Dodgers 2012 Offseason Injuries Update

Feb 012013
 

Ken Gurnick reports that Matt Kemp is ahead of schedule in his recovery from his October shoulder surgery, and that Kemp should be back in time for Spring Training. Gurnick also adds that he Kemp should be in the starting lineup on Opening Day. Kemp has reported that he is still feeling soreness in the shoulder he injured after his collision with the Coors field outfield wall.

“That’s my goal,” said Kemp. “I’m hitting off the tee, no soft toss yet. I have my good days and bad days. It’s still a little sore. But being ready for the season is all that matters.”

I still don’t get why the coaches and training staff didn’t shut him down after the injury. This is obviously the downside to players wanting to play through injuries they shouldn’t and coaches allowing them to do it. Isn’t that the purpose of the coaches and training staff? I get that the Dodgers were pushing hard for the playoffs, I thought that it was a bad idea at the time, after much time to reflect it wasn’t a bad idea, it was a really bad idea.

“I couldn’t shut it down,” Kemp said. “They told me to shut it down and think about surgery — or at least rest. But I just couldn’t do it. I had to continue and play. That’s what I do. I can’t sit and watch.”

Carl Crawford is progressing well after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. Crawford has begun baseball activities and could be back as soon as the beginning of Spring Training. That’s well ahead of the May-July timetable that was originally reported. Whispers emerged towards the end of the season that there was a small chance he could be ready by Opening Day, and it looks like that isn’t as much of a longshot at this point.

Scott Elbert underwent a second elbow surgery on January 23rd. Elbert will be able to resume throwing in six weeks. His availability for Opening Day is not looking probable. This opens up the door for J.P. Howell, Paco Rodriguez, and Ted Lilly, to get ahead of Elbert on the depth chart, if they weren’t ahead of him already.

Speaking of Ted Lilly, who is progressing very well from his left shoulder surgery back in September. Lilly has been throwing for several weeks as of Dec. 5, and he is expected to be fully ready by Spring Training.

In other pitching injury updates; Clayton Kershaw is in a full running program for his right hip soreness. He is expected to be fully ready near the beginning of Spring Training. Chad Billingsley is still recovering from his partially torn right elbow ligament injury. We heard some positive things in November after he hit 94mph on the radar gun.

Today, Ken Gurnick provided an update on Billingsley, who is reportedly feeling “absolutely great.” Everything has progressed as planned with no setbacks. Updating yesterday’s post, it’s quite possible that Billingsley makes an appearance during Spring Training. My expectations will not be very high for Billingsley in 2013. I don’t see how you can fully recover from a partially torn elbow ligament without having Tommy John surgery. I fully expect Billingsley to start out well but miss some time, perhaps even having to shut it down and have surgery at some point. Time will tell, but hopefully the plasma injection works, and the Dodgers can capitalize on their pitching depth.

Javy Guerra, Kenley Jansen, and Matt Guerrier are all progressing from in their rehab and should all be ready for Spring Training.

 02/01/2013  Posted by at 3:05 pm Dodgers Injury Reports, Dodgers News No Responses »

Dodgers rumored suitors for Bourn and Rolen

Jan 292013
 

The Dodgers may not be done shopping yet folks. Rumors are starting to surface that the Dodgers have interest in Michael Bourn and Scott Rolen. Jon Heyman writes that at least one prominent Dodgers player contacted Bourn encouraging him to sign in Los Angeles. That move seems a bit puzzling no doubt. The Dodgers have plenty of logjams on their roster, adding Bourn to the mix would certainly not make that any easier, unless of course, one of Carl Crawford or Andre Ethier are on the move.

Interest in Bourn has been complicated this season due to his asking price and the amount of years he is currently asking for. The other big issue is the draft pick compensation, as well as the budgeted draft salary amount that corresponds with the pick. It’s not entirely surprising to see teams playing the wait-and-see game. With all that being said, I have the Texas Rangers as the favorite for Bourn’s service.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has reached out to Scott Rolen to express the team’s interest in him, according to Ken Gurnick. Mattingly said he spoke to Rolen about what the Dodgers envision his role would be, but did not ask Rolen specifically about his decision making or timing.

Well, I certainly like the idea of Rolen hanging around in 2013. Rolen has been very successful inside Dodger Stadium, batting .338 with a .955 OPS. I can envision Rolen being the veteran clubhouse guy that has sorely been lacking for the last several seasons. Rolen, 37, has shown he can still be productive and I think he would fit in well as the veteran bench hitter for the Dodgers. He would also be great insurance should Luis Cruz fail as the starting third baseman, as well as the primary right-handed-hitting backup to Adrian Gonzalez at first base.

 01/29/2013  Posted by at 8:13 pm Dodgers Rumors No Responses »

Clayton Kershaw Extension Update

Jan 292013
 

The Dodgers’ aggressive ownership group has been in full swing this winter, fulfilling the expectations fans were hoping for sure. However, there is one major item on the ownership’s to-do list, sign Clayton Kershaw to a long-term deal. As of today, those discussions haven’t taken place quite yet. As we recently heard from a recent interview between Clayton Kershaw and Dylan Hernandez, Kershaw and the Dodgers haven’t started discussing a contract extension.

“We’ll see,” Kershaw said. “I don’t have any expectations.”

The Dodgers are fully expected to discuss an extension before Spring Training begins next month, Hernandez writes. Kershaw is set to earn $11MM in 2013 and is currently on track to hit free agency following the 2014 season. He’ll go to arbitration one last time after the conclusion of this season, but I highly doubt the Dodgers will ever let this situation get to that point.

Kershaw, the NL Cy Young winner in 2011, was the runner-up for the award this past season. He posted a 2.53 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 227 2/3 innings in 2012, leading the NL in ERA for the second consecutive season. Unsurprisingly, the expectations are just as high for Kershaw in 2013.

 01/29/2013  Posted by at 7:29 pm Dodgers News, Dodgers Rumors No Responses »

Scott Elbert Has Surgery

Jan 242013
 

For the second time in five months, lefty reliever for the Los Angeles Dodgers had elbow surgery, according to the team.

Neal ElAttrache, the teams Orthopedist surgeon, operated on Elbert for approximately forty minute. He found and repaired some cartilage damage that hadn’t been detected previously.

Elbert will take it easy for a few days and then begin a physical therapy regiment. The plan is for him to start a throwing regiment in six weeks, according to team sources.

Former first round draft pick, Elbert, 27, had his first elbow surgery this past September. He had a record of 1-1 last season with an earned run average of just 2.20 over the span of 43 games.

The Dodgers hope that Elbert will still be ready for opening day, but his rehab schedule will make for a tight schedule to do so. If he is unable to rejoin the Dodgers’ bullpen, the team will go into the start of the season with just two lefties: J.P. Howell and rookie Paco Rodriguez.

 01/24/2013  Posted by at 1:08 am Dodgers Injury Reports, Dodgers News No Responses »

All Time Great Sandy Koufax Returns to Dodgers

Jan 222013
 

Legendary Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax will be heading to Camelback Ranch this spring in a new capacity – special advisor to Mark Walter. He is excited to be part of the Dodgers tradition once again and will spend part of spring training working with the Dodgers pitching staff.  As it stands now, he will have his hands full with eight starting pitchers heading into Spring Training. During the season, Koufax will also remain in touch with the team and it’s pitchers.

“I’m delighted to be back with the Dodgers,” Koufax said. “I’m looking forward to spending time with the team during Spring Training and to contributing in any way I can to help make the team a success for the fans of Los Angeles. Some of my most cherished memories came at Dodger Stadium.”

Since acquiring the team last season, the ownership team headed by chairman Mark Walter has made a lot of big splashes to win back a disenchanted fan base that previous owner Frank McCourt left in the rubble.

Bringing back Koufax will rally an already enthusiastic fan base for the 2013 season as the Dodgers try to make it back to the World Series for the first time in a quarter of a century and along with former teammate and current bunting instructor for the Dodgers Maury Wills will bring a champion mindset to an All-Star caliber roster and a starting rotation that many consider one of the best in all of baseball.

“The Dodgers are thrilled to have Sandy back with the organization,” president and CEO Stan Kasten said. “Sandy’s experience and perspective will be invaluable as we endeavor to do everything in our power to bring the city of Los Angeles a World Series champion.”

Koufax pitched for four World Series championship teams: the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers and the 1959, 1963 and 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers and was the World Series Most Valuable player in 1963 and 1965 and will bring that leadership and championship experience to a hungry team and an even hungrier fan base.

A seven time All-Star, three time unanimous Cy Young award winner, and former regular season MVP, Koufax led the league in wins three times, strikeouts four times and earned run average five times before retiring in his prime at the age of 31.

Koufax worked as a Minor League pitching instructor from 1979 to 1989, but was in a self-imposed estrangement from the organization while the team was owned by News Corp. because the New York Post, a subsidiary of News Corp., invaded his private life with false rumors. He remained in this self imposed exile until Frank McCourt bought the team in 2004.

During his storied career as one of the best southpaws to ever pitch, he tossed four no-hitters, one of which was a perfect game while winning the pitchers Triple Crown three times.

Koufax is so legendary that new pitchers are often compared to him as the standard bearer for excellence. Joe Torre, after watching current staff ace Clayton Kershaw’s second Spring Training game while he was still a teenager, gave him the ultimate compliment when he compared him to Koufax.

In his new role with the Dodgers, Koufax will combine his experience and knowledge to a pitching staff that already boasts two previous Cy Young award winners under the age of 30 and will be a benefit to the entire staff,

“For our young players and our veterans to be able to tap Sandy’s expertise and counsel during Spring Training and throughout the season will provide yet another tremendous resource in our efforts to strengthen our club,” said general manager Ned Colletti.

As the 2013 season approaches and Spring Training is just a month away, the Dodgers and their fans hope that bringing Koufax back will help bring back a much coveted world championship.

 01/22/2013  Posted by at 1:58 pm Dodgers News No Responses »
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