Saturday, September 19, 2015

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Win Cal League Championship


Woo Hoo!  The kids are good!

The Dodgers Single-A farmclub Rancho Cucamonga Quakes swept the San Jose Giants in convincing fashion.  They recorded five runs on seven hits to win their first championship since 1994.

Leading the way was 2013 4th round draft pick Cody Bellinger.  He batted 3-5 with two doubles and a two-run home run, and was named the series MVP.  Also, 2014 2nd round draft pick Alex Verdugo went 3-4 with a double and two RBI's.  Verdugo was promoted to the Quakes just last month.
On the mound was 2014 7th round pick Trevor Oaks.  He pitched 7.1 shut out innings for the win; scattering eight hits and recording four strike outs.  Check out the box score here.

Watch the last pitch of the game and the ensuing celebration in the video below.

Video Link:





Pic at the very top via the RC Quake's on facebook.

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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 9/19/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke, Seager and Joc Pederson


Above is Joc Pederson with his big brother Champ.  As you a may know, Champ Pederson has Down Syndrome.  As a part of an initiative that will give 31% of all proceeds to Best Buddies, the Dodgers will exclusively sell unique and limited caps made by New Era that you can see above.  It says "Live Like a Champ."  Below is a closer view.  They are available only at Dodger Stadium.  BTW, Joc wears #31 and he apparently designed the cap.

Via CBSLA.com:
“It’s exciting that the Dodgers and New Era are supporting my family and Best Buddies as well. It’s something I’m passionate about and it brings us together as a family,” Joc said.

Champ also had plenty to say about his younger brother, Joc.

“Well to see my brother in my hat well I think it’s good if he likes it. I just want him to like it, because it’s something my mom and I created together. But I think it’s great”, Champ said.
Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  BTW, the Dodgers "Magic Number is now at 8.  Go here to see more pics from the press conference.  Below are more links to check out:
  • Here's a fun and adorable original cartoon featuring Zack Greinke drawn by Kawaii Baseball Cards: "Underneath the Cap."  (hat tip: r/istarnie on reddit)
  • Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Greinke's comfort level on display in LA."
    "I pitch good at home," Greinke said. "I'm just more comfortable. Sometimes on the road things aren't as comfortable.
  • Via Brandon Lennox at True Blue LA, "Scott Barlow strikes out 11, puts Quakes on brink of Cal League title."
  • Yeah, what's up this this?  Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "On the Dodgers, hamstring injuries appear to be contagious."
  • Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "How does Corey Seager do it?"
    On adjusting to the Majors so rapidly:
    “Luck,” Seager said. “I don’t know. There’s always an adjustment. There’s so much more information up here, you can kind of shorten that adjustment period, because you kind of have an idea what’s coming.”
  • Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers' Jharel Cotton, Ralston Cash, Rob Rogers, Matt West to pitch in Arizona Fall League."
  • This isn't good news.  Via David Seideman at Forbes, "Signs Of A Baseball Card And Memorabilia Market Crash."  Frankly, I'm fearful of the same thing.
This sale and many others I saw in Chicago left me wondering if the industry had reached a shoe-shine boy tipping point.  Is this easy money a sign of irrational exuberance for a market about to crash or a textbook case of Adam Smith’s free-market based on supply and demand? My conclusion is that it is a bit of both and that before you liquidate your 401K to buy Babe Ruth cards, you had better weigh the long-term risks and rewards.

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