Blog Kiosk: 6/28/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Things seems to be going right, right now. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"It's scary facing us, I think," said Bellinger, who has four homers in the last six games. "We're clicking right now. It's fun to be a part of."
...
"Everyone just passes the baton, works the at-bats, gets the pitchers working and we are able to capitalize on mistakes," said Pederson.

Max Muncy, Joc Pederson and Cody Bellinger slugged homers last night to lead the Dodgers to victory over the Cubs, 7-5 (boxscore). BTW, the Dodgers have hit 51 homers in June, and sit just two shy of a franchise record and seven short of the Major League mark.

Photo above of Max Muncy via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1907 then Yankees catcher Branch Rickey (who would be known for signing Jackie Robinson decades later) saw twelve Senator runners steal a base on him. In 1969 the Dodgers and Don Drysdale shut down the Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium by the lopsided score of 19-0. They break a LA Dodgers all-time record for runs scored in a game. In 2008 the Dodgers were no-hit by the Angels (Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo), but still won the game, 1-0. The lone run was scored in the fifth inning when a couple of errors and a sacrifice fly by Blake DeWitt scored the eventual winning run.
• Happy Birthday, Fred Miller, Al Downing & Jose Flores!
• LOL! Via Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs; "Max Muncy’s Home Run Hit Albert Almora on the Head."
• If you're interested in the rumors surrounding shortstop Manny Machado and the Dodgers then look no further than this concise report on the fluid situation by Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors, here.
• Here's a great on Dodger prospect Matt Beaty. Via Forest Stulting at Beyond the Bricks; "Matt Beaty and the Game of Adjustments: Throughout Beaty’s career he has been able to make key changes to find success."
• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times; "Yu Darvish returns to Dodger Stadium carrying a lot of baggage."

Walking around town in the aftermath of the World Series, Darvish said the fans who spoke to him offered only words of encouragement. That wasn’t the case on social media.

But Darvish saw beyond the hostile words. 

“More than what was actually written, what bothered me was the idea that Dodgers fans were disappointed,” he said.

• Congrats on a great career, Jason! Via Jon Heyman at FanCred Sports; "Jayson Werth retires with no regrets."

“I’m done … whatever you want to call it,” he said.

After more than two decades of running into walls, sliding into bases and hitting clutch homers, that was it. Just like that. 

And then he said something that was quite satisfying for him. 

“No regrets, man.”

• If you will be in DC (especially for the upcoming All-Star Game) then you should check this out. The Library of Congress (Thomas Jefferson Building) is opening up a new exhibit called "“Baseball Americana” on June 29th. Go here for more information.  
• Wha....? Is nothing sacred? Via Vahe Gregorian at KansasCity.com; "Spirit of Buck O'Neil helps NLBM (Negro League Baseball Museum) president cope with vandalism." You can donate to the museum here.

“It’s disheartening; it leaves you questioning humanity, and you don’t want to be that way,” Kendrick said Tuesday, managing a laugh and adding, “You want to carry that Buck O’Neil spirit, which is that spirit of forgiveness: As he would always say, ‘I never learned to hate.’

“I am trying to be more Buck-like. I’m not there yet. I am still a work in progress.”

• Unfortunately, another incident happened this month that damaged the former Kansas City home of Negro Leaguer and Baseball Hall of Famer Satchel Paige. It was apparently set afire -- potentially by arsonist. Per Jenna West at Sports Illustrated; "Baseball Icon Satchel Paige's Former Home Burns." I don't want to think the worse, but these are trying times.

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