Blog Kiosk: 8/26/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

There's obviously room for improvement as the Dodgers lose the Yankees series. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“They definitely mirror our club,” said manager Dave Roberts. “It’s a fun team to compete against and they got the best of us this series. I think we match up well.”
...
“I don’t think this series changed my thought that these are two very good ballclubs,” said Roberts, "but we both have a lot of work to do if there is a potential [World Series] matchup.”

This was a great match-up, and I wouldn't be surprised if we face each other again.

Photo above via Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2019 at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers Baseball: In 1939 a Major League game is broadcast for the first time on television, and it features a game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds at Ebbets Field. It is telecast on W2XBS and it includes a doubleheader -- which the teams split (Game 1 - Lost 5-2; Game 2 - Won 6-1). Additionally, a special ceremony is held between games to honor Alexander Cartwright with a Hawaiian-themed celebration to mark the centennial anniversary of baseball. In 1947 righty Dan Bankhead became the first African-American to pitch in Major League Baseball, and it did not go well (boxscore). He pitched 3.1 innings in relief -- yielding ten hits and eight runs. On the flip side, Dan did hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat. Notably, Bankhead also threw an inside fastball that hit Pirate outfielder Wally Westlake that some in the stadium feared would lead to a riot -- it didn't. Westlake said the following about that (per Baseball Happenings):

“It was like the fans held their breath waiting for the reaction,” the now 94-year-old Westlake wrote in a 2008 letter. “He was just another dude trying to get me out and I was trying to whack his butt.” 

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“I think I disappointed the rednecks,” he said. 

• Happy Birthday, Frank Allen, Jesse Barnes, Elmer Klumpp, Gene Moore, Alex Trevino, Chad Kreuter & Daniel Corcino!
• ICYMI: Austin Barnes was called up this weekend. Russell Martin was placed on the bereavement list. 
• Video per NBC4 -- "11-Year-Old Celebrates Cancer Remission with the Dodgers."
• Apparently, the Dodgers tried to get permission for them and the Yankees to wear their traditional uni's this past weekend. Via Tim Brown at Yahoo Sports -- "It's a shame Yankees-Dodgers are forced to wear Players’ Weekend uniforms." It's rare that we get to experience a moment where everyone in the game collectively agrees on something. Those uniforms were awful!
• 2demeter2 at LA Dodger Talk writes a nice piece on former Dodgers Charlie Neal -- "The Invisible Man."
• Ya know, this isn't the kind of thing you say out-loud. Via Mark Townsend at Yahoo Sports -- "Max Muncy admits flopping, Yankees seek answers after controversial call."

Max Muncy said he was doing a little "soccer" move at 2B so the umps would call time and not allow Gleyber to score.

"He still got me good, it still hurt, so it wasn't entirely fake, but there might have been a little acting class in there."

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) August 25, 2019

• I can't stop laughing at this! Via Sean Facey at 12Up -- "VIDEO: Actor and Yankee Fan Nick Turturro Accuses Dodgers' Joc Pederson of Flipping Him Off."
• Trying to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Per Alden Gonzalez at ESPN -- "Dodgers mulling rest, shortened outings for Ryu."

In hopes of mitigating potential fatigue, the Los Angeles Dodgers are considering the possibility of either skipping one of Ryu's upcoming turns through the rotation, lengthening the amount of days between starts or shortening his outings moving forward. "I'll have that conversation with Hyun-Jin," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "and we'll see what's best for him."

• Per Tony Wolfe at FanGraphs -- "I Guess Will Smith Is Baseball’s Best Offensive Catcher Now."

In a fraction of the time any other catcher has had in the majors, Smith has surpassed the field in total offensive production. The catcher position is notoriously shallow in terms of hitting talent across the majors, but the best of the bunch is still an impressive group. Sánchez is a barrels machine, Realmuto is the best overall catcher in the game, and Yasmani Grandal and Willson Contreras are both incredibly talented players. And yet, Smith has generated more value at the plate than any of them, in nowhere near their number of plate appearances.

• Via Levon Satamian at Dodgers Nation -- "Catching up with Former Dodger James Loney: Life in Retirement."

Q: Did it feel good hitting at least one more home run — a grand slam– at Dodger stadium for that alumni game?

A: It was pretty cool to go out there, and be amongst some of the older guys, we had some of the younger guys too, but it went by quick, you’re trying to soak it all in, and enjoy it, but the grand slam was pretty cool, and I had to bust my phone out to take pictures. They have the All-Star game in Los Angeles next year, and I may try to get into the celebrity softball game, maybe back in action again next year.

• Per Justin Terranova at the New York Post -- "How Dodgers’ new voice is thriving in shadow of Vin Scully."

“Had I gone into it trying to replace Vin or be Vin, I’d have had a really hard time. Anybody would have had a really hard time. So, I went into it and the primary advice he gave me was just be yourself. It sounds simple, but it is not an easy thing when you’re stepping into a role like that when it’s the greatest ever to do it.

• This is some Major League trolling, via a tweet from the Padres:

SO GOOD, SO GOOD, SO GOOD! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/RatAEIaWlL

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 25, 2019

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