True Blue LA - May 22: Dodgers 2, Padres 1Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2015-05-22T23:25:21-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/84162682015-05-22T23:25:21-07:002015-05-22T23:25:21-07:00Greinke picks 'Careless Whisper' as at-bat music
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- When <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> outfielder <span>Scott Van Slyke</span> was batting in the fifth inning, he fouled off a 3-2 pitch but the Dodger Stadium sound crew, perhaps thinking his at-bat was over, or perhaps feeling so unsure, played a familiar first few notes before quickly realizing they jumped the gun and shut it off.</p>
<p>But the cat was already out of the bag, especially to fans of 1980s music. <span>Zack Greinke</span>, in the on-deck circle, had new at-bat music, and not just any at-bat music. If you heard those first few notes you'd know it, because I know you're not a fool.</p>
<p>It was 'Careless Whisper' by Wham.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/izGwDsrQ1eQ"></iframe></p>
<p>This seemed like an obvious prank played on Greinke by one of his teammates, like on May 1 when <span>Joc Pederson</span> batted to four different boy-band songs, and <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/1/8534077/dodgers-diamondbacks-grand-slam-joc-pederson" target="_blank">hit a grand slam after Hanson's 'MMMBop' was played</a>.</p>
<p>But this was no prank. Greinke chose this song himself, and in fact wanted it played earlier in the game, too, when he batted in the third inning.</p>
<p>"It's a really good song, but they didn't play it," Greinke said, feigning injustice. "The first time up they played my old song."</p>
<p>The sound crew really should have known better than to cheat a friend.</p>
<p>Catcher a <span>A.J. Ellis</span> confirmed it was Greinke who chose the 1984 hit himself, but then again there's no comfort in the truth. Pain is all you'll find.</p>
<p>"He really wanted it," Ellis said. "He was excited by it."</p>
<p>This isn't the first time the Wham hit has been used at a ballpark. <span>Josh Reddick</span> of the <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Athletics</a> famously adopted 'Careless Whisper' in 2014 and <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/athletics/ci_25763251/josh-reddicks-careless-whisper-walkup-tune-hit" target="_blank">told the San Jose Mercury News</a>, "The fans seem to be having more fun with my walk-up song than the actual game."</p>
<p>Greinke grounded out in the fifth inning, a wasted chance that he'd been given. It would be his final at-bat of the game, depriving the fans of hearing the classic hit once more on Friday night.</p>
<p>But it sounds like Greinke might use it his next time out as well.</p>
<p>"That's my favorite song right now," Greinke said. "We'll see how long it lasts for."</p>
<h4>Up next</h4>
<p>The Dodgers go for a second straight win on Saturday night, with <span>Mike Bolsinger</span> on the mound in a 7:10 p.m. PT start. <span>Ian Kennedy</span> starts for the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Padres</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/22/8647973/zack-greinke-careless-whisper-at-bat-music-whamEric Stephen2015-05-22T22:55:18-07:002015-05-22T22:55:18-07:00Grandal leaves early, concussion tests planned
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> catcher <span>Yasmani Grandal</span> left Friday's game against the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Padres</a> with concussion-like symptoms, and will be reassessed on Saturday.</p>
<p>"I'm not sure if he's out or not," manager Don Mattingly said. "He seemed to be okay after getting hit on the side of the head with the bat, then he got hit the next inning again."</p>
<p>After getting hit in the head on a back swing from <span>Yangervis Solarte</span> in the third inning, Grandal took a foul ball off his catchers mask in the fourth inning when <span>Matt Kemp</span> was batting. Grandal remained in the game for the rest of the inning, and batted in the bottom of the inning, flying out to center field.</p>
<p>Mattingly said Grandal passed initial concussion tests by trainer Stan Conte after the third inning, but Grandal was taken out of the game after his next at-bat, replaced in the fifth inning by <span>A.J. Ellis</span> behind the plate.</p>
<p>"Just looking at him, he stepped out twice before he hit the ball to center, when he came back in Stan was paying close attention to him," Mattingly said.</p>
<p>Grandal is hitting .291/.403/.466 with four home runs and 17 RBI this season, second on the team in walks (20) and third in on-base percentage. He has started 30 of the Dodgers' 41 games behind the plate.</p>
<p>Mattingly said Grandal was sent home early Friday, leaving with his wife during the game.</p>
<p>Grandal was scheduled to have Saturday off anyway, Mattingly said, with Ellis starting behind the plate. Grandal will need to pass certain concussion protocols before being cleared to play.</p>
<p>MLB has a special seven-day disabled list for concussions, which was instituted in 2011.</p>
