Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog KIosk: 1/19/2016 - Dodgers Links

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Blog KIosk: 1/19/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Campanella and his kids.

Check out this fantastic March 12, 1951 vintage press photo taken by legendary photographer Herb Scharfman for International News. It features Roy Campanella with his two young sons while on the field in Miami during Spring Training. Via the descriptor on the reverse:

If the boys turn out to be chips off the old block, the Dodgers will be all set in the catching department if, and when, catcher Roy Campanella hangs up his mask and gloves. Here is Campanella with his sons, David 7, and Roy Jr. 2, as he put them through their paces at Miami Stadium. The Dodgers won their first game yesterday in the grapefruit League by shading the Boston Braves, 10-9 in an error-spangled game.

The photo above was available on auction at RMY and recent closed at $144.17. Check out the auction listing here. Below are more links to check out:

Dodgers vice president Alex Anthopoulos spoke a bit about scouting to Bob Nightengale at USA Today:

“The best moves we made were the ones we didn’t make because of the information we got from our scouts,’’ Anthopoulos said. “Sure, you look at the analytic side, but you’re talking about the human side, too. We looked at plenty of guys who could help us, but our scouts would give us information, letting us know that they wouldn’t fit into this group or dynamic that we had here.

“This game is so competitive, you need to get every ounce of information you can to try to separate yourself, and our scouts played such a big part in our success.’’

Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest shares his list of, "2016 Dodgers Top 100 Prospects: No. 100-76."
Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "Vin DiFazio – For the love of the game … and more."

It was reported late Sunday evening that the Dodgers had signed catcher Vin DiFazio to a minor league contract. The 29-year-old Hampton, New Jersey native played the past two seasons with the St. Paul Saints of the the Independent League American Association.

Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Dodgers top prospects 2016: No. 9, Frankie Montas."

Despite poor fastball command, Montas shows more feel for his breaking pitch, which has the shape of a hard slider or knuckle curve. The slider is a true swing and miss pitch that is effective both in the zone and as a chase pitch. The pitch has a velocity separation more akin to a curveball off the fastball, adding further deception to the pitch. He can take something off the pitch early for strikes, or ramp it up to sharpen the brake for strikeouts.