Blog Kiosk: 4/5/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Clayton Kershaw got back on the mound last night as the Oklahoma City Dodgers Opening Night starting pitcher -- which begs the question: "Would this qualify as his ninth consecutive Opening Day start as a Dodger?" Per Jacob Unruh at the Oklahoman:

Kershaw threw 4 1/3 innings in the first of what is likely two rehab starts Thursday night as the Oklahoma City Dodgers opened their season against the San Antonio Missions. 

“It was a good first step,” Kershaw said. “I got through everything I needed to, got up for that fifth inning, got some guys on base, worked out of the stretch and did multiple different things. It was a good day.” 

Kershaw allowed two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out six and threw 61 pitches, 41 of which were strikes. His fastball touched 90 mph. The two runs came in the second — a lead-off home run by Tyrone Taylor on an opening fastball and a run-scoring single by Jacob Nottingham later in the inning.

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

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1913 25,000 fans watched the Dodgers play their first game in their new home, Ebbets Field. It was an exhibition match that saw Brooklyn defeat the Yankees, 3-2. Superbas (Dodgers) outfielder Casey Stengel (the future famed Yankees manager) hit the first home run at the stadium -- an inside-the-park homer in the fifth inning. In 1977 the Dodgers signed free agent first baseman Boog Powell. 
• Happy Birthday, Héctor Olivera & Greg Smith!
• Audio: David Vassegh caught up with Alex Verdugo before Wednesday's game vs. the Giants to discuss his walk-up song (audio link).
• Card That Never Were shares a bunch of fantastic 1979 World Series fantasy custom cards that includes plenty of Dodgers. Go here to check them out.
• Via Tim Brown at Yahoo Sports; "A career that began early is starting again for Julio Urias."

“You miss that competition,” Julio said. “Especially as a pitcher. Aside from winning and losing, you just want to compete. … You go to sleep thinking about it. You wake up thinking about it. This is our life, our passion. Not having it is like missing half of yourself.”

Now, he said, “Because all the time rehabbing, it’s like starting from zero. The experience, pitching in the big leagues, definitely helped. And debuting so young definitely helped, too, to be where I am. … I’m not going to lie, it’s not quite like I feel like a veteran, but almost. Because it’s been four spring trainings. It’s been three years in this clubhouse with these guys and I’ve felt a lot more comfortable. What’s left is a mentality of not trying to do things to meet expectations, not trying to do too much, not trying to do too little, but just trying to do the best that I can.”

• Via Pat Evans at Front Office Sports; "Dodgers Foundation Hopes to Bolster RBI Program Through Coaching Investment."

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation announced a three-year, $1 million investment in Up2Us Sports, a nationwide coach-training organization that pushes youth development and mentoring with special trauma training to better prepare coaches to be positive influences in the lives of children, regardless of sport.

The investment is the latest piece of the Dodgers Foundation Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, which is now in its sixth season. The program provides support to youth baseball and softball teams, ranging from equipment and uniforms to training and health resources.

• Those sneaky Brewers! Check out what I mean below, via a tweet from Bill Plunkett:

When the #Dodgers claimed LHP Donnie Hart on waivers from Orioles during spring training they DFAed Josh Fields to make room on 40-man. Brewers claimed Fields then. Brewers now have both. Claimed Hart on waivers from LAD today

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 4, 2019

• Congrats, Polo!. I hadn't realized that he was broadcasting for the Cardinals now. Per Benjamin Hochman at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; "A clean sweep – Ascencio goes from custodian to Cardinals' Spanish broadcaster."

That spring, he also used his WBC credential to get into a Dodgers-Angels exhibition game.

“If they let me in, they let me in,” he thought. “I look, and who is standing in the dugout? Fernando. Because he’s a broadcaster for the Dodgers. I approached him, ‘Hi Mr. Valenzuela, my name is Polo Ascencio, do you have five minutes? The 25th anniversary of “Fernando-mania” is coming up. I’d like to do a preview.’ He said he didn’t have time. I thanked him and it was still OK, because I was meeting my freaking idol! So as I’m walking up the steps, I hear, ‘Five minutes, that’s all you got.’ So I wrote the thing, and I sent it to the Dodgers guy. The guy said, ‘You talked to Fernando? He said, ‘Fernando never talks to me.’ That was my first real article for the Dodgers’ website.”

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