Blog Kiosk: 3/21/2016 - Dodgers Links - Alvarez, Ryu and our 5th Starter

This past Saturday was the Dodgers family day picnic, and Jon SooHoo of the Dodgers was kind enough to share some pics.  Check out Magic Johnson entertaining Clayton Kershaw and his young daughter in the photo above.  Go here to see a few more photos.

Below are more links to check out:

• Another prospect top get excited about.  Via Josh Norris at Baseball America, "Dodgers’ Alvarez Dazzles On Back Fields."

Alvarez used a loose, whippy arm to generate lively fastballs that started out in the low-90s and eventually built to the mid-90s before touching 99 mph near his outing’s end. He coupled the pitch with a low-80s slider that garnered swings and misses as well.

“I think his stuff is pretty good,” said Dodgers catcher Garrett Hope, who was surprised to find out Alvarez was throwing in the upper-90s. “Ninety-nine coming out of your mouth, that kind of blows my mind. I had no idea.”

• Chan Ho Park recently visited with Hyun-Jin Ryu at Camleback Ranch.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Park: Ryu can inspire with successful return."

"Young players watched him and saw you can make the Major Leagues, but it's even more important now for young pitchers to see his recovery and see him come back and pitch well," said Park. "Many young pitchers in Korea are injured and stop playing and we never see how good they can be. And we don't have that many like Ryu.

"So we need to learn from Ryu and from the Dodgers and their system to save our young pitchers. That's my hope and dream. If I opened the door for pitchers to come over here and play, he can open the door for pitchers to recover from injury and return."

• Andre should be OK.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "Hobbled Andre Ethier says foul ball gave him a 'dead leg'"

"I squared myself up pretty good right there," Ethier said. "I wasn't sure if it hit off the ground before it hit my leg or not, and then someone watching the replay said I direct-lined it. It's just one of those plays that happen. My leg is littered with scars and marks from doing that over the years."

• ICYMI: one-time Dodger Chone Figgins to officially retire, via Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors.  
• Panini America shares a bunch of great pics and video of the San Diego Chicken's recent autograph signing in Santee (Link Here).
• Oy Vey!  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 5th starter competition officially a mess: Bolsinger scratched, Beachy hurt, Lee optioned."  Certainly not a great situation, but we fortunately have enough time to sort things out.  Ken Gurnick at MLB.com shares a Dave Roberts quote:

"At this point, we'll see," Roberts said when asked who his fifth starter is. "I don't know how long [Bolsinger's] oblique is going to last and how serious it is. Obviously, there's Zach Lee, and I don't know where Beachy is right now.

"It just keeps happening, I guess. Bolsinger has a mild oblique strain, whatever that means, and whatever it takes we'll know as days go on. He'll get treatment and see where it goes from there. You win with pitching and defense. Look where we were at the start of camp and where we are now, it's a little frustrating. Every team goes through it in some capacity. It's another obstacle for us to deal with."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

2014 Topps Update Baseball - The Dodger Variation Base Cards

Following up on yesterday's post featuring the Dodger base cards found in packs of Topps Update, I now share pics of all the short printed base variation cards that are available.  Go here to check out a complete checklist of the set, or here for a listing of all variations that are available.  Go here to find all post related to this set.

There are four different Dodger variation cards available.  See them all below.  BTW, I show both the normal card and its short printed variation.  Also, with both 'Sparkle' cards I include additional photos showing the exact location of the 'Sparkle.'

2014 Topps Update Series Variations

#US-169 Chone Figgins - Sabermetric Variation

Short Print - Sabermetric Stats

2014 Topps Update Baseball - All the Dodger Base Cards

Featured here are all of the Dodger base cards found in packs of 2014 Topps Update.  This late-season companion set to Topps flagship Baseball card product was release last week and it shows many of the newly acquired Dodgers added at the end of the season.  It also includes All-Star cards and some rookies.  Go here to check out a complete checklist of the set.

Clearly, the best of the bunch is the Justin Turner card.  Check it out directly below.  What a phenomenal photo for arguably the most impactful player on the team.  I have to consider it one of the best Dodger cards of the year.  The Zack Greinke card, on the other hand, might be the goofiest looking card of the year.  Those All-Star caps look hideous.

BTW, there are a bunch of short-printed Dodger cards available; including sparkle and photo variations.  I'll have pics of all of them to share tomorrow.

#US-67 Scott Van Slyke                          #US-68 Justin Turner

Blog Kiosk: 8/14/2014 - Dodger Links - Ryu's Butt Hurts, Crawford on Fire and McCartney Damaged the Outfield

The Dodgers lost a close one against the Atlanta Braves yesterday, 3 to 2.  Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched well; going 5.2 innings, striking out seven, allowing six hits and three runs.  Unfortunately, he would have to leave the game early due to an injury.   Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Hyun-Jin Ryu leaves game in fifth inning with strained right gluteus muscle."  So... He pulled a muscle in his butt?  How embarrassing.

