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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Billingsley Done; 1st Year Pro Paco Rodriguez Called Up


Chad Billingsley is officially done for the 2012 season.  Per a Dodgers press release, Chad has been transferred to the 60 day DL.
The Los Angeles Dodgers today transferred right-handed pitcher Chad Billingsley to the 60-day disabled list (right elbow pain) and selected the contract of left-handed reliever Steven Rodriguez from Double-A Chattanooga. Billingsley, who last pitched on Aug. 24 against the Marlins, went 10-9 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 starts this season, finishing the campaign on a six-game winning streak.
He had been one of our better pitchers going down the stretch, so losing him is gonna hurt- big time.  Worse yet, Bill Skaikin at the LA Times notes that he has a partially torn ligament in his right elbow and might have to have Tommy John Surgery.
Since this is the end of the season, she (Sue Falsone the Dodgers athletic trainer) said the Dodgers can afford to allow Billingsley several months to try to recover without surgery. If Billingsley has surgery, the rehabilitation period is about one year, so he would miss all of next season whether he has the operation next week or next spring.
Along with this move, the Dodgers bring up first year pro Steven Rodriguez from Chattanooga.  Also, from a Dodger press release:
Rodriguez, 21, has gone 1-0 with five saves and a 0.92 ERA (2 ER/19.2 IP) in 21 combined relief appearances with Single-A Great Lakes and Double-A Chattanooga in his first professional season after being selected by the Dodgers in the second round (82nd overall) of the June First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Florida. Since being promoted to Chattanooga on July 28, Rodriguez has limited opposing hitters to a .149 batting average (7-for-47) with 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. As a collegiate hurler, Rodriguez earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior in 2012 and pitched three seasons at Florida, compiling a 9-4 record with seven saves and a 2.19 ERA in 86 games (two starts). His career ERA was the lowest by a Gator since aluminum bats were introduced in 1974 and he ranks among the all-time Florida leaders in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (10.64, first), opponents’ batting average (.227, T-eighth) and relief appearances (86, seventh).
Below is his 2008 Upper Deck Team USA Baseball autographed card.


BTW, as JP Hoornstra of the Daily News notes, Steven actually goes by Paco- which fits perfectly well in a Hispanic bastion like Los Angeles.  Now, why was he called up so quickly?  Well, Paco happens to be a needed left-hander out of the pen.
"He wasn't a high school kid. He was a college kid who's pitched in some big games, has some angle for left-handers," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "That's what we're looking out of that -- somebody that can get a lefty out. Try to use him like that. It's another lefty out there, another weapon."
So, Paco Rodriguez... Welcome to the Show!


You should check out this video from MLB.com that was put together when Paco was drafted earlier this year.  Take note that an analyst mentioned that he might be the earliest of all draftees that year to join the big league club.  How prescient was that?

Video Link:

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

Wow! I'm the LA Kings Fan of the Week on Pinterest


September is starting out to be a great month.  I just received word that I have been selected by the LA Kings on Pinterest as this weeks "Fan of the Week."

Woo Hoo!!!

If you don't already know, I have a Pinterest account (go here to see it), and I have been very active in pinning every photo I can find related to my favorite sports teams.  I have been especially manic about pinning up every Kings photo and video related to their recent Stanley Cup run.  As of right now, I have 580 photos of the Kings pinned up (see here), 23 Kings videos not Stanley Cup associated (see here), and 103 videos of just the Kings romping through the NHL to win the Stanley Cup (see here).

My main reason for all of the Pinterest activity is that I like how it allows me to easily archive my favorite photos and videos in one easy place.  When I'm aching to relive the Stanley Cup run all I have to do is check into my Pinterest account.  I don't need to go on youtube and search- it's already nicely cataloged in one place.  BTW, I've got a bunch of Dodgers photos pinned (see here) as well.

On a side note, I'm not being facetious when I say that I go on it daily just to watch video highlights and montages of the Kings winning the Stanley Cup.  Heck, I was telling a buddy the other day that I still wake up from time to time wondering if it really happened.  As a long time (and once suffering) fan it is still hard to believe.

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

Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 9/5/2012

Fernando loves Hello Kitty, pic via Dodgers on facebook.
  • 'Topes Tatler speaks with Dodgers prospect Brian Cavazos-Galvez.
“I can do a little bit of everything and I think that’s the biggest thing I can give to the organization,” Cavazos-Galvez said. “I feel that I’m doing a bunch of little things that can be put together and allow me to showcase myself.”
  • Injured pitchers continues to be a problem for the Dodgers.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA we hear that Billingsley may not be coming back this season, Javy Guerra was placed on the DL,  Josh Wall recalled from AAA, and Terd Lilly may still be able to contribute this season.
  • 3 Olympic gymnast were at the Dodger Stadium (McKayla Maroney, Gabby Douglas and Kyla Ross) and there are pics to prove it.  Check out Just Jared Jr.  The below pic is from twitter @Dodgers. BTW, McKayla Maroney doesn't seemed impressed with the Dodgers- see what I mean here at NorthSideWire.
(twitter @Dodgers)
If the product on the field is new, fresh and exciting, then why is grandpa still at the mic?
Yeah, it's that bad.
  • Vance Garnett at the Washington Times recalls the phenomenal pitching performance of a 20 year old hurler named Walter Johnson as he blanked the Yankees in 3 consecutive games over 4 days during a Labor Day weekend in 1908.
  • Washington's racing Presidents do it Gangnam Style.

Video Link:

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