Welcome to the Blue, Layne Somsen!

The Dodgers just announced this afternoon that they have claimed right-handed relief pitcher Layne Somsen from the Yankees.  In late May he had been claimed off waivers by the Yankees from the Cincinnati Reds.  So, the Dodgers are his third team this season.  Via a Dodgers press release:

Somsen, 27, appeared in two games with Cincinnati this season (5 ER/2.1 IP) in his first big league action and has combined to go 1-0 with a 1.44 ERA, a .149 opponents’ batting average and a 1.00 WHIP in 14 minor league appearances this year at Triple-A with the Reds’ and Yankees’ affiliates.  The Dodgers will be his third organization of 2016, with Somsen opening the campaign with the Reds’ organization before being claimed by the Yankees on May 24.

The South Dakota native has gone 10-5 with a 2.42 ERA in 90 games (seven starts) in four minor league seasons in the Reds’ (2013-16) and Yankees’ (2016) organizations, limiting opposing hitters to a .208 batting average and striking out better than a batter per inning with 193 Ks in 189.2 innings. Somsen was originally selected by the Reds in the 22nd round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of South Dakota State.

Welcome to the Blue, Chris Taylor!

Over this past weekend the Dodgers made a move to add more depth on their infield.  They traded former 2010 first round draft pick Zach Lee to the Seattle Mariners for infield prospect 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.

2016 Topps Series 2 - Record Setters, Laser and Other Scarce Dodgers Cards

Below are more Dodgers insert cards found in packs of 2016 Topps Series Two.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this set. 

Cut Signatures (#/1)

• #CS-DD Don Drysdale
• #CS-DS Duke Snider
• #CS-JR Jackie Robinson
• #CS-PRE Pee Wee Reese

Own the Name (#/1)

• #OTN-AGN Adrian Gonzalez
• #OTN-CK Clayton Kershaw
• #OTN-JP Joc Pederson 

From what I understand, every letter of their last name has an individual card available.

#OTN-AGN Adrian Gonzalez

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Steve Garvey, Ferguson Jenkins and Emmitt Smith

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Steve Garvey will be in Bakersfield on Saturday to sign for fans.  Go here for information.

Senor Pepe's Mexican Restaurant
8450 Granite Falls Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93312

Blog Kiosk: 6/22/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Urias and Yasmani Grandal

In honor of breaking the Dodgers franchise record for career saves the Dodgers and former star closer Eric Gagne came out before the start of yesterdays game to present Kenley Jansen with various mementos celebrating the accomplishment.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"You guys have the greatest closer in Dodger history right here," Gagne said.

As for the evenings game, it was all about the resurgence of Yasmani Grandal.  He hit a thrilling eight inning three-run home run to help extend the Dodgers current winning streak to five games.  They defeated the Nationals, 3-2.  Per Jamal Collier and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"It's a grind for Yazzy," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "He's doing a great job behind the plate and that's priority No. 1. Offensively, he's been squaring a lot of balls up but maybe right at guys and he's getting frustrated. You know a few days ago he had that big at-bat, the walk-off walk, so to win it again today for us in fine fashion, that was fun."

Hopefully the past few days is a sign that he is ready to get out of his funk.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"I've been hitting the ball pretty hard the past couple of weeks," Grandal said. "I feel like this whole month I have been hitting the ball well, I just haven't been getting it in the air. This game is about inches or angles.

"When I look up and I hit a ball hard over 100 mph, for me that's what I'm trying to do. So far, I feel like I have been doing a pretty job of that and I look forward to keep doing that. Obviously, hits will start to fall at some point. I was just happy to get the ball in the air and put us ahead."

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

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1959 Sandy Koufax struck out 16 Phillies batters to set a new record for strikeouts in a night game.