Via Joe Morgan at MLB.com:

"There's a little concern because it's a new area that's never bothered me before," Ryu said through a translator. "So right now, the only thing I want to do is sleep through and see how I feel tomorrow morning."

Fortunately, according to Alanna Rizzo on twitter, he doesn't feel it's anything serious, but is expected to get an MRI or meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache when the teams goes back to LA at the end of the week, via Dylan Hernandez on twitter.

Of special note, Carl Crawford had another great day at the plate.  He recorded two hits, drove in a run and scored a run.  This was his fourth straight multi-hit game.  I think it is safe to say that he is fully recovered from his most recent injury.  Pic at the top via @Dodgers on twitter.

The Dodgers are now 5.0 games ahead of the Giants - who beat the White Sox earlier in the day.  Now, here are some more links to check out.

• Awesome!  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Cooking Channel to feature Dodger Stadium’s Chef Dave."  During my one stay as a faux reporter in the Dodger pressbox, I had the pleasure of enjoying his food.  I had the pork, and was quite satisfied.
• Aaron Dodger at Inside Dodger Baseball writes, "Kershaw's ready for a pitch-off!"  He links to an ESPN video about Little League pitching sensation Mo'ne Davis who has challenged Clayton.  There's a great video there of Clayton accepting the challenge.
• Via JP Hoornstra at the LA Daily News, "Dodgers’ Dee Gordon is still taking pointers from patient Chone Figgins."

“I don’t know how Figgy did it,” Gordon said. “He’d say stuff like … ‘I didn’t ever hit. I walked and got my hits. You hit and get your walks.’ He’s been just showing me how to do that side of it as well.”

BTW, the Dodgers have asked for unconditional release waivers on Chone Figgins, per their twitter.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Brian Wilson still sees a knuckleball in his future."

“That’s a pitch that I’m just letting the league know that in case one day they’re interested in a starter, I can throw a knuckleball,” he said. “Not to be funny or as a joke – it’s a real pitch. Yeah, I wouldn’t mind starting one day, try that routine out at the professional level. I did it in the minors – I mean, it’s similar, not to the stakes of Major League competition.

He's just weird and competitive enough to be an effective knuckleball pitcher in the future.

• Recently DFA'd reliver Colt Hynes has been claimed, per @Dodgers on twitter:

Minor-league reliever Colt Hynes, whom the Dodgers designated for assignment, has been claimed by the Toronto @BlueJays.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2014

• Another one bites the dust.  Stephen Fife will have Tommy John surgery, via @Dodgers on twitter:

Stephen Fife will undergo ulnar collateral ligament (Tommy John) surgery, to be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles today.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2014

• In light of Scott Schebler's huge day at the plate the other day (3 homers), Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs has some insights on what is happening.

Over his most recent two-game stretch with Double-A Chattanooga, Schebler has produced the following line: 7 PA, 1 BB, 0 K, 4 HR, 5 H. Nor has Schebler’s plate-discipline deteriorated, really: since that initial appearance among the Five, Schebler has produced walk and strikeout rates of 8.0% and 14.0%, respectively — i.e. a considerable improvement over his previously established levels.

• "Damn you, Paul McCartney!" As I shake my fist like a madman.  Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, the McCartney concert did some damage to the centerfield grass at Dodger Stadium.

It seems that the stage on which Sir Paul performed unknowingly damaged the center field grass at Dodger Stadium, prompting stadium grounds crew workers to begin hurried repairs to the field on Wednesday morning for the upcoming homestand with the Brewers, Padres and Mets, which begins on Friday night.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 8/7/2014 - Dodger Links - Masterful Haren and Lasorda with the Navy

Tommy Lasorda visited the USS Anchorage docked in San Pedro yesterday in celebration of Navy Days-LA.  This event is dedicated to the importance of sea power to U.S. national security and promotes the growth and education of the Navy League Pacific Southwest Region’s 24 Navy League Councils and their membership.  Tommy is shown above with Navy personnel, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon of Tommy's visit here.

“It is truly an honor to have Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda as a guest on board the USS Anchorage,” said Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Pete Santos. “Our Sailors and Marines are motivated, dedicated professionals, with virtues of selfless service and devotion to duty.  For them to have some down time and meet a baseball legend such as Mr. Lasorda is motivational and inspiring for these young men and women.”

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

As for last night's game... Wow!  What a doozy.

Dan Haren... DAN HAREN!... was fantastic.  After going through a stretch of over a month of bad games, he came out and pitched a gem.  Heck, it was so perfect he was perfect for over five innings.  Haren was efficient, he kept the hitters guessing and pitched with the kind of finesse he has always been known for.  If he can continue to stick with whatever gameplan he had last night for the remainder of the season, then we should be just fine going down the stretch.  Overall, he went 7.1 innings, gave up just three hits, struck out 4 and walked nobody. 

The bullpen was a little shaky, but that's OK.  At the end, they were able to maintain the lead for Haren's ninth win of the season.  BTW, Kenley Jansen was filthy again.  He started out with some minor control issues, but when he finally figured out his issues he became unhittable.  Jansen finished the game, with the entire stadium standing, by striking out Trout, forcing Pujols to fly out and then striking out Hamilton.  Not too shabby, eh?

Now, here are some more Dodger links to check out.

• ICYMI: Chone Figgins has been DFA's (designated for assignment).  This effectively removes him from the Dodgers 40-man roster.  Figgins can refuse the assignment and become a free agent, or stay in AAA.  He seemed to be a good mentor, especially for Dee Gordon, so maybe the Dodgers can find a way to keep in the family.  Could coaching be in his future?
• Huh.  So, there actually was some kind of ban of the Dodger Bubble Machine, via Chad Moriyama at Dodgers Digest.  And just when I thought that my stupid little post about it yesterday was all just fun and games I find out that it was actually for real... For Reals!?!
• Kent M at Thirty or Something writes, "Searching For Scully."  It's all about his seach for the Vin Scully replica microphone.

Not only does it look cool, the microphone plays Vin-isms at the press of a button.  It is the greatest Dodger tchotchke in the history of Dodger tchotchkies, and as an ardent collector of such tchotchkies, I must have one.

• Via Michael Clair at Cut4, "Kenley Jansen broke physics with a 98 mph ... cutter?!"

A 98 mph cutter that moves more like a slider is not supposed to be possible. And yet here we are. 

• GCRL writes, "There should have been managerial cards in 1994 topps because there were members of the 1978 topps dodgers managing."  GCRL made a bunch of great 1994 fantasy Baseball cards featuring several former Dodgers as managers.  Check it out here.
• Baseball America put together a list of the ballplayers with the best Major League tools in 2014; per a survey of every big league manager.  Check it out here.
• Dre at the It's Always A Good Dre in L.A. Blog shares his birthday tour of Dodger Stadium with all of us.  He also shares photos from his visit to the Dodgers: Brotherhood of the Game exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.
• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA writes about, "Deep Left – The Senior Statesman of the Left Field Pavilion."

“I was definitely at the Coliseum the first year the Dodgers were here because my dad loved going,” said Cooper. “I was 12 so I do have good memories of riding in the car to the Coliseum, although I couldn’t tell you what the first game might have been. I also have a memory of the Roy Campanella night with the matches or the lighters, I remember being there and being awed by the lighters or matches.”

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 5/23/2014 - Dodger Links - Kings Defenseman Matt Greene Laments Not Having Time Warner to Watch his Dodgers

Chone Figgins is an on-base machine.  His current on-base percentage is at a career high .452; primarily because he has walked in nearly a quarter of his plate appearances.  Considering that he hadn't played ball all of last year, he has been surprisingly good as a reserve player.  Photo above is from his opening at-bat last night via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• LA Kings defenseman and resident Dodger fan, Matt Greene doesn't have Time Warner either.  Watch the press interview, here (it's at the end - at about the 8:25 mark), where he mentions that he can't watch his Dodgers. (BTW, you know he's a real fan because he proudly wears a well-worn Dodger cap)  Via a tweet from Jill Painter Lopez of the LA Daily News:

.@lakings defenseman Matt Greene wore dodgers hat to presser. Asked if he watches dodgers on offday, he said: "I would if I had time Warner"
— Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) May 22, 2014

• Tony Blengino at FanGraphs writes, "Quarterly Report: Yasiel Puig is Really Good."

His 2014 numbers are even better than last year’s, which were believed by many to have overly fueled by BABIP. What makes Puig tick, and how good could he eventually get?

• Via Ron Cervenka of Think Blue LA, "Kershaw give Dodger fans a scare after being hit by BP ball."

“I was staring right at him when it happened,” said longtime Dodger fan Will Isabella. “Afterwards he came over to where a group of us were standing and he signed two autographs. I asked him if he was alright and he just smiled and then walked away.”

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider takes a look at Clayton Kershaw and his pursuit of a no-no.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Shoulder Inflammation Sends Ryu to the DL

If recent history is any indication, this move by the Dodgers is just precautionary and not indicative of something worse.  After all, they played it safe by not allowing Greinke to start in Australia and held back Kershaw when he felt something unusual in his shoulder. 

This time, they decide to place Hyun-Jin Ryu on the 15-day disabled list due to some recent left-shoulder inflammation.  It cropped up after his last start, and it uncharacteristically had yet to disappear.  Per a report from Ken Gurnick, they do not have plans for an MRI just yet.

Also, the Dodgers do a little more shuffling by sending down Paco Rodriguez (who was just called up on Thursday) and Red Patterson (who started yesterday as a 26th man), and bring back up Chone Figgins (who was sent down on April 21st) and Jose Dominguez (who was sent down on the 27th).

