Blog Kiosk: 9/3/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers decided to take out their anger against the Rockies last night after having lost six over the past ten games. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“It was a Coors Field game tonight,” said manager Dave Roberts, whose club homered eight times at home on Opening Day. “The ball was jumping.”

They slugged seven homers to defeat Colorado, 16-9. Photo above via Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out (catching up on weekend holiday news):

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1917 Phillies ace and future Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander pitched both ends of a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers, and won both contest while throwing complete games (Boxscore - Game 1 & Game 2). He gave up just seven hits all day long. In 1957 the Dodgers play their last game at their New Jersey home, Roosevelt Stadium -- losing to the Phillies, 3-2. In 1965 it's notable that the Angels changed their name from Los Angeles to the California Angels. In 1975 Steve Garvey returned to the Dodgers lineup after sitting on the bench due to the flu and proceeded play 1,207 consecutive games -- eventually setting a National League record.
• Happy Birthday, Ed Konetchy, Lindsay Deal, Eddie Stanky, Morrie Martin, Dave Clark, Luis Gonzalez & Brandon Beachy!
• Joc Pederson is okay, via Alden Gonzalez at ESPN:

"I got the wind knocked out of me and, like, a weird cramp in my obliques, rib-ish area, so they were a little concerned," Pederson said. "But so far, so good."

• Via The Eastsider -- "Dodgers extend protective netting in the wake of fan injuries."

The Dodgers had previously replaced the netting behind home plate and above both dugouts with a 33-foot net, an increase of 8 feet. The 33-foot netting was extended this week an additional 124 feet down the baselines, from both dugouts to the elbow bend in front of the baseline seats.

"The decisions to both raise and extend the nets at Dodger Stadium were made after extensive data analysis and consultation with both players and fans," Dodger President & CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement released Friday. "We think these extensions to the netting greatly enhance fan safety while also keeping Dodger Stadium the welcoming and comfortable place it has always been."

• Per an AP report at ESPN -- "Dodgers' May struck by liner, avoids serious injury."

The 21-year-old was down for a few minutes before sitting up and eventually walking off the field.

"It just pretty much grazed my glove, but I think it slowed it down enough to not do too much damage,'' May said. "It hit off the band part of my hat, so I mean, it was probably the best possible outcome for it. It was pretty scary.''

Dave Roberts said Dustin May has neck soreness, but he feels fine after being hit by liner.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 2, 2019

• Josh Herzenberg at FanGraphs writes a bit about Gavin Lux.
• Given Gavin Lux's recent promotion to Los Angeles I thought this would be a fun post to pass along. defgav at Baseball Card Breakdown (who is named Gavin) writes a bit about his Gavin Lux collection. It includes a very unusual autographed Lux card.
• Via George Miller at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Dodgers’ Scott Alexander, Tyler White Won’t Return This Year."
• Just in case you're not a LA Times subscriber here's a story by Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times at the Telegraph Herald -- "Virtual reality batting practice head-set is Dodgers’ real-life preparation tool."

Like learning the litany of features on a new smartphone, the Dodgers — who are fully implementing the device for the first time this season — have explored the best way to incorporate the VR system, which is manufactured by WIN Reality and used by nine or so teams. For a club hoping to finally win a World Series after back-to-back National League pennants, the technological toy has become a new tactic for improvement.

“It just adds to the familiarity (at the plate),” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s not really taking the swing, it’s just more seeing where the ball comes out of, the flight, the lane the ball is getting to home plate.”

• Yadier Alvarez has been suspended, via a tweet from Ken Gurnick:

One-time top pitching prospect Yadier Alvarez was placed on the restricted list by the Dodgers for unspecified disciplinary reasons and does not count against the 40-man roster.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 3, 2019

• Dodger prospect Ryan Ward (drafted in the 8th round of the 2019 Draft) appears to be doing fine. Per a tweet from the Raptors:

“Raptors management can confirm that Outfielder Ryan Ward suffered a minor concussion from a wall collision during last nights game vs. Orem. Although serious, everyone is so pleased that the injury sustained by Ryan wasn’t worse. Big thanks to the medical staffs from both teams

— Ogden Raptors (@ogdenraptors) September 3, 2019

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