Blog Kiosk: 10/2/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

What a heck of a season. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"Pretty fun season," said Chase Utley. "Now the real fun begins."

The Dodgers 104th win last night set a new Los Angeles record for wins in a season, and also equaled the second most wins by the franchise in their history (last accomplished in 1942). As for the final playoff roster Dave Roberts had this to say, via Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“There’s going to be some fun debates over the next couple days,” Roberts said.

Photo above of Josh Fields and Kyle Farmer via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1963 Sandy Koufax becomes the first pitcher to fan fifteen in a World Series game as he defeated the Yankees, 5-2, during Game 1. Watch highlights of this game as called by Vin Scully here. In 1977 Dusty Baker hit his 30th homer of the year to become the fourth player on the team (along with Ron Cey, Steve Garvey and Reggie Smith) to have hit as many home runs during a season. This is the first time this has happened in the hiostory of the game. In 2004 Steve Finley hit a ninth inning walk-off grand slam against the Giants at Dodger Stadium that clinched the NL West title for the Dodgers. Watch Vin Scully's call here.
• Happy Birthday, Ray Lucas & Maury Wills!
• Video: Dave Roberts talks to the media about ending the season win 104 wins, the mentality heading to the post season and more. (video link)
• Video: Alanna Rizzo caught up with Clayton Kershaw after the Dodgers 5-3 victory over the Rockies on Saturday night. (video link)
• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times; "How Dodgers fare in postseason will show whether Andrew Friedman's process is working."

“I don’t think pressure is a productive thing to feel,” he said. “I think all of us that do this feel it to some extent, but as much as we can we focus on the process, and on continuing to improve in the various facets of our operations. That’s a much better way to expend your energy.

“People can put themselves in position to make really bad decisions if they feel a tremendous amount of pressure. So we do everything we can to eliminate that as much as we can, knowing that we have an awesome responsibility, and there’s nothing more than we want to do than to deliver a world championship to what are, in my opinion, the best fans in professional sports.”

• Per Chris Anders at Beyond the Boxscore; "The Dodgers have turned Tony Watson into a ground ball machine."

It seems to be the Dodgers modus operandi to acquire undervalued relief pitchers and tweak their approach. It’s worked tremendously in bringing Cingrani’s slider back from the dead, and while the changes are a bit less pronounced with Watson, it seems to have worked well him too. In Pittsburgh, Watson was throwing his sinker 29.3 percent of the time. That’s not insignificant, but with LA that number has increased to a usage rate of 44.7 percent. The difference seems to have mostly come out of his four-seam fastball usage, as his slider and changeup, while fluctuating, haven’t seen drastic spikes overall.

• Blowout Buzz shares a bunch of preview pics from 2017 Leaf Valient; including the Cody Bellinger card seen on the right. Go here to check out more photos. This set will be coming out in Nov./Dec.
• Via Ben Kennedy at CBN News; "‘Jesus Is the Only True Way to Heaven’: LA Dodgers Clayton Kershaw."

“You are not supposed to convert anybody, that’s God’s job,” said Kershaw. “But at the same time, you can be His disciple and live for Him and when people ask you why are you living for Him, you can show them why and profess your faith.”

• Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Return to old stance benefiting Seager."

Seager insists the elbow does not bother him swinging the bat, only that the time missed because of it left his swing rusty. With hitting guru Shawn Wooten, Seager returned to an old stance and was hopeful to be trending in the right direction just in time for the postseason.

"I used to do it a lot more, but I haven't needed that feeling of tension," Seager said of the stance. "Putting tension on the front side helps in how you travel forward. I was collapsing a little bit backside and I couldn't maintain a path. In 2015, I was completely like that. Then I forgot about it, which I shouldn't have."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *