Blog Kiosk: 7/13/2016 - Dodgers Links - Micah Johnson, Kenley Jansen and Corey Seager

Although our Dodgers didn't make much of an impact in the actual All-Star Game, I think it's fair to say that they all had fun.  Per Adam Berry at MLB.com:

"I mean, you'd like to be a little better. But it was fun," Seager said after the National League's 4-2 loss to the American League at Petco Park. "It was a good experience for me."
...
"It slowed down once the game started. The nerves went away," he said. "The Home Run Derby, that was my, 'Wow, I'm here.' That was a blast. The whole weekend was a blast. I keep saying that, but I can't stress it enough how much fun I had."

Seager struck out in his only at-bat and committed an error on the field.  Furthermore, he was pulled for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning with the bases loaded.  It was just a two run game at the time, and was a key moment in the game.  Unfortunately, the move didn't work.  The pinch hitter, Aledmys Diaz, struck out on six pitches.

(Pic via Jon SooHoo, via @Dodgers on twitter)

Kenley Jansen eventually got into the game with two out in the eighth inning, and struck out Matt Wieters on three straight cut-fastballs.  Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“There wasn’t a better place to be than today,” Jansen said.

Jansen just faced Wieters on July 6 at Dodger Stadium and struck him out swinging. He said he had a good idea on how to pitch him in the All-Star Game. It was extra satisfying to earn the K on the big stage.

“On three pitches, that’s unbelievable,” Jansen said. “I had a blast all game. It’s a great memory for me.”

Photo at the very top taken by Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1954 rookie skipper Walter Alston makes the first of a record nine appearances as NL manager in the annual All-Star Game. The NL defeated the AL, 11-9.
• Via Eric Avakian at Dodger Blue; "Clayton Kershaw 3rd Amongst Top-Selling Jerseys Through First Half Of 2016 Season."
• Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register; "Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw has return date in mind - but he's keeping it to himself." 

“I do,” he said. “It just doesn’t make sense to share it. If I beat it, ‘Oh, you’re rushing back.’ And if I don’t, then it’s ‘Why not?’”

• Via Dustin Foote at the NY Daily News; "Dodgers prospect who shares name with Dallas shooter Micah Johnson opens up to News."

“I see both sides,” Johnson said on his racial views. “My mom is white and grew up in rural Indiana and my dad is black and grew up in the inner-city. They weren’t meant to be together, nobody agreed with their relationship.”
...
 The experience put Johnson in the middle of two very different worlds. But, like his idol Jackie Robinson, Johnson refused to change his social stance.

“You will always have people around you who will judge you based on stereotypes, and you can’t be afraid of that,” Johnson said. “Many people fall victim to that.”

• Via David Hood at True Blue LA; "Dodgers 2016 midseason top 20 prospects."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "Cole Figueroa declines outright assignment by Dodgers, now a free agent."
• This is a fun read.  Via Phil Gurnee at Dodgers, Yesterday and Today; "The day that Clayton Kershaw embarrassed me at the futures game."
• Chris Long at SoCal Autograph Odysses shares his experience and a bunch of photos from the; "MLB Fan Fest and Homerun Derby."

Our plan was to get Wil Myers, who was signing autographs from 9:30-10:30.  After a (thankfully) brief ceremony, the ribbon was cut and people went where they wanted to go.  People literally ran each other over, and sprinted to Myers' signing station.  It was chaos, which seems to be a theme here.  One of the security ladies literally tried to grab someone to slow them down, and was knocked back.  Someone lost a shoe, another lost their sunglasses.  We all lost our dignity.  But damn it,  we wanted Wil!  Within two minutes the line was huge.

• The Baseball Blogger Alliance 2016 ‘Tony Gwynn’ Leadership Award winner is Oakland A's pitcher Sean Doolittle.  Check out details here.  Also, the BBBA announced their picks for the All-Star Game, here.
• Via Jess Swanson at Broward Palm Beach New Times; "After 9-Year-Old Marlins Fan Dies, Dad Spreads Son's Ashes at Every Ballpark in America."

Johnny MacDougall, a blond-haired, blue-eyed little leaguer from Weston, loved baseball. He shared that passion with his dad, Dave, who took him to more than 100 Marlins games. After watching one at Camden Yards in Baltimore when Johnny was 5 years old, the pair made a pact to visit every Major League ballpark in America.

• Baseball History Daily tells of the first Chinese ballplayer a West Coast club attempted to sign in 1915; "“There is only one Thing against him—he is Very Dark.”

“His skin’s too dark…The Coast Leaguers who played at Honolulu on that recent barnstorming trip came back vowing boycott.  I have received a couple of letters from players telling me Akana is as dark as Jack Johnson, so I guess I will have to give him a release.”

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