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Saturday, September 14, 2013

Chili Buss Isn't Nick's Nickname - It's his Real Name!


Josh Suchon, the current Albuquerque Isotopes play-by-play announcer (and former Dodger Talk host) shares something about recently called-up outfielder Nick Buss that we all should know. 

His real name is Chili Buss.  It's not his nickname, it's his real actual name.  Per Josh Suchon on his blog Out of Ink:
The name on the birth certificate is Nicholas Chili Buss. His dad always wanted unique middle names for his kids. The first three kids had normal middle names. Nick was the last chance for something different. His dad once played in a charity golf tournament with former major leaguer Chili Davis and always liked the name Chili.
So, there you have it.  It's almost like Nick's (ahem, Chili's) Dad always knew he'd be in the Major Leagues.  After all, you don't pick the name Chili unless it's tied in some way to the ballplayer and you've got dreams of big league diamonds on your mind.

Be sure to read Josh's full story.

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Welcome to the Blue, Nick and Alex!


As the Dodgers struggle with keeping their outfielders healthy, they decide to call up a couple of extra farmhands to help them out.  Announced today, both Alex Castellanos and Nick Buss have been sent to the Dodgers.

Nick Castellanos first came up to the team in 2012, and Nick Buss is joining the Major League roster for the very first time in his career.

In celebration of this announcement I made the above two fantasy cards for them.

From a Dodgers press release:
The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled outfielder Alex Castellanos and selected the contract of outfielder Nick Buss from Triple-A Albuquerque and, in a corresponding move, transferred right-handed reliever Jose Dominguez to the 60-day disabled list.

Buss, 26, will be making his Major League debut and batted .303 with 17 homers and 100 RBI in 131 games with Triple-A Albuquerque this season to earn selections as both a midseason Pacific Coast League All-Star and a spot on the postseason All-PCL Team. The Michigan native led the circuit in RBI and ranked among the league leaders in hits (139, T-10th), runs (84, 6th), triples (11, 2nd), total bases (241, 3rd), steals (21, T-13th) and slugging percentage (.525, 4th). Buss, who was primarily a corner outfielder, ended the season on a roll by hitting .323 with five home runs and 29 RBI in 43 games after the All-Star break. Buss, who bats left handed, is in his sixth professional season and was originally selected by the Dodgers in the eighth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of USC.

Castellanos batted .257 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI in 105 games with Triple-A Albuquerque and also appeared in four games with the Dodgers, going 2-for-9 (.222) during a June big league stint. The 27-year-old stole 19 bases in 24 attempts with the Isotopes this season, while having success against right-handed pitchers with a .282 batting average (75-for-266), a .378 on-base percentage and a .519 slugging percentage. Castellanos made his Major League debut in 2012, has gone 6-for-32 (.188) with a home run and three RBI in 20 MLB games and was originally acquired by the Dodgers in the Rafael Furcal trade with St. Louis on July 31, 2011.

Dominguez has been on the disabled list since July 23 with a left quad strain and posted a 2.16 ERA (2 ER/8.1 IP) in nine appearances with the Dodgers this season.

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Blog Kiosk: 9/14/2013 - Dodgers Links - A Julio Urias Baseball Card is Coming Soon, Dodger Injuries and Magic Johnson


Check out this awesome broken bat pic from Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.  See more of his photos from yesterday here.
Here is a look at MLB’s batters with the highest line drive rates over the past 30 days. Michael Young of the Los Angeles Dodgers is leading the way.
  • "Magic: 'I still pinch myself every day': Johnson discusses his love of being a Dodgers owner, hopes for the team and fans," via Barry Bloom at MLB.com.
MLB.com: How much fun is this, Earvin?
Johnson: You can't describe how much fun it is. First of all, to know that you are part-owner of the Dodgers, it just blows you away. I still pinch myself every day. I just can't believe it, you know? And then to have half a season last season, make nine changes [on the field] in a little bit more than half a season, and this season start off slow and now to be in first, playing some solid and good baseball -- this is all we wanted. We wanted it all for the fans and for the players.
  • "Dodgers say Hanley Ramirez has irritated nerve in his back ," via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.  According to Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe, he has a history of sciatica.  I know exactly how this feels.  You get this intense pinching nerve pain that runs from your back all the way down to your legs.  It can often be difficult to walk, as a result.
  • The injuries are coming back.  Via Eric Stephens at True Blue LA, "Giants 4, Dodgers 2: Andre Ethier hurts ankle in loss".  He irritated his sprained ankle.
  • "Dodgers' Chris Capuano suffers minor setback to bullpen debut ," via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.
“But the last couple felt like it wasn’t quite 100%,” he said. “The optimistic plan was to maybe be available Sunday or Monday out of the ’pen, but we’re going to give it a rest tomorrow and come get back on the mound Sunday or Monday one more time before we declare it ready for a game.”


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