Tuesday, May 03, 2016

Blog Kiosk: 5/3/2016 - Dodgers Links - Ebbets Field, Maeda and Josh Ravin's Suspension


Wow!  There's nuthin' 'round the ol' joint.

Shown above, via a tweet by Old Baseball Photos, is Ebbets Field just prior to its opening in 1913.  You can see the grandstands and the backside of the outfield walls, but nothing else (except a few buildings here and there).  I always assumed Brooklyn was built out the way it is today, but clearly that is wrong.  The immediate area was as barren as a bald head.

A little bit of research tells me that Pigtown, the neighborhood this area was called due to the existence of several large pig farms, was economically depressed.  It's inhabitants were largely poor and crime was known to be a problem.  Folks would come into town to dump their junk there and farm animals were known to roam around recklessly.  The metropolis it is today was just a dream back then.

Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 the Branch Rickey traded five Dodgers players; including Kirby Higby, to Pittsburgh.  The move was seen as a message to the players on his support for Jackie Robinson.
  • Happy Birthday, Davey Lopes and Darren Dreifort!
  • Audio:  Listen to Tommy Lasorda on Colin Gunderson's podcast at Love of Baseball (Link Here).
  • Via Ben Bruno at Number Fire, "Kenta Maeda's Slider Left Jose Fernandez Astounded."
Not only did Maeda decrease his velocity by 10 miles per hour on consecutive pitches, but also he went from the bottom of the strike zone to roughly 6 inches above it as well. The change is speed and eye level would be tough for any hitter, let alone a guy who gets paid to throw strikes and not to swing at them. 
  • BTW, the 2016 Bowman Yadier Alvarez superfractor prospect base card is on eBay.  Check out the auction listing here.  See a pic of it on the right.
  • Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dodgers recall their most memorable home runs."
  • Uh-Oh.  Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Josh Ravin Receives 80-Game PED Suspension."  As you will recall, he is currently on the DL for having broken his arm during spring training due to an car accident.  Per a Dodgers press release:
“We are disappointed to hear that Josh has violated Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The Dodgers fully support MLB's policy toward eliminating performance enhancing substances from the sport and, as per the Joint Drug Program, we will have no further comment on this suspension.”
According to Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider he was caught using Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 2 (GHRP-2).  Whatever that is.  Ravin said this, via a tweet by JP Hoornstra:
"Unfortunately, I was not as careful as I should have been and one of the supplements contained a banned substance."

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

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