Blog Kiosk: 2/19/2016 - Dodgers Links - Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Clayton Kershaw

Two ambassadors in the house!

Miguel E. Basáñez, the Mexican Ambassador to the US, visited with Fernando Valenzuela and Dodgers President Stand Kasten yesterday morning.  Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  He took a tour of the stadium with Fernando; who was named an presidential ambassador for citizenship and naturalization by Obama last year.

Below are more links to check out:

• This makes me happy and sad at the same time.  Happy that they have charged someone, but sad that this crap still happens.  Via Tracy Bloom at KTLA 5, "Palos Verdes Man Charged in Dodger Stadium Parking Lot Assault." 

Michael Rae Papayans, 27, was accused of punching a 50-year-old man in the head in the stadium parking lot on Oct. 9, following Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the L.A. Dodgers and the New York Mets, the DA’s office said in a news release.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "A-Gon confident LA will win NL West again."

"We have probably the deepest team in baseball. We'll be able to afford almost any injury, and a lot of teams can't say that. Every team goes through a lot of injuries. If you ever think you won't, you're not looking at baseball from a realistic standpoint. You prepare by adding depth, by having six or seven starters for the rotation instead of just five, by having extra bodies that can fill in to keep the same talent level on the field. If teams aren't prepared for that, they will fall off."

• In Unpublished Black History by Rachel L. Swarns, Darcy Eveleigh and Damien Cave at the NY Times; "A Dodger in Ebbets Field on Its Final Day." They explore an previously unpublished photograph of Roy Campanella at Ebbets Field. 
• Here's a sneak peek at Topps 2016 Chrome Baseball set slated for an early October release.  At right is a cool looking Corey Seager card.  Go here to see more preview pics at Cardboard Connection.
• Jonah Keri at Sports Illustrated shares his preseason team rankings, here.  He has the Dodgers at #4.

The projection systems expect a strong season from much cheaper Greinke alternative Scott Kazmir, an even stronger season from Rookie of the Year favorite Corey Seager, and one of the best records in baseball for a Dodgers club as deep as any seen at Chavez Ravine since the days before Swindlin’ Frank McCourt started robbing his own organization blind. Getting another big arm for the bullpen wouldn’t hurt, but there’s enough here to get the Dodgers to the trade deadline in playoff contention, at which point Friedman could flex a little of that financial might and talent depth to make a deal.

• Clayton Kersahw won the day with the below tweet.

Just wanted to thank my trainer this offseason for all the hours she worked with me. #thirdlovehandle pic.twitter.com/u5b1UcZeXD

— Clayton Kershaw (@ClaytonKersh22) February 18, 2016

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Fastball - The Documentary

This looks really promising. 

Slated for release in late-March (Thursday, March 24 to be exact) is a new Baseball documentary that focuses one the one thing we all covet and fear.  This documentary is about the "Fastball," and it draws from some very notable Baseball names and personalities.

It is narrated by Kevin Coster (of course) and features players like Justin Verlander, Andrew McCutchen, David Price, Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson, Goose Gossage, Derek Jeter and the late Tony Gwynn.  Go here for the movie website.

Per a press release I received:

The essence of baseball is the primal battle between the pitcher and batter, but the magic of the game arises from that confrontation, only 396 milliseconds in the making. The mysteries and memories of Baseball's greatest heroes are revealed in “Fastball,” featuring interviews with dozens of former players, from legendary Hall of Famers to current All-Stars.

Based on the original idea by the film’s producer, Thomas Tull, who also produced the Jackie Robinson biopic “42,” “Fastball” is peppered with archival footage of baseball's greatest moments plus original high-speed 4K footage and motion graphics that unlock the secrets hidden within a ball traveling over 100 mph. While players, historians, and scientists might disagree on who was actually the fastest pitcher in history – and yes, the film does the physics and concludes with a clear verdict – “Fastball” tells the story of the game itself.

Watch the trailer below.

Fastball from Gravitas Ventures on Vimeo.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 2/18/2016 - Dodgers Links - LAsorda, Scully and Andrew Friedman

Tommy Lasorda... uhhh... The Tommy Lasorda bobblehead has arrived early for Spring Training in Glendale.  Photo above via @CamelbackRanch on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Andrew Friedman Q&A: Dodgers grand plan explained." 

I think large-revenue teams can sometimes fall into a trap of focusing too much on the current, and that is something that we have tried to be extremely mindful of. We certainly understand and respect the fans’ passion. It’s one of the things I like most about my job.

We feel like our responsibility is to do everything we can to sustain a certain level of success -- as you look at it over a five-year period, a seven-year period, a 10-year period, we’re able to play through that time period as an upper-echelon, elite-level team. And it’s not as easy as people think it is, especially if you devote a large percentage of your focus and resources on just the now.

• This is fun.  Check out Steve Dilbeck's story at the LA Times, "These 23 things are guaranteed to happen during Dodgers spring training."

My laptop will blow up before the first exhibition game and my private computer repair man, General Manager Farhan Zaidi, will laugh and claim he lost his mini-screwdriver.

• Scout.com released their annual list of top 50 prospects and it includes Corey Seager at #1.  Check it out here.  BTW, four Dodger players made the list.
• David Young at True Blue LA writes about the tallest ballplayers ever to wear Dodger Blue, here.
• Check out this fantastic fan-made website in tribute to Vin Scully called: "The Master's Touch," here.  It includes some video, audio and a great writeup.
• Below is a fantastic graphic that celebrates the career of Vin Scully, via VIPtickets.com:

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2015 Panini National Treasures College - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Here is a final look at Dodgers players found within packs of Panini's 2015 National Treasures College (4-sport) packs.  You can check out the base cards here.  Below are the various inserts that are available.  The notable Dodgers rookies are Phillip Pfeifer and Walker Buehler - both of whom attended Vanderbilt. 

College BB Materials Signatures

#407 Philip Pfeifer                         #420 Walker Buehler

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Guerrero, Ferrara, Brito, Williams and Johnstone

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Pedro Guerrero, Al Ferrara and super-scout Mike Brito will be signing autographs at Ultimate Pastime Sports Collectibles in Ontario.  Go here for information.  As you can see in the flyers below, there is a limited edition Brito bobblehead available.  Also, Al Ferrara is signing for free.

Ultimate Pastime Sports Collectibles 
1614 South Carlos Avenue, Suite K 
Ontario, CA, 91761

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On Sunday in La Mirada is an event featuring former Dodgers Stan Williams and Jay Johnstone.  Go here for information.

Sporting News Grill (inside Holiday Inn)
14299 Firestone Blvd
La Mirada, CA 90638

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Blog Kiosk: 2/17/2016 - Dodgers Links - Urias, De Leon and Kenta Maeda

Let's hope we see something like this in 2016... And more!

Featured above is a vintage October 2, 1949 ACME press telephoto of the Brooklyn faithful in the midst of some celebratory revelry.  The photo was taken during the last game of the season against the Phillies.  The Dodgers were clinging on to a one game lead in the National League, and would go on to prove these fans right.  They defeated Philadelphia to take the pennant.  Photo via an eBay auction I say this morning.

Below are more links to check out:

• You can now follow former Dodgers pitcher Dennis Powell on twitter: @coachpowell48.
• Here is a brief look at Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA projections for the MLB, here.  It predicts the Dodgers will have a banner year.  Like all projections, of course, you should take it with a grain of salt.
• David Schoenfield at ESPN; "Ranking the teams: 6 through 1."  The Dodgers are at #6.

The final word: With an estimated $242 million payroll, the largest in the game, the Dodgers really have only one big star. Oh, Seager is going to be one, Puig still has the potential to play like one and Gonzalez used to be one, but this is a team built on the depth of its 40-man roster. 

• Tim Brown at Yahoo Sports unveils his first Power Ranking list of the season.  The Dodgers are at #6.

For the first offseason in a while, they do not appear to have traded away an immediate All Star and batting champion. So, that.

• Kenta Maeda appears to be on track.  Via a translation from Dylan Herrnandez on twitter, he threw a 30-pitch bullpen session yesterday.
• Via Dave Defreitas at 2080 Baseball, "Scouting the Pacific Rim: The Progression of Kenta Maeda." (Hat Tip: Dustin Nosler on twitter)

I first picked up on the newly-signed Los Angeles Dodger Kenta Maeda in 2008 during his rookie season with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB), while scouting for the Cleveland Indians. He was a highly touted 20-year-old, coming out of the high school baseball factory that is PL Gakuen, and being dropped into a Carp system with a reputation for drafting and developing players better than any team in the NPB. He was blade thin, but the athleticism was obvious; with fast-twitch muscle to burn, he just moved differently than most in everything that he did. He had the velocity, the command, and the secondary, so check those boxes; but what was more intriguing was the way the ball would leave his hand – the stuff really stood out and you could tell that there was more to come.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Knapp gives notes on Dodgers' young arms."

"I can't be more excited, and not just with the pitchers in Major League camp, but the state of our Minor League pitching as well," said organization pitching coordinator Rick Knapp. "It's an exciting time to be me."

Knapp provides his thoughts on several Dodger pitchers; including Urias and De Leon below:

Urias: "He got a wake-up call struggling at Triple-A last year and learned he has to pitch on the plate more. He's always been ahead of the curve. Now, if we have any concern, it's to build up the innings cautiously. It's a balancing act. I was [Major League pitching coach] with Rick Porcello when he was with the Tigers at age 20. It might mean five-inning starts. We will manage Julio accordingly."

De Leon: "It seems he's come out of nowhere because he made a big change in his delivery, not throwing across his body, and he lost a lot of weight. Now he's on a mission. He has the makeup, intensity, competitiveness and he's figuring out the strike zone. Nothing he does will surprise me."

• Fast Company ranks, "The Most Innovative Companies of 2016: Top Companies by Sector" and it includes the Dodgers.  They are at #6 for their Accelerator program that focuses on incubating a crop of sports startups.

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