Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Welcome Back, AJ!


The captain behind the dish is back.  There were various reports this afternoon indicating that AJ Ellis was at Dodger Stadium readying for this evenings game.  Now we hear that the speculation is true.

AJ Ellis has returned to the Dodgers after undergoing knee surgery just over a month ago.  That's a heck of a turnaround, don't ya know. 

Furthermore, he has been inserted into tonight's Dodger lineup.

In celebration of AJ's return I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photo grabbed from twitter from Cindy Ellis and the 1987 Topps Baseball card design.

Via a Dodgers press release:
The Los Angeles Dodgers today reinstated catcher A.J. Ellis from the 15-day disabled list and optioned catcher Miguel Olivo to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Ellis has been on the 15-day disabled list since April 6 after undergoing left knee surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on April 8. The seven-year Major League veteran appeared in the Dodgers’ first seven games of the season and played in two rehab games for Triple-A Albuquerque, batting .400 (2-for-5) with a homer, two RBI and a walk, last playing on Monday at El Paso (San Diego).

Olivo appeared in eight games for Los Angeles, batting .217 (5-for-23) with two RBI.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Go Kings Go!


I thought it would be about time to put together a post for the Kings. 

You haven't heard from me about them since they climbed Shark Mountain and conquered the ravenous beast of the sea. 

They had fought and persevered to come back from a 3 to 0 deficit. Now, they find themselves at another crossroads.  They are down 3 games to 2 to the Ducks down south, and find themselves at another do or die situation.

Will the Kings muster up the will (and enough goals) to force a Game 7?  Only time will tell.

What I do know is that I believe they have the ability to get the job done.  I believe that they have yet to play their best game.  And, I believe we'll get their best game tonight.

The game starts at 6:30 this evening, and I'll be there with my voice ready to go coarse - either that or I'll be coarse, depending on the outcome. 

The Kings are not expected to make any dramatic changes to their lineup; although there have been reports of a possible defensive change.  Frankly, I don't think it would be wise to use a younger blueliner or the hobbled Mitchell. 

All the Kings have to do is stick to their game.  They were the best defensive team in the league this past season, so they need to continue playing their brand of tough-checking, corner-grinding, puck-cycling and crease-clearing hockey that they are best known for.  Forget trying to skate with the Ducks.  Instead, they need to stymie them, and make them pay for coming into the slot.

Below is a good pregame preview put together by the NHL.  Take a look.

Video Link:

And, here is an excellent playoff series montage to get your heart racing.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

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.

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

Apparently, Mickey Hatcher is appearing this is signing at a Tilted Kilt in the City of Orange on Friday and Paul LoDuca is signing in Whitter on Sunday.  I don't have much information on them, but Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy does.  Go here for that: Mickey Hatcher & Paul LoDuca.

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

Famed boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. will be signing autographed at Harry's Dugout in Whittier this coming Sunday.  Go here for more information.
Harry's Dugout
10715 Beverly Boulevard
Whittier, CA

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 5/14/2014 - Dodger Links - Josh Beckett, I Never had any Doubt


I never had any doubt.  Really!  I swear. 

It appears that the ghost that has haunted Josh Beckett the past few years may be gone.  That weight has been lifted, and any pain or discomfort he had felt has vanished.  He is pitching well again, and now you have to wonder if his $15Mil contract is a bargain.  As noted by Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, the old Josh Beckett is back.  Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest concurs.

In his past 6 starts he has thrown 37.2 innings, given up just 7 earned runs, struck out 35 while only walking 14, batters are only hitting .186 against him and OPS'ing only .610.  That's a major turnaround from a player thought to be a lost cause when he went on the disabled list last year. 

Considering that he was more of a salary dump for Boston and a minor burden for LA when the 2012 blockbuster trade happened, his production has become a major boon for the club.

At this point, everything he does for the Dodgers is gravy, and you've got to love that.  Every strike out he throws, every out he records, every win he earns is further proof that that trade may be an all around win-win for everybody.  Now, all we have to do is figure out Carl Crawford's problems.  (Pic at the very top, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)
"Definitely he has to do something to get ready to be able to pitch here," Mattingly said. "Exactly what that will be, we have a pretty good idea but we want to wait until tomorrow."
Billingsley joked that the only solution might be to start throwing underhand.

"Hey, softball players can throw 12 innings in back-to-back days," he said. 
  • Best tweet of the week:



* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Here are April's Dodger Pride Award Winners - Minor League Players of the Month for April

The Dodgers just announced their April Dodger Pride Award Winners.  This award celebrates the franchises best performers in the Minor Leagues for the month of April.  

Check them out below.

Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes

Pitcher - RHP Henry Sosa posted a 1-0 record with a 2.61 ERA (9 ER/31.0 IP), striking out 21 batters against seven walks in five April starts for the Isotopes. The right-hander held opposing batters to a .233 batting average (27-for-116), while allowing only one home run in the month. The 12-year professional, who made 10 starts for the Houston Astros in 2011, was signed by the Dodgers as a free agent on December 13, 2013.

Player - OF Joc Pederson finished April among the Pacific Coast League leaders in several offensive categories including batting average (.398, 2nd), runs (22, T-3rd), hits (39, 1st), home runs (6, T-3rd), and stolen bases (9, T-2nd). On the year, the left-handed hitting outfielder is batting .368 (50-for-136) with 11 home runs and 22 RBI, including a .418 batting average (38-for-91) against right-handed pitching. Through 36 games this season, Pederson has also tallied 15 multi-hit games, including six performances with three or more hits. The Northern California native was selected in the 11th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and entered 2014 as the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America.

Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts

Pitcher - RHP Tyson Brummett went 2-1 and allowed only one run in 23.0 innings spanning four April starts, leading the Southern League in ERA (0.39) and ranking sixth in opponents' batting average (.181). On the season, the former UCLA pitcher is 3-3 with a 0.83 ERA (4 ER/43.1 IP) and has allowed one run or less in six of his seven starts for the Lookouts. With runners in scoring position this season, the right-hander has allowed only four hits (4-for-36), good for a .111 batting average. Brummett signed with the Dodgers as a free agent on February 20, 2014, after being drafted by the Phillies in the seventh round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

(Pic via Dodger Insider)
Player - OF Scott Schebler drove in 16 runs (T-7th, Southern League) and clubbed five homers (T-2nd, Southern League) in 25 April games for Double-A Chattanooga. On the year, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native has a .258 batting average with six homers, four triples and 21 RBI, and has excelled in clutch situations, batting .300 (9-for-30) with runners in scoring position. The 23-year-old, who was selected in the 26th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, was the Dodgers' 2013 Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year after batting .296 in 125 games for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga last season.



Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

(pic via BB Prospectus)
Player - RHP Matt Shelton went 1-1 in April with a 1.76 ERA (3 ER/15.1 IP) in eight appearances for the Quakes, limiting opponents to a .228 batting average (13-for-57) and pitching scoreless relief in seven of his eight outings. The Texas native struck out 14 batters and walked only one in April before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga on May 1, where he has made four appearances for the Lookouts. The 25-year-old was selected by Los Angeles in the 24th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.


Player - INF Corey Seager batted .294 (25-for-85) in April, powering 10 extra-base hits, while tallying 13 RBI in 20 games for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. On the young season, the 20-year-old has raised his average to .333 (40-for-120) with two homers, 11 doubles, two triples and 15 RBI, batting .429 (15-for-35) with a .512 on-base percentage in nine May games. Seager was selected by the Dodgers in the first round (18th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft and entered 2014 as the Dodgers' second-best prospect according to Baseball America.


Single-A Great Lakes Loons

(pic via MiLB.com)
Player - RHP Michael Johnson posted a 1-1 record with a 1.35 ERA (2 ER/13.1 IP) and a save in eight April appearances. The right-handed reliever limited opposing hitters to a .200 batting average (10-for-50) with 19 strikeouts and five walks. On the season, the Massachusetts native has a 1.47 ERA (3 ER/18.1 IP) and 22 strikeouts in 11 appearances for the Loons. The 23-year-old, who was selected in the 14th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, led the Ivy League with seven wins as a senior at Dartmouth College in 2012.

(pic via MiLB.com)
Player - OF Joey Curletta had a terrific month of April, as he was among the Midwest League leaders in several offensive categories, including batting average (.368, 2nd), runs (18, T-3rd), hits (39, 1st), doubles (9, T-3rd) and RBI (15, T-6th) in 25 games for Great Lakes. Overall this season, Curletta has posted a .356 batting average (52-for-146) in 35 games, which ranks second among Midwest League hitters, and has seven three-hit performances for Great Lakes. The Arizona native was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 5/13/2014 - Dodger Links - Puig, Kemp and Discipline at the Plate


Juan Uribe and Hyun-Jin Ryu share some tunes in the pic above, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.
“I’m not going to panic, I’m just going to go out there and just keep competing. I know who I am and what kind of stuff I have.”
“They pitched him like he’s going to chase and he’s quit chasing,” Mattingly said. “He’s made the adjustment. You see it with guys with that kind of talent. It’s just a matter of putting the mind to it. Yasiel’s smart. He just has to stay under control.” 
"Sometimes that goes hand in hand with struggling because everybody tries to do too much and they try to do it too quickly inside an at-bat," Colletti said. "Sometimes, patience inside an at-bat can pay dividends. We see it all the time. When you see another team get a clutch it, most of the time it's been through a real good thought process that's had a dash of patience thrown in there."

    * Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
    * Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *