Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 23/Road Game 13

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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LOS ANGELES DODGERS (10-10-2) at Cleveland Indians (11-10-2)
Thursday, March 24, 2016 – 7:05 p.m. MT | Goodyear Ballpark
LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Trevor Bauer (1-0, 4.00)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

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(AGon's new cleat, pic via AGon on twitter)

1946 Vintage Baseball Letter - The Brooklyn Brown Dodgers

Prior to Branch Rickey and the Dodgers signing Jackie Robinson they had to lay some groundwork.  This included doing some scouting, and in order to disguise their intentions they got involved in the short-lived United States Baseball League.

What's that, you say?

In 1945, legendary and often controversial Negro League pioneer, William A. "Gus" Greenlee, started up the league in order to compete with the much more established Negro National and American Leagues.  By this time he had been pushed out of those organizations, and he was looking for an avenue to get back in the game.

Now here's where the Dodgers get involved.  Branch Rickey, no doubt recognizing an opportunity, immediately and publicly lent the Dodgers support to the effort in May of that year.  Soon, the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers were born (well... moved from Hilldale to Brooklyn), and they would play their first season at Ebbets Field later that year. 

Blog Kiosk: 3/24/2016 - Dodgers Links - Coleman, Scully and Corey Seager

Some folks play golf on their day off.  Others just want to sit by the pool basking in the sun.  Corey Seager, on the other hand, decided to spend some time with the folks at Panini America to sign some of his Baseball cards, as evidenced by a photo tweeted out by Beckett.  A close up view of one of the cards is on the right, courtesy of Panini on twitter.  As you can see, he is in the midst of signing some soon to be released Panini Flawless cards.  BTW, he wasn't the only Dodger in attendance.  Frankie Montas (pic link) was there too.

Below are more links to check out:

• RIP, Joe Garagiola.  Marty Noble at MLB.com has a nice story on him here.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Vin Scully remembers Joe Garagiola."

“I was very fortunate to know and work with Joe Garagiola,” Scully said. “Boy, did he surprise me as a broadcaster. Joe was always a funny and decent man, but he was a big surprise to me. When we got together in the booth, he was very serious. The part that surprised me was how well prepared he was for each and every telecast.  Joe didn’t just rely on his experience as a player, but he did his homework and all of us benefited from his knowledge and research.

“I will miss his laughter and his love for the game, but most of all I will miss a deeply religious man, who had a great sense of humor.  My prayers are with Audrey and his family.”

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Manny Mota and Paul Lo Duca

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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Will Wonders Never Cease - Time Warner Begins to Negotiate

For quite some time I've been of the opinion that coverage throughout Southern California would not occur until the proposed merger between Charter and Time Warner has concluded.  I even went so far as to say that a strategic bankruptcy should be expected.  Thankfully, I am glad to say that I appear to be wrong on all accounts.

It had been reported yesterday that Time Warner has not only lowered its asking price For SportsNet LA, but is also in the midst of negotiations with several carriers. 

Just in time, eh?

Via Meg James at the LA Times:

Time Warner Cable said late Tuesday that it had cut by 30% the price of the sports channel offered to DirecTV and other pay-TV providers with the hope of spurring long-stalled negotiations over carriage of the channel before the new season begins April 4.

Blog Kiosk: 3/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Maeda and Burglars Caught at Dodger Stadium

On this #NationalPuppyDay Dodgers super-utility man Kiké Hernandez recently shared a pic of his new puppy named Arizona Hernandez.  Photo above via Kiké's twitter. BTW, Arizona has his very own Instagram account.  Check it out here: azhndezminigoldendoodle.

Below are more links to check out:

• Dodgers injuries continue to mount.  Yesterday we find out that Andre Ethier will be out for up to three months, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider: "Andre Ethier to miss 10-14 weeks with fracture."  Then word spread that the recently crowned #5 starter Mike Bolsinger would now not be ready for the start of the season, via a tweet from Andy McCullough.  Fortunately, we have someone waiting in the wings.  This provides an opening for Zach Lee to make the rotation out of Spring Training.  Furthermore, now there are worries that Yasmani Grandal is hurting, via another Andy McCullough tweet:

Yasmani Grandal is going to get tests on his forearm. Dave Roberts said his continued discomfort is "disconcerting."

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) March 22, 2016

• Via Tom Ley at Deadspin, "Clayton Kershaw Posed For Pictures With The People Who Rear-Ended Him."  I guess this is one way to get an autograph.  Ha!