Monday, January 23, 2017

Welcome to the Blue, Logan Forsythe!


Just when I thought, as many did, that the Dodgers were effectively done for the winter they go ahead to make a trade.  As you may have heard, the Dodgers have found a solution to their second base problem this coming season.  They have traded for Tampa Bay second baseman Logan Forsythe in exchange for top-flight right-handed pitching prospect Jose De Leon.  Per a Dodger press release:
Forsythe, 30, has combined to slug 57 doubles, 37 homers and drive in 120 runs in 280 games with Tampa Bay over the past two seasons, including batting .264 with 52 RBI and setting career-best marks with 20 home runs, four triples and 76 runs scored as the Rays’ primary leadoff hitter in 127 games last year. In 2015, batting in the middle of the Rays’ lineup, Forsythe led Tampa Bay qualifiers in batting average (.281), on-base percentage (.359) and slugging percentage (.444), while posting a .299/.373/.599 slashline against left-handers. His slugging percentage against lefties (.599) ranked third in the American League in 2015, behind only Nelson Cruz (.673) and Josh Donaldson (.632).

Blog Kiosk: 1/23/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends


On Saturday both Dave Roberts and Corey Seager received their respective awards from the Writers Association of American annual dinner.  As you know Roberts was named the "Manager of the Year" and Seager won the "Rookie of the Year" awards.

As you may know, Dave Roberts battled cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, several years ago, so he made the point of talking about it.  Per Mark Newman at MLB.com:
"Jed Hoyer is here, and he's one of my very good friends," Roberts said of the Cubs general manager, sitting at a nearby table. "As I was going through cancer in 2010, he gave me a job as a Padres special assistant to him. Baseball got me through it. Jed, I really appreciate you giving me some off-days to go through chemo and get through it. We're here."
Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1932 the Brooklyn Dodgers traded for future Hall of Famer Hack Wilson (during the tail end of his career) for a minor leaguer and some cash.  In 1962 Jackie Robinson, along with Bob Feller, are selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame in their first years of eligibility. 
  • Happy Birthday, Joey Amalfitano & Billy Mullen!