Tagged: A.J. Ellis
Dodgers trade Carlos Ruiz for reliever Vidal Nuño
Elsa/Getty Images
By Jon Weisman
Vidal Nuño, a 29-year-old left-handed reliever, has been acquired from Seattle by the Dodgers in exchange for catcher Carlos Ruiz.
In case you missed it: Vinnys Vinnys everywhere
Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Andrew Toles, LF
Julio Urías , P
By Jon Weisman
As part of Team Photo Day on Friday, the Dodgers indulged in a fantasy — that everyone in the world could be as wonderful as Vin Scully.
Of course, there really can only be one Vin Scully, as a close examination of the above image will reveal. (Click to enlarge.)
Here are some other recent items of note …
Why the Dodgers pursued Carlos Ruiz
(Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Andrew Friedman, on the decision to trade A.J. Ellis to Philadelphia in a deal for Carlos Ruiz (via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com):
“It was a tough decision on a personal level,” Friedman said. “From a baseball standpoint, we felt Carlos fit our team extremely well. I can go on and on about A.J. and his attributes and what he brings to a team, and if Carlos didn’t possess similar things, we wouldn’t have made the move. In terms of leadership ability, ability to call a game and run a pitching staff, Carlos rates extremely well in those things and has experience in what he brings to the lineup against left-handed pitching, which (we) focused on as an area we wanted to improve.”
Read the entire story here.
— Jon Weisman
A.J. Ellis talks about his farewell from Dodgers
A.J. Ellis spoke to reporters shortly after receiving the news of being traded to Philadelphia. The audio can be played above.
— Jon Weisman
A.J. Ellis heads to Phillies in Carlos Ruiz trade
Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
In an exchange of catchers that will mark the end of an era in Los Angeles, A.J. Ellis has been sent to the Phillies in a trade for Carlos Ruiz.
Ellis, minor-league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later or cash considerations will go to Philadelphia in exchange for Ruiz and cash considerations.
Catcher steals make a rare return for Dodger offense
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrián González, 1B
Howie Kendrick, LF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Andrew Toles, RF
Joc Pederson, CF
Scott Kazmir, P
By Jon Weisman
In the very first game after A.J. Ellis stole his first base in the Majors on Wednesday, Yasmani Grandal stole his first base as a Dodger on Friday.
Grandal, whose steal came in his 191st game as a Dodger, did have three thefts with the Padres in 2014. Nevertheless, to say this week’s sequence of events was unusual is an understatement.
At age 35, A.J. Ellis steals first MLB base
By Jon Weisman
Five weeks ago, A.J. Ellis acknowledged, not without some pride, that he knew he was of the all-time leaders in MLB history for most times on base without a steal in his career.
Today, history broke.
Maeda’s hot streak, Dodgers’ home-run streak end
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
By Cary Osborne
During a five-game stretch that began in New York on May 28, Kenta Maeda reminded us of the first impression he gave back in April.
His 1.52 ERA in his last 29 2/3 innings had a lot to do with him not allowing the long ball and limiting damage.
He gave up one homer and didn’t have a multi-run inning against him during that time.
On Saturday, Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen went deep twice — the second being a three-run home run that knocked Maeda out of the game.
And the Dodgers lost 6-1, their second straight loss and first losing streak since June 11-13.
The incredible invisible Adam Liberatore
By Cary Osborne
Adam Liberatore’s locker in the Dodgers clubhouse is in a high traffic area. Right next to his is Julio Urías’.
It’s the closest a swarm of reporters get to him.
After he pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning on Wednesday and the question was asked if he had a minute to speak, he gave an, “um.”
Not yes.
Not no.
It was almost like a, “Who? Me?”
Liberatore has been one of baseball’s best relief pitchers thus far in 2016. And he’s been somewhat invisible.
It’s the perfect existence for a middle reliever — one of the most maligned types of baseball players.
Postscript: A.J. Ellis and the mythical stolen base
By Jon Weisman
In today’s feature on A.J. Ellis, the Dodger catcher said he had no idea how high he ranked among the franchise leaders in games caught.
But there was one piece of history that Ellis was acutely aware of. That’s when I asked him if he remembered his last stolen base.
“That hasn’t happened in the Major Leagues, I know that,” Ellis said. “I think I’m top five without a stolen base for as many (times on base) as I’ve got.”
1) 835 Russ Nixon (1957-68)
2) 818 Aaron Robinson (1943-51)
3) 801 Chris Snyder (2004-13)
4) 710 Johnny Estrada (2001-08)
5) 632 A.J. Ellis (2008-)
6) 620 Wilson Ramos (2010-)
7) 607 Ryan Garko (2005-10)
8) 541 Al Ferrara (1963-71)
9) 515 Jack Hiatt (1964-62)
He was exactly right. Ellis has reached base 632 times in his career, without a steal. In MLB history, only four steal-heeled players, led by Russ Nixon (835), have been on the bases more — though Wilson Ramos, the opposing catcher in the recently completed series against the Nationals, is coming up, well, fast behind Ellis.
Ellis has a firm grip on the Dodger franchise record, having sped past Al Ferrara.
How badly does Ellis want to get a steal before his career is over? Or does he even want one?
“It’s kind of getting to that point now where it’s a fun fact about me,” Ellis said, “but, no I do. I’m always looking. I want to get one off somebody that it would really tick off. Like I want to get one off (Madison) Bumgarner, I think. That would really tick him off, to see that I stole on him. But he’s tough.”
Dodger Insider 
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