Blog Kiosk: 4/7/2014 - Dodgers Links - Mondesi Back in LA, Puig's Thumb and a Minor Trade

Raul Mondesi was at Dodger Stadium on Sunday as a part of Viva Los Dodgers.  He was there for a clothes drive and signed autographs for fans.  Pic above via the Dodgers on tumblr.  Check out a bunch of photos from Sunday featuring Mondesi via Jon SooHoo here.

• Dan Le Batard at ESPN The Magazine reminds us why we should continue to be patient with Puig with a piece titled: "Let's cut Yasiel Puig some slack."  He provides some funny examples of 'culture shock' stories from other foreign born players.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers still hope Beckett can make start."

With regards to his ankle: "It's a little sore this morning," Mattingly said. "I think he's frustrated, honestly. He felt his stuff was good, his arm felt good. Right now, nothing's changed [about his chances to start]. The next couple of days will tell us."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers lose first instant replay challenge of season."

The Dodgers issued their first challenge of the year under MLB's new instant replay system, but manager Don Mattingly's challenge was denied in the seventh inning. A.J. Ellis was thrown out at home plate by Hunter Pence for the third out of the inning, a call that was upheld after review.

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Lost in Quakes hype and hoopla, Lindsey Caughel continues to impress."

“I definitely think that Caughel would be the front-runner [to be the first promoted to Double-A Chattanooga] just because of what he did last year and how he pitched in this league last year,” said Quakes pitching coach and former Dodger pitcher Matt Herges. “I expect him to pitch even better this year. He was a late send-down (to the Advanced Single-A level) in spring training, so I’ve got to believe that he’d probably be the first guy [to be promoted].”

• BTW, per a Dodgers press release, they made a minor trade with the Indians over the weekend.  They acquired left-handed pitcher Colt Hynes from Cleveland in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Duke von Schamann.  Hynes was added to the 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. To create room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated outfielder Mike Baxter for assignment.  This appears to be a depth trade.  The Dodgers wanted another left-hander in AAA as a backup plan.
• Via Ken Gurnick and Earl Bloom at MLB.com, "Puig out of lineup following X-ray, MRI."

"It was pretty swollen this morning when he came in," manager Don Mattingly said. "We'll see. I don't think we expect it to be anything major."

• Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times tells us that Puig just has a thumb ligament strain.
• RJ at RBI Collecting shares some of his autograph "gets" at Rancho Cucamonga; including Beckett, Pederson and Urias.

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Blog Kiosk: 4/5/2014 - Dodgers Links - A Billingsley Rehab Start on Sunday, Beckett Tweaks Ankle and Puig Forgettable Day

Vin Scully make the Opening Day pitch to Sandy Koufax in the above photo, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Check more pics of Opening Day from Jon here.

• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Magic Johnson on Yasiel Puig: 'He has to make the right decisions'"

"We’re hoping that he’ll get better making the right decisions with his life," Johnson said. "He has to remember that those decisions also can affect what you do on the baseball field."

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Puig apologetic, Mattingly forgiving after benching."

“It was 100 percent my fault,” Puig said. “It was nothing to do with my teammates and my manager. I didn’t realize stretch was as early as it was. But it was absolutely my fault, and I ask forgiveness from my teammates and obviously from my manager.”

Puig said that once he realized he was late, he knew that “there’s pretty much no chance that you’re going to play, and I certainly felt bad about that.”

“I want to ask forgiveness from the fans,” he added. “I was very sad that I wasn’t able to play on Opening Day. It’s something that I’m not proud of and I take full responsibility.”

• Ramona Shelburne at ESPN.com writes a great commentary, "Yasiel Puig needs to cut the chaos."

What everyone with the Dodgers is hoping, is that days like Friday make him realize that the chaos he creates actually does affect other people sometimes. That it isn't just something to charge him up or push him to another next level. The dust he kicks up gets in other people's faces sometimes and has real consequences. Once he sees that, once he experiences a day like Friday, there is a real moment to change. Not to save the season or his career or anything so dramatic. Just to make it easier on himself and everyone involved.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Chad Billingsley starts rehab assignment Sunday in Rancho Cucamonga."

"It's getting close. I'm just going to start working and prepare for each [rehab] start like it was the regular season," Billingsley said. "But I'll work on things too, using these starts at my spring training."

• Mark Townsend at Big League Stew writes, "MLB report: Dodger Stadium a 'culture of apathy' on day of Bryan Stow beating."
• Not again!  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Beckett exits rehab start with apparent injury."  According to reports, he tweaked his ankle fielding a bunt, via Raymond Bureau at Sports Injury Alert.
• Via Craig Minami at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 4/4/14 minor league report - Duke von Schamann is efficient in win."

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