Dodgers at Rockies, 6/3/2015

**To learn about "Zone Score" & "Game Score", please see this post.**

Umpires

HP Jeff Nelson

1B Laz Diaz

2B Corey Blaser

3B Chris Guccione

Pitchers

Dodgers: Bolsinger, Ravin, Liberatore, Garcia, Howell, Hatcher

Padres: Bettis, Friedrich, Brown, Oberg, Axford

Zone Score & Game Score for Jeff Nelson

Standard Strike-Zone

Dodgers v. LHH (DLSZ): 0

Dodgers v. RHH (DRSZ): +6

Rockies v. LHH (OLSZ): +3

Rockies v. RHH (ORSZ): +1

Adjusted Strike-Zone

Dodgers v. LHH (DLAZ): -1

Dodgers v. RHH (DRAZ): +3

Rockies v. LHH (OLAZ): -1

Rockies v. RHH (ORAZ): -1


GAME SCORE 

Standard Strike-Zone Game Score: +2

Adjusted Strike-Zone Game Score: +4

Notes:

Jeff Nelson missed a few tonight, but his calls favored the Dodgers overall and his Game Score's reflect a good game behind the plate. For the Dodgers, Nelson gave two high strikes and two low strikes and only really missed two calls for them. His balk call in the first is discussed in the next section. His big gifts/misses were:

In the first, Nelson gave Bolsinger this high strike against LeMahieu (1-1 count, 1 out, runner at 2B):

LeMahieu would fly out to RF.

In the third, LeMahieu was once again the victim, this time on a low called strike, albeit with a 3-0 count which we have seen expands the zone quite a bit for most umpires (3-0 count, 1 out, nobody on): 

He would eventually walk anyway.

In the fifth, once again DJ LaMahieu had a high strike called on him (0-0 count, 0 outs, runner at 1B):

DJ would single to CF.

In the seventh, Ravin got the benefit of this called strike against Tulowitzki (1-1 count, 0 out, nobody on):

Tulo would ground out to second base.

As far as misses, Nelson called this a ball to Barnes in the fourth (Bolsinger missed his spot, but clearly a strike)(0-0 count, 2 outs, nobody on):

Barnes would walk but be stranded at 1B.

Finally, Nelson did not give Ravin this strike against Blackmon (1-1 count, 2 outs, runner at 1B):

Blackmon would single, advancing the runner to third, but both would be stranded.

To be fair to Jeff Nelson, both of his missed calls for the Dodgers were missed locations and most umpires don't give those strikes.

Close Calls & Reviews:

There were not any challenges or reviews during the game. In the first inning Jeff Nelson called a balk on Bolsinger when he picked off Blackmon attempting to steal third. This is a call that (A) should be called by either the second or third base umpire as they have the better angle, and (B) is a complete grey area on exactly where the pitcher steps. Basically, the rule as enforced here says that Bolsinger has to step towards second base in order to pick-off - not third. As you can see, he clearly stepped behind the rubber. Bolsinger even pointed out his spike mark on the mound when he was arguing the call.

Jeff Nelson had a good game calling balls and strikes, but he got this one wrong. Fortunately the run would have scored from second on the following base hit so it ended up being a non-factor.

Dodgers at Rockies, 6/2/2015 Game 2

**To learn about "Zone Score" & "Game Score", please see this post.**

Umpires

HP Chris Guccione

1B Jeff Nelson

2B Laz Diaz

3B John Tumpane

Pitchers

Dodgers: Greinke, Garcia, Liberatore, Ravin, Jansen

Padres: Hale, Brown, Logan, Oberg, Betancourt, Kahnle

Zone Score & Game Score for Chris Guccione

Standard Strike-Zone

Dodgers v. LHH (DLSZ): +4

Dodgers v. RHH (DRSZ): +4

Rockies v. LHH (OLSZ): +4

Rockies v. RHH (ORSZ): +3

Adjusted Strike-Zone

Dodgers v. LHH (DLAZ): +2

Dodgers v. RHH (DRAZ): -1

Rockies v. LHH (OLAZ): -5

Rockies v. RHH (ORAZ): +1


GAME SCORE 

Standard Strike-Zone Game Score: +1

Adjusted Strike-Zone Game Score: +5

Notes:

Chris Guccione called a fairly consistent game for the nightcap of the doubleheader. His calls slightly favored the Dodgers with the biggest advantage being calls on the outside corner to LH hitters. Guccione gave Dodger pitching every pitch in the Adjusted zone, including one pitch very outside (Greinke to Paulsen), but missed three pitches in the same region to Rockies pitchers.

There were three pitches in the game that were really bad, but other than that Guccione had a good evening behind the dish.

Notable calls were:

The aforementioned Strike 1 call from Greinke to Paulsen in the fourth - this was a 3-0 count, so we typically see the zone expand. This was way out there though (3-0 count, 0 outs, runners at 1B & 2B):

Paulsen would walk regardless.

In the seventh inning, Yimi Garcia got a beneficial call on this low pitch to Charlie Blackmon (0-0 count, 0 outs, nobody on):

Blackmon would fly out to CF.

In the ninth inning, in the middle of the improbable comeback, Justin Turner got screwed on the strike 2 call. This was a situation with a LI of 4.33! (1-1 count, 0 outs, bases loaded):

I feel kind of bad for Turner - he has been getting the shaft on calls lately - most of them in important AB's like this. He would swing at a high strike on the very next pitch to K.

Guccione wasn't done with the high calls though. After Guerrero hit his grand-slam, Grandal got screwed on this strike call (0-0 count, 2 outs, runner at 1B):

Grandal would end up hitting a single to RF despite the hole he was put in.

One call of particular interest was the called third strike to Tulo in the bottom of the ninth. Tulowitzki was visibly upset and had words with Chris Guccione. The call was a ball based on the standard strike-zone (as the telecast showed), but inside the accepted Adjusted zone. Furthermore, Guccione had given Hale the same call in the same general location earlier in the game. They were both called third strikes as well. Here are the two pitches:

You have to applaud Guccione and his consistency there. An overall good night from him behind the plate.

Close Calls & Reviews:

There were not any reviews or challenges in this game.

Dodgers at Rockies, 6/2/2015 Game 1

**To learn about "Zone Score" & "Game Score", please see this post.**

Umpires

HP Corey Blaser

1B John Tumpane

2B Jeff Nelson

3B Laz Diaz

Pitchers

Dodgers: Nicasio, Thomas, Howell, Hatcher, Huff

Padres: De La Rosa, Logan, Betancourt, Axford

Zone Score & Game Score for Corey Blaser

Standard Strike-Zone

Dodgers v. LHH (DLSZ): 0

Dodgers v. RHH (DRSZ): +1

Rockies v. LHH (OLSZ): +2

Rockies v. RHH (ORSZ): +3

Adjusted Strike-Zone

Dodgers v. LHH (DLAZ): -3

Dodgers v. RHH (DRAZ): -1

Rockies v. LHH (OLAZ): +2

Rockies v. RHH (ORAZ): 0


GAME SCORE 

Standard Strike-Zone Game Score: -4

Adjusted Strike-Zone Game Score: -6

Notes:

Corey Blaser made up for Laz Diaz' game last night which favored the boys in blue. Blaser gave the Rockies quite a few breaks in and out of the strike-zone. Let's review...

Blaser called a total of five pitches low and out of the zone. Four of the five benefited Rockies pitching.


Nicasio to Paulsen in the second inning was the lone beneficial call. (0-0 count, 0 out, runner at 2B):

Paulsen would end up advancing Arenado to third on a groundout.

In the fifth inning, Blaser made his worst call of the afternoon, calling this a strike to Ian Thomas (3-1 count, 2 outs, nobody on):

Thomas would draw a walk despite the missed call.

In the seventh, Blaser called this low strike against Pederson (2-1 count, 2 outs, nobody on):

Joc would strike out swinging to end the inning.

Howie Kendrick was a victim of the low strike zone in the 8th (0-1 count, 2 outs, nobody on):

Kendrick would swing at another low pitch and groundout to end the inning.

Not to be left out, Grandal got a taste of the low zone in his ninth inning pinch hitting appearance (0-0 count, 2 outs, runner on 1B):

Grandal would strike-out to end the game.

Besides the somewhat low strike zone, Blaser had a fairly consistent zone horizontally. He missed three pitches from Dodger pitching in the Adjusted Zone outside corner to LH hitters (but was consistent), and missed two outside pitches in the Adjusted Zone to RH hitters for the Rockies.

Close Calls & Reviews:

In the fifth, Kike Hernandez hit a grounder to Descalso at short who short-hopped Paulsen at first. Paulsen shifted his glove to ensure control of the ball and the Dodgers challenged that he did not have control until after Hernandez had crossed the bag. The guys back in NY thought this was irrelevant and overruled the safe call by John Tumpane (who replaced Chris Guccione for the afternoon game). I think they got this call right as Paulsen seemed to control the ball throughout despite the shift.

In the ninth, the Rockies challenged an out call at second base by Jeff Nelson when Justin Turner slid in on a force attempt after Ethier hit a groundball to short. This is one of those plays that never would have been questioned before replay was available. The runner clearly beat the ball, but Turner slid over the bag with his front foot and because of that he was out. 

Dodgers at Rockies, 6/1/2015

**To learn about "Zone Score" & "Game Score", please see this post.**

Umpires

HP Laz Diaz

1B Corey Blaser

2B Chris Guccione

3B Jeff Nelson

Pitchers

Dodgers: Kershaw, Huff, Howell

Padres: Kendrick, Friedrich, Kahnle, Bergman

Zone Score & Game Score for Laz Diaz

Standard Strike-Zone

Dodgers v. LHH (DLSZ): 0

Dodgers v. RHH (DRSZ): +2

Rockies v. LHH (OLSZ): +1

Rockies v. RHH (ORSZ): +2

Adjusted Strike-Zone

Dodgers v. LHH (DLAZ): -1

Dodgers v. RHH (DRAZ): +1

Rockies v. LHH (OLAZ): -4

Rockies v. RHH (ORAZ): -2


GAME SCORE 

Standard Strike-Zone Game Score: -1

Adjusted Strike-Zone Game Score: +6

Notes:

Laz Diaz called a good game tonight. There were misses, as there always are, and he had probably the biggest 'miss' we have ever seen, but for the most part he was consistent and the 'breaks' favored the Dodgers.

Here are Diaz' biggest calls this evening:

In the fourth Diaz missed this strike to Rollins (0-0 count, 0 on, 2 out) LI 0.42

Rollins would draw a base on balls.

In the fifth Diaz gave Kendrick this strike 2 call against Justin Turner (1-1 count, runner at 2B, 1 out) LI 1.54

Technically this was not a miss as it was on the very edge of the Adjusted Strike-Zone, but it was the farthest outside that Diaz called a strike to a RH hitter all evening. Turner would fly out.

In the Dodgers huge sixth inning, Diaz gave Kike Hernandez this generous Ball 4 call (3-1 count, 0 outs, runner at 3B) LI 1.24. The pitch was technically a ball, but in the Adjusted Strike-Zone and in range of Diaz' other strikes.

Kike would get picked off second later in the inning.

Also in the sixth, Pederson received this generous Ball 1 call (0-0 count, 1 out, runners at 1B & 2B) LI 1.56. The pitch was technically a ball, but in the Adjusted Strike-Zone and in range of Diaz' other strikes.

Joc would hit a three-run home run later in the AB.

BUT - the call you have all been waiting for... Ball 1 to Rafael Ynoa in the seventh inning (0-0 count, 1 out, runner at 1B) LI 0.44:

WOW! Thanks for the laugh, Laz!

Close Calls & Reviews:

The Rockies challenged a call by Corey Blaser at first in the seventh inning. Kendrick made a great play up the middle to get Brandon Barnes. It was a very close play - this replay from the Rockies telecast gave the best replay. I was actually surprised they overturned the call based on the trend of upholding a call if it is this close. If the ball hitting the back of the glove is supposed to be the point of 'control', I think this play is a legitimate tie. If you judge it by when Adrian actually controls the ball, he is probably safe. Anyway... ridiculously close play - good thing it was during a blowout.

In the eighth, the Rockies challenged Rosario being called out at second on a ball he hit off the wall. The call was upheld as it was clear Rollins got him on the leg before his foot got to the bag. It wouldn't have even been an issue if Rollins simply held the tag on him as he slid off the bag.

Umpires for Rockies Series

Laz Diaz
Corey Blaser
Chris Guccione
Jeff Nelson

Diaz will be behind the plate tonight, lining Blaser up for Tuesday and Guccione for Wednesday. This is the first time the Dodgers have seen this crew this year.