Blog Kiosk: 5/12/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a look at a mundane activity that happens in every clubhouse -- the manicuring of a Baseball uniform. Featured is Dodger coach Leo Durocher, circa 1961, having the sleeves on his shirt trimmed by a clubhouse attendant (eBay auction link)

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Dodgers hurler Carl Erskine throws his second career no-hitter -- becoming the eighth Dodger to do so in their history. He blanked the New York Giants, 3-0 (boxscore), at Ebbets Field. In 1979 Saturday Night Live Weekend Update anchorman Bill Murray announced that lovable All-Star second baseman Chico Escuela (played by Garrett Morris) would quit baseball after Steve Garvey crushed a ball that hit Escuela in the crotch -- rendered him irreversibly infertile. In 2004 Alex Cora had his famous 18 pitch at-bat (including 14 consecutive fouls balls) at Dodger Stadium against Matt Clement of the Cubs that culminated in an unbelievable two-run home run.  You can watch this at-bat here. In 2015 Giancarlo Stanton owned Dodgers pitcher Mike Bolsinger when he become only the fourth player to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium. Watch it here. Stanton's homer would prove to be the only run the Marlins would score (boxscore).
• Happy Birthday, Lave Cross, Dutch Henry, Rafael Bournigal & Adam Liberatore!

2017 Topps Museum Collection - Dodgers' WBC, Momentous Material & Museum Memorabilia Cards

Here are more Dodgers' found in packs of 2017 Topps Museum. Featured here is the lone Dodger WBC card, the Momentous Material, and Museum Memorabilia cards. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Primary Pieces WBC Quad Relics (Single-Player)

#WBCQR-AG Adrian Gonzalez - Team Mexico

Blog Kiosk: 3/23/2017 - Dodgers Links - USA! USA! USA!

Last nights WBC Final was the first game this year that I've watch from start to finish, and I must say it was fantastic.  What a way to start the Baseball season.

As you know, Team USA defeated Team Puerto Rico to capture its very first WBC Championship.  It was glorious to watch and fun to celebrate an actual championship (albeit not a Dodger one) at our home turf.  Hopefully this is sign of things to come at Dodger Stadium.

Both photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more great pics taken by Jon from the WBC Final game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1951 the Brooklyn Dodgers sign a 21-year lease with the City of Vero Beach to build their spring training facility at an old abandoned Naval base.  It would be known as Dodgertown.  In 2002 the Dodgers traded Jorge Nunez and Matt Herges to the Expos for Guillermo Mota and Wilkin Ruan.
• Happy Birthday, Barney Koch, Jerry Brooks, Joel Peralta & John Link!
  

Blog Kiosk: 3/22/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

USA!  USA!  USA!

The Finals is tonight.  Don't miss it.  You can watch it on the MLB network starting at 6:00 PM.  I am sure tickets for the game are still available.  They will be facing Puerto Rico -- which is actually a US territory.  So, in a way, we've already won.

BTW, they debut a couple of Extreme Loaded Dogs at the stadium last night -- one for each team.  On the above left is the Japan Dog and on its right is the American Dog.  Which do you prefer?

Photo at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.  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.
• Happy Birthday, Bill McClellan, Overton Tremper, Ramon Martinez & Juan Uribe!

Blog Kiosk: 3/15/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

As you may know, the Great Lakes Loons, a Dodgers Single-A minor league affiliate, won the 2016 MidWest League Championship.  Yesterday afternoon the guys got together for a special championship ring ceremony at Camelback Ranch.  Above is group picture of the team, via the Loons on twitter.  Go here to see even more pics.  At right is a closer-up look at the ring.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers Baseball:  In 1945 the Dodgers opened their spring camp at Bear Mountain State Park in upstate New York due to wartime travel restrictions.  There were real worries that German U-boats would attack the eastern coast of America.  This is the third straight year the Dodgers would practice here.  In 1975 the Dodgers signed former Giants pitcher Juan Marichal to a free agent contract.  He would retire from the game a little over a month later on April 17th. 
• Happy Birthday, Doc Casey, Ralph Miller, Rosy Ryan, Lou Fette, Dick Scott, Mickey Hatcher & Trayce Thompson!
  

Blog Kiosk: 3/13/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

I think we should nickname the team the "Bridegrooms".

