Tag Archives: Hanley Ramirez

Oct 07

Who might go?

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In end-of-the-season news, Josh Beckett announced his retirement after the game. He did better for the team than most of us anticipated he would, I think: 6-6 with a 2.88 ERA and a no-hitter before going down for the year with a torn labrum in his hip.

The Dodgers have a passel of free agents led by Hanley Ramirez. The team has until five days after the World Series to extend what’s called a Qualifying Offer of $15.3M (a number set by the Basic Agreement as the average of the 125 highest contracts by average annual value). That ensures that the Dodgers would get a compensating draft pick if Ramirez rejects the offer and goes elsewhere. On the other hand, he could accept it. If so, he and the Dodgers would be committed to one another for next year.

Other free agents: Chad Billingsley (team option of $14M or a $3M buyout — after two surgeries the Dodgers may elect to buy him out); Paul Maholm, Roberto Hernandez, Kevin Correia and Jamey Wright. Dan Haren has earned a $10M player option but even after Tuesday’s game said he remained undecided whether to play or retire. Brian Wilson has a $10M option he’s expected to accept.

Sep 18

Game 153, 2014

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Dodgers at Cubs, 5:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Greinke, save us!

Okay, that’s a little heavy on the hyperbole. Nonetheless, the Dodgers’ pitching needs to improve over its results in the last two games, and the only one who can do it better than Zack is Clayton Kershaw, who pitches tomorrow. Greinke is 15-8 with a 2.64 ERA on the season, 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA in six career starts against the Cubbies.

The Cubs send Tsuyoshi Wada to the mound. Wada was 4-3 with a 3.34 ERA in his first 11 Major League starts but has struggled in his last two, going 3 1/3 and 4 1/3 innings. Those two outings ballooned his ERA; it had been 2.79 before the Pirates whacked him around twice. He pitched against the Dodgers back on August 2, going 5 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and two runs and striking out six in a game the Dodgers won on a Hanley Ramirez walk-off HR in the twelfth inning.

Speaking of Ramirez, the Dodgers “hope” to have him back for this series.

The Giants are off today. With a win the Dodgers would be up 2 1/2 games in the NL West.

Lineup when available.

Aug 30

Game 136, 2014

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Dodgers at Padres, 5:40PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD, MLB.tv free game

Zack Greinke brings his presumably-recovering elbow to the mound to face the Padres at Petco Park for the first time this season. He beat the San Diegans on April 1 at Dodger Stadium in his only time facing them this year. Greinke is 13-8 with a 2.79 ERA. Ian Kennedy of the Padres, on the other hand, will face the Dodgers for the fifth time this season. He was the losing pitcher in the Greinke game on April Fool’s Day, in fact. Kennedy is 10-11 with a 3.75 ERA.

In player news, Hyun-Jin Ryu will come off the DL tomorrow and pitch against San Diego. Roberto Hernandez will now pitch on Monday against the Nationals. Mattingly says the matchups make sense, since Ryu has given up only one run to the Padres in 19 innings this year. Hernandez has allowed Washington one unearned run in 15 innings this year. Scott Van Slyke’s ankle isn’t nearly as bad as it looked when he first turned it the other night, as should have been obvious since he was sent up to pinch-hit last night.

Lineup when available.

I don’t know whether it was oversight or Hanley talking his way into the lineup, but the original one had Rojas at short hitting 7th.

Aug 26

Game 133, 2014

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Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Roberto Hernandez makes his fourth start for the Dodgers and Trevor Cahill starts for the D-Backs. Hernandez is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in three starts for the Dodgers, while Cahill is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA in August after returning from the minors in July.

To make room for the reinstated-from-the-DL Hanley Ramirez the Dodgers optioned Erisbel Arruebarrena to Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga, but they expect to bring him back up when rosters can expand September 1.

Lineup:

For scoreboard watchers, Rockies at Giants, 7:10PM PT, TV: CSN-BA

Aug 23

Game 131, 2014

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Mets at Dodgers, 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Zack Greinke starts, two days later than he would ordinarily have done. He and the Dodgers hope the elbow irritation he has been fighting will have dissipated enough for him to return to his usual impeccable self. He’s 12-8 on the year with a 2.75 ERA. Also, and this might be significant, he’s thrown more innings (157 1/3) than any other Dodgers pitcher.

His opponent will be Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Jacob deGrom, a righthander who is 6-5 on the year with a 2.87 ERA in 100 1/3 innings. This is his first time out after coming off the 15-day DL for right shoulder tendinitis.

Hanley Ramirez is still scheduled to come off the DL tomorrow and start at shortstop. For the Mets, Bartolo Colon is back from the bereavement list and will start tomorrow against the Dodgers.

Lineup when available.

