Showing posts with label John Richy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Richy. Show all posts

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Blog Kiosk: 8/20/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Zaidi and Rollins


Jimmy Rollins seems happy to have his former teammate in LA.  Watch what he said about it in the clubhouse yesterday from SportsNet LA, here.  Photo above from @SportsNetLA on twitter.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Rollins likes idea of reunion with Utley."
"I think it would be a lot of fun," Rollins said. "One, he loved this team, went to school at UCLA, plays well at Dodger Stadium, actually beats up the Dodgers. If everything goes through and he's here, it would be nice to see him play home games in a place he's comfortable playing.

"He can add a lot. Hopefully, No. 1 first and foremost, if he's healthy and in a good place. That being the case, the way he's swung the bat, the way he's been playing, we can use it, anybody can. He's a tough guy. More than anything, there will be some new excitement in the clubhouse. He'll have the chance to play meaningful baseball late in the year. It's what we all want."
Below are some links to check out:
  • ICYMI:  The two Dodger prospects sent to Philadelp[hia as a part of the Chase Utley trade are infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney and minor league pitcher John Richy.  Per a Dodger press release:
Sweeney was hitting .271 with nine homers, 30 doubles, 32 stolen bases and 49 RBI in 116 games this year for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. The 24-year-old was the Dodgers’ 13th-round selection out of the University of Central Florida in 2012.

Richy, the Dodgers’ third-round draft selection out of UNLV in 2014, was 10-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games (18 starts) for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this season. The right-hander pitched for Rookie-level Ogden and Single-A Great Lakes in 2014.  
  •  On why they targeted Utley: “It’s everything. Beyond the numbers, he’s always been a very good defensive second baseman … he’s shown that range (since he came back from the disabled list). His quality of at-bats has been near the top of the league. We made it a point to stack our lineup with players who have quality at-bats. He’s always hit well at Dodger Stadium.
  • “I think we have all the elements of a really good team. We got out of the gates really strong, and we’ve had stretches in other parts of the season where we did certain things well and struggled in other areas. I think we still have talent to bookend our season with a stretch … where we’re firing on all cylinders. We think we have the ingredients of a really good team, and it’s going to come down to execution.”
  • Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Yasiel Puig has mild hamstring strain."  He should be ready to go on Friday.
"It was pretty good news today, it feels like," Mattingly said. "This is way less than last time, it seems like. At this point, he's calling it, 'very mild,' and the MRI is not showing a whole lot and Yasiel looks good."
  • Panini has released some more preview pic for their upcoming 2015 Immaculate Baseball set; including the Yasiel Puig jumbo relic card on the right.  Go here to check out a bunch of great pics.

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

Tuesday, June 02, 2015

Blog Kiosk: 6/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends


Long Live the Rally Banana!

It's nice that the Rockies can oblige.  Featured above is a bunch of banana's found in the Dodger clubhouse in Colorado this morning, as shared by Kike Hernandez on twitter.  As you know, they play a doubleheader today, so they'll need that extra burst of energy to get through the day.

Below are some links to check out:
"The last two, especially, I felt happy coming out of the game, so that's a new feeling for me," Kershaw said. "I'll try to build on that for sure."

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

    Wednesday, January 21, 2015

    2014 Panini Elite Extra Edition - All the Dodger Cards

    If I'm not mistaken, this is the very last Baseball card set of 2014.  Released last week was Panini's Elite Extra Edition Baseball set, and like in years past it focuses primarily on young prospects rising through their respective systems.  Go here for a complete checklist.

    Several of the Dodgers' newest and brightest ballplayers are featured in the set; including last years #1 pick Grant Holmes. Below are pics of every Dodger player available.  Of note, Mike Piazza is included as a Dodger in the set.

    Base Set

    #35 Jared Walker                               #47 Jeff Brigham

    Monday, January 19, 2015

    2014 Bowman Chrome Mini Baseball - All the Dodger Cards

    Recently, Topps released a complete factory set of Bowman Chrome Mini's, and I thought I would include some photos for informational purposes.  Other than being slightly smaller than a normal Baseball card, these cards look just like cards already released in past Bowman sets.  Go here for a complete checklist.

    There are 12 Dodger prospects in the set.  Check them all out below.

    Prospect Mini Base 

    #2 Julio Urias                                       #28 Alex Verdugo

    Tuesday, January 13, 2015

    Blog Kiosk: 1/13/2104 - Dodger Links - Kapler, Puig and a 19th Century Dodger Ledger


    You wouldn't know from just looking at the cover, but the book featured above holds some fascinating historical information about the Brooklyn Dodgers.  It is the Brooklyn Dodgers official ledger (penned by Charles Ebbets) showing the teams day-to-day financial operations from April 1899 to December 1900.  Per Robert Lifason at REA Blog (BTW, this item will be on auction at REA this coming April):
    This book is a treasure trove of financial information. All incoming funds and outgoing funds of the club are recorded. Included are the exact attendance records for Brooklyn’s games, with gate receipts broken down by seat prices. Also recorded are all of the concession sales, including peanuts, refreshments, and scorecards. Included on the expenditure side are both player and employee salaries ( team owner Charles Ebbets’ salary is also recorded numerous times, including in his own hand), as well as the cost for general repair and maintenance of Washington Park, equipment (balls, bats, uniforms, etc.), team stationery, newspaper advertising, a subscription to the Sporting News, and, of course, peanuts (150 pounds of peanuts cost $7.75 in 1900). In short, virtually all financial information relating to the business of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1899 and 1900, there is no doubt this volume was Charles Ebbets’ single most important document of financial records of the club. It was literally the heart and soul of the business of The Brooklyn Base Ball Club.
    Wow!  Go to Rob's post detailing it even more. 

    Below are some more links to check out:
    “I think in the past, guys have had opportunity to display their athletic prowess,” Kapler said in a conference call with reporters today. “We have leaned against that this year, in favor of creating a more mentally inviting environment. We wanted our players to stay on their offseason programs … and not ramp up in the middle of winter to impress physically. Rather, we wanted them to be open-minded and flexible and nimble of thought.
    • Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Dodgers retain all six minor league managers for 2015."
    • Panini's 2014 Elite Extra Edition Baseball set officially comes out tomorrow, so they shared some preview picks on their blog.  Check those out here.  Below are Dodger cards of Mike Piazza and pitching prospect John Richy.
     


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

      Friday, December 12, 2014

      2014 Bowman Draft Baseball - The Dodger Base Cards

      Here is a look at the Dodger cards found within Topps newest Baseball card set.  They arrived in stores on Wednesday.  It is called Bowman Draft Baseball and as the title suggest it focuses primarily on up-'n-coming ballplayers throughout the league.  Go here to take a look at a complete checklist.

      In this post are the Dodger base cards.  As you will notice this set includes some of the first licensed Baseball cards of several of our picks from the 2014 Draft in Dodger uniforms.  Check them all out below.  I'll have pics of the autograph and relic cards next week.


      Base Set
      #DP18 Grant Holmes                           #DP59 Alex Verdugo

      #DP66 Jeff Brigham                           #DP98 John Richy

      #DP130 Jared Walker

      Top Prospects Base Set

      #TP-14 Julio Urias                          #TP-41 Corey Seager

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

      Tuesday, November 18, 2014

      2014 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks - All the Dodger Cards

      Panini America released their newest Baseball card set last week.  It is called Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks, and it's a prospect heavy offering.  In fact, the Base Set includes three of the Dodgers first five picks from the 2014 Draft; Alex Verdugo (2nd), John Richy (4th) and Jared Walker (5th).  Their first round pick, Grant Holmes, is also available in the set, but as an insert.  Of note, prospect Victor Arano is also a part of the Base Set as a Dodger, but as you'll recall he was traded to the Phillies as the "player to be named later" in the Roberto Hernandez trade.  Go here to see a complete checklist.

      It appears that due to the limited appeal a draft pick set tends to have, I do not have photos of all the Dodgers in the set yet.  I will update this Dodger checklist as they show up. 

      BTW, this set includes the very first trade cards as professional ballplayers for Victor Arano, Alex Verdugo, John Richy and Jared Walker.  There is also an autograph card of Verdugo in the set - a first for him, as well.

      Directly below is the Base Set, and four Dodger players are included.  Check them out below. 

      Base Set

      #41 Alex Verdugo                                    #59 Jared Walker

      #81 Victor Arano                                      #94 John Richy

      2014 Draft Class

      #20 Grant Holmes

      Minors Gold Prizms

      #27 Joc Pederson


      Panini High School All-America Team Prizms

      #5 Grant Holmes

      #10 Alex Verdugo
      (Not Available At This Time)

      Unfortunately, I have yet to see an autographed Verdugo card.  I will updated this post once one appears

      Prospect Signatures Prizms

      #22 Grant Holmes

      #62 Alex Verdugo

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

      Monday, June 30, 2014

      Blog Kiosk: 6/30/2014 - Dodger Links - Elbert on the Mend, Draft Pick Updates and Goofing on Ryu


      Kershaw pitched another gem yesterday, and now the Dodgers find themselves tied to first palce WooHoo!  Pic above features Clayton and Chris Perez celebrating the victory, via @MLB on twitter.
      • ICYMI:  Justin Turner has been placed on the 15-day DL, and Carlos Triunfel has been called back from the minors.  Turner strained his left hamstringin saturday's game.
      • Via Ken Gurnick and Michael Lananna at MLB.com, "Elbert enters final phase of rehab."
      "I'm happy with Scotty's progress," Mattingly said. "We've talked about it a number of times -- it's been awhile now where everything's been pretty much positive. There hasn't been any negatives. He hasn't skipped a 'pen. He's been moving along."
      "We've got the kind of pitching that keeps you in the game every day." Mattingly said. "If we can be solid on defense and take advantage of whatever we get offensively, we can be in pretty good shape.

      "We've been solid [defensively]. Being in the right place, making the plays you're supposed to make, not hurting your team … getting the outs you're supposed to get.

      "I'm happy with the energy the club is playing with. We're playing with a sense of urgency."


      • This Vine video made me laugh for hours... That scream!  BTW, they put ice down Ryu's back.


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

      Thursday, June 12, 2014

      Blog Kiosk: 6/12/2014 - Dodger Links - Snakes on Puig, More Draftees Sign and Billingsley Shut Down


      Yasiel Puig visited the Cincinnati Zoo yesterday and made a new friend, pic via the Cincinnati Zoo on instagram.
      The Dodgers halted Chad Billingsley's minor league rehabilitation assignment and sent him for medical evaluation after he complained of weakness in his surgically repaired right elbow.
      • Via Manny Randhawa at MLB.com, "Hanley a late scratch with shoulder irritation."  Will the injuries ever stop?
      • From yesterday's game against the Reds, Brandon Phillips shows Puig some respect on the basepaths, gif via Dodgers on tumblr.
      • Troy from West Virginia has been arrested in Cincinnati for criminal trespass and obstructing official business.  He had previously been banned from going to that stadium, via Kimball Perry at Cincinnati.com.  Yeah, he's a troubled guy.

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

      Saturday, June 07, 2014

      Check out the Results of the First Two Days of the Dodgers 2014 Draft - Picks #1 to #10

      The Dodgers passed along a press release announcing their first 10 picks from the 2014 amateur Baseball Draft.  They provided a brief description of each player.  Check it out below.  I also included some brand new fantasy cards and twitter comments.  Click on any pic to embiggen.
      (Photo used via @Dodgers on twitter)
      The Dodgers today announced their selections from the first two days of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. Los Angeles made eight picks today after drafting Conway High School (SC) right-hander Grant Holmes (Twitter - @GHolmes_14) with the 22nd overall selection and Sahuaro High School (AZ) outfielder Alex Verdugo with the 62nd overall selection in the second round yesterday.
      (Photo used via StudentSports.com)

      Through the first two days of the draft, the Dodgers selected six right-handed pitchers, two outfielders, one infielder and one catcher. The club used seven picks on college players and three picks on high school prospects.
      -------------------
      3rd Round
      (Photo used via LV Review-Journal AP/Mark Ylen)

      With their first pick on the draft's second day, Los Angeles selected right-handed pitcher John Richy (Twitter - @jrichy45) out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder went 11-4 with a 3.20 ERA (43 ER/121.0 IP) and 113 strikeouts in 16 starts for the Rebels this season. As a junior this season, Richy led the Mountain West Conference in innings, strikeouts, wins, starts, and also registered five complete games. In his career at UNLV, the 21-year-old has posted a 3.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio (189 K/56 BB).


      -------------------
      4th Round
      (Photo used via Perfect Game)
      The Dodgers selected their third pitcher of the draft in University of Washington (WA) pitcher Jeff Brigham (Twitter -  @jbrigs34) with their fourth-round pick. Brigham finished the 2014 season going 7-4 with a 2.90 ERA (29 ER/90.0 IP) in 16 starts, giving up one run or less in six of his starts with a total of eight quality starts on the season. The 22-year-old junior from Federal Way, WA is listed at 6-foot, 198-pounds and earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 and First Team All-Academic honors.
      -------------------
      5th Round

      (Photo used via video screengrab at BBWebTV)

      In the fifth round, Los Angeles selected McEachern High School (GA) third baseman Jared Walker (Twitter - @JRod_Walker), the first infielder the Dodgers selected in the draft. Walker, 18, batted .466 with a 1.253 OPS in 31 games for the Indians, amassing three homers, 30 RBI, and 22 stolen bases in his senior campaign.
      -------------------
      6th Round

      (Photo used via Pantagraph.com/Bob Poynter/AP)
      The Dodgers picked right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart (Twitter - @B_Rock_one5) out of Illinois State University (IL) with their sixth-round selection after the 22-year-old went with 3-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 11 games (one start) this season. Stewart, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, also appeared in 120 games as an infielder during his four-year playing career with the Redbirds, batting .266 with a .343 on-base percentage. The redshirt junior, who is the son of San Diego scout Jeff Stewart, was previously drafted by the Mets in the 40th round of the 2010 First-Year Player draft out of Normal West High School (IL), but did not sign.


      -------------------
      7th Round
      (Photo used via The Chimes)
      In the seventh round, Los Angeles selected its fifth right-handed pitcher in California Baptist University hurler Trevor Oaks (Twitter - @trevoaks), who posted a perfect 11-0 record with a 1.68 ERA (20 ER/107.0 IP) in 15 starts for the Lancers. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder earned All-American honors in the NCBWA in addition to winning the PacWest Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in wins, strikeouts (107), ERA and shutouts (2).
      -------------------
      8th Round
      (Photo used via Odessa America/Edyta Blaszczyk)
      The Dodgers selected catcher Hunter Redman (Twitter - @HunterRedman1) out of Texas Tech (TX) in the eighth round. On the year, the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder is batting .252 with 17 RBI in 42 games for the Red Raiders, who are set to face College of Charleston in the three-game set at the NCAA Super Regionals this weekend. Before transferring to Texas Tech, the 21-year-old played in four games for the University of Texas (TX) in 2012 and 52 games for Midland College (TX) in 2013. Redman's brother, Reid, is a pitcher in the Marlins' organizations and was a 37th-round selection of the Dodgers in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, but did not sign.
      -------------------
      9th Round
      (Photo used via orangeandwhite.com/Mark Crammer)
      In the ninth round, the Dodgers picked Clemson (SC) right-handed pitcher Matt Campbell (Twitter - @MattyIce36). In his senior season for the Tigers, the 22-year old allowed only three earned runs in 32.0 innings (0.84 ERA), while registering eight saves with 45 strikeouts against 15 walks. In his career at Clemson, the three-time All-ACC Academic selection amassed 19 saves with a 2.75 ERA (33 ER/108.0 IP), while posting an 11.17 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio in 78 career relief appearances.


      -------------------
      10th Round
      (Photo used via orangeandwhite.com)
      Los Angeles' last selection on the second day of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft was Coastal Carolina (SC) outfielder Colin Hering (Twitter - @shooting_gaps24). In two years at Coastal Carolina, the left-handed hitting Hering posted a .350 on-base percentage with 17 stolen bases in 113 games. In his two years prior to transferring to Coastal Carolina, the 23-year-old played two seasons at Bellevue College (WA), leading the NWAACC with 39 RBI his sophomore year and was the NWAACC runner-up for North Region MVP.
      -------------------

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

      Friday, June 06, 2014

      The Draft Continues for Dodgers - Here are their 3rd, 4th & 5th Round Picks

      This morning starts where the Dodgers left off.  They will be choosing picks #3 to #10.

      At #3 for the Dodgers, 98th overall, is right-handed hurler from UNLV John Richy.  He is originally from Golden, Colorado, is 6'4" tall, 210 lbs. and is a junior at UNLV.  In 2014 he went 11 - 4 with a 3.20 ERA.  Richy completed 5 games, threw 121 inning, struck out 113 and walking only 24.

      In celebration of his selection I made the above fantasy card for him.  As you can see he sports a mighty fine Rollie Fingers-style mustache.  I grabbed the photo from the Las Vegas Review-Journal (pic by Chase Stevens) and used the vintage 1987 Topps Baseball card design.  BTW, Ron Kantowski at the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote an interesting story about the origins of the mustache, here.
      Chambers said he did it to support the team. The UNLV players recently started growing mustaches to express camaraderie and esprit de corps.
      It's akin to what NHL players do during the playoffs - they all grow beards.

      Below are his stats from the his UNLV biography page:

      Here are a couple of links about what he brings to the table:
      BTW, Richy is apparently a True Blue Dodger fan.  Check out his tweet here: (Whoops!  Sorry, I must learn to read this twitter thing.  A teammate of Richy is actually the Dodger fan - My Bad!)


      I like this kid already!

      -----------------
      For the 4th Round, 129th overall, the Dodgers picked University of Washington junior right-handed pitcher Jeff Brigham.  Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, he had Tommy John surgery in 2012.  Brigham measures 6'0" tall, 200 lbs. and is 22 years old.  Per the MLB draft tracker:
      He regained his velocity, albeit inconsistently, with a fastball that sits 92-94 mph and has touched 97. The life on Brigham’s fastball has led to a ton of ground-ball outs but not many strikeouts. His slider and changeup are both well behind his fastball, however, and both will need a good amount of development to be useable pitches. Brigham does go right after hitters and has been generally around the strike zone. His health history, his size and his stuff might mean a path to the bullpen at the next level.
      It appears he might be a work in progress.  If he figures it out he'll be slated to join the Dodger bullpen someday.  BTW, Jeff is on twitter, and can be followed here @Jbrigs34.  You can check out his biography page at UofW hereEric Stephen at True Blue LA also has a report on him, here.

      In celebration of his selection I made the above fantasy card for him.  I grabbed a photos from a Seattle Times article (pic by Jim Bates) and used the 1987 Topps Baseball card design.  I would have used a different design, but I currently only have this template at my disposal.  Maybe I'll make more fantasy cards for these kids using a different design later on.

       -----------------
      The Dodgers 5th round pick, 159th overall, is McEachern High School 3rd baseman Jared Walker.  He measures 6' 3", 200 lbs., bats left-handed, but throws right.  He is projected as having plus power potential.  At just 18-years of age he'll have plenty of time to develop.

      Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA:
      "The lefthanded hitter has hitting instincts and a line-drive stroke with natural strength. He has good bat-to-ball skills, though his approach will require refinement, and average raw power that projects to plus down the road," read the Baseball America scouting report. "A team might try him at third base, but his defensive future likely lies in left field."
      Eric shares a video of Jared in action.

      In celebration of his selection I made the above fantasy card for him.  I grabbed a photo of Jared from his Perfect Game biography and used the 1987 Topps Baseball card design.


      UPDATE:  BTW, Jared has a couple of cards in 2013 Leaf Perfect Game Showcase Baseball set.  Check them out below.


      Base Card #99 Jared Walker               Base Auto #JW2  Jared Walker

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