Per a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled infielder/outfielder Chone Figgins and right-handed pitcher Jose Dominguez, placed left-handed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu on the 15-day disabled list with left-shoulder inflammation (retroactive to April 28), returned left-handed pitcher Paco Rodriguez to Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned right-handed pitcher Red Patterson to Triple-A Albuquerque

Figgins, who will be appearing in his second stint with the club, has played in nine games this season (nine PH appearances), going 1-for-6 with three walks for a .444 on-base percentage. The 12-year Major League veteran was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on April 21 and played in eight games for the Isotopes, batting .280 (7-for-25) with two doubles and three runs scored.

Dominguez returns to the club for his fourth stint this season, having pitched in four games. The hard-throwing was optioned to Albuquerque on Sunday and last appeared in a game for the Isotopes Monday vs. Salt Lake, firing 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. On the season, Dominguez has pitched in four games at Albuquerque, allowing only one earned run in 5.0 innings (1.80 ERA).

There is no word yet on who will take over Ryu's spot on the rotation this coming Sunday, so twitter is filled with speculation.  Some possibilities include Stephen Fife and Zach Lee.  All I do know is that Puig has certainly given Ryu a big hug in hopes it makes him feel better.

(pic above via @Dodgers on twitter)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 4/22/2014 - Dodger Links - Arruebarrena Plays, More Dodger Give-Away Previews and Greinke

This is a great photo of an unfortunate play.  Carlos Ruiz tags out Yasiel Puig between 3rd and home in the 1st inning.  It set a tone for the rest of the game as they would not get another runner to 3rd base.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Dodgers’ SS prospect Erisbel Arruebarrena makes professional debut."
• Here's a peek at the Dodger pennant being given away at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, May 10th against the Giants.  See it on the right.   It has a old-timey kind of look to it.  
• On Tuesday, June 17th the Dodgers are giving away a facsimile autographed Dodger Baseball.  See it on the left, below.  Awesome, right?
  
  
• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider explores, "The crazy rise in strikeouts for the Dodgers."

Dodger pitchers have never struck out more than 1,292 batters in a season, a record set in 2013. This year, they’re on pace for 1,543. And Clayton Kershaw hasn’t pitched in a game since March.

• W.P. Kinsella at ESPN.com tells us all about how his book "Shoeless Joe" became the movie "Field of Dreams."  Hat Tip: Jon Weisman on twitter.

In the novel, the reclusive writer was the real-life J.D. Salinger. Why was he not a character in the movie? The answer involves both moxie and cowardice.

• Jon Chapper at Dodger Insider tells us that the Dodgers are nearing 10,000 total franchise National League wins, and we are either 3 or 16 wins away from it - depending on who you ask.
• Greg Katz at the LAist shares some delectable photos of some of the new foods being offered at Dodger Stadium.  Yummmmm...
• Eno Harris at FoxSports notes that Greinke has always played around with his pitching repertoire in order to stay ahead of hitter.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers name training room after Dr. Jobe."
• ICYMI:  The Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Jose Dominguez from Triple-A yesterday and optioned infielder/outfielder Chone Figgins to Albuquerque.  This is expected to be a short term move, so as to help out an overworked bullpen.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

The Game Within the Game - Was Last Nights Walk-Off Win Due to Defensive Uncertainty

What a fantastic game, eh?

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

The Dodgers won in dramatic fashion as Carl Crawford banged in the game winning run in the 10th inning with a liner down the left field line.  With Chone Figgins on 1st base, the batted ball would have typically meant having Dodgers at both 2nd and 3rd base with Hanley Ramirez at the plate.  Instead, Crawford's hit eluded Tigers outfielder Rajai Davis, and Figgins came around to score the winning run.

That is usually the end of the story.  On the other hand, I wonder if confusion in the outfield along with poor communication from the Tigers bench was the real root of our walk-off victory?

A cursory look of Crawford's spray charts from Fan Graphs seems to indicate that he has an heightened tendency to hit line drives and fly balls to left field against left-handed pitchers.  In fact, based on the grouping (as indicated below) you could argue that your left fielder should play a little closer to the line.  If he had, the Tigers may have been able to escape that inning.

Source: FanGraphs

To emphasize the point, Dodger videographer Bobby Crosby at DodgerFilms makes note of Davis' confusion just prior to Crawford's game winning hit in a video he posted last night.  Check it out below.  Bobby remarks,

"He's constantly looking in the dugout and throwing his arms up like, 'where do I go?'"

Well, he obviously was in the wrong spot, and the Tigers inability to correctly position their left fielder in that instance cost them the game.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/31/2014 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends to Start the Season

The photo above is from the Dodger exhibit at the Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles, pic via Armando Arorizo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Check out more pics here.  Mark Langill at the Dodger Insider wrote a story about the exhibition, here.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Clayton Kershaw to be placed on 15-day DL."  Again, I think this is all about staying on the side of caution.

 "I can't pitch right now, so I'm going to have to take a few extra days," Kershaw said. "It's frustrating. Right now, it's just not getting better fast enough."

• Via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times, "Turns out there is winner for rotation's fifth spot — Josh Beckett ."  Via Don Mattingly,

“We always felt like Josh had the upper hand. But we really didn’t know where the health was going to be, how that was going to go.

• Via Scott Miller at MLB.com, "Ellis appreciates ground swell of support."  AJ was at the plate when the earthquake happened on Friday.

"It felt like the crowd really came to life when I was at the plate," Ellis said Saturday afternoon. "I was like, 'I appreciate that. These guys are really into my at-bat.' "

• Chad Moriyama at Dodgers Insider writes, "Yasiel Puig’s 2014 at the plate, regression, and his late-season ‘slump’"
• David Laurila at FanGraphs writes a bit about the Dodgers biomechanical assessments of Seth Rosin and Withrow's development.

“Once I got Rule 5’d over here, they said they’d watched a lot of video of me,” said Rosin. “They saw an opportunity for me to become more efficient with my body. The process of incorporating those things began at a camp in January, and I’ve continued to work on it since that time.

• Mark Townsend at Big League Stew notes that the Puig team meeting was set up by Yasiel.
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA sums up the whole Figgins vs. Kennedy brouhaha nicely.
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Brian Wilson and the fickle nature of relief".

"I’m not particularly used to having 'one of those nights,'" Wilson said. "Normally, it might have something to do with not making proper pitches. Tonight was about not being able to get ahead in the count, and they took advantage of it. Just forgive and forget." 

• Zach Hample shares his experience at the Australian ballgames.  Go here to check it out.  He has a ton of photos of areas in and around the stadium that I guarantee you haven't seen yet.
• Juan Uribe wore this into the Dodger clubhouse before the game in San Diego, yesterday.  I kid you not!  Via Hanley Ramirez's Instagram.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: March 28, 2014 vs. Angels

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.

--------------------------

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Los Angeles Dodgers
RHP Garrett Richards vs. RHP Zach Lee
Friday, March 28, 2014, 7:10 p.m. | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: SportsNet LA RADIO: AM 570 KLAC (ENG), KTNQ 1020 AM (SPAN)

--------------------------

(Pujols, Mota, Puig and Gonzalez, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

BACK TO SPRING TRAINING: After opening the 2014 Major League regular season with a pair of games against the D-backs in Australia last weekend, the Dodgers returned to exhibition play last night, losing 7-5 to the Angels. The clubs meet again tonight at Dodger Stadium before the series shifts to Anaheim for the Freeway Series finale tomorrow evening. Los Angeles won the Freeway Series last year, 2-1, and then the clubs split their four regular-season meetings, with each club protecting their home field. The clubs will play four times during the regular season this year, two games at Dodger Stadium, August 4-5, and two games in Anaheim, August 6-7.

• The Dodgers open their North American slate on Sunday evening against the Padres on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Los Angeles will also battle the Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday before its home opener on Friday, April 4 at 1:10 p.m. against the Giants.

(At Camelback Ranch, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

LIFE IN THE DESERT: The Dodgers went 6-10-5 during Cactus League play as they matched a Los Angeles record for Spring Training ties set in 2006 (15-13-5). In 12 home dates at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, the Dodgers drew 114,402 fans, with an average crowd of 9,534, their highest average since moving to Arizona in 2009.

HIGH NUMBERS: The Dodgers’ roster will be supplemented by minor leaguers RHP Matt Magill (#36), C Tim Federowicz (#26), RHP Sam Demel (#38), RHP Zach Lee (#64), RHP Red Patterson (#78), C Jose Capellan (96), INF Miguel Rojas (#72), INF Corey Seager (#94), INF Darnell Sweeney (#87), OF Joc Pederson (#65), OF Trayvon Robinson (#90) and LHP Tom Windle (#97).

GONE HOLLYWOOD: For the second consecutive season, the Dodgers will treat their fans to baseball-themed movies after three games – Saturday, April 26 “Field of Dreams” (6:10 p.m. vs. COL), Saturday May 31 “A League of Their Own” (4:15 p.m. vs. PIT) and Saturday, August 16 “The Natural” (6:10 p.m. vs. MIL). These three iconic and family-friendly baseball films will be screened for fans following each game and screenings are free with a game-day ticket. Fans sitting in the right field pavilion and left field pavilion will be invited down to the field postgame for a better viewing experience.

ALL DODGERS, ALL THE TIME: All three of the Freeway Series games will be televised by SportsNet LA, the exclusive new 24/7 TV network of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The network takes fans behind-the-scenes with the team and offers in-depth access to the organization, providing an immersive experience with never-before-seen content and thousands of hours of comprehensive Dodger programming. SportsNet LA will televise more than 140 live, regular-season Dodger games, plus a full slate of original, classic and live studio programming that focuses only on the Dodgers, covering the team in a way that it’s never been covered.

