Blog Kiosk: 8/25/2014 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends from the Weekend

Kevin Correia served up some beachballs yesterday afternoon before finally getting pulled from the game after just three innings of work.  Overall, he served up three home runs and seven runs total.  What disaster!

Adding insult to injury, the Mets recorded a triple play against the Dodgers in the sixth inning - all thanks to a far too aggressive Yasiel Puig.  Watch it below

Video Link:

This is the second triple play against the Dodgers this season.  The Cleveland Indians did it against us in July.  You would think this would be a bad omen, but as Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider explains it isn't.  The last time this happened to the Dodgers was in 1955; when they won their first World Series in franchise history.

BTW, Correia is expected to go to the bullpen once Ryu comes back, so we won't have to (hopefully) witness that again.  Also, I should note that Adrian Gonzalez continues his hot ways.  After leading the Dodgers with two hits, a home run and five RBI's in Saturday's victory, he recorded another three hits on Sunday; including a double.  The photo at the very top of Adrian was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more photos from yesterday.

Fortunately, this recent loss did not hurt us in the standings.  The Dodgers are 4.5 games ahead of the Giants.  Now, below are some links to check out:

• ICYMI:  Hanley Ramirez was reinstated to the Dodgers roster.  Erisbel Arruebarrena was optioned to Rancho Cucamonga.  Arruebarrena should only be down for a short while.  He will definately be back up when the rosters expand.
• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Chris Anderson’s late-season improvement reason for optimism."

The Dodgers made some mechanical changes with Anderson’s delivery a couple months ago, which could account for the improvement. One thing that hasn’t changed is his velocity. When I saw him in person, he was sitting at 93-96 MPH and topped out at 99 MPH. Friday night, Anderson hit 97 MPH a few times. As a pitcher who will live off his fastball, this is encouraging. He also has improved his off-speed pitches as the season has progressed. His slider will always be his go-to secondary offering, but his changeup has improved to the point where it could be a usable third pitch.

• Roberto Baly at Vin Scully is My Homeboy shares his experience getting Erisbel Arruebarrena's autograph on Saturday at Frank & Sons.
• With the Dodgers seemingly set to leave their AAA home, Night Owl Cards shares his list of Top-10 successful Dodgers to have gone through Albuquerque from 2009 to 2014, and it's not exactly a list filled with notable names.  No wonder the Dodgers want to move.
• Nick Diunte at Baseball Happenings writes a great obituary on former Dodger Dick Teed who passed away recently.
• Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "Is Matt Campbell the next Paco Rodriguez?"

Campbell joined the Loons on June 20th and soon made his mark with the Dodgers affiliate. In his first five games, he had six scoreless innings giving up three hits while walking one and striking out five. On the season he has now pitched 29 innings over 22 appearances with an ERA of 1.55 and a WHIP of 1.00. He has struck out 36 and walked 8. He has yet to serve up a home run.

• Via KUNR public radio, "Bob Motley, Last Surviving Negro League Ump, Recalls Baseball History."  Listen and learn.
• Watch a talk about the Negro Leagues and Kansas City Monarchs via Phil Dixon on CSPAN.  He speaks about the history of the Monarchs, the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball’s Negro Leagues. Mr. Dixon talks about the significance of the Kansas City Monarchs to the baseball world, fielding a number of future Hall of Fame players and inspiring several new innovations to the game, including the use of lights for night games. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum hosted this event.  Video here.
• BTW, before the start of Sunday's game, Clayton Kershaw was presented with the trophy for the Warren Spahn Award for the 2013 season.  This award is given to the best left-handed pitcher in MLB by the Oklahoma Sports Museum.  Below is a photo of him holding it.  This is the second time he has won the Warren Spahn Award.  He also won it during his first Cy Young season in 2011.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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Blog Kiosk: 6/17/2014 - Dodger Links - Billingsley, Kershaw on Bills and Grant Holmes Close to Signing

What an awesome photo of the California contingent to the 1985 National League All-Star Game roster, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 1995.  Can you name them all?  Answer at the very bottom of post.  Of course, in the mix is Tony Gwynn.  RIP, Tony.

• BTW, several Kings (names not confirmed yet) will be heading to tonight's game at Dodger Stadium with the Stanley Cup in tow.  There will be a special pregame ceremony honoring the team and their 2nd Stanley Cup Championship.  BTW, the Kings will have another parade through 3 South Bay cities (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach) on Wednesday.  Go here for information.
• Jared Massey at Dodgers Nation shares his recent interview with Dodger 2014 9th Round Draft Pick Matt Campbell.

JM: If you could, give us a scouting report on yourself
MC: I love throwing my fastball. No matter what the count, situation, etc. I love going to my fastball. I have a slider and a change up and I would say my change up is my favorite off speed pitch of the two.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Scott Elbert to begin rehab assignment in Ogden."

The collective bargaining agreement allows for rehab assignments to last up to 30 days, and Elbert starting all the way down in rookie ball suggests that the Dodgers will be deliberate and methodical in his rehab.

• Billingsley elects surgery, via a tweet from JP Hoornstra.

Surgery will be next week to reattach flexor tendon. 3 months until he can throw.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) June 16, 2014

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider shares a quote from Clayton Kershaw about Billinglsey.

“Bills is a good friend of mine, so I just feel bad for him,” said Clayton Kershaw, for six years a teammate of Billingsley. “I know how much he loves to complete and how much he wanted to pitch, and I can’t imagine going through that whole rehab process and finding out that news. You just try to put yourself in his shoes and be there for him the best you can, and realize it’s a pretty terrible situation.”

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Dodgers nearing deal with first-round pick."

The player, pitcher Grant Holmes, said he has an agreement in place pending a physical. The allotted slot amount for the No. 22 pick is $1.98 million. 

• In the photo at the very top of this post (from left to right) are: Mike Piazza, Tony Gwynn, Todd Worrell, Jose Offerman, Raul Mondesi, Barry Bonds and Hideo Nomo.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/12/2014 - Dodger Links - Snakes on Puig, More Draftees Sign and Billingsley Shut Down

Yasiel Puig visited the Cincinnati Zoo yesterday and made a new friend, pic via the Cincinnati Zoo on instagram.

• The Dodgers 2014 6th Round Draft Pick Brock Stewart has just signed a contract with the Dodgers, via centralilliniosproud.com.  He is already headed to Camelback Ranch.  Eric Stephen at True Blue LA tells us that John Richy and Matt Campbell have signed, as well as, Joe Broussard from the 15th round.
• You're right, Eric.  Those hats make my eyes bleed. Via True Blue LA, "Dodgers July 4 caps are terrible."  See it on the right.
• Ah, crap!  Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, " Dodgers' Chad Billingsley shut down, sent to doctor ."

The Dodgers halted Chad Billingsley's minor league rehabilitation assignment and sent him for medical evaluation after he complained of weakness in his surgically repaired right elbow.

• Via Manny Randhawa at MLB.com, "Hanley a late scratch with shoulder irritation."  Will the injuries ever stop?
• From yesterday's game against the Reds, Brandon Phillips shows Puig some respect on the basepaths, gif via Dodgers on tumblr.

• Troy from West Virginia has been arrested in Cincinnati for criminal trespass and obstructing official business.  He had previously been banned from going to that stadium, via Kimball Perry at Cincinnati.com.  Yeah, he's a troubled guy.

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Check out the Results of the First Two Days of the Dodgers 2014 Draft - Picks #1 to #10

The Dodgers passed along a press release announcing their first 10 picks from the 2014 amateur Baseball Draft.  They provided a brief description of each player.  Check it out below.  I also included some brand new fantasy cards and twitter comments.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

(Photo used via @Dodgers on twitter)

The Dodgers today announced their selections from the first two days of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. Los Angeles made eight picks today after drafting Conway High School (SC) right-hander Grant Holmes (Twitter - @GHolmes_14) with the 22^nd overall selection and Sahuaro High School (AZ) outfielder Alex Verdugo with the 62^nd overall selection in the second round yesterday.

(Photo used via StudentSports.com)

Through the first two days of the draft, the Dodgers selected six right-handed pitchers, two outfielders, one infielder and one catcher. The club used seven picks on college players and three picks on high school prospects.

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3rd Round

(Photo used via LV Review-Journal AP/Mark Ylen)

With their first pick on the draft's second day, Los Angeles selected right-handed pitcher John Richy (Twitter - @jrichy45) out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder went 11-4 with a 3.20 ERA (43 ER/121.0 IP) and 113 strikeouts in 16 starts for the Rebels this season. As a junior this season, Richy led the Mountain West Conference in innings, strikeouts, wins, starts, and also registered five complete games. In his career at UNLV, the 21-year-old has posted a 3.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio (189 K/56 BB).

So blessed to be drafted by the dodgers! Thank you to everyone who has been there for me
— John Richy (@jrichy45) June 6, 2014

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4th Round

(Photo used via Perfect Game)

The Dodgers selected their third pitcher of the draft in University of Washington (WA) pitcher Jeff Brigham (Twitter -  @jbrigs34) with their fourth-round pick. Brigham finished the 2014 season going 7-4 with a 2.90 ERA (29 ER/90.0 IP) in 16 starts, giving up one run or less in six of his starts with a total of eight quality starts on the season. The 22-year-old junior from Federal Way, WA is listed at 6-foot, 198-pounds and earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 and First Team All-Academic honors.

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5th Round

(Photo used via video screengrab at BBWebTV)

In the fifth round, Los Angeles selected McEachern High School (GA) third baseman Jared Walker (Twitter - @JRod_Walker), the first infielder the Dodgers selected in the draft. Walker, 18, batted .466 with a 1.253 OPS in 31 games for the Indians, amassing three homers, 30 RBI, and 22 stolen bases in his senior campaign.

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6th Round

(Photo used via Pantagraph.com/Bob Poynter/AP)

The Dodgers picked right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart (Twitter - @B_Rock_one5) out of Illinois State University (IL) with their sixth-round selection after the 22-year-old went with 3-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 11 games (one start) this season. Stewart, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, also appeared in 120 games as an infielder during his four-year playing career with the Redbirds, batting .266 with a .343 on-base percentage. The redshirt junior, who is the son of San Diego scout Jeff Stewart, was previously drafted by the Mets in the 40^th round of the 2010 First-Year Player draft out of Normal West High School (IL), but did not sign.

Indescribable feeling!!  So happy to be a Los Angeles Dodger!!  Now It's time to get to work!
— Brock Stewart (@B_Rock_one5) June 6, 2014

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7th Round

(Photo used via The Chimes)

In the seventh round, Los Angeles selected its fifth right-handed pitcher in California Baptist University hurler Trevor Oaks (Twitter - @trevoaks), who posted a perfect 11-0 record with a 1.68 ERA (20 ER/107.0 IP) in 15 starts for the Lancers. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder earned All-American honors in the NCBWA in addition to winning the PacWest Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in wins, strikeouts (107), ERA and shutouts (2).

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8th Round

(Photo used via Odessa America/Edyta Blaszczyk)

The Dodgers selected catcher Hunter Redman (Twitter - @HunterRedman1) out of Texas Tech (TX) in the eighth round. On the year, the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder is batting .252 with 17 RBI in 42 games for the Red Raiders, who are set to face College of Charleston in the three-game set at the NCAA Super Regionals this weekend. Before transferring to Texas Tech, the 21-year-old played in four games for the University of Texas (TX) in 2012 and 52 games for Midland College (TX) in 2013. Redman's brother, Reid, is a pitcher in the Marlins' organizations and was a 37^th-round selection of the Dodgers in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, but did not sign.

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9th Round

(Photo used via orangeandwhite.com/Mark Crammer)

In the ninth round, the Dodgers picked Clemson (SC) right-handed pitcher Matt Campbell (Twitter - @MattyIce36). In his senior season for the Tigers, the 22-year old allowed only three earned runs in 32.0 innings (0.84 ERA), while registering eight saves with 45 strikeouts against 15 walks. In his career at Clemson, the three-time All-ACC Academic selection amassed 19 saves with a 2.75 ERA (33 ER/108.0 IP), while posting an 11.17 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio in 78 career relief appearances.

Couldn't be more humbled and honored for the opportunity the @Dodgers have given me! Thank you everyone who has helped me get to where I am!
— Matt Campbell (@MattyIce36) June 6, 2014

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10th Round

(Photo used via orangeandwhite.com)

Los Angeles' last selection on the second day of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft was Coastal Carolina (SC) outfielder Colin Hering (Twitter - @shooting_gaps24). In two years at Coastal Carolina, the left-handed hitting Hering posted a .350 on-base percentage with 17 stolen bases in 113 games. In his two years prior to transferring to Coastal Carolina, the 23-year-old played two seasons at Bellevue College (WA), leading the NWAACC with 39 RBI his sophomore year and was the NWAACC runner-up for North Region MVP.

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