Dodgers lefty Scott Kazmir is headed for an examination today as he deals with back and neck issues, as Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times was among those to tweet. The issue isn’t exactly a new one, but seems to be an occasionally recurring problem. As Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register tweets, Kazmir says that he ends up having trouble picking up the target and keeping his right side closed when it flares up. It’s not yet clear whether a DL stint will be considered or whether there’s cause for broader concern. Regardless, it’s not great news for a Los Angeles team that has dealt with injuries to nearly every member of its rotation at one point or another this year.
Here are a few more notes out of Los Angeles:
- The Dodgers are at least finally set to welcome trade deadline acquisition Rich Hill to the rotation on Wednesday, as he is now officially scheduled to start an important tilt against Johnny Cueto and the Giants. Hill has been on the shelf for much longer than had been expected while waiting for a blister to heal and has yet to take the mound since arriving in L.A. over three weeks ago. A blister may not sound like much of an injury, but as Eric Nusbaum explores in great detail for Vice Sports, it’s a major problem for a pitcher.
- Dan Johnson, a 37-year-old former first baseman, has joined the Dodgers as a knuckleballing hurler, per an announcement from the indy league St. Paul Saints (with whom he was pitching). He’ll head to Double-A for the Los Angeles organization, where he’ll be reunited with Andrew Friedman — who was the GM of the Rays back when Johnson popped his famous home run for the organization. Johnson had returned to Tampa Bay for Spring Training this year, but wasn’t able to stick as a pitcher. Now, he’ll head to the Double-A level and try for an improbable return to the majors. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN recently ran a story on Johnson that is well worth a look.
Andrew Friedman, how about signing some high school buddies while you’re looking for more pitching depth?
Friedman continues to act on the cheap with the deep pocket Dodgers. His approach has netted them a bunch of starters with injury histories that have now placed the pen in danger of over use. He held onto his precious prospects until well he didn’t to acquire Hill who has not thrown a pitch for them and is set to be a free agent. His moves are baffling to say the least.
A Dodger fan complaining about not spending lol
You assume I’m a Dodger fan. I guess I’m the idiot for believing better dialogue to be found here vs. ESPN. Yea, I’m the idiot.
The team who has the hot hand both on the mound and at the plate can move through the playoffs to the World Series. That was the key to the Giants success every other year for the last six (and I’m a Dodgers fan). The Dodgers arguably had a better rotation last year and lost – again. Since Kershaw went down, the bats have gotten hot and the bullpen has done a solid job at the right time. If the bats fall flat in late Sep into Oct, it won’t matter if Kershaw is back or anyone else for that matter. Let’s wait and see.
Kazmir has certainly been a pain in our neck and back all season.
Maybe time for Jose De Leon. I’d take him Thursday night over the other options.
Indeed. De Leon is putting up some great numbers at OKC, not sure what’s holding him back from promotion over some of the other candidates. Would hate to throw another rookie straight into the hottest part of the fire, but the choices are slim and none.
I’m on board with that BlueSky – absolutely buzzing for De Leon to get a call-up. He’ll be here in September no doubt, but..give me him right now! 7 innings of 1 hit shutout ball the other day, he’s absolutely done with AAA seasoning.
The Dodgers continue to sign pitchers with many injury histories and not that good to begin with. And they them 12. , 15. , 16 million a year.
They pay them the millions I mentioned.
Y’all are crazy. You can’t have it both ways. You either keep your top prospects or trade them away for big names. The FO kept Seager, Pederson, and Urias instead of going after big arms. The result is that we have the rookie of the year, an above average center fielder with power, and a future ace on the mound. All of whom have contributed to the current standings. Not to mention all the deals that have made the bullpen a force this year after an abysmal couple years there. And the team that is grinding out some great wins offensively…also has significant pieces that were acquired by the FO without giving up too much. Dodgers are in a great place right now with reinforcements on the way (also thanks to the FO). We may not win the WS but we have as good a shot at is as anyone else right now.