Blog Kiosk: 12/18/2015 - Dodger Links - Quality Assurance and Iwakuma Deal is Dead

Awesome!  The graphic above via SportsNet LA on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• Come on now!  Yesterday came word that Hisashi Iwakuma had failed his physical, and the contract many had thought would bolster the pitching staff was now in jeopardy.  Some reports said the deal was over; while others said that the team and Iwakuma were still in discussions.  Apparently, the former were correct.  Via a tweet directly from the Mariners, they have resigned Iwakuma for the 2016 season, and they initially announced it during their holiday party last night.

Jerry Dipoto delivers a special gift to the front office at the #Mariners holiday party: Kuma is back. pic.twitter.com/8Bo8Y93ub2

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) December 18, 2015

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "So, Dave Roberts, what’s a quality assurance coach?" 

“Juan had been in the system working with the infield, and he had the rapport with a lot of Latin players,” Roberts said, “and I think his ability to teach was attractive to me. So I think for me, as the puzzle kind of played itself out, and (as) I looked at a staff that doesn’t have anyone who speaks Spanish, it only made sense to have Juan on board, help (third-base coach) Chris Woodward out with the infield defense, (and) sit in the suite and watch from above during the game to help us with things like that.”

So while Castro will be in uniform before the games and on the field or in the clubhouse or dugout, by the time the first pitch is thrown he will often be upstairs, supervising the scene like an NFL defensive coordinator.

“Whether he’s watching the game in the clubhouse on the screen, or up top and seeing the whole big picture,” Roberts said, “right after the game we can talk about things from his perspective. But he’s on the Major League staff. He’s going to be hitting ground balls, work with infielders and helping with positioning and doing all that stuff as well.”

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Frankie Montas: Future starter or fireman?"

“Our scouts feel like his fastball-slider combo is one of the best in the minor leagues, and we feel like he’s got a great chance to develop as a really good Major League starting pitcher,” Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday.

“As we go through it and get a chance to be around him on a daily basis, it’ll be interesting to get a better feel for where he is with the changeup and his ability to manipulate the slider. But (we) feel like he’s got a really good chance to be a really good Major League starting pitcher, and if not, we feel like he can be an impact bullpen arm.”

• Good bye old friend.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Justin Ruggiano signs 1-year deal with Rangers."
• Via Richard Justice at MLB.com, "Dodgers' best rotation options may be in farm system."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 11/6/2015 - Dodger Links - Ruggiano, Harang and Pederson

The photo above would be the culmination of many young boys lives.  After all, who didn't want to be either a ballplayer or a fireman... But to be both at the same time would cause most young minds to explode.  Featured, you've got Dodger manager Chuck Dressen and pitcher Joe Black spending the afternoon as fireman - complete with Brooklyn Ladder 13 helmet and firetruck.  No doubt Black, who was a phenom rookie reliever when this photo was taken in 1952, was in the midst of preparing to put out some wildfires at the Stadium and throughout the city. 

This photo is currently available at Albersheim's sports auction.  Check out the auction here.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ruggiano outrighted to Oklahoma City."  I think this is the gist of the situation:

Ruggiano, who made $2.505 million in 2015, would have been eligible for salary arbitration had he remained on the 40-man roster. He has enough service time that he can reject the assignment and become a free agent.

BTW, per Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, Ruggiano chose to enter free agency.   I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up staying a Dodger.

• David Laurila at FanGraphs shares an fascinating interview with former Dodger pitcher Aaron Harang, here.  He talks a bit about the art of pitching - throwing up in the strike zone (like Chris Young), adjusting to changing strike zones and breaking pitches.
• Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Dodgers top 2016 prospects: Nos. 31-61."
• Via Xavier Alatorre at the Sports Quotient, "Joc Pederson And Patience At The Plate."

What does this mean going forward? Despite flaming out in the second half, the 2015 season cannot be considered a bust for Young Joc. The twenty-three-year-old hit an inevitable slump but made adjustments that paid off in the last two months of the season, though they may have gone unnoticed by some. Now that National League pitchers have seen a full season of Pederson’s swinging tendencies, adjustments will need to be made at the plate. Pederson needs to continue his patient approach and force pitchers to come to him. If he is able to stay away from outside pitches and can wait for more favorable pitches (low and inside) to land in the zone, then Pederson will be a formidable threat at the plate once again. 

• Next week Panini will be releasing their 2015 Contenders Baseball set and it includes a bunch of fast rising prospects and some old pro's.  Go here to check out a huge collection of preview photos.  You can also see cards of Dodger prospects Julio Urias, Corey Seager, Mitchell Hansen and former Ohio State star and former Dodger Frank Howard.

• The Senate report on the "pay for patriotism" brouhaha has just been released and is available here to review.  Fortunately, the Dodgers do not appear to have charged the armed forces, but other MLB clubs who did get paid to fake their patriotism includes the Braves, Red Sox, Diamondbacks and Phillies.  The DBacks received $40,000 from the Arizona Army National Guard to allow color guard demonstrations, a first pitch and a 40 tickets.  Shame on you guys!  Jason Lisk at The Big Lead has the story here.

The report lists 50 professional sports teams from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS that received some sort of federal funding to do a “pay for patriotism” promotion where it appeared to be honoring a military member or branch, but where they were receiving money for engaging in the activity. 

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 10/9/2015 - Dodger Links - Hernandez, Lasorda and Vin Scully

It is finally playoff day for the Dodgers.  Are you excited?  I sure am.  

And I know for sure that the field at Dodger Stadium is raring to go.  Just look at the NLDS logo in the photo above, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Doesn't it look great on the field?  Heck the only thing that could possible look better is a World Series logo.  Am I right?

Go here to check out a bunch of pics from the Dodgers workout yesterday by Jon.  You can also find out information about all the events and pregame activities for Game 1 and Game 2 here.  Below are more links to check out:

• As you have surely read by now, Vin Scully will be missing the playoffs due to a recent medical procedure that requires some rest.  He will sorely be missed.  I look forward to seeing him again next season.  
• This is a great read.  Via Jacob Silverman at the NY Times, "Letter of Recommendation: Vin Scully."

You can listen to Scully for hours and never hear a familiar platitude or a half-­baked thought. His technique, however, is rather simple. He describes the action in front of him just as he encounters it. His demeanor is jovial, neighborly — Mr. Rogers goes to Chavez Ravine. He quotes Dylan Thomas and offers old-­fashioned homilies about the weather (Scully still refers to a breeze as a ‘‘zephyr’’). He coos over children and leads viewers, his ‘‘friends,’’ through stories about everything from the time he went ice-­skating with Jackie Robinson to the time he dreamed of being chased by a giant clam (he had just shared an Italian dinner with Tommy Lasorda, you see). In his voice, you can hear traces of radio plays, New York’s prewar slums, Broadway — a lifetime of experience spent in what, in its more romantic era, was called show business.

• BTW, Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider passes along the game times for the remainder of the series.  Game 3 at 5:07 p.m. (if there are four MLB playoff games that day) or 5:37 p.m., Game 4 at 5:07 p.m. and Game 5 at 5:07 p.m.
• Via Mike Petriello at MLB.com, "Surging Ellis worthy of more reps in October."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez is ready for his close-up."

“I’m really excited, not anxious or nervous or anything,” Hernandez said. “As a little kid, you’re always dreaming of playing in the seventh game of the World Series, either pitching or hitting. To play in the World Series, you’ve got to make the playoffs.”

• You earned this Justin!  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Justin Ruggiano makes Dodgers NLDS roster."
  

  "How would I have seen this coming? I'm in Tacoma, I have the worst travel schedule that I've ever had in my whole life. My back hurt on the buses, my back hurt on the plane," Ruggiano said, smiling. "There's no way I could have ever seen this happening. It's kind of been a dream month."

• Via Arash Markazi at ESPN, "Tommy Lasorda's Dodger Stadium office is a shrine to his life."

"This is my life," Lasorda said as he stretched his arms out and looked around. "It's all right here in this room. It's all my friends and family. It's like a museum."

• Via Jordan Schwartz at Sports Quotient, "Stock Up for Prospects: NL West."  He talks a bit about pitcher Jose De Leon.
• Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Collins returns to LA with Dodgers roots."

"When you talk about what I learned -- I learned baseball, Dodger baseball," Collins said. "And at a time when you can walk out on the field in Spring Training and you had [Don] Drysdale and [Sandy] Koufax. And Maury Wills, Wes Parker. And Roy Campanella was talking after dinner at night. You talk about learning baseball and learning the history of the game ..."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Cey, Ruggiano, Schebler and Kiké Hernandez

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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

Ron Cey will be at Cardboard Legends in Van Nuys on Thursday, October 1st from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM to sign autographs.  Go here for information.  Prices are: $19. balls, flats & minis: $29. bobbleheads, equipment, helmets, bats & jerseys: $39. inscriptions: $20. Tickets on Sale Now Phone: 909.592.1357 to reserve.

Cardboard Legends
17218 Saticoy St
Van Nuys, Ca 91406

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

Several of the young Dodger stars will be at Frank & Sons this coming Saturday, October 3rd.  Go here for information.  Check out the flyers below.  Click to embiggen.
Frank & Son Collectible Show
19649 San Jose Ave
City of Industry, CA 91748

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Woo Hoo!! Dodgers Win the National League West!

What a momentous day.  What a fabulous game.  What an incredible celebration!

For the first time in the history of the franchise the Dodgers won their third straight division championship, and they did it with their ace on the home-mound of their most hated enemy.

Clayton Kershaw was fantastic.  He started the evening by striking out two of the first three batters he faced, and set a tone that would endure for the rest of the night.  This game was his, and no team dressed in Halloween colors would deter him from finishing his task.  On 103 pitches he completed the game, struck out thirteen and allowed only one hit.  ONE HIT!

As for the Dodgers offense, they did not disappoint.  They got on the board early when they scored a run off a Giants miscue in the first inning.  Then added some power from some unlikely bats. Kike Hernandez, Justin Ruggiano and AJ Ellis hit solo home runs to make the score 4-1.  To put a cherry on top of the cake, they rest of the boys nearly batted around in the 8th inning to add another four runs.

And with that all the fretting and hand-wringing felt by Dodger fans everywhere is over.  It's now time to sit back and enjoy the rest of the week in peace.

Photo above via David Vassegh on twitter.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 9/18/2015 - Dodger Links - Quakes, Latos and Ruggiano

The young Dodger farmhands with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are seen celebrating their playoff series victory a couple of days ago in the photo above; via a tweet from pitcher Chase De Jong.  They won it with a miraculous ninth inning rally that started with two men out.  In other news, I'm pretty sure many of the folks above are underage... Uh, who am I kidding... Who cares?  One evening of revelry is hardly unwarranted.

BTW, Last night was Game 1 of their Cal League Championship match against the San Jose Giants, and they decimated our rivals Class A league team, 12-3.  WooHoo!  The winning pitcher is none other than the guy who shared the photo above, Chase De Jong.  Via Tyler Maun at MiLB:

"It's always important to win Game 1, especially when you're at home," Quakes manager Bill Haselman said. "We had a pretty intense game yesterday, and they wiped that slate clean. They were ready for this game, so they did a heck of a job. De Jong did a great job on the mound, gave us six strong innings, and our offense was relentless with their ABs."

Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA also wrote a great story about last night's game that you check out here.  Below are more links to check out:

• Left Field Pavilion made a fantastic fantasy Baseball card featuring Joc Pederson and Corey Seager that you can see here.
• ICYMI:  Mat "Cat" Latos is no more.  He has been DFA'd by the Dodgers.  Unquestionably, he was the worst pickup so far for the new Dodger front office, and that's OK.  Nobody will be perfect all of the time.  That said, the fact that they were willing to cut bait rather than let him ride it out on the bench into October is telling.  This group will not hesitate to move beyond any mistakes - In other words, they don't let their pride dictate player movements.  

Or, maybe the 6.66 ERA in the six games he pitched for us as a bad omen. 

• Via Eric Avakian at Dodgers Nation, "Mattingly Not Surprised By Andre Ethier’s Season."

“Coming out of Spring Training with all the talk of wanting to play everyday and all that, and really I’ve said it a few different times, he’s backed it up with his play. When he’s gotten his opportunities he’s been really good. I don’t know if it’s really necessarily a surprise that he’s capable of this, but it’s been a good season for him.” 

• Via The Cauldron at Sports Illustrated, "Kershaw, Greinke could go down as one of the 10 greatest duos ever."
• Via Frank Cesare at the Daily Gammons, "Justin Ruggiano is Demolishing Lefties in LA."

In LA, Ruggiano has had 24 plate appearances against lefties. He possesses a .417 OBP, 1.330 OPS, .522 ISO, .461 BABIP, .550 wOBA and 261 wRC+. Those numbers may not be sustainable in the long run, but in his limited role, he’s carved out a niche that has helped catapult the Dodgers comfortably into the playoffs—barring a major collapse.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Seager can vouch for Schebler's hunger."

"He doesn't get the credit; he's not on the magazine covers and stuff, but every year, he puts up the numbers and now he's here and I'm really pumped for him," said Seager, ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the Dodgers' top prospect and the No. 2 prospect in baseball. "He's everything you'd want in a teammate."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 9/11/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Just awesome!

Check out this fantastic 1939 photograph of future Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson on the football field for UCLA training camp.  Photo via the Jackie Robinson Foundation on twitter.

Here is something you probably didn't know.  Jackie Robinson, for a brief period, played professional football.  In 1941 he played for the semi-professional Honolulu Bears - a racially integrated football team.  Then returned to California later that year to play for the Los Angeles Bullfrogs of the Pacific Coast League.  As fate would have it, Pearl Harbor was bombed that December and the Bullfrog's season came to an abrupt halt.  The following year Jackie would be drafted into the Army.

Below are some links to check out:

• Check out the potential postseason schedule for the Dodgers here.  Also Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider lets us know about registration for Dodger playoff tickets, here.
• I didn't know that!  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "3 straight postseason appearances would be a Dodgers franchise first."  Sounds ridiculous, but it's true.
• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest shares his picks for, "2015 Dodgers’ Minor League Players of the Year."  Cody Bellinger is his "Hitter of the Year" and Jose DeLeon is his "Pitcher of the Year."
• Vincent Samperio at Dodgers Nation notes that a Dodger milestone that was just broken, "Justin Ruggiano, Scott Schebler Join Record Book."

The consecutive leadoff home runs were the first time that has happened since 1951, when Carl Furillo accomplished the feat on his own against the Chicago Cubs as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

• As a part of today's commemoration of September 11th the entire league will be wearing special caps with a stylized American flag on its side.  See the Dodger cap on the right.  Go here to check out and order a cap from New Era.  All MLB proceeds from sales of these caps will be donated to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Pentagon Memorial and the Flight 93 Memorial. 
• Bill Plunkett at the OC Register shares some quotes from some Dodger players about the city's ban on chewing tobacco.

“Good. Ban it. Do me a favor,” said Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell, a dedicated tobacco user since his college days.
...“If they banned it, I’d be fine with that,” Dodgers left-hander Brett Anderson said, describing himself as only an occasional user. “This could be my last one forever. I’ve never been addicted to it. It’s just something I do out of boredom.”
...
“Honestly, knowing that kids are watching and cameras are on you all the time (prompted him to quit),” Mattingly said. “And knowing it was bad for me.”

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Justin Turner voted Dodgers nominee for 2015 Marvin Miller Man of the Year award."

Honored to be voted by my teammates to represent the @Dodgers for the #MarvinMiller Man of the Year award!

