Blog Kiosk: 3/5/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Clayton Kershaw looked pretty good his second time out this Spring. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Kershaw struck out four in three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks. 

“There were things I did better in the first game, but I landed my curveballs for strikes better than the first game, which was good,” he said. “A little better command than the last game. Backed up some sliders that they hit hard to shortstop, but overall a good step.”

Unfortunately, his outing was overlooked a bit because of a Dodger-Giant rivalry that continues unabated.

As Kershaw was walking from the mound to the dugout after the third out, Giants third-base coach Ron Wotus passed by en route to his first-base dugout and said something that set off Kershaw. 

.....

“He was upset that I hit him and that’s fine, it’s part of the game and he’s allowed to be upset. I didn’t say anything,” said Kershaw, who said he was hoping Turner had avoided a repeat of two years ago.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945 the Dodgers, facing war-time travel restrictions, open spring training at Bear Mountain in upstate New York. In 1958 Duke Snider, Johnny Podres, and Don Zimmer are involved in an car accident in Vero Beach while trying to beat a 12:30 am curfew. With Snider driving, they veered off the road into a ditch. They fortunately suffer only minor injuries. BTW, this was the third car accident a Dodger player had suffered over the past two months. First, Roy Campanella was paralyzed then Jim Gilliam was struck by a trailer truck. In 1958 the Dodgers signed 21-year old free agent outfielder Frank "Hondo" Howard. He would play seven years in Dodger Blue -- slashing .269/.326/.495/.822 with 123 homers and 382 runs driven in. In 1966 the players elect Marvin Miller, assistant to the president of the United Steelworkers, as Executive Director of the Major League Players Association.
• Happy Birthday, Bernie Hungling, Lu Blue, Elmer Valo, Chad Fonville, Paul Konerko & Mike MacDougal!

Blog Kiosk: 3/8/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Seaman Johnny Podres is seen above receiving the 1955 Babe Ruth Award for his exploits during the 1955 World Series. The above pic is currently on auction at Hunt Auctions (link here).

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 teammates Joe Medwick and Pee Wee Reese wear protective headgear during a spring exhibition game in Havana, Cuba. They placed plastic inserts -- dubbed a “Brooklyn Safety Cap” -- inside their hats. Both players had missed significant time the previous season due to head injuries; including a scare that sent Medwick to the hospital for fear of a cracked skull. You can see a patent design for the cap on the right, via Baseball Hall of Fame. Click pic to embiggen. In 2011 former Dodger Assistant General Manager Kim Ng is named by MLB as the Senior Vice-President of its baseball operations, making her the highest-ranking woman in the major leagues.
• Happy Birthday, Ollie O'Mara, Carl Furillo, Al Gionfriddo, Dick Teed, Marv Breeding, Willard Hunter,  Dick Allen & Juan Encarnacion!

Blog Kiosk: 4/4/2014 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends on Opening Day

I love this photo.  Above is a fans-eye-view of the ballfield at the Coliseum during the 1958 Baseball season, pic via @DugoutLegends.

• Mark Langill at the Dodger Insider tells us why Opening Day at Dodger Stadium is a day game. 
• Via Cory DiBenedetto at the Daily Gammons, "Hyun-Jin Ryu's zone location approach."
• Daniel Brim at Dodgers Digest takes a look at, "Hyun-Jin Ryu’s Other New Toy."

The curveball wasn’t only different pitch for Ryu. According to the data, Ryu has added a sinker (the pitch could also be a two-seam fastball, since Brooks often groups the two pitches together).

• ICYMI:  Brian Wilson was officially placed on the 15-day DL, and the Dodgers recalled reliever Jose Dominguez from AAA.

The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed right-handed pitcher Brian Wilson on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to March 31) with right elbow ulnar nerve inflammation and recalled right-handed pitcher Jose Dominguez from Triple-A Albuquerque. In nine appearances for the Dodgers in 2013, the hard-throwing right-hander posted a 2.16 ERA (2 ER/8.1 IP) with three walks and four strikeouts in his first big league season.

• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw leads MLB pitchers in jersey sales."
• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Dodgers' Yasiel Puig seeks advice, gets it."

"I'm preparing very well in practice, in batting practice, everything I'm doing with the coaches," he said. "I'm learning more about the pitchers, the pitches they throw, how to not let them beat me with pitches out of the zone, wait for the pitches I can hit and to trust my hands."

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Trayvon Robinson: You can come home again."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Kemp confident he's ready for Dodgers' home opener."

 "I'm as ready as I can be, and [I'm] excited to get out and compete again," Kemp said. "I've done all the practicing I can do, I've done the rehab. I've busted my butt and now I hope all the work has paid off."

• So, first we hear that the Dodgers SportsNet LA negotiations between Time Warner and Direct TV have stopped since Direct TV walked away from the table(via Joe Flint at the LA Times).  Then, we hear that this announcement was just a sly tactic by Time Warner, and Direct TV is in fact still talking with them (via Ben Bergman at KPCC).  Who knows what to believe. 

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Blog Kiosk: 1/25/2014 - Dodgers Links - Ryu, Kasten on Tanaka and an Amazing Dodgers Tattoo

Hyun-Jin Ryu knows hockey!  Check out Ryu sporting a hockey stick in the bowels of Dodger Stadium, pic via @Dodgers on twitter. 

• Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy recounts the time the Kings and Rangers played an exhibition outdoor hockey game in Las Vegas in 1991.
• Via AM570, "LISTEN: Stan Kasten -- L.A. Would Have Been A Good Fit For Masahiro Tanaka"

"We liked him a lot. We would've been happy to have him and let's face it, L.A. would've been a good fit for him as well." He added, "we bid where we thought where his value was, wasn't where the Yankees saw him, maybe it was need base, maybe it was evaluation base. Whatever it is, we're really comfortable looking forward to this next year."

• Via Jay Blue at Grading on the Curve writes, "Is Pitching a Religion? Conversions in 2013".

The Dodgers aren’t exactly afraid to convert players, especially since their closer, Kenley Jansen, started his career as a catcher. Pedro Baez, a former third baseman, began his conversion in 2013 and has had very good success so far, making it back to Double-A with a 3.88 ERA, 1.55 WHIP with 23 walks and 55 strikeouts in 58 innings split between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga.

• Here are a couple of more Dodger Minor League signing, via Matt Eddy of Baseball America on twitter.

 

#Dodgers sign four to minor league deals: OF Trayvon Robinson (original L.A. draft pick), 2B Ryan Adams, C Miguel Olivo and RHP Mark Pope.
— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) January 24, 2014

• Brandon Warne at FanGraphs writes, "The Dodgers Outfield Situation is Pretty Good".
• Via Bruce Markusen at Hardball Times, "Card Corner: 1974 Topps: Willie Crawford".

In spite of all these shortcomings, I like this card very much. It is an action card that captures the strong musculature of a sculpted athlete like Crawford. It also captures the most difficult skill in the game of baseball: hitting the ball. Look at the awkward follow-through of Crawford’s swing. His hands are so close to his body that it appears he has been jammed by the pitcher’s fastball. The card epitomizes the difficulty of hitting a ball squarely.

• I think this is the most amazing tattoo, ever!

What do you guy think? pic.twitter.com/a0uB6OgUbI
— Mr.Dodgers Baseball⚾ (@mrdodger323) January 21, 2014

• So, are you eager for 2014 Topps Series 1 Baseball cards?  Well, you'll have to wait til Wednesday.  In the meantime, Chris Olds at Beckett has a complete checklist that you can download.  Check it out here.

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Some Dodger Videos

I had originally planned to post this on Sunday, but found myself busy on other things. Namely, a wedding for a good friend of mine. So, sit down and enjoy what was suppose to be Sunday's Dodger Videos. In fact, I know I've been a bit remiss in posting lately, so I'll do my best to catch up over the next several days.

Trayvon Robinson talks about his trade.

Video Link:

Bloomberg Law's Lee Pacchia talks with Bloomberg News bankruptcy columnist and editor-at-large Bill Rochelle on July 27 about the week's bankruptcy news and legal developments regarding the Los Angeles Dodgers and Madoff cases. I know, a little late.

Video Link:

Check out Matt Kemp on the George Lopez show.

Video Link:

Blog Kiosk: 8/2/2011

Peering though the Dodger bullpen window. Pic via @Dodgers yfrog.

• Mayor's Manor talks to James Loney about his hockey aspirations.
  
• Love this great pic from Left Field Pavilion honoring Kuroda.
  
• Rubby De La Rosa to have Tommy John Surgery, via LA Times.
• True to the Blue visits with Tony Gwynn Jr. and gets his signature.
  
• Envious, I am. Chris Harris heads to the National.
  
• Trayvon Robinson talks about the trade, via Taylor Soper.
• New Mexico Fan says goodbye to Trayvon Robinson with pics from his minor league stay in Albuquerque.
  
• Check out this great story from Sports Collectors Daily about a vintage game-used bat purported to come from the late 1930's Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo National baseball team in the Dominican Republic. This club was run by that nations dictator who would certainly have killed the players (filled with plenty of great Negro Leaguers) if they had lost.
• REA shares its next great find- 19th Century Peck & Snyder team cards.
• Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius shares his recent addition, a Tommy John bat card.
• Wrigley Wax visits the Field of Dreams.