Last week we got word that Dodger outfielder Joc Pederson proposed to his then girlfriend (link here).  Now we found out that third baseman Justin Turner did the same this weekend while at the Grand Canyon, as evidenced by the photo he shared on twitter.

Congrats Justin and Courtney!

As you may know, the Brooklyn Baseball club was given the nickname of the "Bridegrooms" by the press in the late 1880's.  Over one winter break four of their players had gotten hitched.  This nickname lasted for quite a few years until Ned Hanlon took charge as manager in 1899 and the press renamed the club the Superbas.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1917 Dodger skipper Wilbert Robinson performed some spring antics on the field.  After having heard about Gabby Street catching a ball from the Washington Monument, Robinson bragged that he could catch a ball dropped from an airplane.  So, it was set up, but young outfielder Casey Stengel decided to substituted a grapefruit instead of a Baseball.  Said fruit was then gloved by Robinson as it fell, but it exploded on his chest.  Having seen the fruit innards Wilbert mistook it for blood and screamed that he was dying -- that is until he tasted it.
• Happy Birthday, Chappie McFarland, Tom Flood, Mal Eason, Lew Malone, Don Bessent, Don Miles & Mariano Duncan!
  

Blog Kiosk: 2/9/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The rosters for the various WBC teams were announced yesterday, and eleven Dodgers' will a part of all the fun.  Five players will be a part of Team Mexico:  Adrián González, Vidal Nuno, prospect Alex Verdugo, yet-to-be-officially-signed Sergio Romo and Julio Urias.  Kiké Hernandez will play for Puerto Rico, Rob Segedin and prospect Drew Maggi will represent Italy, non-roster invitee Ike Davis and prospect Dean Kremer will play for Israel and Kenley Jansen will join the Netherlands.  Furthermore, both Urias and Jansen are part of the designated pitcher pool; which makes them inactive for the first round.  On a side note, former Dodger closer Eric Gagné will play for Canada and recently traded pitcher Jose De Leon will join Puerto Rico.

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

• Happy Birthday, Wally Hood, Buzz Boyle, Harvey Green, Erv Palica, Jim Campanis & Dioner Navarro!
  

Blog Kiosk: 1/6/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Now this is a Baseball play.

These days it is doubtful anything like the action seen above would happen.  First of all, infielders are not expected to perform such acrobatics on the field anymore.  Instead, they hug the base and dare the oncoming runner to slide hard.  And if the runner does come at the infielder, it is likely that screams of unsportsmanlike conduct will be heard from every medium in the country.  Furthermore, a take-out slide, like the one being performed by the nameless Cardinal runner above against Jackie Robinson, just isn't done anymore.  Heck, in certain circumstances it is banned.

Photo above via Old Baseball Photos on Twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, George Shoch, Lee Walls, Marlon Anderson & Ralph Branca!
  

Blog Kiosk: 12/5/2016 - Dodgers Links - Honeycutt, Seager and Rich Hill has been Re-Signed

Check out legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito scamper through the Dodgers "Pop-Up Museum" at Dodger Stadium.  The museum highlights Dodger history through memorabilia/artifacts from the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the collection of Gary Cypres and the Dodgers own archives.  Go here for more information. Go here to check out more pics by Jon SooHoo from the museum.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1933 Prohibition ended.  In 1973 the Dodgers traded trade outfielder Willie Davis to the Expos for relief pitcher Mike Marshall.  Dr. Marshall, as he is called now, went on to win the NL Cy Young Award that next season.  He pitched in 106 games, finished 83 of them and recorded a league high 21 saves as a reliever.
• Happy Birthday, Raleigh Aitchison, Billy Shindle & Ray Moss!

Blog Kiosk: 8/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Ruehle, Ethier, Puig, Seager and the Shocking Ellis Trade

It never felt so good to lose to the Giants.

After the emotional roller coaster that we all felt following the announced trade of AJ Ellis no one would blame the Dodgers for being a little deflated for that evenings game. 

But a near no-hitter?

I don't think anyone expected to see that. 

Giants hurler Matt Moore, acquired less than a month ago from Tampa Bay, got on the mound and was brilliant.  He masterfully took advantage of an less than enthused clubhouse by weaving a series of off-speed pitches that kept the Dodger bats out of kilter.  Eight and two-thirds innings later, not one Dodger had a hit.  Then, Corey Seager came up and brought the entire stadium to their feet by blooping a single to right field to end any chance of a humiliating evening.  Per Ken Gurnick and Chris Haft at MLB.com:

"In some weird way, it does," said Roberts. "They really wanted to salvage the series. For us to potentially get no-hit, and for Corey to break it up, it salvages it for us in a strange way."

No kidding.  Dodgers fans everywhere were able to breathe a sigh of relief.  Best yet, Dodger fans, not typically known for being gracious to our neighbors up north, gave the Giants pitcher a standing ovation after being pulled from the game.  Of course, that didn't stop a handful of fools from basking in breaking up a no-no (check out this link to see what I mean).

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

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1939 the Dodgers and Reds played in the first Major League game to be broadcast on television.  It was a doubleheader.  The Reds won game 1, 5-2, and the Dodgers won game 2, 6-1.  In 1947 Dodgers pitcher Dan Bankhead became the first African-American Major League pitcher when he got on the mound in relief against the Pirates.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 17/Road Game 9

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (10-4-2) at Arizona Diamondbacks (12-4-1)
Friday, March 18, 2016 – 1:10 p.m. MT | Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
RHP Brandon Beachy (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Zack Godley (0-0, 7.20)
TV: None Radio: AM 570 (English)

Today's Dodger lineup:
Ethier LF
Kendrick 2B
Turner 3B
Utley 1B
Puig RF
Grandal C
Hernandez SS
Thompson CF
Beachy P

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 18, 2016

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

(Alex Wood, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

MOVING FORWARD: The Dodgers, who are back on the road today, will take on the Diamondbacks in their last match-up of the spring at Salt River Fields. Los Angeles fell to the World Champion Kansas City Royals in yesterday’s contest, a 5-1 defeat at Camelback Ranch. At the plate, Joc Pederson doubled in the first inning and then was driven in by a Scott Van Slyke double to record the lone run for the Dodgers. On the mound, Alex Wood allowed just one run on four hits in 3.0 innings in his second start of the spring and Kenley Jansen, Louis Coleman and Pedro Baez each tossed a scoreless inning of relief, while Ross Stripling recorded four strikeouts in two scoreless frames.

(Van Slyke, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

• The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks, 7-2, in their last meeting on March 5 at Camelback Ranch.
• Los Angeles, who will host Arizona in its home regular-season opener on April 12, took the 2015 season series from the Diamondbacks, 13-6.

LIGHTING’EM UP: The Dodger offense has been clicking on all cylinders this spring, ranking among the National League clubs in slugging percentage .482 (2nd), batting average .283 (3rd) and on-base percentage (T-3rd). Individually, Scott Van Slyke ranks among the NL’s best in average (.414, 2nd), home runs (3, T-8th), on-base percentage (.500, T-3rd) and slugging percentage (.828, 3rd), while Austin Barnes and Rob Segedin are tied for second with four Spring Training homers.

(Agon at WBC, pic via WBC on twitter)

VIVA MEXICO!: The Dodgers would like to congratulate Adrian Gonzalez and Team Mexico on its 2-1 win in last night’s WBC qualifier against the Czech Republic! Gonzalez finished the night going 0-for-1 with three walks and a run scored. Dodger great Fernando Valenzuela, who served as a pitching coach for Team Mexico in the 2006, 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics, tournaments, threw the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game in Mexicali. Team Mexico will face Nicaragua on Friday at Mexicali.

TRIMMING THE ROOM: The Dodgers made their second cuts of the spring after yesterday’s game, optioning INF Micah Johnson, RHP Yaisel Sierra, RHP Ross Stripling and LHP Ian Thomas, while reassigning RHP Jose De Leon, LHP Julio Urias and C Jack Murphy to minor-league camp. The Dodgers have 47 players in big-league camp, excluding Brandon McCarthy and Frankie Montas, who are on the 60-day DL.

TODAY’S PROBABLE PITCHERS:

• RHP Brandon Beachy will make his second start of the spring, throwing 3.0 scoreless frames against the Cubs March 12. Beachy, who has appeared in two games thus far during Spring Training, has yet to give up a run in 5.0 innings of work. He made two starts with the Dodgers in 2015 after being reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, before being optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City where he went 1-1 with a 3.64 ERA in 10 games (nine starts).
• RHP Yimi Garcia will make his sixth appearance, last pitching Wednesday against the Rockies, allowing one run in an inning of relief. He ranked among the NL’s best relievers in WHIP (0.95, 5th), opponents’ batting average (.199, 16th), opponents’ on-base percentage (.242, 4th) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.60, 3rd).
• LHP Adam Liberatore will appear in his sixth Cactus League game, after tossing a perfect inning Wednesday against Colorado. Liberatore saw his first big league action last season with the Dodgers, going 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in 39 games.
• LHP Luis Avilan will appear in his fifth game of the spring, after striking out the only batter he faced against the White Sox Tuesday. He combined to go 2-5 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 73 relief appearances for the Braves and the Dodgers last season.
• RHP Jamey Wright has thrown 3.1 innings of work in four outings this spring (6 ER), last pitching Tuesday against the White Sox. Wright, a 19-year MLB veteran, last pitched in the Majors in 2014, going 5-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 61 appearances with the Dodgers.

(Kiké Hernandez, pic via Dodgers tumblr)

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Blog Kiosk: 3/15/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kazmir, Ryu and Justin Turner

That is some sweet looking leather.

Yesterday afternoon the Dodgers shared a pic of Kiké Hernandez's new glove on twitter, and made note that it features his twitter handle.  I would rather make note of the awesome blue leather straps.

Below are more links to check out:

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider provides the details on the first "cuts" of spring, here.  Eight players were sent to minor league camp; including right-handed pitching prospect Jharel Cotton.
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA has a complete roster listing of Dodgers' minor league ballplayers here.
• Eric also writes, "Scott Kazmir finds rhythm in 'B' game." 

"I was working on a couple pitches, but was just trying to get that catcher-pitcher relationship down where we were in sync and had a good rhythm going," Kazmir recalled. "There were some things we tried in the first few innings that made it a little more difficult. We changed it a little bit, then by the third or fourth inning we were right there thinking with each other."

• Hyun-Jin Ryu finally got back onto the mound yesterday afternoon, and threw twenty pitches.  Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers:

“It was very good,” Ryu said through an interpreter. “It wasn’t all about the speed. It was more about location and how I felt.”

• Justin Tuner is on the mend.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Turner 'still standing' after quite the workout."

"I'm still standing," Turner said. "Everything is a test to see how I feel on both sides of the ball. I had a little extra adrenaline with the fans in the stands. I was anxious to get back out there in a real game. Playing on the back fields is good to get the work in, but it's not the same adrenaline and intensity with the fans in the stands. I felt great. Ran, slid into home, dove for a ball. Everything felt fine."

• An WBC Qualifier series will begin this coming Thursday, and Adrian Gonzalez will be playing for Team Mexico.  Also, via Yvonne Carrasco at Dodger Insider, "Valenzuela to throw first pitch at WBC qualifier."  Go here for a schedule of games being played in Mexicali, Mexico and Panama City, Panama.
• Those rare Ty Cobb cards found in a paper bag have been selling briskly.  Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily informs us that a fourth card (and its highest graded example) of the seven found sold for in excess of $1Million.  That's for that one card.  Wow!  It is believed that the first three cards reported to have been sold was for an accumulative value of over $1Million.  Check out what the million dollar card looks like on the right.
• Wow!

Well, the stitches are out but I still have to wear a cast for 2 wks. Can't wait to get some @Dodgers to sign it! ;) pic.twitter.com/DKfS8Icq1l

— Josh Ravin™ (@FreshSqueezed22) March 14, 2016

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2013 Topps Tribute WBC World Baseball Classic Set - The Dodgers Cards

Last week, Topps released their 2013 Tribute WBC set.  It basically includes only 2 current Dodger players - Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez - even though 6 Dodgers participated in the World Baseball Classic.  The other 4 missing Dodgers are Luis Cruz (Mexico), Ronald Belisario (Venezuela), Nick Punto (Italy), and Kenley Jansen (Netherlands).  There also happens to be a Sandy Koufax autographed card, as well.

Check out all of the different Dodgers' cards below.  The first two cards are the base cards.

#61 Adrian Gonzalez                           #97 Hanley Ramirez

Autographed Cards

#WTA-AG Adrian Gonzalez         #WTA-AG2 Adrian Gonzalez

#WTA-HR Hanley Ramirez

WBC International Legends Autographs

#TILA-SK Sandy Koufax

WBC Prime Patch Cards

#WPP-AG Adrian Gonzalez           #WPP-HR Hanley Ramirez

These next two insert sets are all "1 of 1" cards.  Both Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez have a card in each set.  An example of each one is below to view.

WBC Flag Patch Cards

#WFP-AG Adrian Gonzalez

WBC Logo Patch Cards

 #WLP-AG Adrian Gonzalez

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Blog Kiosk: 3/22/2013

Magic is in the house.  Pic via twitter @Dodgers Jon SooHoo/ 2013 LA Dodgers.

• Chris Olds at Beckett has a one-on-one interview with "42" lead actor Chadwick Boseman (he plays Jackie Robinson) that he recently shared.  It's a fun read:

Autograph Hunting
So, if there was one autograph of a baseball player Boseman would want, who would it be?

“For baseball players, I would love to get Josh Hamilton‘s autograph — that would be cool. I would love to meet him,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to meet some of the Dodgers, so Matt Kemp would be a real cool autograph. And Ken Griffey Jr. of course.”

Then he jumped right into another thought, almost as if he were kicking himself thinking back about his experiences while making the film.

“You know, what I can’t believe is I didn’t get Hank Aaron‘s autograph,” he said. “I met him a couple of times. I have to remember to get him — what am I thinking? The next time I see him, I’ll get him to sign my 42 hat.”

• Vincent Bonsignore at the Daily News writes that you shouldn't blame the WBC for Hanley's injury.

"This could have happened anywhere," a disappointed Ramirez said Thursday, his right hand encased in a huge black brace. "It could have happened here."

He's absolutely right, which is why it's silly to blame the WBC.

Even though that won't stop people from doing exactly that.

But that's misguided considering the injury occurred on a play so routine Ramirez might as well have been taking infield practice.

• Just to add more sorrow to the story.  Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs notes that Hanley Ramirez was the best hitter in the WBC.
• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com reports some good news.  "Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley Report No Further Medical Problems."  He then tells us that pitcher, Stephen Fife, is turning some Dodger heads.
• Chris Carlin at the Upper Deck Blog tells us how Baseball cards can help kids with Down Syndrome.
• Upper Deck may have been shut out of a MLB card license, they did snag a license from the MLB Players Association.  Via their press release.
• I'm not sure what prompted this but the Sacramento River Cats (or is it RiverCats, or river cats, whatever) is implementing a $1 fine on anybody who dare misspells their name.  See the press release here.  Hey River Bats, I dare you to try and collect from me!  BTW, this team is the AAA affiliate for the A's.
• Check out the Smithsonian Magazine's 2012 photography contest finalist.  

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 26/ Road Game 13

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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LOS ANGELES DODGERS (9-13-3) vs. Kansas City Royals (17-6-1)
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 – 1:05 p.m. | Surprise Stadium
RHP Aaron Harang (1-0, 10.00) vs. RHP Wade Davis (2-0, 0.00)
TV: None | Radio: None

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

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

(pic link: Cespedes & Puig: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

DODGER ROYALTY: The Dodgers take on the Royals for the second and final time this spring after defeating Kansas City, 8-1, on March 15 in Glendale. The clubs haven’t met during the regular season since 2005 and the Royals have the upper hand in the all-time series, 4-2. In case you’re counting, Opening Day against the Giants is just 12 days away!

• On the back fields at 1:00 p.m., Zack Greinke, Brandon League and J.P. Howell will all pitch in minor league games. Greinke is expected to throw around 45 pitches.

COSTLY VICTORY: Congratulations are in order for Dodger shortstop Hanley Ramirez and minor league right-handed pitcher Angel Castro on the Dominican Republic’s undefeated run to the World Baseball Classic title, capped off with a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico last night. Ramirez went 1-for-2 in the championship game before he was removed with an apparent thumb injury. He is expected back in Arizona this afternoon and will have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. He finished the eight-game tournament by going 5-for-22 with two homers and three RBI.

• With Ramirez traveling and Dee Gordon out of the lineup with an ankle injury, Luis Cruz will make his first start of the spring at shortstop today. Last year, Cruz appeared in 24 games (23 starts) at shortstop, posting a .981 fielding percentage and committing just two errors in 205.1 innings.

BIRTHDAY BOY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to Pat Corrales, who is in his first season with the Dodgers as a special advisor to the GM. Corrales was the first Major League manager of Mexican-American descent and managed for nine years in the big leagues with the Rangers (1978- 80), Phillies (1982-83) and Indians (1983-87) following a nine-year playing career as a catcher.

FEELS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY: The Dodgers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead yesterday with Yasiel Puig and Jerry Hairston Jr. hitting back-to-back first-inning homers and Chris Capuano delivered 5.2 strong innings as Los Angeles downed Oakland, 7-1, at Camelback Ranch. In addition to Puig and Hairston, Juan Uribe and Skip Schumaker added multi-hit games as the Dodger offense finished the game with 13 hits, including five for extra bases. The Dodger bullpen of Mark Lowe (1.1 IP), J.P. Howell (1.0 IP) and Brandon League (1.0 IP) was equally as impressive, allowing just two baserunners (hit, walk) to close out the game with 3.1 scoreless innings.

• After yesterday’s 13-hit barrage, the Dodgers now top National League clubs with a .288 team batting average and a .352 team on-base percentage.
• Los Angeles also leads the NL with 32 steals, led by league leader Dee Gordon’s seven stolen bases.

(pic link: Brandon League: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

LET’S CALL IT AN EVEN .500:  After drawing comparisons to Bo Jackson and Mark McGwire, Yasiel Puig continued to be the talk of camp yesterday by going 4-for-4 with two runs scored, a stolen base, a triple, a homer and two RBI, finishing a double shy of the cycle. Puig is batting an even .500 this spring, tops among National Leaguers, and also ranks among the league’s best in runs scored (13, T-3rd), hits (23, 2nd), total bases (37, 4th), stolen bases (4, T-4th), slugging percentage (.804, 2nd) and on-base percentage (.489, 4th).

ON THE HILL: Aaron Harang will make his fourth start of the spring today against the Royals after last pitching on Friday against the Padres. Harang allowed five runs (four earned) in 4.0 innings in that outing and has gone 1-0 with a 10.00 ERA in his three Cactus League starts. Last season, Harang posted a career-low 3.61 ERA while going 10-10 in 31 starts with the Dodgers.

• Today’s scheduled relievers, Ronald Belisario, Matt Guerrier, Kenley Jansen and Kevin Gregg, will go back-to-back and pitch tomorrow in a simulated game against Carl Crawford and Tim Federowicz at Camelback Ranch.

TUCSON-OLOGY:  On Monday, the Dodgers held their annual Tucson-ology draft to determine who would make the trip to Tucson tomorrow to play in the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation benefit game against the Cubs. The lucky winners were Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Nick Punto, Skip Schumacher, Juan Uribe, Alex Castellanos and Stephen Fife.

• This will mark the Dodgers’ third annual benefit game in Tucson dating to 2011, when the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks played a similar benefit game in Tucson with all proceeds going to the Tucson Together Fund. In addition, The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, in partnership with the Diamondbacks, dedicated a Dodgers Dreamfield in Oro Valley, AZ, on a field that was re-named in memory of Christina-Taylor Green.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/20/2013

Tommy is so gangsta!  Pic via twitter @Dodgers.

• Here is Part 2 of John Thorn's piece called, "Thinking About Jackie Robinson."
• See a bunch of recent photos (3/18/2013) taken at Dodger Stadium of the new scoreboards and fields at the Think Blue LA message boards, via @ilivedodgers.
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Kershaw Being Kershaw."

"It was like hitters didn't stand a chance, I'm talking about major-league hitters, not kids up for a cup of coffee. He was throwing hard, the ball was moving all over the place. I don't know what he was talking about, based on what I saw." 

• FanGraphs has their 2013 Positional Rankings available for viewing: DH, Catchers; 1st Baseman; 2nd Baseman; 3rd Baseman; Shortstop; Right Field, Left Field, Center Field.
• Hanley Ramirez goes down, too.  Via Barry Bloom at MLB.com:

"Hanley, he jammed his thumb when he dove for that ball," Alou said after the Dominican Republic ran off eight consecutive wins to go undefeated and win the Classic for the first time. "It was pretty swollen. He's going to have an MRI on it [Wednesday] in Arizona."

• Hanley does share a whole bunch of pics from last nights WBC victory celebration on instagram.   See them here.  Assuming that the photos he shared today are from today, his hand looks fine and is currently cast-less.
• Waiting for Puig will be hard to do.  The accolades keep coming for him.  Below Ken Rosenthal shares a comment from a scout in AZ on twitter.

(twitter link: @Ken_Rosenthal)

• Via Mark Langill at Dodgers History, today marks the anniversary of when Babe Didrickson pitched in an exhibition game against the Dodgers.
  

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 25/ Home Game 13

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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

Oakland Athletics (9-11-2) vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (8-13-3)
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 – 1:05 p.m. | Camelback Ranch - Glendale
RHP Dan Straily (1-1, 6.52) vs. LHP Chris Capuano (0-1, 10.61)
TV: Dodgers.com Webcast | Radio: None

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

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

(pic credit: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

NORTH VS. SOUTH: The Dodgers play their California neighbors to the north, the Oakland Athletics, today at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The A’s swept the Dodgers last year in Oakland and hold a 9-16 advantage in the all-time regular season series. The clubs have met twice in the World Series, splitting their 10 games, with the A’s winning the 1974 Fall Classic and Los Angeles claiming the title in 1988.  The Dodgers and Athletics will meet one more time during Cactus League play with a second meeting on Sunday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

• The Dodgers made three roster moves today, optioning infielder Justin Sellers and right-handed pitcher Shawn Tolleson to minor league camp and reassigning catcher Jesus Flores to minor league camp. The Dodgers have 40 players remaining in big league camp.

OLD MAN: The Dodgers would like to wish left-hander Clayton Kershaw a happy 25th birthday today! The Texas native has posted a 61-37 record with a 2.79 ERA in 151 career games (149 starts) since making his big league debut in 2008 and ranks among active MLB pitchers (min. 750.0 innings) in ERA (2nd behind Mariano Rivera, 2.21), opponents’ batting average (.215, 3rd behind Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (9.29, 4th), WHIP (1.14, 4th), home runs per 9.0 innings (0.59, 3rd) and winning percentage (.622, 12th).

• Kershaw already ranks 14th on the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout list with 974 career Ks in 944.0 innings, leaving him just 26 shy of joining the 1,000-strikeout club.
• Kershaw is scheduled to make his third consecutive Opening Day start against the Giants on April 1, just 13 days away!

AROUND THE WORLD: Last night, the Dominican Republic advanced to tonight’s World Baseball Classic championship game by defeating the Netherlands, 4-1, with Hanley Ramirez going 1-for-3 with a walk. After joining Team Netherlands in San Francisco for the semifinal round, Kenley Jansen did not appear in the game and reported back to Dodger camp today.

• The Dodger organization will be well represented in tonight’s championship with four players participating; minor league RHP Angel Castro (Dominican Republic), SS Hanley Ramirez (Dominican Republic), minor league RHP Andres Santiago (Puerto Rico) and minor league RHP Mario Santiago (Puerto Rico).

KING OF THE HILL: Left-hander Chris Capuano will make his fourth appearance of the spring (third start) after allowing five runs on six hits in 4.1 innings in his last start, Thursday against the Cubs. Capuano, 34, went 12-12 with a career-low 3.72 ERA last season in 33 starts with the Dodgers.

(pic credit: Lasorda & Steve Sax: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

FEELS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY: The Dodgers pounded out 12 hits yesterday, but fell, 5-3, to the Diamondbacks in Glendale. Carl Crawford made his second start of the spring as the designated hitter and picked up his first two hits, going 2-for-3 with a two-run single in the fifth inning. Adrian Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with a double for his second multi-hit game in a row, raising his Cactus League batting average to .300 in 12 games.

• Yasiel Puig is tied for fifth in the NL with 19 hits and is tied for fourth with 11 runs scored.
• Dee Gordon leads the NL with seven steals and is tied for third on the circuit eight walks.
• The Dodgers continue to rank second among NL clubs with a .285 team batting average and a .349 on-base percentage this spring.

GIVING BACK: Today, the Dodgers will host local youth from the Holiday Park Little League and Glendale Youth Project for a Spring Training game and baseball clinic. Dodger infielder Dee Gordon, outfielder Alex Castellanos and coach Manny Mota will conduct the clinic for approximately 60 youngsters from a low-income area of Glendale. The clinic will take place in the outfield of the main stadium shortly after the conclusion of today’s game.

TUCSON-OLOGY:  Yesterday, the Dodgers held their annual Tucson-ology draft to determine who would make the trip to Tucson on Thursday to play in the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation benefit game against the Cubs. The lucky winners were Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Nick Punto, Skip Schumaker and Stephen Fife, who will make the start.

• This will mark the Dodgers’ third annual benefit game in Tucson dating to 2011, when the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks played a similar benefit game in Tucson with all proceeds going to the Tucson Together Fund. In addition, The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, in partnership with the Diamondbacks, dedicated a Dodgers Dreamfield in Oro Valley, AZ on a field that was re-named in memory of Christina-Taylor Green.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/19/2013

Steve Lyons' is seen above sporting some St. Patrick's Day Oakley shades.  Pic via twitter @SteveLyons12.

• MLB's historian John Thorn writes about Jackie Robinson and the men who built the barrier he had to cross.

African Americans had played baseball near Madison Square in the 1840s, not far from the grounds of the New York and Knickerbocker clubs before they relocated to Hoboken’s Elysian Fields. In Rochester, in 1859, Frederick Douglass Jr., son of the great abolitionist orator, played baseball with the integrated Charter Oak Juniors. When young Douglass moved to Washington, he helped to form another baseball club, the all-black Alerts, which became the first such club to play against a first-rank white one, the Olympics of Washington, DC, in late September 1869. (The first interracial game took place in Philadelphia a few weeks earlier, with the black Pythians playing against the white Olympics, both of that city.)

• Some more Dodgers' moves: Sellers, Tolleson and Flores sent down, via twitter @Dodgers.

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

• TFed will be our #2 catcher.  Via Eric Stephen on twitter:

(twitter link: @truebluela)

• Rest Up, TJ Simers.  Via Craig Calcaterra at Hardball Talk, the "Dodgers Training Staff comes to TJ Simers' (an LA Times reporter ) aid after he had a Ministroke.

In it he notes that when the stroke hit he was in his Phoenix hotel room and called to Camelback Ranch to tell colleagues and Dodgers people that he wouldn’t be at the ballpark. Dodgers’ trainer Sue Falsone got on the phone with him and helped diagnose the stroke (which it appears Simers didn’t immediately recognize as such) and then dispatched assistant trainer Aaron Schumacher to his hotel to take him to the hospital. Great play, Dodgers.

• Evan Bladh at Opinion of Kingman's Performance shares a bunch of pics he took at a WBC game from last night.
• The Dodgers decide that outsourcing is not for them.  Via Rick Orlov at the Daily News, the Dodgers' are looking to replace private ambulatory services with the LA Fire Department.
• Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, he speaks with Ned Colletti and his explanation why Puig needs some molding in the minors.
• Matt Hunter at Beyond the Boxscore writes, "Are SABR's Changes to the Gold Glove Bad for Baseball?"
• Chris Olds at Beckett shares some unexpected news.  Topps extends their exclusive MLB agreement to 2020.  

“Since making Topps our exclusive baseball card licensee, they have continually validated that decision by bringing clarity to the marketplace and reinvigorating the hobby, especially among young people,” said Howard Smith, the MLB Senior Vice President, Licensing, in a prepared statement. “Generations of baseball fans have grown more attached to the game through collecting baseball cards, and Topps is continually coming up with new and creative ways to reach the next generation.”

A lot of collectors appear to be up in arms about this.  I am not.  Although I wonder what great cards Panini could make with a full license, I understand why MLB did this.  Topps provides consistency while MLB's experience with other manufacturers has been less than spectacular.  If you're looking for someone to blame for the use of an exclusive card license then I suggest looking at Upper Deck's way.  They helped create the atmosphere that put this all together. 

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