The Dodgers gained some ground over the weekend, and we have Justin Turner to thank for that. Yesterday afternoon he went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and two RBI's to lead the club to a 9-6 victory over Colorado. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:
"J.T. led the charge, he's such a pro," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "[His value] is hard to quantify. When you're watching how he's grinding at-bats, that's contagious. He's been fantastic."The Dodgers are now just half a game back of Colorado after taking the weekend series against them. There are only 19 games remaining in the season.
Photo above of Turner via Matt Kelley/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: I had no idea about this until now. In 1992 a report came out about a "security check" that revealed serious issues with two members of a buying group interested in purchasing the Giants and moving them to Florida. One of the investors mentioned was Vince Piazza -- father of recently called-up catcher Mike Piazza of the Dodgers. The deal falls apart, and MLB settles with the group for $6MM (which includes a letter of apology to Vince Piazza).
- Happy Birthday, High Pockets Kelly, Terry Wells, Danys Baez, Chad Hermansen & Nick Green!
- Memorabilia Watch: Inside the Park Collectibles has several fantastic vintage pennants up for auction; including a circa 1940's pennant (link here), a 1950's Brooklyn "Bum" pennant (link here), and this colorful late 1950's LA Coliseum Dodgers pennant (link here). Check out this signed Mike Piazza game-used cleat at Goldin Auctions (link here).
- Per Howard Cole at Forbes; "Dr. Tommy John On Dodgers' Hyun-Jin Ryu's Rare Comeback From Two Arm Surgeries."
In Hyun Jin Ryu’s case, he needed to heal from both shoulder labrum surgery and an elbow debridement within the same arm. Recovery from both procedures isn’t an easy journey to begin with, but I imagine his nervous system also had to be on high alert as well; sort of in a PTSD state of mind. That means his rehab process involved not just healing from surgery, and not only breaking the cycle of whatever combinations of factors caused his shoulder labrum to tear and the tissue damage in his elbow as well, but overcoming any mental roadblocks that his nervous system may have put in his way to protect him from, well, himself!
- Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register; "Struggles against lefties make Cody Bellinger a platoon player for Dodgers."
“I think the left-handers are getting him to chase more than they did last year,” Roberts said. “So it’s two-fold. Number one, on balls outside of the strike zone, I think last year he did a better job of laying off. And I think last year there was an unfamiliarity where they were throwing him spin in the strike zone and he was making them pay. I think now the left-handers, they’re not giving in as much and he’s been more reluctant to take the free pass.”
- Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Seager confident he'll be 'ready to go' next year: Shortstop upbeat as he recovers from elbow, hip surgeries."
- Awesome! Via Alex Seder at From the Nest; "Alex Seder’s Top 20 of 2018: Loons Director of Creative Services and gameday photographer selects his favorite photos from the 2018 season."
- This morning Baseball America prospect report makes note of Dodger shortstop Gavin Lux and Mitchell White:
Lux went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run to play a key part in Tulsa's Game 5 winner-takes-all win over Arkansas. Lux now has five doubles in 21 postseason at-bats. Lux's heroics were what the Drillers needed at the plate and ...White provided what the Drillers needed on the mound. White allowed only two hits in seven scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out five.
- Via Jim Alexander at The Press-Enterprise; "A banner season for Dodgers prospect Cristian Santana."
“The power stands out,” Saylor said. “You watch him take batting practice. You watch some of the balls he hits in the game, and he hits it and the ball stays hit. I think there’s a different sound (when it) comes off the bat, relative to his peers.
- I still don't know what to think of this, but it has apparently been big news in the tech world. On September 21st the Dodgers will be giving away to fans the first-ever Digital Bobblehead where fans will have the opportunity to download a Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner or Kenley Jansen Crypto token. Per a Dodger press release:
While supplies last at guest’s point of entry, the first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance will receive a card with a unique code and directions to a website where a digital bobblehead can be unlocked and added to their Ethereum wallet. The player Crypto token received will be randomly selected, with approximately an equal number of Kershaw, Turner and Jansen codes distributed at the stadium gates.“We’re excited for our first-ever Crypto giveaway, and to explore an entirely new marketplace with our fanbase,” said Lon Rosen, Dodger Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We hope this piques the interest of Dodger fans, and will help launch a new age of digital collectibles and promotions.”
- Via Kevin O'Brien at Bitcoinist; "MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers to host crypto giveaway in late September." What the heck is this?
In July, Bitcoinist reported on an agreement between Major League Baseball and a blockchain gaming company called Lucid Sight to develop a game called MLB Crypto Baseball.The idea behind the offering was to let fans buy and sell virtual avatars of memorable moments in recent baseball history.
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