Blog Kiosk: 6/18/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This must've been a very sad day in Flatbush.

Featured above is an April 18, 1958, AP wirephoto of a lone ballplayer walking the field with his head held down at Ebbets Field. As you know, this date corresponds to the opening week of play for Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, the Brooklyn ballclub moved that winter to warmer digs. They are now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers. The headline used in the papers (as indicated on the reverse of photo) says, "Opening Day in Flatbush -- And Nothing But Silence." Written on the side is the following:

Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers for decades, is spic and span as usual this Spring. But the stands remain empty and desolate and the field bare of players during these opening days of the 1958 season, The Dodgers, new based across the continent in Los Angeles, open their home season today in the huge Los Angeles Coliseum.

Photo above grabbed from an eBay auction (link here). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 the Dodgers sign their newest coach, Babe Ruth, to a contract. He hopes that he'll be installed as manager of the club the following season. As you know, that would not occur. Instead, it becomes clear that he is signed for publicity reasons -- he takes batting practice before the start of each game to guarantee high attendance. In 1988 the Dodgers signed amateur free agent Pedro Martínez. In 2014 Clayton Kershaw no-hit the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, 8-0. He recorded a career high 15 strike outs, no walks and missed a perfect game when Hanley Ramirez committed an error in the 7th inning. Watch Vin Scully's call here. 
• Happy Birthday, Sandy Alomar!
• Per Tanya Edwards at Yahoo Lifestyles -- "Billie Jean King cheers on Dodgers' ball girl who made amazing catch."
• Per Michael Lev at Arizona Daily Star -- "‘Man, this is cool’: Tucson’s Alex Verdugo thrives with Dodgers but won’t stop grinding."

You’ve been described as fiery and energetic. You play with a high intensity level. How hard is it for you to stay even-keeled?

A: “I show my emotions. But I also feel like there’s a line you (straddle) between showing emotions and caring and being disrespectful.
...
“I feel my emotions. I’m fired up. I also feel like I have a really great team where they let me know if it’s a little too much (or) if it’s just right. There hasn’t been a problem this year, and I don’t see there being a problem.”

• AJ Pollock has resumed baseball activities. Per a tweet by Ken Gurnick:

A.J. Pollock is swinging off a tee.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 17, 2019

• Via Pedro Moura at The Athletic -- "Ex-Dodger Rob Segedin suing team’s hand consultant for alleged negligence (subs. req.).
• Per Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest -- "2019 MLB Draft signing update: 3 of Dodgers’ Top 11 picks remain unsigned."
• Dodger Chatter at LA Dodger Talk tells us all about the, "Ogden Raptors – 2019 Version."
• Via CPBL Stats -- "Los Angeles Dodgers to Sign Cheng Hao-Chun Pending Physical."

Cheng Hao-Chun stands 188cm and weight 89kg. His fastball usually sat around 145-148kph (90-92mph) and topped out at 153kph (95mph). Apart from the fastball, he also throws a curveball, forkball, sinker, slider and changeup.

In 2018, Cheng represented Taiwan in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup. During the super round game against the Dominican Republic, Cheng pitched nine innings only gave up three hits, one unearned run and struck out eight.

• This mornings Baseball America Prospect Report makes note of pitcher Dustin May and catcher Will Smith:

May allowed three earned runs across seven innings for Double-A Tulsa. The righthander worked around seven hits without allowing a walk and struck out five. The Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect went seven innings for the first time this season, and has gone at least six innings in three of his last four outings.

...

Smith had a double and homered for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Smith has now homered in five straight games, and has a six game hit streak as well. The Dodgers’ No. 5 prospect is now batting .292/.400/.602 with 25 extra-base hits in 171 at-bats.

• Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily -- "Hall’s ‘Holy Grail’ Cards Protected by Special Glass." The Hall of Fame has opened a special baseball card exhibit that includes some of the most valuable cards in the hobby.

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