Blog Kiosk: 2/18/2014 - Dodgers Links - Koufax's Return, Figgins Working to Get Back and League has a Mild Strain

Matt Kemp takes in some words of wisdom from Sandy Koufax, pic via @Dodgers on twitter.

• Listen to last nights Dodger Talk, here.
• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Sandy Koufax wants Yasiel Puig to improve but defends his showmanship".

“You have a great arm, you want to show it off, but I’d like to see him throw it to the right place all the time,” Koufax said. “He’s young. The biggest thing is he’s not played against competition as good as he is. So you’re always able to have your physical ability make up for whatever else you do. He’s learning. I’m sure it’s going to happen. He has too much talent.”

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA also writes a bit about Koufax's visit to Camelback Ranch.  On Clayton Kershaw: 

"At 25 you don't have to adjust. Talk to me when he's 35. He just has to keep doing what he's doing, and every year he has gotten better," he said. "If he keeps getting better the sky's the limit, and if he doesn't get any better the sky's still the limit. He's a great pitcher, he's special."

• Bill Plunkett at the OC Register pens a good piece on the struggles of Chone Figgens and his desire to get back into the game.
• Topps newest Baseball card set is coming out on Wednesday.  It's 2014 Topps Tribute.  Check out a preview pic of a Clayton Kershaw autographed card on the right.  Pic via @Toppscards on twitter.
• Via Tyler Emerick and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "League using caution with mild lat strain".  Just another potential Dodger injury to worry about.

"We don't think it's anything serious," Mattingly said. "But we want to be extra cautious, especially with the schedule we've got, we don't want anybody pushing it and winding up with something worse. Just like Zach, Brandon is feeling better and he's moving closer to getting back on the mound."

• Dodger Penguin was at the Steve Sax signing on Saturday and shares his awesome experience.
• Dodger Penguin then visited Harry's Dugout for the Jack McDowell signing, our new Dodgers Single A manager, and shares some pics.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #4

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 Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN:  For many, Presidents Day is a day spent away from the office or school, but the Dodgers were back at work today for their fourth full-squad workout of the spring. Dodger hitters faced live pitching for the first time as Zack Greinke, Chris Withrow, Javy Guerra, Jose Dominguez, Sam Demel, Daniel Moskos and Red Patterson tossed live batting practice on Fields 1 and 2. In addition, Paul Maholm, Paco Rodriguez and Jamey Wright threw regular bullpens.

(Hershiser, Honeycutt and Koufax, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

HAIL TO THE CHIEF(S): A select trio of Dodger greatness appeared at spring workouts this morning at Camelback Ranch as Tommy Davis, Orel Hershiser and Sandy Koufax watched and offered advice to the current Boys in Blue. Combined, the three of them were members of eight Dodger World Series teams, while winning four Cy Young Awards, two batting titles and an MVP Award.

• As in years past, Davis, a three-time All-Star and 1962 and 1963 NL batting champion, will serve as a special instructor during Spring Training.
• Koufax, a Dodger special advisor to the chairman, arrived at Camelback Ranch yesterday for his annual visit. Last month, the seven-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and 1963 NL MVP, presented Clayton Kershaw with his 2013 NL Cy Young Award at the annual BBWAA Awards dinner in New York.
• Hershiser, the 1988 Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP, arrived at Spring Training today along with fellow Dodger broadcaster John Hartung to begin filming a series of long-form interviews for the “Connected With” program on SportsNet LA. During the next few days, Hershiser, Hartung and Alanna Rizzo will sit down for extended interviews with Don Mattingly, Hanley Ramirez, Clayton Kershaw, Brian Wilson, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Chris Perez, Dan Haren, A.J. Ellis and Carl Crawford for the network, which launches on February 25.

  

  (Matt Kemp and Sandy Koufax, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

I DIDN’T VOTE FOR HIM: Another Spring Training reportee today was Dodger Talk co-host David Vassegh. The program, which will be hosted by Vassegh, Kevin Kennedy and Jorge Jarrin,  re-launches tonight at 7:00 p.m. PT on Dodgers Radio AM 570 Fox Sports Los Angeles and will air every Monday-Saturday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. PT, except when there’s a conflict with UCLA basketball, when the show can be heard immediately following hoops. As always, fans are encouraged to join the conversation by calling in or sending in their questions via Twitter using the hashtag #DodgerTalk.

(Tommy Lasorda and Andre Ethier, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers)

AN OFFICIAL PORTRAIT: On Thursday, the Dodgers will hold their annual Photo Day starting at 7:00 a.m. with players, coaches and staff showing their pearly whites for a variety of media outlets, including SportsNet LA, MLB.com, USA Today, Baseball Digest, Topps and Getty.

NRI SPOTLIGHT: Left-hander Chris Reed is making his first appearance in big league camp this year after going 4-11 with one save and a 3.86 ERA in 29 games (25 starts) with Double-A Chattanooga last season. Reed, who enters his fourth professional season rated as the Dodgers’ No. 8 prospect by Baseball America, has limited opponents to a .244 batting average during the course of his career, including a .188 mark against left-handers. The former Stanford Cardinal and Cleveland High School graduate (Reseda, CA) was originally selected by the Dodgers with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

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Happy President's Day!

On this President's Day holiday, I thought I would take a brief moment to share some vintage postcards featuring George Washington that I have in my collection.

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The Roger Craig 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet

Here is my third installment featuring the 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet set.  Go here to see my past post showcasing this set; including complete scans of both the Vin Scully/Jerry Doggett and Walter Alston booklets.

Roger Craig is a name that both young and old Dodger fans know well.  He managed the San Francisco Giants from 1985 to 1992; having coined the motto 'Humm Baby' as they won the NL West Division title in 1987 (Boo!).  Craig was also a born and bred Dodger (Yeah!).  He was signed as an amateur by the team in 1950, made his debut with Brooklyn in 1955 and would pitch 7 seasons in Blue.

In 1955, he started Game 5 of the World Series against the Yankees, and won.  He went 6 innings and gave up just 2 runs.  This victory allowed the Dodgers to take a 3 to 2 Series lead.

His forte on the mound was the split-fingered fastball; which he taught to ballplayers after his playing career was over.  He would go on to be a pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres, before being the Giants skipper. 

1961 was his last season as a Dodger.  He would be taken in the MLB Expansion Draft by the New York Mets at the end of the season.  So, he was a part of the very first Mets team, and lost the first game in team history (11-4 against St. Louis).  Steve Treder at Baseball Analyst wrote a great biography about him that you can check out here.

Below are complete scans of every page from Roger Craig's 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet.  Click any pic to embiggen.

UPDATE:  I didn't even realize this until I saw a tweet from Night Owl Cards.  Today is Roger Craig's 84th birthday.  Happy Birthday, Roger!

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Blog Kiosk: 2/17/2014 - Dodgers Links - Not Overworking Clayton, Kemp and Ethier Still a Target for Boston

The mad rush for autographs has begun.  Check out Yasiel Puig signing for fans above.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  On a side note, if you're heading out to Camelback Ranch for autographs please don't rush, be rude, push or shove.  It's meant to be fun, not a fight. Case in point, check out these idiots in a YouTube video who had to be restrained at Camelback Ranch.  According to the person who posted the video, these folks tried to do something they weren't suppose to do.  Then, started being unruly to security when they couldn't get their way.  Don't be like them.

• Mike Petriello at Dodgers Digest reminisces about, "The Paul DePodesta Era, Ten Years Later".
• Roberto Baly at Vin Scully is My Homeboy was at the USC Baseball game on Sunday when they unveiled the Rod Dedeaux statue.  Check out all is photos; including pics of Lasorda and Randy Johnson.  David Park was also there and shares some pics at his blog.
• Jayson Stark at ESPN.com names the Dodgers the 'Most intriguing National League spring story'
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Guerrero looks to make adjustment to second base".
• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Don Mattingly: Dodgers won't overwork Clayton Kershaw".

“We’ve very mindful of Clayton and the number of innings he pitched last year, [and] the short winter,” Mattingly said. “We’re not going to be cautious and baby him, but we have to make sure we pay attention to how many innings this guy’s throwing. We know he’s a workhorse. He’s deep into a lot of games, so it’s going to translate into a lot of innings. If we can cut an inning here or an inning there, we’re going to try to take care of him.”

• Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe makes note that Andre Ethier is the most likely target for a trade.

“He needs someone to kick him in the butt, that’s why he would be perfect in Boston with [Dustin] Pedroia. That’s his buddy, and Pedroia would get the most out of him. He doesn’t have anyone like that in LA.”

• David Schoenfield at ESPNLosAngeles writes, "Hey, Matt Kemp did have one great season".

Is that the résumé of a superstar? No, not even close. Kemp was awesome in 2011, maybe the best player in baseball. But that's one year of awesomeness. He was very good in 2008 and 2009, not so good in 2010 when his average fell to .249 and his defense was disastrous according to the metrics (-37 Defensive Runs Saved).

• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com sat down with team President Stan Kasten for a Q&A.

MLB.com: As the season approaches, there is growing fan concern about distribution. Will anybody be able to watch SportsNet LA?
Kasten: Like every city with a new deal, it will work itself out in due course. Everyone has the same goal. The distributor wants eyeballs on system. The Dodgers and TimeWarner want the most homes watching. We all have the same goal. In city after city, there's a push and pull through the process, but every case gets worked out.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full Squad Workout #3

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 Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

BACK AT IT: With the club’s pitchers back at Camelback Ranch – Glendale after a scheduled day off, the Dodgers held their third official workout of 2014. Among pitchers who threw bullpens today were Dan Haren, Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Brian Wilson, Stephen Fife, Chris Perez, J.P. Howell, Pedro Baez and Jarret Martin, in addition to non-roster invitee Carlos Frias.

• On Field 6 of the minor league side of the complex, 2013 Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw threw to hitters for the first time. Last season, Kershaw became the 17th all-time pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards and also won his third consecutive MLB ERA title (1.83) as he became the first Major Leaguer to do so since Greg Maddux (1993-95) and the first-ever Dodger to accomplish the feat. The left-hander has the lowest all-time career ERA (2.60) among pitchers with more than 1,000.0 innings pitched and 100 games started since the start of the live ball era in 1920.
• Also facing live batters on the backfields today were right-handers Seth Rosin and Ross Stripling.

(Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

NRI SPOTLIGHT: Among seven non-roster hurlers is Ross Stripling, who enters 2014 rated by Baseball America as the Dodgers’ No. 10 prospect. The 24-year-old has a 9-4 record with a 2.47 ERA in 41 career games (34 starts) in two minor league seasons in the Dodger organization. During the course of his career, the right-hander has limited opposing hitters to a .229 batting average. Stripling hails from Southlake, TX.

(Koufax is in town - with Don Mattingly, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!: Today, non-roster invitee Clint Robinson turns 29 years old. Born in Jefferson City, MO, Robinson enters his eighth professional season with a .301 career batting average, 123 home runs and 507 RBI in 802 career minor league games. Robinson spent the 2013 season in the Toronto organization, making stops at Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, batting a combined .254 with 13 homers and 55 RBI in 111 games.

ALL DODGERS, ALL THE TIME: We’re just nine days away from the launch of SportsNet LA on February 25, the new 24-hour-a-day network of the Dodgers. SNLA 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.

• Friday, SNLA announced its additional programming with “Access SportsNet: Dodgers,” “Leadoff LA,” “Dodgers Clubhouse,” “Connected With,” “Talkin’ Blue,” “Dodgermentary,” “Timeless Dodgers” and “Dodgers Squeeze Play” all set to air starting Feb. 25. For more information, please visit www.ineedmydodgers.com.

(Some "Backstage: Dodgers" footage, pic via @SportsNet LA on twitter)

AMATEUR HOUR: Yesterday, the Minnesota Golden Gophers downed the Northern Illinois Huskies, 6-4, to improve to 2-0 on the season. The three-game series concludes today with a 1:00 p.m. game at the main stadium between Seth Rosin’s and Ned Colletti’s alma maters, with free admission and food and beverages available for purchase during the Dodgers’ workouts and the college games.

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