Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 4/15/2019 - Dodgers Links

Monday, April 15, 2019

Blog Kiosk: 4/15/2019 - Dodgers Links - Happy Jackie Robinson Day!

Chicken Strip was fantastic yesterday afternoon - halting a Dodgers' six game slide that saw them lose their early season lead in the Western Division. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

In the longest outing of Stripling’s Major League career, he needed only 88 pitches to get through eight innings of work Sunday afternoon in a 7–1 win to stop the skid.

“Just the way that he and Austin (Barnes) were in sync today was as good as I’ve seen any pitcher-catcher combo,” said manager Dave Roberts.

Photo above Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2019 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1909, Opening Day, the Brooklyn Superbas were no-hit by Red Ames of the Giants at the Polo Grounds for nine innings, but eventually prevailed to defeat the crosstown rival in the 13th inning, 3-0. On a side note, the Giants outfield recorded no putouts and the Superbas winning pitcher was Kaiser Wilhelm. In 1915 the Brooklyn Robins are no-hit by future Hall of Famer Rube Marquard of the Giants at the Polo Grounds, 2-0. In 1947 Jackie Robinson makes his Major League debut at Ebbets Field. He would go 0-for-3, but would also score the go ahead run in the seventh inning after reaching base on an error during a sacrifice bunt. The Dodgers won the game 5-3. In 1958 the Dodgers and Giants play their first major league game on the West Coast. Unfortunately, Ruben Gomez of the Giants blanked the Dodgers at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, 8-0.
Happy Birthday, Hub Collins, Jack Sheehan, Ted Sizemore, Willie Davis, Jeremy Burnitz & Milton Bradley!
ICYMI: The Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana to Oklahoma City yesterday. Sborz has joined the Dodgers for the first time in his career.
Via RJ Anderson at CBS Sports; "The Dodgers have turned Joe Kelly into a completely different pitcher, and it's not working at all."

Kelly is no stranger to modification. Year after year he seems to try something different. In the past, Kelly has tinkered with which of his breaking balls to use as his main secondary pitch. This season, Kelly has thus far embraced his changeup over both, throwing it 25 percent of the time, per Statcast. His current-high changeup usage rate is 12.6 percent. One can only presume the Dodgers noticed Kelly's cambio had the highest swinging-strike rate of any of his pitches last season, and decided he should throw the pitch more to improve his effectiveness.

Via Mary Childs at Barron's; "Former Guggenheim President Todd Boehly Is Growing His Investment Empire, From the Dodgers to Collateralized Loans."
Per Ty Bradley at MLB Trade Rumors; "Connor Joe Clears Waivers, Returned To Dodgers."
Per David Hill at Call to the Pen; "Los Angeles Dodgers may be scouting next Japanese phenom" -- Rouki Sasaki.
Per Elina Shatkin at the LAist; "Meet The New 16-Inch, $21 Hot Dog At Dodger Stadium."
Via Brian Crawford at Baseball Essential; "Dodgers Prospect Josiah Gray Performing Well in New System."

“It’s surreal to have that explained to you so quickly after being drafted,” said Gray. “But I’m honored to be involved in a trade involving those guys. I think it showed me that the Dodgers have a lot of interest in me, and that they see a future in me and I’m really grateful for that. And I’m really ready to build and grow with the Dodgers.”

Continuing to grow in a professional rotation is one of Gray’s earliest adjustments in the Dodgers system. “It’s not too different from college, it’s every fifth day,” said Gray. “The recovery afterwards is the biggest difference. If you’re not recovering well, you’ll be off on your next start.”

Okay... You should all see the bobblehead the Reds are giving away of Yasiel Puig, via a tweet from the Reds. See it below.

Topps recently unveiled a new online exclusive card brand, and it's of a set many of you are already familiar with. It is called Topps Total, and it features a 900 card checklist that releases in nine 100-card waves. This product is well known for being the most comprehensive baseball card set ever produced. So, even bench players and relievers will eventually get their own card. Wave 1 is available to order now. Four Dodgers are available -- Kershaw, Freese, Jansen and Barnes. BTW, there are no inserts available -- only a handful or parallels are on the checklist. Go here to check it out and order. Packs are rather pricey -- priced at $10 for a pack of ten cards.
Back in March I made note of a couple of unique Dodgers/Game of Throne bobbleheads that were being sold through the Bobblehead Hall of Fame in Wisconsin. They have now added two more bobbles, and they are of Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner. Go here to check them out and order.