Blog Kiosk: 4/9/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I just love this 'In-Action' photo of Pee Wee Reese leaping to make a play on the baserunner. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Up When He Should Be Down

If Pee Wee Reese didn't have to soar into the stratosphere for catcher Edward's peg to second, Bill Rigney, Giant infielder, might have been a dead pigeon instead of safe when he stole from first in the third inning. His efforts were little more than gesture, however, since Pete Reiser, Dodger outfielder, belted a home and a triple to drive in all of Brooklyn's runs to defeat the Giants 3-1 in a ten inning tilt.

The vintage International News Photo taken by Fred Must, dated 8/8/1946, is available through eBay (link here). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1913 Ebbets Field host its first Major League game in front of about 10,000 spectators on a frigid Wednesday afternoon. It is an Opening Day contest against the Phillies. Unfortunately, the Superbas got shutout, 1-0. Check out the boxscore here. In 1947 Dodgers skipper Leo Durocher is given a one-year suspension by Commissioner Happy Chandler for "conduct deemed detrimental to baseball." It is related to his association with known gamblers. In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela replaced scheduled starter Jerry Reuss to pitch on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. He would go on to throw a compelte game shutout -- blanking the Astros 2-0. Check out the boxscore here. As you know, Fernando would go on to win eight consecutive games to start the season and lead the team towards a World Series Championship.
• Happy Birthday, Steve Toole, Tiny Osborne, Fred Frankhouse, Guy Cantrell, Roy Gleason, Oscar Robles & AJ Ellis!
• Auction Listings: Check out this fantastic original oil painting of "Willie, Mickey and the Duke" by Robert Stephen Simon at VSA Auctions (link here). They also have a signed game-used bat from Rickey Henderson -- used during his time as a Dodger in 2003 (link here).
• ICYMI: Cody Bellinger, along with Mike Trout, was named the 'Player of the Week' yesterday. 
• BTW - It is Clayton Kershaw Day! He will be making his second rehab start this afternoon for the Tulsa Drillers. It is hoped that he can go six innings and throw 90 pitches. 
• As you know, Yasiel Puig was involved in a little fracas over the weekend. Purpose pitches were thrown, benches cleared and soon a rumble broke out. When the dust settled a bunch of folks were thrown out -- including Puig. Well... this morning we find out that Yasiel has been given a two-game suspension and he will begin serving it today. This means that he will be in uniform next week to face the Dodgers for the first time when the Reds come into town. Per a tweet from Mark Feinsand:

Reds-Pirates brawl fallout: Chris Archer gets a five-game suspension, Yasiel Puig gets two games and manager David Bell gets one game. Archer's suspension is subject to appeal; Puig will begin serving his tonight, as will Bell.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) April 9, 2019

• Per Michelle Bruton at OZY; :How one player helped Angelenos and the Dodgers bridge their divide."

“Players of Mexican birth appeared in MLB as early as 1933, and Mexican-born Bobby Avila was the batting champion of the American League in 1954,” says MLB official historian John Thorn. “Yet Mexico’s first national star was Valenzuela, in part because Los Angeles could command more media attention … and because his debut string of shutouts was so sensational.”

Given that the population of Los Angeles was 25 percent Hispanic when the Dodgers arrived, according to census data, the team understandably yearned to be embraced by that demographic. But the relationship had less than auspicious beginnings.

In this same article Dave Roberts had something to say about Joe "I'm responsible for all three Dodger loses" Kelly: 

"You look at the stuff, and the stuff is really good," Roberts said about Kelly. "I certainly applaud him for calling down to the dugout and wanting to take the baseball after last night, and appreciating our starter [was hurt]. It shows this guy wants the baseball. I think right now, some pitches are just kind of finding the outfield grass."

• Our first injury of the season. Via Bradford Doolittle at ESPN; "Dodgers pitcher Ryu (groin) likely going on IL."

"The positive right there, in talking to Hyun-Jin and the training staff, [is its] certainly not near what it was last year," Roberts said. "I think we'll know more with some more testing and just a night's sleep, and how he responds tomorrow, and how he responds to treatment. Obviously, it's an [injured list] situation. For how long, that's to be determined."

...
"I feel like there is a big difference," Ryu said, via a team interpreter. "Last year, I knew it was a pretty severe injury. This year, it was more of a precautionary measure. Just wanted to be cautious. It just feels different."

• Gavin Lux is on fire! Via Chris Tripodi at MiLB; "Drillers' Lux laces four hits in rout."

"This offseason, one of my main focuses was making swing adjustments and my batting stance," Lux said. "I'm really back-eye dominant ... making sure my head is all the way turned around so I can get my left eye on the same tunnel the pitch is coming out of [has] helped me. I look at it as a challenge every time I get to face [a left-hander], so I'm enjoying it."

• This just seems stupid. Via Jeff Passan at ESPN; "White House scuttles MLB's Cuban agreement."

"The objective," MLB said, "is to end the dangerous trafficking of Cuban baseball players who desire to play professional baseball in the United States."

MLB requested a meeting with government officials, though no meeting was granted, sources told ESPN.

• Andrew Friedman on Julio Urias, via a tweet from the Dodgers: 

“We want to put him in the position to take down as much workload as he possibly can this year, so that next year in 2020, he can kind of be in a position like Walker Buehler was last year.”

(Dodgers x @CohnReznick) pic.twitter.com/KBxXZ1Dfht

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 9, 2019

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