Blog Kiosk: 2/9/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers have now completed their annual Spring move to Camelback Ranch. On Wednesday the club packed up their stuff (see the photo on the top right), and then landed in Arizona and unpacked yesterday (see the photo on the top right). Pics above via @Dodgers and @CamelbackRanch on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2009 the Dodgers signed free agent pitcher Jeff Weaver. This is his second go-around with the club; having played for us from 2004 to 2005. 
• Happy Birthday, Eddie Solomon, O'Koyea Dickson, Wally Hood, Buzz Boyle, Harvey Green, Erv Palica, Jim Campanis & Dioner Navarro!

Blog Kiosk: 1/15/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

-MLK, Jr.

On this #MLKDay, @nlbmprez reflects on baseball's impact on the civil rights movement pic.twitter.com/yGkqS3zwJa

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) January 15, 2018

Photo above via the Negro League Museum on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1957 the Dodgers extend their lease at Ebbets Field for another three years -- as a fallback in case Los Angeles is unable to secure land for a new stadium. They would leave Brooklyn a year later. In 2002 the Dodgers traded outfielder Gary Sheffield to the Braves for Brian Jordan, Odalis Perez and Andrew Brown. In 2009 the Dodgers nightmare is over. They released outfielder Andruw Jones.
• Happy Birthday, Dr. Mike Marshall, William Brennan & Delino DeShields!

Blog Kiosk: 3/25/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

Now this is the way to do it.

This Dodger couple decided to get some help from the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch for a special announcement.  They were looking for the perfect way to let everyone know about a new addition to the family, and fortunately caught the eye of Justin Turner -- as you can see in the photo above.

Congrats!

Now, you know they've got to name the little tyke Justin.... Or Justine.

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

• Happy Birthday, Jimmy Sebring, Dutch Leonard, Chris Hartje, Brian Barnes, Hyun-Jin Ryu & Erisbel Arruebarrena!

Blog Kiosk: 8/10/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw's Gift to Rams and First Place!

On his bobblehead night left fielder Howie Kendrick helped propel the Dodgers over the Phillies, 9-3, and pushed the team into a first place tie with the Giants.  He recorded two hits; including a two-run homer in the second inning and a run scoring double in the fifth inning.  This victory marked the third game in a row in which they have scored eight runs or more.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"I think it's just coincidence," Kendrick said about the group hot streak. "A lot of guys have been putting in the same work all year and you are starting to see some of the fruits of the labor. Hopefully we can continue to do the same thing and keep the ball rolling. Our pitching has been giving us the opportunity to win. Even when we have gotten down early, guys have battled back and we've put runs on the board and been able to do it that way."

In the meantime, there's no need for celebration yet.  The Dodgers have a long way to go.

"The job's not done yet, so you keep going," said rookie Corey Seager, who had two more hits. "You can celebrate it at the end."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1979 Hall of Famer Don Sutton set a Dodgers franchise record with his 50th shutout.  He surpassed Don Drysdale on the Dodgers' all-time list.  In 1995 fans at Dodger Stadium force the Dodgers to forfeit that evenings game against the Cardinals when for a third time they throw promotional giveaway baseballs onto the field during play.  The game was forfeited in the ninth inning after the ejections of Tommy Lasorda and Pedro Guerrero with the Dodgers trailing, 2-1.  Here is the boxscore, via Baseball Reference.

Blog Kiosk: 8/9/2016 - Dodgers Links - Topps Unveils 2017 Baseball Card with Clayton Kershaw

Topps provided a nice surprise for collectors this morning.  Featured in the pic above is Topps' design for their 2017 Baseball card set.  Best yet, they use a pic of Clayton Kershaw to show us the design.  It was tweeted out this morning by Topps.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1975 Davey Lopes stole his 32nd consecutive base without being caught.  This broke a record set in 1922 by Hall of Fame Pirate outfielder Max Carey.  In 1976 the Dodgers are no-hit by Pirates hurler John Candelaria in Pittsburgh.
• Happy Birthday, Claude Osteen and Drew Butera!

Blog Kiosk: 5/3/2016 - Dodgers Links - Ebbets Field, Maeda and Josh Ravin's Suspension

Wow!  There's nuthin' 'round the ol' joint.

Shown above, via a tweet by Old Baseball Photos, is Ebbets Field just prior to its opening in 1913.  You can see the grandstands and the backside of the outfield walls, but nothing else (except a few buildings here and there).  I always assumed Brooklyn was built out the way it is today, but clearly that is wrong.  The immediate area was as barren as a bald head.

A little bit of research tells me that Pigtown, the neighborhood this area was called due to the existence of several large pig farms, was economically depressed.  It's inhabitants were largely poor and crime was known to be a problem.  Folks would come into town to dump their junk there and farm animals were known to roam around recklessly.  The metropolis it is today was just a dream back then.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 the Branch Rickey traded five Dodgers players; including Kirby Higby, to Pittsburgh.  The move was seen as a message to the players on his support for Jackie Robinson.
• Happy Birthday, Davey Lopes and Darren Dreifort!

Blog Kiosk: 3/16/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kazmir, Piazza and Tacos!

Adrian Gonzalez declared "Taco Tuesday" yesterday afternoon.

With his eventually departure later that day for the WBC qualifying tournament in Mexicali for Team Mexico, AGon treated his teammates and Dodgers staff to tacos.  Check out part of the spread in the above photo tweeted out by the Dodgers.  Go here to check out Kiké's plate.  Via Matthew Moreno at Dodger Blue:

“He brought in tacos and they were really good, so that was nice,” Kiké Hernandez said of his day’s lunch.

Below are more links to check out:

• Scott Kazmir talk was all the rage yesterday.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers not yet concerned with Kazmir's velocity."

"He feels good," said Friedman. "I'd prefer a pitcher use Spring Training to build up. It's almost frightening when a guy is throwing harder as opposed to not as hard. He says he's fine, and I think he would say something if he wasn't. I'd prefer six weeks of building and getting ready instead of coming in on Day 1 and blowing."

• This is a fantastic story about a youthful Mike Piazza meeting the great Ted Williams.  Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "Card Show Trip Led to Piazza Meeting Ted Williams."  There's a video at the above link as well.

“I don’t remember much, just that intense feeling of panic,” Piazza laughed.

Piazza had a copy of Williams’ famous book ‘The Science of Hitting’ and had the last man to bat .400 sign it for him.

After watching a few swings in that cage, Williams paid the young Piazza quite a compliment.

“He said ‘this kid’s gonna hit in the big leagues’.  And I was like ‘really?’  He said ‘oh yeah’.  It was euphoric. You can’t even describe a moment like that.”

• This has been making the rounds with vintage collectors and Baseball historians of late.  The veritable "Magna Carta" of Baseball is going to auction soon at SCP.  Check out some info about it at SCP, here.  Also, the official Baseball historian John Thorn wrote about the documents here.  Needless to say, this is one of the more important finds to come along in a long time.
• Audio: Listen to former Dodgers Head Athletic Trainer Dr. Sue Falsone talk a bit about her time with the Dodgers and what she is doing now.  (Link Here)
• There appears to be some good news on the Time Warner/Charter Communication merger front.  Via Shalini Ramachandran and John D. McKinnon at the Wall Street Journal, "FCC Likely to Circulate Draft Order Approving Charter-Time Warner Cable Deal."  As I've indicated in the past, I do not believe there can be any movement in the Dodgers SportsNet LA coverage issue until this merger is completed.  Once that is done, I suspect coverage comes along soon thereafter.  Of course, the timing is all relative.  Soon might mean a few more months.
• So cool!

My cast is cooler than yours. : )#TeamRehab pic.twitter.com/XR387GYlBR

— Josh Ravin™ (@FreshSqueezed22) March 15, 2016

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/15/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kazmir, Ryu and Justin Turner

That is some sweet looking leather.

Yesterday afternoon the Dodgers shared a pic of Kiké Hernandez's new glove on twitter, and made note that it features his twitter handle.  I would rather make note of the awesome blue leather straps.

Below are more links to check out:

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider provides the details on the first "cuts" of spring, here.  Eight players were sent to minor league camp; including right-handed pitching prospect Jharel Cotton.
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA has a complete roster listing of Dodgers' minor league ballplayers here.
• Eric also writes, "Scott Kazmir finds rhythm in 'B' game." 

"I was working on a couple pitches, but was just trying to get that catcher-pitcher relationship down where we were in sync and had a good rhythm going," Kazmir recalled. "There were some things we tried in the first few innings that made it a little more difficult. We changed it a little bit, then by the third or fourth inning we were right there thinking with each other."

• Hyun-Jin Ryu finally got back onto the mound yesterday afternoon, and threw twenty pitches.  Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers:

“It was very good,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “It wasn’t all about the speed. It was more about location and how I felt.”

• Justin Tuner is on the mend.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Turner 'still standing' after quite the workout."

"I'm still standing," Turner said. "Everything is a test to see how I feel on both sides of the ball. I had a little extra adrenaline with the fans in the stands. I was anxious to get back out there in a real game. Playing on the back fields is good to get the work in, but it's not the same adrenaline and intensity with the fans in the stands. I felt great. Ran, slid into home, dove for a ball. Everything felt fine."

• An WBC Qualifier series will begin this coming Thursday, and Adrian Gonzalez will be playing for Team Mexico.  Also, via Yvonne Carrasco at Dodger Insider, "Valenzuela to throw first pitch at WBC qualifier."  Go here for a schedule of games being played in Mexicali, Mexico and Panama City, Panama.
• Those rare Ty Cobb cards found in a paper bag have been selling briskly.  Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily informs us that a fourth card (and its highest graded example) of the seven found sold for in excess of $1Million.  That's for that one card.  Wow!  It is believed that the first three cards reported to have been sold was for an accumulative value of over $1Million.  Check out what the million dollar card looks like on the right.
• Wow!

Well, the stitches are out but I still have to wear a cast for 2 wks. Can't wait to get some @Dodgers to sign it! ;) pic.twitter.com/DKfS8Icq1l

— Josh Ravin™ (@FreshSqueezed22) March 14, 2016

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #7

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.

------------------

(Tommy Lasorda, pic via Camelback Ranch on twitter)

ONE DAY AWAY: The Dodgers held their seventh and final full-squad workout of Spring Training today with some team defense work, bunt plays and live batting practice. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play tomorrow against the Chicago White Sox.

WE GOT A SITUATION HERE: This morning, the Dodgers split into two teams and played a situational game, highlighting defensive strategy and baserunning. The teams weren’t exactly evenly divided as the starting lineup for the first team was Chase Utley, Howie Kendrick, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, Corey Seager, Carl Crawford, A.J. Ellis and Joc Pederson. The other starting squad consisted of Micah Johnson, Elian Herrera, Cody Bellinger, Trayce Thompson, Brandon Hicks, Alex Hassan, Corey Brown, Austin Barnes and Rico Noel. Field Coordinator Clayton McCullough actually did the pitching with a screen in front of him while Dodger hurlers simulated the start of the pitch.

• Alex Wood, Brandon Beachy and Jamey Wright threw live batting practice to a group of hitters including Kiké Hernandez and Justin Turner.
• Beachy was signed by the Dodgers on Feb. 21, 2015 and worked his way back to the Major Leagues after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery on March 21, 2014. The right-hander made two starts for Los Angeles last year, was designated for assignment on July 30 and then signed to a minor league deal on Jan. 6, 2016.  

(Puig, pic via @MLB on twitter)

MANNY HAPPY RETURNS: Dodger Spanish Language broadcaster Manny Mota arrived at Camelback Ranch this morning and will help out as an instructor for a few weeks. Mota, who turned 78 on Feb. 18, enters his 48th season as a player, coach or broadcaster with the Dodgers. His Dodger playing career spanned parts of 13 seasons from 1969-1980 and 1982 and during his 20-year-career, Mota hit .304 with San Francisco (1962), Pittsburgh (1963-68), Montreal (1969) and the Dodgers. The native of the Dominican Republic became baseball’s all-time pinch-hit leader with 150, a mark since broken by former Dodgers Lenny Harris and Mark Sweeney.

• Dodger Special Assistant, Player Personnel Aaron Sele also arrived in camp today. Sele is entering his eighth season in the Dodger front office following 15 seasons as a pitcher in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox (1993-97), Rangers (1998-99), Mariners (2000-01, ‘05), Angels (2002-04), Dodgers (2006) and Mets (2007). 

GET WELL SOON: Right-handed reliever Josh Ravin underwent surgery on his left arm yesterday and is expected to be out of action between eight and 12 weeks. Ravin broke his left radius after being involved in a car accident on Monday afternoon. 

WHAT AN HONOR: On this date in 2005, Dodger Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson was honored posthumously by receiving the Congressional Gold Medal during ceremonies in the rotunda of the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC.

(Seager's photoshoot with Majestic, pic via Majestic on twitter)

------------------

Unlike the television channel AM570 will broadcast every Dodgers spring training Baseball game.  Below is the schedule:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 3/2/2016 - Dodgers Links - Holmes, Puig and Yaisel Sierra

Minor League coach Luis Matos, pitching prospect Jose De Leon and the great Fernando Valenzuela are featured in the above photograph originally taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics taken by Jon from yesterday's spring workout.

Below are more links to check out:

• Check this new, new to me that is, Dodgers fan blog I ran into yesterday called, "Behind Enemy Lines."  It's written by a fan who names herself "SoCal Sports Chick," and she is currently enjoying Spring Training with the Dodgers in Glendale.  Check out her wonderfully fan-biased reportsfrom Arizona here.
• And here is Night Owl Cards awesomely-biased 2016 preseason team rankings.
• TMZ provides more details about the John Ravin car accident, here.  They even have several photos of the broken left (non-pitching) arm.
• David Hood at True Blue LA tell us all about Dodgers pitching prospect Grant Holmes.

Holmes’ 80-grade ceiling is built on the foundation of two plus to double-plus pitches, his curveball and fastball. Holmes has not grown into his eventual velocity, so while reports suggest he sat more comfortably 92-96 mph, he has reached 98 mph in the past and has the frame to hold velocity deep into games across a long season. Beyond velocity, Holmes might have the most electric movement on his fastball in the system. Holmes’ fastball has heavy sink at the lower ranges of his velocity, but keeps plus riding life at the top end as well. The pitch is extremely tough for hitters to square and helped suppress home runs in his first full season (just six in 103 innings).

• Yaisel Sierra finally got to pitch in Glendale yesterday, and he is tickled pink.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "'Beautiful feeling' as Yaisel Sierra throws in Dodgers camp."

"I’m ready for my job," Sierra said. "Whatever it is, that is up to the manager and the coaches on my team, but basically I’m ready for the task at hand here, whether it’s being there for my teammates in the dugout, or whatever role they decide to put me in. I’m here to help."

Apparently, the Dodgers want to eventually transform him into a starter, but will have him pitch relief to get him into the show faster.

• Following on the heels of the Aroldis Chapam suspension we get word, via an ESPN story, that you shouldn't expect similar treatment to be handed out to Yasiel Puig.  He is not likely to be suspended for that little incident over the winter.
• Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily shares some preview pics from a brand new Topps card brand called "The Mint;" including pics of the Corey Seager autographed card on the right.  This set is slated to go live in August.
• Tom Bartsch at Sports Collectos Digest tells us about a newly found treasure trove of Ty Cobb personnal effects; including family photos and letters.
• Panini's 2016 Donruss Baseball card set officially comes out today, so here are a few Dodgers preview pics from the set; via Panini's blog.  Go here to check out more photos.  I hope to have pics of all the Dodgers cards next week.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #6

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.

------------------

(Ellis with the catcher signs, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

MARCH MADNESS: The Dodgers held their sixth full-squad workout of Spring Training today with some team defense work (pickoffs and rundowns) and live batting practice. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

GETTING IN THE RHYTHM: Chris Hatcher, Brett Anderson, Ross Stripling, Luis Avilan, Zach Lee and Chase DeJong all threw live BP today, while Scott Kazmir, Pedro Baez, Louis Coleman, Mike Bolsinger, Jharel Cotton, Jacob Rhame and Yaisel Sierra all threw regular bullpens.

• Anderson, 28, enters his eighth big league season after serving as a reliable starter for the Dodgers in his first season with the club in 2015. He posted a 10-9 record with a 3.69 ERA in a career-high 31 starts for Los Angeles and also finished with career highs in innings pitched (180.1) and quality starts (18). He led Major League qualifiers with a 66.7 groundball percentage last season and forced 23 groundball double plays, which ranked eighth most among starting pitchers in the senior circuit.

(Yaisel Sierra's first bullpen session, pic via Jon SooHoo on Dodgers twitter)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Newly acquired right-handed pitcher Yaisel Sierra participated in his first Spring Training workout with the club today, including throwing his first official bullpen of the spring. Sierra, 24, was signed by the Dodgers to a six-year contract last Sunday and pitched five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional with Holguin (2010-14) and Sancti Spiritus (2012), going 16-21 with 25 saves and a 4.23 ERA in 131 games (25 starts). Sierra, who was ranked No. 13 on Baseball America’s Top 20 Cuban prospects list, pitched for the country’s gold-medal winning national team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games. Sierra will wear No. 70.

MIC CHECK: Dodgers broadcasters Fernando Valenzuela and Pepe Yñiguez arrived in Camelback Ranch yesterday, while Charley Steiner arrived to Spring Training earlier today, as they prepare to call the first Cactus League game on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox. Steiner, a four-time Emmy Award winner, is entering his 12th season as play-by-play announcer for the Dodgers and will primarily call the action from AM 570 LA Sports. The 17-year Major League veteran and legendary Dodger, Valenzuela enters his second season calling games on SportsNet LA in Spanish alongside Yñiguez, who enters his 18th season with the Dodgers.

(Josh Ravin, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

GET WELL SOON: Right-handed reliever Josh Ravin was involved in an automobile accident yesterday and broke his left radius. His surgery was scheduled for today. We wish Josh a speedy recovery!  (You can take a look at his broken arm here)

Thank you all for the well wishes!
It's definitely a tough break... ; )

— Josh Ravin™ (@FreshSqueezed22) March 1, 2016

THE BEGINNING: On this date in 2009, the Dodgers played their first-ever game at Camelback Ranch against the Chicago White Sox, with right-handed pitcher Hiroki Kuroda taking the mound and throwing the first-ever pitch at CBR. The club lost, 3-2, to their neighbors, who share one of the largest stadiums in the Cactus League.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog KIosk: 3/1/2016 - Dodgers Links - Sierra, Maeda and Josh Ravin

Good morning, Dodger Fans!

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

• Still unable to participate in any spring activities due to unresolved immigration paperwork, Yaisel Sierra is now in Arizona, via a tweet from Alanna Rizzo:

RHP Yaisel Sierra made a very brief appearance at camp today. Still not officially here. #Dodgers

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) February 29, 2016

• Several other Cubans have also made it to spring camp, via a tweet by Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:

3 of the #Dodgers young Cuban investments -- RHP Yadier Alvarez, OF Yusniel Diaz, IF Omar Estevez - were in minor-league camp today

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 29, 2016

• Amanda McCarthy, wife of Brandon, shared a pic of her husband as a young Dodger fan on Instagram (link here), so I decided to make a fantasy Baseball card using the photo.  Check it out on the right.
• Yasmani Grandal made an interesting comment about pitcher Kenta Maeda after a throwing session yesterday.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Maeda unleashes 4-pitch mix in BP session."

"The reason I compare him to Greinke is that he's got a four-pitch mix," Yasmani Grandal said after catching Maeda's two innings. "Obviously, they are two different pitchers. But you can build a game plan around four pitches and be creative, that's the comparison."

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA puts together some background information on Dodgers catching prospect Kyle Farmer (Link Here).
• Listen to former Dodgers pitcher Dan Haren on the Jonah Keri podcast (dated 2/26/2016 Link Here) where he talks a bit about his time with the Dodgers.  (Hat Tip: r/clarkbarniner on Reddit)
• Dodgers pitcher Josh Ravin was in a car accident this morning, via Alanna Rizzo on twitter:

.@FreshSqueezed22 was in an auto accident yesterday, breaking his left radius (forearm area).  Surgery scheduled for today.  #Dodgers

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 1, 2016

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #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.

--------------------------

(AGon, Puig and Turner, pic via Jon SooHoo/@Dodgers on twitter)

CASE OF THE MONDAYS: Dodger pitchers and catchers held their third official workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Position players report on Feb. 24 and the first full-squad workout will take place the following day, Thursday, Feb. 25. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

FAMILIAR FACE: Among the pitchers to throw his second “official” bullpen today was veteran right-handed reliever Joe Blanton, who was signed in the off-season and is making his second stint with Los Angeles after making 10 starts with the club in 2012. Blanton, 35, spent time with the Royals and the Pirates in 2015, posting a combined 7-2 with two saves and a 2.84 ERA in 36 games (four starts). After being acquired by the Pirates on July 29, 2015, he went 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA (6 ER/34.1 IP) in 21 appearances down the stretch, ranking among the National League’s best relievers (min. 15.0 IP) in wins (1st), innings (34.1, 2nd), strikeouts (39, T-3rd) and ERA (9th) during that span. He has posted a 92-91 career record with a 4.44 ERA in 201 games (252 starts) in 11 big leagues seasons and in 49 career relief appearances, he’s posted a 5-2 record with two saves and a 3.91 ERA.

