Dodger Decades: Best of the Aughts (to have won a World Series *grumblegumble*)
by Dr. Geek on Feb 8, 2010 4:22 PM PST
8 comments
Another Dodger decade come and gone, and with it many great moments and memories. With catchers and pitchers reporting soon, along with the green-lit construction of a new wing to Dodger Stadium commemorating the Lords of the Ravine, the staff at TrueBlueLa has its hands full.
Still, I propose a poll be done gathering the top five Dodger moments of the past decade, if it hasn't been done on this site already. Below is a small sampling of such moments. Do forgive me if I have forgotten any moments (or any errors); it is 1:30am, afterall. And now, for your consideration:
Milwaukee Brewin' - On May 23, 2002, Shawn Green rolls out more than just the kegs against the Brewers, going 6-6, with four homeruns, seven RBIs, and a record breaking 19 total bases.
Bobbleslam - Hollywood officially becomes Mannywood on July 22nd, 2009, as Manny Ramirez hits a grandslam in the bottom of the 6th. Oh, did I mention this was a pinch-hit homerun? And that he did it with an injured hand? On his bobblehead night? With the ball ricocheting all over the Mannywood section?
Gagné Gags 'Em - Between 2003 and 2004, Éric Gagné saved a record 84 straight games. Amazingly, over half the outs recorded during that streak came via strikeout.
The Mark Loretta Blooper Reel - Perhaps the weakest bench member on a 2009 Dodger team that won 95 games, Mark Loretta silenced us all, if only for a few hours, by hitting a game-winning, bases loaded line drive off Cardinals' reliever Ryan Franklin in Game 2 of the 2009 NLCS.
Lima Time - José Lima pitched a five-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals on October 9, 2004, marking the first Dodger playoff win since 1988. Even though it was a day game, many members of the Cardinals staff were undoubtedly distracted by the lights. Melissa Lima's head-lights.
The Kids Are Alright - 2007 saw the emergence of several notable rookies from the Dodger farm system, among them a young bison by the name of Matt Kemp. Eventually, the Dodger organization began placing more faith in the core group of youngster, leading to two straight NLCS appearances in 2008 and 2009.
4 + 1 - Jeff Kent! J.D. Drew! Russell Martin! . . . Marlon Anderson? Marlon Anderson! Nomar Garciaparra!
Mr. Walk-Off - Milton who? In another highlight from 2009, Andre Ethier provides yet another reason, if Kirk Gibson wasn't enough, for Dodger fans to stay for all six innings of a Dodger game: six walk-off hits, three coming in the way of homeruns.
Finley and Goliath - With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, against the hated San Francisco Giants, Steve Finley hits a bases-loaded, two-out grand slam as the Dodgers clinch the 2004 NL West title. Jason Schmidt then wins the last game of the season.
Cora Trumps Tiger; Goes All 18 - I'll let the endlessly talented Jon Weisman of "Dodger Thoughts" tell it best, like he always does.
Cycling On the Hudson - On April 13, 2009, Orlando Hudson becomes the first Dodger to hit for the cycle since Wes Parker in 1970 and the first to hit for a cycle at Dodger Stadium. What a fabulous start to a 2009 Dodger season.
Beltre Belts Balls - In 2004, Adrian Beltre ties the then-record single season mark for most homeruns by a third baseman with 48 dingers. No cup jokes, please.
Loney and the Windy City - Exorcising the playoff ghosts of Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew, James Loney hits a silencing homerun against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the 2008 NLDS. The following day, this obit appears in the local Chicago papers: "Deceased - All and any Cubs' hopes of ever winning a World Series. Time of death: 5:19PM, October 1st, 2008"
Perhaps Another Moment Not Listed Above? - ___________________________________________________
8 comments | 0 recs
Kevin Goldstein likes Dee and Chris
by bhsportsguy on Feb 8, 2010 8:52 AM PST
253 comments
253 comments | 2 recs
Breaking news: LA Dodgers third baseman and Indianola (Iowa) native Casey Blake tells me he'll probably play this season without the beard
Adam Wilson of the Indianola Record Herald brings us devastating news. A nation weeps.
1 day ago
Eric Stephen
32 comments
0 recs
Brian Giles To The Blue Came Out Of The Blue
by Eric Stephen on Feb 7, 2010 10:32 AM PST
in Roster
77 comments
Dodger news never sleeps, often when you don't see it coming. Shortly after midnight last night, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com broke the news via Twitter that Brian Giles had signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, making him the 25th non-roster invitee to big league camp at spring training. With the signing of Reed Johnson earlier this week, it seemed like the pursuit of Giles was over. But here he is. Giles will make $550,000 if he makes the club, with up to $200,000 in incentives:
- $25,000 for 150 PA
- $25,000 for 200 PA
- $50,000 for 250 PA
- $50,000 for 300 PA
- $50,000 for 350 PA
Mike of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness has an interesting take, noting the Dodgers may have been four years too late in signing Giles. Sure enough, general manager Ned Colletti's courting of Giles before the 2006 season made an impression. "Brian felt it was a good opportunity to contribute on a playoff-contending team," said Joe Bick, the agent for Giles, "and he's comfortable with Ned after getting to know him during his free agency four years ago."
Giles, who turned 39 on January 20, had microfracture surgery on his right knee in 2007 (an operation that fellow non-roster invitee Alfredo Amezaga underwent on his left knee last season), and was hampered by arthritis in that knee last year, limiting him to a .191/.277/.271 season which ended for him on June 18. Giles is hopeful his knee will allow him to rebound this year, as he has not experienced any setbacks in his offseason conditioning, but he won't really know until spring training how it will respond to the daily grind. Bick noted Giles was willing to sign a minor league deal to share the risk:
Brian wanted to sign a minor league contract, wherever he signed, so as not to put any team at risk until he knows for certain how his knee will respond this spring. If all works out as we hope, all well and good. If his knee doesn't respond as we hope, then he'll be the first to let people know he can't do it; they won't have to tell him....If he's incapable physically of playing the game to his standards, he'll willingly walk away.
If Giles isn't on the roster by April 4, he can ask for his release. Giles has worn uniform number 24 since joining the Pirates in 1999, but that number is retired here in Dodgertown, in honor of Walt Alston. Giles wore number 22 from 1996-98 with Cleveland. Bick said there has been no discussion yet regarding uniform number.
If anything, this transaction is a testament to the information age. Ten days ago, a commenter named Ryan Francis on Dodger Thoughts (scroll down to 3:32pm) said he, while at the "Select-A-Seat" event for season ticket holders, saw Giles working out and running sprints in the outfield. Bick confirmed that Giles was examined by the Dodgers' medical staff on that day as well. Not so long ago, we would learn of a transaction like this in the notes section of the newspaper, or maybe even in the fine print of the transactions section buried deep in the sports section. Now, not only do we have beat reporters delivering news of a minor league transaction after midnight, we have the full details of the deal by the next morning. This is a great time to be a fan.
77 comments | 0 recs |
Brian Giles Added to the Dodgers NRI List
by David Young on Feb 7, 2010 1:10 AM PST
28 comments
Per Ken Gurnick's tweet, The Dodgers have signed Brian Giles to a minor-league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Giles has a career line of:
.291 / .400 / .502 / .902, 136 OPS+
but is coming off a horrendous 2009 season of:
.191 .277 / .271 / .548, 55.
Like most hitters, Giles, who turned 39 two weeks ago, seems to see his offense suppressed by Petco Park's pitcher-pleasing properties. For the last three seasons:
Petco Park: .253/.359/.353, 6 HR in 707 PA
On Road: .290/.366/.458, 21 HR in 751 PA
According to UZR as defined at fangraphs.com, Giles has been an average corner OF defensively for his career, but his slump extended to defense as well with an UZR/150 of -18.9 in 2009. Admittedly, he was dealing with injuries last year. He is a left-handed hitting outfielder with some power, something that the Dodgers were reportedly looking for. Perhaps he will challenge Doug Man, Mientki, Minky, er, Eye Chart for the left-handed bench bat job. He is the second Brian Giles (no relation, though both played high school ball in San Diego County) to play major league baseball.
