Blog Kiosk: 7/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It's Hall of Fame Weekend at Cooperstown right now, and today is their annual golf tournament.  Joining newest inductee Mike Piazza on the green today is former teammate Eric Karros, as evidenced in the photo above.

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

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1962 Jackie Robinson is inducted into the Hall of Fame.  In 1974 Steve Garvey, who was a write-in candidate, had a single, double and an RBI during the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh.  He would be named the games MVP.  In 1975 Willie Crawford and Lee Lacy hit pinch-hit home runs in the ninth inning in a loss against the Cardinals, 5-4.  The homers tied a Major League record for pinch-hit homers in the same inning.
• Happy Birthday, Don Drysdale, Hong-Chih Kuo, Nomar Garciaparra and Pee Wee Reese!

Blog Kiosk: 6/24/2016 - Dodgers Links - Jackie Robinson Memorial Highway

Check out who came by.

Former Dodgers starter Ismael "Rocket" Valdez was at Dodger Stadium to visit with old friends.  In the photo above (tweeted by Ismael) he is sandwiched by Fernando Valenzuela and Pepe Yniguez in the pressbox.

 Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1947 Jackie Robinson stole home for the first time in his career.  It was in a game against the Pirates and left-hander Fritz Ostermueller was the pitcher.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "Dodgers sign Randy Choate to minor league contract."
• Yesterday Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) introduced a bill that would name a portion of the I-210 freeway between State Route 2 and Orange Grove Boulevard the "Jackie Robinson Memorial Highway.”  It is along a commonly used route to Dodger Stadium for fans coming from the Eastern Los Angeles County.  Per a press release:

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 28/Home Game 14

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 (16-11-1) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (12-12-3)
Monday, March 28, 2016 – 7:05 p.m. PT | Camelback Ranch - Glendale
LHP Derek Holland (3-1, 2.65) vs. LHP Alex Wood (0-2, 6.00)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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(Gonzo and Joc, pic via Joc on twitter)

THE FINAL SPRINT: The Dodgers take on the Rangers in the second-to-last home date at Camelback Ranch this spring and the club’s final night game in Arizona. The Dodgers and Rangers tied, 3-3, all the way back on March 4 in Surprise. Following tonight’s contest, the Dodgers have two games left in the Phoenix area prior to the Freeway Series, which begins Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.

• Opening Day, April 4 against the Padres in San Diego, is just one week away!

Blog Kiosk: 9/25/2015 - Dodger Links - Heisey, Hernandez and Ismael Valdez

WooHoo!

Chris Heisey sure did make the most of his opportunities yesterday afternoon.  With the Dodgers still down by a run in the 5th inning he came up to bat with the bases full, and unloaded to deep left for a grand slam.  His homer would give the club a four run cushion and more than enough runs to end the homestand with a victory.  You can watch his home run here.

Considering the roller coaster season he's had it's nice to see him contribute in a big way.  No doubt he's ecstatic that the front office decided to bring him back from Toronto after being released by the Dodgers in mid-August.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“I had a tough year, up and down, haven’t played like I wanted, but it’s nice to help the team get a win, especially when we need wins to clinch a playoff berth,” Heisey said. “I know Clayton didn’t want to come out of the game. He pitched well, gave up a few runs, but I felt he was in pretty good control. He was a little frustrated coming out, but it was great to get him the win, like I said, and get the team the win.”

Kershaw had this to say about Heisey, via Mark Saxon at ESPN:

“For those guys to step up like that. … Heisey, he’s such a gamer, I love Heis, for him to do that after the kind of year he’s had, it’s unbelievable. I’m thankful, honestly.”

Photo above of Chris Heisey being greeted at home plate by Tuner and Kendrick via @Dodgers on twitter.  Go here to check out a bunch of great pics from Jon SooHoo and Jill Weisleder from yesterday's game.  BTW, the "Magic Number is now at 3 games.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Hernandez progressing toward return to Dodgers."
  

  "Kiké for me, 100 percent, he's going to play this season. Unless he has a setback in these next few days," Mattingly said. "He's been running at full speed -- or really close to it -- three or four times and bounced back and recovered every time."

  Puig, on the other hand, is a work in progress.  He may not be back before the end of the season
  

  "Yasiel, the most I've seen on a report is 70 percent. He's still having problems running," Mattingly said.

