Dodgers Pick Righty Walker Buehler at the 2015 MLB Draft

I can only imagine it now.  Dodger Blue fans the world-over will be calling for his immediate promotion to Los Angeles.  After all, can you imagine the ridiculous puns and jokes that'll be bandied about?  It would be a lulz paradise

This afternoon it was announced that the Dodgers 2015 1st Round Draft Pick is Vanderbilt University right-handed starting pitcher Walker Buehler.

As the 24th overall pick his potential slot value is $2,094,400.00.  Buehler is 20-years old and will turn 21 in late-July.  He stands 6'2" tall and weighs 170 lbs.  He had previously been drafted in 2012 by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 14th round (436th overall).  You can follow him on twitter at: @buehlersdayoff.  Per a MLB.com scouting report:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

One of three potential first-round picks from Vanderbilt, Buehler had an exceptional summer, sharing playoff MVP honors in the Cape Cod League and pitching well with the U.S. collegiate national team after helping the Commodores win the College World Series. He missed the first two weeks of the 2015 season with elbow soreness but bounced back after that.

Buehler has a deep repertoire featuring four potential solid-or-better big league pitches and the ability to throw all of them for strikes. His best offering is his 90-96 mph fastball, and while he sometimes gets caught in between his curveball and slider, both can be weapons. His changeup similarly varies from inconsistent to effective.

Per a Baseball America report:

t his best, Buehler has four above-average offerings. He throws his fastball in the low-to-mid 90s, though it doesn’t have a ton of life. That, in addition to his clean arm action, allows him to pound the strike zone, but also makes it a bit easier for hitters to square the pitch up if he misses in the zone. His curveball and slider both show promise and he has a good feel for spinning the baseball, but they run together at times. He gets good fading action on his changeup. Though at a listed 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, Buehler is taller than teammate Carson Fulmer, he isn’t very physical and also lacks ideal size for a righthander. Scouts have more confidence that Buehler will be able to remain in the rotation, however, thanks to his deep arsenal, athleticism and more polished delivery.

In celebration of Buehler being picked by the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photo from S. Lee/The Tennessean and the 1972 Topps Baseball card design.

Check out his teammates at Vanderbilt celebrating his selection below on twitter:

Walker Buehler celebrates with his teammates after being drafted by @Dodgers !!! pic.twitter.com/Dbpc4YDPsl

— Vandy Baseball (@VandyBaseball) June 9, 2015

And here is a video of him via MLB.com.

Video Link:

Here is a FanGraphs video of him pitching:

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 6/8/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Once again Zach Greinke was dominant on the mound for the Dodgers.  He went 6.2 innings and allowed just one earned run.  Still, the Dodger lost due to a blowup in the later innings.

Much of the blame for can be laid at the feet of the bullpen.  Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com:

"We haven't been nearly as consistent as we were early," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of his bullpen. "We've had some games that we've let get away from us, and we've got find a way to get the ball to [Kenley Jansen]."

Zack added further:

"It makes sense what [the Dodgers] did. Liberatore has been amazing getting lefties out all year," Greinke said. "The matchups made a lot of sense."

Maybe the Dodgers recent troubles out of the 'pen are just the natural doldrums that occur during a long season.  After all, they've been lights out for much of the year, so you have to expect that lulls and valleys will occur from time to time.  Even know this, though, does little to assuage the stress these lapses can have on the fanbase.  Hopefully, the team and the peanut gallery in the stands can weather the storm.

The photo above is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics of yesterday;s game from Jon.  Below are some links to check out:

• BTW, today is the Baseball Draft, and the Dodgers have four picks to make this evening.
• ICYMI:  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers send David Huff outright to Triple-A, lose Sergio Santos to free agency."
• Via Matt Goldman at Beyond the Boxscore, "Andre Ethier is good again."

