closer

In Sacramento, the Athletics are mired in last place, struggling to fill the minor league ballpark they call home. That does not mean our state capitol is lacking for some serious hardball.

California legislators, meet our old friend, Frank McCourt.

McCourt, the former Dodgers owner, first pitched a gondola from Union Station to Dodger Stadium in 2018. The most recent development, from May: An appellate court ordered a redo of the environmental impact report, citing two defects that needed to be remedied.

At the time, a project spokesman categorized those defects as “minor, technical matters” and said they could be “addressed quickly.”

In the event of another lawsuit challenging the gondola project on environmental grounds, McCourt and his team want to guarantee any such suit would be addressed quickly.

On Monday, state legislators are scheduled to consider a bill designed in part to put a 12-month limit on court proceedings related to environmental challenges to certain transit projects. The current challenge to the gondola project is 16 months old and counting.

The bill, in all its legislative prose, does not cite any specific project. However, a state senate analysis calls the gondola proposal “one project that would benefit.”

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author, said he had not met with any of the lobbyists from the McCourt entities registered to do so. Wiener said he included the gondola-related language in the bill at the request of legislators from the Los Angeles area.

“To me, it was a no-brainer,” Wiener told me.

A rendering of the proposed gondola that would transport fans from Union Station to Dodger Stadium.

(LA Aerial Rapid Transit)

The larger purpose of the bill: cutting red tape for buses, bikes, trains, ferries and any other mode of transit that might get you out of your car. If a gondola can do that, he said, bring it on.

“We need more sustainable transit options in California,” he said. “We need to make it easier for people to get around without having to drive.

“When you get cars off the road, it benefits the people who don’t have to drive, but it also benefits drivers, because it means there are fewer drivers on the road.”

The Senate analysis listed 52 organizations in support of Wiener’s bill, none opposed. Weiner told me he had not heard from anyone in opposition.

That was concerning to Jon Christensen of the L.A. Parks Alliance, one of the two groups that filed the long-running environmental lawsuit against the gondola project.

Christensen, whose coalition recently scrambled to hire its own Sacramento lobbyists, said he has no problem with expediting legal proceedings. What he has a problem with, he said, is a bill that “singles out one billionaire’s project for favoritism.”

Nathan Click, the spokesman for Zero Emissions Transit (ZET), the nonprofit charged with building and operating the gondola, said the bill simply extends a provision of previous legislation.

“The vast majority of Angelenos want and deserve zero emission transit solutions that reduce traffic and cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” Click said.

Click declined to say why project proponents felt compelled to pursue inclusion in this legislation if the environmental challenge already had been reduced to what he had called “minor, technical matters” two months ago. Project opponents maintain ridership estimates for the gondola are overly optimistic.

In the end, what happens in Sacramento might not matter much.

The gondola project still requires approvals from the City Council, Caltrans, Metro and the state parks agency. The latest target for a grand opening — 2028, in time for the Olympic baseball tournament at Dodger Stadium — likely would require construction to begin next spring. No financing commitment has been announced for a project estimated to cost $385 million to $500 million — and that estimate undoubtedly has risen in the two years since it was shared publicly.

There is nothing improper or unusual about lobbyists advocating for the interests of big business, but it’s not cheap. Over the past five years, according to state records, McCourt’s gondola company has spent more than $500,000 to do so.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been closed since the end of the 2022 summer season after its then owner, Peel Group, declared it financially unviable

Doncaster Sheffield Airport has moved one step closer to reopening following positive talks.

TUI and Ryanair have been in conversation with the group running the relaunch project, giving hope that the now mothballed airport could start jetting holidaymakers off once again.

Doncaster East and Isle of Axholme Labour MP Lee Pitcher announced the DSA Action Group “sat down with TUI’s UK & Ireland commercial director” and “chaired a positive DSA Action Group meeting with Ryanair, represented by their head of public affairs.”

“We discussed Ryanair’s position on Doncaster Sheffield Airport — and I’m pleased that they’ve agreed to be introduced to Fly Doncaster, the company that will manage the airport in partnership with international operator Munich International,” Mr Pitcher said, the Doncaster Free Press reported.

In January, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary refused to rule out returning his company’s flights to the North East airport, but admitted being based at the site was “a hard sell.”

READ MORE: Wizz Air warns new law will increase prices and create ‘absolute zoo’ at airport

The CEO used an interview with Sky to push for air passenger duty (APD) to be scrapped, something he has called for regularly, despite airlines paying no tax on the very polluting fuel they use.

“I think its a very tough sell for somewhere like Doncaster in the shadow of Leeds Bradford. I wish them well but its certainly not part of our growth plans in the UK – which isn’t to say we wouldn’t put some flights back into Doncaster if APD was scrapped,” Mr O’Leary said.

“We certainly would look at it if it was the price of scrapping APD, we would guarantee to put flights back into Doncaster.”

Signing up airlines will be key to any future reopening of Doncaster Sheffield, which has been dormant since November 2022.

The City of Doncaster Council has pledged to have Doncaster Sheffield Airport up and running by spring 2026, according to West Bridgford Wire. This development follows South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard’s indication that a decision regarding the release of gainshare funding for the airport’s revival is expected in “early September”, a move seen as pivotal for the travel hub’s resurgence.

This new schedule signifies yet another postponement, with initial plans aiming for a summer restart. “The plan remains to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport in Spring 2026,” confirmed a spokesperson for Mayor Jones, acknowledging several dependencies still in play.

“Once we have the Gainshare decision signed off in early September we can finalise our plans, including progressing with our Airspace, signing-up airlines and freight providers and to employ and train the hundreds of staff required to operate an airport.”

READ MORE: Heathrow Airport to demolish terminal and boost passenger numbers by 10 millionREAD MORE: Eurostar announces big change to train schedule kicking off this year

Previously reliant on TUI as its sole operator before the Peel Group shut it down due to financial woes, the airport’s future now rests with FlyDoncaster. The company, formed by Doncaster Council, is optimistic about the airport’s economic prospects once it reopens.

Back in 2016, the airport saw its busiest year, with 1.25 million passengers passing through its gates. German company Munich Airport International (MAI) is set to deliver operational and management expertise. Earlier in February, MAI’s managing director Dr Lutz Weisser mentioned it was “too early” to talk about specific airlines or destinations, but confirmed ongoing confidential talks with carriers.

“The UK is a very important aviation market and we are interested in Doncaster because it is all there. This is not a greenfield project, this is not something that needs to be built. You don’t have the risks of planning approval or construction and all these other things,” he explained, as reported by the BBC.

“It may need some renovation, and recertification is important, but it is all in place. It just needs a bit of polishing and then you have an airport and that is exciting.”

At a recent council meeting, Christian Foster, who is both the council programme director and director of FlyDoncaster, shared ambitious plans for diversifying airline operations at Doncaster. The Sun quoted him saying: “Working with our advisers from Munich we are very clear we want to target a number of airlines and have already been having those conversations for over 12 months with certain airlines.

“Having a strategy where you only have an airport with one airline doesn’t work for Doncaster and hence we want a minimum of four to five and that’s where we are working at. We are very keen to get our airspace returned back to 24 hours for next year.”

Meanwhile, TUI has teased the possibility of a return to Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which previously featured in its roster for flights to sun-soaked spots such as Cyprus and Spain. Reminiscing about former ties, a TUI spokesperson remarked in February: “TUI has always supported Doncaster Sheffield Airport, proudly flying customers from the region and were disappointed when the airport closed. We’re excited about actively engaging with stakeholders about a potential re-opening.”

CHICAGO — Bobby Jenks, a two-time All-Star closer and World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, has died, the team announced Saturday. He was 44.

The White Sox said Jenks died Friday in Sintra, Portugal, where he was being treated for adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer.

Jenks helped the White Sox win the 2005 World Series, saving four games in six appearances during the postseason. He was an All-Star in each of the next two seasons while saving 41 games in 2006 and 40 in 2007.

He retired 41 consecutive batters in 2007, matching a record for a reliever.

“He was embarrassing guys, good hitters, right away,” former White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said in a video tribute.

Jenks saved 173 games for the White Sox from 2005 to 2010 before finishing his career with 19 appearances in 2011 for the Boston Red Sox. For his career, he was 16-20 with a 3.53 ERA and 351 strikeouts in 348 appearances, all in relief.

“He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate,” White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.”

Jenks began his career with the Angels, who drafted the hard-throwing right-hander in the fifth round of the 2000 amateur draft. He was eventually placed on assignment and picked up by the White Sox.

He is survived by his wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, their two children, Zeno and Kate, and his four children from a previous marriage, Cuma, Nolan, Rylan and Jackson.

“As a teammate,” said former White Sox outfielder Aaron Rowand, “he was the best.”

China and the European Union are marking 50 years of diplomatic relations this month. At the core of their partnership is trade.

They are the second and third biggest economies in the world after the United States.

The Chinese foreign minister is visiting EU headquarters this week as he seeks closer ties in what he has called a “volatile” world.

Under President Donald Trump, the US has increasingly turned to sweeping tariffs to get what it wants.

Although Beijing and Brussels are hoping to improve their economic ties, they have disagreements on a number of issues.

So what will that mean for global trade and the economic order?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Karel Lannoo – CEO, Centre for European Policy Studies

Victor Gao – vice president, Center for China and Globalisation

Raffaele Marchetti – director, Center for International and Strategic Studies at LUISS University in Rome

It’s hard not to count as the strikeouts go by.

Clayton Kershaw’s first strikeout Friday night came on his “Cooperstown curveball” — a pitch that’s dazzled since its first appearance at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2008. Two strikeouts on sliders that dove into the dirt like paper airplanes curtailing in the wind brought his chase to single digits.

The milestone is inevitable. Kershaw will all but certainly reach the 3,000-strikeout mark, etching his name on a list that features just 19 other pitchers. But he’ll have to wait a little while longer.

“There’s a few pitches tonight where it clicked,” Kershaw said, moving his earned-run average to 2.49 in June. “It’s just not every one. So hopefully it’ll get there.”

Kershaw struck out four batters against the Nationals, tossing five innings and giving up two solo home runs as the Dodgers took the series opener 6-5.

“It’s really special knowing that he’s approaching 3,000,” said infielder Miguel Rojas, who played third base Friday like he did for Kershaw’s no-hitter in 2014. “Every pitch… every strikeout counts. But for him, I feel like it’s more important to win games, and for him to be 3-0 and with really good numbers overall, I’m happy for him — that he’s healthy, happy and able to contribute.”

Kershaw brought his career strikeout total to 2,992, just eight away from 3,000. Strikeout 3,000 could come Thursday in Colorado or Friday in Kansas City when he’s next expected to toe the mound.

“It’s hard not to appreciate how close he is to the 3,000 mark,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “My guess is that he just wants to get this thing over with as soon as possible, right? … He wants it over as quick as possible, I’m sure.”

Kershaw still doesn’t feel his sharpest in his seventh start of the season. He walked two and 33 of his 78 pitches were balls. His fastball was more than a tick down from his season average as he flailed with his command early.

And yet, Kershaw battled through five innings.

“I can still get people out,” Kershaw said. “I just want to do it a little bit better.”

Clayton Kershaw delivers in the third inning against the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

If the Dodgers’ previous four-game series against the Padres had the energy and animosity of postseason baseball, then the Nationals coming to town felt like a true mid-June game. Coming off an 11-game losing streak — broken Thursday in Colorado — the Nationals (31-45) fell out of an early lead because of self-inflicted gaffes.

After the Dodgers knotted the score 1-1 when bench coach Danny Lehmann’s first successful challenge (stepping in at manager for the suspended Roberts) brought home a run after Mookie Betts was deemed safe at first on a fielder’s choice, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams made what looked to be an inning-ending force play.

Abrams dove to his right on an infield single from Andy Pages, stabbed the ball and used his glove to flip to Amed Rosario at second base. The ball never reached Rosario, and Betts hustled home from second base without a throw.

Rojas extended the Dodgers’ lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth when he hit his third home run of the season, a two-run shot, to score Kiké Hernández (two for three, two doubles). When the Nationals threatened in the top of the seventh — with runners on second and third, down by two — Michael Conforto came to the Dodgers’ rescue by making a diving catch to keep his team ahead.

“It’s a long season, and you’re going to receive more opportunities to contribute, and it’s nice to finally get one game like this where you feel part of it,” Rojas said, adding that he was glad to showcase his hitting against a left-hander such as Washington ace MacKenzie Gore.

Abrams homered in the ninth, but Dodgers closer Tanner Scott buckled down to secure his 15th save.

The Dodgers (47-30) will turn to right-hander Dustin May against the Nationals on Saturday as they attempt to clinch their fourth consecutive series. Neither Roberts nor Lehmann was made available to reporters after the game.

Miguel Rojas, left, is gets a hand slap from Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Nationals on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Etc.

Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (shoulder inflammation) is set to throw two innings in a rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, while left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder inflammation) is set to throw a bullpen in the next few days, Roberts said.

Roki Sasaki (right shoulder impingement), who stopped throwing after a recent flare up stymied his progression, threw in the outfield Friday afternoon.

“I don’t know if it was 60, 90 feet, with the baseball,” Roberts said of Sasaki, who was moved to the 60-day injured list Friday. “That was a bonus. That was a plus. Chatted with him briefly afterward. He was excited about it.”

On how Sasaki was feeling, Roberts said: “I would say pain-free. Now it’s just getting the build-up. But most important, he’s pain-free.”

If there were an MVP of the Southern Section baseball playoffs, Jack Champlin of St. John Bosco High would be the runaway winner.

In 8 1/3 scoreless innings of relief pitching over five playoff games, he has struck out nine and earned two wins and three saves. He starts at third base until the Braves send him to the mound.

The junior began the season as a starting pitcher, was injured and returned in a closing role that he has come to cherish.

“I like closing way more than starting,” he said.

He has helped Division 1 champion St. John Bosco move into Thursday’s semifinals of the regional playoffs with a home game against Villa Park. He hopes to celebrate his 17th birthday playing for a regional championship on Saturday.

Opponents better find a way to get the lead before Champlin comes in because he says he has no blown saves this season. He has a 4.1 grade-point average, too.

“I throw the ball and they don’t hit it,” he said as any true closer would say.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].

Two years ago, Alexis Díaz was an All-Star closer with the Cincinnati Reds.

Now, the 28-year-old right-hander is set to become a Dodgers reclamation project.

Amid a wave of early-season injuries to their bullpen and rotation, the Dodgers agreed to acquire Díaz from the Reds on Thursday, the team announced.

Díaz, who was demoted to triple-A earlier this month by the Reds, won’t be joining the Dodgers’ big-league roster right away. He will instead report to Arizona to work with the Dodgers’ pitching group there.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred injured reliever Evan Phillips (who was initially expected to only miss 15 days with a forearm injury) to the 60-day IL.

Once a rising relief star who had a 1.84 ERA as a rookie in 2022, and 37 saves and a 3.07 earned-run average as an All-Star selection in 2023, Díaz has faded over the past two seasons.

In 2024, he was 28 of 32 in save opportunities, but posted a 3.99 ERA with 31 walks in 56 1/3 innings.

This season, he lost the closer’s job while battling a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the start of the season, then was optioned to triple-A after giving up eight runs, eight hits, four homers and five walks in his first six appearances. Five of the runs, and three of the homers, came in a single outing against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 30, the day before he was sent down.

Díaz, the brother of New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz, hasn’t experienced much greater success in the minors, holding a 4.61 ERA with 12 walks in 13 2/3 innings with the Reds’ Louisville affiliate.

Still, just two years removed from the early heights of his MLB career, the Dodgers were willing to take a flier on the once-promising talent, only giving up minor-league pitcher Mike Villani (a 13th-round pick in last year’s draft) in return.

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas would require all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments under a Republican proposal that cleared a major vote Saturday and would make the state the nation’s largest to impose such a mandate.

If passed as expected, the measure is likely to draw a legal challenge from critics who consider it a constitutional violation of the separation of church and state.

The Republican-controlled House gave its preliminary approval with a final vote expected in the next few days. That would send the bill to the desk of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has indicated he will sign it into law.

“The focus of this bill is to look at what is historically important to our nation educationally and judicially,” said Republican state Rep. Candy Noble, a co-sponsor of the bill.

Louisiana and Arkansas have similar laws, but Louisiana’s is on hold after a federal judge found it to be “unconstitutional on its face.”

Those measures are among efforts in many conservative-led states to insert religion into public schools. The vote in Texas came after the U.S. Supreme Court in effect put an end to a publicly funded Catholic charter school in Oklahoma on Thursday with a 4-4 tie after a string of high court decisions in recent years that have allowed public funds to flow to religious entities.

Texas lawmakers also have sent to Abbott a measure that allows school districts to provide students and staff a daily voluntary period of prayer or time to read a religious text during school hours. Abbott is expected to sign it.

“We should be encouraging our students to read and study their Bible every day,” Republican state Rep. Brent Money said. “Our kids in our public schools need prayer, need Bible reading, more now than they ever have.”

Supporters of requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms say they are part of the foundation of the United States’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed.

Critics, including some Christian and other faith leaders, say the Ten Commandments and prayer measures would infringe on the religious freedom of others.

The Ten Commandments bill would require public schools to post in classrooms a 16-by-20-inch poster or framed copy of a specific English version of the commandments, even though translations and interpretations vary across denominations, faiths and languages and may differ in homes and houses of worship.

Democratic lawmakers made several failed attempts Saturday to amend the bill to require schools to display other religious texts or provide multiple translations of the commandments.

A letter signed this year by dozens of Christian and Jewish faith leaders opposing the bill noted that Texas has thousands of students of other faiths who might have no connection to the Ten Commandments. Texas has nearly 6 million students in about 9,100 public schools.

In 2005, Abbott as state attorney general successfully argued before the Supreme Court that Texas could keep a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of its Capitol.

Vertuno and Lathan write for the Associated Press.

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. One day it’s hot, the next day it’s cold. I think the Earth might have the flu.

Let’s face it, the Dodgers haven’t been playing all that brilliantly lately. They are 10-9 in May and had a four-game losing streak at one point. The fault for this is mainly the pitching, which has been in shambles lately. What’s gone wrong, and how can the Dodgers, uh, deshambleize?

One of the best things about baseball is they keep track of every conceivable stat. So let’s take a look at some numbers.

Most runs given up in the first inning this season:

1. Colorado, 53
2. Baltimore, 39
2. Athletics, 39
4. Dodgers, 38
5. Houston, 33
5. White Sox, 33
7. Angels, 32

The fewest number of runs given up in the first inning this season is three by Kansas City.

Most runs given up in the first three innings this season:

1. Colorado, 126
2. Athletics, 110
3. Baltimore, 108
4. Arizona, 87
5. Dodgers, 85
6. Angels, 84

The fewest: 33, by the Royals.

Most runs given up in the ninth inning this season:

1. Arizona, 35
2. Philadelphia, 29
3. Angels, 24
4. Mets, 23
5. Toronto, 23
6. Texas, 22
6. Pittsburgh, 22
7. Dodgers, 21

The fewest: Nine, by Minnesota and the Cubs

If you are near the lead in giving up runs at the beginning and end of games, then you are fortunate to be 31-19. It’s not sustainable, but it seems unlikely the Dodgers’ pitching will be like this all season, particularly when guys start making their way off the IL. And let’s look at the IL for pitchers again:

Dodger pitchers on the IL and when they are expected to return:

Tyler Glasnow, shoulder (before All-Star break)
Brusdar Graterol, shoulder surgery (September)
Michael Grove, shoulder surgery (2026)
Edgardo Henriquez, broken foot (June)
Kyle Hurt, Tommy John surgery (2026)
Michael Kopech, shoulder impingement (later this month)
Evan Phillips, elbow (unknown)
River Ryan, Tommy John surgery (2026)
Roki Sasaki, shoulder (unknown)
Emmet Sheehan, Tommy John surgery (around the All-Star break)
Blake Snell, shoulder (before All-Star break)
Gavin Stone, shoulder surgery (2026)
Blake Treinen, forearm (July)
Kirby Yates, strained hamstring (early June)

Shohei Ohtani is expected back as a pitcher soon after the All-Star break.

Three members of the season-opening rotation are on the IL. Three members of the season-opening bullpen are on the IL. Not a recipe for success.

Glasnow and Snell have begun throwing, so they could be back before the break. Kopech is close to a return. Phillips had a setback in his recovery, but all signs are positive for everyone else.

“It still doesn’t feel like last year, but we’re in May, so not gonna jinx it and get into any comparisons,” Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, told reporters. “For the most part, the things that we’ve gone through are shorter-term. Last year, they were significant and resulted in surgery. In some ways, maybe we’re over-indexing some and just being a little bit more cautious and trying to make sure it doesn’t get to that point.

“But I said this a lot, and I think anyone who doesn’t say it is not being honest, there’s a lot we don’t know about injury stuff, and I think it’s important not to pretend like we have all the answers. There’s a lot to it that is really challenging, and we’re hoping to continue to grow and learn from experiences and just try to make the smartest, best move we can, knowing we’re going to make mistakes. … It’s by far the No. 1 thing that keeps me up at night.”

Best starting rotation ERA this season:

1. Mets, 2.83
2. Texas, 2.87
3. Kansas City, 2.93
4. Philadelphia, 3.34
5. Minnesota, 3.41
23. Dodgers, 4.30
30. Colorado, 7.03

Best bullpen ERA this season:

1. San Francisco, 2.66
2. Houston, 2.86
3. Mets, 2.91
4. Minnesota, 3.09
5. Detroit, 3.19
16. Dodgers, 4.00
30. Angels, 6.67

Sometimes, a low bullpen ERA can be misleading. Let’s say a reliever comes in with the bases loaded and one out. He gives up a bases-clearing triple, then strikes out the last two batter. The reliever’s ERA is 0.00, but did he do his job? No, so we also need to check a stat called inherited runners who scored, or IRS%. In the example given, the reliever’s IRS% is 100%. The league average this season is 32.9%.

Here are the best teams this season in IRS%:

1. Toronto, 20.8% (15 of 72 inherited runners scored)
2. Yankees, 23.1% (18 of 78)
3. Dodgers, 23.4% (11 of 47)
4. Baltimore, 24.7% (18 of 73)
5. Seattle, 27.3% (12 of 44)
30. San Francisco, 42.9% (21 of 49)

Dodgers’ ERA as a starting pitcher this season:

Ben Casparius, 0.00 (one inning)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 1.86 (58)
Blake Snell, 2.00 (9)
Tony Gonsolin, 4.05 (20)
Dustin May, 4.09 (50.2)
Matt Sauer, 4.50 (4)
Tyler Glasnow, 4.50 (18)
Roki Sasaki, 4.72 (34.1)
Landon Knack, 6.61 (16.1)
Jack Dreyer, 6.75 (5.1)
Clayton Kershaw, 11.25 (4)
Justin Wrobleski, 14.40 (5)
Bobby Miller, 18.00 (3)

Yamamoto has carried the rotation this season.

Finally, the Dodgers are 10-9 this month. Have they had any months where they finished .500 or worse since 2017?

