Some Random Dodgers Tidbits

There was a lot going on today in Dodgerland.  So, I thought I put up this quick post featuring a couple of Dodgers press releases and a pic that is too funny not to put up.

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The Dodgers get busy as the International Free Agency window opened today.  Via the Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the International signings of pitchers Lenix Osuna, Victor Gonzalez and William Soto and catcher Julian Leon. Dodger Assistant General Manager, Scouting Logan White made the announcement.

"We are pleased to announce we have been extremely active in the July 2nd signing period and have signed multiple players with more on the horizon,” said White.  “We are able to get three fine young arms with bright futures.”

In addition to the three pitching prospects, the Dodgers signed 16-year-old catcher Julian Leon out of Mexico. Said White: “Leon was highly regarded as one of the best catching prospects on the International market and he should follow a long list of quality catchers to come from Mexico.”

Lenix Osuna is the son of former Dodger Antonio Osuna.  I think it's a great sign that the Dodgers have started signing young players from abroad again.  Dylan Hernandez notes on twitter that the Dodgers spent about $1Mil signing these kids.

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With Dee Gordon experiencing leg cramps the Dodgers call up a SS to take his place.  Luis Cruz is starting tonight's game.  Via their press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of infielder Luis Cruz from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned right-hander Shawn Tolleson to Albuquerque. In a corresponding move, the club also transferred left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly (left shoulder inflammation) to the 60-day disabled list. Tolleson, 24, posted a 7.71 ERA in six big league relief appearances.

Cruz, 28, was selected to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team this season and is hitting .318 with eight home runs and 46 RBI in 74 games with the Isotopes. The native of Mexico was hitting .390 (30-for-77) with runners in scoring position and batting .433 (39-for-90) against left-handers with Albuquerque. Cruz, who batted .308 with a home run and eight RBI in 24 Spring Training games with the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee, has played in parts of three Major League seasons with Pittsburgh (2008-09) and Milwaukee (2010), compiling a .221 batting average in 56 games.

I suspect that Luis Cruz's call up will be short. 

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Oh, yeah!  Here's a funny pic, via Dylan Hernandez on twitter.

Video: A Matt Kemp Interview with Graham Bensinger

This is fun to watch.  Matt Kemp is close and personal in this 20+ minute interview.  Check out even more snippets of this interview here.

Graham Bensinger sits down with the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp at his Hollywood Hills home. The baseball All-Star discusses his life growing up, his critics, his $160 million contract extension and his love for basketball.

Video Link:

Collection: Vintage Baseball Leather Postcards

As I've written about a few times, I have a bunch of vintage Baseball related postcards in my collection.  Over the past couple of weeks I showed some of the couples/women comic postcards (and I have a bunch more of those that I'll share later on), but now I want to transition to something a little more unique.  Here are several postcards that are made of leather. 

These date from 1900 to 1910 and are made of real rawhide.  A couple of these have actually been mailed- evidenced by stamps and postmarks on the reverse.  When I first came across these kind of postcards I was amazed.  I had no idea you could send leather correspondence in the mail.

Blog Kiosk: 7/2/2012

The Duke Snider 2012 Topps Tier One Bat Knob card has been found and is now for sale on eBay.  With a day left it is already up to $585.00.

• Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com writes that the Dodgers intend to make some big moves.

“We’re the DODGERS — put that in all caps,” team president Stan Kasten said. “We’re supposed to be big. We intend to be big.”

The Dodgers, according to major-league sources, have talked multiple times to two likely sellers, the Cubs and Astros, and a third club that also could trade veterans, the Brewers. In addition, they’ve touched base with a number of other teams, including the Mariners, Royals, Twins, Blue Jays and Padres, sources said.

We already know about the Carlos Lee busted trade.  I wonder what else might be in the works.

(pic via twitter @Dodgers)

• 1st round Dodgers draftee is officially signed up.  Welcome to the Blue, Corey Seager.  Via a Dodgers press release:

Seager, a 6-foot-4, 205-pounder, batted .519 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI this season to earn a selection as the Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year. He also stole 13 bases while posting a 1.062 slugging percentage and a .664 on-base percentage. The younger brother of Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager was rated by Baseball America as the top third baseman in the 2012 draft.

• Le PEW!  From Left Field Pavilion.
• Ramona Shelbourne at ESPN writes "Dodgers' Issue No. 1: Dee Gordon."

For months, the Dodgers have wrestled with the situation. There are no easy answers. Gordon is brilliant and baffling. He can save them and sink them, sometimes in the same game.

• Congratulations to Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw on their All-Star team selection.  Unfortunately, Matt Kemp is unlikely to play, but lobbies to have Andre Ethier take his place.

• Ping Pong 3D.  Check it out, play it and have fun.
• Former Brooklyn Dodger Bill Dahlen was voted most overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend by SABR this year.

"After his days in Chicago, he helped lead Brooklyn to two NL championships in 1899 and 1900. A few years later he was traded to the John McGraw-led New York Giants. McGraw called it the "most successful deal I ever made". McGraw now had both the great defensive shortstop he wanted to shore up his infield defense and an offensive shortstop that could drive in runs. Dahlen was the 1904 National League RBI champ."

• Dodgers prospect Joc Pederson had a huge day yesterday, via Sam Dykstra at MiLB.

"To be honest, I was talking with [fellow outfielder Leon Landry] the other day about how I never hit two bombs in a game ever," Pederson said. "So when I hit those two, all I could think was 'Whoa.'"

Little did he know what was still to come.

•  This is the kind of flashmob I can get behind.

Video Link:

First Pitches and Photo Day

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a little story about Christian Haupt.  See that story here.  This kid can swing the bat, catch the ball, and is a veritable Hollywood up-'n-coming star.  Well... maybe he's not a Hollywood star yet, but this kid sure does love the Dodgers and he can play ball.  So, I was very glad to hear from his mother that Christian will soon be throwing out the honorary first pitch at Dodger Stadium.  It will happen on September 4th.  Good luck kiddo!  I have no doubt he will throw a strike.

Along with this great news, they were kind enough to pass along some pics they took from this weekends Photo Day.  See them below.

Clayton's BBQ And Hoedown

This aims to be a fun time for a noble cause.  Clayton Kershaw is sponsoring Clayton's BBQ And Hoedown at Dodger Stadium on August 2, 2012 that will benefit Kershaw's Challenge.  Sponsorship opportunities are available.  From their press release:

Dodger pitcher and 2011 National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and his wife, Ellen announced today that tickets are on sale for Clayton’s Texas BBQ and Hoedown at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, August 2 from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Kershaw, who was named to his second consecutive NL All-Star team earlier today, will be joined by several teammates at Clayton’s Texas BBQ and Hoedown and the event will include a concert by Grammy-nominated recording artist Pat Green.

“It means a lot to me to be able to host this event for our charity, that is so important to Ellen and me, here at Dodger Stadium,” said Kershaw. “We’re excited that Dodger fans will have the opportunity to join me, Ellen and a few of my teammates for some great BBQ and music and at the same time help Kershaw’s Challenge.”

The event features family-friendly hoedown activities, silent auction, live auction and raffle, line dancing and entertainment and a Texas-style BBQ and hosted bar. Fastball tickets that include access to the concert, activities and BBQ dinner are $250 per ticket. A VIP reception that will include Kershaw and his teammates is planned from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. VIP tickets that include access to the reception as well as a Fastball ticket are $500 each. Several sponsorship levels are available and all proceeds benefit Kershaw’s Challenge. Tickets to Clayton’s Texas BBQ and Hoedown at Dodger Stadium on August 2 are on sale at www.claytonsbbqandhoedown.com.