Blog Kiosk: 7/10/2014 - Dodger Links - Beckett, Crawford and Puig's Finger Wag

Miguel Rojas hit his first career home run yesterday afternoon in a losing effort against the Detroit Tigers.  The Dodgers lost the game 4 to 1.  We are now tied with the Giants in the NL West.  Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Mattingly believes Beckett won't be out long."  BTW, Gurnick also notes that the Dodgers have plans in place if Kershaw starts the for the NL in the All-Star Game, but didn't provide details.

"I can't say for sure, but I'm pretty confident it won't be months and months," Mattingly said of Beckett's likely return. "He's been dealing with it and pitching well. We hope a little time off will help. We're confident he'll be back and able to pitch."

• This is really not surprise.  Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Dodgers: Carl Crawford on the bench when he returns ."
• CJ Fogler shared a gif from Tuesday's awful game that had me rolling - even though it was from a game I'd rather forget and the runner was ultimately called safe on replay.  It was titled: "Yasiel Puig has learned the Mutombo finger wag."  Puig was giving Tori Hunter a warning... "you shouldn't run on me."

• Via Teddy Cahill at MLB.com, "No. 2 prospect Pederson returns from Triple-A DL."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Caughel strengthens case for promotion to Chattanooga."

“It’s fun when everything’s working,” said Caughel after Wednesday’s matinee game at LoanMart Field. “Just pounding the zone like I always do and just getting better. I just want to keep taking the lessons to be learned and use those to get better.”

• In celebration of their selection to the 2014 All-Star Game Topps has created prints for each team member.  The 10' x 14' prints are as thick as a vintage Baseball card, are limited to just 99 copies and they borrow a design from the 1958 Topps All-Star subset.  Go here for information.  BTW, Clayton Kersahaw has a second All-Star Game print available called a "Diamonds" print that is limited only 10 copies.  See it below.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

The Game Within the Game - Was Last Nights Walk-Off Win Due to Defensive Uncertainty

What a fantastic game, eh?

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

The Dodgers won in dramatic fashion as Carl Crawford banged in the game winning run in the 10th inning with a liner down the left field line.  With Chone Figgins on 1st base, the batted ball would have typically meant having Dodgers at both 2nd and 3rd base with Hanley Ramirez at the plate.  Instead, Crawford's hit eluded Tigers outfielder Rajai Davis, and Figgins came around to score the winning run.

That is usually the end of the story.  On the other hand, I wonder if confusion in the outfield along with poor communication from the Tigers bench was the real root of our walk-off victory?

A cursory look of Crawford's spray charts from Fan Graphs seems to indicate that he has an heightened tendency to hit line drives and fly balls to left field against left-handed pitchers.  In fact, based on the grouping (as indicated below) you could argue that your left fielder should play a little closer to the line.  If he had, the Tigers may have been able to escape that inning.

Source: FanGraphs

To emphasize the point, Dodger videographer Bobby Crosby at DodgerFilms makes note of Davis' confusion just prior to Crawford's game winning hit in a video he posted last night.  Check it out below.  Bobby remarks,

"He's constantly looking in the dugout and throwing his arms up like, 'where do I go?'"

Well, he obviously was in the wrong spot, and the Tigers inability to correctly position their left fielder in that instance cost them the game.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Autograph Opportunities During the Remaining Homestand at Dodger Stadium - Ashley, Lacy, Leary and Landreaux

Just when I thought the Dodgers had abandoned having former Dodger players sign autographs prior to games (with exception of the Sunday Viva Los Dodgers events) they go ahead and schedule two players for today and tomorrow.

It may have been the case that there were signers for the Giants series, so I obviously missed that news if that was the case.

---------------

Tuesday, April 8, 7:10 PM against Tigers

For today's game against the Tigers, the first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a hooded sweatshirt. You can see a pic of it on the right. Also, Ice-Cube will throw out the first pitch and announce the Dodgers’ starting lineup. Former Dodgers Billy Ashley (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Lee Lacy (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:10 PM to 7:30 PM.  There will be face painters, caricature artist and a balloon maker in a pavilion areas.

All auto gates and left-field, left pavilion and club level gates open at 5:10 p.m. and all stadium gates open at 5:40 PM.  BTW, Dodger PA announcer Eric Smith returns today.

---------------

Wednesday, April 9, 7:10 PM against Tigers

For this 7:10 game the left-field, left pavilion and club level gates open at 5:10 p.m. and all stadium gates open at 5:40 PM.  Brazilian race car driver and three-time INDY 500 winner Helio Castroneves will throw out the first pitch.  All attendees will also receive a Minion paper fan and a coupon for Universal Studios.  You can see the fan on the left.

Former Dodgers Tim Leary (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Kenny Landreaux (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:10 PM to 7:30 PM. 

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 10/4/2013 - Dodgers Links - Seager, Pederson, Ryu and Puig

The Red Sox had their parade this past weekend.  Above is my favorite photo from the event.  It's the World Series trophy at the Boston Marathon finishing line.  Pic via twitter @basciobroadcasting.

• Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe recaps the Arizona League Fall-Stars Game played on Saturday that included Dodger prospects Corey Seager and Yimi Garcia.
• Former Dodger Brad Ausmus to be named the new manager of the Detroit Tigers, via Mark Townsend at Big League Stew.
• Via Quinn Roberts and Andrew Simon at MLB.com, "Winter League roundup: Pederson shows off power".
• Via Allkpop, "'Running Man' releases preview with Ryu Hyun Jin, EXO and Yoon Suk Min!"  There's a video of some sort of Korean game show with Ryu.  A video of the episode can also be found here at Daily Motion.
• The 2013 Toronto Fall expo card show is coming up this weekend and Panini shared some preview pics of their promo cards that they will be giving away.  This show typically featured hockey collectibles, but Panini has included a Yasiel Puig card for fans to gawg over.  Check out a pic below, and see the other cards here.

• JG Preston notes that Bill Sharman wasn't actually ejected from that infamous 1951 ballgame.  Instead he, and his other Dodger teammates, were merely kicked out of the dugout.
• Baseball Pinback Buttons shares a rare Brooklyn Brown Dodgers pin - a Negro League team once owned by O'Malley.
• Tim Dierkes at MLB Trade Rumors shares his, "2014 Top 50 Free Agents With Predictions".  He has the Dodgers getting Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka.
• Via Dusty at Sons of Steve Garvey, "Dia de Los Dodgers".
• Bob Lemke shares a fascinating article about Jackie Robinson, "Sobriety, decorum urged on Robinson's fans".

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

So... Who's Rooting for the Tigers?

This evening is Game 1 of the 2012 World Series and I am cheering loud & proud for the Detroit Tigers.  Sure, with the Giants paired off against them, they were the easy choice.  But, I like to argue that a little bit of Tigers fandom does reside in my blood.

As a young little leaguer I was placed on a Tigers team that was stacked.  We had a couple of kids who could hit like high schoolers and a pitcher who I swear was a 6-foot, 10 year old.  I manned 2nd base and moved to centerfield late in games since I was one of only a handful of kids on the team that could catch a deep fly.  Heck, the local paper that praised our league victory even remarked that I made a game-saving catch to help win our championship.

So, really... I'm a closeted Tigers fan.

Anyway, this afternoon is Game 1 and I look forward to watching the Tigers devour the Giants.  I especially look forward to watching the pregame show this afternoon.  On the MLB Network, I believe starting at 3:00 PM, they will air a rare interview between Bob Costas and David Robinson, son of Jackie Robinson.  According to a MLB press release:

David Robinson will reflect on his late father, including the impact Jackie Robinson had on baseball and society, plus his memories of his father’s speech before Game Two of the 1972 World Series, which was nine days before Robinson passed away.

So, don't miss it.

Here is the schedule they provided for the pregame shows for future games.

Prior to Game Two this Thursday, MLB Network will mark the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Series with a feature on the seven-game series between the Anaheim Angels and San Francisco Giants. Hosted by Costas, the feature includes interviews with Dusty Baker, his son Darren Baker, Tim Salmon and J.T. Snow, looking back on the most memorable moments of this seven game classic, including Snow pulling Darren Baker out of harm’s way in Game Five and the Angels’ comeback to win Game Six and Game Seven.

