Tuesday, August 02, 2016

Blog Kiosk: 8/2/2016 - Dodgers Links - Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig and a Couple New Dodgers


Mere hours after being traded from Oakland to Los Angeles, outfielder Josh Reddick and starter Rich Hill were at Dodger Stadium ready to meet their new manager and teammates.  Fortunately, their former team was already in the area to play the Angels in Anaheim.  So, it was just a short jump to get to their new team.  Featured in the pic above, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers on twitter, are the new guys meeting Dave Roberts. 

BTW, we also found out that Reddick will wear #11 as a Dodger.  As you may know, Josh wore #22 in Oakland - Clayton Kershaw's number.  I am unsure what number Rich Hill will wear.

Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1938 Dodgers President Larry MacPhail introduced the yellow baseball.  It was used on this day in the first game of a doubleheader at Ebbets Field against the Cardinals.  The Dodgers won the game, 6-2.  In 1982 Jackie Robinson becomes the first ballplayer to be on the US postage stamp.
  • Via Elisa Hernandez at Dodgers Nation; "Cuztom Bobbleheads: Meet the Man Behind the Custom Bobblehead Craze."
  • Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi spoke with the media following all the trades made yesterday afternoon, and Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider "live-blogged" the whole thing.  Check it out here.
  • Nothing to see here!  Via Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports; "Dodgers leave Yasiel Puig behind as they head to Colorado." 
Puig’s agent, Adam Katz, and Dodgers officials said that my initial report — that Puig stormed off after arriving at Dodger Stadium and being given the news — was inaccurate.

“I’m told he never went to the park,” Katz said. “The club informed me and the player understood clearly that they were making every to trade him and that if they were unable to come to terms with another club on a trade — and successful in acquiring another outfielder — that he likely would be demoted. My understanding is that transaction will happen tomorrow.”
BTW, Ken Rosenthal quickly apologized on twitter once he realized that his original story was entirely based on a false lead.   Puig did not storm out or cause any sort of ruckus yesterday.  He was probably sitting at home waiting to hear from the Dodgers about where he should be going to.  And to add, Puig forgave Rosenthal on twitter for the misunderstanding:

"(Puig) did what the organization asked him to do," Roberts said in a text message. "We didn't want him to come to the ballpark because we knew he wasn't going to Denver with us. We were looking for more production from that position, so we acquired a player who is having a really good year and great track record."
Very few people know this, but as a kid growing up in Oklahoma, I was a huge Atlanta Braves fan. See, I come from humble beginnings, and although me and my mom didn’t have a lot of money, I never knew the difference. Our little old TV picked up TBS, which meant I got to watch my Braves, so I was happy.
...
After taking some time to reflect on my career, and the ups and downs I’ve experienced since my MVP-caliber season in 2011, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I had begun to lose some of my love for the game. In so many ways, I got sidetracked from what I loved most about playing the game of baseball — having fun. I let a big contract, the Hollywood lifestyle, injuries and bad relationships tarnish the reputation I had worked so hard to establish. Sadly, I gained a reputation for being selfish, lazy and a bad teammate. While I may not agree with all the criticism I received in the past few years —and while I believe that a lot of it was unmerited — I take full responsibility for my shortcomings. And I promise you, Atlanta: Those days are gone.
On Sunday, Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect Grant Holmes was seen hugging his teammates on the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. The L.A. Times’ Bill Shaikin was quick to report, however, that Holmes was just “messing around.” He hadn’t actually been traded.

Well, the MLB trade-deadline ain’t no joke. And on Monday, Holmes was traded — as one of the three pitching prospects the Dodgers parted with in exchange for Josh Reddick and Rich Hill of the Oakland Athletics.
“Dustin Yount [the Dodgers Arizona area scout] called me and told me the Dodgers were going to take me in the fourth round,” Calhoun recollected. “I was with my parents and my brother and my sister. We were eating lunch and it happened. It was a cool experience. A proud moment for my parents and myself.”

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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

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