Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 9/20/2017 - Dodgers Links

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Blog Kiosk: 9/20/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Yu Darvish was very good last night. He went 5.1 innings, giving up one unearned run, four hits and a walk. He also struck out seven phillies. Per Ken Gurnick and Ben Harris at MLB.com:

"I think I'm in a pretty good place," Darvish said. "I think I'm where I need to be at this time of the season."

Unfortunately, one pitcher is not where he needs to be. Pedro Baez came in to hold the lead, but proceeded to yield four runs to lose the game. Per Andy McCullough at the LA Times:

“It hasn’t been a good stretch,” Baez said. “I’m grateful that they keep giving me the opportunity.”

Photo of Yu Darvish above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1907 the Dodgers are no-hit by Pirates rookie Nick Maddox, 2-1. In 1959 the Dodgers and Giants play the last ballgame ever at San Francisco's Seals Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Giants 8-2. The Giants would play at Candlestick Park the next season. In 1993 pinch-hitting machine Dave Hansen collected his 18th pinch-hit of the season to set a new franchise record. In 2011 Clayton Kershaw becomes the first Dodger twenty game winner since Ramon Martinez in 1990. He defeats the Giants 2-1. BTW, DodgerFilms was there and shared a video that you can watch here.
Happy Birthday, Nelson Greene, Vic Lombardi & Chuck Dressen!
Video: Alanna Rizzo caught up with Pedro Baez after the Dodgers loss to the Phillies 6-2 on Tuesday night. (video link)
Pedro Baez has not had a good month. He's gotten into seven games and has given up a total of twelve runs in that span -- ten of them earned. His ERA is at 20.77 and batters are slashing .417/.563/.917/1.479 against him. That's stupendously bad. Per Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA:

“There’s a point where obviously we’ve got to make some decisions in the next week or two. Obviously, where Pedro was at a few weeks ago versus where he’s at now, he’s in a different spot,” said Roberts. “You’ve got to take your best 25 when you’re talking about potentially getting a postseason roster together.”

Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Grandal's HR gives Dodgers new club record: Catcher is sixth hitter to log 20 or more jacks this season."

Before the game, Roberts said "it's imperative" that Grandal "stays in the strike zone." Roberts said Tuesday night's game was a good example of that.

"Yasmani has done a much better job the last couple of games of staying in the strike zone," Roberts said. "When he does that, he got a walk, and then with his ability to slug balls in the strike zone, he can really benefit us."

BTW, this is the first time ever the Dodgers have ever had six batters with 20 or more homers.

Blowout Buzz provides an early peek at Leaf's 2017 Leaf Metal Draft Baseball set; including a look at the Cody Bellinger card (seen on the right). Go here to check out more. These cards are slated to be released in November.
William Regenthal at Foul Bunt shares a recent autograph through-the-mail (TTM) success story. He got a bunch of cards signed by former Dodgers reliever Tom Niedenfuer -- a pitcher who elicited similar furor from the fanbase when he pitched for us. Go here to check it out.
This is awesome. Childhood friend of Kershaw, Matthew Stafford, called an audible this past Monday during the game that was a huge shoutout to Clayton. Watch and listen to is below, via a tweet by Arash Markazi: