Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 10/9/2018 - Dodgers Links

Tuesday, October 09, 2018

Blog Kiosk: 10/9/2018 - Dodgers Links - Eight More Victories!

WooHoo!

Thank goodness for David Freese and Manny Machado. They both factored heavily in yesterday afternoons victory. Freese knocked in the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning on a seeing-eye grounder through the left side. Then, Manny put the game away with an eye-popping deep drive to left. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"Tonight was actually pretty cool, to see a lot of those guys we've acquired over the last few months of the season come through," said general manager Farhan Zaidi.

...
"It's more special than I can even honestly say, because I didn't expect this," said Freese, who was acquired from the Pirates on Aug. 31. "I expected to finish in fifth and ride out this year, but to end up with not only a playoff contender but an organization like this is incredible. You get to be around these beasts in an organization that wants to go after it. It's a lot of fun."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1949 the Ebbets Field lights were turned on during the ninth inning of the Dodgers 10-6 loss to the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series; making it the first time a World Series game had been played under artificial lights.
Happy Birthday, Walter O'Malley, Al Maul, Bill Reidy, Rube Marquard, Gordon Slade, Jim Winford & Álex Taveras!
In case you were wondering, below is the schedule for the upcoming series against the Brewers. Game time still to be determined.

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 12, Miller Park
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 13, Miller Park
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 15, Dodger Stadium
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 16, Dodger Stadium
Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct. 17, Dodger Stadium
Game 6*: Friday, Oct. 19, Miller Park
Game 7*: Saturday, Oct. 20, Miller Park

Via Bradford Doolittle at ESPN; "Dodgers' Manny Machado 'locked in,' ready for Brewers in NLCS."

"I've been locked in all series," Machado said. "The results haven't shown, but you try to stick with the same approach and not try to change anything. I think you put yourself in bad situations when you try to change, and today I was just able to make hard contact and not miss two balls that were a big key to our win today."

Via Gary Livacari at Baseball History Comes Alive; "Sometimes Minor Trades Can Have Major Consequences! The Dodgers Sign Sanford Braun! (Who??)."

Sixty-four years ago this winter, December 13, 1954, a rather unremarkable trade was made between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles. The Dodgers traded away Billy Cox, their mainstay third baseman whose best years were behind him; and Preacher Roe, a fine pitcher who was also at the end of the road. In return, the Dodgers got two nameless minor league prospects. The Orioles kicked in fifty grand to sweeten the deal.

Nothing exceptional so far, except that the fifty grand would eventually come into play in a big way.

Topps has been putting together a 30 Teams | 30 Weeks Countdown to the most legendary card lineup of all time and now it's the Dodgers turn. Check out the great Dodger baseball cards here.
Via Josh Norris at Baseball America; "Dodgers Lefty Julian Smith Opens Eyes In First Pro Outing."

“It was great to be out there,” he said. “It was more excitement being able to wear Dodger blue. It means a lot to the organization, to the program. It was just a great feeling being out there.”

...
The skinny lefthander showed on Saturday why he caught the Dodgers’ eye. He pitched with a low-spin fastball with rising life that touched as high as 94 mph, and he backed it up with a downer curveball in the 79-80 mph range and a developing changeup in the low 80s. His long-levered frame is still projectable, and his delivery is fluid and athletic.