1880's Brooklyn Grays Pitcher John Harkins at BST Auctions

I figure from time to time, when the desire strikes, I'll put up a little post featuring an old-tyme Dodger player you may not know.  It'll usually be a fellow who played over 100 years ago, and I'll be sure to share a pic of a vintage card or collectible of him, as well.  Over the years I've done this numerous times, but I plan on making it a regular occurrence.

Today's flashback is former Brooklyn Grays, the Dodger first incarnation as a part of the American Association, pitcher John Harkins.  I ran into an BST Auction of a 1887 Old Judge tobacco card of his and decided to find out more about him.  You can see a photo of the card above.  BTW, the card sold at auction a couple of weeks ago for just under $300.

Harkins was known by the nickname of "Pa" for reasons I do not know - although I'm sure it has to do with an paternal instinct.  After all, he moonlighted as a college coach at Yale, Princeton and Lehigh during his playing days.

John Harkins began playing the game in the sandlots of New Brunswick, New Jersey.  He was learned in every position on the field, but it was as a pitcher that he made his name.  In fact, his prowess at the position was something he stumbled upon.  According to a story told in an obituary reprinted on Ancestry.com, Harkins was asked to to pitch after the days hurler failed to appear.  He eventually threw a tie and became a regular pitcher from then on.

As an older lad, he attended Rutgers University as a chemistry major, but soon left to pursue a career on the diamond.  Harkins played for Trenton of the Inter-State League, was eventually sold to the Cleveland Blues of the National League and then was quickly snatched up by the Brooklyn club when Cleveland folded - going along with follow Blues players Duc Bushong and Germany Smith. 

With Brooklyn he joined the starting rotation and won a total of 39 games over three seasons.  He threw just under 800 innings during that span while completing 88 games and recording one shutout.  In 1888 he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and soon retired.  As is relayed in the obituary, he decided he could make a better living opening up a tavern and pitching intermittently for local town-ball teams.

John Harkins died of a heart attack in 1940 at the age of 81.  He was a retired professional ballplayer, a former Dodger, a longtime sergeant-a-arms of the New Brunswick District Court and an entrepreneurial restaurant owner in the New Brunswick area.

When asked about his thoughts of the big leagues when he visited his last game in 1936 he said thusly:

"Yes, there's been a big change since my day. And one of those boys down there (pointing to the members of the two teams) probably is paid more than was our entire team. And the crowds nowadays are different. Here there are 50,000. When we played before 5,000 we were performing for an 'enormous throng'."

Below are a few more cards featuring John Harkins.  You will also see the photo of Harkins as an Oriole that was taken from the original 1888 Glass Plate Negative used for one of the cards below.  That negative sold in 2014 for $1,554 at Legendary Auctions.

Here are Harkins' career stats, via Baseball Reference:

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 31 / Home Game 15

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Chicago White Sox (9-15-3) at Los Angeles Dodgers (16-8-6)
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

LHP Carlos Rodon (1-0, 3.65) vs. RHP Joe Wieland (0-0, 1.00)
TV: SNLA

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(Autograph seekers, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

THANK YOU, ARIZONA: The Dodgers finish their home portion of the spring schedule today, officially saying goodbye to their seventh season at Camelback Ranch. So far this spring, Los Angeles is 7-4-3 at home, and 140,925 fans have come through the gates this March. The Dodgers sold out their games on March 13, 14, 19 and 27 and want to thank baseball fans in Arizona and Dodger fans across the country. For the Camelback finale, the Dodgers, who have the National League’s best spring winning percentage at .667, will take on the Chicago White Sox for the fourth and final time this spring. Los Angeles has taken two of three from Chicago thus far, losing the Cactus League opener, 6-4, before coming back to win on March 5 and March 26. Just a friendly reminder, Opening Day at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres is in just six days.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER WIN: The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale yesterday, 4-2, behind a strong start from left-hander Brett Anderson. Anderson moved to 2-0 in the Cactus League, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings and giving up just four hits while striking out two. The native of Texas walked one and lowered his ERA to 2.13 this spring. As of now, Anderson is slated to start his first game during the regular season on April 10 in Arizona. At the plate, Adrian Gonzalez, Kiké Hernandez, Carl Crawford and A.J. Ellis produced run-scoring hits.

LET’S MAKE A DEAL: Today, the Dodgers acquired minor league utilityman Elliot Johnson from the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations. Johnson appeared in seven games for the Indians last season and spent most of the season at Triple-A Columbus, hitting .236 with five homers in 87 games. In addition, the club signed right-hander Freddy Garcia to a minor league deal. Garcia pitched last season in Taiwan.  

DONNIE DODGER BASEBALL: On this date in 2011, Don Mattingly recorded his first victory as a Dodger manager, a 2-1 victory over the Giants. That game was also the first-career Opening Day start for Clayton Kershaw, who is set to make his fifth consecutive Opening Day start on April 6 vs. San Diego. Mattingly has a career record of 354-293 and his .547 winning percentage ranks fifth in franchise history among managers with at least 250 games at the helm, trailing just Charlie Dressen (.642), Burt Shotton (.603), Leo Durocher (.567) and Walter Alston (.559).

FOLLOW THE CACTUS LEADERS: The Dodgers have blasted a Major League-leading 45 home runs (four more than the Cubs’ 41) and have a .288 team batting average (3rd, NL) with a .490 slugging percentage (2nd, NL) this spring.

• Joc Pederson continues to rank among the NL leaders this spring in batting average (.368, 7th), slugging percentage (.754, 3rd), hits (21, T-2nd), runs (13, T-2nd), total bases (43, 2nd) and home runs (6, T-2nd).
• Justin Turner has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games and is batting .465 with six doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .489 on-base percentage and a .814 slugging percentage in 17 Cactus League games. Turner’s 20 hits this spring tie for fifth-most in the NL and his 35 total bases rank eighth.
• Yasiel Puig ranks among the NL’s best this spring in home runs (5, T-4th) and RBI (13, T-7th); Kiké Hernandez places among the league’s best in home runs (5, T-4th) and runs scored (12, T-5th).

ON THE MOUND: RHP Joe Wieland, sporting a 1.00 ERA (1 ER/9.0 IP) in four Cactus League games, will make his first start this spring today. Wieland was optioned to the minor leagues on March 16 and figures to start the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Nevada native was acquired from the Padres in the Matt Kemp deal and is 35-22 with a 3.27 ERA in 95 games (87 starts) during seven minor league seasons with the Rangers and Padres’ organizations.

• RHP David Aardsma will see action for the ninth time this spring. The veteran reliever has held opposing hitters to a .143 batting average, while striking out nine through 8.0 innings of work.
• RHP Juan Nicasio is expected to make his eighth appearance, including one start, of the spring this afternoon. Nicasio, who was acquired from Colorado on Nov. 24, 2014, has 11 strikeouts and just two walks in 11.1 innings this spring and has a 2.18 career strikeout-to-walk ratio in four big league seasons (294 SO/135 BB).
• RHP Sergio Santos has tossed scoreless relief in five of eight appearances this spring, while striking out 10 in 7.2 innings. He last pitched in a big league game on Sunday against the Giants, allowing two runs in 0.2 innings of relief.
• RHP Yimi Garcia will make his ninth Cactus League appearance today. Garcia allowed his first run of the spring in his last start on Friday against the Giants.

(Joe Wieland, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Welcome to the Blue, Freddy Garcia!

I had always been a big fan of Freddy Garcia.  He developed into an frontline starting pitcher when he first came into the league with the Mariners.  Garcia threw a mid-90's fastball and hard slider that stifled opposing batters.  Heck, everyone wanted him.  In fact, he would eventually be involved in two blockbuster trades that saw him exchanged for top prospects like Michael Morse and Gio Gonzalez.

Then with the Phillies, the wear and tear of throwing seven consecutive 200+ innings finally wore on him.  The wheels fell off.  In 2007, he developed shoulder problems that would eventually lead to labrum surgery and a lost year.  On top of that, Garcia would never be the same pitcher he was before.

Garcia's velocity had diminished significantly, so he had to relearn his craft and change his game.  And that he did with some marginal success.  No longer a strike out specialist, he won 12 games for the White Sox in 2010 and recorded a WAR of 2.3.  Then the following season with the Yankees he won another 12 games with a 3.62 ERA and a WAR of 3.5.  Garcia was learning to locate his pitches and eventually developed a bevy of different pitches to deploy against batters. 

Now at 38 years old he is a journeyman pitcher.  He has bounced around; even playing in Taiwan last season for the EDA Rhinos of the CPBL (the same team Manny Ramirez would play for).

Last night, it was announced through various news sources that the Dodgers have signed Garcia to a minor league contract.  I do not expect him to be a replacement for Ryu - who will begin the season on the DL.  Instead, he'll begin his Dodger career with our AAA club in Oklahoma City, per a tweet from Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:

Needing someone to eat innings at AAA in the wake of injuries to Bedard and Gaudin, #Dodgers sign Freddy Garcia to a minor league deal.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) March 31, 2015

So he'll provide minor league depth with a possible opportunity to pitch in a pinch in Los Angeles should the need arise.  That being said, I do have a great appreciation for guys who've struggled and fought back to do the thing they love, and I have nothing but praise and well-wishes for Garcia and his future with the Dodgers. 

In celebration of Garcia's arrival to the club I made the above fantasy card for him.  I grabbed a photo tweeted by the CPBL (as a member of the EDA Rhinos) and the 1972 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are the career stats for Freddy Garcia, via Baseball-Reference:

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Blog Kiosk: 3/31/2015 - Dodger Links - MLB15, Gypsy Queen and Yasiel Puig

Guess what officially came out last night. 

MLB 15 is now available in stores and Yasiel Puig was one of the first to get a copy.  He tweeted out the above photo about an hour before the official midnight release.  BTW, Yasiel Puig and Dodger Stadium are featured prominently in the intro to the game.  Check it out directly below.

