Blog Kiosk: 5/29/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers lost last night, 7-3, so let's not dwell on that. Instead, we should accentuate the positive... like, Will Smith's fantastic debut. He singled in his first at-bat, recorded a double in the seventh and threw out a baserunner in the sixth. Best yet, his at-bat walk-up song was exactly what you would guess it would be (watch it here). Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“Just looked composed,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It was exciting to see him get his first Major League hit … legs out a double, just squared up the ball all night. and he was taking some tough pitches to get in hitter’s counts. … You would never have guessed watching him tonight that it was his first Major League game.”

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2019. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1905, according to legend, Dodger hurler Elmer Stricklett introduces Baseball to the spitball -- beating the Giants, 4-3. Of course, this is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. Although, many do credit Stricklett with being one of the first -- having built a reputation for throwing the pitch much earlier in his career on the west coast. In 1957 tough-talking New York Mayor Robert Wagner, following the leagues announcement allowing the Dodgers and Giants to leave New York, states that the city will not be "blackjacked" into doing a deal. In 1980 Dodgers starter Bob Welch throws a one-hit shutout to defeat the Braves, 3-0. He faced the minimum of 27 batters in the game. In 1983 Dodger reliever Steve Howe is readmitted to a drug treatment center after suffering a relapse from his cocaine addiction.
• Happy Birthday, Phil Gallivan, John Kennedy, Eric Davis, Trever Miller & Jerry Hairston!

Blog Kiosk: 4/2/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

ICYMI, the Dodgers received their 2017 National League Pennant rings over the weekend. Above is a look at those rings. Per a Dodger press release:

“We’re proud to present our players, coaches and members of the Dodger organization with these one-of-a-kind rings as we celebrate our 2017 National League championship season,” said Lon Rosen, Dodger Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer. 

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1972 47-year old Dodger great Gil Hodges dies of an heart attack. In 2008 Dodgers coach Larry Bowa is ejected from the game for not staying within the boundaries of the coaching box. He is given a three-game suspension for "inappropriate and aggressive conduct," in which he had to be restrained by manager Joe Torre and bench coach Bob Schaefer. As background, Mike Coolbaugh, first base coach for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, was killed the year prior from a batted ball that struck him in the temple while coaching. You can watch the ejection here.
• Happy Birthday, Hughie "Ee-Yah" Jennings, Don Sutton, Reggie Smith & Mike Kekich!

Blog Kiosk: 9/11/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I am sorry to report that legendary scout Mel Didier has past away, per a tweet from Bob Nightengale. He was 90. As you may know, Mel was the man who wrote the scouting report that Kirk Gibson depended on during the Dodgers thrilling Game 1 walk-off victory. You can check out an excerpt of that report in the photo at the very top, made available via Josh Suchon on twitter. It says, pertinently:

*Like to "backdoor" slider to LH hitters with 3-2 count. 

Below are more links to checkout:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1998 Kevin Malone is named the Dodgers GM, replacing Tommy Lasorda. In 1983 RJ Reynolds squeezed home Pedro Guerrero in the ninth for an improbably walk-off victory against the Atlanta Braves.  The Dodgers scored four runs in the ninth to win. Tommy Lasorda called his decision to call for the squeeze his most "daring" of his career. 
• Happy Birthday, Con Daily, Frank Kitson & Eddie Miksis!

Blog Kiosk: 9/29/2016 - Dodgers Links - Urias, Kershaw and an Congressional Resolution for Vin Scully

Check out an fantastic candid press photo found in the current RMY auction above.  It features an obviously dejected Dodger manager Burt Shotton (left) being consoled by team president Branch Rickey (right) after being defeated by the New York Yankees in the 1947 World Series.  It was taken by local New York photographer Bill Meurer.  Go here to check it out.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1966 Sandy Koufax struck out 13 Cardinals' batters to become the first pitcher to record three 300-strike out seasons since Amos Rusie in 1892.  In 1976 Tommy Lasorda is named the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  In 1979 Manny Mota set a Major League record with his 146th career pinch hit at Dodger Stadium against the Chicago Cubs.  In 2000 Gary Sheffield tied the Dodgers franchise mark for home runs in a season at 43.  He hit is against the Padres in San Diego. 

Blog Kiosk: 6/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Six Wins in a Row!

What's happening?!

All of the sudden the Dodgers are getting all the breaks.

It started innocently enough when in the first inning Chase Utley scored his 1,000th career run on a wild pitch to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.  Via Jack Baer at MLB.com:

"It's a cool accomplishment. I've been fortunate to be on a lot of good teams. They could swing the bat, constantly driving guys in. It's really more of a team accomplishment than an individual accomplishment."

Then, with the game tied at two in the top of the fifth inning, a game of pickle inside of a circus suddenly showed up on the field.  Nationals pitcher Joe Ross hit a high pop fly to the first base side that saw three Dodgers fielders converge towards the right field stands.  Utley got to the ball first, but was only able to haphazardly swipe at it with his glove.  Fortunately, he deflected it towards a charging Adrian Gonzalez.  It bounced off AGone's leg, barely missing the grasp of his left hand and fell towards the ground between his feet.  Then, with the reflexes of a jaguar, Adrian grabbed the ball with his glove just inches before bouncing on the dirt.  Wow!  Go here to watch a video of the catch.

Remarkable, eh?   Obviously the Baseball gods were not going to let the Dodgers lose this game.  With them down by a run in the ninth and the tying run on first base, Yasiel Puig hit a sharp ground ball through the middle that was misplayed by the centerfielder.  This crucial error resulted in a Little League-styled inside-the-park walk-off home run victory.  Watch it here.  You can listen to Puig talk about the bizarre ending here.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"I was ready for the hit, and nobody thought that the ball would go through," Puig said through an interpreter. "So when I did see the ball go through, I had to talk to my hamstring so I can figure out how far I could go on the bases."

All the photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1930 the Dodgers record twelve consecutive hits against the Pirates during the sixth and seventh innings.  This includes two home runs being hit by Babe Herman. In 1956 Don Zimmer is hit in the face with a pitch; breaking his cheekbone.

2016 Draft - A Look at the Cards for Draftees Peters, Smeltzer and Robinson

Over the past few days I shared pics of some of the cardboard that already exist for two of our early draft picks - Gavin Lux (1st round pick) and Jordan Sheffield (3rd round pick).  See those post here and here.  I now take a look at some of the cards and memorabilia available for three more prospects who were drafted within the first ten rounds.   Below are some collectibles for DJ Peters (4th round pick), Devin Smeltzer (5th round pick) and Errol Robinson (6th round pick).  If I failed to include any other cards of these players please let me know.  Also, I am not aware of any more cards being available for anyone else drafted by the Dodgers in the top ten rounds.

The first player I take a look at here is outfielder DJ Peters.  As indicated recently, he has already signed a contract to play for the Dodgers.  Per WNC at KOLO TV/ABC8: 

"It was a very exciting time for me to share with the people that mean the most to me," Peters said. "I'm just grateful I got my name called because most kids don't get to hear that. I'm really happy with the spot where I went; that's something I'll never forget."

Very few players wind up being selected by their favorite team. Peters has bled Dodger blue since early childhood, attending as many games as he could.

"I can't wait to get in there in that organization and impact them with my tools and the way I play the game of baseball," Peters said. "I'll keep on working. Signing isn't when all the work stops; it's when the work begins."

I think I love this kid already!  

D.J. Peters

2013 Leaf Perfect Game

Base Card

#266 D.J. Peters

Blog Kiosk: 6/11/2016 - Dodgers Links - Smeltzer, Montas and Trayce Thompson

Justin Turner came up clutch in the ninth inning of last nights game against the Giants.  He belted a home run to win the game for the Dodgers.  Via Rick Eymer and Chris Haft at MLB.com:

"Just trying to get on base," said Turner, whose fifth homer of the season gave the Dodgers their 12th victory in 18 games. "Sometimes when you simplify things, bigger things happen."

For his part in the victory, Clayton was magnificent.  He went eight innings, walked none, allowed five hits, two runs and struck out thirteen to win his ninth game of the season.

"We got big plays all the way around," Kershaw said. "It was a fun game to play in. You know it's a big game but that shouldn't affect you one way or another. You try to pitch the same no matter what."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1957 Roy Campanella hit his 237th career home run as a catcher to set a new NL record.  In 1972 both Willie Davis and Manny Mota would hit inside-the-park home runs against the Pirates at Dodger Stadium.
• Happy Birthday, Mike Davis and Odalis Perez!

Take a Look at the Dodgers Picks at 4 thru 10 - Welcome to the Blue!

On the second day of the 2016 Draft the Dodgers selected eight players between rounds three to ten.  Below is a short synopsis on the players taken from rounds four to ten.  You can check out my report on 3rd Round pick Dustin May here.

It should be noted that two of the players below, to go along with the Dodgers #1 pick Gavin Lux, are shortstops.  This is not to say that the Dodgers are looking to replace the current officeholder at the position, Corey Seager.  Instead, drafting is all about getting the best athletes possible.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“The theory is that looking throughout the history of the draft and how athletes develop and age, when they’re athletic enough to play shortstop, it’s a pretty good recipe — as they age and get older and their skills develop and their bodies go forward or backwards — they can usually play other positions,” Gasparino said. “So many players today who are left fielders or right fielders, third basemen, second basemen, started out as shortstops. If you can start there, it’s a lot easier to transition to other places on the field, and gives you more avenues of versatility that way.”

In other words, this isn’t the NBA. With development such a long, protracted process in baseball — and almost no such thing as a quick fix — the overwhelming tendency is to take the player with the greatest potential, regardless of what the current Major League roster looks like. If the worst-case scenario is the Dodgers have multiple quality shortstops, they’ll live with that.

In Jon's story he also shares some quotes from Billy Gasparino about the eight players taken today, and I've included them in the below writeups.

4th Round Pick

D.J. Peters

DJ Peters is a 6' 5" tall outfielder who played this past season at Western Nevada Community College.  Peters, a 20-year-old outfielder from Glendora, CA, set records for Western Nevada College in batting average (.419) and home runs (16) this season.   The Region 18 Player of the Year posted a .419/.510/.734 slashline and became the first Wildcat to hit above .400 in a season.  You can follow him on twitter here: @8Peters.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“He’s just an uber-talented outfielder with tons of tools and upside, and big power. He came to our workout at Dodger Stadium and was launching balls into the stands and throwing well and running well, just really a physical freak in some ways.”

Below are more stories and reports worth checking out: