Blog Kiok: 10/17/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I thought I would begin the day with this -- a pie covered Cubs fan at the LA Kings game on Sunday. Per NHL.com:

When the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the National Legaue Championship Series, Bailey, the LA Kings mascot, was ready to celebrate. 

In what appeared to be an obviously staged but still funny stunt, Bailey sought out a "Cubs fan" in the crowd, decked out in a Cubs shirt and hat, and promptly smashed a celebratory pie in the fan's face.

I had tickets to this game (I've got season tickets up in the rafters -- Die Hard Seats), but elected to opt out so that I can focus all of my attention on the Dodger game. Given what I've heard about the Kings crowd that day and the fun little incident highlighted above, I now regret it. You can watch the pie-facing here.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1978 the Yankees defeated the Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series to win their second consecutive title. In 1981 the Dodgers defeated the Montreal Expos in Game 4 of the NLCS at Olympic Stadium, 7-1.  Steve Garvey hit a two-run homer in the eighth to break a 1-1 tie, then the Dodgers scored four more runs in the ninth to run away with it.  They are tied at two games a piece in the series with a deciding Game 5 two days later.
• Happy Birthday, Pop Dillon, Mike Sandlock, Johnny Klippstein & Jim Gilliam!

Blog Kiosk: 4/20/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Clayton Kershaw is a focused and intense beast when he's pitching, and usually this is a plus. Last night though, you have to wonder if his feelings towards the gamesmanship by Rockies starter Tyler Anderson might have boiled his blood too high. In last nights postgame press interview he said:

Yhea that was uh... that was one of the more disrespectful things I've been a part of in a game. I really didn't appreciate that.

The games start was delayed when Anderson finished his pregame warmup behind schedule and then he proceeded to nonchalantly walked back to the dugout. Kershaw, as intense as ever, had his routine knocked off balance, and as a result experienced a shaky first inning. The Rockies got their first three batters on base to load them up. Fortunately, they could only get one runner across the plate.

Now, I'm not saying that one thing absolutely lead to another, but you do have to wonder if his intensity got the better of him. Nevertheless, he was able to right the ship quickly, and lead his team to a 4-2 victory. Kershaw went seven innings with ten strike outs, one walk and only two earned runs.

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

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1999 the Dodgers surpass the 100 million mark in attendance at Dodger Stadium. In 2011 it is announced that MLB will be taking over the operations of the Dodgers due to concerns over the finances of team owner Frank McCourt. 
• Happy Birthday, Don Mattingly, Germany Smith, Pat Hannivan, Dave Bancroft, Hal Peck, Tom Hutton, Todd Hollandsworth & Ian Thomas!
  

Blog Kiosk: 5/14/2016 - Dodgers Links - Haren, Erskine and Baseball Voodoo Helps Puig

Ballplayers will go to just about any length to get their bats going right.

Case in point, check out the photo above tweeted by Yasiel Puig.  It features a reverent Kiké Hernández standing over his bats.  Puig wrote (likely Kiké wrote):

Electric stim machine for treatment on bats. Trying to extract hits. Puig's bat is next.

I say, do whatever works.  BTW, Kiké also Instagrammed the following:

Kids; make sure that if there's something wrong with your body, you let a trainer know. I learned the hard way, but now my bats are getting treatment and they should be better in the upcoming days! Thanks to everybody for the prayers and good wishes! Love y'all!

So, what happened?  Did the voodoo work?  Why yes, it did!  Yasiel broke out after just having three hits over the past 24 at-bats.  Last night he recorded three hits; including a run scoring single and a home run in the sixth inning.  No doubt, Kiké Hernández's magic worked out.  Via a follow up tweet by Puig after the game:

I think the electric stim machine gave result thanks @kikehndez for the idea

Go here to check out a bunch of pics from yesterdays game from Jon SooHoo.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela improved his season record to 8-0 with a complete game victory over the Expos at Dodger Stadium.  In 2011 the Dodgers, for the first time since 1914, were defeated after giving up only one hit.  Chad Billingsley gave up a double in the second inning to Stephen Drew of the Diamondbacks; who eventually scored on a failed pick-off play at second.  Jamey Carroll had forgotten to cover the base, so the throw went into centerfield.

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.

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Blog Kiosk: 4/8/2014 - Dodgers Links - Dr. Jobe's Memorial at Dodger Stadium, AJ to have Surgery and Kenley Jansen's Fastball

Dr. Frank Jobe's Memorial Service was held at Dodger Stadium yesterday.  Featured above is Vin Scully opening up the ceremony.  Pic via @Dodgers on twitter.  An AP report of the event at the LA Times is here.  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider shares his report here; including video.  You can check out a bunch of photos from Jon SooHoo here.

• Dave Cameron at FanGraphs writes, "A Thing Maybe Worth Noting: Kenley Jansen’s Velocity."

Yes, that top line is correct: PITCHF/x has already classified more 97+ mph pitches from Kenley Jansen this year than it did all of last year. Maybe more staggering is the cumulative percentage of the top three lines; of his pitches greater than 90 mph this year, 51% of them have been recorded at 95.0 mph or faster, compared to just 7.2% last year. 

• Mark Langill at Dodger Insider writes about, "Mickey Rooney’s Dodger Stadium show."  As you may know, Mickey Rooney passed away this weekend.  RIP, Mickey Rooney.
• Are you kidding me?  AJ Ellis to have surgery today, via a @Dodgers tweet last night.  I suspect Tim Federowicz will be back.  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider has mroe information here.

 

#Dodgers catcher AJ Ellis is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for a meniscus tear tomorrow morning in Los Angeles.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 8, 2014

AJ responded thusly:

Blown away yet unsurprised by support of @Dodgers fans. Have total confidence in Dr.ElAttrache and Med Dept to have me back on field ASAP
— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) April 8, 2014

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Like Ausmus, Ellis seems like future manager."

“I love the mental side of the game, the strategic part of the game,” Ellis said. “I love having conversations after the game, just learning from Don Mattingly and Tim Wallach and Rick Honeycutt and just trying to devour as much about this great game of baseball as I can.” 

• I don't want to get too excited here, but I think Matt Kemp is back.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Matt Kemp: 'That's my swing right there'."

"My second home run, that's when I know I'm hitting the ball good, when I'm going to right field," Kemp said. "That's my swing right there."

• Via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, "Former Dodger Raul Mondesi says Yasiel Puig reminds him of himself."

“He’s still young,” Mondesi said. “People make mistakes when they start playing that young.

“They have to let him develop without putting too much pressure on him. Little by little, he’ll get to where he has to get and he’ll help the team win a lot of games.”

• Topps 2014 Gypsy Queen official goes live on Wednesday.  Check out a bunch of preview pics from Topps facebook page, here.  Check out a couple of Dodger cards below.

• Matthew Glidden at Number 5 Type Collection shares a card of Brooklyn Dodger Larry French from a 1975 TCMA set.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 10/Home 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.

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 Texas Rangers (2-5-1) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (3-4-2)
Friday, March 7, 2014 – 1:05 p.m. | Camelback Ranch – Glendale
RHP Zach Lee (0-0, ---) vs. LHP Martin Perez (0-0, 4.50)
Spring Game 10/Home Game 5
Television: SNLA/Radio: KLAC

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(Hanley's Hands, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

DOING IT BIG: The Dodgers play host to the Texas Rangers this afternoon in the first of two meetings this spring. The other matchup comes tomorrow, when Los Angeles will send a split squad to Surprise at 1:05 p.m. The two clubs last met in the regular season in 2009 and the Dodgers are 11-9 all-time against the Rangers.

• In just 13 days (Wow!), the Dodgers 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 15 days away!

HONORING A LEGEND: Yesterday, the Dodgers were saddened to announce the passing of Special Advisor to the Chairman Dr. Frank Jobe, who was 88 years old. Jobe is survived by his wife, Beverly, four sons—Christopher, Meredith, Cameron and Blair—their spouses and eight grandchildren. Jobe, who began his association with the Dodgers in 1964, made medical history in 1974 when he performed what is now termed “Tommy John surgery.” Jobe took over the full-time care of the Dodgers in 1968 and was named a Special Advisor to the Chairman in 2008. Said John: “Baseball lost a great man and Tommy John lost a great friend. There are a lot of pitchers in baseball who should celebrate his life and what he did for the game of baseball.” Today at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers will honor Dr. Jobe with a moment of silence.

