"Those guys the last couple of days threw the ball well," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about Colorado's starting pitchers. "You've got to tip your hat to Jon Gray yesterday and this kid today, they threw well and kept us at bay."And our starting pitcher, Brock Stewart, couldn't figure out how to pitch in the high altitude.
"Before the game in the bullpen, everything was working, and I got in the game and everything stayed flat," said Stewart. "Just an off night, for sure."That's an understatement. The Dodgers got walloped by the Rockies, 12-2. They remain just two games behind the Giants in the division race and continue to hold a two game lead in the wild-card race. Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:
Holmes’ 80-grade ceiling is built on the foundation of two plus to double-plus pitches, his curveball and fastball. Holmes has not grown into his eventual velocity, so while reports suggest he sat more comfortably 92-96 mph, he has reached 98 mph in the past and has the frame to hold velocity deep into games across a long season. Beyond velocity, Holmes might have the most electric movement on his fastball in the system. Holmes’ fastball has heavy sink at the lower ranges of his velocity, but keeps plus riding life at the top end as well. The pitch is extremely tough for hitters to square and helped suppress home runs in his first full season (just six in 103 innings).
"I’m ready for my job," Sierra said. "Whatever it is, that is up to the manager and the coaches on my team, but basically I’m ready for the task at hand here, whether it’s being there for my teammates in the dugout, or whatever role they decide to put me in. I’m here to help."
Apparently, the Dodgers want to eventually transform him into a starter, but will have him pitch relief to get him into the show faster.
"As a little kid who grew up literally in the Polo Grounds and was an avid Giants fan, I think I would love to finish in a Dodgers-Giants game," said Scully at Dodgers FanFest on Saturday, an event attended by nearly 25,000 people. "God willing, it will work out. We'll see."
"Zack is a very, very great pitcher. Last year, in my opinion, no offense to Jake [Arrieta], Zack was the best pitcher in the game. He's tough to replace.
"But we've got guys with experience, we've got talent and depth, and we should be a good team. Other than Jimmy [shortstop Jimmy Rollins], it looks like we'll have pretty much our team back. With the team we've put together, if everybody plays up to where he should, we'll be a really good team. We have a lot of depth. We just have to do what we're supposed to do."
Holmes is one of the more underrated pitching prospects in baseball. He is outshone in his own system by the top-end arm strength of Jose De Leon and the combination of youth, stuff and pitchability of Julio Urias. He even got overlooked among the 2014 prep-arm draft class due to the lack of projection in his 6-foot-1 frame. The Dodgers may have gotten a steal with the 22nd-overall pick as a result. Holmes features a plus fastball and curve, but needs to refine his command and changeup to reach his projection as a mid-rotation starter. You may have heard some of this before.
Ump Larry Goetz (center) presents $500 US Bonds Singer Awards (Jack Singer, INP writer killed in WWII) to Ashburn and Hodges their Good Sportsmanship.BTW, the Dodgers defeated the Phillies, 6-2, that afternoon. Dodger starting pitcher Preacher Roe pitched a complete game for the victory. Also, Roy Campanella hit his 36th home run of the season, and Andy Pafko hit his 26th. Below are more links to check out:
We did come to an agreement in principle (to acquire Chapman), but as (additional) details came to light, we just weren’t comfortable making the move.
For the Dodgers, this isn’t a major move. That’s a weird thing to say about a $48-million free-agent contract, but Kazmir isn’t going to be one of the stars on the roster. He’s depth, a potential No. 2 starter in a rotation full of No. 2 candidates behind the No. 1. I don’t know if Kazmir is better than Brett Anderson. I don’t know if Kazmir is more dependable than Brett Anderson. I don’t know what Hyun-Jin Ryu is going to do after his shoulder surgery. The most important thing here is a bit of stability. Kazmir comes with his question marks, but his presence removes one question mark from the Dodgers’ list. Others remain, but you can’t address everything. Nor do you need to with the season months away.
Via Farhan Zaidi: “He was really a fastball-breaking guy in the Tampa days,” Zaidi said. “In Oakland, he really evolved into a fastball-changeup guy. His changeup is one of the best in baseball. I think when pitchers have that type of athleticism, that ability to adapt as pitchers … those guys tend to be more successful.”
@BrettAnderson35 @Dodgers @ClaytonKersh22 all right-handed lineups, will I get a ground ball all year?
— Adrian Gonzalez (@AdrianTitan23) December 30, 2015
Of particular interest to Cubs fans was Mr. Kendrick's description of Buck O'Neil, who was instrumental in bringing down the walls of segregated baseball, by being hired by the Cubs as the first African-American scout and coach in the Major Leagues. He is credited with bringing Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Lou Brock, among others, to the Cubs and serving as an inspiration and father figure to many of the first black players
"There's no denying Buck O'Neil's influence on Ernie Banks, on Lou Brock, on Billy Williams, all those guys that came up for the Cubs, George Altman, Gene Baker," Mr. Kendrick said. "Buck took Ernie under his wing. Buck O'Neill was like a father figure to Ernie, He taught him how to be a pro."
