Blog Kiosk: 7/13/2015 - Dodger Links - Kershaw, Pederson and Don Demeter

As you've certainly heard by now, Clayton Kerrshaw has been added to the National League roster.  Via a Dodger press release:

National League All-Star manager Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants announced today, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, that left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been added to the NL’s active roster for the Midsummer Classic.  Kershaw replaces Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer, who started on Sunday afternoon and has elected not to be active during the All-Star Game.

Above is a pic by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 featuring all five Dodger All-Star jerseys who'll be heading over to Cincinnati.  Below are some links to check out:

• BTW, Joc Pederson was named a starter for the All-Star Game, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.
• Via Mark Townsend at Big League Stew, "Dodgers build shrine to former teammate Juan Uribe on his bobblehead day."
• Via Nick Diunte at Baseball Happenings, "Catching up with Brooklyn Dodger Don Demeter."

"The next night I got to pinch hit again and the first swing I took, I hit a home run," he said. "They put me in the Ebbets Hall of Fame because I have a .500 average in Ebbets Field."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Juan Gonzalez strikes out 2 in MLB Futures Game."
• Via Corey Brock at MLB.com, "Dodgers prospect Farmer gets taste of Future." 

"On the catching side, it's his leadership and his ability to connect with pitchers that has shined," said Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler. "He's been an exemplary teammate. It's been a pleasure to watch him rise and a true feather in the cap of our catching specialist, Travis Barbary."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "A.J. Ellis finds his roll in new role."

"There was an adjustment period, figuring out the transition," Ellis admitted. "Fortunately, defensively I have felt good all year. The limited amount of playing time keeps you fresh, so when I do catch I have my legs under me. I'm able to move and throw, and do everything I need to do behind the plate, which is first and foremost the most important part of my job."

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Blog Kiosk: 5/26/2015 - Dodger Links - Going on a Coffee Run

A new tradition has been created.  As you'll recall, last season Joc Pederson was called on by the Dodger veterans in the clubhouse to fetch some coffee from a nearby Starbucks in Chicago (as evidenced by this photo instagramed by Joc), so naturally they rounded up several more rookies (including the twice-struck Joc) to carry out the task once again.  Featured above is Mike Bolsinger, Joc Pederson and Adam Liberatore posing with said cups after completing their job.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 on twitter.

J.P. Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers has a collection of photos found on social media: "Call it a tradition: Dodgers rookies make Starbucks run for veteran teammates."  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider shares a video here.  Jon SooHoo has a whole bunch of pics from the event on his blog here.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Farmer, Gonzalez tabbed for Futures Game."
• Dodgers Minor League Strength & Conditioning Coach Ryan Faer writes, "What is Sport-Specific Training for Baseball?"

The planned and periodized training program will usually start on the general training side at the beginning of the off-season, and work its way toward the more specific end of the continuum as the off-season goes along. The rationale behind this is quite simple: build a base of strength and motor control with general training, and then progress and transfer those adaptations to more specific training that matches the demands of the sport.

• Hmmmm.  Via a tweet from David Vassegh:

Don Mattingly said Andrew Friedman has presented some trade scenarios to him #Dodgers #TradeTalk

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) June 25, 2015

• The National Sports Collectors Convention is around the corner, so slowly but surely we'll be getting news about the various promotional / VIP sets being given to collectors.  Topps just announced that they'll be giving out a five-card "cards that never were" set featuring some Hall of Famers in a 1953 Bowman color format; including the Jackie Robinson card below.  Go here to see the other four cards.

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