Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Blog Kiosk: 3/18/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends


Here's a look at the Dodgers 2020 on-field cap. As you can see, it includes a patch for the upcoming All-Star Game. Pic above via New Era on twitter. BTW, below is a look at the St. Patrick's Day Dodger cap for this year, below (via Dodger Blue)

(Emmett Kelly by Art Rogers/LA Times)
Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers HistoryIn 1942 two African-American ballplayers, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, showed up at the White Sox spring training home at Brookside Park in Pasadena and requested a tryout. They met manager Jimmy Dykes and were allowed to hit the field, but as you know nothing would come of it. In 1958 famed clown Emmett Kelly, signed by the Dodgers to play the teams mascot in Brooklyn, announced that his contract had not been renewed to join the team in LA. The veteran circus performer believes the size of the Coliseum, the club's new home on the West Coast, is just "too big for one clown".
  • Happy BirthdayOscar WalkerJohnny CooneyGerónimo Berroa & Scott Podsednik!
  • Get better soon! Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Connor Joe Undergoes Surgery For Testicular Cancer."
  • Via Steven Martano at Beyond the Boxscore -- "This Dodgers squad might be the best ever."
Going position-by-position, it’s hard to find a more balanced and strong roster. The outfield alone consists of three all stars in Betts, Bellinger, and Joc Pederson. That trio is expected to generate nearly 15 wins by FanGraphs’ fWAR. Behind these three is fourth outfielder A.J. Pollock, a former star in his own right who may end up being potential trade-bait down the line.
The infield is nearly as strong, led by Corey Seager and Justin Turner on the left side, and Gavin Lux and Max Muncy on the right side. Gavin Lux is the youngest of the quartet, and even he is projected for over 2 wins despite entering his age-22 season. Catcher Will Smith is one of the best-hitting catchers in the game, and greatly improved a team that as of late-July, had a 2019 wRC+ of 69. Smith is projected for 2.2 fWAR, and if he can come anywhere close to his 132 wRC+ he posted in 54 games lsat year, it will be an in-house coup of a solution at catcher.
  • Topps and regional chip brand Utz are teaming up again to release a set in Utz products. It's already out there in stores. Five Dodgers are available in the 100-card set. Go here to see a checklist. Check out the Mike Trout sample card on the right.
  • The 2020 Topps On-Demand Set #5 (Wave 1) is currently available for sale and it includes one of the newest Dodgers -- Brusdar Graterol. It promises to be his first Dodger card. Go here to check it out and order. Unfortunately, I do not have a pic of his card and I refuse to put up the sample pics they have -- it's an Astro.
  • I had forgotten all about this yesterday. Fortunately, Eric Stephen at True Blue LA did not. Per his blog post yesterday -- "12 years ago today, the Dodgers played their last game at Vero Beach."
What made Dodgertown great was the sense of history. Maybe the close quarters fed into this, with players living on site, but also that franchise legends would always be around to work with current players.
“You could talk shop with any one of those guys,” reliever Rudy Seañez told Kevin Baxter of the LA Times in 2008. “The people walking through here, it was pretty cool. It’ll be one of the things that you always remember.”
  • Good for you Willie! Via Bill Baer at NBC Sports -- "Willie Calhoun says he will be ready when season begins."
  • With everything that is going on, I jhad totally forgotten about Yasiel Puig. Via Jessica Kleinschmidt at NBC Sports -- " MLB rumors: Giants 'willing to consider' signing Yasiel Puig as free agent."
  • Carl Crawford... Remember him? He owns a record label. Per Paula Griffin at Go Tech Daily -- "1501 CEO Carl Crawford Responds to Megan Thee Stallion Label Statements."
“Let’s converse about your deal. It is a great agreement for a 1st-timer,” Crawford notes. “What deal gives pieces of their masters and 40% royalties and all that type of stuff? Ask Jay-Z to pull a single of his artists’ initial contracts, and let us assess it to what Megan got…I assure they won’t ever exhibit you that.”


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