Video Link:

Below are some links to check out:

• The Dodger Blogger Softball Tournament is scheduled for April 11th, and there are still spots open for those who want to hit the diamond.  Go here for information.  Unfortunately, I will not be attending.  I do want to point out that the fellow putting it all together at Left Field Pavilion blog, in benefit of the Los Angeles Mission, is doing yeoman's work.
• Via u/Snaaaaaaaaaake on Reddit, "How to be a dodger fan in 42 easy steps."

42.  This is, the final step. You ready? Cut yourself (metaphorically). See what color you bleed. By now you should bleed dodger blue. It serves as a reminder, both good days and bad, that we're all a dodger inside.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Growing up: Puig now letting play do talking."

Via Don Mattingly: "I think it's just part of his maturity as a player. Last year was his first full season in the big leagues, and he's still very young [24]. All we look for is him to get a little better every year."

• Famed Baseball artist Monty Sheldon shared some of the original artwork he created for Topps' 2015 Gypsy Queen set on his Facebook.  Check them out here.  On the right is an Yasiel Puig art/relic card he made that can be found in packs.  (Hat Tip: Sports Card Info)  BTW, I had the pleasure of interviewing Monty Sheldon for this blog a couple of years ago.  You can check that out here.

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Opening Day Tailgating Near Dodger Stadium could be a Hassle

I don't think anyone should be surprised there will be some new parking/tailgating related restrictions put into place for Opening Day near Dodger Stadium this year.

As you know, tailgating at Dodger Stadium is restricted, so fans head to adjacent Elysian Park to party before games.  This usually isn't a big deal for most games, but on Opening Day it can be a nightmare.  The place gets flooded with fans, and as a result the revelry can become a nuisance.  For those who live nearby (namely the neighborhoods near Scott and Morton Avenue in Echo Park) it is an undesired disruption.

Check out Cecilia Padilla-Brill's article at The Eastsider for more information:

“There’s going to be zero tolerance for tailgating on Opening Day,” announced Council District 1 Field Deputy Melinda Alatorre at last week’s Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council meeting. “I don’t know how to express it enough. LAPD is bringing all of the resources that they possibly have to try to maintain the tailgating activity in the park as well as in the neighborhood.”

(Screen Grab from djace21 youtube video)

From what I understand, there was a huge party in neighborhoods near Dodger Stadium last year.  Folks partied all morning and afternoon, drank alcohol and urinated in front of people's homes and in the streets, and there was an impromptu parade on Scott Avenue.  Needless to say, it was a madhouse.

As a result, there will be "No Parking" signs along a stretch of Stadium Way known as "Avenue of the Palms."  Also, several streets will have two-hour parking restrictions that both tailgaters and residents will have to abide by.  So far, only four different thoroughfares have the two-hour restriction, but I suspect every residential street in the area will eventually face the parking limit.

The map at the very top shows the currently announced parking restrictions.  More details will be announced later this week that will likely include more streets.  BTW, these restrictions will only exist for Opening Day.

(Screen Grab from StadiumBound youtube video)

(Screen Grab from StadiumBound youtube video)

***UPDATE on the restrictions; including the expansion of the 2-hour parking areas, can be found here.

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Larry Sherry's 1959 Hickok Award Belt Buckle at Huggins & Scott Auctions

Larry Sherry had a pretty good rookie year in 1959.  He joined the club in July and had some marginal success as a staring pitcher; going 1-2 with a 3.62 ERA in five starts.  It was as a reliever, though, where he really excelled on the mound.  In 14 relief appearances that season, Sherry won five games and recorded a 0.74 ERA with three saves and 26 strike outs in 36.1 innings.

But that's not all.  Larry Sherry had an even better postseason.  Against the Chicago White Sox, Sherry finished all four Dodger victories.  He recording two wins, two saves and a 0.71 ERA, and was awarded the World Series MVP by the press.  Furthermore, he also won the October 1959 Hickok Championship Belt Buckle given to the best athlete in any sport for that month, and you can see photos of it in this post.

It is currently for sale at Huggins & Scott Auction.  Check it out here.

BTW, this isn't the first time I've mentioned this award.  Last year I shared a vintage press photo that I had added to my collection featuring Sandy Koufax winning a similar award.  He had won the S. Rae Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year Award (Hickok Belt) in 1963.  The Sherry award is only for his exploits during a single month in 1959.  You can check out that old post here.

(Auction Link)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 30 / Road Game 16

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Los Angeles Dodgers (15-8-6) at Arizona Diamondbacks (14-13-2)
Monday, March 30, 2015 – 1:10 p.m. MT | Salt River Fields

LHP Brett Anderson (1-0, 4.05) vs. RHP Allen Webster (0-1, 8.18)
TV: SNLA

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(Mota, Rollins & Kendricks, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

RIGHT IN THEIR BACKYARD: The Dodgers, who have the National League’s best spring winning percentage at .652, will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second and final time this spring this afternoon. Last year, the Dodgers dominated the Snakes, winning 15 of 19 games, including two in Sydney, Australia, and eight of 10 in Phoenix. This season, the clubs will square off during the campaign’s first month as the Dodgers travel to Chase Field for their first road trip, April 10-12. Arizona’s first visit to Dodger Stadium will come the next time the squads play, from May 1-3.

