After falling back as far as eight games in late June, I am in awe of what the Dodgers have accomplished. They were seemingly in disarray. The Dodgers had everything imaginable thrown their way; including a record number of injuries and clubhouse turmoil surrounding an enigmatic star. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and a plan, no doubt hatched before the start of the season, was allowed to flourish. Depth has been a key to this season, and along with an improving offense (the teams batting was never as bad as early indicators showed) they now find themselves with a five game lead with just 23 games to go.
It certainly is good to be a Dodger fan right now, eh?
As for last nights game, it was doubly nice to see Yasiel Puig contribute. He provided much of the offense needed to pull off the teams teams fifth consecutive win. Puig hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning to help the Dodgers take the lead, and added an insurance run in the sixth inning by homering off Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robin Ray. Per Jack Baer and Steve Gilbert at MLB.com:
"Yasiel … he can do so many great things, but I think the situational at-bat early in the game helped his confidence," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "When you can start him and have [Josh] Reddick and [Andrew] Toles, we've got some depth."Photo at the very top via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2016. Go here to check out more pics by Juan and Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodger History: In 1955 the Brooklyn Dodgers clinched the pennant; assuring a trip to the World Series. As you know, they went on to defeat the Yankees that Fall to become champions for the first time in franchise history. In 1957 the Dodgers and Giants face each other for the last time at the Polo Grounds in New York. In 1967 the Mets honored Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax at their stadium.
- Uh-Oh... Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers; "Scott Kazmir leaves Triple-A rehab game after facing seven batters, recording two outs."
Kazmir suffered a recurrence of the same right neck/ribcage issue that landed him on the disabled list and will return to Los Angeles for further evaluation.
Had his rehab start gone well, Kazmir was a possibility to rejoin the starting rotation next Monday or Tuesday in New York, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. That seems unlikely now.
- Via Jon Heyman at Today's Knuckleball; "Dodgers’ Kershaw still ‘pretty banged up’" Clayton is suffering from lingering back pain. Having had back issues myself over the past couple decades I can certainly understand what he is going through.
- Via Daniel Starkand at Dodger Blue; "Andrew Friedman Credits Gabe Kapler For Andrew Toles Signing."
“Gabe Kapler is someone who deserves a lot of credit for Toles. He had encountered him with the Rays and reached out, talked to him, and brought the idea to us. So Kapler spent a lot of time with [Toles], invited him to Instructional League last year to work out with our guys,” Friedman explained.
“Toles came to Instructional League, worked extremely hard, fit in really well with the group, we invited him to Spring Training, and the rest is history.” The 24-year-old outfielder began the season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
- Via Jack Baer at MLB.com; "Reddick happy to have found his footing."
"He's started to finally get comfortable," manager Dave Roberts said. "Even his batting practices are better. A new, changing environment, he might not admit to it, but there was a little pressing going on. It helps when other guys around you are swinging the bats well. Now, he's starting to simplify and putting that barrel to the baseball."
- Via Doug Padilla at ESPN; "Corey Seager 'gets locked in' by watching sitcom." He shares an interview with the Dodgers rookie.
What is something that people don't know about you or have wrong about you?
Seager: I am an avid fan of the show "New Girl." The Schmidt character is hilarious. I am a "New Girl" watcher. When you need hits the next day, I watch episodes of "New Girl." That's my superstition. It gets me locked in.
- True to the Blue shares some pics from the Trayce Thompson signing in June. Check them out here.
- Via R.J. Anderson at CBS Sports; "Dodgers' Hernandez to guest star on CBS' 'The Bold and the Beautiful'"
- Via David Laurila at FanGraphs; "Kyle Garlick: A Dodgers Prospect Embraces Opportunity."
Garlick on what it’s like to have the minor-league season end: “A couple of weeks ago I would have told you I was really excited. This being my first full season, my body wasn’t feeling too great. I was drained, both physically and mentally. But now that the last game of the year is here, I’m actually feeling kind of sad. I don’t really want it to end. I love playing this game and I’m going to miss is it over the next five months or so.
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