Blog Kiosk: 8/28/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Having been out of town the past few days, I was unable to post up this newest Dodgers' 2018 Topps Now card earned on Saturday. As you know, the Dodgers and Padres were locked in extra innings when Justin Turner knocked a 'Texas Leaguer' towards the right field line that scored the winning run in walk-off style, 5-4.

Even more amazing is that the blooper came on the first pitch after a lengthy game-delay from a stadium wide black out. You can watch the blackout as it happens here. Also, here's a fun post by Eric Stephen at SB Nation about the blackout: "Six moments from the power outage at Dodger Stadium." BTW, the Topps Now card sold 246 copies.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945 Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson meet to discuss plans for integrating Baseball. During the three hour meeting Rickey berates Robinson with a flurry of racial epithets to test his mettle and willingness to 'turn the other cheek.' In 1952 the Brooklyn Dodgers set a National League record when they hit into a double play in their 23rd consecutive game. In 2002 Eric Gagne recorded his 45th save of the season, setting a franchise record and earning a bottle of Dom Perignon autographed by each Dodger teammate. In 2003 Eric Gagne recorded his 44th straight save to establish a new Major League record.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Yeager, Goody Rosen & Darren Lewis!
• OK... This is amazingly screwed up, but I must pass it along. An enterprising Reddit user (u/DocMacGuffin) posted up a collection of portraits that you must see, and at the same time you will wish you never saw them. Here's what the poster wrote as their headline: "Have you ever wondered what the Dodgers would look like as women? Me either, but I made this anyway." Go here to check it out. 
• Video: CNBC -- "Elon Musk's Boring Company funds tunnel to Dodger Stadium" (Video Link)
• Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors; "Dodgers Sign Zach McAllister To Minor League Deal."

McAllister, 30, has struggled through a disastrous season split between the Indians and Tigers, working to a combined 6.20 ERA in 45 innings of work. However, he has a solid big league track record and has posted a quality 39-to-10 K/BB ratio so far in spite of the poor results. McAllister’s 95.3 mph average fastball velocity is as strong as ever, and he’s actually made some gains in swinging-strike rate and his opponents’ chase rate on out-of-zone pitches.

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA; "Turner ‘in a pretty good spot right now’"

“I feel like I’m in a pretty good spot right now,” Turner told reporters following Sunday’s matinee win. “Haven’t had any problems with the wrist and the groin is feeling good. Seeing the ball pretty good. Knock on wood, try to keep getting better every day.

“Coming down this last stretch, the personal numbers, stats, don’t mean anything as long as we figure out how to win a game,” added Turner.

• This is fun. Per Emily Holland at Patch.com; "'Dodger Killer' Justin Verlander Hit With $1M Bill At LA Hotel: Although the Houston Astros beat the LA Dodgers in the 2017 World Series, the Beverly Hills Hotel got the last laugh."
• Per Lisa Johnson at Beyond the Bricks; "Bañuelos and Verdugo Named to 2018 All-PCL Team."
• Per Daniel Starkand at Dodger Blue; "Dodgers Video: Recently-Signed Prospect Diego Cartaya Takes Batting Practice At Dodger Stadium."
• A Good Drei With Kid N Drei shares some fantastic pics from the recent Disneyland memorabilia auction held by Van Eaton Galleries. Go here to check them out.
• Via Jacob Unruh at NewsOK; "OKC Dodgers: How Stetston Allie returned to a good place on the mound."

“Here the joy of playing the game like I did when I was a kid, I'm starting to get that feeling back,” Allie said. “When I was with the Pirates, I put a lot of pressure on myself. That was just immaturity. I thought I had to do everything perfect because I was a high round and this and that.

“Really, it's just play the game and everything takes care of itself. It's been a breath of fresh air over here.”

• In case you were wondering. Via Jon Meoli at the Baltimore Sun; "It's been over a month since the Machado trade: How is top prospect Yusniel Díaz faring at Bowie?"

What the Baysox and the Orioles are seeing so far is a player who is getting his bat on a lot of balls, albeit not with the most return. He has 23 strikeouts in 32 games, an 18.3 percent strikeout rate, but his career-low .238 batting average on balls in play shows he’s not exactly being rewarded for the contact he does make. Kendall said they’ve been trying to help him get his barrel on more pitches since he arrived in mid-July.

“When he got here, his back toe was actually like pointing toward the umpire,” Kendall said. “We got that even. He’s getting better direction to the ball. There’s still pitches that he needs to work on getting, but for the most part, he’s getting his barrel to the breaking ball, he’s getting his barrel to the fastball. He’s got a better chance to hit an array of pitches. He’s getting his barrel to it, and he’s getting some hits.”

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