Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Blog Kiosk: 11/12/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends


Both Gavin Lux, Fernando Valenzuela and others were on-hand to greet veterans for some batting practice at Dodger Stadium on Veterans Day, yesterday. Per Daniel Starkand at Dodger Blue:
Phillip Chaidez, a U.S. Air Force veteran that served in Iraq and currently lives in East Los Angeles, was among those in attendance with his family. “It’s really cool,” Chaidez told DodgerBlue.com. 
“I usually don’t like to get stuff for veterans, but this was different because it was something my kids could enjoy so that was the main reason we’re here and really excited to enjoy this day. Think about it, the World Series was down here, this is awesome. My son was able to get some batting advice from a Hall of Famer, doesn’t get any better than that. We’re very appreciative.”
Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers History: In 1986 the Dodgers officially released longtime shortstop Bill Russell -- in order to facilitate his recent retirement from the game. He had an 18-year career with Los Angeles and ranked second in franchise history for games played (behind Brooklyn outfielder Zack Wheat). In 2014 Clayton Kershaw is the unanimous winner of the National League Cy Young Award. It is his third Cy Young. He went 21-3 with an 1.77 ERA, 1.81 FIP, six complete games and two shutouts. He will be named the MVP the next day.
  • Happy Birthday, Jack Ryan, Red Evans & Greg Gagne!
  • ICYMI: Cody Bellinger was has been awarded with the 2019 National League Louisville Silver Slugger Award. Per a Dodger press release:
He is the first Dodger to win a Louisville Silver Slugger since Corey Seager won back-to-back awards from 2016-2017 and the first Dodger outfielder to receive the award since Matt Kemp in 2011. With his first honor, Bellinger is the 19th player in franchise history to earn the award since its inception in 1980 and it’s the 27th time a Dodger has received a Silver Slugger award. He becomes the fifth player in franchise history to earn the Rawlings Gold Glove and Louisville Silver Slugger in the same season, joining Adrían González (2014), Matt Kemp (2011, 2009), Russell Martin (2007) and Dusty Baker (1981).
BTW, over the weekend I failed to mention a new 2019 Topps Now card that was issued to honor Bellinger's Silver Slugger Award (#OS-41). Best yet, the card also featured Angels stud outfielder Mike Trout. See it below. It has a print run of 313 copies.
  • Via Pat Evans at Front Office Sports -- "Dodgers Hope Merchandise Collaborations Provide Bridge To New Fans." Have you noticed their recent collab with Union Los Angeles?
“It’s a huge focus for us,” (Allister) Annear said. “We have an ownership group that’s focused on the fundamental things in how to develop a brand. We have been focused on re-establishing the brand in a positive way to fan-centric focus.”
Along with putting together a star-studded team on the field, Annear said there has been an emphasis on the team’s merchandise business. Before joining the Dodgers, Annear worked in the fashion and footwear industry. Since he joined the Dodgers, the team’s merchandise business has more than quintupled and grown into the largest retail footprint of any Major League Baseball stadium, including nine retail stores. 
“When I joined, I didn’t have a sports understanding,” he said. “So I approached the stadium as a mall, starting branded stores. It worked well from a partnership model. No one else was doing it, but now it’s commonplace.”
  • Per Michael Duarte at NBC4 -- "One Year After the Borderline Tragedy, Love and Sports Help Provide Strength to a Grieving Community." There's also a video of a bunch of Dodger players and coaches doing the 'electric slide' with survivors, families, and first responders of the Borderline shooting (video link here). 
  • FYI: Via Eric Vrsalovich at Dodgers Lowdown -- "Kristopher Negron has been released."
  • Hamels, anyone? Per Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Hamels Open To One-Year Deal With Win-Now Club."
“I can do one year here and there and just play as long as I can play,” says Hamels. “I think that’s what will help give me an opportunity to play on teams that are trying to go to the postseason. If you need one guy, I can just kind of bounce around.”
One of the high-profile Dodgers he met at The Towers was big-time batter Joe Medwick, whom the Dodgers had acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals.
...
“I remember there was a bunch of us kids standing outside The Towers waiting for him to come out one day. We were all wanting to get his autograph.
“And I don’t know if he thought that I looked more responsible than the other kids or what. More serious or what,” Krogius said. “But he asked me if I wanted to babysit for his son while he and his wife went out that night. So I said, ‘Of course.’”
  • Via Josh Jackson at MiLB.com -- "Gray, Lux leave Dodgers fans drooling: Nonpareil performances highlight promise of rich system."
"Those are all byproducts of process and it all affirms what we're doing," Dodgers director of player development Will Rhymes said. " ... We strive to foster a culture of winning. The players know that we value [winning] through the levels. ... And we know how important it is to managers and staff at the affiliates to win."

By at Tuesday, November 12, 2019
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