The 2011 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 122nd season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 54th season in Los Angeles, California, since moving from Brooklyn after the 1957 season and their 49th season playing their home games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles California.
The team was attempting to rebound from its fourth-place National League West finish in 2010. The Dodgers struggled in the first half of the season but wound up finishing with a winning record thanks to playing good baseball in August and September. They still finished the season in third place. Some positives included pitcher Clayton Kershaw winning the NL Pitching Triple Crown and Cy Young Award, and outfielder Matt Kemp leading the league in home runs and RBI and finishing second for the NL MVP.
Offseason
Managerial change
After three seasons with the Dodgers, Joe Torre chose to step down and turn the managerial reins over to his hitting coach Don Mattingly for the 2011 season.Legendary manager Joe Torre to retire at end of baseball season. Cnn.com (September 23, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. Torre's 2,326th and final win was the last game of the 2010 season.Torre reflects on time in L.A., career after victory . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. Mattingly's managerial career actually began in the fall of 2010 when he managed the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League, a team that several Dodger prospects were playing for.The managerial career of Don Mattingly begins in Arizona Fall League. Latimesblogs.latimes.com (October 13, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
Front office/Coaching staff On October 7, 2010, the Dodgers announced that they were severing ties with club president Dennis Mannion, who had overseen all club operations for the past year. Owner Frank McCourt would take on a more "direct and active" role with the club.Dodgers sever ties with Dennis Mannion, formerly the club president. Latimes.com (October 7, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
On November 22, 2010, the Dodgers announced their coaching staff for the 2011 season. Returning from Joe Torre's staff were pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and bullpen coach Ken Howell. Jeff Pentland, who had been a secondary hitting coach, was promoted to hitting coach. New staff members included bench coach Trey Hillman, secondary hitting instructor Dave Hansen, first base coach Davey Lopes and third base coach Tim Wallach.Dodgers announce 2011 coaching staff. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
Dodgers ownership was thrown into question on December 7, when the Judge in Frank McCourt's divorce case against Jamie McCourt invalidated an agreement that would have given McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers. McCourt vowed to try some other legal options to keep himself as sole owner of the team.Judge invalidates agreement in McCourt case. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (October 27, 2009). Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
The Dodgers front office lost a key person when vice-president and assistant general manager Kim Ng accepted a position as senior VP for Baseball Operations with Major League Baseball.Ng leaving Dodgers to join Torre with MLB. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
Departing players Veteran catcher Brad Ausmus retired at the end of the 2010 season.Dodgers' Brad Ausmus calls it a day At the conclusion of the 2010 season, Rod Barajas, Hiroki Kuroda, Vicente Padilla, Jay Gibbons, Reed Johnson and Jeff Weaver all became free agents.2011 Baseball Free Agents. Mlb.fanhouse.com (November 2, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. Scott Podsednik also became a free agent, after declining his part of a mutual option, on November 4.Podsednik a free agent after declining option. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On December 2, the Dodgers chose not to tender a contract to former All-Star, Catcher Russell Martin, making him a free agent. General Manager Ned Colletti described this decision as, "one of the toughest decisions I've had to make, maybe ever." Due to Martin's decreased production the past two seasons and his uncertain recovery from season ending surgery in 2010, the Dodgers felt he was not worth the salary increase he would have received in arbitration. They also released relief pitcher George Sherrill and outfielder Trent Oeltjen.Martin not offered contract; Barajas deal close . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. To clear spots on their 40-man roster, the Dodgers traded infielder Chin-lung Hu to the New York Mets for minor league pitcher Michael AntoniniDodgers send Hu to Mets for Antonini. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (September 29, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. and designated reliever Brent Leach for assignment so that he could sign with the Yokohama BayStars of the Japanese Leagues.Leach designated for assignment by Dodgers. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (December 21, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
Player signings/trades
On October 19, the Dodgers announced that they had re-signed starting pitcher Ted Lilly to a three-year contract.LHP Lilly signs 3-year deal with Dodgers On November 4, Jay Gibbons re-signed with the Dodgers for one-year.Dodgers, Gibbons agree to one-year pact. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On November 15, the Dodgers re-signed starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $12 million, contract.Dodgers re-sign Kuroda to a one-year contract . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On November 19, the Dodgers signed minor league catcher Héctor Giménez and added him to their 40-man roster.Dodgers ink Hector Gimenez. Rototimes.com (September 28, 1982). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On November 26, the Dodgers completed their rebuilding of the starting rotation by signing veteran pitcher Jon Garland.Innings-eater Garland rejoins Dodgers. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On November 30, the Dodgers signed veteran infielder Juan Uribe to a three-year contract, intending to make him the new second baseman.Uribe joins Dodgers with three-year pact . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (November 30, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. Soon afterward, the Dodgers traded incumbent second baseman Ryan Theriot to the St. Louis Cardinals for relief pitcher Blake Hawksworth.Dodgers deal Theriot to Cardinals. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On December 3, one day after releasing veteran Russell Martin, the Dodgers re-signed Catcher Rod Barajas to a one-year deal.Dodgers bring back Barajas on one-year deal. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. Soon afterward, on December 9, the Dodgers finalized a deal to bring back pitcher Vicente Padilla with a one-year contract. Padilla was slated to compete with Garland for the fifth starter spot, and also to possibly pitch out of the bullpen.Dodgers complete one-year deal with Padilla . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (July 23, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On December 11, the Dodgers signed outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. to a one-year deal.Gwynn deal with Dodgers official after physical . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On December 14, the Dodgers signed catcher Dioner Navarro to a contract, to compete with Barajas and A. J. Ellis for time behind the plate.Navarro officially joins Dodgers . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (December 21, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. The Dodgers added to the relief corps on December 16 by signing right-handed pitcher Matt Guerrier to a three-year contract.Dodgers sign Guerrier to three-year deal . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (December 16, 2010). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. The Dodgers signed outfielder Marcus Thames on January 18.Dodgers finalize one-year deal with Thames . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
Spring training Spring training for the 2011 season officially got under way on February 16, 2011, when the pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch. One pitcher who did not report, however, was reliever Ronald Belisario. For the third season in a row, Belisario missed his reporting date due to visa problems in his home country. Belisario remained stuck in Venezuela indefinitely, missing the entire season.Dodgers prepared to work without Belisario . Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. The Dodgers also made news on the first day of camp by naming Clayton Kershaw as the opening day starting pitcher.Kershaw officially named Opening Day starter. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. The Dodgers pitching depth took a major hit when Vicente Padilla underwent surgery to repair a radial nerve injuryPadilla hopes to return by May 1. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. and Jon Garland suffered a strained oblique muscle.Garland likely headed to DL with oblique strain. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (February 17, 2011). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. The spring training injury problems continued with both third baseman Casey BlakeBlake likely to start season on disabled list. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. and catcher Dioner NavarroNavarro out after possibly straining oblique. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com (March 24, 2011). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. suffering injuries that would keep them off the opening day roster.
Regular season
Off the field
On April 20, Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced that Major League Baseball would appoint a representative to take over all business and day-to-day operations of the Dodgers.Selig to appoint rep to oversee Dodgers. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011. The move was likely instigated by media reports that owner Frank McCourt had to arrange a $30 million loan from Fox to cover the teams payroll as well as uncertainty over the teams ownership situation relating to the ongoing divorce litigation.Bud Selig says MLB will run Dodgers. Sports.espn.go.com (April 21, 2011). Retrieved on May 30, 2011. On April 25, Selig appointed former Texas Rangers president Tom Schieffer to be the man in charge of the Dodgers situation.Selig appoints Schieffer to monitor Dodgers. Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
In June, Frank and Jamie McCourt reached an out-of-court settlement of their divorce case, which was contingent on MLB's approval of the proposed television contract between the Dodgers and FOX, which would have included an ownership stake in Fox Sports Prime Ticket. However, on June 20, Commissioner Selig announced that he was rejecting the proposed deal on the grounds that it was not in the best interests of the Dodgers.Bloom, Barry. (June 20, 2011)Commish: TV deal not in Dodgers' best interests . Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved on June 20, 2011.
With speculation circulating that McCourt would be unable to meet the payroll at the end of June and that he might then lose the team, on June 27, the Dodgers filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection.
Season standings National League West
National League Wild Card
Opening Day starters
+Opening Day startersName PositionRafael FurcalShortstopTony Gwynn Jr. Left fielderAndre Ethier Right fielderMatt Kemp Center fielderJames Loney First basemanJuan UribeThird basemanRod BarajasCatcherJamey Carroll Second basemanClayton Kershaw Starting pitcher
March/April