Blog Kiosk: 6/8/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Once again Zach Greinke was dominant on the mound for the Dodgers.  He went 6.2 innings and allowed just one earned run.  Still, the Dodger lost due to a blowup in the later innings.

Much of the blame for can be laid at the feet of the bullpen.  Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com:

"We haven't been nearly as consistent as we were early," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of his bullpen. "We've had some games that we've let get away from us, and we've got find a way to get the ball to [Kenley Jansen]."

Zack added further:

"It makes sense what [the Dodgers] did. Liberatore has been amazing getting lefties out all year," Greinke said. "The matchups made a lot of sense."

Maybe the Dodgers recent troubles out of the 'pen are just the natural doldrums that occur during a long season.  After all, they've been lights out for much of the year, so you have to expect that lulls and valleys will occur from time to time.  Even know this, though, does little to assuage the stress these lapses can have on the fanbase.  Hopefully, the team and the peanut gallery in the stands can weather the storm.

The photo above is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics of yesterday;s game from Jon.  Below are some links to check out:

• BTW, today is the Baseball Draft, and the Dodgers have four picks to make this evening.
• ICYMI:  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers send David Huff outright to Triple-A, lose Sergio Santos to free agency."
• Via Matt Goldman at Beyond the Boxscore, "Andre Ethier is good again."

This season, Ethier's power is back, he's driving in runs again (although his defense is still awful), and it no longer seems that he's destined for an early end to his career. He's on pace for his highest ISO in five years, his best wOBA in seven years, and his best wRC+ and fWAR ever.

• GCRL shares some more Steve Garvey cards in his collection, here.  It includes a whole bunch of different inserts.
• Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Jose De Leon, Cody Bellinger Standout in May Prospect Review."
• Ha!  I remember this.  Via jbox at Gaslamp Ball, "Two Padres who attacked Giants' anti-mascot in 1984 revealed."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 4/16/2015 - Dodger Links - Rachel Robinson, Jimmie Rollins and other News

Last night was, indeed, a special evening at Dodger Stadium.  All of the pomp and circumstance you'd expect from the host of the Civil Rights Game on Jackie Robinson Day was there, but amplified.  After all, it was like a homecoming, of sorts.

Rachel Robinson was there and she was glowing like a beacon of light sprung from the Blue heavens above.  She brought with her a legacy that was born out of an desire to break down the walls that separated us all, and in the process helped change the country in ways unimaginable at the time.

This evening was an sforzando to a coda that is far from ending.  She came to Los Angeles with the reverence of all who attended, and we watched to remember the sacrifices that were made.

The best and possibly most surprising news of the evening was the announcement that a Jackie Robinson statue will soon be erected at Dodger Stadium.  Via Barry Bloom at MLB.com, Rachel said this:

"How do I feel? I've been waiting, waiting for years and years."

It's about time, eh?

The photo above is of Rachel Robinson with Dodger shortstop Jimmie Rollins, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out even more pics from him from last night.  They are fantastic.  Below are some more links to check out:

• Jimmie Rollins wrote a special piece for Sports Illustrated fror Jackie Robinson Day.  Check it out here.  It's titled, "A special day to be a Dodger: What Jackie Robinson Day means to me."

I always thought it was special to be a black player on the Dodgers. I was even a little envious of those guys, especially on Jackie Robinson Day. I used to think how awesome it was not only to wear his number 42 on your back but also his team’s name across your chest, and how that was something I would love to do one day. Being in Philadelphia for so long—14 full seasons—I didn’t think it would ever happen, but it will on April 15. Putting on Jackie’s uniform, in my first season with Los Angeles, will be a powerful moment for me.

He also expressed his excitement at meeting Rachel Robinson, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"The real cool thing for me was that I got to meet Rachel Robinson," Rollins said of Robinson's widow, an active participant in the pregame ceremonies at age 92. "I talked to her and thanked her for everything. It was a real honor."

• Via Chris Lamb at ESPN, "Two who tried out before Jackie Robinson."
• Night Owl Cards proves once again why he is one of the best sportscard... No, strike that... One of the best bloggers in the business.  Check out his fantastic post titled, "'A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives'" here.
• Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "Jackie Robinson remembered in outer space by astronaut Terry Virts."
• Awesome!  In the Belly of the Beast profiles a stereotypical Giants fan known as "The Hipster."
• Via Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports, "Diamondbacks had nothing to do with fan covering up Dodgers blue."  

• Panini released preview pics of the 2015 Elite Baseball set; including the Joc Pederson card on the right.  Go here to check out the other preview photos.
• The Dodgers made a move yesterday to bolster their relief depth, via a recent press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today claimed left-handed pitcher Ryan Dennick from the Reds and designated left-handed pitcher David Huff for assignment. Dennick, who is on the 40-man roster, has been optioned to Double-A Tulsa.

Dennick, 28, has gone 27-31 with 18 saves and a 3.88 ERA in 210 career minor league games (26 starts) in seven seasons and saw his first big league action last season with Cincinnati, appearing in eight games. Dennick has made two relief appearances for Triple-A Louisville this year, allowing three runs (two earned) in 2.2 innings, and was selected by Kansas City in the 22nd round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Tennessee Technological University. 

 BTW, reliever Carlos Frias was recalled to join the Dodgers on the 25-man roster.

Frias, 25, last pitched on Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, picking up the win and allowing three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings against Round Rock. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder made four Cactus League appearances (one start) for the Dodgers this spring, allowing six runs in 8.0 innings, and appeared in 15 games (two starts) for the club last year in his first big league action.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Welcome to the Blue, David Huff!

What a huge oversight on my part.  Veteran reliever David Huff signed a minor league contract in January, and I failed to do the courtesy of making a fantasy Baseball card for him.  For that, I apologize.

To make up for my obvious indiscretion featured above is said card.  I grabbed a photo taken during Spring Training by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 and the 1959 Topps Baseball card design. 

To the surprise of just about everyone, Huff was chosen to fill a spot left open due to a Spring injury to Hyun-Jin Ryu.  I found out via a tweet from Dodger broadcaster Alanna Rizzo:

The #Dodgers announced David Huff will start Tuesday's game.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 13, 2015

Over the past six years David Huff has bounced up and down between the Majors and Minors.  For the most part he has primarily come out of the bullpen, but has made a handful of spot starts.  The last time was in AAA for the Giants last year, and he started two games for the Yankees the year before that.  I think it's fair to say that tonight's game will be a bullpen game.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN:

"I'm just going to try to go as long as I can until my body literally hurts, but obviously, injury-free," Huff said.

You gotta love that enthusiasm.

UPDATE: via a Dodger press release, Darwin Barney has been options to AAA to make room for Huff.

The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of left-handed pitcher David Huff from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned infielder Darwin Barney to Triple-A. Huff, 30, will make his Dodger debut as tonight’s starting pitcher against the Seattle Mariners.

Huff, who will wear No. 54, last pitched on Thursday for Oklahoma City against Round Rock, allowing one run on three hits in 3.0 innings of relief in a 50-pitch appearance. He was a non-roster invitee for the Dodgers at Spring Training and went 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in six games (three starts).

Below are his career statistics, via Baseball-Reference:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 4/10/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic Wide World press photo, dated June 22, 1956, that I ran into on eBay.  It features Roy Campanella and Don Zimmer posing for the camera after both had a big day at the plate.  The caption attached to the reverse is below:

"REDBIRDS WERE THEIR TARGET.  Slump-ridden Roy Campanella, left, and shortstop Don Zimmer whoop it up in the dressing room June 21 after their work at bat brought a 9-8 win to the Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals in night game at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, N.Y., Campy drove in six runs with a pair of homers, the second one with two aboard in ninth to tie up the game.  Zimmer's third hit of the night after he replaced injured Pee Wee Reese drove in the winning run."

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Fifth-starter candidates Baker, Huff work in Minors."  With Ryu on the DL the Dodgers will need a spot starter next week.
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "De Leon near perfect as Quakes take season opener."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "With Adrian on HR tear, Green reflects on day he hit four."

"That day, and that week, I had a very calm sense of being in the zone," Green said. "As opposed to other times, when you're in the zone and you almost start pressing because you don't want to waste that great feeling you have. When that happens, in some ways you feel more pressure when you're in that zone. But for that week, I was just very relaxed. Everything slowed down. All the clichés."

• Jim Callis at MLB.com, "Where the Dodgers' top 30 prospects are starting the season."
• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Dodgers’ prospect Jharel Cotton out 2-3 months with broken wrist."
• Just for posterity, here's a look at the Opening Series Playbill given to fans attending the recent Padres series, via @DodgerInsider on twitter.  Check it out on the right.
• Via Michael McKnight and L. Jon Wertheim at Sports Illustrated, "The tragic extent of Monique and Milton Bradley's violent relationship."  This is both harrowing and disturbing.
• Here is a large GIF collection of Babe Ruth playing Baseball. 
• Fascinating stuff.  Via Peter Morris and Stefan Fatsis at Slate.com, "Baseball’s Secret Pioneer."  They tell us all about a ballplayer from the late 19th century who appears to be the first black player in major league history.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 18 / Road Game 9

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(8-3-6) at Oakland Athletics (10-7-1)
Friday, March 20, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Hohokam Stadium

LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 2.16) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (1-0, 5.68)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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

MESA MADNESS: The Dodgers, who have the Cactus League’s best winning percentage at .727,  travel to Mesa to take on the Athletics in the second and final meeting of the spring between the two clubs following Los Angeles’ 10-5 win in Glendale on Monday. The teams, who haven’t met during the regular season since 2012, will have a home-and-home, two-game series during the regular season, in Los Angeles July 28-29 and in Oakland Aug. 18-19.

• A split-squad of Dodgers that includes Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner, Alex Guerrero, Darwin Barney, Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson among others, traveled to San Antonio last night and will take on the Rangers this evening at the Alamodome. The pitching matchups for the two-game Big League Weekend series feature left-hander Erik Bedard for the Dodgers against Texas right-hander Anthony Bass tonight, followed by RHP Zack Greinke vs. RHP Anthony Ranaudo tomorrow afternoon.

NICE TIE: The Dodgers established a record with their sixth tie of the spring yesterday, tying the Angels, 7-7, at Camelback Ranch. Los Angeles pounded another 11 hits, including a three-run homer by Alex Guerrero, to raise his spring batting average to .400. Andre Ethier and Justin Turner both posted multi-hit games in the victory, as Turner hit safely for the eighth consecutive game and is now hitting .423 this spring. Brett Anderson lasted just 1.2 innings in his third start of the spring, allowing three runs on seven hits in a no-decision.

• Yesterday marked the Dodgers’ sixth consecutive game with double-digit hits as the club raised its cumulative batting average to .271 in 17 games this spring.

  

  (Guerrero 3-run home run, via Dodgers on tumblr)

OH HAPPY DAY!: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to Pat Corrales, who turns 74 today! Corrales is in his third season with the Dodger organization as a special advisor to the GM following a nine-year MLB playing career and a nine-year run as a big league manager.

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who celebrated his 27th birthday yesterday, will make his fourth start of the spring today after allowing one run on four hits in 3.1 innings in his last start, Sunday at Seattle. Kershaw has faced the A’s twice in his career, in 2009 and in 2012, allowing just one run and striking out 15 in 13.2 innings (0-0, 0.66 ERA).

• LHP J.P. Howell is expected to make his fourth appearance of the spring today, last pitching 0.2 innings on Tuesday against the Rangers.
• RHP David Aardsma, who last pitched on Tuesday against the Rangers, is expected to make his fifth appearance of the spring today.
• LHP Adam Liberatore has struck out four in 5.0 scoreless innings in five Cactus League outings, last pitching on Wednesday against the Cubs.
• Kershaw will bat ninth today as Dodger pitchers hit for themselves for the first time this spring. Last year, Kershaw hit .175 with his first-career triple and three RBI, while Dodger pitchers combined to lead the National League with both a .163 batting average and a .207 on-base percentage.
• Kershaw and Howell, along with Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson, will be featured on a special “Connected With…the Pitching Staff,” which debuts tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. PT on SportsNet LA.

(Clayton Kershaw, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Today marks the first day of exhibition games for Dodger minor leaguers as the club’s Triple-A and Double-A teams take on the Rangers at Camelback Ranch. The Single-A clubs begin games on Sunday.

NEWEST DODGER: Congratulations to Lisa and David Huff on the birth of a son, Ethan Thomas Allen Huff, yesterday! Huff’s next start has been pushed back to Sunday, with Chad Gaudin taking the hill Saturday against Colorado at Talking Stick.

RYU UPDATE: On Wednesday, Dodger left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu reported feeling tightness in his left shoulder, similar to the discomfort he experienced last season, and after consulting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, he elected to have an inflammation-reducing injection. Ryu will not throw for three days and his next step will be determined at that time. Ryu pitched 3.0 innings on Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, and has tossed 5.0 innings this spring.

ROSTER UPDATE: Yesterday, the Dodgers reassigned RHP Ben Rowen to minor league camp.  Including Brandon Beachy and Chris Withrow, who are on the 60-day disabled list, the Dodgers have 43 players remaining in big league camp.

* 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(4-1-3) vs. Chicago Cubs (0-6-1)
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Sloan Park

RHP Zack Greinke (0-0) vs. LHP Jon Lester (0-0)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

Here’s your lineup for today’s game against the Cubs. Oh and Julio Urias is expected to pitch, too. Is it 1:05 yet? pic.twitter.com/BxlEtpadHc
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 11, 2015

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

(Ryu, Guerrero & Uribe, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HEATING UP: The Dodgers enter today’s contest in Mesa unbeaten in their last seven games (4-0-3), playing to a 2-2 tie yesterday against Colorado, and take on the Cubs in the first of two Cactus League games between the clubs. Los Angeles won the season series over Chicago last year, 4-3, and will play six regular-season games against the Cubs, June 22-24 at Wrigley Field and Aug. 28-30 at Dodger Stadium.

(Ferrell & Jeong, via Jon SooHoo)

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY: Tomorrow, actor and comedian Will Ferrell will be suiting up for 10 MLB teams throughout the day – including the Dodgers – to benefit cancer charities. Ferrell is honoring the 50th anniversary of Bert Campaneris playing all nine positions in one game, in 1965, and will play all nine positions (and DH) during the course of the day in the following Cactus League games tomorrow: Mariners at Athletics, noon; Cubs at Angels, 1:10 p.m.; Reds at D-backs, 2:10 p.m.; Giants at White Sox, 4:05 p.m.; Dodgers at Padres, 6:15 p.m. Ferrell’s efforts are part of a special for HBO airing later this year in collaboration with MLB Media and the production team at Funny Or Die. HBO is donating proceeds to Cancer for College, and MLB is raising additional money for that cause in addition to Stand Up To Cancer through the auction of game-used, autographed gear and equipment featured throughout this one-of-a-kind project. Ferrell will be pitching for the Dodgers, playing the outfield for the Padres and umpiring during tomorrow night’s contest, which will air on SportsNet LA and MLB Network.

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

A NICE SELECTION OF TIES: The Dodgers played to a 2-2 tie with the Rockies yesterday, with Clayton Kershaw allowing one run on three hits in 3.0 innings in his second start of the spring and Joe Wieland (2.0 IP), David Aardsma (1.0 IP), Paco Rodriguez (1.0 IP, 3 K) and Pedro Baez (1.0 IP) all tossing scoreless relief. Scott Schebler blasted a game-tying solo homer in the eighth inning, his fourth extra-base hit of the spring, and has posted a .429/.429/.857 slashline in six Cactus League games. 

• The Dodgers have committed just three errors through their first eight Cactus League contests.
• Los Angeles pitchers have combined to post a 3.38 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .205 batting average this spring, striking out 60 and walking only 17 in 72.0 innings.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Zack Greinke, who was given a lubricating injection in his right elbow on Feb. 19, will make his first start of the spring today. The 2014 Gold Glover and All-Star posted a career-high 17 wins last year, ranking among the NL leaders in wins (17-8, T-5th), innings pitched (202.1, T-11th) and strikeouts (205, T-5th) in 32 starts.

• LHP David Huff is expected to make his second appearance of the spring today after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings in a start against the Mariners last Friday. The UCLA product combined to go 4-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 46 relief appearances with the Yankees and Giants in 2014.
• 18-year-old LHP Julio Urias will make his second appearance of the spring today after striking out two in 1.2 innings of work in Friday’s win over the Brewers. In 2014, Urias was selected to the World Team for the XM All-Star Futures Game, becoming the youngest-ever player to participate in the contest at the age of 17.
• LHP Chris Reed is also expected to see action today after giving up one run on two hits in 2.0 innings of work on Friday. The Dodgers’ top pick in the 2011 draft has limited opposing hitters to a .247 batting average during the course of his minor league career, including a .220 mark against left-handers.
• RHP Chris Anderson is expected to appear in today’s game after pitching 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in his first action of the spring on Friday against the Mariners. Anderson led the Single-A-California League with 146 strikeouts in 134.1 innings in 27 games (25 starts) in 2014 with Rancho Cucamonga.
• RHP Zach Lee will make his second appearance of the spring today after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings and recording the win in last Friday’s game against the Brewers. The former first-round draft pick has a 32-25 record and a 4.16 ERA in 105 career games (101 starts) in four minor league seasons in the Dodger Organization.

ON THE DOTTED LINE: Yesterday, the Dodgers reached agreements with all their players with 0-2 years of service time: Pedro Baez, Austin Barnes, Mike Bolsinger, Daniel Coulombe, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Hatcher, Kiké Hernandez, Zach Lee, Adam Liberatore, Joc Pederson, Chris Reed, Paco Rodriguez, Scott Schebler, Scott Van Slyke and Chris Withrow.

(Tommy Lasorda signing, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *