Blog Kiosk: 3/22/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Considering the Dodgers current predicament I thought today would be a perfect time the point out the above March 7, 1949 Spring Training AP press photo I ran into on eBay (link here). Featured are a group of young farmhands working on learning the intricacies of playing third base. Via the descriptor on the reverse:

"HOW TO BAG A THIRD BASE POSITION.  Coach Milton Stock, Ed Stanky's Father-In-Law, who once played third base himself, teaches Brooklyn Dodgers third base candidates the fine points of covering the bag during a session at Vero Beach, Fla. left to right are: Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Miskis, Buddy Hicks, Don Ramazotti, Billy Cox and Bob Morgan."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1962 a former Giant who still remains anonymous revealed that the Giants had help during the 1951 playoffs against the Dodgers (this is the series where Bobby Thompson hit that infamous homer). They had a sign-stealing clubhouse spy at their home field for three months of the season. In 1993 Indians pitchers Steven Olin, Bob Ojeda and Tim Crews (a former Dodger) are in a boating accident at Little Lake Nellie in Clermont, Florida that kills both Olin and Crews. Ojeda is seriously injured in the crash.
• Happy Birthday, Bill McClellan, Overton Tremper, Ramon Martinez & Juan Uribe!

2017 Bowman Chrome Mini - All the Dodgers Cards

Last week Topps released a complete factory set of 2017 Bowman Chrome Mini cards, and it includes cardboard of many of the top rookies and prospects in the Dodgers system. Go here for a complete checklist.

None of the Dodger cards found here are new us. We've seen both the designs and photo selections available in either their Bowman or Bowman Chrome sets released earlier this season. The only thing unique about this product is that they are miniaturized versions of those cards. Check out all of the Dodger cards below.

Base -- 2017 Bowman Rookies

#55 Rob Segedin

2017 Bowman Chrome - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

I had failed to previously mention that both Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge appear on the boxes of Topps 2017 Bowman Chrome cards. Check out an example on the right.

Below are all of the Dodgers insert cards found in packs. Unfortunately, there are a ton of redemption cards inserted instead of the actual autographed cards. Cody Bellinger and recently traded prospect Willie Calhoun are only available as an redemption.

Also, there are a couple of short printed Calhoun cards available that feature him holding the MVP trophy for the Arizona Fall League Falls Stars Game in 2016. That evening he went 3-for-3, with a two-run homer.

Chrome Prospect Autographs

#CPA-JSB Josh Sborz        #CPA-MW Mitchell White

2017 Bowman Chrome - The Dodgers Base Cards

Last week saw the release of Topps 2017 Bowman Chrome -- which is essential the super-shiny version of their 2017 Bowman set that came out in April. And as you know, Bowman is all about rookies and prospects, so there are plenty of Dodger Blue youngsters to be found here. Go here to see a complete checklist.

Below are all of the Dodgers found in the Base and Prospects set. Notably, Dodger farmhand Yusniel Diaz gets his very first card showing him in Dodger Blue in the Prospects set.

Base Set

#25 Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 8/10/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers just go about their winning ways. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I think it’s more a testament to the guys on our team,” Wood said. “It’s literally been a different guy every night.” 

On Wednesday, it was Wood, the bullpen and the No. 7 and No. 8 hitters in the Dodger lineup leading them to their 33rd comeback win of the year and moving them to 68–0 when leading after eight innings. 

“It just shows we can come back and get teams late, and our bullpen’s good enough to shut them down late,” said Joc Pederson, whose RBI double tied the game at 2 before scoring the go-ahead run.

Last nights win was the 80th of the season. Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 former Dodger manager Chuck Dressen died at the age of 67. In 1979 Don Sutton recorded his 50th shutout as a Dodger -- setting a new franchise record -- when he defeated the Giants at Candlestick Park, 9-0. In 1995 the first forfeit in 16 years happened during a game between the Dodgers and Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Following the ejection of Raul Mondesi and Tommy Lasorda in the ninth inning, fans starting throwing souvenir Baseballs onto the field. The balls were given to them as a game giveaway as they entered the stadium. Watch an ESPN news story about it here.
• Happy Birthday, Rocky Colavito & Al Osuna!

Blog Kiosk: 6/4/2016 - Dodgers Links - Seager! Seager! Seager!

What a night.  Corey Seager was a one man wrecking machine.  He blasted three home runs to lead the Dodgers to a 4-2 victory, and even received his first curtain call of his career.  Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“That’s fun, that put a smile on my face,” Seager said of the atmosphere in the dugout after he hit home run No. 3 — a liner over the short fence in left field off Atlanta reliever Hunter Cervenka. “That’s something you really enjoy and soak in.”

His homers marks the first time a Dodger rookie has hit three dingers in one game since Don Demeter in 1959.

The above pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1964 Sandy Koufax would throw his third career no-hitter against the Phillies.  In 1968 Don Drysdale threw his sixth consecutive shutout of the season.  His scoreless streak was extended to 54 innings.  This is also the day Robert Kennedy made note of Drysdale's efforts in a speech at the Ambassador Hotel after winning the CA primary.  Soon thereafter, he would be assassinated.  In 1972 the Dodgers retired Roy Campanella's number - #39.  In 1998 the Dodgers traded Hideo Nomo to the Mets for Dave Mlicki and Greg McMichael.  Ugh! 

2016 Bowman Baseball - The Dodgers Base Cards

Bowman Baseball cards are now official on the market.  This is a prospect driven set, and as you might expect it's filled with some of the best and brightest the Dodgers have in their minor league system.  In fact, the prospect portion of the base set includes a couple players who are getting their first official licensed cards.  They are pitcher Yadier Alvarez and outfielder Starling Heredia.  Check them all out below.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Yadier Alvarez is an 19 year old pitcher from Matanzas, Cuba.  He had signed an $16 million bonus with the Dodgers last year.  Starling Heredia is from the Dominican Republic, and he signed a reported $2.6 million bonus last year, as well.  He was just 16 years old.

Base Set

The Adrian Gonzalez card is a red parallel and the Trayce Thompson is a silver parallel card.

#40 Clayton Kershaw                            #46 Adrian Gonzalez

Blog Kiosk: 7/3/2015 - Dodger Links - 14 New Dodgers Added to the Franchise Yesterday

With the All-Star Game just around the corner I though this AP press wire photo of the 1962 All-Star Game starting pitchers would be a good way to start this Independence Day weekend.  Featured above is Don Drysdale and Jim Bunning.  Pic via eBay.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Brandon League closing out rehab stint, designated for assignment."
• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider tells us a bit more about the nine international prospects the Dodger signed yesterday: "Dodgers sign nine international prospects, led by Yadier Alvarez, Starling Heredia."  Jon also spoke with Dodger senior vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes here: "Teenagers are no wasteland for Dodger international scouts."

On Alvarez: “He’s one of the more talented teenage right-handed pitchers who a lot of us who have been doing this a long time have seen,” said Byrnes, who added that Alvarez throws 97 mph, “occasionally touching 99-100, with very little effort and some pretty good feel for secondary pitches.”

On Heredia: “That is rare,” Byrnes said. “I don’t think it’s fair to comp him, but at least the physique (compares) to Kirby Puckett. Fireplug body, nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’ down there, and a real strength-speed combination. Very strong body, but even with that build, he can really run. In any arena, finding a good combination of strength and speed is really rare.”

• Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Chase DeJong and infielder Tim Locastro from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for three international signing slots: 27, 57 and 117. DeJong and Locastro have been assigned to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

DeJong, 21, was recently promoted to the Blue Jays’ Single-A Dunedin affiliate in the Florida State League, but only appeared in games with Single-A Lansing of the Midwest League this year, where he was 7-4 with a 3.13 ERA, a .231 opponents’ batting average and a 1.08 WHIP in 14 starts. The Long Beach native is in his fourth year of pro ball and has an 11-13 record with a 3.69 ERA in 56 career games (45 starts). He was originally selected by Toronto in the second round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Woodrow Wilson High School.

Locastro, 22, had a .310/.409/.421 slashline this year with Lansing, hitting five home runs and driving in 25 runs in 70 games. He has a .305 career batting average and a .399 on-base percentage in 180 minor league games in three professional seasons, earning selections as a 2014 MiLB.com Toronto organization All-Star and also a 2014 Single-A Northwest League All-Star. The New York native was originally selected by the Blue Jays in the 13th round of the 2013 First-Year Player draft out of Ithaca College.

• And here's another Dodger press release on an acquisition of a couple more players-this time from the Braves:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Caleb Dirks and outfielder Jordan Paroubeck from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for international signing slot No. 87. Dirks has been assigned to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Paroubeck will head to Arizona and continue rehabbing a minor quad injury.

Dirks, 22, made 17 combined relief appearances for the Braves’ Single-A Rome and Single-A Advanced Carolina affiliates, going 1-2 with three saves and posting a 0.68 ERA (2 ER/26.2 IP). Since being promoted to Single-A Advanced Carolina on May 8, he has pitched 16.2 scoreless innings in 11 relief appearances and was limiting hitters to a .148 average (8-for-54). The Riverside, CA native is in his second professional season and has a 2-2 record with a 1.53 ERA in 38 career games. He was originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 15th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft from California Baptist University.

Paroubeck, 20, was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the second round (69th overall) of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Serra High School in San Mateo, CA. The switch-hitter batted .286 with four homers, 24 RBI and 26 runs scored in 34 games (all in left field) for San Diego’s Arizona League squad last season. In 2015, the 6’2 Paroubeck was dealt from San Diego to Atlanta in the Craig Kimbrel trade and played in 25 extended spring training games this year. 

• We have apparently signed another pitcher, via a tweet from Matt Eddy:

#Dodgers sign RHP Trevor Cahill, 27-year-old groundball machine whom #Braves released on June 20.

— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) July 2, 2015

Per Eric Stephens it's a minor league contract (link)

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Dodgers Sign Yadier Alvarez on First Day of International Signing Period

As you may know, the MLB international signing period just opened up today, and as expected the Dodgers are busy rounding up some of the best prospects available.  As reported earlier today, via Jesse Sanchez at MLB.com, they have already signed up four players; including a highly touted right-hander named Yadier Alvarez.

According to industry sources, the Dodgers agreed to terms with Alvarez, 19, ranked No. 2 on MLB.com's Top 30 International Prospects list (for $16Mil); outfielder Starling Heredia, ranked No. 5, for $2.6 million; infielder Ronny Brito, ranked No. 21, for $2 million; and shortstop Oneal Cruz for $950,000. The club hasn't confirmed any of the deals.

Sources indicate the Dodgers are also among the teams with serious interest in Cuban outfielder Eddy Julio Martinez, 20, ranked No. 1 on the list. Martinez is expected to command a signing bonus of more than $10 million. Los Angeles was also linked to shortstop Lucius Fox, ranked No. 3, from the Bahamas for several months.

BTW, the Alvarez signing is now official.  Via a pic tweeted by FanGraphs writer Kiley McDaniel and Ben Badler of Baseball America, he signed his Dodger deal today.  Check out the pic below.

In celebration of this recent Dodger signing I made the above fantasy card of Alvarez using a pic from Sports World News (Getty) and the 1971 Topps Baseball card design.   BTW, Alvarez already has a Baseball card on the market, so I'll be sharing a pic of that soon.

UPDATE:  Via a Dodger press release:  They signing nine international ballplayers today.

