Blog Kiosk: 1/18/2016 - Dodgers Links - Genovese, Wills and some Paint-Balling Dodgers'

This past Saturday the 13th Annual Pro Baseball Scouts Foundation Awards Dinner was held in Beverly Hills.  One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of an "Player Lifetime Achievement Award" to Dodger legend Maury Wills. 

The photo at the very top is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics from Jon of the evening.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Barry M. Bloom at MLB.com, "Late, great scout Genovese eulogized in LA."

Genovese, 93, was eulogized in a stirring 60-minute memorial service at the stadium club down the right-field line in Dodger Stadium on Saturday. A native of Los Angeles, Genovese died this past Nov. 15 at Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., shortly after a visit from Mike Lieberthal, the catcher and Genovese signee who finished his career in 2007 with the Dodgers.
...
"George was a special man. He was like a grandfather to me," Lieberthal said. "George was almost like my protector. He would protect me from my dad, who'd be yelling at me all the time when I was on the field. George would just say, 'Hey, leave him alone. He's going to be all right.'"

• Via Nick Diunte at the Examiner.com, "How Don Newcombe paved the way for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

“In 1968, Martin had dinner in my house with my family," Newcombe recalled in a 2007 interview with Time Magazine. "This was 28 days before he was assassinated. He said to me, ‘Don, I don't know what I would've done without you guys setting up the minds of people for change. You, Jackie, and Roy will never know how easy you made it for me to do my job.’ Can you imagine that? How easy we made it for Martin Luther King!”

• Via Mike Bertha at MLB.com, "Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson: Friends and civil rights icons."

"People used to tell me a lot of things about Dr. King, that he was trying to take over the world, that he was making money on the civil rights issues. I didn't believe them, of course. I knew this was a dedicated man and that he has made tremendous personal financial sacrifices in the cause. I sort of wondered why people would stoop to talk about him. Then I realized that the world has always talked against great men. The best way to keep from getting talked about is to do nothing." 

• Via Tom Singer at MLB.com, "On the rise, Kazmir excited for NL challenge."
• This past weekend Yasiel Puig, Austin Barnes and Joc Pederson did some paint-balling at the Hollywood Sports Park in Bellflower.  Joc posted a pic of the group on Instagram (link here), and Puig shared a short video (link here).  Below is a video of the guys having some fun. 

Video Link:

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Lieberthal: SoCal Native, A Philly Staple and a Catching Mentor

Mike Lieberthal has gone full circle. Raised in California and born a Dodger fan, he became a third overall pick during the 1990 draft out of Westlake High School. By 1994 he got his first taste of the big leagues with the Phillies and has never looked back. After two All-Star game appearances, a Gold Glove and over a decade as a front-line starting catcher he now finds himself back home, during the twilight of his career, with the team he grew up watching. The Dodgers are happy to have him on board- if not for his past achievements, but for his ability to show Russell Martin the way.

Lieberthal also contributes in less obvious ways. Perhaps the most important is that he is an experienced mentor and sounding board for Martin.

"We get along pretty well, and we're pretty close off the field," Lieberthal said. "I feel like I can pretty much tell him anything that is going to help him, and he is very receptive, and he has a good understanding. I don't think it's hard with Russ, because there isn't a whole lot you need to say to him."

Its been good to have him on board. Besides, any player who bleeds Blue and decides to come home to play for our team deserve our respect and admiration.

Pic Link: The Baseball Cube:
Story Link: Press Telegram:

Busy Week

Wow. Just when I thought I should take a breather during the holiday week the Dodgers get busy and get down to business.

Juan Pierre- Welcome to the Blue. Randy Wolf- Welcome home!

I don't really have anything negative to say about Juan Pierre. Considering how tight the free agent market is and the lack of high-powered outfielders available I am quite happy with his addition to the team. I think this creates a formidable 1,2 punch at the top of the order. I hope that Furcal continues as the lead-off man with Pierre and his high contact/ball in play abilities batting second.

Randy Wolf is local player who has decided to take less to play in front of his home crowd. His one year contract will probably be considered the best bargain this winter.

I'm starting to love Colletti's approach. Sign players who want to play in Los Angeles.

We now have the following players on the team who have professed their childhood love of the Dodgers:

Jeff Kent
Nomar Garciaparra
Randy Wolf

Is Mike Lieberthal next?