Blog Kiosk: 2/18/2019 - Dodgers Links and news - Some Odds and Ends

There's no better place than Camelback Ranch to get autographs from your favorite Dodgers'.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1960 Walter O'Malley and the Dodgers completed their purchase of the Chavez Ravine area by paying $494,000 for property valued at $92,000. In 1986 the Dodgers signed 18-year old free agent Dominican infielder José Vizcaíno. He would go on to have an 18 year career in the Majors -- playing five seasons for the Dodgers. In 2017 the Dodgers re-signed Chase "Dad" Utley to a one-year $2 million contract.
• Happy Birthday, Sherry Smith, Manny Mota, Bob Miller, Kevin Tapani, Jamey Carroll & Chad Moeller!
• Spring Training Notes: This past Saturday, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Rich Hill, Dustin May, Joe Kelly, Adam McCreery, Brock Stewart, Dennis Santana, Mitchell White, Yimi Garcia, and Tony Gonsolin threw their second official bullpens of spring. Retired pitcher and former Dodger Joel Peralta has returned as a guest instructor. 
• Video: Dave Roberts talks about Clayton Kershaw's leadership qualities within the Dodgers' staff as well as Corey Seager's injury status (Video Link).
• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest; "2019 Top 100 Dodgers Prospects: 30-21."
• This is the first time I've heard of this fellow -- Dan Dodson. Via Timothy Chipp at the Abilene Reporter-News; "Civil Rights: McMurry graduate shook the world in integrating Major League Baseball."

"He helped identify Robinson as a player of interest in the Dodgers' attempts to get a leg up on their professional rivals. (Dan) Dodson was in the ear of Rickey, who was the team's general manager in that era.

...
"He doesn't seem like a man looking for credit or looking for a spotlight," Swafford said. "One of my favorite quotes from him is, 'Most of us accept current prejudices when we are not exposed to the facts but I gradually drop them as I learn the facts.' That's just him talking about growing up in Panther's Chapel, Texas.

Here's another story on Dodson via Greg Jaklewicz at the Abilene Reporter News. And here's a obituary from 1995 via the NY Times.

• Just a trade rumor. Per Teddy Greenstein at the Chicago Tribune; "White Sox-Dodgers deal for outfielder Joc Pederson still possible, sources say."
• Be sure to keep Toles in your thoughts. Per a tweet from Alanna Rizzo:

Dodger outfielder Andrew Toles is dealing with a personal matter and will not be reporting to Spring Training at this time. Club isn’t sure when he will arrive but he has been in contact with the organization and has full support.

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) February 18, 2019

• Bob D'Angelo at Sports Collectors Daily shares some preview pics from Topps 2019 Stadium Club baseball set. Check out the Sandy Koufax card on the right. Go here to check out more pics. This brand will hit store shelves in late June.
• Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "'Special time' for Dodgers' catching depth: Oklahoma City manager discusses four of L.A.'s backstop prospects."

Ruiz: "Very quiet, confident," Barbary said of Ruiz. "Carries himself like a big leaguer since the day he signed. Got that 'it' factor. I feel like the moment's never too big for him. Things never speed up. You watch him around the guys last year at big league camp, he just fit right in. It's really hard to believe he just turned 20 in July. From a physical standpoint, plus receiver. Doing a better job with the information we give him, the scouting reports.

Smith: "Defensively, [Smith's] probably as good as anybody we've had come through here since Russell [Martin] from a defensive standpoint," said Barbary. "Very athletic, just the progression as far as his receiving. [Catching coordinator] Ryan Sienko has done a lot to help him. A dynamic thrower, controls the running game behind the plate. Can make athletic plays in front of the plate, on a bunt, ball in the dirt, ability to back pick. He's an elite thrower. He's gotten more comfortable leading the pitching staff.

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