Blog Kiosk: 2/10/2014 - Dodgers Links - Spring Training is Here!

Spring Training has finally begun.  As you know, pitchers and catchers reported on Saturday.  Pic above features youngsters Onelki Garcia, Jose Dominguez, Pedro Baez, Carlos Frias and Yimi Garcia; via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs shares his interview with Dodger Insider, Jon Weisman.
• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com has a whole bevy of reports worth reading.  Check out "Billingsley: 'I feel like I have a whole new arm'"

 "My arm hasn't felt this good in a few years. I feel like I have a whole new arm," Billingsley said on reporting day for Spring Training. "They keep telling me, don't throw 95 [mph] yet."

Then, read this: "Greinke weighs in on Kershaw's record deal"

"He's been so good, anything he gets you'd probably say he's worth. Maybe he got a little more than I thought, maybe a million a year more. The opt-out is big -- he'll only be 28 [actually 30]. That's the main reason you might say it will be better [for Kershaw]. I think it's pretty fair all the way around."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers Australia trip looms large as spring camp opens"

"He said when you come back that's the hardest part, trying to get ready for the season. It's not an ideal situation, travel-wise. But you just have to make it work," Kershaw said. "I want to go there and see the country, go over there and see Sydney. I'd love to go there on vacation. I don't really want to go pitch there, but that's what we're signed up to do so we're going to have to get ready to do it."

• Eric Stephen also tells us that AJ Ellis has lost 15 lbs.

"It's good to trim up and try to take some stress off my lower body. I want to catch 120-125 games this year and I want to be physically ready to do that," Ellis said. "You can't do that if you're not in great shape and able to withstand the physical grind of the position."

• BTW, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times on twitter, both Kershaw and Greinke are expected to be the starts for the Dodgers in Australia.

#Dodgers plan to start Kershaw and Greinke in Australia games.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) February 8, 2014

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Appendectomy delays Elbert's elbow surgery rehab".
• Mark Langill at Dodger Insider tells us about a vintage Dodger Stadium give-away you wouldn't expect.
• Panini America is releasing a new Baseball card set, and it's something many of you old-tyme colelctors may remember.  In a couple of weeks they will release 2014's edition of Donruss.  Go here to see some preview pics.  Below are the Dodger cards.

• RJ at RBI Collecting shares his day at the Padres FanFest. David's Autograph Signings was there, too (Part 1, Part 2)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #1

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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(pic via alannalynn17 on twitter)

LACE ‘EM UP: The Dodgers opened their sixth Spring Training at Camelback Ranch – Glendale today with 32 pitchers (seven non-roster) and seven catchers (four non-roster) working out for the first time. The club will open their Spring Training schedule on Wednesday, February 26 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Talking Stick, with their first home game the following day, also against the D-backs in Glendale. The Dodgers will play a total of 11 games at Camelback Ranch this year on three Spring Training weekends.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

BATTERY POWERED: Pitching has traditionally been a strength of the Dodger organization and last season was no different as the Dodgers ranked second in the Majors with a 3.25 team ERA and established a franchise record with 1,292 strikeouts. Today, half of the Dodgers’ 2014 pitching staff threw their first official bullpens of the spring, including the National League’s reigning Cy Young Award winner, Clayton Kershaw, along with new acquisitions and former All-Stars Dan Haren and Chris Perez. In addition, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brian Wilson, J.P. Howell, Javy Guerra, Seth Rosin, Jose Dominguez and Matt Magill and non-roster invitees Ross Stripling, Chris Reed, Daniel Moskos, Sam Demel tossed their first ‘pens of the new season this morning.

• Haren, a three-time All-Star (2007-09), joins the Dodgers after going 10-14 with a 4.67 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) for Washington last year. The 11-year MLB veteran was one of the game’s top pitchers from July 27 through the conclusion of the 2013 season, sporting a 6-3 record with a 3.14 ERA (25 ER/71.2 IP) and holding opponents to a .224 batting average, which was the sixth-best mark in the NL during that span (min. 70.0 IP).

• Perez, an American League All-Star in 2011 and 2012, joins the Dodgers after spending the last five seasons with the Indians. Last year, the 28-year-old went 5-3 and saved 25 games in 30 chances (11th, AL) for Cleveland. His season ERA of 4.33 was inflated by four outings in which he gave up 15 runs in 2.1 innings and without those contests, Perez would have posted a 1.92 ERA in 50 games (51.2 innings). 

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE: This year, an early report date means an early exit from Arizona as the Dodgers will depart the Valley of the Sun on March 16 for Sydney, Australia. Once Down Under, Los Angeles will battle the D-backs on March 22-23 in Major League Baseball’s Opening Series, which will mark MLB’s first regular season games ever to be staged in Australia. The Dodgers will return stateside and play three exhibitions against the Angels in the Freeway Series before opening the “North American” portion of their schedule on March 30 at San Diego on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

ON THE DOTTED LINE: Yesterday, the Dodgers boosted their starting rotation depth with the signing of left-handed pitcher Paul Maholm to a one-year contract. Maholm (pronounced, muh-HAHL-uhm) was at the club’s facility for a physical yesterday and donned Dodger blue for the first time today at the team’s workout. The 31-year-old spent the 2013 season with the Braves, going 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts as he reached double-digit victories for the second consecutive season. During the course of his career, the nine-year MLB veteran has been especially tough against left-handed hitters, limiting them to a .225/.287/.318 slashline.

• In a corresponding move, the Dodgers placed left-hander Scott Elbert on the 60-day disabled list.

NEW FACES: This year, the Dodgers will have a few new faces on the medical side as the club welcomes Steve Smith and Brian Stoneberg to the Major League staff. In his third year in the organization, Stoneberg will join Brandon McDaniel as a Major League strength and conditioning coach after serving as the club’s minor league strength and conditioning coordinator in 2012-13. Smith will also enter his third season with the organization and will join the big league staff as the physical therapist after serving as the club’s medical/rehabilitation coordinator for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

• Yesterday, the Dodgers medical staff welcomed its newest member as Brandon McDaniel and his wife, Andrea, celebrated the birth of their first child, Caleb. Congratulations to the McDaniel Family!

(pic via @SportsNetLA on twitter)

ALL DODGERS, ALL THE TIME: Also among the new faces at Camelback Ranch are Marina Mackrow and Dave Strumpf from SportsNet LA, the Dodgers’ new 24/7 television home, who are gathering content for a new behind-the-scenes show on the network, Dodgers: Backstage. SportsNet LA, which launches on February 25, will televise all of this year’s Dodger Cactus League games, with the exception of two split-squad games, giving fans more Spring Training coverage than ever before. In addition to airing games during Spring Training, SportsNet LA will also air a nightly show, “Access SportsNet: Dodgers,” at 7:00 p.m. PT.

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Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Exhibit in Gardena

Thanks to a blog post by Roberto Baly of Vin Scully is My Homeboy, I visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Exhibit in Gardena, and it was well worth the time.  I had known that the museum sponsored a travelling exhibit, so when I found out they were nearby, I had to check it out.  Unfortunately, it's not a particularly large exhibit (just a single room), but there were some notable items to see.  One of these days, I will make a trip to Kansas City to see the actual museum.

For those interested in this exhibit, it is at the Nakaoka Community Center at 1670 West 162nd Street in Gardena.  It runs only until Thursday, February 13th, so if you want to check it out you need to get there right away.  Exhibit hours are: 9am - 9pm Monday -Friday, and 9am to 6pm on Sunday.

Now, on to some of my photos.  Click any pic to embiggen. 

There were several large graphic displays featuring Negro League Baseball history.  Did you know that the Kansas City Monarchs were one of the first teams to have night-time Baseball?

Check out this incredible panoramic photograph from Opening Day, 1942.  It featured the Kansas City Monarchs, and includes a couple of notable players.  On the photo on the left, you can see the great Satchel Paige (second on the left) and fellow Hall of Famer Hilton Smith (shortest person on the far right).  On the photo on the right is should-be Hall of Famer Buck O'Neil (at center).

Below is another panoramic team photograph.  It is from Opening Day, 1924.  It includes such greats as Rube Foster, Louis Santop and Biz Mackey.

This next photo is of the famed Pittsburgh area Negro League team, Homestead Grays.  The year the photo was taken wasn't provided.  Also, details about who the players are was also not provided, but I think I recognized a couple of players.  The fellow in the top row, third on the left, looks a lot like Josh Gibson.  In fact, I'm certain that's him.  I also believe that the person on Gibson's right is Cuban great Martin Dihigo.

Here are some more Negro League displays.

There were also several negro league uniforms, that must be reproductions.

The back wall of the room was wonderfully decorated like an outfield wall.

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Sunday Dodger Videos: Puig's ESPN Magazine Shoot, Magic on Puig and Steve Lyons

Here are this Sunday's Dodgers' videos.

On the Arsenio Hall Show on Monday: Magic Johnson's Simple Solution To Keep Yasiel Puig Out Of Trouble.  (Hat Tip: Ross Gasmer at Dodger Nation)

Video Link:

Go behind the scenes with Yasiel Puig on his ESPN The Magazine photo shoot for the magazine's Cuba Issue.

Video Link:

Eddie Mata shares a great interview with Steve Lyons.  Check it out. I liked Steve as a Dodgers broadcaster.  I hope he catches on with another team or network.

Video Link:

Sports Speak Radio put together a nice video from the Dodgers FanFest that includes Matt Kemp on stage.

Video Link:

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Welcome to the Blue, Paul Maholm!

There had been rampant talk all morning about a possible new Dodger signing.

So, who was it, you ask?

Well, it had been reported by various sources on twitter that left-handed starting pitcher Paul Maholm was seen scurrying about in the Dodgers clubhouse.  Ken Gurnick of MLB.com noted that he already had a locker in the Dodgers Spring clubhouse, and Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times reported that Paul was having a physical performed.  Now, we get word from Jim Bowden at ESPN that it is official.  Maholm is a Dodger.

Dodgers sign Maholm 1-year 1.5m major league deal
— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) February 9, 2014

The signing has also been confirmed by Jon Wesiman at the Dodgers official blog, Dodger Insider.

Paul Maholm signed a very affordable deal, and is slated to be the Dodgers #5 starter for the upcoming season.  He turns 32-years old in June, and is just one season removed from one of his best years.  In 2012, Maholm went 13-11 with a 3.67 ERA (ERA+ 111) in 31 starts for the Braves and Cubs.  That year, he recorded a WHIP average of 1.222, 6.7 strike outs per 9 innings and 2.64 strike out to walk ratio. 

BTW, you can follow Paul Maholm on twitter at @paul_maholm, and he has already said a hello on social media.

Can't wait to get started with the @Dodgers and look forward to a great opportunity.
— paul maholm (@paul_maholm) February 9, 2014

So, what kind of pitcher is he?  What does he throw?  Fortunately, Brooks Baseball has a brief report on him.

In 2013, he has relied primarily on his Sinker (87mph), also mixing in a Change (80mph), Cutter (83mph), Fourseam Fastball (88mph), Slider (79mph) and Curve (72mph). He also rarely throws a Slow Curve (63mph).

The fantasy card I made at the very top uses the 1968 Topps Baseball vintage design and a photo from Braves Photo Day 2013 during Spring Training (Source: J. Meric/Getty Images North America).

Below are his career statistics, via Baseball Reference:

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Blog Kiosk: 2/8/2014 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Honeycutt and Spring is Here

Congrats, Matt!  He was awarded the 'Man of the Year' by the West Angeles Community Development Corps.  Pic via @Dodgers on twitter.  Go here for more information about this organization.

• BTW, Pitchers & Catchers Report today.  WooHoo!  Be sure to check out Jon Weisman's story at Dodger Insider in preparation for Spring, "Why Spring Training records don’t matter: Exhibit 2013".
• Howard Megdal at Sports on Earth ranks "Baseball's 10 Best Giveaways", and the Dodgers took the top two spots.  BTW, you can see the Dodgers' promotional schedule here.  And, here is a pic of the Dodgers' Mother's Day Clutch on the right.
• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Best tools of the Dodgers’ farm system".
• Via David Golebiewski at the Daily Gammons writes, "A more patient Yasiel Puig in 2014?"
• The Dutch Card Guy claims to have had, "Best Redemption Day Ever!!!!"  I am inclined to agree.  He received 3 different Clayton Kershaw autographed cards from Topps.
• Josh Tucker at Dodger Insider introduces us to the Dodgers Collectible Mini Figure Game Time Set.  It's like Dodgers themed Lego figurines.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Honeycutt back for another season in Dodger Blue".

"We just have to make sure that everybody stays on their throwing programs," said Honeycutt. "We won't need a fifth starter until the middle of April, which can be good and bad. There will be a lot of downtime without games. And you have no idea how the body will respond from that trip. But other teams have done it."

• Shawn Anderson at The Hall of Very Good interviews actor Lew Temple (one of the prisoners from Walking Dead); who happened to also be a former Assistant Director of Minor League Operations and Scouting for the Houston Astros.  I kid you not.

I was actually let go by the Astros, none other than the great Bob "the Bull" Watson, who was the GM at the time. He told me that in his observation there was another passion that I should pay attention to outside of baseball. Acting. He said if he did not let me go from my contract with the Astros, I might never pursue it. So I really have Bob Watson to thank, as do the fans. Thanks “Bull”. 

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