First baseman prepares for games by watching as much video as possible of the opposing pitcher and catcher at work, and creating a plan of attack accordingly.
By Dylan Hernandez
By the time Adrian Gonzalez steps into the batter's box Sunday evening to face Julio Teheran, he figures to have a decent idea of how the Atlanta Braves right-hander will attack him.
"Adrian is probably the smartest hitter I've ever played with," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said.
That's why Dodgers players are sometimes seen talking to Gonzalez before their at-bats. There were multiple times this season when Yasiel Puig said the four-time All-Star's advice helped him hit a home run.
For Gonzalez, everything starts in front of a computer screen.
Gonzalez spent Saturday watching video of Teheran, the hard-throwing 22-year-old who will take the mound for the Braves at Dodger Stadium in Game 3 of a National League division series.
"When I first started looking at video, I did a lot of stuff that normal people do, where they just look at their own swing and try to break down their swing so they can make adjustments on their swing," Gonzalez said. "But then I realized that I don't need video to know my swing. I know my swing. So I'm better off putting that time into getting to know the pitcher and catcher.
"Once I get to know the pitcher and catcher, I can pretty much call their game. I feel when I'm at the plate, I can tell what a catcher wants to call or what a pitcher wants to throw. At that point, it's just about execution."
Gonzalez said he typically gains a feel for a pitcher after watching him throw 150 to 200 pitches. Seeing how hard a pitcher throws is difficult, but Gonzalez said there are ways to tell.
"The gun really means nothing, at least to me," Gonzalez said. "It could be 95, but it could be a soft 95. It could be 90, and when you get up there, it's a lot harder, so in my mind it could be 95. That's the only thing I can't tell you. But I can see it off a hitter's reactions or if guys are late on a fastball down the middle over and over and over again, it means the pitches have life."
From the video room, Gonzalez migrates to the batting cages.
"Every swing I take is focused on the game plan that I have, what I'm trying to cover, what I'm trying to lay off of," Gonzalez said. "If I catch something in my sleep or overnight, I'll come in and make a tweak here or there."
Often, adjustments are made mid-game.
Take Game 1 of the division series, when Gonzalez was two for five with a home run in the Dodgers' 6-1 victory.
In his first at-bat, with no outs and no men on in the second inning, starter Kris Medlen threw him a first-pitch changeup. Gonzalez swung and missed.
"When a pitcher throws you a first-pitch changeup with nobody on, leading off an inning, he's kind of saying that's going to be his go-to pitch that day," Gonzalez said. "So when I got a chance with runners in scoring position, I was going to go up there and look for it the whole at-bat."
That opportunity came in the third inning. With two outs and Carl Crawford on second base, Medlen threw him another first-pitch changeup. Gonzalez crushed the pitch over the center-field wall.
Gonzalez's knowledge of the opponents extends beyond the starting pitcher. Before the first game of a series, Gonzalez will familiarize himself with all of the team's relievers and catchers.
For this series, he has studied how catchers Brian McCann, Gerald Laird and Evan Gattis like to call games. He has noted the pitchers' on-field relationships with each of them, to see if a particular catcher will shake off one catcher more than another.
"I'm very methodical with everything I do in life," Gonzalez said.
He was an honors student at Eastlake High in suburban San Diego. He said he would have studied mechanical engineering had he attended college.
What allows Gonzalez to put his ideas into practice is his calm demeanor. Gonzalez admitted he was overly energized for his first career playoff game, which was with the San Diego Padres in 2006. He was hitless in four at-bats and struck out twice.
He told himself to be patient. He was five for 10 with three walks over the remaining three games of the series, which the Padres lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gonzalez said he was able to take that calm approach into the Dodgers' series against the Braves.
"I wasn't nervous at all," Gonzalez said. "I felt normal for my first at-bat and first play on defense. I was really just enjoying the moment. It really seemed like another game."
The combination of smarts and composure makes Gonzalez a force in crucial situations. Gonzalez led the Dodgers this season with 100 runs batted in and batted .356 with two outs and runners in scoring position.
"There's nobody else we'd rather have up in a big situation than Adrian," Ellis said. "That's for sure."
Clayton Kershaw is an option for Dodgers in Game 4 if necessary
Ace left-hander could be called upon to pitch on short rest if the Dodgers lose Game 3 and face elimination in best-of-five National League division series with the Atlanta Braves.
By Bill Shaikin
Would the Dodgers really risk an end to their season without letting Clayton Kershaw pitch one more time?
Kershaw threw a bullpen session Saturday at Dodger Stadium, keeping open the possibility of him starting Monday in Game 4 of a National League division series against the Atlanta Braves if the Dodgers lose Game 3 on Sunday. Kershaw usually likes to throw a bullpen session three days before he starts, so he probably would have waited until Sunday if he were locked into Game 5.
The Dodgers and Braves are tied, 1-1, in the best-of-five series.
QUIZ: Postseason Dodgers -- what do you know?
Kershaw never has started on short rest, but he has told club officials he is willing to do so in Game 4. If the Dodgers lose Game 3 and face elimination, they could go with Kershaw on short rest in Game 4, with the hope of getting to Zack Greinke on regular rest in Game 5.
Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez said unequivocally that Freddy Garcia would start Game 4 for Atlanta, win or lose in Game 3. Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said Ricky Nolasco would start Game 4 but left the door ajar for Kershaw.
"We shouldn't say we haven't thought about it, because you're always going to think about everything," Mattingly said. "Right now, we're scheduled with Ricky, and that's the way we're going to go."
Kershaw, a strong candidate for the NL Cy Young Award, pitched seven innings in the Dodgers' Game 1 victory, giving up one run and three hits with 12 strikeouts. Nolasco, who has not started since Sept. 25, gave up 19 runs over 12 innings in his three most recent starts.
Hyun-Jin Ryu intrigue
The Dodgers were worried enough about a possible injury to Hyun-Jin Ryu that their head physician and vice president of medical services watched Ryu throw his bullpen session Friday.
Ryu was cleared for his start Sunday. The Dodgers kept mum on what triggered their concern, so much so that one club official responded to that question by asking, "Have they made a statement?"
Two club officials confirmed there was concern about Ryu's status, but the Dodgers made no statement of explanation. Ryu said he felt "really good," and Mattingly said the Dodgers had "no concerns" about letting Ryu start.
Asked why Dodgers physician Neal ElAttrache watched Ryu's bullpen session, Mattingly said with a smirk, "I think Neal just loves being in the bullpen down there in Atlanta."
The Dodgers could be in big trouble if Ryu is forced to make an early exit. They left Edinson Volquez, their fifth starter in September, off the playoff roster.
Chris Capuano, on the playoff roster to retire left-handers, has not started since Aug. 31. None of the other relievers has pitched more than two innings in any game since the All-Star break.
Short hops
Mattingly brushed aside a question about whether he had any regrets about his failed strategies during the seventh inning of Game 2. "I really don't feel like going through the game again. ... I don't look at it like we did anything crazy," he said. … Andre Ethier, hobbled by pain above his left ankle, did not run on the field during Saturday's workout and is likely to remain limited to pinch-hitting through the series. "It would be a great surprise if we get him to be in the outfield this series," Mattingly said. … Sandy Koufax is expected to attend the games Sunday and Monday. ... Fernando Valenzuela is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday.
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