(Scott Van Slyke's Grand Slam Swing, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

NICE WORK, JOHN PRATT: Yesterday, the Dodgers had their first taste of the new instant replay system and it was a success as far as results are concerned. Angels’ outfielder Mike Trout tripled to center field in the first inning and was thrown out at home plate trying to stretch a triple into a home run on a great relay from Yasiel Puig to Hanley Ramirez to A.J. Ellis. After looking at the play on a television feed, crew chief Gerry Davis upheld his initial “out” call and history was made. The replay system will be utilized this season for the first time and is being tested in Cactus League play during various Dodger games, including March 11 at Kansas City, March 12 vs. Arizona, March 15 vs. Chicago-AL and March 16 vs. Colorado.

• Dodger video coordinator John Pratt will be assisting with the replay process 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.

THE GENERAL: Dodger right-hander Zach Lee will make his first appearance of the spring today against the Rangers. Lee, who has been slowed by a lat strain the last few weeks, went 10-10 with a 3.22 ERA in 28 games (25 starts) for Double-A Chattanooga last season. The Texas native was the Dodgers’ first-round draft selection (No. 28 overall) in 2010.

• Dodger reliever and newly-minted knuckleballer Brian Wilson will make his third spring appearance today after firing scoreless innings on Feb. 27 and March 4. Last year, Wilson joined the Dodger bullpen in late August and went 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA (1 ER/13.2 IP) in 18 appearances. For good measure, he tacked on 6.0 scoreless frames and a victory in the 2013 postseason as well.
• The rest of the Dodger pitchers will feature a “who’s who” of the big league bullpen as closer Kenley Jansen, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez and Brandon League are all scheduled to throw.
• Zack Greinke felt good again today and, according to Dodger skipper Don Mattingly, will face live minor league hitters tomorrow. Greinke suffered a right calf strain in his first Cactus League appearance Thursday, Feb. 27.

(Dan Haren, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

TIE ONE ON: The Dodgers held a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth yesterday, but came out of Tempe with a 4-4 tie, their second deadlock of the spring season. Scott Van Slyke provided the Dodger offense with a sixth-inning grand slam, the club’s second in two days. On the mound, starter Dan Haren was terrific, firing 4.0 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out three.

FOX SPORTS 1 ON 1: Today, Fox Sports 1 visited Dodger camp and conducted interviews with several players for their season preview. The Dodgers will make several nationally-televised Saturday appearances on Fox and Fox Sports 1 early in the season, including April 5 against the Giants (FS1), April 19 vs. the D-backs (FS1), May 10 vs. the Giants (FS1) and May 31 vs. Pittsburgh (FOX).

• The Nine Network from Australia, which will televise the Opening Series against the Diamondbacks in Australia, was onsite this morning, talking to Clayton Kershaw and Brian Wilson.

SOME MINOR ADDITIONS: The Dodgers will have five minor leaguers suiting up for today’s game vs. the Rangers: LHP Fu-Te Ni (#83), LHP Tom Windle (#94), infielder Darnell Sweeney (#87), infielder Jacob Scavuzzo ($90) and outfielder Jon Garcia (#91).

• Windle, the Dodgers’ second-round selection in last year’s draft, will make his first appearance with the big leaguers. The 6-foot-4 left-hander pitched for the University of Minnesota from 2011-13 and last season went 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) for the Single-A Great Lakes Loons.

(Peering into the Dodgers Dugout, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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RIP, Dr. Frank Jobe - Sports Medicine Pioneer Invented Tommy John Surgery

The man who has done more for pitchers over the last 40 years than anybody else passed away yesterday.  Dr. Frank Jobe, the inventor of Tommy John Surgery, died at the age of 88 in his Santa Monica home. 

"Frank Jobe is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the word," said Dodger President Stan Kasten. "His dedication and professionalism in not only helping the Dodgers, but athletes around the world is unparalleled.   He was a medical giant and pioneer and many athletes in the past and the future can always thank Frank for finding a way to continue their careers."

Former Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser said this on twitter:

He change my life!! Gave me back my career!! I will miss him and I am eternally grateful!!! Dr. Frank Jobe
— Orel Hershiser (@OrelHershiser) March 7, 2014

From Tommy John:

"Baseball lost a great man and Tommy John lost a great friend," said former Dodger Tommy John. "There are a lot of pitchers in baseball who should celebrate his life and what he did for the game of baseball. My deepest condolences and prayers go out to Beverly and the entire family. He's going to be missed."

The Dodgers releases a press release about him last night.  You can read that here.

My deepest condolences to the Jobe family for their loss.

Pic at the very top of Dr. Frank Jobe, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

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