Blog Kiosk: 7/3/2015 - Dodger Links - 14 New Dodgers Added to the Franchise Yesterday

With the All-Star Game just around the corner I though this AP press wire photo of the 1962 All-Star Game starting pitchers would be a good way to start this Independence Day weekend.  Featured above is Don Drysdale and Jim Bunning.  Pic via eBay.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Brandon League closing out rehab stint, designated for assignment."
• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider tells us a bit more about the nine international prospects the Dodger signed yesterday: "Dodgers sign nine international prospects, led by Yadier Alvarez, Starling Heredia."  Jon also spoke with Dodger senior vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes here: "Teenagers are no wasteland for Dodger international scouts."

On Alvarez: “He’s one of the more talented teenage right-handed pitchers who a lot of us who have been doing this a long time have seen,” said Byrnes, who added that Alvarez throws 97 mph, “occasionally touching 99-100, with very little effort and some pretty good feel for secondary pitches.”

On Heredia: “That is rare,” Byrnes said. “I don’t think it’s fair to comp him, but at least the physique (compares) to Kirby Puckett. Fireplug body, nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’ down there, and a real strength-speed combination. Very strong body, but even with that build, he can really run. In any arena, finding a good combination of strength and speed is really rare.”

• Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Chase DeJong and infielder Tim Locastro from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for three international signing slots: 27, 57 and 117. DeJong and Locastro have been assigned to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

DeJong, 21, was recently promoted to the Blue Jays’ Single-A Dunedin affiliate in the Florida State League, but only appeared in games with Single-A Lansing of the Midwest League this year, where he was 7-4 with a 3.13 ERA, a .231 opponents’ batting average and a 1.08 WHIP in 14 starts. The Long Beach native is in his fourth year of pro ball and has an 11-13 record with a 3.69 ERA in 56 career games (45 starts). He was originally selected by Toronto in the second round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Woodrow Wilson High School.

Locastro, 22, had a .310/.409/.421 slashline this year with Lansing, hitting five home runs and driving in 25 runs in 70 games. He has a .305 career batting average and a .399 on-base percentage in 180 minor league games in three professional seasons, earning selections as a 2014 MiLB.com Toronto organization All-Star and also a 2014 Single-A Northwest League All-Star. The New York native was originally selected by the Blue Jays in the 13th round of the 2013 First-Year Player draft out of Ithaca College.

• And here's another Dodger press release on an acquisition of a couple more players-this time from the Braves:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Caleb Dirks and outfielder Jordan Paroubeck from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for international signing slot No. 87. Dirks has been assigned to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Paroubeck will head to Arizona and continue rehabbing a minor quad injury.

Dirks, 22, made 17 combined relief appearances for the Braves’ Single-A Rome and Single-A Advanced Carolina affiliates, going 1-2 with three saves and posting a 0.68 ERA (2 ER/26.2 IP). Since being promoted to Single-A Advanced Carolina on May 8, he has pitched 16.2 scoreless innings in 11 relief appearances and was limiting hitters to a .148 average (8-for-54). The Riverside, CA native is in his second professional season and has a 2-2 record with a 1.53 ERA in 38 career games. He was originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 15th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft from California Baptist University.

Paroubeck, 20, was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the second round (69th overall) of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Serra High School in San Mateo, CA. The switch-hitter batted .286 with four homers, 24 RBI and 26 runs scored in 34 games (all in left field) for San Diego’s Arizona League squad last season. In 2015, the 6’2 Paroubeck was dealt from San Diego to Atlanta in the Craig Kimbrel trade and played in 25 extended spring training games this year. 

• We have apparently signed another pitcher, via a tweet from Matt Eddy:

#Dodgers sign RHP Trevor Cahill, 27-year-old groundball machine whom #Braves released on June 20.

— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) July 2, 2015

Per Eric Stephens it's a minor league contract (link)

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Blog Kiosk: 6/15/2015 - Dodger Links - Pederson, Seager and Draftee Sborz

Was Joc laying down on the job?

Hardly.  Instead, he made a fantastic catch against the centerfield wall off the bat of Justin Upton in the ninth inning of last night's game.  It ultimately preserved a 2-2 tie, and allowed the club an opportunity to eventually win the game in the 12th inning.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN:

He admitted the situation made it a big catch, and said, "The harder one is the line drive over your head, but it's up there for difficulty." He credited his dad and Dodgers outfield instructor Damon Mashore for refining his route running.

The photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics taken by JOn of yesterday's game.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers insist Corey Seager promotion not imminent."

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team will promote Seager when he is ready, not because Rollins is batting .200. He said the team has a road map for Seager’s development that includes more seasoning at Triple-A. The Dodgers think he could benefit from continuing to face the veteran pitchers at Triple-A and continuing to adjust to a faster game defensively.

“We feel like he’s in a really good place to be a really good major league player for a long time, but when that is will be determined by when he’s ready to do it, when we feel like it will put him in the best position to be as good as he can be as quickly as he can be,” Friedman said.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Jackie Robinson explains how the Dodgers missed out on Willie Mays."

Jackie says the Dodgers blew a chance to land Willie Mays when he was a 16-year-old phenom with the Birmingham Black Barons. “The Dodger players were much impressed with Mays when we played an exhibition game with the Barons,” said Jackie. “The front office in Brooklyn was contracted, but Wid Mathews, Mr. Rickey’s assistant, turned down Willie because Wid said he couldn’t hit a curve ball.”

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Van Slyke, Peralta begin rehab assignments: Dodgers pitchers Rodriguez, Beachy and League set to join them soon
• Via Cash Kruth at MLB.com, "Dodgers draftee Sborz dominant at CWS."

"He throws strikes. He attacks you. That slider is, what, 84 to sometimes up to 87, 88 mph. It's a pretty darned good pitch," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "So you have a lot of confidence in him that he's going to go at them and give his best. And he's been pretty darned near as good as you can be all year long for us."

• Via Vincent Bonsignore at Los Angeles Daily News, "NFL in Dodger Stadium? League expected to begin negotiations for temporary L.A. venues."
• Greg picks up a great vintage Baseball magazine.  Via Greg Zakwin at Plashke Thy Sweater is Argyle, "Pickup: Baseball Stars of 1954, w/ Cover Boys Roy Campanella and Al Rosen!"
• I love hearing about this kind of thing.  Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "1909 Philadelphia Caramel Cards Found in Old Cookie Tin."

A volunteer digging through mounds of material left inside the Parker Homestead in Little Silver recently found them, tucked safely inside an old cookie tin that had been placed in a box with hundreds of postcards and other items. 

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Blog Kiosk: 6/9/2015 - Dodger Links - Ethier, Buehler and Justin Turner

Andre Ethier has been fantastic at the plate this season.  It's like the past couple of years, which has recently been described as injury plagued, has finally passed, and he is ready to perform with the bat like used to.  Last night he knocked in a run with a single in the 4th inning, and drove in three more on a home run in the 5th inning to help put the game away.  The photo above is via the @Dodgers on twitter.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Walker Buehler has heard all your ‘Ferris’ jokes."

“I do actually like the movie,” Buehler said. “I’ve seen it a bunch of times, probably 10 times. It’s one of those things, where you get to your first day of school, every teacher tries to reinvent the wheel, do the whole skit, so at some point I just went with it.” 

• Via Tyler Monroy at Dodgers Nation, "Dodgers News: Don Mattingly Says He’s ‘Comfortable’ With Jimmy Rollins."

“I’m fine with Jimmy,” Mattingly said recently. “I think he’s been swinging the bat pretty good. The other night I put him back in the two-hole for the day just because of the guys we had in there and he hits a bullet to short and a bullet to first so we cant control that part of it.”

• It's good to have him back.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Clayton Kershaw named co-NL Player of the Week."
• Via Tom Bartsch at Sports Collectors Digest, "Dick Nen Still Remembered by Dodgers Fans."
• Greg Zakwin at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle shares a new vintage addition to his growing collection - "A 1954 All-Star Photo Pack: Roy Campanella, Slabbed SGC 50!"
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Turner listed as ‘day-to-day’ after fouling ball off knee."

“It wasn’t too bad after awhile but out on defense, the dive, and I just banged it right back in the ground so that made it even worse. I’m not sure which one was worse for me,” Turner told reporters after the game. “As time goes on those things usually tighten up more and more. It was getting pretty uncomfortable and I didn’t want to not be able to get to a ball or have something happen and cost Mike [Bolsinger] some runs, so we decided to just come off the field and get the X-ray done and make sure nothing was wrong.”

• Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "League will make a second rehab appearance."

"He was good," Mattingly said. "Right now, it's not so much how they're doing but that they're doing it and bouncing back. So it sounds like he's bounced back."

• GCRL shares a recent autograph he received from Rachel Robinson - wife of Jackie, here.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/28/2015 - Dodger Links - Scully, League and Kike Hernandez

Did you enjoy an evening of the sweet sounds of Dodger Baseball with Vin Scully yesterday? 

Photo above taken yesterday afternoon by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Brandon League Likely Out Several Months."  His recent MRI apparently did not turn out so good.  JP Hoornstra shares more detailed information in the tweet below:

Here's Mattingly talking about Brandon League's injury, which was diagnosed as right posterior shoulder inflammation: http://t.co/VZHCv8nPbP
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) March 28, 2015

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Kike Hernandez and the vagaries of baseball life."

"That's when I said, 'Well, I wonder where my spot is,'" Hernandez said. "I felt like that for a day or two, then I was like, 'Throughout my life or career I've never been handed anything. Stay positive, keep working toward the same goal.' Now, the way I see it, I've got a pretty good chance of making the team as a super-utility guy on Opening Day." 

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Jaime Jarrin to receive National Leader Award."
• The Cards that Never Were blog shares a fantastic 1969 Topps fantasy Baseball card of the National League Stolen Base Leaders that includes Lou Brock, Maury Wills as a Pirate and Willie Davis of the Dodgers.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/26/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Olivera and Crawford's Reality TV Show

Yasiel Puig had a big day yesterday.  He made a heads-up fielding play in the 1st inning to get an out and walloped a massive two-run home run soon thereafter that went out of the stadium to left field.  Watch it here.

I wonder if the recent announcement of the Dodgers signing Hector Olivera got him excited.  As reported by Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, Puig knows Olivera very well. 

"His father was my hitting coach," Puig explained in Spanish.

Puig says further.

"He was a tremendous influence on me."

The photo above was posted by the Dodgers on twitter.  Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers sell 3 million tickets in record time."
• Mike Ozanian at Forbes.com shares their thoughts on MLB team values.  

The Los Angeles Dodgers, worth $2.4 billion, are the second most valuable three years after Guggenheim Baseball Management bought the team and Dodger Stadium for $2 billion from Frank McCourt. The Dodgers raked in more than $120 million in television money last season, the the most in baseball, as part of  the team’s 25 year, $8.35 billion deal with Time Warner Cable. The team also lead MLB in attendance, with 3.78 million fans coming through the turnstiles during the regular season.

• I really dislike reality television.  Via TMZ, Evelyn Lozada, along with fiancee Carl Crawford, will star in a new reality television show on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network.

So far, no word if any of Crawford's L.A. Dodgers teammates are scheduled to appear on the show ... but with attention-loving stars like Yasiel Puig on the Blue Crew ... we wouldn't rule it out.

Oy Vey!

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Brandon League will start season on DL."  League had an MRI done on Wednesday.

“I think if it was serious I wouldn’t be able to pick up a ball,” League said. “It’s not painful, it’s just hindering. I know my body pretty well and I don’t think this is anything serious.”

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Blog Kiosk: 3/20/2015 - Dodger Links - Guerrero Making Strides and Ryu Shut Down

It was crowded in the Dodger clubhouse when spring training started, and it was especially cramped on the infield.  With all four infield positions taken by able veterans, all that remained were a handful of reserve spots on the bench.  So, it didn't seem likely that there would be room for Alex Guerrero to make the team.   Fast forward a couple of weeks and it now appears the Dodgers can't afford to not keep him in Los Angeles. 

Alex Guerrero has had a great spring.  He's looked good at the plate (no surprise since he was coveted for his bat), and has improved measurably on the field.  Don't be surprised if he pushes his way onto the Opening Day roster.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Below are some more links to check out:

• Oh, Oh.  Ryu is being shut down, via a tweet from Bill Shaikin.

#Dodgers P Hyun-jin Ryu shut down with inflammation in left shoulder. Had an injection, next step TBD in 3 days.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 20, 2015

 

• Peter Gammons at the Gammons Daily makes note of the new generation of the short stop; including Corey Seager.

Indeed, one of the storylines of spring training has been this generation of multi-dimensional young shortstops. Anyone and everyone who passes by the Dodgers is drawn to 20-year-old Corey Seager, 6-4, 220, with the John Olerud swing, great hands and exchange and big arm on defense and what players, coaches and the manager describe as “a unique internal clock.”

And with Jimmy Rollins clearly the heartbeat of this renovated Dodger team, Seager is going to triple-A for a year. “There’s no doubt in my mind he can stay at short,” says Don Mattingly. 

• Via Sons of Steve Garvey, "Johnny Blanchard Breaks Down the Dodgers' Non-SNLA Schedule for Us."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Did Albert Pujols make Yasiel Puig a better outfielder?"

"On Yasiel, nobody should tag and Albert’s not a burner, so he’s basically anticipating that Yasiel’s going to be taking something for granted, so he’s taking advantage of the way he plays," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "That’s what he did. It was a good lesson for Yasiel."

• Via Chad Thornburg at MLB.com, "Grandal catching on to quirks of Dodgers pitchers."

"The more I catch them, I get a little bit better with them," Grandal said. "For now, it's really just talking game plan and things they like to do in different situations, counts. ... I think that's, for now, the one thing we can do the most."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Brandon League throws without shoulder pain, closer to mound return."

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Blog Kiosk: 3/17/2015 - Dodger Links - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

What the heck?

Today is St. Patrick's Day and the Dodgers will not be wearing green uniforms.  Instead, they'll be donning only a green cap in celebration.  What a shame.

Does anyone when was the last time the team hadn't worn green on this day?  Please let me know.

(Scully, Barber & O'Malley at party, via O'Malley.com)

Although I couldn't tell you how long the tradition of wearing green uni's has existed for the Dodgers, I do know that this day has always been special for the franchise.  The O'Malley's famously hosted a huge party every year starting in 1951 at Dodgertown in Vero Beach for friends, family and employees.  Now, some 17 years after the family sold the team this tradition seems like a distant memory.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Go here for some more background on the St. Patrick's Day parties at the Walter O'Malley website.  Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Brandon League out with shoulder inflammation, to receive injection."
• It''s about time!  Via a tweet from LA Times reporter Kevin Baxter:

Commissioner Rob Manfred said preliminary discussions have begun about bringing the All-Star game back to #Dodger Stadium
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) March 16, 2015

• An awesome read.  Via Eric Nusbaum at Vice Sports, "The Likable, Unlikely Career of Juan Uribe."

But in his Cy Young acceptance speech this past offseason, Clayton Kershaw—Uribe's exact opposite culturally, stylistically, and personality wise—singled out the third baseman. "Thank you for making me laugh," Kershaw said. "You are one of the most important people in our clubhouse."

• Hilarious!  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Zack Greinke on his location, his slider, Ozzy Osbourne & The Alamo."

What about The Alamo?

"I remember a little bit," Greinke recalled. "I remember them saying Ozzy Osbourne peed on it. Hopefully that's true."

• I have no words.  None!  Check out Tommy Lasorda  singing some song - "Turn down for what" at Instagram, here.  I had no idea what this phrase meant (I feel so old) until I looked it up at the Urban Dictionary.  Check that out here.  After reading that I find this whole thing totally inappropriate. 
• WTF!

Those home runs had me like: pic.twitter.com/sYf8Sc47pk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 16, 2015

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 14 / Home Game 7

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Oakland Athletics (9-5-1) at Los Angeles Dodgers (7-2-4)
Monday, March 16, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

RHP Zack Greinke (0-0, 9.00) vs. RHP Kendall Graveman (2-0, 1.80)  
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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(Big Dodger Heads, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

STAY HOT: The Dodgers improved to 7-2-4 yesterday after defeating the Mariners in Peoria, 5-2. The club’s .778 winning percentage is currently the best in the Cactus League. Today, Los Angeles meets the A’s for the first of two contests this spring, with the other tilt coming this Friday in Mesa. The clubs will square off in a pair of two separate two-game series this season, with the first coming July 28-29 at Dodger Stadium and the finale is Aug. 18-19 in Oakland. FYI—It’s exactly three weeks until Opening Day!

• Yesterday, the Dodgers flashed some pop, collecting four doubles and a homer in the victory over Seattle. Darwin Barney belted a two-run shot while both Howie Kendrick and Carl Crawford went 2-for-3 with an RBI. On the mound, Clayton Kershaw picked up his second Cactus League victory after yielding one run in 3.1 innings and three hurlers tossed scoreless baseball: Chin-hui Tsao (1.2 IP), Sergio Santos (1.0) and Adam Liberatore (1.0).

MAKING JACKIE PROUD: Major League Baseball announced today that the Dodgers will play host to the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium in the 2015 Civil Rights Game on Jackie Robinson Day, Wednesday, April 15.  It will mark the first time that Baseball’s tribute to civil rights leaders and figures will be held in conjunction with its annual commemoration of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson breaking Baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947. The Civil Rights Game on Jackie Robinson Day will air nationally on ESPN2, with coverage scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. PT. The Civil Rights Game was developed by MLB to pay tribute to the spirit of the civil rights movement and to honor those who embodied the struggle for equal rights for all Americans. This is the first Civil Rights Game hosted by the Dodgers and second one they have played in (2012), while this will be the first overall for the Mariners.

(Clayton Kershaw, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

G’DAY MATE: On this date last year, the Dodgers broke camp at Camelback Ranch and traveled to Sydney, Australia, for MLB’s Opening Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Los Angeles won both games down under, before returning home for their “domestic” season opener in San Diego.  Check out all of my past blog post about the Australian games here.

THE COMMISH: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred visited Dodger camp this morning and briefly addressed the squad during the morning meeting. Manfred will stay for the game and visit with Dodger TV and radio broadcaster Charley Steiner and Senior Advisor to the President Ned Colletti. Colletti will be in the booth with Steiner the next three games.   

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Zack Greinke will make his second start of the spring today after giving up two runs on two hits in 2.0 innings pitched. Greinke won his first career Gold Glove Award in 2014, committing just one error in 59 total chances (.983 fielding percentage).

• LHP David Huff is expected to make his third appearance of the spring today. Through two Cactus League appearances, Huff has tossed 3.2 scoreless innings, surrendering only two hits and striking out four.
• LHP Daniel Coulombe is also expected to see action today. Coulombe has held opposing hitters to a .100 batting average this spring, allowing only one hit in 3.0 innings.
• Veteran RHP Chad Gaudin will make his third Cactus League appearance today after picking up the save in Thursday’s win over the Padres. Gaudin has recorded five strikeouts and has yet to allow a run in 3.0 innings of work this spring.
• RHP Chris Hatcher will make his fourth appearance of the spring today. In his first three Cactus League appearances this spring, Hatcher has tossed three scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and holding opposing hitters to a .231 batting average.
• 24-year-old RHP Yimi Garcia will see action today, for the fourth time this spring. Garcia has held opposing hitters to a .091 batting average in 3.1 scoreless innings.
• RHP Joel Peralta is expected to make his second Cactus League appearance today. Peralta allowed one run and two hits in 1.0 inning of relief in Friday’s 3-3 tie with the Reds.

STUDS: Los Angeles pitching has been terrific so far this spring, as the club has combined to post a 2.87 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .210 batting average, striking out 90 and walking just 28 in 116.0 innings. The 2.87 mark ranks second among NL clubs, trailing just Cincinnati (2.66).

TEXAS TWO STEP: The countdown is on to Big League Weekend, with the Dodgers taking on the Rangers Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome in San Antonio! Erik Bedard and Zack Greinke are expected to start the two San Antonio exhibition games for the Dodgers, with a roster that includes Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, and Joc Pederson.

BRANDON’S BDAY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy 32nd birthday to Brandon League. League is getting an injection in his shoulder today to try to resolve his soreness. He last pitched on March 9.

(Agon & Puig, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 11 / Home Game 5

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Cincinnati Reds (5-5-1)  at Los Angeles Dodgers (5-2-3)
Friday, March 13, 2015 – 7:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Jason Marquis (2-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy (0-0, 4.50)
TV: SNLA Radio: KLAC

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(Peoria Stadium, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

FRIDAY THE 13TH: The Dodgers and Reds meet for the first and only time this spring in a sold-out contest under the lights at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Los Angeles and Cincinnati won’t meet again until August, when the clubs will play their seven-game season series in the span of two weeks, Aug. 13-16 at Dodger Stadium and Aug. 25-27 at Great American Ball Park.

• Tomorrow’s 1:05 p.m. game against the Indians at Camelback Ranch is also sold out. 

LOOK RYU’S BACK: Hyun-Jin Ryu made his Cactus League debut last night, striking out two in 2.0 hitless, scoreless innings, and combined with seven Dodger relievers (including Will Ferrell) on a two-hit shutout of the Padres in a 1-0 Dodger victory. Joc Pederson blasted his first homer of the spring in the ninth inning for the game’s only run and is batting .353 in seven Cactus League games.

• The Dodgers have committed just three errors through their first 10 Cactus League contests.
• Los Angeles pitchers have combined to post a 3.13 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .200 batting average this spring, striking out 72 and walking just 20 in 89.0 innings.

(Hyun-Jin Ryu, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

MINOR NEWS: Dodger minor leaguers will hold their first official workout of the spring tomorrow on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. The minor league portion of the Spring Training schedule gets underway for the Triple-A and Double-A rosters on March 20, while the two Single-A clubs have their opening games on March 22.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Brandon McCarthy will make his second start of the spring tonight after allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings on Sunday against the Brewers. The 31-year-old, who signed a four-year contract with Los Angeles this offseason, enters 2015 as one of baseball’s hottest pitchers after going 9-5 with a 2.80 ERA (32 ER/103.0 IP) in his final 16 starts last year with the D-backs and Yankees.

• RHP Joel Peralta will make his Dodger debut and his first outing of the spring tonight. Peralta, 39, was acquired this offseason from Tampa Bay and leads MLB relievers with 296 appearances over the last four years from 2011-14. During the course of his career, he’s posted a 3.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio and limited opposing hitters to a .230 batting average.
• RHP Brandon League is expected to make his third appearance of the spring this evening, last pitching on Monday against the Giants.
• RHP Chris Hatcher will make his third appearance of the spring tonight after tossing a scoreless inning on both March 5 against the White Sox and on Monday against the Giants. Hatcher, a converted catcher, was acquired from Miami in a seven-player deal on Dec. 10, 2014.
• RHP Juan Nicasio is expected to make his third appearance of the spring tonight after allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings on Sunday against the Brewers. Nicasio was acquired from the Rockies this offseason and, after opening the year in the starting rotation, he made the first 19 relief appearances of his career last year with Colorado, posting a 3.48 ERA in that role.
• LHP Daniel Coulombe has allowed just one hit in 2.0 scoreless appearances this spring, last pitching on Sunday against the Brewers. Coulombe, 25, made his MLB debut as a September call-up last year and pitched in five games with the Dodgers in his first big league action.
• RHP Yimi Garcia is expected to make his third appearance of the spring tonight after tossing a scoreless inning against both the Brewers (March 6) and Giants (Monday).  Garcia saw his first big league action last year as a September call-up and allowed just two runs in 10.0 innings in eight relief appearances with the Dodgers.

AN OLD FRIEND RETURNS: This weekend, former assistant to Tommy Lasorda, Colin Gunderson, returns to Camelback and will sign copies of his new book, Tommy Lasorda: My Way, along with the Hall of Fame skipper himself. There will be two signings in the center-field pavilion at Camelback Ranch, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. tonight and from noon-2:00 p.m. tomorrow

IN MEMORY: The Dodgers join the rest of the Los Angeles sports world in mourning the passing of longtime sports talk radio host Joe McDonnell at the age of 58. The club wishes to pass along its deepest condolences to McDonnell’s family and to all those in the Southern California sports community who lost a colleague and friend. Dodger EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Lon Rosen said, “Joe was all about sports and loved the Dodgers. He was a fixture at Dodger Stadium and will be terribly missed by players, management and fans.”

(The Kershaw's, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 7 / Road Game 4

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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 Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1-1) vs. San Francisco Giants (2-5)
Monday, March 9, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Scottsdale Stadium

LHP Brett Anderson (0-0) vs. RHP Matt Cain (0-0)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

In case you missed today's Dodgers-Giants lineups, here they are in dry erase board form pic.twitter.com/4Cwa3dC6EQ
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) March 9, 2015

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(Old friends Honeycutt and Roenicke, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

A SAN FRANCISCO TREAT: The Dodgers, unbeaten in their last five games, take on the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium today in the first of two Spring Training meetings between the clubs. Last year, Los Angeles won seven of its last nine games against the Giants and took the season series, 10-9, en route to a second consecutive division title. The Dodgers posted their second-best divisional winning percentage last year, going 50-26 (.658), and will play NL West clubs in three of their next four Cactus League contests.

