2017 Topps Now -- #548 -- Bellinger's 35th Homer Ties Dodgers Rookie Record

Cody Bellinger wasted little time to tie Mike Piazza's record. After a ten day layoff due to a minor ankle injury he took four games to hit his 35th of the season -- tying Mike Piazza's 1993 Dodger rookie record. It took him just 105 games and 434 plate appearances to accomplish the feat. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“It was in the back of my mind,” Bellinger said of the record. “Obviously he was a great player, had a great career. So to be in the same sentence as him is pretty cool.”

Diamondbacks Series Starts on Monday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand; including autograph guest. Here are some important links:

• 2017 Broadcast Schedule
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 

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

Monday, September 4th at 5:10 PM

TV: MLBN (out-of-market only), SNLA Spanish, SportsNet LA

Radio: 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020, Radio Korea 1540

Welcome to the Blue, O’Koyea Dickson!

Along with top prospect Alex Verdugo and useful utilityman Rob Segedin, outfielder O'Koyea Dickson has been called up to the Dodgers as a part of their September roster expansion. In fact, this will mark his debut as a Major League ballplayer. After seven years of toiling in the minors Dickson finally has an opportunity to enter the big show. Per a Dodgers press release:

Dickson, 27, is also being called up to the Majors for the first time in his career after hitting .246 with 70 runs, 22 doubles, one triple, 24 homers and 76 RBI in 116 games with Oklahoma City this season. He appeared in left field the majority of the season (59 games), but has also seen time in right field (23 games) and first base (seven games), posting a combined .990 fielding percentage. The San Francisco native was drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Sonoma State and spent seven seasons in the minors (2011-17), slashing .279/.349/.491 with 182 doubles, 12 triples, 117 homers and 437 RBI in 736 career games. Dickson has received multiple honors during his seven-year career, including two Player of the Week honors (2014 and 2016), two-time mid-season all-star (2012 and 2014) and the MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2014.

Welcome to the Blue, Alex Verdugo!

The time has come for the Dodgers next big prospect to play for Los Angeles. As you surely know, outfielder Alex Verdugo is expected to be called up today as a part of the leagues September roster expansion. He is currently ranked as the teams #2 prospect and 28th overall prospect in the league, per MLB.com:

Verdugo was a high school left-hander with a fastball that reached 94 mph and an intriguing slider, but he wanted to play every day and the Dodgers allowed him to do so after signing him for $914,600 as a second-round pick in 2014. He has done nothing to make them regret that decision, winning organization Minor League player of the year honors in his first full pro season and making the jump to Double-A at age 19 to begin 2016.

Blog Kiosk: 9/1/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It took five months for the Dodgers to experience the pain of a series sweep, and it feels bad. Nevertheless, I still believe there is nothing to worry about. This is just a momentary blip that saw three of our better starters unable to get the job done. They all struggled Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“The starting pitching this series wasn’t there,” said manager Dave Roberts. “When you start behind the eight-ball, it’s tough to continue to fight back. You’re as good as your starting pitching is.”

Per  Steve Gilbert and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"A lot of mislocated pitches and they took advantage of all of them," said Maeda. "My sliders didn't break as much as I'd hoped. I was trying to stop the losing streak, but unfortunately it didn't work out that way. I didn't execute and I didn't perform."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1890 the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (Dodgers) and the Pittsburgh Alleghenys (Pirates) play the first ever Triple-Header. Brooklyn sweep Pittsburgh -- 10-9; 3-2; 8-4. Bob Caruthers, Tom Lovett and Adonis Terry all pitch complete games In 1941 Dodger first baseman Dolph Camilli hit his 200th career home run. He would eventually earn NL MVP honors at the end of the season. In 1969 Willie Davis tied a franchise record (Zack Wheat in 1916) by hitting in 29 concecutive games.
• Happy Birthday, Darby O'Brien & Luis Lopez!

Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/31/2017 - Dodgers Links - Alex Verdugo is Coming!

A four game losing streak typically isn't something to worry about; especially when you've got a 17 game lead over your next closest competitor. Still, I do feel a certain sense of dread... like, will another shoe drop? Then I remember some wise words from our elder statesman/poet laureate, Vin Scully:

"But in the history of the Brooklyn and LA Dodgers, nothing has ever come easy."

And then I calm down and realize that this is all part of the ride. Per Bill Plunkett on twitter:

Justin Turner: “It’s good for us. Going thru adversity, dealing with stuff we haven’t dealt with in awhile”

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. The Dodgers will be fine. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1950 Gil Hodges became the fourth Major Leaguer to hit four home runs in one game. It was against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. Overall, he went 5-for-6 with nine RBI's, five runs scored and 17 total bases. In 1959 Sandy Koufax set a new National League record when he fanned 18 Giants during a nine inning game at the LA Coliseum. It also tied the Major League mark for strike outs, and set a new Major League record with 31 total strike outs over two consecutive games (he struck out 13 Phillies his last time out). In 1985 the Dodgers got Bill Madlock from the Pirates for RJ Reynolds, Cecil Espy and Sid Bream. In 2006 the Dodgers received veteran Marlon Anderson from the Nationals for pitching prospect Jhonny Nunez. Anderson would have a stellar couple of months in Dodger Blue. He slashed .375/.431/.813/1.243 with seven homers, 15 RBI's and 12 runs scored. In 2009 the Dodgers received starting pitcher Jon Garland from the Diamondbacks for infield prospect Tony Abreu. Garland would get six starts -- going 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA.
• Happy Birthday, Duke Farrell, Ray Berres, Ira Hutchinson, Frank Robinson, Cleo James, Jack Perconte, Tom Candiotti, Mike Hartley, Hideo Nomo & Juan Nicasio!