Blog Kiosk: 7/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It's Hall of Fame Weekend at Cooperstown right now, and today is their annual golf tournament.  Joining newest inductee Mike Piazza on the green today is former teammate Eric Karros, as evidenced in the photo above.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.   Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1962 Jackie Robinson is inducted into the Hall of Fame.  In 1974 Steve Garvey, who was a write-in candidate, had a single, double and an RBI during the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh.  He would be named the games MVP.  In 1975 Willie Crawford and Lee Lacy hit pinch-hit home runs in the ninth inning in a loss against the Cardinals, 5-4.  The homers tied a Major League record for pinch-hit homers in the same inning.
• Happy Birthday, Don Drysdale, Hong-Chih Kuo, Nomar Garciaparra and Pee Wee Reese!
• Via Mark Simon at ESPN; "Mike Piazza, Hall of 'Framer'"

"I came up with a veteran staff [with the Dodgers] -- Orel Hershiser, Ramon Martinez, Bob Ojeda. And so I knew if I was not catching the ball well, they would let me know about it. I knew I had to be solid back there and that I really had to become a good framer."
...
"He was athletic, a strong guy, and a workaholic," (Ismael) Valdez said. "He said, 'If you want me to move outside, inside, whatever, I will do whatever it takes for you to have success.' And he did."

• ICYMI:  Yesterday Austin Barnes was called back up to the Dodgers and Julio Urias was sent back to Triple-A.  Per a Dodgers press release:

Barnes, 26, will be in his third stint with the big league club after making the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster this season. He hit safely in his last eight games for the OKC Dodgers and batted .299 with a .383 on-base percentage, 16 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 32 RBI in 63 games at catcher (46 G), second base (11 G), center field (1 G) and third base (8 G). Barnes has gone 2-for-19 with an RBI in 10 games with Los Angeles and has appeared in four games at catcher and four games at second base this year. 

• Audio:  Listing to former Dodgers GM Fred Claire share some Dodgers history with Chris Mascaro at Thursday Night Tailgate.  (Link Here)  The interview starts at about the 58 minute mark.
• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN; "Squeeze is on as Dodgers will go with four-man rotation."
  

  With the benefit of off days on both Monday and Thursday, before and after a brief two-game series at home against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Dodgers will go with four starters for the immediate future. There is even an off day on Aug. 1 that could extend the four-man setup even longer.
  ...
  “I think that’s the plan right now,” manager Dave Roberts said of the four-man rotation. “I don’t know if we’re going to bring in another guy. I know it’s not going to be Julio if we go with a fifth guy. I think we’re going to stand pat with four. Things can change and obviously we have some guys that could potentially make that start for us (after the Tampa Bay series). You can still, with the scheduled days off, give them an extra day even without the fifth guy.”

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA; "(Chase) De Jong pleased more with Drillers win than near no-hitter: Southern California native takes no-hitter into 7th inning - becomes Texas League's first 10-game winner."

“Having a lead before you even step on the mound is always a great feeling,” De Jong said after the Drillers pounded the Travelers 9-1 in the first game of the twin bill. “My team put me in a good position to win and I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass.”

• Via Josh Jackson at MiLB.com; "(DJ) Peters reaches six times, scores five runs."

The 20-year-old outfielder is batting .385/.475/.663 with five homers, 12 doubles and a triple, and his hot hitting has been a major factor in the Raptors' 11-3 run that dates to July 6. He's had multiple knocks in seven of those games.

"Pro ball's been everything I expected it to be and wished of it. Playing on a team like the Ogden Raptors for my first season, it's been unforgettable," he said. "To be honest, it's taught me a lot, and I'm just trying to get up there and 'see ball, hit ball.' I try to stay relaxed and stay within myself and look for a good pitch to drive. Pro ball has treated me well."

• Julia Wick at the LAist shares a whole bunch of fantastic pics from the Sports Museum of Los Angeles.  Go here to check them out.

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