NOT HALF BAD: The Dodgers split a pair of contests yesterday in their final split squad of the Cactus League campaign. At Camelback Ranch, Los Angeles downed the Rangers, 10-5, behind three hits, three RBI and a homer from Buck Britton, and finished the spring season 3-0-1 against Texas. Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick and Scott Van Slyke had two hits apiece for the Dodgers who collected 15 on the afternoon in support of starter Brandon McCarthy, who gave up three runs in 5.2 innings. 

• Over in Scottsdale, the “other” Dodgers lost to the Giants, 11-9. In that contest, Joc Pederson went 2-for-3 and belted his sixth Cactus League homer while Yasiel Puig went 2-for-3 with a double, run and RBI. Catcher Yasmani Grandal was 2-for-4 with two doubles and Kiké Hernandez cracked his fifth homer, a three-run shot in the eighth inning. Dodger starter Carlos Frias allowed three runs and eight hits in 3.1 innings. 

FOLLOW THE LEADERS: The Dodgers have blasted a Major League-leading 45 home runs (four more than the Cubs’ 41) and have a .289 team batting average (3rd, NL) with a .495 slugging percentage (2nd, NL) this spring.

• Joc Pederson continues to rank among the NL leaders this spring in batting average (.389, 3rd), slugging percentage (.796, 1st), hits (21, 2nd), runs (13, T-2nd), total bases (43, 2nd) and home runs (6, 2nd).
• Justin Turner has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games and is batting .465 with six doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .489 on-base percentage and a .814 slugging percentage in 17 Cactus League games. Turner’s 20 hits this spring tie for third-most in the NL and his 35 total bases are tied for fourth.
• Yasiel Puig ranks among the NL’s best this spring in home runs (5, T-3rd) and RBI (13, T-5th); Kiké Hernandez places among the league’s best in home runs (5, T-3rd) and runs scored (12, T-4th); and Howie Kendrick is tied for fourth with 12 runs scored.

(McCarthy & Gonzalez, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

FOLLOW ME TO BRADLEY!: The official dedication of the Charley Steiner School of Sports Communication at Bradley University will be held tomorrow, March 31, at 3:00 p.m. at the Caterpillar Global Communications Center in Peoria, IL. The dedication program will include remarks from Dr. Jeff Huberman, Dean of the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts; Dr. Paul Gullifor, Chair of the Department of Communication; Joanne Glasser, President of Bradley University; Jim Ardis, Mayor of Peoria; and of course, Charley himself. Video of the dedication will be available following the event at bradley.edu/steinerdedication. The Steiner School will have 120 majors, in radio and television broadcasting, journalism, production, direction, ethics, media relations, digital and sales. 

ON THE MOUND: LHP Brett Anderson will make his fourth Cactus League start today. Anderson has allowed three runs on 10 hits through 6.2 innings so far this spring. He last pitched in a Cactus League game on March 19 against the Angels, allowing three runs on seven hits through 1.2 innings. The southpaw did pitch in a minor league game last Tuesday, on the Dodgers’ off day. In that contest, he allowed three runs and nine hits in 5.2 innings. Anderson tossed 79 pitches and struck out five in that outing.

• LHP Paco Rodriguez is expected to make his ninth appearance of the spring today. Through eight Cactus League appearances, Rodriguez has tossed 8.1 scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits and striking out 10.
• LHP Adam Liberatore is also expected to see action today. Liberatore has held opposing hitters to a .148 batting average this spring, allowing only four hits in 8.0 innings of work.
• RHP Yimi Garcia will make his ninth Cactus League appearance today. Garcia allowed his first run of the spring in his last start on Friday against the Giants.
• RHP Pedro Baez will also make his ninth appearance of the spring today. Through eight Cactus League appearances, Baez has allowed five runs on seven hits in 8.0 innings.
• Veteran RHP Mike Adams is expected to make an appearance today. Through 3.2 innings this spring, Adams has surrendered four hits and three runs while striking out four.

(Tommy Lasorda,, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

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Blog Kiosk: 3/30/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Something tells me that the old guy still got it!

Don Newcombe threw out the first pitch before this past Friday's game at Camelback Ranch.  Steve Yeager caught the pitch to the rousing applause from the fans in attendance.  The photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics from the evening from Jon here.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via  JP Hoornstra at Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, "Vin Scully is still a baseball fan as he begins 66th season with Dodgers."

“I say in all honesty there are more players that I don’t know on this edition than in many years gone by,” he said. “Of course that’s the nature of the game today, a long way from when we had the same infield for eight and a half years.”

• GCRL (GarveyCeyRussellLopes) Blog tells us a bit about the last time the Dodgers wore a black armband and created some fantastic fantasy cards in commemoration.  It was in honor of the wife of Ken McMullen who had passed away of breast cancer at the age of 30.  Check out the post here.
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Bullpen decisions ‘toughest ones’ for Mattingly."

“Everybody’s done well,” said Dodgers bullpen coach Chuck Crim. “Granted, they’ve all had their one game or two maybe, but as far as stuff-wise goes and the type of human beings we brought in here, it’s going to be a tough decision. Everybody’s done a really good job and on a consistent basis.”

