Dodger Blues.

    The LA Dodgers are a team full of talent but somehow remain in last place in the NL West. Last year during the trade deadline the Dodgers acquired shortstop Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins to fill their shortstop needs. If you thought they were done well a few weeks later the Dodgers then traded for pitcher Josh Beckett, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, and left fielder Carl Crawford from the Boston Red Sox. Now these were all the right moves for the Dodgers to do at the time to help them get to the postseason, but somehow it back fired and the Dodgers missed the playoffs in 2012. As we know the Giants won the NL West division title and went on to win their 2nd World Series title in 3 years. During the 2012 winter meetings the Dodgers made a big splash in signing one of the big free agent pitchers on the market in Zack Greinke for 6 years/$147 million dollars. Putting Greinke right behind the games best pitcher Clayton Kershaw. With adding Greinke it would make the Dodgers pitching staff one of the best in National League with already having Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano, and Ted Lilly. The sky's would be the limit for the Dodgers in 2013.

Zack Greinke
signing his 6 year/$147 million dollar deal

As the 2013 season was under way so were the Dodgers. They started off really slow and poor and could never really find their way back. With players already on the DL such as Crawl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez, this team was already missing big pieces to this team. They were also lacking leadership from outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Kemp who batted over .300 last year was on a really slow start and at one point was batting .220. Ethier hasn't been much better this year. The Dodgers pitching staff has not lived up to hype as it should be.  Pitcher Chad Billingsley started out the year but then was put on the DL. It appeared that he would miss the rest of the 2013 season and some part of the 2014 season due to having Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm, so he was done for the year. Josh Beckett was getting knocked around and soon found himself on the 15 day DL with a broken finger. Beckett before going on the DL was spotting an ERA of 5.19. Also their big free agent signing Zack Greinke was put on the DL after getting into a brawl fight with the San Diego Padres, Greinke popped his shoulder and would be placed on the 15 day DL. As the season has gone on center fielder Matt Kemp was placed on the 15 day DL when he pulled his hamstring. The captain of this team would be out for a month or so. So as the season started this team was already heading for rock bottom with players hurt and underperforming.  

Matt Kemp hurt

      In baseball it's a long season, a lot of ups and a lot of down. If it's one thing the Dodgers have done is stayed in the hunt. Yes they are in last place in the NL West but only out by 7.5 game and its the beginning of June. The Dodgers in the past few weeks have gotten a few key player back from the DL as in Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez, and Hanley Ramirez. But they one big reason why this team is still within 7.5 games of the division is because of CY Young award winner Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw so far this year has been the pitcher they need and has been for the past 3 years. Now he doesn't get much run support but does his part and tries to win this team ball games that they need. When he is called to do his part, he does it well. Kershaw so far this has an ERA of 1.93 a record of 5-4 and 91 strikeouts. They have also found a little surprise player in right fielder Yasiel Puig. With Ethier having an off year and the Dodgers being short on outfielders they called Puig up. The 22 year old from Cuba has been the little spark plug the Dodgers have been looking for all year long and has helped them win a few games. Not only can Puig hit the ball, but he has speed and a good rang in the outfield. I don't know to much about this rookie but what I have seen from him so far is pretty good.

Yasiel Puig

He is a five tool player, hits for power and average, has speed, good arm, and can track down fly balls. Since he has been called up he is hitting .421, 4 HR, and 10 RBI's. Not to bad for just being called up. Puig is showing he is ready for big leagues. A few days ago the Dodgers got word on center fielder Matt Kemp that he will be making a few rehab starts down in the minors before returning to the Dodgers. The other day manager Don Mattingly was asked about Carl Crawford's injury and Mattingly characterized Crawford's hamstring as "fairly significant".



    So far this year the Dodgers have 6 key players on the DL and with players going off and on the DL it been really hard to get anything really going for this team. They sit at a record of 27-33 still remaining last in the division. Arizona is leading the way in the division with the Giants and Rockies right behind them. Then you have the Padres sitting 6.0 games out and then the Dodgers at 7.5. So really with it only being June 8th, it's still anyone's division. It's all about what team gets healthy and gets hot at the right time. The Dodgers have a lot of talent on this team, maybe to much talent? But whatever it has been this team just doesn't look like a winning team right now. Yes they have had a few high moments this year, but all and all it has been a down season so far. If they can get Kemp and Crawford back heathy and have them play the way that they do they should be just fine. If they can also get back Josh Beckett heathy and pitch like the 3 time World Series champion he has been before that would be a key pitcher for them down the road. As of right now with the Dodger, is what see is what you get. 

DL Players for the Dodgers:

SP: Josh Beckett - ERA 5.19, 0-5, 41 SO. 15 Day DL (Finger)

SP: Chad Billingsley - ERA 3.00, 1-0, 6 SO. 60 Day DL (Tommy John)

SP: Chris Capuano - ERA 5.45, 1-4, 24 SO. 15 Day DL (Triceps)

LF: Carl Crawford - AVG .301, 5 HR, 13 RBI's. 15 Day DL (Hamstring)

C: A.J. Ellis - AVG .262, 2 HR, 12 RBI's. 15 Day DL (Oblique)

CF: Matt Kemp - AVG .251, 2 HR, 17 RBI's. 15 Day DL (Hamstring)

Miller Time

    The St. Louis Cardinals this year have been one of the best teams in National League with a record of 39-21 and that has a lot to do with their pitching. But not by pitchers you would think of, with a lot of St. Louis's big guns on the DL as in Chris Carpenter, Jamie Garica, and Jake Westbrook. The one pitcher that stands out the most for the Red Birds this year has been Shelby Miller. The 22 year old from Houston Tx, won his 7 game last night beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-8. Miller last night went 6.0 strong innings, striking out 9 batter, and giving up two earn runs. Miller also helped out his own caused by going deep in the bottom of the 5th inning hitting his first career home run.


    Shelby Miller this year has really been of one the best pitchers in the NL so far through the first half of season. Miller has number one stuff and could someday be the ace of this team but with guys like Adam Wainwright and Lance Lyons in front of him, right now Miller is just playing his part as the Red Birds number three pitcher in the rotation. The one thing I like about Miller is he a gamer, really strong arm. Getting his fast ball up around 93-94 MPH and his off-speed pitches are really nasty. He has a great curveball that drops and fools batters very nicely. For a 22 year old kid, he has stuff like a 10 year old veteran pitcher. I expect big things from Miller in the future and hopefully see him in this year All-Star game. Keep it up kid!

Shelby Miller
ERA 1.91, 7-3, 81 SO

I'm Seth Lempert and this is Beyond Baseball.

What Can "Brown" Do For You?

   Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown has been one of the hottest hitters in National League leading the league in home runs with 18. Brown has won NL player of week and NL player of the month. That is a great honor for the 25 year old who in the past 3 years, being in the bigs has struggled a lot. Whether it's been injuries holding him back or him just not living up to the level of play, he's had a lot of issues. The question now remains is, is this a fluke or is this the real Dom Brown the Phillies and the fans have been waiting to see? If Brown keeps up the pace he is on he could easily hit about 25-30 home runs and close to 85-95 RBI's which would be a career high numbers for him. So far this year Brown is hitting .284, 18 HR, and 44 RBI's which are career number for him right now. The Phillies through the first 60 games are 30-30 so far, it has been a season of ups and downs. The team would win 3 or 4 straight and then drop the next 3 or 4 games. With Halladay, Utley, and other players on the DL the Phillies have been depending a lot on Ryan Howard to carry this team on his back like he has been doing for the past 6 years. But it has been the other way around with a little surprise out of nowhere with Domonic Brown putting this team on his back and carrying them to the .500 mark. If Brown can keep it up you could possibly see him in this years 2013 MLB All-Star game at Citi Field in New York. It would be the first All-Star apprentice for Brown.

 

Domonic Brown 

     Now like I said before everyone wants to know if Brown will keep this up? My answer is probably not. Now I'm not saying he isn't a good player but every player goes through hot streaks and cold streaks. Now I do think this is the player that fans and the Phillies has been waiting to see for a very long time. But it's only a matter of time before pitchers figure him out. Brown, I think still needs help with fielding and improving that part of his game. He still doesn't read fly balls well and still doesn't catch the ball that well. He has dropped a few balls this year and has misjudged a few fly balls that could have been caught. But on the other side of that he has a rocket for an arm! Brown can make a beautiful throw to any base on the line. Another question has came into play, will the Phillies think about trading Brown come trade dead line in July or will they hold on to him? Now Brown since he has been hot does now have some value on the market for teams trying to make that extra playoff push or like the Phillies should do, build around him. But I'm really not sure if they are willing to trade him. If so it's going to be for cash and prospects I would have to assume. But trading Brown will not help the future for this club. If I were Ruben I would hold on to him only because right now he is the future of this team and the only player really doing anything. He is 25 years old and still in the prime of his career. You have to build this team around a player like Brown, because in 2 or 3 years he will be only Phillies on this team besides Hamels, Howard, and Papelbon who has been in the postseason. Younger players will look up to him almost as a leader on this team. Once again it's still very early to tell if he will keep up this kind of pace all year long. I think if Brown can keep an average around .270 or .285 that is just what this team is looking for. A guy who can drive in runs and also hit the long ball when needed. The only thing I fear about Brown is his strikeouts. If he can somehow cut down on his strikeouts he will be just fine at the plate. If Brown can keep it up it will be one hell of a ride for the 25 year old and who knows what the future will hold for him.

I'm Seth Lempert, and this is Beyond Baseball


Here are Domonic Brown Career number for the first 3 years
2010 - AVG .210, HR 2, and 13 RBI's - 35 GP
2011 - AVG .245, HR 5, and 19 RBI's - 56 GP
2012 - AVG .235, HR 5, and 26 RBI's - 56 GP