Aug 19

Game 127, 2014

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Padres at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Kevin Correia gets the start for the Dodgers. He’s faced the Padres twice already this season, even though he pitched for the Twins of the AL before his acquisition. In May he went six innings against them, striking out six, walking one, and giving up three earned runs. In August he also went six innings, struck out three, walked one, and again gave up three earned runs. In his first start for the Dodgers last Monday he threw six innings of one-run ball with just four hits and one walk allowed with five strikeouts and beat the Braves. Correia is 6-13 on the season with a 4.79 ERA. He had a horrible April, ending the month with a 7.33 ERA. It’s been dropping every month thereafter.

Ian Kennedy will go for the Padres. He’s 9-10 with a 3.54 ERA. This will be his fourth start since missing a turn due to a minor oblique injury; the previous three he went five, six and six innings and gave up no more than three earned runs in any of those games.

Hanley Ramirez is expected to come off the DL on Sunday, the moment the 15 day period is up. We get to see Erisbel Arruebarrena at short tonight. He’s been in eight previous games at the big league level, getting five hits in sixteen ABs and playing error-free ball.

Aug 17

Game 126, 2014

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Brewers at Dodgers, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

It’ll be Dan Haren for the Dodgers and Wily Peralta for the Brew Crew. Peralta is 14-7 with a 3.46 ERA. This will be his second try at win number fifteen. Haren is 10-9 with a 4.50 ERA, but has won his last two after a five-game losing streak.

In Uribe’s absence the Dodgers might try Hanley Ramirez there, leaving Rojas at shortstop. Of course they give Barney the start at short today. Ramirez took some grounders at third on Saturday.

Lineup:

Aug 15

Game 124, 2014

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Brewers at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

These two teams faced each other last weekend in Milwaukee and the home team won two of three, including one against Zack Greinke, tonight’s starter for the Dodgers. In that game he threw six innings, gave up four earned runs on eight hits, and continued a rather unhappy streak: In seven starts against his former teams (Brewers, Angels, Royals) he’s lost them all. However, he’s still 12-8 with a 2.84 ERA this season.

The Brewers send out Jimmy Nelson, who also pitched in last weekend’s series. He went six innings, giving up eight hits and two runs while losing to Kershaw on Sunday. Overall he’s 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA this year.

Hanley Ramirez isn’t swinging a bat yet, but he has done a little throwing. The Brewers’ Ryan Braun has a nerve problem in a hand, but he expects to play tonight. Another note: it’s hard to believe, but the Brewers’ K-Rod (Francisco Rodriguez) needs one save to tie Rollie Fingers at No. 11 on the all-time saves list with 341. Man, it seems like only a couple of years ago he was a 20-year-old kid pitching for the Angels in the 2002 World Series.

Lineup when available.

Aug 10

Game 119, 2014

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Dodgers at Brewers, 11:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, TBS

Clayton Kershaw v. Jimmy Nelson. It looks like a mismatch, but “that’s why they play the games.” The veteran Kershaw is 13-2 with a 1.82 ERA, while the rookie Nelson is 2-2 with a 4.20 ERA. The kid has had three straight quality starts, though.

In personnel news, Hanley Ramirez is probably headed for the DL with an oblique injury. The Dodgers acquired RHP Kevin Correia from the Twins for a player to be named later or cash. Correia is 5-13 with a 4.94 ERA this season for the Twins, who are in last place in the AL Central. He was once an All-Star who went to the game in 2011 while with the Pirates. He’s 74-91 with a 4.53 ERA in his twelve-year career.

As expected, the Dodgers placed SS Hanley Ramirez on 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain and recalled INF Darwin Barney from Albuquerque.

Lineup when available.

Aug 09

Game 118, 2014

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Dodgers at Brewers, 4:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

The Dodgers try to bounce back from last night’s disappointment (Hernandez deserved better!), and what better way to do so than to put Zack Greinke (Ace 1B) out on the hill? This is rather startling: no matter who Greinke pitches for, his team wins when he pitches at Miller Park. Lifetime the Brewers, Angels and Royals are 25-2 with him on the mound in Milwaukee. Greinke is 12-7 with a 2.71 ERA this season, coming off a loss to the Angels in which he pitched seven innings with one bad one in the first.

His opponent will be Mike Fiers, who’ll make his first start of the year today. Fiers’ first full year in the majors was in 2012 with the Brewers when he made 22 starts and went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA. He spent most of 2013 in the minors. He may have been injured, as he only pitched 57 innings overall that season. In the minors this year he’s got 129 strikeouts against only 17 walks. His control would seem to be good.

Hanley Ramirez was scheduled to have an MRI on his side today after leaving the game in the first inning yesterday. As he’s not in today’s lineup, they’re being careful.

Lineup: