Blog Kiosk: 12/15/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Yesterday the Dodgers held their annual Children's Holiday Party at Dodger Stadium, and both Joc Pederson and Austin Barnes were on-hand to take in the festivities... And to play dodgeball. Per Rowan Kanver at Dodger Insider:

A day full of games and gifts also included pictures with Santa Clause, dodgeball and sledding. 

“It kind of brings you back to your childhood for sure, playing dodgeball, sled races, playing in the snow,” Barnes said. “It’s a good time.”

Please tell me that the ball headed for Joc was a direct hit.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1968 Dodgers GM Al Campanis traded his own son, Jim Campanis, to the KC Royals.  In 1987 the Dodgers signed free agent outfielder Mike Davis to a contract.  He would eventually become a hero for taking a walk and stealing a base ahead of Kirk Gibson's walk-off Game 1 World Series homer.  In 2004 the Dodgers signed free agent second baseman Jeff Kent to a three year $21 million contract.  In 2009 the Dodgers trade Juan Pierre to the White Sox for two players to be named later - John Ely and Jon Link. 
• Happy Birthday, George Hemming, Robert Ellis, Nick Buss, Aaron Miles & Doug Rau! 

Sunday Dodger Videos: Ryu, Lasorda and Saturday Game Highlights

Here are this Sunday's Dodger videos.

Listen to both Hyun-Jin Ryu and AJ Ellis speak after Friday's disastrous game.

Video Link:

From September 6, 2014, Scott Akasaki, the Dodgers’ Director of Team Travel, engaged Hall-of-Famer Tommy Lasorda in an intimate discussion of Lasorda’s role as a baseball ambassador to Japan and other countries. The program, part of the Tateuchi Public Program Series, was held in the Tateuchi Democracy Forum at the Japanese American National Museum.

Video Link:

If you missed yesterday's game then you missed a doozy.  The Dodgers hammered the Giants for 1 run.  Watch game highlights below.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 7/18/2014 - Dodger Links - Matt Kemp, a Couple No-Hitter Pins and Pederson's All-Star Experience

The Dodgers landed in St. Louis for their series against the Cardinals yesterday afternoon.  Shown above is traveling secretary Scott Akasaki and Juan Uribe in the photo above, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014. BTW, if you're wondering what Scott Akasaki does as the traveling secretary then watch this helpful video.

• With the silly rumor season about to go into overdrive I think it's important to remember that 99% of all rumors you hear are a load of BS.  You are not hearing any special insight.  You are not getting "Inside Baseball" information.  You are not getting a peek at closely held negotiations.  I would suggest ignoring them all.  THEY MEAN NOTHING!  And, I assure you that most rumors are made up by bored reporters making unfounded assertions from innocent conversations so that they have something to write.
• Via Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs, "Matt Kemp’s Wish is a Pitching Staff’s Nightmare."  Kemp wants to be an everyday centerfielder, but it seems clear that this isn't likely on the Dodgers.

Matt Kemp would one day like to return to center field. That’s almost certainly not going to happen in Los Angeles. And one hopes that’s almost certainly not going to happen anywhere else, either. Kemp wasn’t a very good center fielder even before having a major operation, and pretty soon there’s going to be a 3 in front of his age. It’s not even clear he’s a particularly capable corner outfielder, and though his bat remains sufficiently intriguing to justify a trade pursuit, Kemp should probably be traded to a team in the American League that down the road could slot him in at DH. That might not be what Kemp wants, and that might be a future obstacle, but what Kemp wants could drive a pitching staff crazy. What Kemp wants would make his baseball team worse.

• Meanwhile, Jerry Hairston Jr. had an interesting take on comments made by Kemp's agent that lead to the story above, via a twitter conversation with a fan.

.@hung12low It's no big deal. Just his agents way of protecting his client. #la #Dodgers
— Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@TheRealJHair) July 17, 2014

• Last week, I mentioned that the Dodgers would be giving out commemorative no-hitter pins in September.  Now, Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider has mockups of what they will look like here.  They are definite must haves.  See them below:

• Wow.  You don't see this very often.  The Albuquerque Isotopes had to forfeit a game last week, via Shaun P Kernahan at Grading on the Curve.
• Clary Osborne at Dodger Insider tells us how you can play fantasy football with the Dodgers... for reals!

“We’re all excited to share our passion of fantasy football to raise money for some great causes,” said Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis. “I’m looking forward to some good competition and a little trash talk in the Big Blue Fantasy Football League, but like all things I do, I’m playing to win, so bring your “A” game!”

• Via Christopher Jackson at Albuquerque Baseball Examiner, "Isotopes Notebook: Pederson enjoyed his All-Star experience."

“I think it was a pretty good experience,” Pederson said. “Any all-star game you go to is a special time. It’s an honor to represent the Isotopes and Dodgers in such an event.”

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