<p>Triple-A Oklahoma City catcher <span>Austin Barnes</span>, the only other catcher on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, was removed from his game in the sixth inning on Friday night in Las Vegas. Barnes is hitting .290/.390/.430 with three home runs in 29 games for Oklahoma City, and has more walks (14) than strikeouts (13) on the season.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/22/8647817/yasmani-grandal-concussion-symptoms-dodgersEric Stephen2015-05-22T21:50:44-07:002015-05-22T21:50:44-07:00Scoreless no more
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- <span>Joc Pederson</span> hit a game-winning solo home run in the eighth inning, giving the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> a 2-1 win over the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Padres</a> in a battle of struggling offenses on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>The Dodgers went scoreless until the fifth inning, running their scoreless streak to 35 consecutive innings, tying the record for franchise futility since the club moved to Los Angeles in 1958.</p>
<p>But in the fifth inning, <span>Justin Turner</span> opened with a single, followed by a double from <span>Andre Ethier</span>, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead and their first run since the fourth inning on Sunday against Colorado.</p>
<p><span>Zack Greinke</span> made sure the Dodgers didn't need much, keeping the Padres scoreless until the seventh inning, running San Diego's own streak to 20 scoreless innings.</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" border="1" align="center" class="sbn-data-table">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th colspan="4">Longest Dodgers scoreless innings streaks </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b><u>Year </u></b></td>
<td><b><u>City</u></b></td>
<td align="center"><b><u>Innings</u></b></td>
<td><b><u>Dates</u></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1908</td>
<td>Brooklyn</td>
<td align="center">41</td>
<td>August 21-24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1937</td>
<td>Brooklyn</td>
<td align="center">36</td>
<td>June 29 - July 1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1962</td>
<td>Los Angeles</td>
<td align="center">35</td>
<td>September 28 - October 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2015</td>
<td>Los Angeles</td>
<td align="center">35</td>
<td>May 17-22<br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>Greinke pitched into the eighth inning, striking out five and allowing just one run on six hits with a walk. His 7⅔ innings matched the longest outing by a Dodgers starting pitcher this season, set by Greinke himself on May 5.</p>
<p>"Zack pretty much dominated that game. He was on the attack, very few pitches early. He was really sharp tonight," manager Don Mattingly said. "I thought he was outstanding."</p>
<p>But with two runners on and 105 pitches on his odometer, Greinke was pulled with two outs in the eighth inning in favor of <span>Chris Hatcher</span>, who got <span>Justin Upton</span> to fly out to right field to end the threat. For Hatcher, it was one out on one pitch, and thanks to Pederson, his first win as a Dodger.</p>
<p>Pederson slammed a ball deep into the right field pavilion off <span>Joaquin Benoit</span> with one out in the eighth for his 11th home run of the season. The home run came on an 0-2 count and Pederson, who has 47 strikeouts in 166 plate appearances this season, was asked if he shortens up his swing in that count.</p>
<p>"I think you've seen my strikeouts," Pederson said, laughing.</p>
<p>The home run was Pederson's second hit on an 0-2 count this season. It was the Dodgers' first home run since <span>Jimmy Rollins</span> in the first inning on May 15, snapping a span of 58 innings without one.</p>
<p>It couldn't have come at a better time for the Dodgers.</p>
<p><span>Kenley Jansen</span> retired the Padres in order in the ninth inning for his second save. He has retired all 10 batters he has faced this season, including seven by strikeout.</p>
<h4>Thursday particulars</h4>
<p><b>Home run</b>: Joc Pederson (11)</p>
<p><b>WP - Chris Hatcher (1-3)</b>: 1 up, 1 down</p>
<p><b>LP - Joaquin Benoit (4-2)</b>: 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 strikeout</p>
<p><b>Sv - Kenley Jansen (2)</b>: 1 IP, 2 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/22/8643019/dodgers-scoreless-streak-over-padres-recapEric Stephen2015-05-22T19:49:00-07:002015-05-22T19:49:00-07:00Ryu's torn labrum was old news
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- Stop me if you've heard this before, but the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> knowingly signed a player to a large contract despite knowing he had an injured shoulder. <span>Hyun-jin Ryu</span> said on Friday, one day after <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/21/8638891/hyun-jin-ryu-surgery-labrum-repair-dodgers" target="_blank">season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder</a>, said the tear was a known issue since he joined the Dodgers.</p>
<p>"I knew about the tear," Ryu said, through an interpreter.</p>