• Opening Day is just FOUR WEEKS AWAY, Monday, April 6 vs. San Diego.

WALK-OFF THIS WAY: Corey Seager’s double to deep center field in the ninth inning scored the game-winner yesterday, as Los Angeles improved to 4-1-1 on the spring with a 4-3, walk-off win over the Brewers at Camelback Ranch. Brandon McCarthy made his Dodger debut, allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings and racking up two of Los Angeles’ 11 strikeouts, and Kyle Jensen powered his second homer of the spring in the victory.

• The Dodgers have now played 41 consecutive errorless innings and have committed just one error through their first six Cactus League contests.
• Los Angeles pitchers have combined to post a 3.33 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .209 batting average this spring, striking out 47 and walking only 11 in 54.0 innings.
• The Dodgers are averaging six runs per game and have posted a .281 team batting average.

(Kyle Jensen, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

(Mattingly, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Brett Anderson will make his Dodger debut and his first start of the spring today. He was limited to only eight starts with Colorado last year by a broken left index finger and lower back surgery but, when healthy, Anderson has posted a 1.29 WHIP and has limited opponents to a .316 on-base percentage during the course of his six-year MLB career. He has only given up only 41 home runs in 494.0 innings in his big league career, averaging only 0.75 home runs per 9.0 innings.

• Veteran LHP Erik Bedard is expected to make his second appearance of the spring today after allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings and taking the loss on Wednesday against the White Sox. He has averaged 8.60 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and has posted a 2.34 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 241 career big league games (230 games) over 11 seasons with Baltimore (2005-07), Seattle (2008-09, ’11), Boston (2011), Pittsburgh (2012), Houston (2013) and Tampa Bay (2014).
• 25-year-old RHP Carlos Frias will make his second appearance of the spring today after allowing two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings on Wednesday vs. the White Sox. In his first big league season last year, Frias was 1-1 with a 6.12 ERA in 15 games (two starts) during two stints with the Dodgers.
• RHP Brandon League is also expected to see action today after striking out one in a scoreless frame on Thursday against the White Sox. In 2014, League did not allow a home run in 63.0 innings of work, the most innings by any NL pitcher without allowing a home run.
• RHP Chris Hatcher is expected to appear in today’s game, after pitching a scoreless inning of relief in his first action of the spring on Thursday against the White Sox. Hatcher made his big league debut in 2010 as a catcher and returned the next year as a pitcher, becoming just the first player since 1935 to do so (last: Art Doll, Boston Braves, 1935).
• 24-year-old RHP Yimi Garcia will make his second appearance of the spring today after tossing a scoreless frame on Friday against the Brewers. Garcia saw his first big league action last year and posted a 1.80 ERA (2 ER/10.0 IP) in eight games with Los Angeles.
• Also suiting up for the Dodgers today will be minor leaguers RHP Steve Smith (#95), RHP Jeremy Kehrt (#88) and LHP Mike Thomas (#89).

30 IN 30: MLB Network’s 30 Clubs in 30 Days will be on-site tomorrow for an inside look at Dodger camp. The hour-long special, complete with field reports, interviews and predictions, will air tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. PT on the network.

(Fans, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA DOdgers 2015)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 2 / Away Game 1 - Kershaw on the Mound

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Los Angeles Dodgers (0-1)  vs. Chicago White Sox (1-0)

LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. LHP John Danks

Thursday, March 5, 2015 – 12:05 p.m. PT | Camelback Ranch – Glendale

 TV: SNLA/MLB Network Radio: AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

(today's starting lineup, via Colleen Kane on twitter)

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(Clayton Kershaw, via @Dodgers on twitter)

JUST ONE GAME: The Dodgers dropped their Cactus League opener yesterday, in a 6-4 loss against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The Dodgers are the designated road team in today’s game, a rematch against the White Sox, which is the Dodgers’ first of 19 road spring training games in Arizona. Starting pitcher, Erik Bedard took the loss in his Dodger debut yesterday, allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings. Designated hitter Joc Pederson went 2-for-2, with a double and a run and first baseman O’Koyea Dickson, who went 1-for-2 in the game, blasted a home run to left field in his first at-bat after entering the game in the 5th inning.

• The Dodgers are now 2-6 in their Cactus League openers since re-locating Spring Training to Camelback Ranch in 2009, including dropping both split-squad contests in 2011.

HILLTOPPERS: The Dodgers will send reigning NL Cy Young and MVP winner Clayton Kershaw to the mound today for his 2015 debut, coming off of a remarkable season, in which he topped the Majors with 21 wins (21-3) and a 1.77 ERA in 27 starts. He won his third-career Cy Young and became the 11th Dodger to win the NL MVP award, the first National League pitcher to be honored as MVP since the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson. He has led the Majors in ERA every season since 2011, becoming the first-ever pitcher to win four consecutive ERA titles. Since making his debut in 2008, Kershaw leads the Majors in ERA, winning percentage (.667), opponents’ average (.209) and WHIP (1.06).

• 25-year-old RHP Joe Wieland will make his Dodger debut today after being acquired by Los Angeles in a five-player trade with the Padres. Wieland made his Major League debut in 2012 for the Padres and was a September call-up again in 2014, posting a 1-4 record in nine big league games (seven starts). Wieland, who played in seven minor league seasons, threw a no-hitter for Double0A Frisco (Rangers) on July 29, 2011 in the Texas League.
• RHP Brandon League will make his first appearance of the spring today. In 2014, League did not allow a home run in 63.0 IP, the most homerless innings by any NL player. Since 2004, he ranks first among Major League relievers (min. 475.0 IP) with a 61.1 ground ball percentage.
• Hard-throwing RHP Chris Hatcher is expected to make his first appearance as a Dodger after being acquired in a seven-player trade with the Marlins on Dec. 10, 2014. Hatcher, who made his Major League debut in 2010 with Miami as a catcher was returned to the big leagues the following season as a pitcher in 2011. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first player since Art Doll of the Boston Braves in 1935 to play his first Major League season as a catcher and return in a subsequent season as a pitcher.
• LHP Daniel Coulombe, who made his MLB debut with Los Angeles last year as a September call-up, will also make his first appearance of the spring today. Coulombe who appeared in five games for the Dodgers, posted a 4.15 ERA and recorded five strikeouts. In his three years in the minors, Coulombe has gone 7-3 with eight saves and posted a 3.43 ERA in 126 games.



(Dodger billboard, pic via Matthew Moreno on twitter)

• LHP Ryan Buchter will make his first appearance of the spring today. Buchter, one of the newest Dodgers, made his Major League debut with Atlanta last season, which was his only big league appearance. In nine minor league seasons he has posted a 32-18 record with a 3.44 ERA in 327 games (two starts) in the Nationals (2006-08), Cubs (2009-11) and Braves (2011-14) organizations.

COME ON UP: The Dodgers will have five minor leaguers joining the club today against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch: infielder Luis Mateo (No.86), outfielder Joey Curletta (No.96), outfielder Travis Witherspoon (No.85), LHP Jeremy Horst (No.97), RHP Jeremy Kehrt (No.87) and RHP Steve Smith (No.95)

A SAD FAREWELL: The Dodgers mourn the passing of long-time Dodger scout John Keenan, who died this morning. Keenan was a scout in the Kansas area and was involved in the signing of many former Dodgers, including infielder Bill Russell and outfielder Mitch Webster. His grandfather, Bert Wells, was also a well-known Dodger scout.

MARK YOUR CALENDER: The Dodgers and the Padres have agreed to move the start time for their March 12 Spring Training game to 6:15 p.m. at Peoria Sports Complex. This adjustment from the original 1:05 p.m. time slot is to accommodate a request by Major League Baseball, which is collaborating with HBO to film a special that day in Arizona.

(Mattingly & Rollins, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Blog Kiosk: 3/3/2015 - Dodger Links - Rollins, League and Some Nomo Memories

As you likely know, tomorrow afternoon is the Dodgers first Spring Training game.  In preparation for the big day, they posted up the anticipated lineup for the game this morning.  Check it out in the photo above tweeted out by ESPN reporter Mark Saxon.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Not that anyone had any doubts, via OC Register reporter Bill Plunkett on twitter:

Clayton Kershaw will be #Dodgers Opening Day starter. Mattingly: "That's our plan. ... We were just waiting for you to ask."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 2, 2015

• Via J.P. Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Jimmy Rollins met with Yasiel Puig for two hours."

“I just walked over to him and we just started talking,” Rollins said. “Two hours later it was ‘I gotta go now.’ My wife was probably like ‘where you at? You said you were done. The baby’s crying.’

• JP Hoornstra also wrote about Brandon League at the Daily News, "Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brandon League credits giving up alcohol to boost in energy."

“I was getting enough sleep, eating as well as possible,” League said. “The only other factor I saw was alcohol.”

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ryu, Peralta feel good after bullpen sessions."  Everything seems fine and on schedule.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Hideo Nomo remembers first day in Dodger uniform, 20 years ago."  Today is the 20th anniversary of the day Nomo first put on a Dodger uniform.

“On the eve prior to the start of Spring Training in March of 1995, I arrived in Dodgertown for the first time,” Nomo said. “As it was dark, all I could see were the baseball fields and lodging facilities. I thought to myself ‘there is nothing to do here except to play baseball.’

• Roberto Baly at Vin Scully is My Homeboy informs us about an interesting upcoming event: "The Baseball Reliquary Presents Turning Back the Clock: Baseball in Los Angeles."
• John Thorn at Our Game, "Diamond Visions: Baseball’s Greatest Photographs."
• I couldn't agree any more with Grant Bisbee of SB Nation's assessment of Juan Pierre's legacy: "Dangit, Juan Pierre, we'll miss you."

He was The Departed of players, not nearly as good or awful as its greatest supporters and detractors claim.

• Paul Post at Sports Collectors Digest writes a fantastic article on former Major Leaguer Jim Abbott: "Player Interview: Jim Abbott Talks No-Hitter, A-D-A-P-T."

“He’s got such great stuff,” Abbott said of Kershaw. “A no-hitter is a countdown of outs. I watched the game . . . and you get caught up in that happening again. You relate to the feelings he’s feeling and the catcher’s feeling, the fielders are feeling and the fans are feeling. It’s nice to have that connection.”

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2015 Topps Series 1 Baseball - All the Dodger Base Cards & Variations

As promised, here are all of the Dodger base cards in Topps Series 1 flagship Baseball card set.  There are twelve individual Dodger cards and three "League Leaders" cards featuring a Dodger player.  Go here to see a complete set checklist.  At the very bottom are the currently known Dodger variation cards.

Base Set

#61 League Leaders - Cueto, Kershaw & Wainwright

#85 League Leaders - Cueto, Kershaw & Wainwright

Star Wars Night as Seen Through Twitter

The nerd in me is strong.  Yet, I couldn't make way to Dodger Stadium this past Friday for the 6th Annual Star Wars Night with the Dodgers.  Fortunately, the wonders of twitter made me feel like I was there.  Check out some of my favorite pics from the evening below. 

BTW, the always great Dodger photographer Jon Soo Hoo shared some of his best pics on his photo blog.  The above photo of a young Dodger fan with the steely eye glare of a Jedi was taken by him.  Go here to check out more from him.  I've included a couple more directly below.  On the left is Brandon League in the most-geekiest laser gun pose ever, and on the right is Lakers coach Byron Scott with Darth Vader and his minions.

Now, here are some twitter pics below:

I had to start this off with my favorite Star Wars character.  Here is the one-and-only R2D2.

Breaking news: Dodgers acquire rights to ill-tempered astro droid. pic.twitter.com/p3Nc2Zdj5o
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 16, 2014

Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy then got into the act and tried to overpower the dark one.

"Luc, it is your destiny." #StarWarsNight pic.twitter.com/cznFUnUjcB
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 16, 2014

But, the force was stronger with Darth Vader.

"@JLucroy20, I see you have constructed a new lightsaber." #StarWarsNight pic.twitter.com/92le1Mx986
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 16, 2014

Soon, the Empire started to take over.

Casual dugout takeover? #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/8L4uoBLwPE
— Cat Belanger (@CatBelanger) August 16, 2014

But have no fear, Don Mattingly was in the house.

It's Star Wars Night at Dodger Stadium #ITFDB pic.twitter.com/Oy9CtdJWOq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 16, 2014

Soon, the fans got into the act.

Star Wars day at Dodger stadium. We outchea pic.twitter.com/27CxUFM9HH
— Jedi Batman (@HanSolosSon) August 16, 2014

LOL!  That's a weak looking Han.  Are you with me on that one?

#starwarsnight #dodgerstadium ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/wxx9jteB0G
— Heather Harbin (@heatherharbin_) August 16, 2014

What a great costume.  Awesome!

Star wars night at the dodger game! pic.twitter.com/jRRn3mdrwx
— Jonathan meza (@kaibacat) August 16, 2014

And, I'll leave you with this: "May The Dodgers Be With You"

Wooo! Dodger game. @Dodgers @starwars #dodgers #StarWars #StarWarsNight #myblanket pic.twitter.com/2zbhOuygjA
— Paola (@_anakinsky) August 16, 2014

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Blog Kiosk: 5/27/2014 - Dodger Links - Dodger Odds and Ends

It was almost a perfect memorial Day for the Dodgers yesterday as Hyun-Jin Ryu took a perfect game into the 8th inning last night, pic above vie the Dodger tumblr site.  Via Earl Bloom at MLB.com, "Dodgers hang on after Ryu loses perfecto bid."  BTW, go here to see Jon SooHoo's pic from the game.

• Are you kidding me?  As you likely know by now, AJ Ellis has been placed back on the 15-Day DL, and Tim Federowicz has been recalled.  Via Mike Axisa  at CBSSports, "A.J. Ellis suffers severe ankle sprain during no-hitter celebration."
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers minor league report May 26: Brandon Dixon, Darnell Sweeney keep hitting."
• Via Stuart Wallace at The Gammons Daily, "Simplified approach key to Brandon League’s newfound consistency and success."

Despite three pitches, Leagues has excelled as of late with a simple approach, throwing his sinker nearly 80% of the time, with a smattering of sliders (2.3%) to go along with an increased use of his split-finger fastball (17.2%). 

• Noted political blogger digby at Hulabaloo shares her frustration at not being able to watch the Dodgers on TV.
• You lucky dogs!  Dodger Penguin tells us of a special "meet and greet" he was invited to with LA Kings centerman Bernie Nicholls.  I am so envious.
• Via Aaron Wasser at Sports Collectors Daily, "Baseball Hall of Fame Coin Sales Soaring."  I want one of these.

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