Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk 6/15/2017 - Dodgers Links

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Blog Kiosk 6/15/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

With Kiké's help, along with a little bit of luck, the Dodgers win their sixth straight.

The game was all tied up at two in the eight inning when Hernandez came up to the plate and put the Dodgers on top. Batting against reliever Andrew Miller, who hadn't given up a homer all season along til the Dodgers came to town, he hit a lazy flyball to right field that sailed all the way into the stands. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“It was kind of an emergency swing,” Kiké Hernández said afterward to SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo. “Thank God we’re in Cleveland and not LA. That might’ve been an out at home.”

Thereafter, the Dodgers trounced. They quickly loaded the bases, scored three more runs and left the game in the capable hands of Kenley Jansen for the victory. He recorded his 202nd save of his career.

Pic above via SportsNet LA on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 Reds lefty Johnny Vander Meer throws his second consecutive no-hitter -- beating the Dodgers at Ebbets Field, 6-0. In 1996 the Dodgers turn their first triple play in 47 years. With runners going from 1st and 2nd base in the 1st inning Braves infielder Chipper Jones hit a popup to short-left that was snagged by Juan Castro. He dutifully threw to second baseman Delino Deshields for the second out, who then relayed the ball to first baseman Eric Karros to get the third out (6-4-3 Triple Play).
Happy Birthday, Ed Wheeler, Eddie Pipgras, Hank Winston, Babe Dahlgren, Dusty Baker, Brett Butler & Josh Lindblom!
Video: Alanna Rizzo catches up with Kike Hernandez after hitting the go-ahead home run in the Dodgers 6-4 win over the Indians on Wednesday night. (video link)
Per Ben Weinrib at MLB.com; "Puig suspended one game, fined for gesture."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who had a 10-year Major League career as an outfielder, experienced his fair share of heckling. He said that players can take it one of two ways: having fun with it or acting emotionally.

"I talked to him today, and it was just something that he wishes didn't happen," Roberts said. "It was a reaction of emotion on his part and bad judgment. I've just made it clear that I want to talk about all of our players in the context of what they do on the field and not off the field. He understood how I felt. It won't happen again."

Per Jay Berman at the OC Register; "Don Newcombe’s rare interview: Dodger great talks about barriers and breaking them down."

“People need to know this,” he said. Buzzie (Bavasi) said in a book that they were thinking about me as the first. But I was 19, brash and uneducated. Buzzie said in his book that they needed a man with more experience, and that’s why they went with Jackie. “I could throw, but I didn’t always know where the ball was going to go. I might have started a riot.

“When Branch Rickey went with Jackie, believe me, he made the right decision. He wasn’t the fastest man in the game and he didn’t have the most power — that would have been Larry Doby — but, man, could he play baseball. He could beat you so many ways. … One time he was between third base and home plate and he had nine baseball players chasing him down the line, trying to catch him, and they never did catch him.”

Uh-Oh. Per Jacob Unruh at NewsOK; "OKC Dodgers place Julio Urias on DL with shoulder discomfort."

“It’s nothing that we’re worried about at all,” Oklahoma City manager Bill Haselman said. “Just some discomfort he’s going to get checked out and then he’ll be back.”

Per Ben Weinrib at MLB.com:

"It's a concern whenever you're talking about a pitcher's arm, especially his shoulder," Roberts said. "I think that with Julio, it's a good thing that we got ahead of it, and hopefully it's just inflammation where he's tired, and we'll allow it to dissipate."

Per Joe Noga at Cleveland.com; "Dodgers infielder Chase Utley shows love for Cleveland Indians legend Jim Thome."

Utley posed for a photo outside the ballpark with the statue of his friend and former teammate, Tribe legend Jim Thome, on the plaza near East 9th street. He posted the picture to his Instagram account with the text:

"Couldn't resist the picture opportunity. Thanks big Jim for being an inspiration to me."

Per Hugh Bernreuter at mlive.com; "Dodgers prospect Carlos Rincon added to Home Run Derby lineup."

Rincon, 19, is second in the Midwest League with 11 homers. He is the only non-All Star participating in the event, serving as the host team's representative.

...
Rincon, a 6-foot-3 outfielder, is playing on his first full-season team. He split time in 2016 between the Dodgers' Dominican Summer League team and the Dodgers' Arizona League team.

Blowout Buzz provides an early preview of Topps 2017 Triple Threads Baseball card; including the two Dodgers cards seen below. This set is scheduled to be released on September 13th. Go here to check out more preview pics.