28 comments | 0 recs
Every Lord needs a King
by Phil Gurnee on Feb 6, 2010 6:47 PM PST
in Vin Scully's Lords of the Ravine
68 comments
and I've got just the man. For a team with a fine stable of solid catchers which includes Roseboro, Haller, Yeager, Fergy, Scoscia, Lo Duca, and Martin one man stands so far above them you could cut him off at the knees and his bloody stumps would still stand tall over them.
This and other great 1995 Dodger cards can be found here.
We have read some great stories about our position players who have had good or even great careers, but not one of them had five years like Mike Piazza. From the time he showed up until he left he was the best at his position every year. Five years, five Silver Slugger Awards. The Los Angeles Dodgers have zero HOF position players who did the bulk of their work in the Ravine without any prospects for the future. The one who fell into their lap by pure luck the Evil Empire decided to trade in the prime of his career.
Growing up a sports fan in Los Angeles we have had a few punches to the stomach that leave you gasping for reason but the toughest punches for me to deal with was Magic Johnson announcing he had aids, and May 14th, 1998 when the Dodgers traded the most valuable player in baseball. For this life long Dodger fan it was a fatal blow to my fanhood, and turned me into a baseball fan more then a Dodger fan until Fox did the right thing and sold the team.
From the time he first showed up at Dodger Stadium he quickly became my favorite Dodger of all time. No one in my opinion had ever hit the ball as hard, and as consistently in the Ravine as the man no one wanted in the 1988 draft. Being slow, you have to be one hell of a hitter to post a .362 average but he did it with ferocious line drive after line drive. The ball simply jumped off his bat making a sound that hadn't been heard in Dodger Stadium in my life time. This might sound like hyperbole but I 'd been watching Dodger baseball since 1970 and I never heard a ball make the sound it did when this man squared up on it. He did it all from the offensive side of the game. Batting average, On Base %, Slug%, Home Runs, Runs Batted In, he was always on the leaderboard.
For fun I wanted to know how many catchers had ever hit more then 30 home runs and had a batting average > .340? Only one.
Okay, how many catchers had ever hit more then 30 home runs and had an OBA > .400? One man holds the top three spots out of six matching seasons in the history of baseball, and you know his name.
How many right hand hitters had hit the ball out of Dodger Stadium until he did it? No one
How many catchers hit more then 24 home runs and had an OBP > .359 their first 10 years as a starter? Only one
How many catchers have hit more then 35 home runs? 18 times this has been done. Only one man has six of those 18 seasons and it ain't Johnny Bench.
How many right handed catchers have had an batting average > .360? Only one
I could go on and on, make no mistake this man was unique in his greatness and unique in his story.
Unquestionably the two best Los Angeles Dodgers are Sandy Koufax and Mike Piazza as they both put together far and away the best five year runs in Los Angeles Dodger history. The difference between the two is that Piazza from the moment he became the starting catcher was one of the best players in baseball. Home grown Los Angeles Dodger greatness. When you look at his production while he was a Dodger you could make a case he was the most valuable player in baseball during that time given the fact he was a catcher, and other players in the conversation were all 1st/OF. Every year he started for the Dodgers he finished in the top 10 in MVP with two number two's, and we all know who the real MVP was in 1997, and it wasn't Larry Walker.
Player OPS+ G From To Age HR RBI BB IBB BA OBP SLG OPS Pos Tm
Frank Thomas 184 698 1993 1997 25-29 194 599 575 99 .334 .455 .631 1.086 *3D CHW
Jeff Bagwell 168 690 1993 1997 25-29 154 546 468 79 .313 .423 .579 1.002 *3/D9 HOU
Mike Piazza 164 668 1993 1997 24-28 167 526 268 58 .337 .401 .583 .984 *2/D3 LAD
Edgar Martinez 159 570 1993 1997 30-34 100 388 439 46 .322 .447 .559 1.007 *D/53 SEA
Albert Belle 155 727 1993 1997 26-30 202 620 359 48 .306 .387 .604 .991 *7/D CLE-CHW
Gary Sheffield 152 586 1993 1997 24-28 126 388 416 55 .290 .419 .537 .956 *95/7D TOT-FLA
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 1/27/2010.
