Blog Kiosk: 5/9/2017 - Dodgers Links - Bellinger, Wood and a Vin Scully Signing

What a fantastic photo of Alex Wood pitching under a blood red sky.

Last night Alex was fantastic in his five innings of scoreless work. He allowed only two hits while striking out eleven batters on 88 total pitches. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I felt good tonight, had all three [pitches] going and was on the same page with Yas [catcher Yasmani Grandal]," he said. "Obviously helped we had a lot of runs. When you get leads like that, you have to smell blood in the water. Just happy the result was there and hope to continue to be consistent and get ready for the next one."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Go here to check out more pics bu Jon from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1983 Ron Cey returned to Dodger Stadium for the first time since being traded to the Chicago during the offseason. Cey went 3-for-4 with three singles and a run scored but his Cubs lost, 4-3.
• Happy Birthday, Alex Farmer & Aaron Harang!
  

Blog Kiosk: 4/12/2016 - Dodgers Links - Maeda, Urias and Vin Scully

As street dedications go, this event was probably the most captivating.  Yesterday afternoon the City of Los Angeles and the Dodgers officially welcomed a street change that has been a long time coming.  They renamed Elysian Park Avenue to Vin Scully Avenue.  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider has the complete story; including the entirety of Vin's speech:

“I don’t know you, and I miss you, believe me, each and every day. You have been so kind and so gentle, that again, as I said in my opening remarks, I’m overwhelmed. Just to hear your enthusiasm, the voice that comes roaring up out of the stands, there’s nothing like it.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016 on the Dodgers twitter.  Take a look at even more pics taken by Jon from the event here.  Below are more links to check out:

• Yeah, I noticed this too.  Clayton Kershaw was getting ridiculously squeezed by the home plate umpire on Saturday.  Via Jeff Sullican at FanGraphs, "We Might Already Have the Season’s Worst Called Ball."
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Micah Johnson optioned to Oklahoma City."  Howie Kendrick has been activated off the DL.  Another move is likely once Yasmani Grandal is activated.

Blog Kiosk: 2/24/2016 - Dodgers Links - Urias, Maeda and Corey Seager

The well loved Dodgers skipper Wilbert "Uncle Robbie" Robinson looks as happy as can be.  He is sporting Dodger pinstripes and a fantastic Brooklyn sweater to go along with his robust waist.  It is dated to the tail end of the 1916 season; a year the club won it's first National League pennant in sixteen years.  It is currently available at RMY Auctions.  BTW, the photo was found in the archives of Underwood and Underwood - a well regarded sports press photo shop at the time.

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Jesse Sanchez at MLB.com, "Urias may decide between Mexico and Dodgers."

"My first choice would be to be here with the Dodgers and see if there is an opportunity for me here," Urias said in Spanish. "I prefer to be with the Dodgers. But at the same time, I would enjoy being with the Mexican team."

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Eager to go from Seager to Seager."  Cary speaks with Chris Woodward, the Dodgers' new third base coach, about Corey - after having spent so much time with his brother Kyle in Seattle.

“Kyle’s very humble, but he’s got a lot of confidence when he goes up there,” Woodward said. “Some guys are cocky, but then they’re hard to coach because they think they’re good enough. There’s so many dynamics to players, but Kyle was perfect in most ways. He said Corey’s the same way. Kyle said, ‘Corey’s the same way, but he’s better than I am.’ I said, ‘Wait a second. You’re a hundred million-dollar player who’s an All-Star, a Gold Glove winner, and you’re saying he’s better than you? OK.’ He said, ‘I’m not lying.’”

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "There’s focused – and then there’s Jack Murphy focused."  Ron chats with the newest Dodger catcher.
• Alex Wood was playing hurt last season, via Andy McCullough at the LA Times.  He apparently rolled his ankle in his final start as a Brave - just before coming to Los Angeles.
• Eric Gagne with be managing Team France during the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Panama City next month, via mister-baseball.com. (Hat Tip: r/Spongie555 on Reddit)
• Via Jesse Sanchez at MLB.com, "Maeda, Ellis find rhythm in bullpen session."

"I know about his fastball command and I've seen evidence of his slider and how devastating his slider can be, but I was impressed with his changeup and his ability to throw that today with the quality of depth he had with it and really command it in the middle of the plate," Ellis said. "We talked for a while afterwards about what an important weapon that can be for him this year."

• He's back.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers ink veteran reliever Wright, bring him into camp."
• In hobby news, John Mackie at the Vancouver Sun writes about a vintage find of Vancouver BC Baseball memorabilia; "Baseball treasures found in Metro Vancouver attic" (link here).

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Blog Kiosk: 9/14/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke, Rollins and Corey Seager

Justin Turner and the Dodgers had a grand ol' time in Arizona yesterday.  Turner recorded two hits and an RBI while the Dodgers won their second game of the three game series to drop their "Magic Number" to 13.  Best yet, Zach Greinke continued to build on his Cy Young bonifides by pitching eight shut out innings.  Via Steve Gilbert and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"They're an aggressive team and Zack just teases you with borderline pitches and that's why he gets so many ground balls against left-handed hitters," said catcher A.J. Ellis, who homered for the eventual decisive run. "Zack executes so well on the bottom half of the zone."

Photo above of Justin Turner goofing on DBacks mascot Baxter via SportsNet LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Barry M. Bloom at MLB.com, "Improved Greinke is having all-time great season."

"I'm a better pitcher now," Greinke said. "I used to try and strike everybody out. Now I just try to make a good pitch. And then when I throw the next one, I try to make a better pitch."

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Rollins will get shortstop job back upon return."

Via Don Mattingly: "I don't know what the chatter is with Corey and that position, but he's going to be really good. At this point, where we're at, we don't plan … Andrew and the front office hasn't come to me and said, put him in there every day. The plan has always been to give Jimmy days and J.T. days. He's played more than we thought because of injuries and done a good job."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Corey Seager continues to impress."

“When you’re going good, you’re always confident. That comes with it,” Seager said. “You’re relaxed, everything’s clicking. It’s been a good run so far, so I’m going to try to keep that rolling.”

• ICYMI:  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers deal Minor Leaguer Barney to Jays."  In return, the Dodgers receive minor league catcher Jack Murphy, via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.
• Alex Cora at the Sons of Steve Garvey ran at the annual Dodgers 5K / 10K / Kids Run this past weekend and shares a bunch of pics.  Check it out here.
• Mat Latos will now work out of the bullpen as a long reliever, via Ken Gurnick on twitter:

Mat Latos now long reliever, Mattingly said.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 13, 2015

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