JOB FAIR: Tomorrow, the Dodgers will host their 19th annual Community Job Fair starting at 10:00 a.m. and more than 100 companies will be on hand to meet with members of the Los Angeles community. Last year, more than 5,000 job seekers from throughout Southern California gathered at the stadium to meet potential employers. This year’s Job Fair features training providers, government agencies and employers including: Kaiser Permanente, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Fairplex, Lowe’s and many more. Parking at Dodger Stadium and admission to the job fair is free. Also, free shuttle service into the stadium will be provided from the corner of Elysian Park Ave. and Sunset Blvd. Participants are encouraged to dress in business attire and bring their current resume. 

CHECK IT OUT: Tomorrow, Dodgers: Brotherhood of the Game, a new exhibition exploring the team’s storied past through four players and a Hall of Fame manager, will open at the Japanese American National Museum. Jackie Robinson, Fernando Valenzuela, Chan Ho Park, Hideo Nomo, and Tommy Lasorda—each of whom made history in his own right—will be prominently featured, as will owners Branch Rickey, Walter O’Malley, and Peter O’Malley. The exhibition continues through September 14.

(Bullpen overlook, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodger 2014)

NEW AND IMPROVED!: The latest round of stadium improvements are being unveiled this week, including:

• Expansion of the entries at the field level, with two new 25,000 square-foot plazas in right and left field.  Each plaza houses a 5,000 square-foot new team store, tickets and concessions space, as well as memorabilia to celebrate Dodger history.
• Seating and lounging areas at bars and drink rails overlooking the bullpens in the outfield, giving focus to pitchers warming up, as well as infield game views. 
• Two new restaurants in the outfield entrance plazas; Tommy Lasorda’s Italian Trattoria, in the right-field area of the plaza, and THINK BLUE BBQ in left-field.
• A new public wireless system.
• Sunset Blvd. Gate A, along Elysian Park Avenue, will feature a dedicated pedestrian entrance with new lighting in an effort to encourage fans to utilize parking lots 13 and 14.

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE: MLB’s new instant replay system will be on display for the Freeway Series games as managers will have the ability to challenge one call through the sixth inning (and receive another challenge if successful) and be able to request a review of any play after the seventh inning. Los Angeles had five test runs with the system in Cactus League play.

(Zack Greinke, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodger 2014)

ZACH ATTACK: Minor league right handed-pitcher Zach Lee will make his third start of Cactus League play tonight and posted a 1-0 record with a 5.79 ERA thus far. Lee last started in an exhibition game against Team Australia on March 20 and struck out six, allowing one run on three hits in 4.0 innings, which did not count toward Cactus League stats. The 22-year-old, who was selected by the club in the first round (28th overall) of the 2010 MLB draft, went 10-10 with a 3.22 ERA in 28 games (25 starts) with Double-A Chattanooga last year, ranking among the Southern League leaders in wins (T-9th), innings pitched (142.2, 9th), strikeouts (131, 3rd) and WHIP (1.17, T-3rd).

• Kenley Jansen is scheduled to make his eighth appearance of the spring and has allowed only two hits in 7.0 innings in his previous outings. Jansen earned his first save of the 2014 regular season on Saturday night in Australia after finishing the 2013 campaign with a career-high 28 saves in 32 opportunities and ranked among the NL relief leaders in saves (T-11th), ERA (1.88, 6th), opponents’ batting average (.177, 7th), WHIP (0.86, 2nd) and strikeouts (111, 2nd).
• Also scheduled to pitch today are Jamey Wright, Chris Perez and Chris Withrow.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/26/2014 - Dodgers Links - 2014 Dodger Yearbook Features Vin Scully

Aboce is the cover of the 2014 Dodgers yearbook, and you have to get it.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

(It) celebrate(s) the legendary broadcaster with an unprecedented 21-page section entirely in Scully’s words, discussing his life and career at length, taken from a one-on-one interview conducted in January.

• FYI, Alex Guerrero has been optioned by the Dodgers to AAA Albuquerque in order to make room for Carl Crawford on the roster, via Jon at Dodger Insider.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ryu's injured toenail jumbles pitching plans".

"Yeah, I'm concerned," Mattingly said. "It's not a long-term thing, but it could set us back and make us change the rotation we've been talking about."

• Ken also notes that Matt Kemp might be reactivated soon.  Holy Moly!
• Holy Moly.  That's hilarious.  The Reddit is strong with you.  From the @Dodgers on twitter:

It came in like a wrecking ball -- banana for scale: pic.twitter.com/0QM3lZdVbO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 25, 2014

• Via Eric Stephen on twitter, Puig had a MRI yesterday:

Yasiel Puig did have an MRI exam today that showed no structural damage to his lower back. Day-to-day, expects to workout Wednesday w/team
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) March 25, 2014

• Via Jamey Wright at MLB.com, he recounts his most favorite Opening Day as an opposing pitcher at Dodger Stadium.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Walks don’t stop for Chone Figgins".  His approach reminds me of Jim Gilliam.

“I’ve always been a guy who’s seen pitches, but it’s not that I’m trying to see pitches just to walk,” Figgins said. “I’m more looking in a zone, and if I don’t think it’s in that zone, then I take it. I’m not afraid to hit with two strikes. I’m not trying to hit with two strikes, but I’m not afraid.”

• Via Simon Crerar at BuzzFeed, "Baseball Explained By An Australian (Who’s Never Seen Baseball)".
• 2014 Topps Museum officially comes out on Friday.  Check out a bunch of preview pics on their facebook page, here.  Below are cards of Koufax and Kershaw.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kios: 3/18/2014 - Dodgers Links - Landing in Australia

Here's a pic of Vin Scully entering the plane to Australia, via @MLB on twitter.  Check out even more pics of the Dodger trip and landing from Jon SooHoo, here.  And here are some pics from their first workout at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

• JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers shares a great time-lapse video of the Sydney Cricket Ground transforming into a Baseball diamond.
• Chad Moriyama at Dodgers Digest shares his Top 25 Dodger Prospects.
• The end of an era.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross officially closed the #Dodgers case today, after 995 days.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 17, 2014

• Adam Nodiff at the Baseball Professor writes, "5 Gut Calls On Players Outside Our Top 200," and it includes a prediction about Alexander Guerrero.

Sometimes the absence of seeing a player play gets mistaken for upside. This is not the case here. I have watched Guerrero this spring, and although he doesn’t seem to have a great baseball IQ, the guy can flat out hit for power. As a second baseman with a full season of at bats, I wouldn’t be surprised if he led the position in home runs.

• Howard Megdal at Sports on Earth writes about the improving Dodger farm system in a piece titled, "Young Money".

"I don't think our vision has really changed," (De Jon) Watson told me as we sat in a golf cart on the third base side of a minor league field where many of the prospects in his charge played an intra-squad game on Friday afternoon. "What's really nice is that we've actually invested into the international market. And it's given us a broader player pool to choose from. Whereas before, I don't want to say we were just domestically-I mean, [Vice President of Amateur Scouting] Logan White was doing internationally and domestic-but we just didn't have the resources to really go out and be aggressive on the international market. 

• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com writes, "Figgins, Turner thrilled to join Dodgers".

"It's almost more gratifying than being called up to the big leagues," said Figgins, released twice in the last two years. "The last four years have been hard. I wouldn't say it was life changing, but it makes me appreciate the hard work. I was with my wife when I got the call from my agent, and it was emotional. She's seen me come home the last four or five years, watching video and not playing. Now she sees me smile again."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Dodgers, D-backs enjoy a historic venue".

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/17/2014 - Dodgers Links - Uribe, Figgins and Some Magic Lights

The Dodgers are all packed up and ready to go to Australia.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "One giant leap for Chone Figgins' comeback".

After two dismal seasons in Seattle and one year away from the game, he’s one step away from making the Dodgers’ roster. When Figgins arrived at camp, he said his goal was to get on the plane to Australia. 

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Reminiscing with the ‘Toy Cannon,’ Jimmy Wynn".

“It wasn’t long, but it was playing with some great guys,” Wynn said. “We won the 1974 NL pennant, and I told Walter and Peter O’Malley (before the season), ‘Thank you for getting me. We will the NL pennant.’ I said to myself, ‘Why did I say that? Now you have to go out and prove it.’ So I did it, and I did for the fans and for the O’Malley family.”

• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Julio Urias dominates in first Dodgers’ spring start".

“I felt really happy,” Urias told reporters after his start. “I was under control and not nervous at all.”

• Via Tyler Emerick at MLB.com, "Kershaw wraps up uncharacteristic spring".

"Physically, I feel 100 percent," he said. "It's time to start performing."

• Via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times, "Dodgers waive Javy Guerra as they name 30-man roster for Sydney".
• Roberto Baly at Vin Scully is My Homeboy shares some photos of the Jackie and Mack Robinson in Pasadena.
• Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Ultimate teammate: Uribe provides spark in LA".

"I try every day to help my teammates, my guys," Uribe said Sunday afternoon at Camelback Ranch. "It's what I'm doing every day, all my life. It's important for me to be a good teammate. If I'm not hitting, I can still do something good on defense and help the team win a game that way.

"My first year here [2011], I had two operations. So much happened. I don't want to make excuses, but a bad year is a bad year. Last year I felt good. Now it's a new year, and I want to do better than I did last year. I want to play every day I can. I feel good right now."

• Dodger Penguin shares his afternoon at the Kenny Landreaux autograph appearance.
• Weird Science.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Wary of being weary, Dodgers see the light: Special bulbs designed for NASA should mitigate effects of jet lag in Australia".

"It's a sleep aid for jet lag," said Soler, who also provided the bulbs to the United States Olympic Ski and Snowboard teams in Sochi. "You'd be surprised how well it works."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 9/Road 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.

