Blog Kiosk: 9/14/2016 - Dodgers Links - Seager, No Scully for Playoffs and the Loons Advance

The Loons carried the day. 

As you may know, the Dodgers Single-A club Great Lakes Loons were in the midst of a playoff series against the West Michigan White Caps.  The series was tied at one game apiece going into last nights deciding game.  Everything was looking bleak to start for the Loons as they were no-hit through the first six innings.  Then the bats started to come alive.  Per Matt DeVries at MiLB.com; "On to the Midwest League Championship."

The fireworks of the night would come courtesy of second baseman Omar Estevez. With Whitecaps reliever Drew Smith (BS 1, L 2-1) on the mound and (Brendon) Davis already on base after his second single of the game, Estevez smacked a ball over the wall in left field for a two-run home run to give the Loons their first lead of the game.

Insurance runs were on the way in the top of the 9th inning when Gage Green scored on Davis' third hit of the game and Saige Jenco scurried home on a wild pitch by Mark Ecker to push the lead to 5-2 for Great Lakes.

They now earn the right to face the Clinton LumberKings for the Midwest League Championship on Wednesday.  Photo above of the team celebration via DJ Peters on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1945, during an overnight trip between St. Louis and Chicago, the Brooklyn Dodgers train rammed into an gasoline truck, sending flames everywhere.  The train engineer and a firefighter were killed.  The Dodgers survived without serious injury because the momentum of their section carried it through the burning remains.  I had previously written about this incident here.  In 1993 Mike Piazza hit home runs no. 29 and 30 to break the Major League record for homers by a rookie catcher.  In 2002 24-year old Chin-Feng Chen becomes the first Taiwan-born ballplayer to make an appearance in the Major League game.  The first baseman walked as a Dodger pinch-hitter and eventually scored a run.  
• Happy Birthday, Jerry Doggett!  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider pens a great piece celebrating his 100th birthday today (link here).
  

Joc Pederson is a 30/30 Man

Congrats, Joc!

With a steal of second base in the sixth inning tonight, Joc Pederson did something that hadn't been done in the Pacific Coast League in 80 years and only done three times before.  Joc Pederson is now a member of the exclusive PCL 30/30 club. 

Via a Isotopes story at MiLB.com:

The 22-year-old phenom swiped his 30th base in sixth inning of Saturday night's game at Colorado Springs. He walked with one out in the inning, and after a pitching change, stole second on the first pitch to Tim Federowicz. Sky Sox catcher Dustin Garneau didn't even attempt a throw after Pederson got such a good jump.

Pederson's 30th home run came off right-handed pitcher Donovan Hand of the Nashville Sounds in the third inning on Monday, August 18. It was the second of back-to-back homers after fellow outfielder Mike Baxter provided the first.

The last ballplayer to accomplish this feat in the PCL was former Cubs standout Frank Demaree in 1934.  Also, Yankee Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri did it in 1925 and slugger Lefty O'Doul did it in 1927.  Pederson also joins former Dodger prospect Chin-Feng Chen as the only former franchise farmhands to have accomplished the feat.  Chen did it in 1999 with the San Bernardino Stampede.

In celebration of Joc's accomplishment I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photo taken by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers at an preseason exhibition game against the Angels this past Spring and the 1971 Topps Baseball card design (template provided by Alex Markle at Chavez Ravining).

Hopefully, Joc can continue his exploits on the big stage with Dodgers.  He will be called up by the team when the rosters expand on September 1st.  Although, he is not expected to get a lot of playing time, he'll certainly get his chances to prove he is ready for the "Show."

(Graphic via @TripleABaseball on Twitter)

UPDATE: Below is a video of his 30th stolen base.

Video Link:

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