This season, Ethier's power is back, he's driving in runs again (although his defense is still awful), and it no longer seems that he's destined for an early end to his career. He's on pace for his highest ISO in five years, his best wOBA in seven years, and his best wRC+ and fWAR ever.

• GCRL shares some more Steve Garvey cards in his collection, here.  It includes a whole bunch of different inserts.
• Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Jose De Leon, Cody Bellinger Standout in May Prospect Review."
• Ha!  I remember this.  Via jbox at Gaslamp Ball, "Two Padres who attacked Giants' anti-mascot in 1984 revealed."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Diamondbacks Series Starts Tomorrow - Scheduled Autograph Sessions,Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts tomorrow against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and several former Dodgers' are scheduled for an autograph session with fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

---------------

Monday, June 8th at 7:10 PM

SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Monday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM.

It is also Firefighter Appreciation Night at Dodger Stadium.  Folks who ordered a special ticket package in the All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion or Infield Reserve will get an exclusive Firefighter Appreciation Night T-Shirt with your ticket.  See that on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information.

For Firefighter Appreciation Night, Levy Restaurants will offer the Firehouse Dog. The Firehouse Dog is a quarter pound all-beef hot dog smothered in spicy nacho cheese sauce and topped with jalapeño wheels and flaming hot Cheetos (Mmmmm!). It will be sold Monday only at Extreme Loaded Dog locations located on the field, loge and reserve levels.

(pic via @Lord_of_Buffet on twitter)

Bryce Ryness, lead in the national tour of the Tony award-winning musical “Matilda,” will perform the national anthem and three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner Lisa Leslie will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Dodger alumnus Kenny Landreaux will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Smokey the Bear will be on hand for photo opportunities with fans in both the left and right-field plazas.

• The Military Hero of the Game is US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Walter Jimenez of Long Beach. Jimenez first served as a nuclear missile operations officer in Montana followed by assignments as a missile test officer, launch director, missile attack early warning operator, and he flew spy satellites and was also program manager for a major defense weapons program. His 23rd year in service has been spent in the space operations satellite rocket launches and nuclear missile operations field. Jimenez has served in four states, in 10 countries and on nine assignments and is currently stationed at Vandenberg Air Force base on California’s central coast.

---------------

Tuesday, June 9th at 7:10 PM

SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Tuesday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM.  The first 40,000 fans will receive an oc Pederson T-Shirt.  See it on the right.

R&B recording artist TQ will perform the national anthem.

Dodger alumnus Al Ferrara will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Army Sergeant Chad Garcia of Bakersfield. Garcia earned his Combat Infantry Badge while serving in Afghanistan and retired from service in last year.  

---------------

Wednesday, June 10th at 7:10 PM

SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Wednesday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM.

It is also Filipino Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium.  Folks who ordered a special ticket package in the All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion or Infield Reserve will get an exclusive Filipino Heritage Night T-Shirt with your ticket.  See that on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information.

(pic via 714_Matias on instagram)

UPDATE: They offered a Filipino Dog at the Extreme Loaded Dogstands that includes spam, chicharron, pineapple and an onion suace with a Dodger dog.

The Filharmonic will perform pregame and sing the national anthem as part of Filipino Heritage Night.

Dodger alumnus Al Downing will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Navy Operation Specialist Second Class Anna Gallegos of Pomona. Gallegos joined the Navy after graduating high school and was stationed as an Operation Specialist on board the USS Howard. During the ship’s deployments, she assisted in counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and provided humanitarian assistance to the Philippines after the 2008 typhoon. She served a deployment to Camp Lemmonier in Djbouti, Africa, for one year and also served a deployment to DaNang Province, Vietnam. Gallegos will depart on her third deployment this summer to the Arabian Gulf.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

The Skunks are Back at Dodger Stadium

Holy Moly!  They're back!

In 2013 a skunk, possibly a family of skunks, made their presence known at the Dodger Stadium.  I originally wrote a bit about that here.  They were initially found in the stands in early June of that year, and now, nearly two years later, they have made their glorious return. 

Per various tweets, a skunk has made his/her way to the Cardinals dugout, and is currently camping underneath the photog area.  Apparently, it is refusing to leave.   

#SkunkWatch #STLCards pic.twitter.com/uMMNjY6DAW

— Jim Hayes (@TheCatOnFox) June 5, 2015

As you might recall, the day that skunk first showed up at Dodger Stadium was on the same day Yasiel Puig made his debut as a Dodger.  Seemingly, out of the Blue, the Dodgers immediately went on an fantastic tear with Puig as their new offensive leader.

Now, the skunk has returned and standing in left field this evening will be rookie Scott Schebler to make his Major League debut as a Dodger.  

Do you think this is a coincidence?

I think not!

The mighty Dodger Skunk has come back to send his well wishes to the newest Dodger prospect, and if the past is any indicator of future events then we should be on the cusp of witnessing the emergence of our next great star. 

Good luck, Scott Schebler! 

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Welcome to the Blue, Scott Schebler!

The Dodgers have just called up another young bat from the minors to join the Dodgers in Los Angeles.  His name is Scott Schebler, and the righty thrower/lefty hitter will be inserted into the starting lineup - batting seventh.  This will be his Major League debut, and he will wear #55.  Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled outfielder Scott Schebler (#55) from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned left-handed reliever Daniel Coulombe to Triple-A.

Schebler, 24, will make his Major League debut tonight, batting seventh in left field, and has a .274 career batting average with 80 home runs and 305 RBI in 521 games in six minor league seasons. With Triple-A Oklahoma City this year, he's appeared at all three outfield positions and is batting .216 with six homers and 15 RBI in 49 games. Schebler, who was honored as the Dodgers' 2013 Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year, was selected by Los Angeles in the 26^th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Des Moines Area (Iowa) Community College.

With the Dodgers a bit shorthanded in the outfield, Schebler will get an opportunity to show what he can do.  I do not expect him to be with us for very long, considering that Puig is expected to arrive soon.  Nevertheless, this "cup of coffee" provides a great chance to watch one of the clubs top-10 prospects up-close.  Here are some links to check out about him:

• Via Jeff Johnson at The Gazette, "C.R.'s Schebler gets call to the major leagues."  His hometown newspaper in Cedar Rapids, IA.

“I do know he is more prepared than I am for this,” Deb Schebler said. “Even though I always believed it would happen, I’m still not prepared.”

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Scott Schebler called up for MLB debut."  Jon includes a feature written about Schebler that was originally printed in the current issue of Dodger Insider Magazine.
• Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Dodgers top prospects 2015: Scott Schebler, No. 6."

What makes Schebler a top prospect in the Dodgers system is his bat. Schebler has 60 or better grades on both his hit and power tool and has the potential to be a .285 hitter with 20+ home runs at the major league level. Schebler’s swing is geared to hit the ball with authority. He uses a long stride and significant weight transfer to incorporate his lower half into his swing. His swing plane is designed to produce loft on the ball and he has the power to carry mishits out of the park as well.

And here's a video scouting report on Schebler from Bernie Pleskoff of MLBPipeline.com (8/8/2014).

Video Link:

In celebration of Schebler's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a Getty Images photo/Jason Wise and the 1959 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:

Last time I saw Scott Schebler at Dodger Stadium was during the 2014 Winter Development Program. pic.twitter.com/Mt9c31ErxX

— Stacie Wheeler (@organicallyrude) June 5, 2015

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

2015 Topps Pro Debut - All the Dodger Insert Cards

Here is a glimpse at all of the Dodger prospect insert cards found within packs of 2015 Topps Pro Debut.  Unfortunately, there are no autograph cards available... But there is a cool looking mascot patch card of Oggie the Raptor.  So, there's that.  Go here to see my past post on this set.

Distinguished Debuts

#DD-16 Grant Holmes                      #DD-24 Alex Verdugo