Blog Kiosk: 8/1/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke, Wood and Farhan Zaidi

Fantastic!

Not only is the photo above, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 from yesterday's game, phenomenal but the pitcher on the mound last night was just as good.  Zack Greinke went eight strong innings, and if not for the exploits of the games best hitter, Mike Trout, he might have gone all the way.  Damn that Trout.  He's a tough out against even nasty pitches.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN:

Greinke threw a tight 2-and-2 slider to Trout that broke sharply just as it crossed the plate and dove away from Trout, who somehow hit it off his shoe tops for a line drive into left-center field.

“So, that was pretty impressive,” Greinke said later.

Trout ended up with a run scoring triple and single against Grinke before hitting his 32nd home run of the season against Kenley Jansen in the 9th inning. 

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Alex Wood happy to be in L.A. after topsy-turvy deadline."

“I heard the speculation that there were things going on. One way or other, we ended up getting solid word that probably wouldn’t be the case,” Wood said. “I was excited. I told my agent if I ever reached free agency, this is the one place I’d want to play. It’s funny how things work out.”

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Farhan Zaidi offers insight into dealmaking process."

“There’s a tradeoff between talent and taking on money when you can. In our situation, with our directive to build up our farm system, to the point where we can operate at a level of sustainability … there are times when it makes sense to substitute cash for players.”

• Well, that was fast.  Michael Morse, who we got from the Marlins the other day, has been traded to the Pirates for Jose Tabata.  Tabata was promptly sent to AAA.  Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest writes a bit about it here: "Dodgers make minor move as trade deadline passes."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Brewers claim Preston Guilmet off waivers from Dodgers."
• Blue Skinny Fan got Scott Van Slyke's signature at Fod4Less recently and has photos to prove it, here.
• Jason Bateman is a great Dodger fan.  He recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and spoke a bit about his love for the team and how he once pissed off the DBack's mascot.  (Hat Tip: r/DontDoDrugsDingus on reddit)

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 7/11/2015 - Dodger Links - Kershaw, Guilmet and Beachy

Check out this fantastic colorized attempt of a legendary photograph taken by George Bain of the Dodger dugout during the 1916 World Series.  It was shared by r/IckyChris on r/colorization Reddit.  From left to right: centerfielder Hi Myers, manager Wilbert Robinson, and an unknown mascot/bat boy.

Below are some links to check out:

• You're welcome, Clayton!  Via his twitter:

Ending Twitter hibernation to thank everyone who voted for me! Very cool to see the turn out regardless of the results!

— Clayton Kershaw (@ClaytonKersh22) July 10, 2015

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider thinks he still might make it to the All-Star - as the first alternate should any pitcher be unable to attend.
• The Dodgers make another roster move by picking up Preston Guilmet off waivers, via a tweet from Ken Rosenthal.

#Dodgers claim RHP Preston Guilmet on waivers from #Rays.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 10, 2015

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dodgers claim Preston Guilmet, designate Chris Reed for assignment."

Guilmet, 27, has 21 innings of Major League experience with a 6.43 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7.7 K/9. In Triple-A this year, he has a 1.84 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. The Dodgers are his third organization this year, after the Rays claimed him from the Blue Jays on May 13.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue, "Brandon Beachy will start Saturday for Dodgers."  He last pitched almost two years ago, and this will be his first start as a Dodger.

"Yesterday when we talked I didn't think he would be the starter today. We knew phyiscally he was ready, just through the trainers and how he's been doing and bouncing back," Mattingly said. "He's had some conversations with Farhan [Zaidi, general manager] and some of the guys, and absolutely feels like he's ready to go. That's what we needed to hear. We weren't worried about the physical part, it was more the mental side, and he sounds ready to go."

• Via Bernie Pleskoff at MLB.com, "Scouting profile: Cody Bellinger."

Bellinger can hit. Not at all flashy, he has a very uncomplicated, easy swing. Bellinger makes good contact, using the barrel of the bat to consistently hit line drives to the right-center-field gap or down the right-field line. He gets out in front of the ball with quick wrists and above-average, but not elite, bat speed. A disciplined hitter with very good mechanics, it will be very surprising if Bellinger doesn't hit for a high batting average throughout his career.

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