Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 12/13/2017 - Dodgers Links

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Blog Kiosk: 12/13/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Yesterday afternoon, Yu Darvish tweeted the above photo and added the words,

"who has better throwing partner than me?"

Apparently, Darvish and Clayton Kershaw are working out together in Texas -- which is not too surprising considering they both keep their offseason homes there.

Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 the Dodgers tried to do the unthinkable. They announced a trade that would send legendary second baseman Jackie Robinson to the hated NY Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. It would be voided the next day. Jackie would then announce his retirement from the game a few weeks later. In 2001 the Dodgers received Cesar Izturis and Paul Quantril in a trade with Toronto for Chad Ricketts and Luke Prokopec. In 2003 the Dodgers traded Kevin Brown to the Yankees for Brandon Weeden,Yhency Brazoban and Jeff Weaver. In 2005 the Dodgers signed free agent veteran catcher Sandy Alomar. Also, they traded troubled outfielder Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez to the A's for Andre Ethier on the same day.
Happy Birthday, Joe Landrum, Steve Wilson, Nate Oliver, Ricky Nolasco, George Shuba, Carl Erskine & Billy Loes!
There's a lot here of information here. Check out an interview with Dave Roberts from the Winter Meetings in Orlando, via MLB.com:

Q. Do you feel like you're in a much better position heading into next season than you were the last off-season, when you guys had (inaudible)?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, you look at on the position player's side, guys that are young or youthful that have really emerged as impact players that we really didn't know we had last year. And to see Corey Seager to follow up the rookie campaign with another good one, to know that he's going into his third year and to see what Cody [Bellinger] did and Chris Taylor, getting [Andrew] Toles back, and to Yasiel really assert himself last year. The catching situation, I think you can argue is as productive as any in baseball.

Via Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider; "Kershaw wins 2017 Warren Spahn Award."

“For me, it’s humbling to be put in the same category as some of baseball’s greatest pitchers,” Kershaw said. “The recipients of the Warren Spahn Award are players who have influenced and inspired so many who love our game of baseball. It’s an incredible honor to be selected as the 2017 recipient of this prestigious award. Thank you to the Bricktown Rotary Club for recognizing my work on the field. I’m thrilled and grateful for this honor.”

Did we dodger a bullet? Via Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors; "Shohei Ohtani Has Sprained UCL In Throwing Elbow."
Per Kevin Reichard at Ballpark Digest; "Appeals Court Rejects MLB Netting Class-Action Certification."

A federal appeals court has rejected a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking to mandate netting from foul pole to foul pole in MLB ballparks, saying the risk of a fan being struck by a foul ball is low and that the fear of injury does not warrant major changes.

The lawsuit, filed by Oakland A’s fan Gail Payne and Los Angeles Dodgers fan Stephanie Smith, had been whittled down in court proceeds last year, with the remaining claim that fear of injury at the Oakland Coliseum and Dodger Stadium should force the Dodgers and Athletics to make netting changes. That claim was rejected by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who ruled that the likelihood of injury was so small it did not merit class-action status.