Blog Kiosk: 5/2/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Ryu was fantastic last night. He battled Madison Bumgarner pitch-for-pitch -- throwing eight innings of four-hit ball, allowing just one run and striking out six. Unfortunately, the Dodgers offense decided to take May Day off. All they could do was scatter six hits and score one run to eventually lose on a walk-off single to Buster Posey, 2-1. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“Hyun-Jin was outstanding. It’s unfortunate that you don’t win a game when he pitches the way he did,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He had command of everything … Kept those guys off balance. Certainly his best outing of the year.”

Photo above via Michael Urakami/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1928 Giants manager John McGraw does the unusual. In that afternoons game against the Dodgers he calls for an intentional walk with the bases loaded and two outs to drive in a run during the ninth inning to make the score 2-1. Giants starter Larry Benton then struck out the next batter, Harry Riconda, to get the victory. In 1975 the Dodgers traded Geoff Zahn and Eddie Solomon to the Cubs for starting pitcher Burt Hooton. In 1995 Hideo Nomo made his first major league start. He would pitch five innings of one-hit ball against the Giants in a no-decision. The Dodgers would eventually lose the game in the 15th inning, 4-3.  
• Happy Birthday, Larry Cheney!

More Dodger Goodies at Goldin Auctions

Last week I highlighted a couple of fantastic Jackie Robinson game-used items on auction at Goldin (link here), and wanted to take a little moment this afternoon to point-out a handful of other Dodger collectibles available there.

First of all, there's some great Dodgers artwork. Above is an Arthur Miller portrait of Jackie Robinson (Auction Link) that was painted last year.  To the right is another Arthur Miller piece. It features Sandy Koufax on a 1948 Leaf Baseball card design and was completed this year (Auction Link).

Blog Kiosk: 5/1/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

You can't win without a little help from your friends.

Cody Bellinger still continues to mash, but it was the efforts of those who've had a slow start that gave the Dodgers a victory last night. Chris Taylor, who is well below the Mendoza line, knocked in two with a double in the sixth. Justin Turner finally hit his first homer of the season when he took lefty Ty Blach deep to centerfield. David Freese recorded a double and a three-run jack to break-out of an 0-for-18 slump. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“We take pride in our roles and we want to do our part,” said Freese. “We have a good enough team that we can falter and still get victories. That’s not always going to happen. Belly’s not always going to be Player of the Month with the best April in history.”
...
“If you look at the guys that have hit left-handed pitching throughout their career, really haven’t yet,” said manager Dave Roberts. “It’s a long season. We’re going to face a lot of lefties this week and I think the numbers will start to correct.”

Photo above of David Freese via Michael Urakami/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1906 the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) are no-hit by Philadelphia southpaw John Lush, 6-0. In 1920 the Dodgers and Boston Braves play a 26-inning game - the longest in major league history. Starting pitchers Leon Cadore of Brooklyn and Joe Oeschger of Boston both finish the game, as it ends in a 1-1 tie after nearly four hours of play. In 1965 Tommy Davis dislocates and breaks his ankle while sliding into second base trying to break up a double play. In 2012 a new Dodgers ownership group takes over the franchise -- headed by Stan Kasten, Mark Walter at Guggenheim Financial and Magic Johnson.
• Happy Birthday, Charlie Reynolds, Von Joshua, Ray Searage, Phil Hiatt & Iván De Jesus!

Welcome to the Blue, Matt Beaty!

As you all know, AJ Pollock is headed towards to Injured List due to right elbow inflammation, so speculation all morning centered around who would be called up to take his place on the roster.

Top prospect Edwin Rios was a possibility, but he hasn't exactly been tearing it up in Oklahoma -- slashing a measly .221/.256/.349/.604 so far. Another name to consider is outfielder Kyle Garlick. He's been a consist bat since being drafted by the club in 2015, and is currently slashing a modest .254/.375/.493/.868 in Triple-A. For out of the box thinkers, the name Will Smith comes to mind. He's one of our top catching prospects, who happens to also play a little bit of the infield. Although he doesn't appear to have much outfield experience, maybe a 'cup of coffee' for the youngster would be warranted.

As it turns out, though none of the three above were chosen. It is outfielder/infielder Matt Beaty who will be joining the Dodgers. Per a Dodgers press release:

Beaty, 26, was the 12th round selection by the Dodgers in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Belmont University. The former Belmont Bruin has been with the Dodger organization for five seasons and this will be his first Major League promotion after being added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2018. In five minor league seasons, he is a .307 (427-for-1390) hitter with 33 homers and 209 RBI across five different levels. Prior to the promotion, Beaty was batting .277 (23-for-83) with two homers and 10 RBI in 22 games for Oklahoma City.

2019 Topps Now - #150 & #154 - Bellinger's 6th and 7th Cards

Cody Bellinger is so 'hot' right now, he has either tied or overtaken three records over the past five days. It all began on Friday when he eclipsed Chase Utleys record of 85 Total Bases before May 1st -- for which he received his 5th 2019 Topps Now card (see it here). Then on Sunday Cody belted his 14th homer of the season to tie a record held by three other players. For this he received his 6th Topps Now card -- which sold a total of 301 copies. You can see this new card above and to the right. Below is what's written on the reverse:

Cody Bellinger joined Christian Yelich as the second player in 2019 to tie Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez for the most home runs before May 1. Bellinger's 14th home run was a solo shot in the fourth inning off of Trevor Williams and brought the Los Angeles Dodgers within three runs in an eventual 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Blog Kiosk: 4/30/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Cody Bellinger just keeps rolling along. Last night he went two-for-three, recorded his fourth outfield assist of the season and drove in his 37th run -- a new Major League record for RBI's before May 1st. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough as the Giants ended the Dodgers four game winning streak last night, 3-2.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2019. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1935 the Dodgers signed 21-year old amateur free agent Rod Dedeaux. He would later on go on to become the head baseball coach at the University of Southern California (USC) for 45 season -- winning 11 national titles and 28 conference championships. In 1940 Brooklyn tied a Major League record for consecutive wins to start a season at nine victories when Dodgers hurler Tex Carlton no-hit the Cincinnati Reds, 3-0. In 2014 the Dodgers won their 10,000th game in franchise history when they defeated the Twins, 6-4, behind the pitching of Zack Greinke.
• Happy Birthday, Paul Wachtel, Phil Garner, Jeff Reboulet & José Peraza!