Ten worst months by the Dodgers since 2017:

September, 2017: 12-17, .414
April, 2018: 11-14, .440
July, 2024: 11-13, .458
May, 2018: 14-14, .500
June, 2023: 12-12, .500
August, 2018: 14-13, .519
May, 2025: 10-9, .526
June, 2022: 14-12, .538
July, 2021: 14-12, .538
April, 2017: 14-12, .538

Note: This does not include short months (March or October) when they may have gone 0-1 or 2-3.

So, except for 2019, every full season since 2017 has included one mediocre month. Maybe the Dodgers are getting it out of the way in May this season.

This stretch of games calls for patience. The Dodgers have made moves to improve their offense this month. But there’s not a lot to do to improve the pitching except wait for guys to get healthy. It’s hard to be patient when there are four teams playing so well in the NL West, with one of the four guaranteed not to make the playoffs. Think of it this way: They say patience is a virtue, and couldn’t we all use a little virtue in our life?

Who do you want to hear from?

We’ve been doing the “Ask…. “ series for quite a few years now, where Dodgers from the past answer questions posed by readers. I have a couple lined up that I won’t reveal just yet, but what I’d like to know is: Who would you like to hear from? Is there a former Dodger for whom you have a question? Email me at [email protected] and let me know. No promises, since the person has to agree to do it, but I can try.

And before you send me this name, Sandy Koufax is off the table. I’ve asked more than once, and he just doesn’t do interviews. And I respect that. But any other former Dodger is fair game. Except the ones who are no longer with us, I guess that technically makes them a member of the Angels now.

Previous interviews:

Ron Cey
Fred Claire
Carl Erskine
Joe Davis
Shawn Green
Mickey Hatcher
Orel Hershiser
Tommy John
Eric Karros
Tom Niedenfuer
Peter O’Malley
Jerry Reuss
Steve Sax
Mike Scioscia
Maury Wills

I’m probably forgetting a few, but you get the idea. And, now you know not to ask for the people listed. Again, email me at [email protected] and let me know who you’d like to hear from.

All-time leaders

The flip side of the previous leaders: Dodgers’ all-time worst in batting average with two out and runners in scoring position, minimum 150 at-bats, excluding pitchers.

Franchise
1. Dave Anderson, .179
2. Rick Monday, .185
3. Austin Barnes, .188
4. Steve Yeager, .190
5. A.J. Ellis, .193
6. Joc Pederson, .194
7. Yasmani Grandal, .198
8. Dave Hansen, .200
9. Ollie O’Mara, .200
10. Jim Bucher, .204

Los Angeles only
1. Dave Anderson, .179
2. Rick Monday, .185
3. Austin Barnes, .188
4. Steve Yeager, .190
5. A.J. Ellis, .193
6. Joc Pederson, .194
7. Yasmani Grandal, .198
8. Dave Hansen, .200
9. Greg Brock, .209
10. Tim Wallach, .211
11. Yasiel Puig, .215
12. Frank Howard, .217
13. Max Muncy, .218
14. Cody Bellinger, .220
15. John Roseboro, .222

Scheduling note

Memorial Day is Monday, so there will be no newsletter that day as we honor those who gave their lives for this country. Dodgers Dugout will return next Friday.

Up next

Friday: Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw, 0-0, 11.25 ERA) at New York Mets (Griffin Canning, 5-1, 2.47 ERA), 4:10 p.m., Apple TV+, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Saturday: Dodgers (Tony Gonsolin, 2-0, 4.05 ERA) at New York Mets (*David Peterson, 2-2, 2.86 ERA), 4:10 p.m., Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Sunday: Dodgers (Landon Knack, 2-1, 6.17 ERA) at New York Mets (Kodai Senga, 4-3, 1.43 ERA), 4 p.m., ESPN, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

*-left-handed

In case you missed it

Hernández: It’s tempting to rush Shohei Ohtani back on the mound, but the Dodgers shouldn’t do it

Reinforcements soon? Injured Dodgers pitchers, including Shohei Ohtani, are finally progressing

Why a tight NL West race factored into Dodgers’ decision to cut Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes

And finally

Vin Scully reflects on Roy Campanella. Watch and listen here.

Until next time…

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