Blog Kiosk: 7/3/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This team astounds.

Per Alden Gonzalez at ESPN:

"As is always the case, when you're winning games, everything is manageable. Everything is a lot better," Friedman said. "When you're not, everything's a lot worse. So right now, we're managing pretty well, just based on the fact that we're playing well. And we're getting contributions from basically the entirety of our roster as we are adding guys back from the [disabled list], which I feel like bodes well for us if we look ahead. But to get to this point has certainly been an interesting path."

We've experienced both heartache and jubilant celebration this season, and we're not even at the All-Star break yet. Fans that were once despondent -- ready to throw in the towel due to a perceived lost season -- are now reaping the rewards that only patience can provide... And what rewards they are.

Last night fans witnessed All-Star bound Matt Kemp go 5-for-5 to drive the Dodgers past the Pirates in a lopsided victory, 17-1. Per Kaelen Jones at MLB.com:

"[Kemp's] been a big part of our lineup in the middle of it," said Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner. "He knows how to drive in runs and that's what you've been seeing the last couple of nights. He's an RBI machine."

Never in my wildest dream did I ever think that Kemp would return to the Kemp-of-old. Photo above of Matt Kemp via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1925 Robins (Dodgers) second baseman Milt Stock recorded his fourth consecutive four-hit game -- setting an NL mark. In 1958 the Dodgers, in their 35th home game ever in Los Angeles, reached the one million attendance mark. At Ebbets Field they drew 1,028,258 fans total all season the year prior. In 1974 Dodgers reliever Dr. Mike Marshall appeared in his 13th consecutive game, setting a major league record. The streak also ended on this day when he didn't make an appearance during the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds. In 1991 the Dodgers traded José González for outfielder Mitch Webster. In 1993 Don Drysdale died of a heart attack in Montreal after broadcasting the Dodgers’ game against the Expos. In 2013 Yasiel Puig becomes the first player to be named Player of the Month for the first month he plays in the major leagues in the 55-year history of the award. 
• Happy Birthday, Cliff Curtis, Jack Dalton, Luke Hamlin, Art Fowler, Howie Schultz, Ed Roebuck, Danny Heep, Juan Rivera & Edinson Volquez!
• FYI, KTLA5 will simulcast an additional five Dodgers games this season: 

Saturday, August 4 -- 6:10pm vs. Houston Astros
Wednesday, August 15 -- 7:10pm vs. San Francisco Giants
Monday, August 20 -- 7:10pm vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Friday, August 31 -- 7:10pm vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Tuesday, September 4 -- 7:10pm vs. New York Mets

• This is worth the read. Per Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA; "Have a night, Matt Kemp."
• I'm not sure what to make of this. Per Jennifer Ablan and Jonathan Stempel at Reuters; "Guggenheim accused of siphoning annuity unit's cash for LA Dodgers."

Ogles, who lives in Alabama, said Guggenheim’s financial “machinations” left the insurers in “hazardous” financial shape, locking investors like himself into poorly performing investments while letting Guggenheim promote its self-interests.

He said the alleged scheme included how Guggenheim, Walter, then-Guggenheim president Todd Boehly and Texas oil tycoon Robert “Bobby” Patton Jr used the insurers as a “cash machine” to fund the $2.15 billion Dodgers purchase in 2012.

An analysis of the actual lawsuit can be found at Reddit per u/andyjs, here. 

• The RC Quakes are on fire! Via Andrew Chapman at MiLB.com; "Quakes Motor Passed 66ers in Seventh Straight Win: May and Kendall shine as Rancho chances a sweep on Tuesday."
• Via Asher Feltman at Minor League Ball; "Post-Hype Player to Watch: Manny Banuelos, P, Los Angeles Dodgers."

Back in Triple-A, now starting again with Oklahoma City, Banuelos is looking as good as ever. At 27, he has been terrific for the Dodgers. In 77.1 innings, he sports a 3.14 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 91:25 K:BB ratio in 14 starts (15 appearances).

He is currently on the 7-day DL, but his last start before his injury was a dominant 10 strikeout performance.

• LOL! Via a tweet by NBA Inside Dinger:

Charley Steiner goes through Joc Pederson's entire at bat and home run thinking he's Max Muncy, then the real Muncy homers right after pic.twitter.com/1MkNL7Xsdc

— NBA Insider Dinger (@atf13atf) July 3, 2018

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *