Blog Kiosk: 8/18/2015 - Dodger Links - Dodger Style NFL Fantasy Draft

Since ballplayers are restricted from playing fantasy Baseball they do the next best thing.  They play Fantasy Football, and last night several Dodger players got together to draft their team.  Via a photo tweeted out by Alex Wood, you can check out who picked who (see above).  That's some fancy layout, eh?

The early consensus from Dodger insiders is that Brandon McCarthy crapped out and is headed for a losing season.  You be the judge.  In the meantime, check out the below tweets to see some friendly (or not so friendly) jabs.

This is what I did during the Dodgers fantasy football draft. pic.twitter.com/On7y8zCbV8

— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) August 18, 2015

Bored much?!

From here things get interesting.  Some good-nature razing begins with a sly comment from AJ Ellis.

Looks eerily similar to the draft @BMcCarthy32 put together.... https://t.co/hVxhaZ2Xb2

— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) August 18, 2015

Then McCarthy pleads for it to stop.

@AJEllis17 THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO LIVE FOR RIGHT NOW AJ PLEASE DON'T POKE FUN

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) August 18, 2015

Yeah, he's not having a great year.  Of course, that didn't stop Brandon from throwing a zinger out too.

@redturn2 @Dodgers well the important thing is you had fun at least

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) August 18, 2015

It's good to know that this team can have fun outside of the baselines.  That's a good sign that things are not that bad.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Vin Scully is undecided on returning to Dodgers for a 67th season next year."

He told us he has not made a decision about returning for what would be his 67th season with the Dodgers. He said he does not want to commit too soon.

• Even Plaschke can write a gem.  Via his story at the LA Times this past weekend, "Minor league lifer John Shoemaker has major impact on Dodgers organization."

His impact has been so enduring, he not only managed Dodgers All-Star center fielder Joc Pederson, but also coached his father Stu. His reach has been so deep, the winning pitcher for his first minor league managerial win was Ramon Martinez. And, oh yeah, just for grins, he once coached a Vero Beach eighth-grade basketball championship team led by this giant center named Prince Fielder.

"The tree of baseball players that have grown from Shoe's influence is endless," says Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis, who credits Shoemaker with helping save his career in 2007. "It's amazing how many people's lives he has touched."

• Via Daniel Brim at Dodgers Insider, "Pedro Baez is Quietly Breaking Out."
• The shakeup has begun.  The Dodgers new front office is in the process of putting their stamp on the organization.  Now that they have had a chance to evaluate things I suspect we'll see more changes over the coming months.  Via Jesse Sanchez and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Source: Dodgers part with several from int'l scouting corps."

The Dodgers parted ways with a significant portion of their international scouting department on Monday, including vice president Bob Engle.

Also no longer with the club are Patrick Guerrero, the Dodgers' scouting coordinator in Latin America; Franklin Taveras, the club's scouting coordinator in the Dominican Republic; Joseph Reaves, the director of international and Minor League relations; Rafael Colon, special advisor for international player performance; Hidenori Sueyoshi, senior manager of international scouting; and Bruce Hurst, Latin America field coordinator, a source told MLB.com. The club did not confirm the front-office changes.

• Just awesome.  Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "Five-year-old throws first pitch at Orioles game with her amazing robotic hand."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/5/2015 - Dodger Links - Joc has Good Start

So, who got the first Dodger hit of Spring Training?

Highly rated rookie Joc Pederson, of course!

He hit a single to the right side with one out in the third inning of yesterdays game.  It was off former Dodger hurler Brad Penny, and through a shift (as described by JP Hoornstra on twitter).  Pederson would also score the first run of Spring later that inning on a par of singles by Jimmy Rollins and Carl Crawford.  Overall, he went 2 for 2; adding a double off the centerfield wall in his next at-bat.  BTW, the photo above was tweeted out by his older brother Tyger (a one-time Dodger draft pick-33rd round in 2013).

It looks like he was able to battle through any nervous energy, via a tweet by JP Hoornstra.

Joc Pederson, who takes medication for ADD, said he was pacing in the dugout throughout this game. Finished 2-for-2 as the #Dodgers' DH.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) March 4, 2015

I should add, although I always wonder if it's necessary, that you shouldn't take too seriously the results of an early spring game.  This is practice, and many ballplayers (especially regulars) spend the early going retooling for the season.  That means focusing attention on minute details of the game that may not necessarily lead to a positive result at that time, but will hopefully lead to success once the season begins.  It's all about preparing for the season.

That being said, though, Joc Pederson's fast start out of the gate can only bolster his confidence.  Via a quote shared by Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com from Don Mattingly:

“Obviously, it probably helps him if he gets a couple hits early so he can relax instead of starting out 0-for-15 or something.”

FYI, the Dodgers lost the game to the White Sox 6-4. Ho-hum.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Jon Heyman at CBS Sports, "To move him, Dodgers offering to pay down Ethier's contract by half."

Their offer to pay down the contract to the point where Ethier is making only about $10 million a year, or perhaps a bit less than that, may seem more than reasonable. But it apparently hasn't enticed teams to the point of a trade.

I don't want to pile on more negative thoughts onto Andre since just about everyone else has or will.  Instead, I'd like to say that I firmly believe he still has value.  It's just that finding a sweet spot that makes both economic and baseball sense can be a difficult endeavor.  I trust a solution is at hand, and we just need to allow the process to continue.  Ethier can still play ball, and he could just surprise the lot of you.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Erik Bedard ticketed for Triple-A."

“I know where I stand. It feels fine,” Bedard said. “The game’s still fun and I like playing baseball is, basically, what it comes down to.” 

• Panini releases their first Baseball card set of the 2015 season next week.  It is their Donruss brand.  Check out a sneak peek preview of one of the subsets here.  The Yasiel Puig card is on the right.  On a side note, I've never liked the original 1981 Donruss design (that Panini uses for this set), but I gotta say that they look nice in the photos.
• Vie Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Clayton Kershaw, Yasiel Puig highlight Dodgers' Thursday lineup."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Ramon Martinez joins Orioles as special assignment pitching coordinator."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "(Bruce Hurst named field coordinator for Dodgers' Dominican academy."
• Via Chris Long at The Players' Tribune, "The Creepiest Mascot in Sports."  I would put that new Dodger mascot thingy (the giant Dodger bobblehead man) in the top 10; without a doubt.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *