2006 Los Angeles Dodgers season

2006 Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Wild Card
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record 88–74 (.543)
Divisional place 2nd
Other information
Owner(s) Frank McCourt
General manager(s) Ned Colletti
Manager(s) Grady Little
Local television Fox Sports Prime Ticket; KCAL-TV (9)
Vin Scully, Charley Steiner, Steve Lyons
Local radio

KFWB
Vin Scully, Rick Monday, Charley Steiner, Jerry Reuss

KWKW
Jaime Jarrín, Pepe Yñiguez, Fernando Valenzuela
< Previous season     Next season >

In 2006, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to improve their record from 2005. The team switched General Managers from Paul DePodesta to Ned Colletti, and hired Grady Little as the new manager. The Dodgers were able to win 88 games. In the National League Western Division, the Dodgers won the wild card, but in the first round of the playoffs lost in three straight games against the Mets. This is also their first season to be broadcast on KCAL-TV (9).

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

National League West

NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
San Diego Padres 8874 0.543 — 43–38 45–36
Los Angeles Dodgers 8874 0.543 — 49–32 39–42
San Francisco Giants 7685 0.472 11½ 43–38 33–47
Arizona Diamondbacks 7686 0.469 12 39–42 37–44
Colorado Rockies 7686 0.469 12 44–37 32–49

Record vs. opponents

2006 National League Records

Source:
Team ARI ATL CHC CIN COL FLA HOU LAD MIL NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL WSH AL
Arizona—6–14–24–212–72–44–58–103–31–61–55–19–108–114–31–54–11
Atlanta1–6—6–14–33–311–83–43–32–47–117–113–37–23–44–210–85–10
Chicago2–41–6—10–92–42–47–84–28–83–32–56–90–72–411–82–44–11
Cincinnati2–43–49–10—5–14–210–50–69–103–42–49–72–42–59–65–16-9
Colorado 7–123–34–21–5—3–34–24–152–41–53–43–310–910–82–78–011–4
Florida4–28–114–22–43–3—3–41–57–08–116–135–23–33–31–511–79–9
Houston5–44–38–75–102–44-3—3–310–52–42–413–33–31–59–74–47–11
Los Angeles 10–83–32–46–015–45–13–3—4–23–44–36–45–1313–60–74–25–10
Milwaukee3–34–28–810–94–20–75–102–4—3–35–17–94–36–37–91–56–9
New York6–111–73–34–35–111–84–24–33–3—11–85–45–23–34–212–66–9
Philadelphia5-111–75–24–24–313–64–23–41–58–11—3–32–45–13–39–105–13
Pittsburgh1–53–39–67–93–32–53–134–69–74–53–3—1–56–16–93–33–12
San Diego10–92–77–04–29–103–33–313–53–42–54–25–1—7–124–25–17–8
San Francisco11–84–34–25–28–103–35–16–133–63–31–51–612–7—1–41–58–7
St. Louis3–42–48–116–97–25-17–97–09–72–43–39–62–44–1—4–35–10
Washington5–18–104–21–50–87-114–42–45–16–1210–93–31–55–13–4—7–11

Game Log

Legend
 Dodgers win
 Dodgers loss
 Postponement
BoldDodgers team member
2006 game log
April (12-13)
May (18-10)
June (11-15)
July (9-17)
August (21-7)
September (16-12)
October (1-0)

Season summary

After a season battling injuries to team leaders Jeff Kent and all-star Nomar Garciaparra, the Dodgers were able to produce with several young rookies such as Russell Martin, Andre Ethier, James Loney, Chad Billingsley, and Jonathan Broxton. Key reliever Yhency Brazobán was sidelined with Tommy John surgery, and closer Éric Gagné was sidelined with a back injury. However, rookie pitcher Takashi Saito took over the closing role and instantly became one of the game's best closers, ending the season with 24 saves in just half of the season.

Los Angeles had a very streaky season in 2006. After they started just 12–17, the Dodgers went on to win 15 of their next 18 games to improve to 27-20. They were 46-42 at the all-star break, two games back of the San Diego Padres in a tough division (all five teams in the N.L. West were .500 or better at the all-star break). Two Dodger players, Nomar Garciaparra, and Brad Penny, were selected to play in the All-Star Game.

After the all-star break, the Dodgers lost 13 of their first 14 games. As a result, their record dropped to 47–55, and they were in last place in the N.L. West, 7½ games out of first place. Los Angeles would bounce back from this losing streak to win 17 out of their next 18 games, the first time the Dodgers did so since 1899. At the end of this winning stretch, Los Angeles was in first place with a record of 64–56. During this stretch, the Dodgers acquired Wilson Betemit from the Atlanta Braves, Julio Lugo from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and pitcher Greg Maddux from the Chicago Cubs. Maddux proved to be the biggest transition for the Dodgers, as he provided the Dodgers' starting rotation with a veteran arm and pitching depth.

The highlight of the 2006 season for Los Angeles was on September 18, against the San Diego Padres. Coming into the four-game series, Los Angeles held a half game lead in the N.L. West over San Diego with two and a half weeks left in the season. Los Angeles won the first game of the series 3–1 after a strong pitching performance by Maddux, extending the Dodgers' lead to a 1½ games over San Diego. The second game of the series was an 11–2 rout in favor of San Diego, trimming the Dodgers lead back to a half game. The third game of the series was a pitchers' duel between San Diego's Chris Young and the Dodgers Derek Lowe. San Diego scored first after Russell Branyan hit a solo home run to make it 1-0. Russell Martin tied the game at 1-1 with a solo home run of his own in the 7th. But San Diego won the game 2-1 when Khalil Greene scored on Terrmel Sledge's single. San Diego's victory gave them a half game lead over the Dodgers in the N.L. West.

The last game of the series on September 18 was a rocky start for the Dodgers. Brad Penny gave up four runs in the first inning, giving San Diego a 4-0 lead. Los Angeles slowly climbed back into the game, and tied the score 4-4 in the third inning. Neither team scored again until San Diego scored two in the top of the 8th to take a 6-4 lead. The Dodgers would cut San Diego's lead to one run after Wilson Betemit drove in Marlon Anderson with an RBI single. San Diego scored three runs in the top of the 9th and appeared to have broken the game wide open with a 9-5 lead. With a four-run lead, San Diego elected to bring in Jon Adkins to pitch the 9th instead of closer Trevor Hoffman, who at the time was just three saves shy of tying the all-time record. Jeff Kent and J. D. Drew hit back-to-back home runs off of Adkins to close the lead to 9–7 with nobody out. San Diego then elected to bring Hoffman in to finish the game. Hoffman however, gave up back-to-back home runs to Martin and Anderson on the first two pitches Hoffman threw, tying the score at 9–9. It was only the fourth time a team hit four consecutive home runs in an inning, and the first time since the Minnesota Twins did so in 1964. San Diego scored a run in the top of the 10th on Josh Bard's RBI single to take a 10-9 lead. But after Kenny Lofton walked, Nomar Garciaparra hit the game-winning two-run walk off home run. The Dodgers' 11–10 victory gave them a half game lead over San Diego with just two weeks left in the season.

San Diego and Los Angeles finished the season tied for first place in the N.L. West at 88–74. San Diego however, was awarded the division title because they had won 13 of 18 games from Los Angeles during the regular season, giving the Dodgers the wild card spot.

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
NamePosition
Rafael FurcalShortstop
José Cruz, Jr.Left fielder
J. D. DrewRight fielder
Jeff KentSecond baseman
Olmedo SáenzFirst baseman
Bill MuellerThird baseman
Sandy Alomar, Jr.Catcher
Jason RepkoCenter fielder
Derek LoweStarting pitcher

Notable transactions

Roster

2006 Los Angeles Dodgers
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Starting Pitchers stats

NameGGSIPW/LERABBSOCG
Derek Lowe 3534218.016-83.63551231
Brad Penny3433189.016-94.33541480
Chad Billingsley 181690.07-43.8058590
Aaron Sele2815103.38-64.5330570
Mark Hendrickson181275.02-74.6828480
Greg Maddux121273.76-33.3014360
Jae Weong Seo191067.02-45.7825490

Relief Pitchers stats

NameGGSIPW/LERABBSOSV
Takashi Saito72078.36-22.072310724
Jonathan Broxton68076.34-12.5933973
Joe Beimel62070.02-12.9621302
Danys Báez46049.75-54.3511299
Tim Hamulack33034.00-36.3522340
Brett Tomko4415112.38-74.7329760
Hong-Chih Kuo28559.71-54.2233710
Odalis Pérez20859.34-46.8313330
Giovanni Carrara25027.70-14.557251
Elmer Dessens19023.00-14.709160
Eric Stults6217.71-05.60750
Franquelis Osoria12017.70-27.139130
Lance Carter10011.70-18.49850
Yhency Brazobán505.00-05.40240
Éric Gagné202.00-00.00131

Batting Stats

NamePosGABAvg.RHHRRBISB
Russell MartinC121415.28265117106510
Dioner NavarroC2575.280521281
Sandy Alomar, Jr.C2762.323320090
Toby HallC2157.368221080
Einar DíazC33.66702000
Nomar Garciaparra1B122469.3038214220933
Jeff Kent2B/1B115407.2926111914681
Rafael FurcalSS159654.300113196156337
Wilson Betemit3B55174.24119429241
Olmedo Sáenz1B/3B103179.296305311480
Ramón Martínez2B/3B/SS/1B/RF82176.27820492240
Julio Lugo2B/3B/SS/RF/LF49146.21916320106
Willy Aybar3B/2B43128.25015323221
César Izturis3B/SS/2B32119.25210301121
Bill Mueller3B32107.25212273151
James Loney1B/RF48302.28420294181
Óscar Robles2B/3B2933.15265000
Joel Guzmán3B/1B/LF819.21124030
Andre EthierLF126396.3085012211555
Kenny LoftonCF129469.3017914134132
J. D. DrewRF146494.28384140201002
José Cruz, Jr.LF/RF/CF86223.233345255
Matt KempCF/LF/RF52154.25330397236
Jason RepkoCF/RF/LF69130.254213331610
Marlon AndersonLF/RF/2B2564.37512247152
Ricky LedéeLF/RF4353.245413181
Cody RossRF/LF814.50047291
Delwyn YoungRF/LF85.00000000

2006 National League Division Series

Upon entering the playoffs, they were swept at Shea Stadium. Reliever Joe Beimel cut his hand on glass at a bar while drinking. Beimel told his teammates, he did it in his hotel room but then later revealed the truth. Beimel was sidelined during all of the Division Series.

Game 1, October 4

Shea Stadium, Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York

Team123456789RHE
Los Angeles0100003015111
New York00020220X691
WP: Guillermo Mota (1-0)   LP: Brad Penny (0-1)   Sv: Billy Wagner (1)
Home runs:
LAD: None
NYM: Carlos Delgado (1), Cliff Floyd (1)

Game 2, October 5

Shea Stadium, Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York

Team123456789RHE
Los Angeles000000010151
New York00101200X470
WP: Tom Glavine (1-0)   LP: Hong-Chih Kuo (0-1)   Sv: Billy Wagner (2)
Home runs:
LAD: Wilson Betemit (1)
NYM: None

Game 3, October 7

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Team123456789RHE
New York3010030209142
Los Angeles0002300005162
WP: Pedro Feliciano (1-0)   LP: Jonathan Broxton (0-1)
Home runs:
NYM: None
LAD: Jeff Kent (1)

2006 Awards

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Las Vegas 51s Pacific Coast League Jerry Royster
AA Jacksonville Suns Southern League John Shoemaker
High A Vero Beach Dodgers Florida State League Luis Salazar
A Columbus Catfish South Atlantic League Travis Barbary
Rookie Ogden Raptors Pioneer League Lance Parrish
Rookie Gulf Coast Dodgers Gulf Coast League Juan Bustabad
Rookie DSL Dodgers Dominican Summer League

Major League Baseball Draft

Clayton Kershaw

The Dodgers selected 50 players in this draft. Of those, seven of them would eventually play Major League baseball. The Dodgers gained an extra first round pick and a supplemental first round pick as a result of losing pitcher Jeff Weaver to the Angels. They also lost their second and third round picks as a result of their signing free agents Rafael Furcal and Bill Mueller.

The top draft pick was left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw from Highland Park High School in University Park, Texas. Kershaw would win the 2014 NL MVP Award as well as multiple Cy Young Awards. He also pitched a no-hitter and led the league in ERA for four straight seasons.

The other first round picks were right-handed pitcher Bryan Morris from Motlow State Community College and shortstop Preston Mattingly from Central High School. Morris was part of the Dodgers 2008 trade for Manny Ramirez and eventually made it to the Majors. Mattingly, the son of All-Star first baseman and later Dodgers manager Don Mattingly never panned out. He hit just .232 in 463 minor league games over six seasons before he was eventually released.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.baseball-reference.com/a/alomasa02.shtml
  2. ↑ 2006 Los Angeles Dodgers Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft
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