Blog Kiosk: 2/14/2018 - Dodgers Links - Happy Valentine's Day!

The boys are back! Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"The challenge is keeping guys sharp but rested," said Roberts, embarking on his third season as manager of a club that has won its division each of the last five years. "We'll cut guys short, give them more days off, back-field work, at-bats in Minor League games. But to sit in a Major League game for 2 1/2 hours to get two or three at-bats the first couple weeks doesn't make much sense." 

General manager Farhan Zaidi sounded the same cautionary tone. 

"Our responsibility is to monitor and make sure in April this group is not experiencing any physical effects from the long season," Zaidi said.

Photos above via @Dodgers on twitter - likely taken by Jon SooHoo. BTW, Jon SooHoo shared even more pictures from the first day of Spring Training, here. Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Mike Hechinger, Candy LaChance, Tim Jordan, Abe Kruger, Len Gabrielson & Takashi Saito!

Welcome Back to the Blue, Chase Utley!

To the surprise of no one, Chase Utley is coming to the Dodgers -- at least that's the unconfirmed report. Per a tweet by Jon Heyman:

sources: dodgers are indeed bringing back chase utley. great for clubhouse, team

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 13, 2018

Some folks might wonder, why? After all, Utley isn't the same player he was when he starred for the Phillies. Rather, he's a guy who's skill at the plate and on the field have diminished as the grey turns to white. Like a lot of things, though, it's that touch of grey that brings value to the club.

Blog Kiosk: 2/13/2018 - Dodgers Links - Pitcher's and Catcher's Report Day!

Today is the day when it all become real. Today is the official beginning of Spring Training for the Dodgers. All pitcher's and catcher's are scheduled to report to Camleback Ranch. Coincidentally, we also got our first look at the Dodgers 2018 yearbook. Check it out above. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

A special cover story details how the Dodgers came to be in Los Angeles, the team’s impact on the city and the magical moments throughout the past 60 years of LA Dodger baseball, complete with photos, infographics and quotes from some of the unforgettable legends of the past six decades.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1968 the Dodgers completed a rare trade with the Giants. In fact, it would be 17 years before another trade is consummated between the two clubs. They shipped Ron Hunt and Nate Oliver to San Francisco for catcher Tom Haller and a minor leaguer. Haller would play four seasons in LA; slashing .276/.344/.393/.737. He would also garner MVP consideration his two first seasons in Blue -- coming in 22nd in '68 and 29th in '69.
• Happy Birthday, Wayne LeMaster, Gilly Campbell, Todd Williams, Ernie Rudolph, Eddie Pye & Nathan Eovaldi!

Blog Kiosk: 2/12/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This is just a spring training photo to help you get prepared for the week. As you know, Dodger pitchers and catchers are scheduled to officially report to Camelback Ranch tomorrow. Above is a 1960 spring training photo featuring veteran Gil Hodges showing 23-year old youngster Frank Howard how to man the base, via an eBay listing. Per the descriptor:

Frank Howard, right, Los Angeles rookie outfielder, who the Dodgers will tryout at first base at their spring training camp, watches veteran first baseman Gil Hodges whom he will try to oust at the workout today. The 6 foot 7 inch Howard was named minor league player of 1959, a year in which he clammed 44 home runs, 27 with Victoria, 16 with Spokane and one as a pinch hitter with the Dodgers.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2009 a $4.8MM civil lawsuit was filed against former Dodger infielder José Offerman by catcher John Nathans. As a member of the independent Long Island Ducks in 2007 he charged the pitcher with his bat in tow after being hit by a pitch. The pitcher suffered a broken finger and the catcher had a concussion (effectively ending his playing career) from the melee. Offerman is eventually found guilty and ordered to pay $940,000.
• Happy Birthday, Sweetbread Bailey, Enzo Hernández, Don Stanhouse & Dennis Springer!

2018 Dodger Spring Training Info and Complete Roster

The Dodgers just released their entire 2018 Spring Training roster, so I thought I would pass that along (see at very bottom).  This should be a helpful guide for those of you attending games at Camelback Ranch.  After all, it just isn't reasonable for you to know everybody's number.  BTW, this list will likely adjust/change as Spring Training moves along.  I'll do my best to update this.  Below are some pertinent dates to keep in mind:

• Tuesday, February 13 - Pitchers and Catchers Report 
• Wednesday, February 14 - Pitchers and Catchers 1st Workout
• Sunday, February 18 - Position Players Report 
• Monday, February 19 - First Full-Squad Workout 
• Thursday, February 22 - Dodgers Photo Day (media related event only) 
• Wednesday, March 7 - All Minor League Players 1st Workout

Here are the typical batting and field practice schedules for home games.

Check Out this Vintage Dodger Pinstripes Uniform - 1933

For most folks the last thing to come to mind when thinking about the Dodgers is pinstripes, but here we are. Featured is a vintage 1933 Brooklyn Dodger uni that is currently on auction at Heritage (Heritage auction link), and as you can see it comes with something associated more closely associated with the Yankees. For those who do not know, the Dodgers wore pinstripes at various times throughout their early history -- lastly in 1936.