• Joining Blanton in throwing their second official bullpens of the spring today were Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jensen, Chris Hatcher, Luis Avilan, Yimi Garcia, Carlos Frias, Adam Liberatore, Ross Stripling, Matt West, Zach Lee and Chase De Jong.

(Ryu and Maeda, pic via Jon SooHoo/@Dodgers on twitter)

THE WAITING ROOM: Dodger reliever Josh Ravin missed his third consecutive day due to flu-like symptoms and non-roster right-handed reliever Caleb Dirks will be down a few days with a stiff lower back. Right-hander Brooks Brown, who was claimed off waivers from the Rockies on Oct. 14, 2015, is also being held back from throwing due to right shoulder soreness.

MEDIA DAY: Today, at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Dodger General Manager Farhan Zaidi and Dodger Manager Dave Roberts will address the local and national media from 3-4 p.m. The duo will sit at their designated tables, similar to an All-Star Game style set up, and answer questions from the assembled media corps. Roberts is scheduled to do a live interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter and will also do an interview with MLB Network’s Tom Verducci. The Cactus League media event has been staged by Major League Baseball the past four seasons.

(Adrian Gonzalez is now in camp, pic via Jon SooHoo/@Dodgers on twitter)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #2

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.

--------------------------

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

WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN: Dodger pitchers and catchers held their second official workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Position players report on Feb. 24 and the first full-squad workout will take place the following day, Thursday, Feb. 25. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

THE WAITING ROOM: Dodger reliever Josh Ravin missed his second consecutive day due to flu-like symptoms and non-roster right-handed reliever Caleb Dirks will be down a few days with a stiff lower back. Right-handed Brooks Brown, who was claimed off waivers from the Rockies on Oct. 14, 2015, is also being held back from throwing due to right shoulder soreness.

(Charlie Hough, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

WHEN DOES YAISEL MEET YASIEL?: This morning, the Dodgers announced the signing of 24-year-old Cuban reliever Yaisel Sierra, who is expected to join camp sometime in the next few days. The right-hander pitched five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional with Holguin (2010-14) and Sancti Spiritus (2012), going 16-21 with 25 saves and a 4.23 ERA in 131 games (25 starts). Sierra, who was ranked No. 13 on Baseball America’s Top 20 Cuban prospects list, pitched for the country’s gold-medal winning national team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games. To create room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers placed right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas (rib resection surgery) on the 60-day disabled list.

NEW IN BLUE: While plenty of the familiar faces of the Dodger players are back from last year’s division title, the coaching staff is almost entirely new, with the exception of 11-year pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. The new first base coach in Los Angeles is George Lombard, who spent part of the 2008 season in the Dodger organization as a non-roster invitee and at Triple-A. Lombard spent six seasons coaching in Boston’s minor league system, including the last three as Boston’s minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator after two years (2011-12) managing the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox. He joined the coaching ranks in 2010 as the hitting coach for Single-A Lowell. Welcome George!

(Kenta Maeda, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

(Scott Kazmir, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

ON THE MOUND: The second crew of Dodgers threw their first official bullpens today, including Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda, who took the mound in front of about three dozen media and another dozen staffers. Maeda was caught by Yasmani Grandal as he took another step on the way to his first Major League start. The 27-year-old was signed to an eight-year contract on Jan. 7 following   eight professional seasons with Hiroshima (2008-15) in which he compiled a 97-67 record with a 2.39 ERA in 218 games (217 starts). During the course of his Japanese career, Maeda won two Sawamura Awards (2010, 2015), given to the league’s best pitcher. The new hurler will become the eighth Japanese player in Dodger history, joining Hideo Nomo (1995-98, 2002-04), Kazuhisa Ishii (2002-04), Masao Kida (2003-04), Norihiro Nakamura (2005), Dave Roberts (2002-04), Takashi Saito (2006-07) and Hiroki Kuroda (2008-11). 

• Joining Maeda in throwing bullpens today were Scott Kazmir, Pedro Baez, Julio Urias, Jose De Leon, Alex Wood, Chris Anderson, Jharel Cotton, Mike Bolsinger, Brandon Beachy, Ian Thomas and Jacob Rhame.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #1

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.

--------------------------

(Clayton Kershaw, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

HERE WE GO AGAIN: Dodger pitchers and catchers held their first official workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Position players report on Feb. 24 and the first full-squad workout will take place the following day, Thursday, Feb. 25. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

• Josh Ravin missed today’s workout due to flu-like symptoms.

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

DOCTOR’S ORDERS: Dave Roberts addressed the club’s pitchers, catchers and staff this morning as he opened his first season as Dodger manager. Roberts is the 10th manager in Dodger history and the 28th in franchise history after serving as the bench coach for the Padres the last two seasons. Roberts, who is of African-American and Japanese descent, becomes the Dodgers’ first-ever minority manager and the fourth L.A. Dodger manager to also play for the franchise, joining Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell and Glenn Hoffman.

ON THE MOUND: Among the first Dodgers to throw a bullpen today was newly-signed right-handed reliever Louis Coleman. Coleman, 29, spent the majority of the 2015 season with the Royals’ Triple-A Omaha, going 8-2 with nine saves and a 1.69 ERA in 38 games, before receiving a call-up to Kansas City on Sept. 7 and making four scoreless appearances (3.0 IP) in the big leagues. Coleman made his Major League debut in 2011 with the Royals and appeared in 152 games with Kansas City from 2011-15, going 6-4 with two saves and a 3.20 ERA. He’s limited opposing hitters to a .223 batting average in the big leagues, while averaging better than a strikeout per inning, with 186 Ks in 177.1 innings pitched.

(Coleman and Anderson, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

• Joining Coleman in throwing their first official bullpens of the spring today were Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, J.P. Howell, Joe Blanton, Chris Hatcher, Luis Avilan, Yimi Garcia, Carlos Frias, Adam Liberatore, Ross Stripling, Matt West, Zach Lee and Chase De Jong.

KING OF THE VALLEY: Congratulations to Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier on having his Arizona State No. 14 jersey retired and joining the Wall of Honor last night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Ethier and his former teammate, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, were both honored prior to ASU Baseball’s home-opener against Xavier. In two years at ASU, Ethier posted a .371 batting average with 14 home runs and 118 RBI and was a two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection.

(Andre Ethier, pic pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

HITTING FOR THE “OURCYCLE”: Earlier today, the Dodgers’ community relations team played host to “OurCycle LA” at Dodger Stadium. The one-day event, part of the program launched by Mayor Eric Garcetti, provided 200 first-time Internet subscribers the opportunity to participate in computer literacy training and a free refurbished computer.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 12/11/2015 - Dodger Links - Jarrin's Birthday, King's Rant and Puig's Troubles

Happy belated 80th birthday to Dodger legend Jaime Jarrin.  The Dodgers celebrated this occasion yesterday.  Photo above via @DodgerInsider on twitter.

"It's only one year, but phonetically, 79 is very different from 80." - @JaimeJarrin pic.twitter.com/B2H1EWxSXL

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) December 10, 2015

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Scott Miller at the Bleacher Report, "Is There Anybody Left in Los Angeles Whom Yasiel Puig Hasn't Alienated?"

"He is the worst person I've ever seen in this game," one ex-Dodger who believes Puig is beyond redemption said flatly. "Ever."

It is the question that persists, and is asked with more and more frequency as the hurricane that is Puig wreaks ever more damage: Can the frayed relationships between Puig and his teammates be salvaged in Los Angeles?

"I think they definitely can," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis told Bleacher Report this week in another telephone conversation. "I think there has to be give-and-take on both sides.

• Awesome!  Via a tweet from Josh Ravin:

Just signed my 1st Topps Rookie Card. Pretty unbelievable feeling holding that card in my hand....... #Blassed #Smile

— Josh Ravin™ (@FreshSqueezed22) December 10, 2015

• Via Barry Lewis at Tulsa World, "Pro baseball: Four Dodgers selections in Rule 5 draft likely headed to Drillers."
• Larry King rants to Bob Nightengale about the Dodgers at USA Today; "MLB's hot stove season ramps up rivalries, freaks out fans."

“I can’t stand what we’re doing,” King told USA TODAY Sports. “Those people in the Dodger front office, they think they’re still in Tampa. This is Los Angeles. We’re in the second-largest market in the country. We lead baseball in home and road attendance. And we haven’t won a World Series since 1988.

“We are not Tampa, but they’re acting like it. They have all of this money — and nothing. We’ve got to do something.”

• A great read about a former ballplayer.  Via Pedro Moura at the OC Register, "Former pitcher Floyd Youmans comes to grips with life outside baseball."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 11/3/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Roberts and Vote for Scavuzzo

Will we be getting a new and improved Yasiel Puig next season?

It's obviously way too early to tell, but you gotta love this early indication.  The photo above, featuring Puig with slugger Miguel Cabrera, was instagramed yesterday.  In the caption Miggy says that he ran into Puig working out with weights for the first time in young career.  Hopefully, this is a sign of some good things to come.  (Hat Tip: r/ilovemesomeme)

Below are more links to check out:

• I like Dave Roberts, via a tweet from Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: #Dodgers have interviewed Dave Roberts for managing job. LAD not close to decision. Roberts expected to move on from SD regardless.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 3, 2015

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Ralston Cash, manager Bill Haselman named to 2015 AFL Fall Stars Game."  As Eric notes, Dodger prospect Jacob Scavuzzo is also an "Final Vote" candidate for the All-Star Game.  Go here to make your mark for Scavuzzo.
• Well... I guess Dusty Baker is the manager instead.  Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "It's official: Dusty Baker is the new manager of the Nationals."
• Via Kennedy Ryan at KTLA5, "Two Men Arrested in Shooting of Brother of Dodgers Pitcher Josh Ravin." 
• You folks should come on out for this, via a tweet from Justin Turner:

Excited to play n #Bat4Hope Celeb Softball for @iamhope. Come out 2 support, get tix today: https://t.co/7ZGKJG5P0D pic.twitter.com/AWD13X3aMT

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) November 3, 2015

• Via John Thorn at Our Game, "Ball Playing Among Native Americans."
• This is probably the most insightful sabermetric analysis of the Royals World Series win.  Via Alex Skillin at The Hardball Times, "The Royals Are A Sabermetrics Team."

The Royals haven’t just won with defense, of course. At the plate, they’ve built a lineup filled with high-contact hitters in an era when power has become pricey and highly sought after. Moreover, in a time when hurlers have dominated and strikeouts have soared, Kansas City has assembled an offense that is less susceptible to the effects of elite velocity and pitching’s widespread supremacy.

As Ben Lindbergh wrote recently at Grantland, evidence exists that high-contact hitters perform better against power pitchers, a notion that has been borne out in the playoffs for two years in a row. (The Giants, too, have succeeded with a similar offensive makeup.) Although burly sluggers often can do more damage, they’re less consistent at the plate, and they’re vulnerable when facing hurlers who excel at getting strikeouts. Watching the Mets’ power arms churn through a formidable Cubs lineup demonstrated this concept to a “T.”

...
Ultimately, Kansas City is still not viewed as a sabermetric team due to a dated reputation that no longer accurately reflects the organization’s capabilities. Instead, the Royals should be regarded as one of the smartest organizations in baseball — a franchise, much like the Pirates or Astros, that has developed a clear plan and carried it out to great success. No, the Royals haven’t excelled solely because they possess some hyper-advanced analytics department filled with mad scientists churning out data and formulas that are well ahead of everyone else. But what they’ve done probably would draw far more accolades from the sabermetrics crowd if a team like the Rays or Cubs had succeeded with similar strategies.

• Awesome!

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

2015 Topps Update Baseball - All the Dodger Base Cards

The final installment of Topps flagship Baseball card set is now in stores. Officially released today is the 2015 Topps Update Baseball card set, and it includes 23 Dodgers' in the base set.  Considering the large number of transactions the front office pulled off towards the end of the season this number should be of no surprise.  First time Dodgers with Blue cardboard include Luis Avilan, Josh Ravin, Enrique Hernandez, Adam Liberatore, Juan Nicasio, Mike Bolsinger, Jim Johnson, Mat Latos and Alex Wood.  Go here for a complete checklist of the set.

BTW, I have included pics of the gold parallel for the Mat Latos and Alex Wood cards.  Those are numbered to #/2015, so they are fairly common.

#US37 Luis Avilan

#US50 Alex Guerrero                            #US51 Yasmani Grandal