The legend starts with him being drafted in the 62nd round, in the 1988 draft. The 62nd round, wrap your head around the fact that no one in baseball in any way, shape, or form thought this guy had any chance of lasting more then one professional season. He was drafted strictly as favor to his brother Tommy's Godfather, Tommy Lasorda. If Tommy did nothing more then befriend Vince Piazza, he did enough to hang around and tell stories for as long as wants.
Between the start and the end of his Dodger career he put up comic book numbers.
Rk Player Year Age PA HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS
2 Mike Piazza 1993 24 602 35 112 .318 .370 .561 .932
4 Mike Piazza 1994 25 441 24 92 .319 .370 .541 .910
5 Mike Piazza 1995 26 475 32 93 .346 .400 .606 1.006
7 Mike Piazza 1996 27 631 36 105 .336 .422 .563 .985
9 Mike Piazza 1997 28 633 40 124 .362 .431 .638 1.070
12 Mike Piazza 1998 29 161 9 30 .282 .329 .497 .826
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 2/6/2010.
- Before Mike Piazza showed up the highest batting average was .346 by Tommy Davis, by the time he left it was .362. As a slow footed catcher he still has three of the top five Los Angeles Dodger batting averages.
- Most home runs in a season was 33 by Pedro Guerrero and Steve Garvey. He broke that record in his ROOKIE season and would break it three times total finally settling on 40 home runs as the top water mark.
- Highest Slug% was .577 by Pedro Guererro, by the time he left it was .638. That mark (Gary Sheffield would later break it) was not only the highest Dodger slug% it is the highest of any catcher in the history of baseball.
- Most home runs in a rookie season was 23 by Frank Howard. Mike hit 35.
Individual moments
- Rookie season last game of the year in 1993 he would single handily knock the Giants out of the pennant race with two home runs and four runs batted in. It was the 3rd time in the month of Sept he would hit two home runs in a game.
- August 27th, 1995 he went four for four with two doubles, two home runs, and seven runs batted in. That would cap off a streak in which he had multiple hits in 16 out of 27 games, moving his average from .347 to .369 starting on July 31st. Not easy to do.
- June 29th, 1996 three home runs against the Rockies. He simply owned the Rockies, hitting some of the longest home runs Coors field had ever seen.
I'm sure some of you who were lucky enough to see him play have your memories. I have no idea what game I first saw him play but it was early in the spring of his first season. I was somewhere down the right field line when I first heard him hit the ball. It was a sound I would hear over and over again over the next five years and to say the least, the first time I heard the sound, it left an impression.
I won't sugarcoat the fact that Mike was not the greatest defensive catcher. According to Bill James
probably the best hitting catcher ever to play the game
however because of his defensive shortcomings Bill James only ranks him as the fifth best catcher of all time. He didn't have much of an arm but I always thought he had soft hands, and was able to catch some of the best pitchers we had such as Ramon Martinez, Ismael Valdez, Hideo Nomo, and Pedro Astacio.
I'll always remember one play he made which I think was against the Mets Phillies in which somehow he ended up covering 3rd base, made a spectacular catch of an errant throw, put down a sweeping tag for the out at 3rd. Some will say he was not athletic, I say those people never saw him play the game in his prime and only remember him as an old Met after a 1,000 games at catcher.
Never won a playoff game as a Dodger, succumbing two years in a row in three straight. Tight games in which one key hit might have made the difference. Didn't happen. The only blight I can think of on his Dodger career.
The man he was traded for was every bit the hitter that Mike was. He would end up breaking several of Mikes offensive records. It was eerie how close they were in their Dodger careers. Sheffield would end up with an OPS+ of 160, Mike 159, but Gary only had 2276 plate appearances. Even if I had moved the requirement down to 2500 he still would have fallen short. That fifth year really makes a difference. The next best hitter was Reggie Smith and while Reggie played six years he only had 2055 plate appearances. Multiple injuries kept down one of the best hitting LA Dodgers until Piazza showed up. To bad because given his defense and offense Reggie Smith might have been the best Los Angeles Dodger to ever play for us. Pedro Guerrero is probably the best LA Dodger hitter when you figure in the fact he had over 4,000 plate appearances. He did it longer then anyone at a higher level then anyone.
