Blog Kiosk: 9/18/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I want to send out a hearty congratulations to the Dodgers Rookie-Level minor club, the Odgen Raptors, for their first ever Pioneer League Championship victory yesterday. Per William Boor at MLB.com; "Uceta helps lift Ogden to first Pioneer League title."

Mitchell Hanson, who had been just 2-for-10 in the postseason, put the Raptors on the board early with a two-run double in the top of the first. Hanson's hit got the offense rolling and the Raptors broke the game open with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings via RBI hits from Brayan Morales, Connor Heady, Luis Paz and Romer Cuadrado. With the offense rolling, it was up to Edwin Uceta and the rest of the Raptors' pitchers to keep the Voyagers' offense in check and that's exactly what happened.

Per Michael Leboff & Andrew Battifarano at MiLB.com:

"We said very little in between games, the players dominated the dialogue," Raptors manager Mark Kertenian said. "They just got ready to get back to work and that's very characteristic of this group."

...
"They were fired up," Kertenian said. "They're happy for each other and they're enjoying each other. These guys understand that they are part of a good baseball team. They cared for each other and challenged each other, everybody feels very involved right now and they're expressing that."

Photo above of the team travelling home after winning via the Raptors on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2006 the Dodgers came back from a four run deficit with four consecutive home runs by Jeff Kent, JD Drew, Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson to tie the game against the Padres at 9-9. They would then win the game in the tenth inning when Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run homer to come from behind again to win, 11-10. You can watch highlights of all five round-trippers here.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Tepsic, Dick Dietz, David Sells & Ken Brett!
• Video: Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson surprises elementary school students by participating in a youth baseball clinic at 112th St. Elementary School in Watts. (video link)
• Video: Go behind-the-scenes as Dodgers’ outfield prospect O’Koyea Dickson gets called up to the majors days before the birth of his first child. (video link)
• Video: Kenley Jansen explains transitioning from a catcher to a pitcher on MLB Network’s “Play Ball.” (video link)
• Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "McCarthy set to rejoin Dodgers next weekend: Righty pitches six innings for Double-A Tulsa on Friday."

"He went [six] innings -- blister fine, knee fine, gave up a few runs but pitched well," said Roberts.

• Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Adrian aiming to hone pinch-hitting skills: Dodgers vet likely to come off bench if he's on postseason roster."

Dave Roberts: "If you look forward, to what he can potentially do to help us, it's off the bench. To give him those opportunities, to see how he can prepare and navigate an at-bat, I think that gives him the best chance of success."

• Panini America shared a bunch of preview pics for their upcoming 2017 National Treasures Baseball brand; including a look at a Cody Bellinger card (on the right). Go here to check out more. This set comes out on October 25th.
• Check out a this fantastic fantasy Baseball card by Giovanni Balistreri at When Topps Had Balls of one-time Dodger Danny Walton. The 28-year old lifer was having a big year in Triple-A, so he got called up and had 17 pinch-hit at-bats.
• Night Owl Cards makes note of the missing Topps Rookie Cup logos on their 2017 Topps Baseball cards.
• Per Matthew Moreno at Dodger Blue; "Fabio Castillo Clears Waivers, Sent Outright To Minors."
• It looks like the Dodgers are extending their reach to fix-up and maintain local parks in Oklahoma. Per OKC Dodgers on MiLB; "OKC Dodgers Announce Formation of Dodgers Sports Field Services: Division to Offer Sports Turf Expertise in Areas of Field Service and Maintenance Throughout Oklahoma." 

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Head Groundskeeper Monte McCoy will serve as Vice President of Dodgers Sports Field Services. McCoy will use his 26-plus years of experience, along with the Oklahoma City Dodgers' specialized equipment, to aid municipalities, high schools, parks and recreation departments, athletic complexes, golf courses and more that are looking to improve, create and maintain sports fields.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *