Blog Kiosk: 12/3/2015 - Dodger Links - McGwire, Rizzo and AJ Ellis the Hunk

Talk 'bout breakin' up the play.

Check out this fantastic vintage "United Press" press photo, dated August 28, 1956, of Cubs outfielder Pete Whisenant with an aggressive slide against Dodger second baseman Charlie Neal.  To use hockey parlance, it looks like Whisenant hip-checked Neal off the base.  Fortunately, the missed opportunity to get the extra out didn't lead to a run, but the Dodgers did lose the game, 4-3.  Photo above via an eBay auction.

Below are more links to check out:

• I'm a huge AJ Ellis fan, so this is welcomed news. Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Catcher A.J. Ellis will return to Dodgers in 2016."

They retained one of the most popular players in the clubhouse, agreeing to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with catcher A.J. Ellis on Wednesday.

• BTW, AJ Ellis isn't just a catcher and positive clubhouse presence.  He is also a reality tv actor.  Via Robin Reed at Yahoo TV, "Dodger A.J. Ellis Makes House Call to Lisa Vanderpump on ‘RHOBH’"  There's a video to gawk at, and plenty of material to make you smile.  The best line of all was:

"The LA Dodgers have sent over this gorgeous hunk.  AJ Ellis who, ya know, let me play with his balls... or practice, at least."

• Via Bernie Wilson at Yahoo Sports, "Padres manager Andy Green names McGwire bench coach."

''As a player I pretty much went through anything a player could ever wish upon as far as success, and all the failures,'' he said. ''You learn how to be a man through adversity and failure. The game is built on failure. I know how to bust through that. ... I'm ecstatic about this new role. It's a great challenge for me, moving up in the game.''

• Wow!  According to Erika Owen at Travel + Leisure, Dodger Stadium is the 5th most Instagrammed place in the world.
• SportsNet LA/Dodgers Broadcaster Alanna Rizzo is the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) “HOPE Rising” honoree at their 26th annual awards dinner tonight.  Adrian Gonzalez is expected to introduce her to the masses.  Go here for more information about this event.  Per a Dodger press release:

“I am truly honored to be receiving the HOPE Rising Award,” said Rizzo. “When an organization like HOPE, that for 26 years has been working to advance and amplify the voice of Latinas, notices your work and the impact it has on others, it only elevates my commitment to continue to work harder to open the doors for young Latinas that follow in my footsteps.”

• This is a head-scratcher.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dodgers part ways with Juan Nicasio."

Nicasio led all Dodger relievers in 2015 in innings pitched, finishing the year with a 3.86 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. He had a 2.92 ERA through August 30, before allowing nine runs in his final nine innings and ending up off the Dodgers’ playoff roster.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers reportedly hire Neil Rampe, Nate Lucero as new athletic trainers."

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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

Blog Kiosk: 8/25/2015 - Dodger Links - Arky Vaughan, Nicasio and Jharel Cotton

Check out this fantastic vintage photograph of three members of the 1947 National League Pennant winning Brooklyn Dodgers: Dick Whitman, Carl Furillo  and Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan at Braves Field (via r/michaelconfoy at r/ClassicBaseball on Reddit).  Below is a great comment by r/niktemadur about Arky Vaughan :

Widely regarded as one of the finest shortstops of all time, Vaughan was the NL batting champ in 1935, with an astonishing .385, so rare for a man playing his position.  Contemporary Luke "Ol' Aches and Pains" Appling of the White Sox was another one of those mythical beasts, winning the AL title the following year with .388, but I digress.

Vaughan is also one of the tragic figures of baseball, having drowned in a lake fishing accident soon after retiring.

What I didn't know was that Arky missed the 1944-46 seasons, which I assumed was due to WWII. But no, it was due to a weird, toxic incident with Dodgers manager Leo Durocher. Vaughan was a natural leader among his teammates, quiet, protective, respectful and a commanding presence.
In July 1943, Durocher suspended pitcher Bobo Newsom for 3 games for loudly complaining about catcher Bobby Bragan's defensive skills. But then Durocher said some angry things about Newsom in a newspaper, which infuriated Vaughan, no manager should speak ill of his own players, particularly after suspending him for the exact same behavior, and much less in print!
So Arky took off his uniform, stormed into Durocher's office, threw the clothes at him and said "Take this uniform and shove it right up your ass". Branch Rickey intervened and Arky finished the season, but then he retired to his ranch in California.

Then check this out, when Durocher was suspended from baseball in 1947 (for being married and having a mistress), Vaughan returned to the Dodgers after missing three whole seasons! Batted .325 as a part-time player, rusty skills and all, the man was a natural.

Here's Jackie on Vaughan:

He was one of the fellows who went out of his way to be nice to me when I came in here as a rookie. Believe me, I needed it. He was a fine fellow.

Check out some more links below:

• ICYMI: The Dodgers sent reliever Yimi Garcia back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.  It is anticipated that right-handed reliever Juan Nicasio will be reinstated from the DL.  Via a Dodger press release:

Nicasio has been on the disabled list since Aug. 10 with a left abdominal strain and has gone 1-3 with one save and a 3.06 ERA in 38 games (one start) this year.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers' bullpen changes figure to be internal."

But, of course, Dodgers fans don't want to hear that and simply trusting in a regression to the mean when the season is reduced to six weeks seems risky. Change will come, but it might come from within. The most interesting potential fix is to promote the team's best pitching prospect, 19-year old Julio Urias.

This is actually quite routine.  When Fernando Valenzuela first came up in 1980 he pitched out of the bullpen, so doing this has some precedence.

• As I intimated above, at this point anything is worth a try.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Jharel Cotton emerges as possible Dodgers bullpen option."

Dodgers minor league pitcher Jharel Cotton got the call on Friday, when Double-A Tulsa manager Razor Shines told the right-hander he was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City. If Cotton keeps up his breakout season, it might not be the last such meeting he has in 2015.

"He told me I'm going to Triple-A to relieve out of the pen, and hopefully the Dodgers like what they see," Cotton said. "It's great to know that."

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 24 / Home Game 12

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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San Diego Padres (11-10) at Los Angeles Dodgers (11-6-6)
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

LHP Jason Lane (0-0, 4.70) vs. RHP Juan Nicasio (0-0, 5.14)
TV: SNLA

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(Jimmie Rollins, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

SAN DIEGO SHOWDOWN: The Dodgers, who have the Majors’ best spring winning percentage at .647, take on the Padres for the second and final time this spring after beating San Diego, 1-0, on March 12 in Peoria. The clubs will play again in just 12 days, on April 6 - Opening Day at Dodger Stadium - for the first of 19 regular-season meetings.

A CASE OF THE MONDAYS: The Dodgers rallied for three runs in the eighth inning on Monday to down the D-backs, 7-4, at Camelback Ranch. Jimmy Rollins, who is batting .316 in 13 Cactus League games, tripled and scored during Los Angeles’ third-inning rally, and Kiké Hernandez went 2-for-2 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Chris Anderson made the spot start for the Dodgers, allowing one run on four hits in 3.0 innings, and Daniel Coulombe picked up the win after retiring all three batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.

• Following Monday’s game, the Dodgers optioned Coulombe to minor league camp.

MEANWHILE ON THE MINOR LEAGUE SIDE…: While the majority of the Dodgers were off yesterday, Brett Anderson and Mike Adams pitched in minor league games against the Brewers. Anderson threw 79 pitches in the High-A game, allowing three runs on nine hits with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings, and Adams needed just 13 pitches to strike out the side in his only inning in a Low-A contest.

• Today, Carl Crawford will receive extra at-bats on the minor league side in the Dodgers’ Single-A game against the Rangers. A.J. Ellis is expected to do the same tomorrow.

(Graphic via @Dodgers on twitter)

THEY SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who turns 28 today! Ryu, who hasn’t pitched since March 17, underwent a contrast MRI in Los Angeles on Monday, which showed no changes since his 2012 MRI. The Dodgers plan to rest and rehab Ryu for two weeks before re-evaluating him at that time to determine his throwing progression.

SUCH A JOC: Joc Pederson has posted a .415/.455/.732 slashline this spring and continues to rank among the NL leaders in runs (10, T-3rd), hits (17, 2nd), batting average (.415, 3rd) and total bases (30, 3rd), on-base percentage (.455, 7th) and slugging percentage (.732, 1st).

• Despite not having an official at-bat on Monday, Justin Turner’s 10-game hitting streak came to an end, terminating after he was hit by a pitch and a third-inning sacrifice fly without a hit. He’s batting .469 with four doubles, two homers and seven RBI, while posting a .500 on-base percentage and a .781 slugging percentage in 13 Cactus League games.
• Kiké Hernandez went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored on Monday, as he continued to swing a hot bat. Hernandez has hit safely in his last six contests, batting .500 (7-for-14) with six runs scored, a double, three homers and four RBI since March 18.
• The Dodgers have been going deep at a frenetic pace of late and continue to lead the Major Leagues with 33 home runs.

ON THE MOUND: RHP Juan Nicasio will make his first start in his sixth appearance of the spring today. Nicasio has made three consecutive scoreless appearances, including striking out four in 2.0 scoreless frames in his last outing on Saturday against the Rangers.

• RHP Dustin McGowan will make his sixth appearance of the spring today, last pitching 2.0 scoreless innings on Saturday against the Rockies.
• RHP Sergio Santos has allowed just one run and struck out nine in 6.0 innings in six outings this spring. He last pitched on Saturday against the Rockies at Talking Stick.
• LHP J.P. Howell will make his sixth appearance of the spring today, last pitching a scoreless inning on Sunday against the Indians.
• LHP Paco Rodriguez has allowed just three hits and struck out seven in 6.0 scoreless innings this spring, last pitching on Sunday against the Indians.
• RHP David Aardsma has tossed scoreless relief in five of six appearances this spring, last pitching on Sunday against the Indians.
• RHP Yimi Garcia has nine strikeouts in 7.1 scoreless innings this spring, last pitching 1.2 innings on Sunday against Cleveland.
• Brandon League will have an MRI on his right shoulder today. He has made two appearances this spring, last pitching on March 9.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 15 / Road Game 8

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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Los Angeles Dodgers (8-2-4) vs. Texas Rangers (7-6-1)
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Surprise Recreation Campus

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (0-0, 21.60)   
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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(St. Patrick's Day 1998, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

POT OF GOLD: The Dodgers, who have the Cactus League’s best winning percentage at .800, travel to Surprise to take on the Rangers in the first of four exhibition contests between the clubs this spring. The teams will match up again this weekend as their split-squads travel to San Antonio for a two-game series and will also meet on March 29 in Glendale. The clubs will play four regular-season games in 2015, June 15-16 in Arlington and June 17-18 at Dodger Stadium, marking their first games against each other since 2009 and the Rangers’ first visit to Los Angeles since 2001. The Dodgers will don green caps in today’s game in honor of St. Patrick’s Day!

• Yesterday, the Dodgers optioned pitchers Zach Lee, Chris Reed, Mike Bolsinger, Joe Wieland and Carlos Frias along with catcher Austin Barnes and reassigned infielders O’Koyea Dickson and Erisbel Arruebarrena to minor league camp. Including Brandon Beachy and Chris Withrow, who are on the 60-day disabled list, the Dodgers have 50 players remaining in big league camp.

NO LUCK OF THE IRISH NEEDED: The Dodgers erupted for three home runs, including a pinch-hit grand slam by Darnell Sweeney, during an eight-run eighth inning yesterday to down the A’s, 10-5, at Camelback Ranch for their third consecutive win. Scott Schebler and Chris Heisey also homered during the eighth-inning rally, and Darwin Barney had a game-high three hits, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Zack Greinke made his second start of the spring, allowing just one hit – a solo home run by Josh Phegley – in 3.0 innings in a no-decision.

TEXAS TWO-STEP: The countdown is on to Big League Weekend, with the Dodgers taking on the Rangers Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome in San Antonio! Erik Bedard and Zack Greinke are expected to start the two San Antonio exhibition games for the Dodgers, with a roster that includes Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, and Joc Pederson.

MAKING JACKIE PROUD: Major League Baseball announced yesterday that the Dodgers will play host to the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium in the 2015 Civil Rights Game on Jackie Robinson Day, Wednesday, April 15.  It will mark the first time that Baseball’s tribute to civil rights leaders and figures will be held in conjunction with its annual commemoration of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson breaking Baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947. The Civil Rights Game was developed by MLB to pay tribute to the spirit of the civil rights movement and to honor those who embodied the struggle for equal rights for all Americans. This is the first Civil Rights Game hosted by the Dodgers and second one they have played in (2012), while this will be the first overall for the Mariners.

(Hyun-Jin Ryu, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will make his second start of the spring today after striking out two in 2.0 hitless, scoreless innings on Thursday at San Diego. Ryu, who has never faced the Rangers, has struggled against American League opponents during the course of his career, going 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA (25 ER/47.2 IP) in eight starts.

• LHP Paco Rodriguez is expected to make his fourth appearance of the spring today, last pitching on Saturday against the Indians. Rodriguez has yet to allow a run and has struck out five in 3.0 innings this spring.
• LHP J.P Howell is also expected to see action today after firing a scoreless inning on Saturday against the Indians.
• RHP Juan Nicasio will make his fourth Cactus League appearance today after tossing a scoreless inning of relief in Friday’s tie with the Reds.
• RHP David Aardsma will also make his fourth appearance of the spring today, last pitching on Saturday against the Indians. Aardsma has allowed just one hit in 3.0 scoreless innings this spring.
• RHP Pedro Baez, who last pitched on Saturday against the Indians, has allowed just one hit in 3.0 innings this spring.
• Los Angeles pitching has been terrific so far this spring, as the club has combined to post a 3.02 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .209 batting average, striking out 98 and walking just 32 in 125.0 innings.

THE HOME OF THE DODGERS: Yesterday, iHeartMedia Los Angeles and the Dodgers announced the debut of the all-new AM 570 LA Sports.. The new baseball season will bring a new name, a new look, a re-brand, a re-launch and a new co-ownership with the Dodgers to the station formerly known as KLAC. AM 570 LA Sports will be under the co-ownership of iHeartMedia Los Angeles and the Dodgers, will have a new logo and will also incorporate the new 2015 Dodgers slogan “We Love LA.”  Another new addition, Dodger Talk featuring David Vassegh and Kevin Kennedy, will now air immediately following Dodgers baseball games or at 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

(Retired #'s added to Club Level at Dodger Stadium, pic via @DodgerInsider on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 11 / Home Game 5

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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Cincinnati Reds (5-5-1)  at Los Angeles Dodgers (5-2-3)
Friday, March 13, 2015 – 7:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Jason Marquis (2-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy (0-0, 4.50)
TV: SNLA Radio: KLAC

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(Peoria Stadium, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

FRIDAY THE 13TH: The Dodgers and Reds meet for the first and only time this spring in a sold-out contest under the lights at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Los Angeles and Cincinnati won’t meet again until August, when the clubs will play their seven-game season series in the span of two weeks, Aug. 13-16 at Dodger Stadium and Aug. 25-27 at Great American Ball Park.

• Tomorrow’s 1:05 p.m. game against the Indians at Camelback Ranch is also sold out. 

LOOK RYU’S BACK: Hyun-Jin Ryu made his Cactus League debut last night, striking out two in 2.0 hitless, scoreless innings, and combined with seven Dodger relievers (including Will Ferrell) on a two-hit shutout of the Padres in a 1-0 Dodger victory. Joc Pederson blasted his first homer of the spring in the ninth inning for the game’s only run and is batting .353 in seven Cactus League games.

• The Dodgers have committed just three errors through their first 10 Cactus League contests.
• Los Angeles pitchers have combined to post a 3.13 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .200 batting average this spring, striking out 72 and walking just 20 in 89.0 innings.

(Hyun-Jin Ryu, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

MINOR NEWS: Dodger minor leaguers will hold their first official workout of the spring tomorrow on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. The minor league portion of the Spring Training schedule gets underway for the Triple-A and Double-A rosters on March 20, while the two Single-A clubs have their opening games on March 22.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Brandon McCarthy will make his second start of the spring tonight after allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings on Sunday against the Brewers. The 31-year-old, who signed a four-year contract with Los Angeles this offseason, enters 2015 as one of baseball’s hottest pitchers after going 9-5 with a 2.80 ERA (32 ER/103.0 IP) in his final 16 starts last year with the D-backs and Yankees.

• RHP Joel Peralta will make his Dodger debut and his first outing of the spring tonight. Peralta, 39, was acquired this offseason from Tampa Bay and leads MLB relievers with 296 appearances over the last four years from 2011-14. During the course of his career, he’s posted a 3.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio and limited opposing hitters to a .230 batting average.
• RHP Brandon League is expected to make his third appearance of the spring this evening, last pitching on Monday against the Giants.
• RHP Chris Hatcher will make his third appearance of the spring tonight after tossing a scoreless inning on both March 5 against the White Sox and on Monday against the Giants. Hatcher, a converted catcher, was acquired from Miami in a seven-player deal on Dec. 10, 2014.
• RHP Juan Nicasio is expected to make his third appearance of the spring tonight after allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings on Sunday against the Brewers. Nicasio was acquired from the Rockies this offseason and, after opening the year in the starting rotation, he made the first 19 relief appearances of his career last year with Colorado, posting a 3.48 ERA in that role.
• LHP Daniel Coulombe has allowed just one hit in 2.0 scoreless appearances this spring, last pitching on Sunday against the Brewers. Coulombe, 25, made his MLB debut as a September call-up last year and pitched in five games with the Dodgers in his first big league action.
• RHP Yimi Garcia is expected to make his third appearance of the spring tonight after tossing a scoreless inning against both the Brewers (March 6) and Giants (Monday).  Garcia saw his first big league action last year as a September call-up and allowed just two runs in 10.0 innings in eight relief appearances with the Dodgers.

AN OLD FRIEND RETURNS: This weekend, former assistant to Tommy Lasorda, Colin Gunderson, returns to Camelback and will sign copies of his new book, Tommy Lasorda: My Way, along with the Hall of Fame skipper himself. There will be two signings in the center-field pavilion at Camelback Ranch, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. tonight and from noon-2:00 p.m. tomorrow

IN MEMORY: The Dodgers join the rest of the Los Angeles sports world in mourning the passing of longtime sports talk radio host Joe McDonnell at the age of 58. The club wishes to pass along its deepest condolences to McDonnell’s family and to all those in the Southern California sports community who lost a colleague and friend. Dodger EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Lon Rosen said, “Joe was all about sports and loved the Dodgers. He was a fixture at Dodger Stadium and will be terribly missed by players, management and fans.”

(The Kershaw's, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 6 / 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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Lo Angeles Dodgers (3-1-1) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (0-3)
Sunday, March 8, 2015 – 12:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

RHP Brandon McCarthy (0-0) vs. RHP Mike Fiers (0-0)
TV: SNLA Radio: AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

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(Bats, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HOME COOKING: The Dodgers are back home this afternoon to take on the Milwaukee Brewers for the second and final time this spring. A split-squad of Dodgers crushed the Brewers, 10-1, on Friday in Maryvale. Last season, Los Angeles lost five of its six games with Milwaukee, including a late-season sweep Aug. 15-17 at Dodger Stadium. This year, the “Brew Crew” will play host to the Dodgers seven times, including four contests in Milwaukee May 4-7. The Dodgers host the Brewers for three games July 10-12, their final games before the All-Star break.

NOT THAT COOL: Los Angeles gave up four runs in the ninth inning yesterday and then salvaged a 5-5 tie with the Cleveland Indians in Goodyear. The big performance of the day was from newly-acquired catcher Yasmani Grandal, who went 3-for-3 with a solo homer and three RBI on the day.

• Until the ninth, the Dodger relievers were solid behind starter Mike Bolsinger, as Chad Gaudin (2.0 IP), Jeremy Horst (1.1) and Chin-hui Tsao (2.2) all tossed scoreless baseball.
• Through five games, the Dodgers have a .294 team batting average, a .354 on-base percentage and a .469 slugging percentage.
• A couple Dodgers in the starting lineup this afternoon have been on fire, namely center fielder Joc Pederson (5-for-7 with two doubles and four runs scored) and designated hitter Scott Schebler (5-for-10, three doubles, two RBI).

  

  (Yasmani Grandal, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Brandon McCarthy, signed by the club to a four-year deal in the offseason, will make his Dodger debut this afternoon vs. Milwaukee. McCarthy is coming off a career year last season with the Yankees and Diamondbacks in which he established career highs in innings (200.0), wins (10) and strikeouts (175). After being acquired by the Yankees on July 6, the Glendale, CA, native went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts with New York. In 207 games (153 starts) for the White Sox (2005-6), Rangers (2007-9), A’s (2011-12), Diamondbacks (2013-14) and Yankees (2014), McCarthy is 52-65 with a 4.09 ERA in nine big league seasons.

• Left-handed relievers Daniel Coulombe and Ryan Buchter are both expected back on the mound after each fired a scoreless inning on Thursday against the White Sox. Coulombe appeared in five games for the Dodgers last year, posting a 4.15 ERA. In his three years in the minors, Coulombe has gone 7-3 with eight saves and posted a 3.43 ERA in 126 games. Buchter made his Major League debut with Atlanta last season, which was his only big league appearance. In nine minor league seasons he has posted a 32-18 record with a 3.44 ERA in 327 games (two starts) in the Nationals (2006-08), Cubs (2009-11) and Braves (2011-14) organizations.
• RHP Juan Nicasio is looking to bounce back from a rough first-time out in 2015. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits in his 1.0 inning of work in the Cactus League lid-lifter Wednesday.
• Three right-handers that impressed in their Dodger debuts and are expected to see action today are Sergio Santos, Adam Liberatore and Josh Ravin. The trio each tossed a scoreless inning on March 4 vs. the White Sox. Santos, a former first-round pick of the D-backs in 2002, spent the last three seasons with the Blue Jays and is a converted shortstop. The 27-year-old Liberatore was acquired in a trade with the Rays on Nov. 20, 2014, which also brought RHP Joel Peralta to Los Angeles, and had a career year for Triple-A Durham last year, going 6-1 with four saves and a 1.66 ERA in 54 games. Ravin, a graduate of Chatsworth High School, is in his second season in the Dodger organization after combining to go 2-1 with six saves and a 3.55 ERA in 23 relief appearances for Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Albuquerque last year.

WHO’S GOT NEXT?: The Dodgers will have seven minor leaguers joining the club today against the Brewers at Camelback: infielders Jarek Cunningham (No. 87) and Luis Mateo (No. 86); outfielder Joey Curletta (No. 95); catcher Ryan Scott (No. 88); RHP Steve Smith (No. 94), LHP Mike Thomas (No. 89) and RHP Jeremy Kehrt (No. 85).  

(Juan Uribe, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 1 / Home Game 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.

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 Chicago White Sox (0-0) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0)

LHP Jose Quintana (0-0) vs. LHP Erik Bedard (0-0)

Wednesday, March 4, 2015 – 12:05 p.m. PT | Camelback Ranch – Glendale

TV: SNLA Radio: AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

(Dodger lineup, via ESPN reporter Mark Saxon on twitter)

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(Puig, pic via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HEY, NEIGHBOR!: The Dodgers open up Cactus League play and their seventh season at Camelback Ranch – Glendale today against the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles will play 31 exhibition games this spring, including 15 games at Camelback Ranch and 26 total Cactus League contests, in addition to two games against the Rangers in San Antonio and the three-game Freeway Series against the Angels.

• The Dodgers have gone 2-5 in their Cactus League openers since re-locating Spring Training to the desert in 2009, including dropping both split-squad contests in 2011.

HEY, NEW GUY: Since the end of the 2014 season, the Dodgers have added 19 new players to the 40-man roster, including  Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal and Chris Heisey, who will make their debuts with the club this afternoon. Of the pitchers expected to throw in today’s contest, only Carlos Frias has previously pitched for the Dodgers.

• Rollins is batting in his familiar leadoff spot today and ranks fourth on the all-time list with 46 career leadoff home runs, behind only Rickey Henderson (81), Alfonso Soriano (54) and Craig Biggio (53). Rollins also ranks among active players in career hits (2,306, 7th) and stolen bases (453, 4th).

ON THE MOUND: Non-roster left-hander Erik Bedard will make his Dodger debut today after spending the 2014 season in the Tampa Bay organization, going 4-6 with a 4.76 ERA in 17 games (15 starts) with the Rays and making one start with Triple-A Durham. Bedard has averaged 8.60 strikeouts per 9.0 innings and has posted a 2.34 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 241 career big league games (230 games) over 11 seasons with Baltimore (2005-07), Seattle (2008-09, ’11), Boston (2011), Pittsburgh (2012), Houston (2013) and Tampa Bay (2014).

• RHP Carlos Frias is expected to appear in today’s game after seeing his first big league action last year, going 1-1 with a 6.12 ERA in 15 games (two starts) during two stints with the Dodgers. In his 13 relief appearances in the Majors last year, he limited opponents to a .205 batting average (20-for-98) with 25 strikeouts against only six walks and posted a 1.01 WHIP in 25.2 innings.
• RHP Juan Nicasio will don Dodger blue for the first time in a game today after he was acquired from Colorado on Nov. 24, 2014 in exchange for minor league outfielder Noel Cuevas. Nicasio, 28, appeared in 33 games for the Rockies last year and saw his first career action out of the bullpen, where he went 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA (8 ER/20.2 IP) and tossed scoreless relief in 14 of his 19 appearances.
• RHP Sergio Santos, a former first-round pick of the D-backs in 2002, will make his Dodger debut today after spending the last three seasons with the Blue Jays.  Santos, a converted shortstop, will be facing his former White Sox teammates today after making his MLB debut with the club in 2010 and saving a career-high 30 games for Chicago in 2011.
• 27-year-old LHP Adam Liberatore was acquired in a trade with the Rays on Nov. 20, 2014, which also brought RHP Joel Peralta to Los Angeles, and had a career year for Triple-A Durham last year, going 6-1 with four saves and a 1.66 ERA in 54 games. In parts of three seasons at the Triple-A level, Liberatore has gone 12-5 with a 2.40 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and an average of 10.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.
• RHP Josh Ravin, a graduate of Chatsworth High School, is in his second season in the Dodger organization after combining to go 2-1 with six saves and a 3.55 ERA in 23 relief appearances for Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Albuquerque last year. Ravin is entering his 10th professional season and was originally selected by Cincinnati in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.
• The Dodgers have three additional pitchers suiting up today from the minor league side: LHP Jeremy Horst (#97), RHP Jeremy Kehrt (#87) and RHP Blake Smith (#91).

(Getting Puig's signature, pic via LA Times photographer Luis Sinco on twitter)

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Blog Kiosk: 2/23/2015 - Dodger Links - Urias, Hatcher and the Hilarious Brett Anderson

The often introspective Zack Greinke ponders the meaning of it all, or maybe he's wondering if fish really do sleep.  I know I wondered about that after reading Brett Anderson tweet from yesterday.  See that below.  BTW, the above photo is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers.  Go here to check out a bunch of great photos by him from yesterday.

Today, @BMcCarthy32 and I googled if fish sleep...so there's your inside look at what happens during spring training.
— Brett Anderson (@BAnderson_30) February 22, 2015

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Julio Urias takes next step in development."

"I'll categorize it like this: they are going to take the gloves off a little bit. I don't know the exact number of innings, the number of pitches, but it sounds like he's growing up," Mattingly said. "That's part of the player development side."

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Peralta behind schedule due to right-shoulder discomfort."

"The doctor took a look and everything's fine," said Peralta, who did not have an MRI. "I'm not worried. I should be OK."

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "The Dodgers’ history in Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects list."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Hatcher up for challenge as Dodgers substitute closer."

“I’m just going to be ready when they call my name no matter when it is, get ready to take the ball and get three outs before they score,” Hatcher said. “The ninth inning, it is what it is. I guess you have a title if you’re the closer but to me it’s just doing your job.”

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Ali Solis leaves Dodgers camp over contractural issue."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Chris Heisey joins a crowded outfield."
  

  “We’ll have a chance to look at him all through camp. The combination of guys and who ends up being here, that’s all up in the air,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s definitely an interesting guy from the way he swings the bat and we have great reports about his makeup and everything else.”

• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Nicasio embracing new life as reliever."

"I pitched better in relief," said Nicasio. "I like it. I concentrate on just the fastball and slider and can be aggressive, because I know I don't have to pitch six or seven innings or 100 pitches."

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Blog Kiosk: 1/19/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig Buys Home in Sherman Oaks

Tommy shows the kids how it's done.  Yesterday, Tommy Lasorda shared this fantastic spring training photograph of himself on instagram and I can't stop laughing at it.  He added the below inspirational caption, but I still can't get this smile off my face. 

Sometimes if you want something done right you got to do it yourself. Championship teams are made in #SpringTraining

Tommy looks as graceful as Wile E. Coyote chasing after the Road Runner.  Better yet, his team looks so concerned for his well-being.  Is that reliever Steve Howe, over his left shoulder, ready to jump in to save his soon-to-be ailing manager?

Below are some more links to check out:

• The Dodgers have now agreed to terms with all the Dodger players who had filled for arbitration:

juan nicasio settles at $2.3M with dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 16, 2015

Kenley Jansen and the Dodgers avoid arbitration, agree to $7.425 million salary for 2015.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) January 16, 2015

Justin Turner and Dodgers avoid arbitration, settle on $2.5 million salary for 2015.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) January 16, 2015

• Via Mark David at Variety, "Dodgers Star Yasiel Puig Buys Home in Sherman Oaks."

A stone-floored center hall entry has beige walls, beige inlaid stone tile
floors and curved, wrought iron railed staircase that sweeps up to a circular second-floor gallery with domed sky light. The pretty much all-beige, open-plan living spaces at the rear include a built-in wet bar, a roomy dining area, formal sitting area and family room with bookshelf flanked and television-surmounted fireplace and a built-in aquarium. The (also very beige) adjoining kitchen has a sizable center island, room for a breakfast table next to a sizable center island, speckled granite countertops, completely average although probably custom-crafted raised panel cabinetry and medium-grade stainless steel appliances.

• Here is a must read if you want to know what this young stud prospect can throw.  Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Julio Urias’ illustrated guide to pitches."
• Now that the Dodgers' Winter Development Program is over Matthew Mesa at Dodger Insider writes, "Through the eyes of the prospects," which includes social media post by some of our young prospects.
• Dodgers add some depth to starting pitching minor league staff.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers ink Bedard to Minor League contract."
• Dodger Penguin shares his experience at Frank & Sons this past Saturday getting Chan Ho Park's signature.

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Blog Kiosk: 12/17/2014 - Dodger Links - McCarthy, Puig Lawsuit and those New Kings Jerseys are Awful

There are plenty of photographs of the field at Ebbets.  Heck, there are more photos of the advertising on the outfield walls than I can count.  But there are hardly any pics of what's inside the stadium; in particular the rotunda located behind home plate.  Via @MLBcathedrals on twitter they share a rare photo that you can see above.

The rotunda was 80-foot round and made of Italian marble.  Also, there were ornate chandeliers hanging from the rafters that had light fixtures shaped as Baseballs.  To most fans it was a sight to behold, and in homage to this Baseball wonder Citi Field, where the Mets play today, recreated it.  They call it the "Jackie Robinson Rotunda."

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Emma at Dodger Blue World, "When Did You Fall in Love?"
• This is a scary scary thought.  Via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times, "Could Brandon McCarthy turn into next Jason Schmidt for Dodgers?"
• Via Curt Anderson at Yahoo Sports, "Guilty plea set in smuggling of Dodgers' Puig."

Investigators say Suarez was one of the Miami-based financiers of the 2012 smuggling venture in which Puig was taken by boat from Cuba to Mexico. The financiers were to receive a cut of the seven-year, $42 million contract Puig later signed with the Dodgers.

Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of any money Suarez got from Puig's contract, in addition to a house, a condominium, a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz.

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "In 2015, the Dodgers will go to WAR with a formidable top four."
• Via Blue Skinny Fan, "Nomar Garciaparra Autograph Signing at Glendale Galleria (12/13/14)."  There are some nice photos to look through.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dodgers send Noel Cuevas to Rockies in Juan Nicasio deal."
• Just another fantastic post by Night Owl Cards, "Thinking outside the box."  I don't think it's a stretch to say that the 1991 Topps set is the best and most under-appreciated set of the modern card era.
• I am not a fan of the new LA Kings Stadium Series Jersey.  Pic below via @SI_NHL on twitter.  What's up with the white pants? It makes it look like he's wearing pajamas.  Others have noted that it is Stormtrooper-like.
  
  

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Blog Kiosk: 12/9/2014 - Dodger Links - Brito Honored and No Hodges in the Hall

This past Sunday Justin Turner visited the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park as a part of the Dodgers 2014 Holiday Mall Tour, and a whole bunch of fans were there to greet him.  The photo above was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more photos from the event.  BTW, the Mall Tour continues this coming Saturday at the Glendale Galleria.  More information can be found here.

Below are some links to check out:

• Left Field Pavilion has more details for the 2015 Dodger Blogger Softball Tournament here.  It'll be on Saturday, April 11, 2015 in West Covina. 
• Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Dodgers scout Mike Brito to be honored at Winter Meetings."  He has been named the International Scout of the Year.
• Via Daniel Brim at Dodgers Digest, "The Juan Nicasio Relief Experiment, Already In Progress."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Andrew Friedman said he'd deal inside the NL West."

"For me, there are 29 other trade outlets, and to cut off four of them makes our job even more difficult," Friedman said. "It just makes it even more difficult to line up and do deals that make sense." 

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA has a nice roundup of the Dodgers first day at the Winter Meetings, "Dodgers Winter Meetings Day 1 notes: Miguel Rojas, Ryan Lavarnway, Rule 5 Draft."  Nothing really happened... At least not yet.  
• Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "No new Hall of Famers elected in Golden Era Committee vote."  I am very surprised that Gil Hodges only received 3 votes.  At the same time, I was surprised that Maury Wills got as many as 9 votes (I bet Sutton was a huge influence here).  Furthermore, I truly believed that Tony Oliva, Dick Allen and Minnie Minoso were getting into the HOF through this committee, but only hoped Hodges and Wills would get in (I'm just losing faith Hodges will ever be recognized).
• Night Owl Cards has a great writeup on the recent controversy surrounding the Golden Era Committee and its failure to elect anybody this year , "Let's vote some people into the Hall tonight."  Check it out here.

When I was a kid making visits to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the least interesting part of the experience was that room with all the plaques.

Oh, is that the actual "Hall of Fame"?

Yeah, that. That was the dullest part.

• Via a tweet from Mark Saxon:

Tommy Lasorda is quite upset that Gil Hodges again was snubbed for the Hall of Fame
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) December 8, 2014

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Blog Kiosk: 11/25/2014 - Dodger Links - Editorializing the Dodgers

Here is a fantastic ACME Press Photo, circa 1940, from high up in the rafters of Ebbets Field.  I ran into this on eBay.  Check out the auction here.

On a side note, I am more than pleased with the current moves the Dodger front office is making.  They are measured, deliberate and necessary changes meant to provide depth in areas that are lacking with the club.  Not only that, several of the new Dodger players appear to have some upside that may translate well if given different roles.  No doubt they are gambles, but they appear to be worthwhile.

In the past, the Dodgers tried going the veteran route - figuring their money would solve any problems.  They went after old horses with an easy to understand history, but they got burned.  Soon, fans and the press complained.  Now they are choosing to go a different route by trying to find a competitive advantage by taking some risk... And still you complain? 

None of these recent moves are flashy or headline grabbing, and I don't think that the current leadership cares about any of that - and neither should you.  Heck, you never should have built up the expectation that the Dodgers were going to do something major to begin with.  They were never going to sign Russell Martin.  Hanley Ramirez was always going to be allowed to go elsewhere.  And you shouldn't expect the Dodgers to sign a Lester or trade for Cole. 

What you should expect is some resolution to the outfield situation.  Someone or more will get traded, and I do not believe Kemp will be that man.  He has significant value (given his 2014 second half he would make a bundle in todays free agent market), and unless another team is willing to pony up he will remain in Blue.  Instead, we'll see a trade that includes cash and some minor prospects.

We are in a new Dodger era - an era that does not include trying to be the Yankees of the West.  Instead, we are a Dodger franchise set on the intention of playing it smart.  We have the cash, the brains and now the will to make it all happen.  Don't sully that by giving yourself false expectations of the future.  What you want is not the same thing as what we need.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Sarah at We're born again, there's new grass on the field, "Baseball as the “national pastime,” one of the most successful PR efforts ever."
• Via Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs, "Dodgers Already Avoiding the Awful Under Friedman."
• Just in case you care.  Via Adam Berry at MLB.com, "Players' cut of postseason pool announced."  The Dodgers full share was $31,542.85 each.
• Via Joey Nowak at MLB.com, "Former Dodgers are all over Hall of Fame ballot: Piazza hopes to be elected in third year; Pedro, Sheffield have strong cases."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Dodgers' options at shortstop appear limited."

It’s quite possible they’ll live with the in-house options, giving Erisbel Arruebarrena (who will earn his $25 million by 2017 whether he’s in the big leagues or minors) first crack at it. Miguel Rojas will be standing by if he flounders. The Dodgers’ defense would improve significantly, but the offensive drop-off from Hanley to either of those guys would be vast.

• Listen to the most recent episode of Dodger Talk with David Vassegh and Kevin Kennedy, here.  Dodger GM Farhan Zaidi joins them at about the 22:30 minute mark.  He mentions that one of their focuses will be to find under-the-radar tough-luck starters to convert into relievers.  I think this is the basis for the recent trades for Mike Bolsinger and Juan Nicasio.
• Via Mike Petriello at Dodgers Digest, "Juan Nicasio, Fascinating Relief Project."

Though Nicasio would be at the moment likely the team’s fifth starter behind Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-jin Ryu, and Dan Haren, I’m really not interested in him in that role, and I think we all know the Dodgers will move to add another starter. But as a reliever, a two-pitch guy who can touch 95 in short stints? Well, that’s fascinating, really, because I’ve long loved the idea of taking mediocre starters who don’t have a good enough third pitch or velocity to survive in the rotation and turning them into relief assets. I’m not suggesting that Nicasio will be Wade Davis, but you get the idea — it’s the exact same thing.

• On Joe DiMaggio's 100th birthday check out this post by Paul Frazier at Picollecta about his life through collectibles. 
• A Jackie Robinson Tribute from UCLA.

Video Link:

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Welcome to the Blue, Juan Nicasio!

The Dodgers brass continues to build up some depth in the bullpen; thereby addressing holes in the roster that proved fatal last season.  Via a tweet from the Dodgers, they trade for Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio in exchange for cash or PTBNL.

Dodgers acquire Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio for a player to be named later or cash considerations and designate IF Ryan Jackson for assignment.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 24, 2014

Juan Nicasio had been a starter, but was converted to a reliever during the middle of the past season.  Via a Dodger press release:

Nicasio, 28, was 6-6 with a 5.38 ERA 33 games (14 starts) for the Rockies last season, his fourth in the big leagues. During the second half of the season, Nicasio appeared exclusively out of the bullpen and posted a 3.48 ERA in 19 games, including a stretch in September when he allowed just one run in nine games (9.2 IP).

The native of the Dominican Republic owns a career mark of 21-22 in 88 career games (69 starts), all with Colorado from 2011-14. In 2013, Nicasio established career highs in wins (9), starts (31), innings (157.2) and strikeouts (119). In his career at Dodger Stadium, the right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA (14 ER/34.2 IP) and a .244 opponents' batting average in seven games (six starts).

Nicasio throws primarily a hard fastball and slider.  Since becoming a reliever batters have hit just .227 against him; while seeing his strike out rate, walk rate, WHIP and FIP improve.  Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors:

Nicasio has averaged about 93 mph on his heater throughout his career, and a look at his velocity chart (courtesy of Fangraphs) from 2014 shows that his fastball jumped to nearly 95 mph when pitching out of the ‘pen late in the season.

BTW, Juan Nicasio has had some bad luck with injuries.  In  2011 Nicasio was struck in the head with a batted ball that almost took his life.  While pitching against Nationals, Ian Desmond hit a line drive that went straight for Nicasio's head and caused him to fall awkwardly.  As a result of losing his balance, he fell on the ground and fractured a vertebrae in his neck.  Then the following year, he twisted his knee while fielding a groundball that resulted in arthroscopic surgery.  He has been healthy since then.  Below is a video of Nicasio getting hit with the ball.

Video Link:

In celebration of Nicasio's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph grabbed from a photo from Zimbio (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America) and the 1987 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are the career stats for Juan Nicasio, via Baseball-Reference:

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