The Dodgers selected Jordan Sheffield, a right-handed pitcher from Vanderbilt, with the 36th overall pick in the draft.
Sheffield was drafted out of the 13th round of the 2013 draft out of high school but opted to attend college instead. He ultimately redshirted his freshman year because he had Tommy John surgery.
Here’s what MLB.com wrote about Sheffield:
Continue reading “Dodgers take Vanderbilt pitcher Jordan Sheffield with 36th overall pick.” »
Matt Martin, right, coached in the Dodgers’ organization for six years (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Given the newly created title of defensive coordinator today by Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, Martin has strong ties to the Dodgers organization, but is unknown to the casual major-league fan. That’s because he spent 18 years as a minor-league coach, including five years as the Dodgers’ minor-league infield coordinator (2007-11), and one year (2012) as the coordinator of Arizona instruction at Camelback Ranch and manager of the Arizona Fall League Dodgers.
De Jon Watson, the Dodgers’ vice president of player development, called Martin “an extremely hard worker” who is “really sound on infield defense.”
“Matt’s bilingual and he’s worked his tail off to be fluent in Spanish,” Watson said. “He really has a good rapport with most of the players I’ve worked with.”
Young players were Martin’s specialty. When the Dodgers moved to Camelback Ranch, “we wanted a strong entry-level teacher who can walk these guys through the daily grind, preparation, how to know the uniform,” Watson said. “It was a teaching position.”
Why did it take Martin so long to get a major-league job? Watson couldn’t say.
Gabe Kapler, who worked with Martin while in Dodgers camp in 2011, indulged his theory in a recent article for BaseballProspectus.com:
Partially because he’s different and opinionated, and because baseball is notorious for disliking both attributes. His appearance and teaching style are drastically divergent from the MLB cultural norm. In a world where conformity feels safe, Matt can come off as threatening—not in the least to players, but certainly to other staff members.
When he disagrees with you, he will let you know, no matter who you are. Sometimes without filter and often times when he shouldn’t. Sugarcoating doesn’t sit well with him. He views it as disingenuous.
“Matt will give his honest opinion, even if he stands alone,” (Dodgers manager Don) Mattingly told me.
Standing alone, it turns out, is not conducive to ladder climbing.
Mattingly also told Kapler that Martin is known for his loyalty. Watson said the same thing.
Martin parted amicably with the Dodgers to become the Baltimore Orioles’ minor league infield/Latin American field coordinator last year. Climbing the next rung on the ladder, in any business, is often about who you know, and Ausmus and Martin knew each other from Ausmus’ brief time in the Dodgers’ organization.
It’s a slow baseball news day, yes. Also a good time to flesh out the interesting back stories that don’t often get told.
Some bullet points for a Latvian Independence Day:
Continue reading “Daily Distractions: Finally, a major-league job for a longtime Dodgers minor-league coach.” »
Andre Ethier grounded out in a pinch-hit appearance in Game 1 on Thursday. (Getty Images)
Better yet, there seems to be some improvement in the health of the Dodgers’ center fielder, who’s been limited to pinch-hitting duties in the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that Ethier “could possibly stay in the game if it’s the right situation” if he reaches base in Game 2 tonight.
That’s an important step forward for a player who limped onto the field for warmups Wednesday and still doesn’t look completely right compared to his healthy teammates. Ethier injured his left ankle in early September and has two at-bats in the past three weeks.
Still, Mattingly doesn’t expect to get Ethier back in the outfield before the series ends.
“I haven’t really counted on it,” the manager said Friday. “As the days go on, it just gets better and better. But I’ve really kind of resigned myself to the fact that this guy’s coming off the bench. If I’m able to get that, fine. But I’m trying to get Scott (Van Slyke) some time out there, as far as work. Dee (Gordon) is getting some time in, just in case of emergency. Hopefully this thing just keeps getting better, but we’ll see.
“If we get it, it’s a nice surprise.”
The plan, then, is to keep Skip Schumaker in center field, with Van Slyke the backup. Schumaker is in the Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 2.
Some bullet points for a National Taco Day:
Continue reading “Daily Distractions: Andre Ethier in center field? ‘If we get it, it’s a nice surprise.’” »
Dodgers fans have pushed the team to first in Major League Baseball in attendance. (John McCoy/Staff Photographer)
The Dodgers’ fortunes came full circle today, when online oddsmaker Bovada released its list of World Series favorites with the Dodgers on top at 9 to 2.
To recap, then:
The Dodgers have gone from the preseason favorites with baseball’s highest payroll, to midseason busts on the verge of firing their manager, to favorites once again by winning 40 of 48 games.
Friday served as a reminder of how things might have been when the Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers’ weekend opponent, fired manager Charlie Manuel with 40 games left in their season. Ryne Sandberg will take over on an interim basis.
It was supposed to be Don Mattingly not long ago. Now it’s Mattingly who will be opposing Jim Leyland from the opposite bench in the 2013 World Series, if these odds are any indication:
Los Angeles Dodgers 9/2
Detroit Tigers 5/1
Atlanta Braves 13/2
Boston Red Sox 15/2
St. Louis Cardinals 10/1
Tampa Bay Rays 11/1
Texas Rangers 11/1
Cincinnati Reds 12/1
Oakland Athletics 12/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 12/1
On a related note, Gary Sheffield is buying in. He tells Dodgers Nation: “I think they have the chips to make it.”
Some bullet points for the weekend:
Continue reading “Daily Distractions: The Dodgers are the new World Series favorites.” »