--------------------------

 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (3-4-1) at LA Angels of Anaheim (3-3)
Thursday, March 6, 2014 – 1:05 p.m. | Tempe Diablo Stadium
RHP Dan Haren (0-0, 4.50) vs. LHP C.J. Wilson (0-1, 13.50)
Spring Game 9/Road Game 5
Television: SNLA/Radio: KLAC

--------------------------

(Tim Wallach, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

I-5 RIVALS: The Dodgers travel to Tempe to face the Angels in the clubs’ only meeting during Cactus League play. The two clubs will square off three more times during the exhibition season in the Freeway Series, March 27-28, in Los Angeles and March 29 in Anaheim, and meet four times during the regular season in early August. Since the advent of Interleague Play, the Dodgers trail 56-40 in the all-time series.

• Two weeks from today, the Dodgers will play Team Australia in an exhibition game at the Sydney Cricket Ground followed by two games against the D-backs in MLB’s Opening Series, March 22-23. Opening Day is just 16 days away!

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE: Don Mattingly and the Dodgers will get their first taste of the new instant replay system today against the Angels in Tempe, as Mattingly will have the ability to challenge umpires’ calls. Los Angeles has a total of five Cactus League games where replay will be used; today, March 11 at Kansas City, March 12 vs. Arizona, March 15 vs. Chicago-AL and March 16 vs. Colorado, and the system will be in place for all three Freeway Series games against the Angels.

• Dodger video coordinator John Pratt will be assisting with the replay process today and during Spring Training from the visiting clubhouse. Pratt is in his third season as the club’s video coordinator after joining the organization in 2011 as the Triple-A Albuquerque video coordinator.

FAMILIAR FACES: Dan Haren will face his former Angels’ teammates today as he makes his second start of the spring after allowing one run on three hits on Saturday against the Brewers. Haren, in his first season with the Dodgers, pitched for the Angels for three seasons from 2010-12, going 33-27 with a 3.52 ERA in 79 games (78 starts) with the club, before spending the 2013 season in Washington.

• Scheduled to make his third 2014 Cactus League appearance today is right-hander Javy Guerra, who has two scoreless outings under his belt (2.0 IP), last pitching on Saturday against the Brewers. Last season, the reliever spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Albuquerque and allowed nine runs (eight earned) in 10.2 innings in nine appearances during his only stint with Los Angeles from April 30-May 30.
• Non-roster invitee Carlos Frias will also take the mound today after allowing one run in his first outing (1.0 IP) a week ago vs. the Diamondbacks. Frias, 24, is coming off an impressive stint with Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, going 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in 15 relief appearances.
• Zack Greinke threw off a mound again today after a mini-bullpen yesterday. Greinke made just four pitches in his only Spring Training appearance on Feb. 27 against the D-backs before suffering a mild right calf strain.

(Guerrero's Grand Slam swing, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY: Los Angeles scored a bounceback win last night with two home runs, a grand slam by Alex Guerrero and a solo shot by Adrian Gonzalez, in a 10-3 victory over the Reds in Goodyear. Gonzalez had two hits, while Mike Baxter (2-for-3, R) and Juan Uribe (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI) also posted multi-hit games in the Dodgers’ 10-hit outburst. Hyun-Jin Ryu picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 4.0 innings, and Matt Magill earned the save, striking out three in 3.0 innings of one-run ball.

HELLO HALOS: Longtime Angel Chone Figgins will face his former teammates today after spending eight years with the Halos from 2002-2009. The 2009 All-Star compiled a .291 batting average with 31 home runs and 341 RBI in 936 games as an Angel before signing with Seattle as a free agent prior to the 2010 campaign. Figgins, who is in the starting lineup today at third base, has made starts at five different positions for the Dodgers this spring; second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field.

PENGUINS IN ARIZONA?: Six-time All-Star Ron Cey made his first appearance of the spring at Camelback Ranch-Glendale today and will serve as a special instructor through Monday. Cey played 12 of his 17 Major League seasons with Los Angeles (1971-81), posting a .261 career batting mark and averaging 25 home runs and 89 RBI per 162 games played.

ROLLING DEEP: The Dodgers will have eight minor leaguers suiting up for today’s game in Tempe: RHP Henry Sosa (#95), RHP Sam Demel (#38), LHP Daniel Moskos (#47), RHP Chris Anderson (#94), OF Jon Garcia (#86), OF Jeremy Hazelbaker (#89), OF Scott Schebler (#90) and INF Darnell Sweeney (#87).

• Chris Anderson will don the Dodger uniform for the first time today after he was selected with the 18th overall pick in last year’s draft out of Jacksonville University. Anderson, who enters the season rated by Baseball America as the Dodgers’ No. 5 prospect, made 12 starts for Single-A Great Lakes in his first professional seasons, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.96 ERA. The 21-year-old limited opponents to a .201 batting average and struck out 50 in 46.0 innings.

(Hyun-Jin Ryu, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA DOdgers 2014)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *