Lefties giving Dodgers batters trouble
The Dodgers lost to CC Sabathia on Friday. They face Andy Pettitte on Sunday, Barry Zito on Monday and Jonathan Sanchez on Wednesday.
This is not an optimal schedule for a team that has struggled against left-handers this season, not an optimal trend for a team in a division packed with quality left-handed starters.
“There’s really no reason,” Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said.
Of the Dodgers’ regulars, only Casey Blake and Matt Kemp have a better batting average against left-handers than right-handers. Andre Ethier, who has struggled against left-handers in his career, is batting .341 off right-handers, .245 off left-handers.
The most curious case is that of Manny Ramirez, a career .336 hitter off left-handers. Ramirez is batting .233 off left-handers this season, albeit in 30 at-bats, and .329 off right-handers.
“I don’t think we’re on our game yet offensively. I really don’t,” Torre said. “Hopefully, we can stay around until we get a little more comfortable.”
The Dodgers, in third place in the National League West, might not be able to rise above their rivals without solving some left-handers.
The San Francisco Giants will throw Zito and Sanchez against the Dodgers this week. The San Diego Padres have Wade LeBlanc and Clayton Richard. The Colorado Rockies have Jeff Francis and Jorge de la Rosa.
The Dodgers posted a .591 winning percentage in games started by right-handers last season, .574 in games started by left-handers. Those percentages this season: .564 against right-handers, .450 against left-handers.
Action Jackson
The Dodgers and Yankees were getting ready to start Friday’s game, but Dodgers bullpen coach Ken Howell refused to leave the clubhouse until he saw the final out of Edwin Jackson’s no-hitter. Jackson pitches for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he came up through the Dodgers’ minor league system at a time Howell and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt were instructors in the system.
“We’re really happy for him,” Howell said. “His costume might have changed, but I’m sure his heart still has a little blue.”
Jackson walked eight. He made 149 pitches, and Howell saluted the Diamondbacks for letting him.
“You hear so much about pitch counts, but a situation like that and a moment like that is so rare,” Howell said. “You’ve got to give him the opportunity.”
Chad Billingsley said it was not uncommon for him to throw that many pitches in high school. In one game, he said, he threw “180-some.” Billingsley, a minor league teammate of Jackson, also applauded Arizona for letting him finish.
“He was getting the outs,” Billingsley said. “I’m very happy for him. He’s a good dude, and that was a great accomplishment.”
Arizona Manager A.J. Hinch said Saturday he would “more than likely” give Jackson extra rest this week, which would put him in line to make his next start against the Dodgers next weekend.
Short hops
The Dodgers promoted left-hander Aaron Miller, their top pick in last year’s draft, to double-A Chattanooga. Miller, 22, went 2-4 with a 2.77 earned-run average in 14 games at Class A Inland Empire Torre and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter attended Saturday’s memorial service for John Wooden Jeter turned 36 Saturday. He struck out three times. “My present,” Torre said.
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