Blog Kiosk: 3/21/2012

Camelback Ranch, pic via twitter @ChrisWithersTV.

• Alex Belth at Bronx Banter has a nice interview up with author Paul Haddad- writer of the new Dodgers book "High Fives, Pennant Drives, and Fernandomania."

  Vin Scully is the main reason I got into the Dodgers. My Dodger obsession was just as equally a Vin obsession – they were intertwined and you couldn’t imagine one without the other. Fans in 1976 already knew this, naming Vinny the “most memorable personality” in Dodger history, and this from a team that’s had no shortage of iconic players or big personalities.

• Check out the pic of the Kids Power Necklace being given away by the Dodgers on Sunday, May 20th. See the whole promotional schedule, here.
• 12 questions about the Dodgers answered by Jon Weisman at ESPN.
• Sully ask 5 question of the Dodgers at Hardball Times.
  
• Tom Van Riper at Forbes takes another look at the value of the Dodgers and sees a huge increase in value.

  Yes, it helps that the Los Angeles Dodgers are a trophy investment. If owning the New York Yankees is like owning the “Mona Lisa,” as George Steinbrenner once said, the Dodgers hopefuls are bidding on “Starry Night.” But ego is just a small part of the frenzy: Based solely on financials, FORBES figures, the Dodgers are worth a hefty $1.4 billion, up 75% from last year.

• Here is another Forbes article that, this time, features a cover photo of Matt Kemp.

  The cable companies, the TV networks and incoming team owners alike are taking some risk with the new TV economics of baseball. That’s why most of the regional sports networks have been structured with an equity component—they’re sharing the risk.

  There is one group, however, that gets a sure thing from the local broadcasting windfall: star players.

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA puts together a Spring Training Stadium Tour of the Goodyear ballpark.
  
• Tom Bartsch at Sports Collectors Digest writes about the upcoming Bill Veeck exhibition in Arcadia.

  The Baseball Reliquary presents “Bill Veeck: Baseball’s Greatest Maverick,” a major exhibition on the life and times of one of the most influential figures in baseball history, from April 9-May 24 at the Arcadia Public Library, 20 W. Duarte Rd., Arcadia, Calif.

  The exhibition is based on Paul Dickson’s book, Bill Veeck: Baseball’s Greatest Maverick, the first major biography on this American original, which will be published in April 2012. The exhibition will utilize photographs, artworks, artifacts and documents to illustrate key elements of Dickson’s original research. Much of the signage is excerpted from the book. The displays will include nearly 100 photographs encompassing the extraordinary career of Bill Veeck. Many of the images have rarely, if ever, been shown publicly.

• Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum.

Video Link:

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 29

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

San Diego Padres (10-8) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (9-5-4)

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Tim Stauffer vs. RHP Jamey Wright

Spring Game 19/Home Game 10

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: @skinnyswag9 SS, M Ellis 2B, @TheRealMattKemp CF, @jamesloney_7 1B, Rivera LF, Gwynn RF, Hairston 3B, @AJEllis17 C, Wright P
Padres: Maybin CF, Hundson 2B, Guzman LF,Alonso 1B, Denorfia RF, Darnell 3B, Grandal C, Cabrera SS, Stauffer P

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(Spring Training Insider: Andre Ethier is interviewed by @Kirkjian_ESPN as the @ESPN_BBTN bus rolls thru @CamelbackRanch, via twitter @Dodgers)

• THE PAD SQUAD: The Dodgers and Padres square off for the first time this spring with the two clubs meeting again next Tuesday in Peoria. Los Angeles went 13-5 against San Diego last season, tying for its second-best single-season record against the Padres, and the two clubs will meet for an Opening Day showdown on April 5 at PETCO Park. The Dodgers enter play today with the third best record in the Cactus League at 9-5-4 and rank among National League team leaders in batting average (.286, 3^rd), on-base percentage (.357, T-1^st), slugging percentage (.458, 3^rd) and ERA (3.48, 4^th).

• THE WRIGHT STUFF: Jamey Wright makes his first start of the spring today after firing a scoreless inning of relief on Saturday against the Giants and has posted a 3.60 ERA (2 ER/5.0 IP) in four Cactus League appearances. Wright, who began his career as a starting pitcher, has not started a Major League game since 2007 and is 69-101 with a 5.13 ERA in his 246 career starts. Last season, Wright made eight appearances for Seattle of 2.0 or more innings and did not allow a run in those outings, limiting opponents to a .172 batting average (10-for-58) with 18 strikeouts in 18.0 innings. Since 2005, Wright has been one of the most effective pitchers at forcing ground balls and ranks seventh among Major League relievers in that span with 654 grounders induced. Following Wright to the mound today will be:

  ● RHP Todd Coffey last pitched in a game on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits in 1.0 inning against the Royals, but threw 2.0 innings in a simulated game on Sunday. Coffey has limited opposing hitters to a .231 batting average this spring (3-for-13) with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

  ● RHP Kenley Jansen struck out two in a scoreless inning on Monday against the Indians in Goodyear and has five strikeouts in his 4.0 Cactus League innings. Jansen has not walked a batter this spring and has limited opponents to a .214 batting average (3-for-14).

  ● LHP Scott Rice last pitched on Friday and picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning against the Rangers. Rice has five strikeouts in 4.0 scoreless innings this spring and has limited hitters to a .143 batting average (2-for-14).

  ● LHP John Grabow allowed one hit and struck out three in a scoreless inning of relief on Sunday against the Angels. Grabow has fanned six in 4.2 scoreless innings this spring.

  ● RHP Fernando Nieve last pitched on Saturday, allowing two runs in 2.0 innings against the Rockies. Nieve has allowed three runs in 7.2 innings in four appearances this spring (3.68 ERA)

  ● RHP Mike MacDougal set down the Angels in order on Sunday, forcing three groundball outs before the rains came. MacDougal has allowed four runs in 3.1 innings this spring, with all the damage coming during a 0.1 inning appearance last Thursday against the Royals.

  ● RHP Ronald Belisario last pitched on Saturday against the Giants, striking out one in a scoreless inning. Belisario has allowed four runs (three earned) in 3.0 innings this spring.

(Los Angeles Dodgers win against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday March 20,2012 at Camelback Ranch-Glendale in Phoenix Arizona. © Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

• DOWN BY THE RIVER: While the Dodgers battle the Padres in the stadium at Camelback Ranch, left-hander Ted Lilly will appear in a minor league game on the back fields. Lilly is expected to throw 5.0 innings against the Indians minor leaguers after last pitching on Friday and tossing 4.0 scoreless frames against the Rangers. Lilly has not allowed a run since his first outing, giving him 7.0 consecutive scoreless innings, and has limited hitters to a .229 average this spring. Catcher Matt Treanor will also play in the game.

• SOMETHING’S BREWING: Dee Gordon had three hits, including a double, a triple and two runs scored, as the Dodgers downed the Brew Crew 7-6 yesterday. Mark Ellis and Matt Kemp both had multi-hit games, with Ellis driving in three and scoring twice. Andre Ethier registered his 10^th extra-base hit of the spring with his two-run homer in the fifth inning, which raised his slugging percentage to 1.080 in 11 games.

  ● Los Angeles’ four draws this spring tie for the second-most all time by the club along with the 2002 and 2008 campaigns. The Dodger record for Spring Training ties was set in 2006, when the team went 15-13-5.

(Dee Gordon steps on first heading to second during game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday March 20,2012 at Camelback Ranch-Glendale in Phoenix Arizona. © Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

• OH HAPPY DAY: The Dodgers would like to wish a happy 74^th birthday to Tommy Davis, who played eight seasons in Dodger blue from 1959-66. Davis just completed a five-day stint as a guest minor league instructor with the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch.

• TUCSON TUSSLE: This Friday, the Dodgers and White Sox will play a Cactus League game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson with all the proceeds going to the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund was established by Dodger scout John Green and his family to honor the life and memory of his daughter, Christina-Taylor, through charitable and educational projects that reflect and embody her interests, values and dreams. This is the second straight year that the Dodgers have played a benefit game in Tucson to help raise funds for the victims and families affected by the tragic events of January 8, 2011.

  ● The Dodgers also play a split-squad game against the Royals in Surprise on Friday, but the majority of the club’s regulars will head to Tucson with Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Juan Rivera, Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Dee Gordon, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Jerry Hairston Jr. volunteering to play in the benefit game.

Collection: Wilton Guerrero Donruss Signatures

Here is another one of those card sets from the 90's that I know nothing about. This is a 1998 Donruss Signature Series autographed card of former Dodgers hot prospect Wilton Guerrero. I know this is a signature heavy set with numerous parallel versions of the autographed cards available.

Wilton Guerrero is an older brother (by one year) of slugger Vladimir Guerrero. Originally signed as undrafted free agents by Dodgers scout Ralph Avila and Pablo Peguero, he was suppose to be our solution at second base after the failed experiment that brought Delino DeShileds to Los Angeles in exchange for a future Hall of Famer. Wilton could field the position just fine and hit for a decent average, but couldn't do much more. Soon he would be relegated to utility work as Eric Young supplanted him as our everyday second baseman. In 1998 he was traded to Montreal and had an opportunity to play along side his brother, Vladimir. While with the Expos they became the eighth set of brothers to homer in the same game.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 28

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

Milwaukee Brewers (7-9-1) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (8-5-4)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

RHP Chad Billingsley vs. LHP Chris Narveson

Spring Game 18/Home Game 9

Todays Starting Lineup:

Dodgers: @skinnyswag9 SS, Ellis 2B, @TheRealMattKemp CF, Rivera LF, Ethier RF, @jamesloney_7 1B, Uribe 3B, @AJEllis17 C, Billingsley P
Brewers: Gomez 8, Morgan 9, Braun 7, Ramirez 5, Gamel 5, Kottaras 2, Conrad 4, Izturis 6, Narveson 1.

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(Here is the cover of the 2012 Dodgers Media Guide, via twitter @Dodgers)

• STRANGE BREW: Today is the first of three Cactus League games between the Dodgers and Brewers. Following this afternoon’s tilt, the two clubs will meet on Sunday in Maryvale and on Friday, March 30 at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. During the 2012 regular season, Los Angeles visits Milwaukee on its second road trip, beginning April 17. The Brewers make their annual visit to Chavez Ravine from May 28-31 this season.

• BILLS ME: Dodger right-hander Chad Billingsley takes the hill for his fourth start of the spring this afternoon, following his stint last Thursday against the Royals in which he tossed 3.2 innings and gave up one run. Billingsley has given up four runs in 8.0 innings this spring to go along with four strikeouts and three walks. Billingsley will be followed to the mound by:

  ● RHP Josh Lindblom, who tossed a scoreless inning Saturday night and now has a 3.86 ERA (2 ER/4.2 IP) in four appearances this March.

  ● LHP Wilfredo Ledezma last pitched in a game on Friday, working a scoreless inning against the Rangers. Ledezma has allowed just one run over 4.1 innings this spring.

  ● RHP Ronald Belisario fired a scoreless inning Saturday night and will make his fourth appearance.

  ● RHP Ramon Troncoso has yielded just one run over 4.0 innings this spring, including three consecutive scoreless outings. The native of the Dominican Republic made the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster from 2008-10.

  

(Pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• A FAMILIAR FACE: The Dodgers would like to welcome former shortstop Cesar Izturis to Camelback Ranch today. Izturis played in Los Angeles from 2002-06 and made the NL All-Star team in 2005. The native of Venezuela won a Gold Glove following the 2004 campaign and was a big part of the 2004 NL West champs. Izturis is looking to make the Brewers as a non-roster invitee following three seasons with the Orioles.

• ON THE SIDE: Dodger relievers Javy Guerra and Scott Elbert appeared in a game yesterday and will work their first “back-to-back” today, facing live hitters on Field 2. In addition, infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. will play a game on the minor league side.

• MOVING ON: The Dodgers lost just their second road Spring Training game yesterday, falling to the Indians in Goodyear, 4-3. Infielder Justin Sellers continued his hot-hitting spring, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Sellers is now hitting .385 (10-for-26) and his seven RBI are tied with Juan Rivera for the team high. On the mound, starter Clayton Kershaw went 5.1 innings and allowed just one run while striking out five. Kershaw’s first earned run of the spring caused his ERA to climb to 0.73.

  ● Los Angeles’ four draws this spring tie for the second-most all time by the club along with the 2002 and 2008 campaigns. The Dodger record for Spring Training ties was set in 2006, when the team went 15-13-5.

(Pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• GOLDEN CACTUS: The Dodgers enter play today with the third-best record in the Cactus League with an 8-5-4 mark, trailing the Athletics by 3.5 games and the Giants by 1.5 games in the standings. Los Angeles has the second-best team batting average among National League clubs this spring with a .283 mark and its 3.39 team ERA ranks third. The Dodgers are tied with St. Louis for the top NL on-base percentage with a .356 mark. Individually, Andre Ethier leads all National Leaguers with six doubles and leads the team with a .455 batting average (10-for-22) and a 1.045 slugging percentage in 10 games.

• BREAK A LEG: The Dodgers would like to welcome former pitcher Ralph Mauriello to the ballgame today. Mauriello, 77, will sing the National Anthem before today’s contest.

• TUCSON TUSSLE: This Friday, the Dodgers and White Sox will play a Cactus League game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson with all the proceeds going to the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund was established by Dodger scout John Green and his family to honor the life and memory of his daughter, Christina-Taylor, through charitable and educational projects that reflect and embody her interests, values and dreams. This is the second straight year that the Dodgers have played a benefit game in Tucson to help raise funds for the victims and families affected by the tragic events of January 8, 2011.

  ● The Dodgers also play a split-squad game against the Royals in Surprise on Friday, but the majority of the club’s regulars will head to Tucson with Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Juan Rivera, Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Dee Gordon, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Jerry Hairston Jr. volunteering to play in the benefit game.

(Pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

Old Judge: Snapshots from Ebbets Field, 1913

These photos are remarkable.

Available in Lew Lipset's Old Judge.com auction are a group of 8 photographic snapshots from Ebbets Field. I know that doesn't sound like much considering there are thousands of pics out there from its nearly 50 years of existence.

What makes this photos special is that they apparently come from 1913- the year Ebbets Field opened. On top of that, one of them has been dated on reverse as April 7, 1913. This is two days before its officially opening in Brooklyn.

From the auction description:

The photos measure about 4 1/2" x 3". According to the writing on the back, they were taken on April 7 (Daubert), May13 (Cutshaw, Hummel), May 15 (Smith, Stengel), May 16 (Miller). The photos of Wheat and Rucker are undated. It’s interesting to note the pictures have almost all different parts of the ballpark in the background.

The opening bid for these photos is steep- at $1500.00. So, I won't even think about bidding. It's way over my budget. Still, I'd love to have a closer at these beauties.

(Auction Link)

Hong-Chih Kuo Has Been Released by Mariners

Per MLB Trade Rumors, Hong-Chih Kuo has been released by the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners announced that they released left-handed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo. The Mariners have 39 players on their 40-man roster after cutting Kuo, who signed a Major League deal with Seattle in February.

I don't know what this means for Kuo going forward. Hopefully he can continue his Baseball career somewhere. I know many Dodgers fans wish the best for him.