<p>The Dodgers signed Ryu to a six-year, $36 million contract in December 2012, after paying $25.7 million to the Hanwha Eagles, winning the bid for Ryu's services. So when MRI results in spring training <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/3/24/8283929/hyun-jin-ryu-mri-results-dodgers" target="_blank">showed no difference from the MRI exam when he was signed</a>, that was still technically correct.</p>
<p>We just didn't know about the labrum tear until now.</p>
<p>The knee-jerk reaction is to paint the Ryu signing with the <span>Jason Schmidt</span> brush, both signed by general manager Ned Colletti. But Schmidt, who was signed before 2007 for three years and $47 million despite a torn rotator cuff, was sidelined almost immediately, pitching only six games in his first year with the Dodgers, none in 2008, then four times in 2009.</p>
<p>Ryu was one of the best starting pitchers in baseball in 2013-2014, going 28-15 with a 3.17 ERA in 56 starts, with 293 strikeouts and 78 walks in 344 innings. He was also sidelined three times in two years with shoulder problems, but was able to return each time. That he was able to accomplish what he did in those two years with a torn labrum is remarkable.</p>
<p>"I can't really pick a certain date [when I pitched pain free], but there were certain times without pain," Ryu said.</p>
<p>Ryu said he didn't think he would eventually need surgery, and that the tear never worsened in two years.</p>
<p>"It was my decision to pitch through it," he said.</p>
<p>As the Dodgers said after his surgery on Thursday, Ryu said he plans to be ready for spring training in 2016. He was asked if he will be as good as before when he returns to the Dodgers.</p>
<p>"I'll try my best," Ryu said.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/22/8647613/hyun-jin-ryu-torn-labrum-mri-2012-dodgersEric Stephen2015-05-22T18:31:08-07:002015-05-22T18:31:08-07:00Still no timetable for Puig, Crawford returns
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- There is no timetable yet for the return of injured outfielders <span>Carl Crawford</span> or <span>Yasiel Puig</span> to the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a>, manager Don Mattingly said on Friday.</p>
<p>Crawford remains at the club's facility at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., sidelined with a right oblique strain. He last played on April 27.</p>
<p>"Carl was doing more activity but still feeling it at different times during different exercises, so we've had to back off of certain things," Mattingly said. "He's improving"</p>
<p>Puig has been out since April 25 with a left hamstring strain, then aggravated it in a minor league rehab game with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on May 8.</p>
<p>"The other day [Puig] swung the bat a little bit, but has had trouble trying to run, feeling tightness when he's jogging," Mattingly said. "We still haven't gotten past that. We're a little ways away with that.</p>
<p>"A hamstring is usually 4-6 [weeks], and if you mess around with them they end up getting worse. Guys want to push it and get out there as soon as they can, but a hamstring is not one of those things that you can mess with."</p>
<p>Neither are particularly close to a minor league rehab assignment.</p>
<p>"I'm sure there is some kind of timetable at this point, but until they're moving around doing baseball activity they are kind of off the radar," Mattingly said.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/22/8647395/yasiel-puig-carl-crawford-rehab-dodgersEric Stephen2015-05-22T18:10:54-07:002015-05-22T18:10:54-07:00Beachy throws sim game
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<img alt="Brandon Beachy threw three simulated innings to hitter on Friday at Dodger Stadium." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fN6fMmxGq3lCbYacZlfBZoM7F-Y=/575x593:2404x1812/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46381692/brandon-beachy-052215.0.0.JPG" />
<figcaption>Brandon Beachy threw three simulated innings to hitter on Friday at Dodger Stadium. | <a href='http://www.truebluela.com'>Photo: Eric Stephen | True Blue LA</a></figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- <span>Brandon Beachy</span> pitched three simulated innings on Friday night at Dodger Stadium before the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> hosted the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Padres</a> in the opener of a three-game series. Beachy remains on a conservative pace with his rehab, which might put him ahead of several injured Dodgers.</p>
<p>Beachy warmed up in the Dodgers bullpen, then threw three simulated innings, around 15 pitches each, with hitters <span>Joc Pederson</span> and <span>Kiké Hernandez</span> batting against him.</p>
<p>It was the second simulated game for Beachy, who also faced hitters on Saturday.</p>
<p>Beachy is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, and last pitched in a competitive game on Aug. 20, 2013, for the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Braves</a>. Though he is making progress in his rehab, there are no plans as of yet for Beachy to begin a minor league rehab assignment.</p>
<p>"Just moving forward, that's the main thing for him," manager Don Mattingly said. "He's moving in the right direction."</p>
<h4>Notes</h4>
<p><span>Brandon League</span> threw a bullpen session when the Dodgers were in San Francisco, and will probably throw another one this weekend. Mattingly said League still has not thrown at maximum velocity, and called his rehab "slow and steady."</p>
<p>Another question was asked about dropping <span>Jimmy Rollins</span>, hitting .197/.279/.340, from second in the batting order, and Mattingly reached a new level of artistry with his answer.</p>
<p>"At some point you'd have that conversation, making decisions on what's best for the club," Mattingly said. "When we get there, that's what we'll do."</p>
<p>Rollins is batting second on Friday night, his 35th start at shortstop in 41 games this season. The last 17 of those starts have some batting second after 18 starts leading off.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/22/8647343/brandon-beachy-simulated-game-dodgers-rehab-notesEric Stephen2015-05-22T14:56:12-07:002015-05-22T14:56:12-07:00May has been rough for Kemp
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<img alt="Matt Kemp has 20 strikeouts, one walk, no home runs and a .408 OPS in May." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WN3grn3pEdpKgOpUWKucF0cSj60=/0x222:2651x1989/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46381160/usa-today-8573001.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Kemp has 20 strikeouts, one walk, no home runs and a .408 OPS in May. | Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- A pair of struggling offenses open a series on Friday night in Los Angeles, with the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> held scoreless for their last 31 innings and the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Padres</a> going 14 straight frames without a run. But perhaps nobody embodies the slump at the plate more than <span>Matt Kemp</span>, making his second trip to Dodger Stadium as a visitor.</p>
<p>Kemp comes to town with just one home run in 42 games and 176 plate appearances this season, hitting .259/.290/.355. His home run came April 18 at Wrigley Field, and since then has gone 30 games and 127 plate appearances without a long ball, the second-longest drought of his career.</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<h4>Starting Lineups<br>
</h4>
<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" border="0" align="center" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="125" bgcolor="#996600" align="center" colspan="2"><font color="#ffff33"><b>Padres</b></font></td>
<td width="125" bgcolor="#1e90ff" align="center" colspan="2"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Solarte (S)</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Pederson (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Spangenberg (L)</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Rollins (S)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Kemp</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Kendrick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Upton</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Norris</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>Grandal (S)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Venable (L)</td>
<td>3B<br>
</td>
<td>Turner</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Middlebrooks</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Barmes</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Van Slyke<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Cashner<br>
</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Greinke<br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span><b>Location</b>: Dodger Stadium<br> <b>Time</b>: 7:10 p.m. PT<br> <b>TV</b>: SportsNet LA</span>
</div>
<p>Kemp went 43 games and 139 plate appearances without a home run as a Dodger from June 15, 2006 to June 10, 2007.</p>
<p>But even without the power he got off to a relatively good start in April, hitting .326/.357/.478 with seven doubles, two triples and 16 RBI in 23 games. But May has been a different story.</p>
<p>Kemp in May is 13-for-74 with two doubles, 20 strikeouts and only one walk, hitting just .176/.205/.203. The honeymoon period it appears has ended, with Padres fans booing him this week.</p>
<p>"The timing's a little bit off," Padres manager Bud Black <a target="new" href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/may/20/padres-kemp-ross-waste-chances-lose-cubs-wada/">told Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune</a>. "He's just a little bit in between right now, which happens. He's going through a rough patch."</p>
<p>So far this season Kemp has done well against his old team, going 10-for-24 (.417) with three doubles and three RBI in six games, including 5-for-13 (.385) with a double in the opening series of the year at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p>Kemp bats third for San Diego on Friday night, the same position in the batting order he has held for his previous 41 starts this season. He is 3-for-10 with a pair of walks and three strikeouts against <span>Zack Greinke</span>, starting for the Dodgers.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/22/8646875/matt-kemp-slump-dodgers-padres-lineupsEric Stephen