It took him a couple months to settle into the routine, but A.J. Ellis thrived as the backup catcher to Yasmani Grandal in 2015. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff photographer)

This is Part 12 of a series in which every member of the 2015 Dodgers has his season juxtaposed with an episode of the greatest sitcom of all-time. Don’t take it too seriously.

A.J. Ellis, C.

Key stats: .238 batting average, .355 on-base percentage, .403 slugging percentage in 63 games; 45 percent caught stealing rate (1st in MLB) and below average framing.

Seinfeld episode: “The Pool Guy” (season 7, episode 8).

Key quote: “Hello and welcome to Moviefone. If you know the name of the movie you’d like to see, press one.”
Continue reading “Season in review about nothing: A.J. Ellis, ‘The Pool Guy.’” »