68 comments | 0 recs
Shawn Green Throws his Batting Gloves into the O’Malley Suite
by Michael White on Feb 5, 2010 10:44 AM PST
140 comments
Shawn Green was not the most exciting player in recent Dodger memory. He didn’t look the part of a slugger. His frame was slender, his left handed batting stance was a tad awkward, and he definitely didn’t have the "eye of the Tiger" when he played right field for the Dodgers. But man, the dude could hit. In 2001 and 2002 Shawn Green put up OPS+ of 154 and 154 respectively and this was done whilst playing in 319 out of 324 games. Manny Ramirez will likely be remembered for being the best hitter in a Dodger uniform in the 2000’s, but at this point Ramirez has only played one full season in a Dodger uniform considering he arrived at the deadline in 2008 and missed 50 games to suspension in 2009.
We got to experience Shawn Green in his prime, and the time he spent in Los Angeles could not have been more necessary to the Dodger club. Consider that in 2002 the Dodgers won 92 games (generally good enough for a post-season appearance.) While Green was hitting to the tune of .285/.385/.558, the only other Dodger starter who posted an OPS+ north of 100 was the brittle Brian Jordan with an OPS+ of 118. The remaining Dodger starters posted an OPS+ of less than 100 with the starting second baseman and shortstop posting an OPS+ 81 and 51 respectively. That Dodger team could pitch and play defense to be sure, but a team doesn’t win 90+ games without being able to hit. Almost all of the heavy lifting in that department was done by Shawn Green, and as opposed to Manny Ramirez who was in a lineup with other sluggers like Ethier and Kemp, Green was the only batter opposing pitchers needed to concern themselves with. The fact that he was able to slug .558 whilst being the only above average hitter on the team makes the accomplishment all the more impressive.
While its easy for me to focus on the two outstanding seasons Green had in the middle of his Dodger tenure, it’s not to suggest that the other 3 seasons spent at the Ravine were poor. Of the 5 seasons Green spent in Los Angeles, the fewest games played during a season was 157 in 2004 and the lowest OPS+ earned by Green was 113 also in 2004. Green was simply a reliable player who rarely missed time who spent 5 years in Los Angeles with above average production. That’s not to say his time in L.A was without controversy. He angered teammates Paul Lo Duca and Odalis Perez for failing to dive for a ball which would turn out to be the lone hit in a Perez complete game effort (I blame Lo Duca’s belligerent reaction to the media afterwards to roid rage.) And, despite missing relatively few games, Green is perhaps unfortunately best remembered for 1 game in particular he did miss. During the 2001 season, Green elected to sit out a game in observance of Yom Kippur (it broke a streak of 415 consecutive games played.)
On a personal level, Green (and Kevin Brown; I think I have a soft spot for baseball players with colors as last names) was really my first favorite baseball player for when I was old enough to actually make an intelligent decision on the matter. During the height of the steroid era, Green’s two outstanding seasons in the Ravine will be looked upon favorably. Green was simply the best hitter to wear a Dodger uniform in the 2000’s, and for that reason, I believe he should be inducted into the O’Malley Suite.
(Photo by AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
140 comments | 1 recs
DiamondView 2.010 Looks At The Dodgers
Over at Beyond The Boxscore, Justin Bopp has harnessed his powers for good rather than evil, with a look to the 2010 offensive starters of the Dodgers (including Blake DeWitt at 2B, which would be a welcome surprise). Combining power, on base, baserunning, and defense, DiamondView provides a unique graphical view of player skills. Just looking at Matt Kemp's DiamondView gets me excited for 2010. I added some commentary for each player.
If you aren't reading Beyond The Boxscore everyday, you are missing out.
3 days ago
Eric Stephen
49 comments
1 recs
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