• There will probably be a bunch of cards like this coming directly from Topps over the coming months.  Available now are limited edition tribute posters that use the vintage 1952 Baseball design of Corey Seager.  They measure 10"x14", are numbered to 99 copies and can be purchased for $29.99.  Check it out here, and a pic is on the right.  The "1 of 1" edition is already sold out.
• Former Dodger pitcher Ismael Valdez has been busy in his native Mexico working to promote and develop Baseball in the country, via Deporte.org, "Unidos CONADE e Ismael Valdez por el impulso del beisbol."  With CONADE (Mexico's National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport) Valdez spoke with over 50 kids and their parents on the importance of teamwork.

• I thought this was worth listening to if you hadn't already.  Below, Vin Scully talks a bit about the passing of Baseball legend Yogi Berra.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 6/16/2015 - Dodger Links - Olivera, Hansen and Dave Roberts

Three former Dodgers' were on-hand at the home run derby at Zócalo in Mexico City this past weekend.  They transformed the central square into a ballfield for the event.  In the photo above (tweeted by Miriam Helena Reyes) are Ismael Valdez, Fernando Valenzuela and Estaban Loaiza. 

Below are some links to check out:

• Is Olivera coming?  

@truebluela. Also FWIW - Olivera was carrying all his bats when he left.

— Dodgerado (@Dodgerado) June 16, 2015

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers agree to terms with 2nd-round pick."  It's Mitchell Hansen.

Hansen is a Texas high schooler who received $78,900 above slot. He was committed to attend Stanford.

• Via Brian Kenny at Sports on Earth, "The End of FIP As We Know It."
• Jonah Keri at Grantland takes a brief look at the Dodgers bullpen, here.

So far in 2015, Dodgers relievers have struck out more batters than any other bullpen in the National League — and more than any team in baseball, save for the Astros — flashing a 26.9 percent K rate. That’s up sharply from last year’s relief crew, who fanned 22.3 percent of the batters they faced, good for just 16th in MLB. A bit of that uptick is because of Jansen, who’s been absolutely spectacular since returning from an early-season injury, punching out 20 batters while allowing just four hits and no walks in 11 innings. But most of it is thanks to a group of no-names who’ve come up big in L.A., showcasing both the Dodgers’ scouting and player development chops, in addition to the franchise’s savvy in the trade market.

• Here's an old friend alert.  Congrats to former Dodger Dave Roberts.  He has just been named the temporary manager of the San Diego Padres, and may soon be named the interim manager.  Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "Padres fire manager Bud Black after disappointing start to the season."
• Ha Ha!  Via Michael S. Schmidt at the NY Times, "St. Louis Cardinals Investigated by F.B.I. for Hacking Astros."

Investigators have uncovered evidence that Cardinals officials broke into a network of the Houston Astros that housed special databases the team had built, according to law enforcement officials. Internal discussions about trades, proprietary statistics and scouting reports were compromised, the officials said.

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Collection: Ismael Valdez Donruss Signature

I've always thought this came from a weird set. This is a 1998 Donruss Signatures Series autographed card of former Dodgers starter Ismael Valdez. This was released at a time when I was out of the card collecting hobby, so I don't know much about it. From what I gather it was a autograph heavy set, and that is all I know.

Valdez had a couple of really good years with the Dodgers. He won 16 games in 1996, and won at least 10 games in four straight season from 1995 to 1998. Then, Valdez hit a wall and was traded to the Cubs before the 2000 season. His time in Chicago didn't last long, though. Half way through the year he was traded back to LA just in time to show his teeth against his former club. I'll let Wikipedia tell the story.

On August 27, 2000, Valdes was pitching for the Dodgers and was ejected from a game after he was accused of retaliating and throwing pitches at the head of Cubs first baseman (and Valdes' former teammate) Mark Grace. The incident began in the top of the fifth inning when Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood yielded the second of two home runs to the Dodgers' Bruce Aven. Wood then threw a pitch close to the next batter, Alex Cora, on the first pitch after Aven's second home run. Wood denied that he was trying to hit Cora, but in the bottom of the fifth, Valdes came close to hitting Grace on the first pitch, drawing a warning from home plate umpire Mark Wegner. Then, four pitches later, Valdes hit Grace on the shoulder, and was ejected.^[1] In September 2000, Frank Robinson, major league baseball's head of on-field discipline, suspended Valdes for six games and fined him $1,000 for the incident. Valdes initially appealed, but several days later dropped his appeal and began serving his suspension.

I don't remember him being a tough pitcher. In fact, I always thought he was kind of meek. Anyway, I guess Valdez wanted to break that perception. Of course, maybe it was a bit of roid-rage. Years later he was named in the Mitchell report as a recipient of HGH.