Blog Kiosk: 6/20/2016 - Dodgers Links - A Father's Day Victory

The Dodgers look pretty good in those Father's Day Baby-Blue Dodgers jersey's yesterday afternoon.  I especially loved the high-socks style used by several players; especially Kiké Hernández.  He had tied the game at one with an pinch hit home run to left field in the eighth inning.  Check out his home run swing in the photo on the right, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.

It's also notable how the Dodgers pulled out a victory in the end.  With the game tied at the bottom of the ninth inning Yasmani Grandal came up to bat for AJ Ellis with the bases loaded.  He then proceeded to grind out a six pitch walk to drive in the winning run.  Per Jack Baer and Adam McCalvy at MLB.com:

Grandal's winning walk was that talk of both clubhouses, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lauding Grandal's overall plate discipline and the Brewers focused on Thornburg's 1-1 pitch. Catcher Martin Maldonado held it an extra moment for umpire Tim Timmons, who deemed it just off the edge of the plate. But Pitch f/x data from the game suggested similar pitches had been called strikes.

"A 1-1 pitch is the pitch that changes [the outcome of a plate appearance] most often," Thornburg said. "Obviously, I wanted that call. I've gotten that call plenty of times before. But it didn't make or break the AB."

The photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 2008 the Dodgers received an Award of Excellence star from the Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.  The Dodgers star on the Walk of Fame is located adjacent to the constellation of stars along Hollywood Boulevard at the Hollywood and Highland complex.
• Happy Birthday, Juan Castro!
• ICYMI:  Reliever Carlos Frias was called up on Sunday morning, and starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
• ICYMI:  The Dodger traded prospect starting pitcher Zack Lee to Seattle for infielder Chris Taylor.  Via a Dodger press release:

Taylor, 25, was hitting .312 with 41 runs, 19 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 29 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 63 games with Triple-A Tacoma, including a .414 mark with runners in scoring position (24-for-58). He played in two games with Seattle this year, going 1-for-3, and has appeared in 86 big league games in three seasons with the Mariners from 2014-16, batting .240 with 11 doubles, a triple and 10 RBI. In the Majors, Taylor appeared in 76 games (66 starts) at shortstop, four games (two starts) at second base and one game at third base.

In parts of five minor league seasons, he has hit .314 with 299 runs, 101 doubles, 29 triples, 22 home runs and 180 RBI in 407 games, earning All-Star honors in 2013 (Single-A California League) and 2014 (Triple-A Pacific Coast League). Taylor was drafted by Seattle in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Virginia.

• Blowout Buzz provides an early look at the 2016 Panini Immaculate Collection baseball set; including the Corey Seager card on the right.  This set comes out in mid-August.
• Via Mark Townsend at Big League Stew; "Vin Scully is not a fan of socialism." 

“Socialism failing to work as it always does, this time in Venezuela. You talk about giving everybody something free and all of a sudden there’s no food to eat. And who do you think is the richest person in Venezuela? The daughter of Hugo Chavez. Hello. Anyway. Oh and two.” 

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider; "What kind of a teammate is Julio Urías?"

“He’s quiet,” Roberts said. “He’s a good listener. He’s observant. He’s intelligent. He’s confident. He’s handled himself a lot better than I would have at 19. And the guys like him. I think that’s a very good barometer, in seeing how the players take to him, and they joke with him. They try to teach him, and he’s a great young man.

Doug Padilla at ESPN shares a quote from Justin Turner on Julio's progress on the mound:

"He just has confidence and there is a comfort zone," Turner said. "He's obviously been throwing the ball really well these last couple of starts and I think you can really see it on him out there on the mound.

"He's that guy that everybody has been talking about the last two or three years. It's really fun to watch, it's fun to play behind and hopefully I can be here a while and watch him continue to grow."

• Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors; "Dodgers Agree To Terms With First-Rounder Will Smith."

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