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) September 10, 2015

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 9/8/2015 - Dodger Links - Ruggiano and Corey Seager on Julio Urias

Could Justin Ruggiano be our next great pinch-hitter?

He's been on quite a tear of late for the Dodgers.  He's had three off-the-bench opportunities since coming over from Seattle, and has successfully driven in a run each time.  Obviously that's far too small of a sample size to extrapolate further.  Still, you gotta like what he'd done at the plate for us so far.  He's getting an opportunity to contribute, and has made the most of it.

Last night might have been his most important pinch-hit so far.  With the game locked up in a 1-1 tie in the 5th inning, Ruggiano came in to hit with two men on base.  On the very first pitch he lined a double to left that scored the runners and gave the Dodgers an import two runs.  (You can watch it here)

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  BTW, the Dodgers "Magic Number" is now at 17.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Dan O'Neill at STL Post-Dispatch, "Greinke brings Gibson's amazing '68 season into focus."
• Fantastic!  Eric Stephen at True Blue LA recalls the first Dodger game he remembers watching: "Sock day at Dodger Stadium, 30 years later."
• Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Grandal, Rollins join litany of injured Dodgers."

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal was scratched from the starting lineup in Monday night's series opener against the Angels with a sore left shoulder in the same spot that caused him to miss three games in late August. Also sitting was shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who was set to have an X-ray on a jammed knuckle on his right hand.

• Via JP Hoornstra at Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, "Corey Seager pumps Julio Urias up while Dodgers pump the brakes." 

“His command was unbelievable,” Seager said. “He threw it where he needed to at all times and his changeup was really working for him. People were missing by two feet. He threw it 20, 30 percent of the time and literally people couldn’t hit it.”
...
“They should be (excited). He’s coming and it’s going to be impressive.”

• Via Chris Mitchell at FanGraphs, "Projecting Corey Seager." 
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Dodgers pitching prospect Pablo Fernandez to miss postseason."

They shut him down and sent him home to rest, nothing else I’ve heard further,” said Quakes pitching coach Bill Simas prior to Monday afternoon’s game. “I think it was just some tightness [in his elbow], I don’t think it was anything major.”

• Via Michael Clair at MLB.com, "Will Ferrell inducted into the Hall of Fame (kind of) before world premiere of 'Ferrell Takes the Field'"

Ferrell's plaque, which was presented by the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez and the Padres' Wil Myers (whom Ferrell "carried" on the field during his appearance with the Padres during Spring Training), honors his nicknames, "Cactus Rose" and "Mr. Clutch" and forever commemorates the 92-mph fastball that he fouled off.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Welcome Back to the Blue, Justin Ruggiano!

Just before Monday evenings waiver wire deadline (thereby making the acquired player eligible for the postseason) the Dodgers made a trade with the Seattle Mariner's to bring back a former Dodger farmhand.  They picked up current minor league outfielder Justin Ruggiano, "along with cash considerations, in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations."

Ruggiano was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2004 draft out of Texas A&M.  (Check out his rookie card in Dodger Blue above)  He immediately excelled and found himself with the Double-AA Jacksonville Suns the next year.  Then he was bundled with Dioner Navarro and Jae Seo to Tampa Bay in 2006 for Toby Hall and ex-basketball player Mark Hendrickson.  BTW, the President of the Rays at that time is current Dodger President Andrew Friedman.

This trade, along with the other trade last night bringing outfielder Chris Heisey back into the Dodger fold, creates a bit of a glut in the outfield.  Nevertheless, it provides some insurance and depth considering how fragile some of our players currently are, i.e. Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig.  Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors also tells us another good reason why Friedman decided to pull off this trade:

While Ruggiano failed to match his productive 2014 in the early going, he wasn’t actually that bad, putting up a .214/.321/.357 batting line over 81 plate appearances. And he’s slashed .296/.385/.514 with ten home runs in 205 plate appearances at Triple-A since being outrighted.

Most importantly, even during his MLB time this year, Ruggiano continued to hit lefties hard, as he has throughout his career. He’ll presumably be looked upon as an option against southpaws in Los Angeles. The Dodgers were in need of another right-handed-hitting outfield bat down the stretch after seeing both Yasiel Puig and Kike Hernandez go down to injuries in recent days.

Against left-handers in Seattle he was slashing .263/.349/.474, and in his career he is slashing .266/.331/.505.  Surprisingly, he's been hitting a bit better against right-handers while in Triple-AAA Tacoma this year.  He is hitting .319/.404/.496 against right-handers and .250/.348/.550 against left-handers.  So, maybe Freidman figures he's found a potential diamond in the rough.

Via Jeff Morosi on twitter, both he and Chris Heisey will be at Dodger Stadium for tonight's game.

Justin Ruggiano and Chris Heisey expected to be at Dodger Stadium and on active roster for tonight's #Dodgers game.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) September 1, 2015

In celebration of Ruggiano's return to the franchise I made the above fantasy card for him (see on the right).  I used a photograph grabbed from Mariner's photo day this past Spring (Christian Peterson/Getty) and the 1972 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 9/1/2015 - Dodger Links - A Couple of Trades and Kiké Hernandez 's Magic Banana Suit

The magic of the banana knows no bounds.

With the game tied in extra innings, Kiké Hernandez came out of the clubhouse to provide some good luck.  Via Matthew Moreno on twitter:

Kiké put on the banana suit/jacket around the 12th, Friedman told him to go back to the dugout and that he would pay his fine.

— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) September 1, 2015

It obviously worked.  The Dodgers beat the Giants on a walkoff single by Adrian Gonzalez in the 14th inning, 5-4.

Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos taken by Jon from yesterday's game.  Below are more links to check out:

• Ah, crap!  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Enrique Hernandez could be out for weeks with hamstring strain." In Hernandez's place is catcher Austin Barnes.  BTW, with it being roster expansion time the Dodgers have also called up Joe Jackson, Joel Peralta and Mike Bolsinger from the minor leagues.
• Check out the cover of the September issue of Dodger Insider magazine, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.  A pic of it is on the right.  Clayton Kershaw is on the cover.
• Via David Schoenfield at ESPN, "How bad baserunning has hurt the Dodgers."  This story makes me wonder if this is the Dee Gordon effect. That's not to say we never should have traded Gordon.  After all, we've benefited greatly from the players we got, but it's clear that his prowess on the basepaths have been sorely missed.
• Sometimes they come full circle.  Per Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Dodgers To Acquire Justin Ruggiano."  As you may know, Ruggiano was originally drafted by the Dodgers before being traded to Tampa Bay a couple of years later.  Here's the gist of why this trade is likely being done:

Most importantly, even during his MLB time this year, Ruggiano continued to hit lefties hard, as he has throughout his career. He’ll presumably be looked upon as an option against southpaws in Los Angeles. The Dodgers were in need of another right-handed-hitting outfield bat down the stretch after seeing both Yasiel Puig and Kike Hernandez go down to injuries in recent days.

• Jeff Todd also adds that the Dodgers have reacquired Chris Heisey from Toronto.  Wha...?
• It is welcome news that he is being reconsidered, but as stated in the following article it's likely to come to pass.  After all, Joe did take the money.  Via Chris Cwik at Big League Stew, "Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum says MLB has come to a decision on reinstatement." UPDATE: Via Shawn Anderson at the Hall of Vary Good, "Shoeless Joe to Remain Banned from Baseball."

“I have reviewed our records concerning the responses of both Commissioner (Bart) Giamatti and Commissioner (Fay) Vincent, who declined to reconsider Mr. Jackson’s case,” Manfred stated in a letter to Marcley. “I agree with that determination and conclude that it would not be appropriate for me to re-open the matter.”

I think this should settle things.  If they won't consider Joe Jackson for reinstatement then they sure as hell won't consider Pete Rose.

• This is super ridiculous, and hilarious.  Via Tyler Durden at Zero Hedge, "The "Chicago Cubs No Hitter" Indicator Spells Doom For The Market."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *