Welcome to the Blue, Bud Norris!

The Dodgers have just made another trade with the Braves.  This time, they bring along starting pitcher Bud Norris and Cuban born prospect Dian Toscano (I'll have a post on him soon).  Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired right-handed pitcher Bud Norris, minor league outfielder Dian Toscano, a player to be named later and cash considerations from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league pitchers Philip Pfeifer (LHP) and Caleb Dirks (RHP). To make room for Norris on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles designated left-hander Ian Thomas for assignment.

Norris has been one of the National League’s best pitchers this month, going 2-1 in six games (five starts) with Atlanta and ranking among the league’s best in ERA (2.08, 10th), opponents’ batting average (.194, 7th) and WHIP (0.96, 10th). Overall, the 31-year-old has posted a 3-7 record with a 4.22 ERA in 22 games (10 starts) this season, including a 2.08 ERA (11 ER/47.2 IP) in his last 17 games (five starts) since May 2.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 5/Home Game 3

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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Monday, March 7, 2016 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch - Glendale

Cleveland Indians vs. LA Dodgers
RHP Danny Salazar (0-1, 13.50) vs. LHP Alex Wood (NR)
TV: None Radio: None

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(Lining up for the anthem, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

ON A ROLL: The undefeated Dodgers (3-0-1) return home to Camelback Ranch today to take on the Indians (0-4-2) in the first matchup of the spring between the two clubs. Yesterday, the Dodgers downed the Giants 5-2 in Scottsdale after taking the lead in the top of the fifth inning when outfielder Carl Crawford drove in a run with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Yasiel Puig. Crawford finished the day going 2-for-3 with two RBI and shortstop Charlie Culberson continued to swing a hot bat, plating two more runs on a single in the top of the eighth in his only at-bat. Zach Lee pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in his first Spring Training start and Ross Stripling recorded the win, tossing 2.0 scoreless frames.

• The Dodgers last faced the Indians during the regular season in 2014, when the Tribe took two of three at Dodger Stadium.
• Charlie Culberson has gone 5-for-6 (.833) with a double, a triple and three RBI in four Spring Training games for Los Angeles.

YOUNG GUNS: The Dodgers enter the 2016 season with Baseball America’s top-ranked farm system and seven players ranked among the publication’s top 100 prospects: IF Corey Seager (#1), LHP Julio Urias (#4), RHP Jose De Leon (#23), RHP Kenta Maeda (#50), IF/OF Cody Bellinger (#54), RHP Grant Holmes (#72) and OF Alex Verdugo (#100).

(Dave Roberts, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

NEW FRONT MAN: Dave Roberts is in his first season at the helm of the Dodgers after being named the 10th manager in Los Angeles history (28th in franchise history) on Nov. 23, 2015. Roberts, 43, served as the Padres’ bench coach from 2014-15 and was San Diego’s first base coach from 2011-13, after originally joining the organization as a special assistant in 2010. A veteran of 10 MLB seasons, Roberts was the starting center fielder for the Dodgers from 2002-04 and will become the fourth manager in Los Angeles history (15th overall in franchise history) to both play and manage the club.

• Rick Honeycutt returns for an 11th season as Dodger pitching coach and is the lone returning member of the Los Angeles coaching staff beyond catching instructor Steve Yeager. The new-look staff is comprised of bench coach Bob Geren (2015: Mets’ bench coach), hitting coach Turner Ward (2015: D-backs’ hitting coach), first base coach George Lombard (2015: Red Sox’ minor league outfield/baserunning coordinator), third base coach Chris Woodward (2015: Mariners’ first base coach), bullpen coach Josh Bard (2015: Dodgers’ pro scout), assistant hitting coach Tim Hyers (2015: Red Sox’ minor league hitting coordinator) and quality assurance coach Juan Castro (2015: Dodgers’ minor league infield coordinator).

HOT TICKETS!: The Dodgers notched their first sellout of the spring, with 13,122 fans taking in their victory over Arizona on Saturday. Last year, the Dodgers established team records in total (147,066) and average (9,804) Spring Training attendance, while Camelback Ranch saw a record number of fans with a combined attendance of 232,305 between the Dodgers and the White Sox. So far this season, advance ticket sales have been brisk with Camelback Ranch enjoying its best advance ticket sale in its eight-year history. Three additional Dodger games already have sold out - Friday, March 11 (Los Angeles Angels-Dodgers), Saturday night, March 12 (Chicago Cubs-Dodgers) and Friday night, March 25 (San Francisco Giants-Dodgers).

(Alex Wood, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

ON THE MOUND: LHP Alex Wood will make his first start of the spring today. He enters his fourth Major League season and his second with the Dodgers after being acquired by the club in an eight-player deal with the Braves on July 30, 2015. Wood, 25, posted career numbers last season, winning a career-high 12 games (12-12) in 32 combined starts, while posting a 3.84 ERA.