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the signings of nine international prospects, including four ranked in Fangraphs.com’s scoutboard 2015 International Prospects list: Yadier Alvarez (No. 1), Starling Heredia (No. 12), Ronny Brito (No. 15) and Oneil Cruz (No. 33).

“We’re excited to add nine highly-skilled prospects as we continue to re-stock, inject talent and build depth at all levels of our organization,” said Dodger Vice President, International Scouting Bob Engle. “These signings are a testament to the hard work of our scouts and the international appeal of the Dodger brand.”

The Dodgers signed six players from the Dominican Republic and one player each from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua:

• Yadier Alvarez, 3/7/1996, Cuba, RHP, 6’2”, 172, Bats R/Throws R
• Starling Heredia, 2/6/1999, Santo Domingo Norte, DR, OF, 6’1”, 220, Bats R/Throws R
• Ronny Brito, 3/22/1999, San Francisco de Macoris, DR, SS, 6’0”, 168, Bats R/Throws R
• Oneal Cruz, 10/4/1998, Bani, DR, SS, 6’4”, 174, Bats L/Throws R
• Christopher Arias, 5/1/1999, Santo Domingo Norte, DR, OF, 6’2”, 182, Bats L/Throws L
• Ramon Rosso, 6/9/1996, Santo Domingo, DR, RHP, 6’4”, 215, Bats R/Throws R
• Carlos Rincon, 10/14/1997, Guerra, DR, OF, 6’0”, 175, Bats R/Throws R
• Luis Rodriguez, 3/2/1999, Cumana Sucre, Venezuela, SS, 6’0”, 150, Bats S/Throws R
• Aldo Espinoza, 9/11/1998, Managua, Nicaragua, 2B, 6’0”, 168, Bats R/Throws R

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Blog Kiosk: 3/6/2015 - Dodger Links - Kershaw, Dickson and AJ Ellis

Clayton Kershaw looked great in his first official spring outing.  He went a scheduled two innings and was perfect with only 20 pitches.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I felt good. For the first [start], it was good to get out there and make sure you feel good physically," said Kershaw, who threw 16 strikes and only four balls. "I made adjustments when I needed to. Overall, it was a good first day."

His outing was especially notable for an 'Uncle Charlie' he threw to Rookie of the Year winner Jose Abreu.  You can check out that here.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  You can see more photos from Jon from yesterday here.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "The guy swinging the powerful bat: O’Koyea Dickson."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Juan Uribe gives great Hyun-jin Ryu impression."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "A Q&A with A.J. Ellis."

There was a lot of doubt and a lot of anxiety about whether I was going to be a Dodger again, with the way the season went. My entire career I’ve wanted to win a world championship. I feel like that will determine whether my career is a success or not. Did I reach the pinnacle of what it takes to be a team player and win a team championship? And, obviously, I want to do it with these guys, who I’ve come up with and been a part of. At that point last year, it was not about, ‘Man, I hope I come back so I can be the starter and I can play X number of games and I can redeem this last season or make this much money.’ No, I want to win a World Series and the window could start to be closing on that for me here with the Dodgers. I’m going to do everything I can to keep that pried open. 

• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Dodgers eye Starling Heredia as potential big July 2 signing."
• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Joc Pederson is center of attention for Dodgers this spring."  Justin Turner and Pederson have built quite a relationship:

"He loves to talk hitting," Turner said. "He's not afraid to ask questions, which I love. One of my pet peeves is when you're around guys who have a lot of valuable information and you don't ask them anything. When I'm around guys, I ask questions. I want to know what they're doing, what they're thinking, because I want to learn."

• I guess the Dodgers won't be charging hard to try to sign him.  Via Jeff Passan at Yahoo Sports, "Sources: Cuban Hector Olivera could have damaged UCL in throwing arm."  I suppose they could still try to add him to the roster, but it'll come a greatly reduced price. 
• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA tells us a bit about a minor league Dodger pitcher who impressed yesterday: "Jeremy Kehrt – Thursday’s other Kid-K,"

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