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Thursday, February 14, 2019

Blog Kiosk: 2/14/2019 - Dodgers Links and News - Happy Valentine's Day!


This is a good sight.

On Tuesday, former batterymates Clayton Kershaw and Russell Martin were reunited after an eight year separation. It's like they got part of the band back together. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:
"We both have a certain amount of miles on our body from the last time we worked together, but what a career he's had," said Martin. "I remember the last time I caught him he was just fastball, curveball. Now, one of the best pitches he has is the slider. That's the cool thing about baseball, the best players stay the best because they're willing to make adjustments, and Kershaw is one of those guys who's going to do what it takes to stay at the top. It's nice to get back there and reminisce a little bit."
Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. BTW, Jon SooHoo has shared a whole bunch of pics from yesterdays going-on's at Camelback Ranch, here. Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Baseball History: In 1957 the Georgia State Senate approved a bill, introduced by state senator Leon Butts, that prohibits blacks from playing baseball with whites except at religious gatherings -- ten years after MLB had integrated. 
    "Anything that tends to break down the bulwarks of segregation must be forcibly met by this general assembly. We have a situation in Georgia which has come about because of a national situation. I am referring to the Negroes in organized baseball in this state. It is unfortunate that some few people would participate in the destruction of our institutions for a few dollars."
    • Happy Birthday, Mike Hechinger, Candy LaChance, Tim Jordan, Abe Kruger, Len Gabrielson & Takashi Saito!
    • Spring Training Notes: The Dodgers have 32 pitchers (nine non-roster invitees) and seven catchers (two non-roster invitees) in camp. Yesterday's bullpen action included Joe Kelly, Rich Hill, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kenley Jansen, Adam McCreery, Brock Stewart, Dennis Santana, Mitchell White, Yimi Garcia, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May. Clayton Kershaw threw his first bullpen of spring on Tuesday. On a side note, Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt will miss the first couple of weeks of Spring Training as he is recovering from back surgery.
    • This is the classic example of fake news. As you may have heard, former Dodger coach Chris Woodward -- recently hired as the Rangers coach -- made statements that some insist is actually a criticism by Woodward regarding the Dodgers clubhouse. That couldn't be further from the truth. All Woodward is doing is talking up his current new team, and THAT'S ALL. Heck, it's his job to do this -- to ingrain within the players and it's fanbase that the club is ready to compete. In other words, the building blocks, i.e. team chemistry, is so strong that he likens it to his former club. In fact, he said:
    The actual care-for-one another here is way better than it was [in Los Angeles]. And that’s not to say it was bad there; it was great.
    For whatever reason, some reporters/bloggers have decided to use his speech as a 'gotcha' moment. No... let me take that back. I do know why they are doing this. Controversy, especially stupid stuff like this, gets a lot of page-hits. 
    Don't be swayed. This is nothing but crap. 
    "Something in me is like, I got to prove everybody wrong," said Jansen. "I have the attitude since we lost the World Series, I just want to get better. Compete like I'm competing for a job, instead of having a vacation. We get to the finish line, but we don't go through the finish line, and that makes me more hungry. It's that mindset and I start now. My doctor told me to just go out and play and have fun.
    "If you saw my bullpen today, I think the ball is coming out of my hand better than last spring. My arm slot is late still, that's normal, but the ball is coming out without trying, easy. Last year, I had a lot of problems with the [cutter] life. Got to be honest about it, I didn't have a Spring Training last year. Got the mindset, not just be a team leader, but the mindset of when you first get to the big leagues and win a job and be ready Day One."
    During said interview, Kelly described his experience pitching in the World Series, saying, “It was great. The World Series was one of the most peaceful times of my sporting life ever. It’s weird to say because it was the biggest moment, but it was the most relaxing for me.” The newly-crowned World Series champion also explained how it brought him back to the root of sports which made pitching in the World Series seem like a more relatable experience, saying, “It was almost like playing pick-up basketball at the rec. or intramural soccer, whatever you’re doing, it had that feeling of passion and fun.”
    • We all agree, don't we? Per Mike Petriello at MLB.com; "Dodgers have MLB's best pitching. Here's why."
    • It's always nice to read about the good works sponsored by the Dodgers. Per Liezl Bitas at CSUN Today; "CSUN Physical Therapy Students’ Commitment to Changing Lives Celebrated by the Campanella and LA Dodgers Foundations."
    • Via Nick Griffin at The Cullman Tribune; "‘I GUESS GOD HAD OTHER PLANS’: Former Bearcat Ben Moore signs with Los Angeles Dodgers organization."
    “The official role is going to be as a backup catcher, and I don’t know how much playing is going to be involved with that, but just the opportunity to get back into affiliated ball and go to Triple-A and be part of the Dodgers organization was too good to pass up,” Moore said. “I was playing independent ball last year and I tore my ACL and decided that it was time to move on and start a new chapter, so I came back here to school and to help out with the baseball team, but I guess God had other plans.”


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