Leading up to Game Three on Saturday, MLB Network will reflect on the 35th anniversary of Reggie Jackson’s historic three-home run performance in Game Six of the 1977 World Series with a feature including interviews from Jackson, Steve Garvey, Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph and the original calls from the television broadcast team of Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson and Tom Seaver.

The Game 3 pregame show also looks like a must watch event.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk 7/27/2008

Manny is a drama queen. There is no way he gets traded.

• A must read.

  And the talent is there. It has been there all along. Show a little faith - there's magic in the night.

  I Believe.
  
• OK. What's going on here?
• Steve Bartman is passing on collecting $25,000.00 for his signature at the National.
  
• This is why blogs are so great. Home Run Derby shares some photos from Harry Caray's last day at Wrigley Field. Go here for more.
• Busted Coverage has photos of the demolition of Tigers Stadium that comes after 10 years of being dormant.
• Check out this interview with the owner of 19thCenturyOnly.com.
• Here are some great pics from ComiCon 2008.
  
• Padres former 1st round pick, Matt Bush, gets into another fight. (Hat Tip: Gaslamp Ball)
  
• The Eisner influence. Topps has a web-based tv series called "Back on Topps." Deadspin has all the details and a video preview.

  Leif and Leyland Topps are just twin brothers trying to get ahead in the rickety, unpredictable world of the sports card business, with a boss who doesn't like them, a Steinbrenneresque CEO and enough half-baked ideas to get them into consistent trouble. Sound familiar? Anyway, it's the basis for the new Web-only series Back on Topps, created and performed by twin brothers Randy and Jason Sklar

• A Sports memorabilia dealer is busted for selling fakes on eBay in PA.
• Seth gets Asdrubal Cabrera's auto for his unassisted triple play ball.

Rumor Mill: Tigers On Verge of Landing Cabrera and Willis

Prospects galore going to Florida?

The Tigers and Marlins are hammering out the final details on an eight-player trade that would send third baseman Miguel Cabrera and left-handed starter Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for a left-hander Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin and four other prospects.

My Oh My. Here is what Baseball Prospectus says about the main two rookies. Who, by the way, are the top two prospects in the entire Detroit system.

Maybin:

On sheer athleticism and tools, Maybin is the total package, with a brutal home park hurting his nonetheless impressive numbers, as evidenced by road line of .333/.416/.517. Excellent hand-eye coordination and big time raw power that should begin to show up more in games as he improves his pitch recognition. Plus-plus runner who almost effortlessly covers the outfield from gap to gap and has a strong arm.

Miller:

Considered by many to be the best talent in the 2006 draft. 92-96 mph fastball has touched 98, while height and angular delivery add downward plane and strong deception. Hard slider features depth and tilt, with late, quick break out of the zone.

Update: ESPN/ Peter Gammons has reported that this is a done deal.

Update II: Mike Rabelo, catcher, is said to be one of the remaining 4 prospects.

Story Link: Nashville Confidential:
Hat Tip: The Big Blue Wrecking Crew:

Fall Classic: Tigers vs. Cardinals

Congratulations to the Tigers, Cardinals and their fans. I think this should be a great series.

The last time they met in 1968 the Tigers took home the crown in 7 games. Mickey Lolich, who won 3 games, and Denny McLain led the Tigers to victory. Al Kaline finally won his ring.

Go Tigers Go!

Now that the sun has set, at least for the Dodgers, this year, who should I be rooting for?

Can I cheer for the Cardinals? I still hurt from Jack Clark's homerun in game 6 of the 1985 National League Championship Season. So that's a no.

How about the Mets? Maybe, but ... it's probably way to soon for me considering how they walloped the Dodgers last week. Call me bitter. I don't care.

Is Oakland worthy of my devotion? I was a big apologist for Milton Bradley when he was with the Dodgers, but today, no more. Besides, Oakland is far to close to San Francisco. Thumbs down for Oakland.

Lastly, comes the Tigers. Can you believe the Tigers? The team that brought us Kirk Gibson is about ready to give us another miracle. They go from one of the worst teams in Baseball last season to one of the best teams in Baseball this season. Jim Leyland taught them to be winners and solidifies his grasp as the greatest coach this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Then they knock out the Yankees in the ALDS. That's all I need to hear. They have my vote.

Tigers it is!

Go Tigers Go!

Photo Link: Walk K: Flickr: