Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 8/28/2019 - Dodgers Links

Now we know why the Dodgers didn't bother trading for a high-end reliever. We already have a guy who could do the job.

Last night Russell Martin entered the game as a reliever for the fourth time this season, and once again he pitched flawlessly. His four innings of work has yielded only two hits, while the righty catcher has struck out two. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“It’s pretty good. He’s got some spin rate. You guys should check his numbers,” Buehler said of the Dodger catcher.

Photo above via Raymond Gorospe/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1942 the oft-injured outfielder Pete Reiser enters the hospital with a torn thigh ligament. In 1945 Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson meet to discuss plans for integrating Baseball. During the three hour meeting Rickey berates Robinson with a flurry of racial epithets to test his mettle and willingness to 'turn the other cheek.' Also on this day, 17-year old Brooklyn shortstop Tommy Brown becomes the youngest person to steal home in Major League history. In 1952 the Brooklyn Dodgers set a National League record when they hit into a double play in their 23rd consecutive game. In 2002 Eric Gagne recorded his 45th save of the season, setting a franchise record and earning a bottle of Dom Perignon autographed by his Dodger teammates.
Happy Birthday, Ryan Madson, Joe Yeager, Goody Rosen & Darren Lewis!
My deepest condolences to Rays prospect Blake Bivens and his family. As you may know, he was dealt a terrible tragedy last night -- Jesse Owens at Yahoo Sports -- "Report: Wife, child of Rays pitching prospect Blake Bivens murdered in Virginia."
ICYMI: Russell Martin returned from the bereavement list yesterday and ended up pitching a historic scoreless inning of relief. Austin Barnes was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Excluding two-way players, the @Dodgers' Russell Martin is the first position player to pitch in a shutout win for his team since 10/03/1917, when Hall of Famer George Kelly pitched 5.0 shutout innings in the Giants' last game of the season (his only career pitching appearance).
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) August 28, 2019

ICYMI: Justin Tuner has been given a suspension, via a tweet from Mike DiGiovanna:

#Dodgers 3B Justin Turner has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for making contact with home plate Umpire Rob Drake in the ninth inning of Monday’s game vs. #Padres. Turner, however, is appealing and will play tonight.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 27, 2019

Via Ben Clemens at FanGraphs -- "The Dodgers Get Shifty."

After about a second, though, a sense of unease sets in. Wait, where’s the right fielder? Is he that far over to the line? Is that him in center, with a heavy opposite-field shift in the outfield? Nope — he was playing the short right position.

If you are so inclined, Topps has released a 2019 Topps Now 'Players Weekend' 6-card team set available exclusively online. It is available for only the next day. Go here to check it out and order. Below is a look at the Cody Bellinger card.