Welcome Back to Los Angeles, David Ross!

As we say goodbye (at least for the time being) to one veteran catcher, we can say congrats to another veteran catcher who is currently on a low-key farewell tour.  David Ross, who was drafted by the Dodgers in 1998 and remained within the franchise for eight years (including 2+ seasons in Los Angeles), plays for the visiting Cubs and will be retiring after a fifteen year Major League career at the end of this season.

Welcome to the Dodgers, Shawn Zarraga!

Among all of the hoopla surrounding the Ellis for Ruiz trade one name kind of got lost in it all.  Shawn Zarraga, a nine year minor league veteran catcher, was called up from Oklahoma City to fill in as the backup catcher for the Dodgers.  His promotion, although likely just a brief cup-of-coffee, marked his debut in a Major League dugout.  Per a Dodger press release:

Zarraga, who is making his first-career appearance on a big-league roster, batted a combined .265 (30-for-113) with a .348 on-base percentage, seven doubles and 14 RBI in 41 games with the OKC Dodgers and Double-A Tulsa this season. In nine minor league seasons, the switch-hitting backstop hit .282 with a .371 on-base percentage, 84 doubles, 14 home runs and 199 RBI. The 27-year-old Aruba native was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the Brewers on December 17, 2014 and was originally selected by Milwaukee in the 44th round in 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy in Lake Worth, Florida.

Blog Kiosk: 8/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Ruehle, Ethier, Puig, Seager and the Shocking Ellis Trade

It never felt so good to lose to the Giants.

After the emotional roller coaster that we all felt following the announced trade of AJ Ellis no one would blame the Dodgers for being a little deflated for that evenings game. 

But a near no-hitter?

I don't think anyone expected to see that. 

Giants hurler Matt Moore, acquired less than a month ago from Tampa Bay, got on the mound and was brilliant.  He masterfully took advantage of an less than enthused clubhouse by weaving a series of off-speed pitches that kept the Dodger bats out of kilter.  Eight and two-thirds innings later, not one Dodger had a hit.  Then, Corey Seager came up and brought the entire stadium to their feet by blooping a single to right field to end any chance of a humiliating evening.  Per Ken Gurnick and Chris Haft at MLB.com:

"In some weird way, it does," said Roberts. "They really wanted to salvage the series. For us to potentially get no-hit, and for Corey to break it up, it salvages it for us in a strange way."

No kidding.  Dodgers fans everywhere were able to breathe a sigh of relief.  Best yet, Dodger fans, not typically known for being gracious to our neighbors up north, gave the Giants pitcher a standing ovation after being pulled from the game.  Of course, that didn't stop a handful of fools from basking in breaking up a no-no (check out this link to see what I mean).

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

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1939 the Dodgers and Reds played in the first Major League game to be broadcast on television.  It was a doubleheader.  The Reds won game 1, 5-2, and the Dodgers won game 2, 6-1.  In 1947 Dodgers pitcher Dan Bankhead became the first African-American Major League pitcher when he got on the mound in relief against the Pirates.