• LHP Ian Thomas will make his first appearance of the spring this afternoon. A 2015 mid-season acquisition from the Atlanta Braves,  he made nine relief appearances (one start) for the Dodgers going 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA.
• LHP J.P. Howell, enters his 11th MLB campaign and his fourth season with the Dodgers after leading MLB relievers (min. 40.0 IP) with a 1.43 ERA in a team-high 65 appearances in 2015. He finished the season posting a 6-1 record with one save and tossed scoreless relief in 59 of 65 appearances.
• RHP Kenley Jansen will make his first appearance of the spring. He enters his seventh big league season after successfully converting 36 of 38 save opportunities last year, the third-highest single-season save percentage in team history (Gagne: 2003-100.0%, 2004-95.7%).
• RHP Louis Coleman will be making his second appearance of the spring after tossing a scoreless inning of relief on Friday against the Rangers. Coleman enters his first season with the Dodgers after signing with the club on Feb. 19, 2016.
• RHP Brandon Beachy will make his first appearance of the spring, after making his Dodger debut last season on July 11, 2015 with a start against the Brewers, his first since Aug. 20, 2013. He made two starts with the club after being reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, before being optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City where he went 1-1 with a 3.64 ERA in 10 games (nine starts).
• RHP Yimi Garcia will be making his second appearance of the spring after striking out one batter in a scoreless inning of relief on Thursday against the White Sox.  He ranked among the NL’s best relievers in WHIP (0.95, 5th), opponents’ batting average (.199, 16th), opponents’ on-base percentage (.242, 4th) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.60, 3rd) last season.

A LOOK BACK: The Dodgers went 92-70 in 2015, with the club claiming its third consecutive and 14th overall National League West title. It marked the first time in franchise history that the team reached the postseason in three consecutive seasons.

• The Dodgers topped the National League in homers for the first time since 1983, blasting 187, their most since 2004 (203 HR).
• Los Angeles led the Majors with a .988 fielding percentage, while committing the fewest errors (75) of any big league team.
• Los Angeles pitchers combined to post a 3.44 ERA, the fifth-best mark in the Majors, and tied for the big league lead with the Cubs with 21 shutouts.

(Banana mania continues unabated, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

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Blog Kiosk: 9/1/2015 - Dodger Links - A Couple of Trades and Kiké Hernandez 's Magic Banana Suit

The magic of the banana knows no bounds.

With the game tied in extra innings, Kiké Hernandez came out of the clubhouse to provide some good luck.  Via Matthew Moreno on twitter:

Kiké put on the banana suit/jacket around the 12th, Friedman told him to go back to the dugout and that he would pay his fine.

— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) September 1, 2015

It obviously worked.  The Dodgers beat the Giants on a walkoff single by Adrian Gonzalez in the 14th inning, 5-4.

Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos taken by Jon from yesterday's game.  Below are more links to check out:

• Ah, crap!  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Enrique Hernandez could be out for weeks with hamstring strain." In Hernandez's place is catcher Austin Barnes.  BTW, with it being roster expansion time the Dodgers have also called up Joe Jackson, Joel Peralta and Mike Bolsinger from the minor leagues.
• Check out the cover of the September issue of Dodger Insider magazine, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.  A pic of it is on the right.  Clayton Kershaw is on the cover.
• Via David Schoenfield at ESPN, "How bad baserunning has hurt the Dodgers."  This story makes me wonder if this is the Dee Gordon effect. That's not to say we never should have traded Gordon.  After all, we've benefited greatly from the players we got, but it's clear that his prowess on the basepaths have been sorely missed.
• Sometimes they come full circle.  Per Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Dodgers To Acquire Justin Ruggiano."  As you may know, Ruggiano was originally drafted by the Dodgers before being traded to Tampa Bay a couple of years later.  Here's the gist of why this trade is likely being done:

Most importantly, even during his MLB time this year, Ruggiano continued to hit lefties hard, as he has throughout his career. He’ll presumably be looked upon as an option against southpaws in Los Angeles. The Dodgers were in need of another right-handed-hitting outfield bat down the stretch after seeing both Yasiel Puig and Kike Hernandez go down to injuries in recent days.

• Jeff Todd also adds that the Dodgers have reacquired Chris Heisey from Toronto.  Wha...?
• It is welcome news that he is being reconsidered, but as stated in the following article it's likely to come to pass.  After all, Joe did take the money.  Via Chris Cwik at Big League Stew, "Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum says MLB has come to a decision on reinstatement." UPDATE: Via Shawn Anderson at the Hall of Vary Good, "Shoeless Joe to Remain Banned from Baseball."

“I have reviewed our records concerning the responses of both Commissioner (Bart) Giamatti and Commissioner (Fay) Vincent, who declined to reconsider Mr. Jackson’s case,” Manfred stated in a letter to Marcley. “I agree with that determination and conclude that it would not be appropriate for me to re-open the matter.”

I think this should settle things.  If they won't consider Joe Jackson for reinstatement then they sure as hell won't consider Pete Rose.

• This is super ridiculous, and hilarious.  Via Tyler Durden at Zero Hedge, "The "Chicago Cubs No Hitter" Indicator Spells Doom For The Market."

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Welcome to the Blue, Chin-Hui Tsao!

This is a rather incredible feat.  A ballplayer who last played in the Majors some eight years ago will now step into the Dodger clubhouse.  It has just been announced, although anticipated all day, that right-handed relief pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao will join the club today.  Additionally, Josh Ravin also joins him.  Ian Thomas and Yimi Garcia have been sent to AAA.

Via a Dodger press release:

Tsao will be making his first appearance in the big leagues since 2007 and has gone 2-1 with five saves and a 3.86 ERA in 21 games this year with Oklahoma City. In 50 MLB games (eight starts) with the Rockies (2003-05) and Dodgers (2007), Tsao went 4-4 with four saves with a 5.40 ERA.

As you will recall, the Dodgers took a gamble on Tsao by inviting him to Spring Training this year - even while knowing about his involvement in a game fixing scheme in Taiwan in 2009 and a reported banning from the Chinese Professional Baseball League.  Still, he was said to be able to throw in the mid-90's, and that was probably good enough to give him a look.  Word is the commissioner gave the Dodgers the go ahead to sign him.

Fortunately, the Dodgers bet appears to be paying off.  He was fantastic during the Spring, and earned a spot within the Dodgers system.  Yasmani Grandal said this about him in March, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"First time I ever saw him," said catcher Yasmani Grandal. "He gives me a lot of options. He has a back-door breaking ball. And I didn't know he threw that hard."

In 25 appearances in Oklahoma City and Tulsa he struck out 39 batters in 30.2 innings of work.  He had also walked only five batters total.  If he maintains these kind of numbers while in Los Angeles he just might become a fixture on the club.

In celebration of Tsao's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photo taken by Jon SooHoo during Spring Training and the 1972 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:

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Welcome to the Blue, Ian Thomas!

The Dodgers are playing a doubleheader today, so the team decided to call up recently acquired lefty-reliever Ian Thomas as their 26th man.  He'll come out of the bullpen should he be needed.  Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled left-hander Ian Thomas (#58) from Triple-A Oklahoma City to be the 26th man for today’s doubleheader at Colorado.

Thomas, 28, was acquired as part of a six-player trade with Atlanta last week and has gone 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 21 Major League appearances with the Braves in 2014-15, including allowing three runs (two earned) in five appearances this year (5.1 IP). He last pitched on Thursday (2.1 IP) and has combined to go 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, a .200 opponents’ batting average and a 0.83 WHIP in 10 minor league appearances this year with Oklahoma City and the Braves’ Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi.

Thomas comes to the Majors via an unusual route.  He was discovered by the Braves while he was pitching for the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Independent American Association in 2012, and has impressed ever since.  Via a report by gondeee at Chop Country in early 2014:

He’s a lefty, but not a hard thrower, topping out at around 90 mph. He creates a ton of deception with a similar motion on all his pitches, and his plus off-speed change and curve clock in around 20 mph less than his fastball, making it tough for batters to distinguish between his pitches. He was equally effective last year against lefties and righties, holding each to an identical .192 BAA.

In celebration of Thomas' arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph grabbed from the Braves.mlb page and the 1974 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:

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Fare Thee Well, Juan Uribe

There isn't much more I can say that others haven't already written.  The departure of Juan Uribe is a painful one, and it's weird saying that after witnessing his first two years of futility with the Dodgers.  But, like a neighbor who always stops bye unexpectedly you start to miss the impact a player like Uribe has when he's gone.  

They'll be no more Uribear for fans to cheer.  Hyun-Jin Ryu won't have the big fellow around to goof on.  Yasiel Puig is losing a close confidant in the clubhouse.  As Clayton Kershaw said during his recent MVP Award acceptance speech:

“Thank you for making me laugh. You are one of the most important people in our clubhouse.”

Important, he was.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

He was lighthearted and cheerful.  Always smiling and an consummate professional on the field. 

And now, all I can do is wish him well at his new home. 

He has now been officially traded to the Atlanta Braves, and we got a whole bucket of balls for him. 

I'm being facetious, of course. 

Per a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired infielder Alberto Callaspo, left-handed reliever Ian Thomas, minor league right-handed pitcher Juan Jaime and left-handed pitcher Eric Stults from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for infielder Juan Uribe and right-handed pitcher Chris Withrow, who was on the 60-day disabled list. Callaspo will be in uniform for the Dodgers tonight, wearing No. 5, while Los Angeles optioned Thomas to Triple-A Oklahoma City, assigned Jaime to extended Spring Training in Arizona and designated Stults for assignment.

I can't really muster up the strength to tell you more about the players we got, and I certainly don't have the time to make some new fantasy cards - maybe in a few days.  All I can do right now is share what is my favorite Uribe moment, or series of moments as it were, that I experienced as a fan.

I think what I enjoyed most was Uribe's immense wardrobe of outrageous outfits.  He seemed to always be wearing something strange, and I loved seeing photos of them online.  Below are a few of my favorites.

(pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

(pic via Enrique Rojas of ESPN on twitter)

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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