Blog Kiosk: 9/14/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It was great to witness the Dodgers offense explode last night. It was also equally distressing that our pitching was largely ineffective. Fortunately, the Dodgers eked out a victory anyway, 9-7. Per David Wilhelm at MLB.com:

"We did everything we needed to do," Machado said. "We had runners in scoring position and got the runs in. We want to continue doing what we've got to do. Hopefully, we can repeat it."

Machado went 3-for-4 with a double and solo homer in the 7th inning to lead the Dodgers charge.

Pic of Manny Machado above via Marcus Wright/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945, during an overnight trip between St. Louis and Chicago, the Brooklyn Dodgers train rammed into an gasoline truck, sending flames everywhere. The train engineer and a firefighter were killed. The Dodgers survived without serious injury because the momentum of their section carried it through the burning remains. I had previously written about this incident here. In 1993 Mike Piazza hit home runs no. 29 and 30 to break the Major League record for homers by a rookie catcher. In 2002 Dodger infielder Chin-Feng Chen becomes the first Taiwan-born player to appear in the major leagues. He would get a pinch-hit walk and score on a double by Mike Kinkade.
• Happy Birthday, John Douglas, Stan Williams, Tim Wallach & Jerry Doggett! Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider wrote a great piece celebrating Doggett's 100th birthday a couple of years ago (link here).

2018 Bowman High Tek - The Dodgers Base Cards

Released this week is the always fun and fascinating Bowman High Tek brand. This set features acetate (plastic) baseball cards rather than cardboard. So, chances are very high every card you pull will be in mint condition. On top of that, there are ten different background patterns/parallels available for each base card. In other words, this set can be both a player-collectors dream or nightmare. Go here for a complete checklist.

Since this is a Bowman product nothing but prospects can be found. Featured is outfielder Alex Verdugo. High rising prospects in the minors include Ibandel Isabel, Jeren Kendall, Keibert Ruiz and Mitchell White. Take a look at all the Dodgers' base cards and base autographs below.

Base - Rookies

#RHT-AV Alex Verdugo

Blog Kiosk: 9/13/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

We Won! I can't believe we beat the Reds. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“These guys had our number all year,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Credit to those guys. … Just to get out of here with a win, with where we were at, is a good thing.”

The offense finally woke up against the red menace when they hammered out eight runs against Cincinnati yesterday afternoon -- including a three-RBI night for both Justin Turner and Yasmani Grandal (boxscore). The Dodgers now sit at 1.5 games back of the Rockies with 16 games to go.

This thing is going down to the wire, and a part of me is loving it. Sure, it would've been great to have clinched already. Nevertheless, I find this race to the finish enthralling. It's like I'm on the edge of my seat watching an exciting movie. Everyday this month I've found myself screaming at the television while my heart races with the beat of the season. This is why Baseball is the greatest game in the world.

Photo above of Justin Turner via John Minchillo/AP Photo at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1925 future Brooklyn Hall of Famer Dazzy Vance no-hit the Phillies at Ebbets Field, 10-1. In 1977 outfielder Dusty Baker set a franchise record by recording five RBI's in a single inning -- during the second inning against the Padres. His hits include a two-run double and a three-run homer. In 2005 Dodgers futility was at it's best. During the second inning against the Padres all three Dodger outfielders (Ricky Ledee, Jose Cruz Jr. and Jason Werth) committed errors that contributed to the scoring of six runs and a loss, 6-4.
• Happy Birthday, Harry Redmond, Dutch Ruether, John Kelleher, Sam Crane, Otho Nitcholas, Morrie Aderholt, Rick Dempsey, Andy LaRoche & Zach Lee!

Weekend Autograph Opportunity: World Series Hero Scott Spiezio and Rams Legend Youngblood

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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Blog Kiosk: 9/12/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

To commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks yesterday the entire league wore special patches on their caps. Above is Cody Bellinger helpfully providing a nice view of the patch. As for the game... Well, I'll let Dave Roberts do the talking, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"They pretty much beat us in every facet of the game," said manager Dave Roberts. "Our guys understand these games are important to win, but we just can't get a win here."
...
"I don't think it's a matter of complacency. If anything, it might be a matter of trying too hard," said Roberts. "If you look at the grinding of at-bats versus going out of the strike zone, the games we don't score it's more a matter of going out of the strike zone. It's not about just rolling out the baseballs and expecting to win. I just don't think that's the case."

Photo of Cody Bellinger above via Katie Hanson/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1930 Dodger catcher Al Lopez hit the last Major League bounced home run. It was off Ray Kolp at Ebbets Field. Prior to the rule change any hit ball that bounced over the outfield walls was ruled a homer. Now, it'll be a ground-rule double. In 1963 the NY Mets hold a pregame ceremony in honor of Brooklyn favorite Duke Snider - "I look up into the stands, and it looks like Ebbets Field. The Mets are wonderful, but you can’t take the Dodger out of Brooklyn." In 2000 Dave Hanson broke former Dodger Johnny Frederick's record for pinch-hit home runs during a season when he hit his seventh pinch-homer of the year against Curt Schilling of the Diamondbacks. BTW, Johnny Frederick set his record of six pinch-homers on this exact same date in 1932.
• Happy Birthday, John Gochnaur, Masao Kida & Franquelis Osoria!

Blog Kiosk: 9/11/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

These Reds are frustrating. They sit at the bottom of the Central Division; yet, they seem to have the Dodgers number. In five contest so far against them the Dodgers have won none. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I wouldn't expect for our club to be 0-5 against anyone," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "That first time around they really pitched us well. We still can't figure a way to get Gennett out, and that was apparent again."

Last nights 10-6 loss dropped the club to 1.5 games back of Colorado with 18 games to play.

Photo above of Kike Hernandez doing his best to stop last nights slide, via Ryan Meyer/MLB at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1959 the Dodgers defeated reliever Elroy Face and the Pirates, 5-4; thereby, ending Face's consecutive win streak at 22. He finished the season going 18-1 (as a reliever, mind you) with a 2.70 ERA, 2.60 FIP and a 3.2 WAR. In 1998 Kevin Malone is named the Dodgers GM, replacing Tommy Lasorda. In 1983 RJ Reynolds squeezed home Pedro Guerrero in the ninth for an improbably walk-off victory against the Atlanta Braves.  The Dodgers scored four runs in the ninth to win. Tommy Lasorda called his decision to call for the squeeze his most "daring" of his career. UPDATE: I just found video highlights/footage of the ninth inning. Watch it here.
• Happy Birthday, Con Daily, Frank Kitson & Eddie Miksis!