Blog Kiosk: 9/4/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Sometimes, you can't win them all.

Last night the Dodgers fell short against the Mets, 4-2, but they sure did come close to coming-from-behind to win again. With a man on and two runs behind in the ninth inning, weekend hero Matt Kemp came up to bat as a pinch hitter representing the tying run. Unfortunately, magic didn't strike thrice. He would ground into a double play. Per Ken Gunick at MLB.com:

"I thought Kemp was going to do it again," Bellinger said.

Photo above of Cody Bellinger via Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1924 the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers won both ends of a doubleheader against the Boston Braves -- sweeping their fourth doubleheader in four consecutive days. From September 1st to 4th they beat the Phillies twice and the Braves six times. In 1966 the Dodgers become the first team to draw two million fans at home and on the road when they defeated the Reds at Crosley Fields in front of 18,670 patrons, 8-6. In 1969 Willis Davis' Dodger hitting streak comes to an end at 31 consecutive games -- setting a franchise record. It came at the hands of the Padres in San Diego. 
• Happy Birthday, Elmer Horton, George Pfister, Doyle Alexander, Mike Piazza& Brian Myrow!
• Go Tulsa! Playoff start tomorrow for our Tulsa Drillers. Via Troy Schulte at MiLB.com; "Texas League playoff preview: Peters, Tulsa face Arkansas; Corpus, San Antonio meet in South."
• This is probably the right thing to do -- Please let Kenley stay home. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Jansen may miss set vs. Rockies as precaution: Closer had irregular heartbeat during last series in Colorado; Buehler's X-rays come back negative."

"With Kenley and altitude and going to Denver, it's certainly going to be a conversation we're going to revisit during this series," manager Dave Roberts said on Monday. "The No. 1 priority that we're all aligned on is that Kenley's health is first and foremost the priority. If there's any hesitation on his part or the doctors say the altitude can affect him in any way, then for us, it's a no-brainer to have him stay back. So we haven't made a decision yet. We'll have those conversations and make that decision in the next couple of days."

• FYI, Justin Turner has been selected to be the Dodgers nominee for the 2018 Roberto Clemente Award. He will be honored prior to the start of Wednesday's game against the Mets. Former Dodgers to have won the award include Steve Garvey in 1981 and Clayton Kershaw in 2012.
• Per Barry M. Bloom at Forbes; "Dodgers, Yankees Still Drawing Fans While MLB Attendance Dips."
• Congrats! Via Craig Minami at True Blue LA; "OKC Dodgers win division with double-header sweep: OKC had to win four games in a little over 24 hours to go to the playoffs."
• Apparently, the Dodgers reached out to Adrian Beltre. I would have loved to see him return. Via Evan Grant at the Dallas Morning News; "Why staying with the Rangers instead of returning to his ‘first home’ in the LA Dodgers was an easy choice for Adrian Beltre." (Hat Tip: Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors)

"I was not eager to leave this place," Beltre said. "I've been here for eight years. I've been grateful for the chance to be in the World Series and almost win it. It's not easy to just pack your things and go.

“There's a lot of things to be considered, and like I've said before, I'd like to retire as a Ranger,” Beltre added. “I don't know how that's going to happen because I don't where I stand for next year. And if I do, I don't know if they still want me back. So, I feel like questions need to be answered, but it was not a difficult decision to make. The only way that I could've gone somewhere was if it was a perfect situation for me and the organization."

• Dustin Nosler names Gavin Lux and Tony Gonsolin as their "2018 Dodgers Digest Minor League Players of the Year."
• With rumors swirling about potential Baseball labor strife I think this latest news is worth taking note. Via Sheryl Ring at FanGraphs; "The MLBPA Has a New Chief Negotiator."

In other words, (Bruce) Meyer is, by just about any metric, on the short list of the best trial lawyers in the United States and very likely the world — and he has experience turning around labor disputes for unions. In 2016, the National Hockey League’s union hired him to handle their legal matters in the midst of ongoing litigation and disputes with the League. Before that, Meyer was the first to win free-agency rights for players in the NBA, then beat the NFL’s free-agency restrictions in McNeil v. NFL. In other words, Meyer is the only trial lawyer on the planet to have won the right of free agency for two of the four major North American sports.

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