AJ Writes About the Art of Being a Catcher

AJ Ellis wrote another great guest-post at ESPN Insider (no subscription required) that provides some key insight on how they prepare for a game.  Specifically, he details the preparation and outcome from Clayton Kershaw's most recent start against the Angels.

In a pregame meeting AJ writes that they discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the Angel batters (especially right-handed), and decided they would attack their hitters on the outside of the plate; while ignoring Kershaw's strength of "pound(ing) right-handed hitters inside." 

The trouble is the Angels have a bunch of great hitters who feast on pitches on the inner half. So in our pregame meeting, we decided to scrap Kersh’s strength and try to work the outer half of the plate toward those hitters' statistical weaknesses. Three innings and three earned runs later, we both realized we compromised our typical game plan in favor of the numbers our computer spewed out regarding hitters' results versus left-handed pitchers who probably do not own two Cy Young Awards or pitch with the will and ferocity Kersh does.

Realizing the error of our ways, we went back to what Kersh does well, and he cruised the rest of the way. After giving up seven hits and striking out just one batter in his first three innings because of our dumb game plan, Kersh allowed no hits and struck out six in his final four frames. Lesson learned.

As you would recall, Clayton got shelled in the early going of that game.  He allowed seven hits in the first three innings; four of them for extra bases.  However, after their adjustment Kershaw cruised, and the Dodgers would eventually win the game on a walk-off flub (fielders choice) to score Juan Uribe by Andre Ethier.

It's always great to get this kind of information about the process pitchers, along with their catchers, go through for each start.  It's like getting a little glimpse at the "game within the game" that fans rarely have an opportunity to see or experience.

And surprisingly, this wasn't even the best part of the article.  AJ Ellis sings the praises of former Dodger catcher Brad Ausmus for letting him in on a little secret.  Ausmus details for AJ how best to approach each batter with the following checklist:

1. How aggressive is the hitter on the first pitch?
2. Does that change with runners in scoring position?
3. Where exactly does the hitter do his damage?
4. On what types of pitches?
5. In or away?
6. Ahead in the count only?
7. What are the hitter's two-strike chase zones on both fastballs and off-speed pitches?

And he writes that this list is to avoid information overload... Oy Vie!... I think my mind just exploded.

I absolutely suggest taking some time to read the entire thing.  (For the moment, at least, no ESPN subscription is required)  AJ goes into much greater detail on the process he goes through when calling pitches, and some of the specific tendencies of certain pitchers.

In the end, I'll leave you with one quote that I believe encapsulates why I believe AJ is so great behind the plate.

I've learned there has to be a marriage of stats and strengths. I try to find that balance every time I throw a sign down.

Photo at the very top, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/14/2014 - Dodger Links - Ryu's Butt Hurts, Crawford on Fire and McCartney Damaged the Outfield

The Dodgers lost a close one against the Atlanta Braves yesterday, 3 to 2.  Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched well; going 5.2 innings, striking out seven, allowing six hits and three runs.  Unfortunately, he would have to leave the game early due to an injury.   Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Hyun-Jin Ryu leaves game in fifth inning with strained right gluteus muscle."  So... He pulled a muscle in his butt?  How embarrassing.

Via Joe Morgan at MLB.com:

"There's a little concern because it's a new area that's never bothered me before," Ryu said through a translator. "So right now, the only thing I want to do is sleep through and see how I feel tomorrow morning."

Fortunately, according to Alanna Rizzo on twitter, he doesn't feel it's anything serious, but is expected to get an MRI or meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache when the teams goes back to LA at the end of the week, via Dylan Hernandez on twitter.

Of special note, Carl Crawford had another great day at the plate.  He recorded two hits, drove in a run and scored a run.  This was his fourth straight multi-hit game.  I think it is safe to say that he is fully recovered from his most recent injury.  Pic at the top via @Dodgers on twitter.

The Dodgers are now 5.0 games ahead of the Giants - who beat the White Sox earlier in the day.  Now, here are some more links to check out.

• Awesome!  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Cooking Channel to feature Dodger Stadium’s Chef Dave."  During my one stay as a faux reporter in the Dodger pressbox, I had the pleasure of enjoying his food.  I had the pork, and was quite satisfied.
• Aaron Dodger at Inside Dodger Baseball writes, "Kershaw's ready for a pitch-off!"  He links to an ESPN video about Little League pitching sensation Mo'ne Davis who has challenged Clayton.  There's a great video there of Clayton accepting the challenge.
• Via JP Hoornstra at the LA Daily News, "Dodgers’ Dee Gordon is still taking pointers from patient Chone Figgins."

“I don’t know how Figgy did it,” Gordon said. “He’d say stuff like … ‘I didn’t ever hit. I walked and got my hits. You hit and get your walks.’ He’s been just showing me how to do that side of it as well.”

BTW, the Dodgers have asked for unconditional release waivers on Chone Figgins, per their twitter.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Brian Wilson still sees a knuckleball in his future."

“That’s a pitch that I’m just letting the league know that in case one day they’re interested in a starter, I can throw a knuckleball,” he said. “Not to be funny or as a joke – it’s a real pitch. Yeah, I wouldn’t mind starting one day, try that routine out at the professional level. I did it in the minors – I mean, it’s similar, not to the stakes of Major League competition.

He's just weird and competitive enough to be an effective knuckleball pitcher in the future.

• Recently DFA'd reliver Colt Hynes has been claimed, per @Dodgers on twitter:

Minor-league reliever Colt Hynes, whom the Dodgers designated for assignment, has been claimed by the Toronto @BlueJays.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2014

• Another one bites the dust.  Stephen Fife will have Tommy John surgery, via @Dodgers on twitter:

Stephen Fife will undergo ulnar collateral ligament (Tommy John) surgery, to be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles today.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2014

• In light of Scott Schebler's huge day at the plate the other day (3 homers), Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs has some insights on what is happening.

Over his most recent two-game stretch with Double-A Chattanooga, Schebler has produced the following line: 7 PA, 1 BB, 0 K, 4 HR, 5 H. Nor has Schebler’s plate-discipline deteriorated, really: since that initial appearance among the Five, Schebler has produced walk and strikeout rates of 8.0% and 14.0%, respectively — i.e. a considerable improvement over his previously established levels.

• "Damn you, Paul McCartney!" As I shake my fist like a madman.  Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, the McCartney concert did some damage to the centerfield grass at Dodger Stadium.

It seems that the stage on which Sir Paul performed unknowingly damaged the center field grass at Dodger Stadium, prompting stadium grounds crew workers to begin hurried repairs to the field on Wednesday morning for the upcoming homestand with the Brewers, Padres and Mets, which begins on Friday night.

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