• Via Jared Massey at Dodgers Nation, "Dodgers 2015 Top Prospects: Beginning The Countdown From No. 50."
• A fun day shared by the Fife family:

I think the boys would say they had a successful day meeting their favorite players #dodgers #cooluncleaward pic.twitter.com/5ZPPz7y460
— Alyssa Fife (@alyssa_fife) March 29, 2015

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Blog Kiosk: 3/28/2015 - Dodger Links - Scully, League and Kike Hernandez

Did you enjoy an evening of the sweet sounds of Dodger Baseball with Vin Scully yesterday? 

Photo above taken yesterday afternoon by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Brandon League Likely Out Several Months."  His recent MRI apparently did not turn out so good.  JP Hoornstra shares more detailed information in the tweet below:

Here's Mattingly talking about Brandon League's injury, which was diagnosed as right posterior shoulder inflammation: http://t.co/VZHCv8nPbP
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) March 28, 2015

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Kike Hernandez and the vagaries of baseball life."

"That's when I said, 'Well, I wonder where my spot is,'" Hernandez said. "I felt like that for a day or two, then I was like, 'Throughout my life or career I've never been handed anything. Stay positive, keep working toward the same goal.' Now, the way I see it, I've got a pretty good chance of making the team as a super-utility guy on Opening Day." 

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Jaime Jarrin to receive National Leader Award."
• The Cards that Never Were blog shares a fantastic 1969 Topps fantasy Baseball card of the National League Stolen Base Leaders that includes Lou Brock, Maury Wills as a Pirate and Willie Davis of the Dodgers.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 26 / Home Game 13

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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San Francisco Giants (6-19-1) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (13-6-6)
Friday, March 27, 2015 – 7:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

RHP Chris Heston (0-0, 2.00) vs. RHP Zack Greinke (1-0, 3.00)
TV: SNLA Radio: AM 570

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(Dodger Stadium with new cut grass, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

UNDER THE LIGHTS: The Dodgers, who have the Majors’ best spring winning percentage at .684, take on the Giants for the second time this spring after tying, 5-5, on March 9 in Scottsdale. The clubs will have one more exhibition matchup on Sunday in Scottsdale before opening their 19-game regular-season series on April 21 at AT&T Park. Los Angeles won the 2014 season series between the clubs, 10-9, and has been victorious in seven of its last nine game against the Giants.

• Dodger Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will call tonight’s game from Camelback Ranch as he kicks off his unprecedented 66th season with the club. Scully will also call all three Freeway Series games next week.
• Dodger Special Advisor to the Chairman Don Newcombe will throw tonight’s ceremonial first pitch as he concludes his annual visit to Spring Training. Newcombe, who pitched in 10 big league seasons from 1949-60, was a four-time All-Star, 1949 Rookie of the Year and took home both the Cy Young and MVP Awards in 1956.

THOSE WINNING WAYS: The Dodgers won their third consecutive game yesterday, beating the White Sox, 9-6, at Camelback Ranch. Clayton Kershaw improved to 3-0 on the spring, allowing just one run on four hits and striking out eight in 6.0 dominant innings. The Dodger offense continued to click with 13 hits, including home runs by Yasiel Puig, Jimmy Rollins and Kiké Hernandez. 

• Puig has homered in three consecutive games and has four home runs in his last five games, batting .400 (6-for-15) with eight RBI since March 20. Overall, Puig is tied for second in the NL with five homers this spring.
• Hernandez caught fire in San Antonio last weekend, hitting .429 (6-for-14) with four home runs and five RBI in his last six games since March 20.

FOLLOW THE LEADERS: The Dodgers raised their Major League-best home run total to 40 (eight more than the Cubs’ 32) with three more longballs yesterday and have a .286 team batting average (3rd, NL) with a .488 slugging percentage (2nd, NL) this spring.

• Joc Pederson leads the NL with a .756 slugging percentage this spring and also ranks among the league leaders in batting average (.400, T-3rd), hits (18, T-1st), runs (11, T-3rd), total bases (34, 3rd), on-base percentage (.438, 8th) and home runs (4, T-4th).
• Justin Turner has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games and is batting .486 with four doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .513 on-base percentage and a .857 slugging percentage in 14 Cactus League games.

(Zack Greinke, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

ON THE MOUND: RHP Zack Greinke will make his fourth Cactus League start tonight, last pitching on Saturday against the Rangers in the Alamodome when he picked up the win and struck out six in 4.0 scoreless innings. Greinke won each of his five starts against the Giants last year, going 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA (6 ER/34.0 IP) and limiting San Francisco hitters to a .216 batting average (27-for-125) with 36 strikeouts.

• LHP Paco Rodriguez is expected to make his eighth appearance of the spring tonight. Through seven Cactus League appearances, Rodriguez has tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits and striking out nine.
• RHP Yimi Garcia is also expected to see action tonight. Garcia has held opposing hitters to a .138 batting average this spring, allowing only four hits in 8.1 scoreless innings.
• Veteran RHP Mike Adams will make his fourth Cactus League appearance tonight. He tossed a scoreless inning in a Single-A game on Tuesday against the Brewers and last pitched in a big league game on Saturday, giving up two runs on two hits to the Rockies.
• RHP David Aardsma will see action for the eighth time this spring. The veteran reliever has held opposing hitters to a .160 batting average, while striking out seven through 7.0 innings of work.

(Job Fair at Dodger Stadium, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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A Vintage Dodger and a Negro League Great Found at Love of the Game Auctions

I thought I would share a couple of cool items I ran into when I checked out the current offerings from "Love of the Game" auctions; including an old-tyme Dodger player and a fantastic postcard photo of one of the early great Cuban ballplayers.

Short and stout with a mustache that would make todays hipsters green with envy, Jim McTamany played three years for the Brooklyn Grays (this is the Dodgers, as they were once known) in the mid to late 1880's.  Born a Philadelphia kid, he was known for his defensive prowess in centerfield and soon became well regarded for his ability to get on-base.  Unfortunately, that later skill didn't come until after he played in Brooklyn. 

McTamany recorded over 100 walks for three straight seasons, and lead the league in runs scored and walks in 1890 as a member of the Columbus Solons of the American Association.  Soon thereafter, though, he disappeared from Major League parks.  His batting average quickly eroded til he finally left the game in 1894 at the age of 30. 

Featured above is a 1887 Old Judge N172 tobacco card of McTamany as a member of the Brooklyn Grays.  It is currently on auction at Love of the Game Auctions.  Check it out here.

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The real photo postcard below is just fantastic.  It features Baseball Hall of Famer and Cuban great Jose Mendez in his Sunday best.  Check out the auction here.  I'll let the auction description tell you a little bit about who he was.

El Diamante Negro ("the Black Diamond") is a legend in his home country of Cuba, one of the players inducted into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 1939.  Mendez rose to worldwide fame after throwing 25 consecutive shutout innings in three appearances against the Cincinnati Reds, including a one-hit complete game shutout.  Soon after, he pitched two more shutouts, racking up 43 consecutive scoreless innings.

An arm injury in 1914 caused Mendez to move to shortstop, where he played with the Detroit Stars and Chicago American Giants of the Negro Leagues, ultimately landing with the Kansas City Monarchs as player/manager, winning three consecutive pennants between 1923-25.  In the first Negro League World Series in 1924 against the Hilldale team, he appeared in four games, posting a 2-0 record including a shutout victory in the final game. 

No less a baseball mind than John McGraw called Mendez "sort of Walter Johnson and Grover Alexander rolled into one."

(Auction Link)

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Domingo Ayala's Spring Dodger Visit - (Video) Part 2 & 3

Domingo Ayala loves the Dodgers.  No doubt! 

And based on the below videos, the Dodgers love him too.

Domingo recently visited the team at Camelback Ranch and spent a bunch of time with several Dodger regulars.  Last week I shared some photos and Part 1 of his video hanging out with the "Boys in Blue."  Below are Part 2 and Part 3. 

Here is the description for Part 2, and take note that he got close and personal with Justin Turner.

In this episode he gets some swings in the cage with Justin Turner and a big league massage from Yosuke "Possum" Nakajima.

Video Link:

Here is Part 3. 

In this episode Domingo Ayala gets some work in with Gold Glove winner, Adrian Gonzalez. He also learns about the feared "Red Slip".

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 3/27/2015 - Dodger Links - Scully, Time Warner and Alex Verdugo

Guess who's heading out to Arizona to broadcast tonight Spring game against the Giants.

Vin Scully, that's who.  For many Dodger fans his emergence from the winter hiatus to the glory of spring Baseball is the true start of the year.  He stories and voice are like the echoes of the Baseball Gods - providing assurances that all is right in the world. 

Vin Scully will call his first game tonight, and Dodger Nation will be glued to every word he says.  Unfortunately, that prior statement is far from true.  Much of the Southland is still restricted from access due to the incompetent machinations of the corporate class, and they fail to realize that their part in this mess only reinforces the general disgust consumers have towards the television delivery industry as a whole.  They are the epitome of the bad neighbor, and I look forward to the opportunity to leave them forever.  Please FCC, regulate them.  These behemoths do not deserve anything and they contribute nothing.

The wonderful vintage photo above of Vin Scully underneath his street sign at Dodgertown in Vero Beach was shared by @VinScullyTweet on twitter.  Below are some links to check out:

• In opposition to what I wrote earlier this week, via Meg James of the LA Times, "Time Warner Cable says Dodgers channel won't prompt write-down."

"Time Warner Cable has no plans to take a write-down in connection with its Dodgers contract," the company said late Tuesday in a statement.  "In fact, TWC does not carry an asset on its balance sheet related to the Dodgers and, therefore, there is no asset for it to write down now or in the future."

I'm not sure what that is suppose to mean. After all, it can't possibly be true that TWC doesn't account for the Dodger deal in some way.  Maybe not in terms an an actual balance sheet asset, but certainly a potential liability that has (by their own admonition) contributed greatly to rising programming expenses.  I'm far from an expert on corporate accounting, but I think there is a parsing of words here that wreaks of BS. 

• Via Bill Plunkett at OC Register, "Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten remains upbeat despite TV stalemate between Time Warner and cable providers."

“Obviously everyone is waiting to see what happens in the larger-scale corporate dealings. Failing that, I know there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, a lot of talk – but, no, I’m not aware of anything that’s going to bring about an imminent settlement. We hope and we keep working at it. But I don’t have any news.”

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Juan Uribe pranks Tommy Lasorda."  Mark shared photos of the incident here and here.
• Via George Bissell at Baseball Professor, "Alex Verdugo & The Future of Prospect Evaluation."

Verdugo stands out for several reasons. Not only will he be just 19 years old this season when he heads to Class-A Great Lakes, but he hit .353/.432/.511 across two levels after being drafted last summer. While Mitchell noted in his research that walks are less important in the lower level of the minors, it’s still an impressive feat that Verdugo walked more times (20) than he struck out (18) in his professional debut. He also flashed above-average speed for a prospect of his size, going a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Yasmani Grandal out to improve reputation for working with pitchers."

Like I’ve been saying, I’m just going to keep doing whatever it is I’m doing and making sure the guys I’m catching, I’m on the same page with. I think last year I did a pretty good job with those new guys that came up to the big leagues.”

• Posted here without commentary (I was going to, but it turned out to be a rambling unintelligible diatribe)  Via Christine Byers at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Former Cardinals player punched at St. Louis County gas station after racial slur."
• Via Chris Olds at Beckett, "Evan Gattis has a collecting confession."

“Yeah, I collected as a kid but not for value or anything like that.,” said the Houston Astros catcher-outfielder. “My room was actually wallpapered — I stapled cards to my walls. My entire room was completely covered in baseball cards. I loved it.”

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Vintage Dodger Straw Hat at Hunt Auctions - Would You Wear This?

I would definitely wear this.  Heck, I'd wear it so often I'd probably wear it out.

Featured here is said to be a circa 1960's Los Angeles Dodgers straw hat current for sale at Hunt Auctions.  Check it out here.

I can imagine it now.  I'd be sitting up on the Top Deck (or the Upper Reserve, as I like to call it) with a beer in one hand, a Dodger dog in another and this fashionably vintage hat to protect my quickly balding scalp. 

No doubt I'd be the envy of all who sat around me.  There'd be constant whispers and pointing until a brave soul finally built up the courage to ask me where I got it.  I could then remark, "It's vintage and might be the last of its kind."

I'd then sit back into my seat with a stupid smug smile.  My transformation into a full-on hipster would be complete.  Or maybe, I'd just get the hat to put on the top shelf of my ever-growing Dodger display.  Yeah, that would be the ticket.

On second thought, I would definitely wear it.  But I promise I won't have a '70's styled mustache or be wearing an Hawaiian shirt.  OK, maybe an Hawaiian shirt, but no mustache.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 25 / Road Game 13

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Los Angeles Dodgers (12-6-6) at Chicago White Sox (8-11-3)
Thursday, March 26, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 2.03) vs. RHP Brad Penny (1-0, 4.63)
TV: SNLA

Today’s #DodgersST lineup at White Sox: Rollins SS Puig RF Gonzalez 1B Grandal C Kendrick 2B Crawford LF Uribe 3B Ethier CF Kershaw P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 26, 2015

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(Camelback Ranch, via Chris Williams on twitter)

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEIGHBOR: The Dodgers, who have the Majors’ best spring winning percentage at .667, take on the Chicago White Sox today for the third and final time this spring. The two clubs kicked off the Cactus League schedule on March 4 and 5, splitting the pair of games, a 6-4 Dodger loss in the opener and a 6-1 victory the next day. In just 11 days, the Dodgers will take on the Padres April 6 - Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.

THOSE WINNING WAYS: The Dodgers flexed their muscles in a 9-5 victory over the San Diego Padres yesterday at Camelback Ranch, hitting four home runs and three doubles in the contest. Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson each hit their team-lead tying fourth homers of the spring while Justin Turner cracked his third and Scott Van Slyke his second. On the mound, Juan Nicasio allowed two runs in 3.0 innings for the victory while J.P. Howell (1.0 IP), David Aardsma (1.0), Paco Rodriguez (1.0) and Yimi Garcia (1.0) all tossed scoreless relief. Rodriguez (7.0 IP) and Garcia (8.1) have not allowed a run all spring. 

• The four home runs give the Dodgers 37 this spring, which leads the Major Leagues. The Cubs are the next closest at 30.

(Puig's HR, via Dodgers on tumblr)

ALL ABOARD: Today the Dodgers announced that the Dodger Stadium Express will return in 2015! LA Metro offers two express services to Dodger Stadium:  The Dodger Stadium Express Union Station and the Dodger Stadium Express South Bay are complimentary services from downtown Los Angeles and the South Bay directly to Dodger Stadium. The Dodger Stadium Express Union Station bus service includes the benefit of enjoying a dedicated bus lane on Sunset Boulevard from Union Station to Elysian Park Ave.  Dodger game-day tickets will be honored as payment to ride the bus service and it will operate 90 minutes before the game and 45 minutes after the game.  Fans can also park at Union Station for $6 and take the Dodger Stadium Express free with a game ticket. For specific route and schedule information, fans can visit www.metro.net/around/dodger-stadium-express or call 323.GO.METRO

• The club will also be adding dedicated prepaid lanes for fans purchasing parking passes in advance for games during the 2015 season. Fans should follow the signage to these designated auto booths at all gates for the dedicated prepaid lanes. To enjoy these dedicated prepaid lanes, the Dodgers encourage fans to purchase their parking in advance to assist in traffic flow and expedite movement through the auto gates. Advance parking prices are $10 and parking at the gate is $20.  The Dodgers also will offer premium parking in advance at $35 and $50 at the gate.  To purchase parking in advance, visit www.dodgers.com/parking.

THEY SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to former infielder and current Special Assistant, Player Personnel Jose Vizcaino. “Vizzy” joined the Dodger front office after retiring as a player in 2006 and, in his playing days, spent his first two years in Los Angeles (1989-90) before joining the squad again from 1998-2000. Vizcaino’s career spanned 18 seasons and he played for the Dodgers (1989-90, 1998-2000), Cubs (1991-93), Mets (1994-96), Indians (1996), Giants (1997, 2006), Yankees (2000), Astros (2001-05) and Cardinals (2006). 

(Pederson's HR, via Dodgers on tumblr)

THE YOUNG BUCK: Joc Pederson has posted a .409/.447/.773 slashline this spring and ranks among the NL leaders in runs (11, T-1st), hits (18, 2nd), batting average (.409, 3rd), total bases (34, 2nd), on-base percentage (.447, T-8th) and slugging percentage (.773, 1st).

• Justin Turner went 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs scored yesterday and is batting .486 with four doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .513 on-base percentage and a .857 slugging percentage in 14 Cactus League games.
• Second baseman Howie Kendrick went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI yesterday and is now hitting .405 this spring to go along with five doubles and eight RBI. Kendrick is career .297 hitter in the month of April and has hit more homers (19) in the season’s first month than any other. 

ON THE MOUND: LHP Clayton Kershaw will make his fifth Cactus League start today. Kershaw has allowed three runs on 10 hits through 13.1 innings so far this spring. He last pitched on Friday against the Athletics, when he was struck by a line drive, chipping one of his teeth. He stayed in the game and finished with four strikeouts through 5.0 innings of work.

• Hard-throwing RHP Joel Peralta is expected to make his fifth appearance of the spring today. Through four Cactus League appearances, Peralta has tossed 4.0 innings, surrendering two runs on three hits and striking out four.
• RHP Pedro Baez is also expected to see action today. Baez has held opposing hitters to a .086 batting average this spring, allowing only four hits in 6.2 innings.
• RHP Chris Hatcher will make his seventh Cactus League appearance today. Hatcher has allowed six runs through 5.1 innings this spring.

(Camelback Ranch, via @Dodgers on twitter)

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MLB15 Video: Puig Says Sorry for Not Playing the Game Right

MLB 15 is around the corner, so why not release another promotional video featuring cover boy Yasiel Puig.  Watch it below. 

This time we get a more personal look at the man... The myth... The legend.  He speaks a bit about Cuba and the family and friends he left behind.  Even more interestingly, he apologizes to the critics who are irked by him - for whatever reason.  Puig says:

To the people who say, I'm not playing the game the right way...

All I can tell them is...

I'm Sorry...

I don't know how you want me to play Baseball...

This is the way that I play

This whole thing is a bit "tongue and cheek," so it's unlikely to assuage any of the furor that always seems to surround him. 

Watch the entire video below.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 3/26/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Olivera and Crawford's Reality TV Show

Yasiel Puig had a big day yesterday.  He made a heads-up fielding play in the 1st inning to get an out and walloped a massive two-run home run soon thereafter that went out of the stadium to left field.  Watch it here.

I wonder if the recent announcement of the Dodgers signing Hector Olivera got him excited.  As reported by Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, Puig knows Olivera very well. 

"His father was my hitting coach," Puig explained in Spanish.

Puig says further.

"He was a tremendous influence on me."

The photo above was posted by the Dodgers on twitter.  Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers sell 3 million tickets in record time."
• Mike Ozanian at Forbes.com shares their thoughts on MLB team values.  

The Los Angeles Dodgers, worth $2.4 billion, are the second most valuable three years after Guggenheim Baseball Management bought the team and Dodger Stadium for $2 billion from Frank McCourt. The Dodgers raked in more than $120 million in television money last season, the the most in baseball, as part of  the team’s 25 year, $8.35 billion deal with Time Warner Cable. The team also lead MLB in attendance, with 3.78 million fans coming through the turnstiles during the regular season.

• I really dislike reality television.  Via TMZ, Evelyn Lozada, along with fiancee Carl Crawford, will star in a new reality television show on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network.

So far, no word if any of Crawford's L.A. Dodgers teammates are scheduled to appear on the show ... but with attention-loving stars like Yasiel Puig on the Blue Crew ... we wouldn't rule it out.

Oy Vey!

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Brandon League will start season on DL."  League had an MRI done on Wednesday.

“I think if it was serious I wouldn’t be able to pick up a ball,” League said. “It’s not painful, it’s just hindering. I know my body pretty well and I don’t think this is anything serious.”

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