Blog Kiosk: 8/29/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Casey Sadler recorded his first save of his career last night. Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“This was a lot of fun,” said Sadler. “In a word, indescribable. Emotional. I thought Kenley would slam the door. But in the ‘pen, you always have to be ready. This is the first time I’ve ever pitched back-to-back-to-back days. You want to be in those situations where it’s game-changing. When the phone call came, I got up and did what I wanted to do. What makes a championship team is that you pick up the next guy.”

Casey ain't wrong. When a teammate struggles others have to pick up the slack. Last night that's exactly what happened -- from Hernandez's overall play to a bullpen that just find a way to get it done on most days.

Photo above via Raymond Gorospe/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 1948 Jackie Robinson hit for the cycle against the Cardinals during the first game of a doubleheader. He completed it in reverse -- hitting a homer in the 1st, a triple in the 3rd, a double in the 4th and a single in the 8th inning. The Dodgers won 12-7. In 1980 Dodgers coach Manny Mota is reactivated by the Dodgers to be their top pinch-hitter off the bench. He would go 3-for-7 with two RBI's. In 1987 the Dodgers traded Rick Honeycutt to the A's for young starting pitcher Tim Belcher. As you know, Belcher would be an important cog to the eventual world championship in 1988.
• Happy Birthday, Elmer Stricklett, Jack Warner, Buck Marrow, Billy Cox, Reggie Williams, Henry Blanco & Chris Taylor!

The Greatest Baseball Fight Ever

I can't believe I forgot all about this.

On this day in 1988 fans were witness to arguably the greatest fight to have ever occurred on a Baseball field. It was a rough and tumble affair that included grand theft, punches thrown to and fro, and a Baseball thrown right at the side of the Philly Phanatic.

That's right, folks!

The fight I speak of involved the weird and silly mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies and his nemesis for the evening was soon-to-be World Series Championship manager Tommy Lasorda.

Before I direct you towards a video -- that is a must watch -- I thought I would share a quote from Lasorda that I came across in a story by Gemma Kaneko at Cut4:

"I was always upset about him always taking my shirt and putting it on some dummy and then running over it. I didn't particularly like that, and I told him. I said, 'I don't want you to do that anymore.' The next time I saw him he still put my shirt on, so I went after him and I bopped him down a little bit. And I said, 'If there weren't all these people here I'd really rip ya.'"

2019 Topps Now - #759 - Reliever Russell Martin

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that Russell Martin would get his very own Topps Now card highlighting his remarkable prowess on the mound... but here we are. Featured here is the lone Dodger to make the cut today -- Russell Martin -- and as you know he pitched his fourth scoreless inning of the year last night. Best yet, his efforts marked an important milestone. According to the preview card he became the first position player since 1961 to have pitched in a combined shutout victory. Although, I'm not entirely sure Topps has the right date here. According to Stats By STATS on twitter,

Excluding two-way players, the @Dodgers' Russell Martin is the first position player to pitch in a shutout win for his team since 10/03/1917, when Hall of Famer George Kelly pitched 5.0 shutout innings in the Giants' last game of the season (his only career pitching appearance).

Nevertheless, this is a cool card. Go here to check it out and order.

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2019 Topps Fire - All the Dodger cards

Another Target exclusive Topps Baseball card brand recently hit store shelves. It is the 2019 Topps Fire set and I've got pics of most of the Dodger cards found within packs. See them below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base

#39 Justin Turner             #44 Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 8/28/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Now we know why the Dodgers didn't bother trading for a high-end reliever. We already have a guy who could do the job.

Last night Russell Martin entered the game as a reliever for the fourth time this season, and once again he pitched flawlessly. His four innings of work has yielded only two hits, while the righty catcher has struck out two. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“It’s pretty good. He’s got some spin rate. You guys should check his numbers,” Buehler said of the Dodger catcher.

Photo above via Raymond Gorospe/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 1942 the oft-injured outfielder Pete Reiser enters the hospital with a torn thigh ligament. In 1945 Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson meet to discuss plans for integrating Baseball. During the three hour meeting Rickey berates Robinson with a flurry of racial epithets to test his mettle and willingness to 'turn the other cheek.' Also on this day, 17-year old Brooklyn shortstop Tommy Brown becomes the youngest person to steal home in Major League history.  In 1952 the Brooklyn Dodgers set a National League record when they hit into a double play in their 23rd consecutive game. In 2002 Eric Gagne recorded his 45th save of the season, setting a franchise record and earning a bottle of Dom Perignon autographed by his Dodger teammates. 
• Happy Birthday, Ryan Madson, Joe Yeager, Goody Rosen & Darren Lewis!

Blog Kiosk: 8/27/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Mistakes were made. Errors committed. Game was lost. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“There’s no excuse for what happened,” (Dustin) May said. “I should have been behind third to back the ball up. Can’t let it go into the dugout in that situation. A huge situation.” 

“The throw came in and I was assuming Corey [Seager, at shortstop,] was going to cut it off, but it was over his head,” (Justin) Turner said. “I tried to knock it down, and it just sneaked by me.”

Oftentimes, it's the little things that determine your fate. Photo above via Raymond Gorospe/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 1937 Dodger righty Fred Frankhouse throws a rained-shortened (7 2/3 innings) no-hitter, beating the Reds, 5 - 0.  He recorded only three strikeouts and walked six. In 1955 Sandy Koufax earned his first career win during his first career start when he pitched a complete game shutout to defeat the Reds, 7-0. He struck out 14 batters and walked five. In 2005 Dodger second baseman Jeff Kent hit his 300th career homer run as a second baseman -- the first to have ever done so. In 1988 Tommy Lasorda won his 1,000th career game as Manager of the Dodgers. 
• Happy Birthday, Don McJames, Hal Janvrin, Mike Maddux, Jim Thome, Rick Gorecki & Justin Miller!