Blog Kiosk: 6/13/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a great vintage pic, said to originally be a Sports magazine photo (eBay link), of an old codger having a laugh with a young hurler. Featured in the undated photo are Don Drysdale with Duke Snider.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1973 the famed Dodger infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey play on the field for the first time. Ten days later they would be inserted into the starting lineup for the first time. In 1998 the very first triple play is executed at Dodger Stadium. It sequence is 1-6-4-5 in the fifth inning -- with men at 1st and 2nd, Darren Dreifort fields a sacrifice bunt attempt, throws to shortstop Jose Vizcaino at 2nd, who then throws to covering second baseman Eric Young at 1st, who then throws to Bobby Bonilla at 3rd to get the final out. See the GIF on right to see the play.
• Happy Birthday, Gene McCann, Bill Bergen & Charlie Malay!
  

Blog Kiosk: 1/20/2016 - Dodgers Links - Koufax, Maeda and Jose DeLeon

Immediately following his retirement from the game in 1966, Sandy Koufax signed a 10-year contract for $1 Million to broadcast games on NBC's Saturday Game of the Week.  He was paired with fellow former Dodger Pee Wee Reese to do color commentating til 1968.  Unfortunately, Sandy would only stay on the job for six years; having walked away before the beginning of the 1973 Baseball season.  It is said that he never felt comfortable in front of the camera.  Featured above is an NBC press photo of Koufax as a rookie broadcaster in 1967 that was for sale at an RMY Auction recently. 

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Matt Krupnick at The Guardian, "How TV rights have made the LA Dodgers the greatest team never seen."

“I call it the greatest team never seen,” he said, noting his own anger over Scully’s absence from LA airwaves. “I mean, this guy is a national treasure. That $8.35bn is what’s most important, not the fans.”

• Via Kyle Ringo at Big League Stew, "Jackie Robinson's widow says MLB has work to do in diversity."

"We're talking about very few (black) coaches, very few managers ... so there's room for real progress, where people can come into the sport and feel they're going to be respected and given opportunities," Rachel Robinson said.

• Via Eric Avakian at Dodger Blue, "Zack Greinke & Clayton Kershaw Duo, Dave Roberts Hire Nominated For L.A. Sports Award."
• Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Kris Johnson on his Hiroshima Carp teammate, Kenta Maeda."

“One of the nicest young men that I met over there. He’s also like a big kid, likes to have a lot of fun. Joking around with him is easy. He had a Hi-Chew (candy) rep on speed dial. I asked him to hook it up. Each sleeve has five (candies), each box has 12 sleeves, each case has 12 boxes. He comes back with four cases. I was handing them out left and right. That’s just off the field stuff. 

• Blowout Buzz has some preview pics from Topps 2016 Archives set; expected to be in stores in June.  One of the insert sets will focus on the movie Bull Durham.  Check out the Nuke LaLoosh card on the right.  Check out more preview cards here.
• Dodgers prospect Jose DeLeon was named by MLBPipeline.com as the #5 top right-handed pitching prospect in the game.  Via Jim Callis at MLB.com:

De Leon has skyrocketed from his lowly Draft status and a 6.96 ERA in his pro debut to leading the Minors with 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings and reaching Double-A in 2015, just two years later. De Leon's stuff and command have gotten a lot better since he improved his conditioning and mechanics, giving him a riding 92-96 mph fastball, a plus changeup and an effective if inconsistent slider.

• Just a fun story about the kid who got away.  Via Mark Sandritter at Lookit, "Dee Gordon signed a $50 million contract and immediately went to get McNuggets."
• Ha!  Via Blowout Buzz, "Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton among politicians getting Garbage Pail Kids treatment from Topps."

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2015 Topps Garbage Pail Kids - A Mike Piazza Autograph Card

Here's a set I didn't expect to write anything about.  Several weeks back Topps released their 2015 Garbage Pail Kids card set, and as promised Baseball plays a prominent part.  Check out pics of some of the base and insert cards at the very bottom of this post.  A complete checklist is here.  

Unbeknownst to just about everyone, several actual ballplayers can also be found in the set.  Topps has included at least four different autographed cards, and former Dodger Mike Piazza is included.  The other known players include Josh Donaldson, Manny Machado and Joey Votto (Check those out here).

As you'll notice there are no team logos since this set was released without the benefit of Topps' MLB license. 

Mike Piazza

Below are some of the base and insert Baseball themed cards found in the set.

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Blog Kiosk: 11/6/2014 - Dodger Links - Another Kershaw Magazine Cover and Uribe Wins Defensive Player of the Year Award

Clayton Kershaw will be on the cover of the December 2014 issue of Beckett Baseball magazine, pic above via Chris Olds at Beckett.com.  Also at the link to the left, Chris Olds puts together his list of the Top-5 Kershaw cards to own. 

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Gonzalez, Uribe win Wilson Defensive Player of the Year honors."  Congrats to Uribe.  He deserves the recognition.
• Mark Saxon at ESPN writes, "How one subtlety could seal A.J. Ellis' fate," and I do not agree with the assessment.  I think it's far too simplistic to believe one skill (pitch-framing) will be the ultimate bellwether for determining Ellis' role or any catchers role with the club.  Certainly, he hasn't been great at it, but I do not feel that it alone will put him in the doghouse.  It's a series of skills behind the dish that determines if a catcher is effective.  With Ellis, I believe he excels in other aspects of the game.  His leadership with the staff, pregame preparation, quarterbacking on the field and pitch-calling are just as important, if not more so, than framing. 
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 2015 arbitration projections, Andrew Friedman & 'file and trial.'"
• Gasparino may also join the Dodgers.  Via a tweet from Padres MLB.com reporter Corey Brock, Gasparino was given permission yesterday to interview with the team:

Earlier today, the #Padres granted permission to the #Dodgers to interview scouting director Billy Gasparino. Interview could come fast.
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) November 6, 2014

• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digests takes a closer look at Billy Gasparino.
• Twitter/social media is so stupid sometimes.  Former Dodger Ryan Theriot said a mean thing about 'Moneyball' and the Dodgers recently hiring Zaidi, so the stat-heads on twitter ran for their pitchforks.  I'm left to wonder, what the heck is wrong with everyone? 
• Via Craig Durham at MLB.com, "Rays, Dodgers prospects make splash Down Under."

Also among the standout performers for Adelaide in the opening weekend were Dodgers prospects Brandon Dixon and Aaron Miller. Dixon, a 22-year-old second baseman from Murrieta, Calif., finished his first weekend of ABL play with five hits, three RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. Miller, a 27-year-old pitcher-turned-outfielder, went 6-for-19 with a home run, four RBIs and two steals. The pair were teammates this past season, playing for the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, where they combined for 23 home runs and 106 RBIs.

• A very good read.  Via Ken Arneson, "10 Things I Believe About Baseball Without Evidence."
• This is the greatest idea ever!  Via Chris Olds at Beckett, "Topps adds baseball twist to Garbage Pail Kids."

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