Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 10/30/2018 - Dodgers Links

I can't wait for Spring.

Check out the above March 5, 1955 AP wire photo of Duke Snider practicing bunting during Spring Training at Vero Beach (eBay Link). Carl Furilio can be seen behind him, and I believe that's Jim Gilliam to Furillo's right.

Below are more links to check out:

Happy Birthday, Stephen McKeever, Hardie Henderson, Leo Dickerman, Fred McGriff, Oreste Marrero & Javy Guerra!
In case you've forgotten, we should be hearing today what Clayton Kershaw's answer will be regarding whether he will opt-out. I'd put my money on 'yes', but we are also likely to hear soon thereafter that an extension is in the works.
Podcast: Dodgers Nation - 2018 Dodgers Eulogy and Free Agent Preview | Episode 28 | Blue Heaven Podcast (Link).
I would suggest that the consistent hemming and hawing about how great the game used to be hurt their ratings. Hearing those broadcaster whine was increasingly annoying! Per an AP report; "Red Sox-Dodgers World Series averages 14.1 million viewers." This was a 25% drop from last year.
Don't go! Per Jon Morosi on twitter, the Giants are courting Farhan Zaidi (Hat Tip: Larry Brown Sports at Yardbarker):

Sources: #SFGiants interested in #Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi for president of baseball operations role. Unclear if the scenario is viable, but this could explain slower pace of Giants search in comparison to #Mets. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 30, 2018

Via a tweet from Kobe Bryant and Yasiel Puig:

Haha my man! It was a moment my family and I will remember forever. Right next to me is Vanessa recording the hit with her cell directly behind you and next to her is Natalia celebrating. Amazing moment!! 1 on 1 it is https://t.co/2yanTUADKH
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) October 31, 2018

Kenley Jansen has already begun training for the upcoming season, via his twitter:

We fell short. Doesn’t feel good. It’s not easy for you, it’s not easy for us. I want to THANK YOU for your support from the bottom of my 💙 (that I’ll get surgery on soon 🙏🏽) Gonna be honest w/you, we gotta work hard again, so I start that today. Back at it. THANK YOU, GOD BLESS pic.twitter.com/JTXJOYXYoG
— Kenley Jansen (@kenleyjansen74) October 30, 2018

BTW, there were a couple of 2018 Dodgers' Topps Now cards issued following Saturday's Game 4 loss that I failed to put up on this blog, so I'm going to do that now. The first card makes note of Rich Hill's fantastic performance -- before the bullpen let us all down, and the second card celebrates Yasiel Puig's three-run jack that gave the Dodgers a short-lived lead. See them both below. Click on any pic to embiggen.