Blog Kiosk: 7/9/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

That was a lot of fun.

last night the Dodgers played a little three-inning intrasquad game at Dodger Stadium and it was glorious. I miss these guys. You can watch the game here.

Photo above of Justin Turner via the Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1996 Dodger catcher Mike Piazza is crowned the All-Star Game MVP. He lead the National League to a 6-0 victory by slugging a solo home run in the 2nd inning and a two-out RBI double in the 3rd inning. You can watch Piazza All-Star highlights and an postgame interview here. In 2011 Juan Uribe broke up a potential no-no with two outs in the ninth inning against the Padres by walloping a double. Then the Dodgers proceeded to win the game, 1-0 (boxscore), on a walk-off single by Dioner Navarro. 
• Happy Birthday, Turner Barber, Fred Johnston & Ray Thomas!

Blog Kiosk: 8/19/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers are obviously trying to prepare rookie hurler Dustin May for some relief pitching -- just in time for the playoffs. Unfortunately, his first attempt yesterday did not go so well. He struggled after coming into the game in the sixth inning with the Dodgers leading 3-1. He would go on to allow three hits; including a grand slam to Rafael Ortega. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I would contribute it mostly to a lack of command,” May said. “A little amped up, a little excited, but you’ve still got to go out and execute. I didn’t execute very well today, for really any pitch. There’s really only room for improvement from here.”
...
“As far as the role, this is something new we didn’t expect to just be seamless,” Roberts said. “Give him an opportunity to learn and get his feet wet. … My faith, my confidence in Dustin hasn’t wavered.”

Photo above via Adam Hagy/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1983 the Dodgers traded for Rangers starting pitcher Rick Honeycutt. As you know, he would go on to have a long career with the franchise. In 1990 Jose Offerman became the first Dodger in franchise history to hit a home run in his very first Major League plate appearance. In 2008 the Dodgers traded for Greg Maddux (for a second time) to help the team during their playoff run. In 2015 the Dodgers traded for "DAD" Chase Utley from the Phillies in exchange for John Richy and Darnell Sweeney. In 2017 the Dodgers received veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson from the Mets for pitcher Jacob Rhame. He would slash just .161/.288/.366/.654 in 36 games for the Dodgers.
• Happy Birthday, Tex Carleton, Lance Cormier, Josh Fields, Chris Capuano and Ron Roenicke!

Blog Kiosk: 11/8/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Awesome! Japan clearly has better mascots than we do. Pic above via NotSWCT on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1990 Darryl Strawberry signed a five-year $22.25 million free agent contract to play for his hometown Dodgers. This was huge news back in the day. Unfortunately, he would not fare well in Dodger Blue. 
• Happy Birthday, John Farrow, Tony Cuccinello, Eric Anthony, Henry Rodríguez, Víctor Álvarez, Darwin Barney, José Offerman, Nick Punto and Yasmani Grandal!

Blog Kiosk: 10/26/2018 - Dodgers Links - Game 3 is Tonight!

Earlier this morning a twitter account dedicated to the history of the Montreal Royals put up the above fantastic 1948 editorial cartoon drawing from the Montreal Gazette (@Royals_46season), and I wanted to share it here. It celebrates the four African-American ballplayers who donned Montreal Blue in the late-40's. BTW, if you love Dodger history I would suggest giving this account a follow.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1950 Walter O'Malley became the ninth president and chief stockholder in the Dodgers franchise. Following the death of team owner John L. Smith (who owned one-quarter of the club) O'Malley navigated a deal where he bought Branch Rickey's share of the club and essentially became a trustee over the Smith family portion to take over majority control.
• Happy Birthday, Doc Newton, Tommy Griffith, Ed Vande Berg, Mark Sweeney& Daniel Coulombe!

Congrats, Quakes! Check Out Some Fantasy Custom Cards in Celebration

Following on the heals of some fantasy cards I made in celebration of the Tulsa Drillers championship victory this past weekend, I now have some Rancho Cucamonga Quakes custom marvels to look through. Check them out below. As you know, they swept the Visalia Rawhide to become the 2018 California League Champions.

Blog Kiosk: 8/7/2017 - Dodgers Links - Weekend Odds and Ends

The Dodgers continue to punish. Last night they recorded their 15th series sweep of the season, and their first ever sweep of the Met's in franchise history. Heck, this year they haven't even been swept themselves. So, despite the numerous injuries that have hampered some of their core (Kershaw, Gonzalez, etc.) they continue to dominate like no other Dodger team ever has.

Photo above of Dave Roberts and Chris Taylor via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1915 rookie Dodger pitcher Ed Appleton committed an error due to a bit of trickery by Cardinals' manager Miller Huggins. While coaching on third base Huggins called for the ball from Appleton as he stepped on the mound. Appleton obliged and tossed the ball, only to see Huggins step aside and see the ball errantly roll on the field. A Cardinal runner then scored a run. In 2003 Eric Gagne tied the single season record for consecutive saves to start the season at 38. It also marked the 46th consecutive regular-season save overall.
• Happy Birthday, Adonis Terry, Tom Drake, Rocky Bridges, José Domínguez & Jose De Leon!

Blog Kiosk: 9/7/2016 - Dodgers Links - AJ Ellis, De Leon, Ethier and the Vin Scully Coin

ICYMI:  The Dodgers recently added a new game giveaway to their schedule, and it commemorates the career of retiring legend Vin Scully.  It will be given out on Saturday, September 24th against the Colorado Rockies, and that is the second to last home game of the regular season.  Check out what it looks like in the graphic above, via @Dodgers on twitter. 

As for the game, the Dodgers won their fourth game in row by taking advantage of Diamondback starting pitcher Shelby Miller, 5-2.  They recorded eleven hits and scored five runs in the 4.1 innings he pitched.  Per Jack Baer and Steve Gilbert at MLB.com:

"We put some at-bats together and got a lot of hits out there, got a lot of baserunners," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I thought it was really good. Jumped on Miller early, stressed him early. It was just a well-played baseball game."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1903 the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) and the NY Giants play a two-stadium, same-day doubleheader.  The first game began at 10:30 AM at Washington Park (Giants won, 6-4), and the second game got underway later that afternoon (Brooklyn won, 3-0).  In 1962 Maury Wills stole four bases against the Pirates to break the modern National League record for stolen bases at 82.  In 2001 Shawn Green broke the Dodger record for home runs in a season at 44.
• Happy Birthday, Willie Crawford!

Blog Kiosk: 7/28/2016 - Dodgers Links - Norris, Scully and AJ Ellis

Never mind the outcome of yesterday afternoons game (which we lost, BTW), I want to focus on an event that happened in the second inning of the game.

With two out and men at the corners, the Dodgers inexplicably tried to pull off a double steal.  I say it was unexpected because standing on first base was the slow-footed AJ Ellis.  During his nine year career, that includes 537 games played, Ellis has never stolen base.  Heck, he's only attempted it four times ever.

(pic via Alanna Rizzo on twitter)

So, when he headed for second base with two outs on the board it was a shocked everyone.  So shocking, in fact, that not only did he steal his very first base, but the runner on third, Joc Pederson, came home to score on an errant throw.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“It was fun to laugh and fun to look in the dugout and see my teammates going nuts,” Ellis said. “I called Marvin Hudson, the second-base umpire, over and asked him if I could have the bag right then. He said, ‘No — you have to wait until in between innings.’

“It’s just fun to have memories with a bunch of guys you have shared history with for so long, so when something like that happens, it’s fun.”

No worries AJ.  Kershaw's got your back.  As we learned, via a tweet from Ken Gurnick, Clayton got a hold of that base and had MLB authenticate it.  You can see it on the right, as tweeted by Alanna Rizzo.  BTW, Ellis did get a steal sign from Dave Roberts.  Via Ken Gurnick and Bill Chastain at MLB.com:

"It was one of those plays where maybe you steal a run, and fortunately it worked out." Per Dave Roberts

The photo at the very top of Ellis stealing second is via Violet Herzfeld/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Violet and Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1991 Expos hurler Dennis Martinez throws a perfect game against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. It is only the 15th perfect game in Baseball history, and the first no-hitter thrown at the stadium by an opposing pitcher.
• Happy Birthday, Freddie Fitzsimmons!

A Final Roundup of Dodger Draftees from Round 3

I thought I'd finish of my series of blog post on the 2016 Draft by passing along a complete list of Dodgers draftees.  As you know, this past Saturday the Dodgers, as part of day three of the draft, selected 30 more players.  Per a Dodger press release:

On the draft’s third and final day, the Dodgers picked eight players with California ties in University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Lincoln (CA) High School pitcher Dean Kremer (14th round), Golden West College and Fountain Valley (CA) High School graduate Dillon Persinger (17th round), California State University, Long Beach pitcher Chris Mathewson (19th round), University of California, Santa Barbara pitcher James Carter (21st round), University of Southern California and Santa Barbara High School graduate Jeff Paschke (22nd round), Texas Tech University and Yuba City (CA) High School graduate Chandler Eden (25th round), Santa Clara University catcher Stevie Berman (31st round) and Chabot College outfielder Cal Stevenson (36th round).

Berman is the son of former UCLA infielder Gary Berman, who was drafted by the Phillies in the 38th round of the 1986 First-Year Player Draft. Darian Tubbs, the 16th round draft pick and an outfielder from the University of Memphis, is the son of former big league outfielder Greg Tubbs, who played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1993.

Overall, the Dodgers appear to be happy with how the draft went.  Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider: