NL West Discussion

[Giantmetfan07]

Dodgers Don't Plan To Platoon Ethier


GLENDALE, Ariz. - When it comes to how to hit left-handed pitching, everyone seems to have a plan for Andre Ethier.
Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire has Ethier focusing on his mindset, not his mechanics. The rest of the National League West has a steady diet of southpaw specialists lined up for Ethier, who batted .222 against lefties and .325 against righties in 2012. There's Jose Mijares and Dan Runzler in San Francisco, Joe Thatcher in San Diego, Tony Sipp in Arizona.

"Some days he gets mentally worn down," Mattingly said of Ethier. "Certain guys just wear you out, that are tough to handle left-handed. Those are good days for a day off. Those guys get you in a bad mood."

"I do look at him as an everyday guy," Mattingly said. "It's tough for me to pinch hit for Andre ... but we've got to be willing to look at the numbers certain times. You've got Jerry (Hairston Jr.) sitting there in the right situation, you've got to think about it. Sometimes it's better for us. The other manager may think they may get Jerry or they may get someone else."

 

[cruzg24]

The clock is ticking on a pair of injured Dodgers stars trying to avoid starting the season on the disabled list.

Outfielder Carl Crawford and pitcher Zack Greinke seem intent on racing the clock.

Crawford, who hasn't appeared in a major-league game since Aug. 19 of last year, could make his spring training debut as the Dodgers' designated hitter today, manager Don Mattingly said.

"My timing's getting better," Crawford said Saturday morning. "I'm starting to track (the ball) a little bit."

If he had to hit in a major-league game today?

"I think I'd be OK," Crawford said.

The decision is contingent on how Crawford feels today after DHing in a minor-league game Saturday. The 31-year-old outfielder was shut down for six days earlier this month as he attempts to come back from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last August.
Source: Los Angeles Daily News

 

[Giantmetfan07]

As the Dominican Republic danced through the night, the Dodgers held their breath. They must wait to see if their shortstop can play on opening day. Hanley Ramirez injured his right thumb in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, in which the Dominican beat Puerto Rico, 3-0. Ramirez is expected to undergo an MRI exam Wednesday in Arizona, according to Dominican Republic General Manager Moises Alou.

"I don't think it's bad," Dominican coach Alfredo Griffin said.

Ramirez, playing third base for the Dominican, jammed the thumb while diving for a ground ball in the third inning. He remained in the game, even delivering a single in the fourth inning, but left after five innings. Ramirez declined comment through a team spokesman. Dominican Manager Tony Pena said he removed Ramirez for precautionary reasons, even though Ramirez told Pena he could have gone on.

 

[Mexi]

yeah fucking sucks about hanley
but they dont know how long he's out yet. they're speculating 2-10 weeks lol. 2-10 weeks. what a timetable

greinke might miss the first series but whatever. he'll pitch in like game 4 or 5.

DOdgers Cuban prospect Yasiel Puig is literally hitting .521 in spring. i get the feeling he's going to force his way onto the club. I wish the NL had a DH. Carl Crawford better not suck while Puig is doing well in AA. he's legit

 

[snipezo]

lol cmon spring stats ain't worth shit. im sure you already know that mexi.

 

[Mexi]

oh trust me i know
i dont think he should break camp or anything

but they spent 40M on him. he has talent
Rosenthal tweeted earlier a scout said he's further along than Cespedes at this point last year. and he's about 5 years younger than Cespedes

but go look at his highlights. dodgers.com
he's certainly impressive. speed, gun of an arm, huge power

he'll be up in september, maybe sooner. i think he may be starting next year, but i'll stop now

 

[snipezo]

probably has a fake birth certificate hehe.

 

[Mexi]

Puig is 10 for his last 11

hitting .547 lol

 

[cruzg24]

So much for Hanley getting a good start on this upcoming season. He was spoiled with the Marlins and didnt appreciate what he had there. Now he has to play harder or else LA will eat him alive.

 

[Mexi]

yeah right
we still have Juan Uribe on the team lol

this isnt Boston or Philly or New York

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Greinke keeps insisting he will be able to start the season. I'm still skeptical of that. No need to rush him if he's not 100%.

 

[Mexi]

he's fine
he's not pitching in a season game until APril 5 anyways.
he's missing the first series

 

[Giantmetfan07]

 
LOS ANGELES -- Shortstop Hanley Ramirez started Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday despite having a fractured rib in his left side, but he was removed after six innings as the pain worsened, and the Dodgers decided Ramirez needed to start treatment early in hopes of playing Game 5 on Wednesday (1 p.m. PT on TBS).
 
"I was trying to compete and go out there and try to even up the series," Ramirez said after the Dodgers lost to the Cardinals, 4-2, to move to the brink of elimination. "By the [sixth] inning, I couldn't go any more."
 
Ramirez said he "definitely" plans to start Game 5, adding his treatment program would include plenty of ice, steam and ultrasound therapy.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to come back, and I expect to see my name in the lineup," Ramirez said. "But it's going to be hard. I'm going to try to play tomorrow. I'm going to go back to my house and get some rest and be ready to go tomorrow."
 
Said manager Don Mattingly: "We'll see where he goes tomorrow, if he's able to get loose and basically we are at the same spot."
 
The Dodgers' medical staff kept a close eye on Ramirez during Game 4, meeting with him in the dugout between innings.
 
"They were trying early in the game to take me out," said Ramirez, who is also nursing an inflamed sciatica nerve that sends pain into his left hamstring. "I said I wanted to stay in. But I got to a point that I had to come in here and get treatment."