Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 11/20/2012

Above is a great photo shared by Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers of Roy Campanella earlier this morning on his photoblog.  Check it out here.  Roy would have been 91 yesterday. 

• The Dodgers just released the Dodgers 2013 Spring Training schedule.  Go here to check it out.
• BTW, "Pitchers and Catchers" officially report on February12th, and the first full-squad workout is on February 16th.
• Evan at I Bleed Dodgers Blue 2 notes that both Jerry Sands and Alex Castellanos have been named onto Topps 2012 AAA All-Star team.
• The Dodgers signed former Met Nick Evans to a minor league contract, via Andy Martino of the NY Daily News.  He plays 1st base and 3rd base, and has an invitation to the Dodgers Major League camp this spring. (Hat Tip: MLB Trade Rumors)

Evans, 26, left the Mets to sign with Pittsburgh last year, but played in just 21 minor league games after suffering a broken hand.  Evans is expected to be fully healed in time for spring training.

• Kyuji Fujikawa has 10 offers, via MLB Trade Rumors.  While Eno Sarris at RotoGraphs analyzes his potential.
• Chad Moriyama takes a quick look at Dodger prospects playing this winter.
• Mark Langill, the Dodgers official historian, shares an interesting fact about the PCL being a possible third Major League in the early 50's.
• Black Friday is more than just for "big box" retail stores.  They are also for sports card shops, as well.  Panini is running a card shop Black Friday promotion at numerous hobby stores around the country that includes free packs of limited edition cards.  Go here for more information; including a list of participating stores.  Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any Dodger players in the set, but there is an LA King- Jonathan Quick.
• Sports Collectors Daily notes that Oakley Stores are also running a Black Friday promotion that includes a free autographed item with the purchase of over $250.  Athlete autographs include many Baseball players.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 11/19/2012 - Kuroda, Fujikawa, Grienke and Ryu

Dee Gordon shared a photo on twitter of his new glove.  He wrote, "My new baby! I can't wait to dirty you up!!!"

• Happy Birthday, Roy Campanella.  He would have been 91 today.  (Hat Tip: Greg Zakwin ArgyledPlaschke) 
• Be sure to check out Sean Kane's website, Painted Glove Collectibles, featuring his artwork on vintage Baseball gloves.  He recently completed an incredible Jackie Robinson glove.  I am currently working on a interview with the artist and hope to have it up online after Thanksgiving.
• Mike Petriello at Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness writes about the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
• Mark Saxon at ESPN notes that the Dodgers might have the inside track on Hiroki Kuroda.

Previously, teams have been under the impression that Kuroda would either re-sign with the New York Yankees or return to his native Japan to finish his career. But Kuroda has told friends that his first preference is to pitch in Southern California, where his two daughters are attending elementary school. 

• Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News notes that Japanese free agent closer Kyuji Fujikawa is in America visiting MLB clubs interested in his services; including the Dodgers.  In fact, he is expected to be in LA soon.  (MLB Trade Rumors)

Fujikawa, considered among the top closers in Nippon Pro Baseball over the last decade, toured the facilities of Arizona and the Chicago Cubs in the last week. He is expected to also visit with the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers, both of whom have expressed interest.

• Via Michael Silverman at the Boston Herald, the Dodgers are considered the top contenders for Zach Grienke's services.  (Hat Tip: Hard Ball Talk)

According to an industry insider, the Dodgers are the favorites to wind up with top free agent starter Zack Greinke, with the Angels and Rangers on the outside looking in. 

• Derek Carty at Baseball Prospectus scouts the fantasy value of Hyun-Jin Ryu.
• Be sure to follow the updates to the Dodgers Mall Tour this winter.  More Dodger players are being announced all of the time.
• Congratulations to the LA Galaxy on their return to the MLS Cup Championship.  Pic below via twitter @LAGalaxy.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 10/27/2012

I guess it's official now.  The Dodgers officially introduced Carl Crawford as a Dodger yesterday.  Pic via @Dodgers on twitter.  Jon SooHoo has posted up a bunch of photos, here.  Watch the conference, here.

• MLB Trade Rumors brings up another Japanese pitcher on the Dodgers radar screens, Kyuji Fujikawa.  Pete Holby at SB Los Angeles has more.  Watch him pitch below.

Video Link:

• The Dodgers are getting a new clubhouse for the players and Aaron Harang likes it, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.

"It's awesome," said starting pitcher Aaron Harang.
...
"It's tough the way it is now, and a little awkward when you have opponents literally walking through your clubhouse to get to the weight room or cages while you're preparing for the game," Harang said. "And you could see at the end of the season with the callups how crowded the clubhouse got. It was like herding sheep in there."

• GCRL started a new blog called Timeless Teams that focused solely on the 2004 Upper Deck Timeless Teams Baseball cards set, and he recently shared the cards featuring the 1977 Dodgers.
• Under "it's about time," MLB close to requiring headgear for pitchers, via Big League Stew.

A cap liner with Kevlar, the high-impact material used by military, law enforcement and NFL players for body armor, is among the ideas under consideration.

• Josh Tinley at Midwest Sports Fans takes a look at 8 sports-loving US Presidents.

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