Blog Kiosk: 12/16/2019 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Clayton Kershaw, Alex Verdugo and Matt Beaty visited Dodger Stadium on Friday to give some local kids the time of their lives -- as a part of their annual children’s holiday party. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“For these kids, their families, they’re from LA so their families are big Dodger fans, it’s like they grow into it,” Verdugo said. “The fact that they can come out here, have fun, be kids, be themselves and get to hang out with us, they get a little bit of that personal, ‘Oh man, I got to hang out with Alex, I got to hang out with Clayton — any little memory we can kind of put in their minds and have them cherish growing up, it’s special to me and I’m happy to be part of it all.”

Photo above via Dodger Insider on twitter (Josh Barber/Los Angeles Dodgers). Pic on the right via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2009 the Dodgers signed free agent infielder Jamey Carroll to a two-year contract. He would slash .290/.368/.344/.711 in 803 at-bats. In 2010 the Dodgers signed free agent right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier. In three seasons he would go 6-8 with an 4.24 ERA, in 120 games. In 2014 the Dodgers signed righty starter Brandon McCarthy to a four-year $48 million contract. He would unfortunately be hampered by injuries his whole time in Los Angeles. In 2015 the Dodgers were a part of a three-team trade with the Reds and White Sox. Dodgers got Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson from the Chicago. The Reds received Brandon Dixon, Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler from the Dodgers. The White Sox received Todd Frazier from the Dodgers. In 2017 the Dodgers received Matt Kemp from the Braves for Adrian Gonzalez, Charlie Culberson, Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy. This move was clearly a salary dump for the Dodgers -- although Kemp ended up having a fantastic 2018 season in Los Angeles.
• Happy Birthday, Pete Hotaling & Sammy Strang!
• Video: Shawn Green breakdown Bellinger's adjustments at the Plate on Sportsnet (Video Link).
• This is fun. Per Tom Shieber at the Baseball Researcher -- "Elizabeth Taylor Goes to the Ball Game." He recounts all the times she got on the diamond, and includes a whole bunch of great photos.
• Via Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider -- "Jaime Jarrín to be an honored guest at the 131st Rose Parade." He isn't the Grand Marshall, but he will be honored -- along with Sonia Manzano of Sesame Street fame and Astronaut Ellen Ochoa.
• Via The Bakersfield Californian -- "Dodgers star Max Muncy to attend CSUB Hot Stove Dinner" on January 17th.
• Bumgarner is now off the board. Per Daniel R. Epstein at Beyond the Boxscore -- "Madison Bumgarner signs with the Diamondbacks, plus a lefty guessing game!"
• Per the Nashville Post -- "Dodgers IF Beaty to speak at Belmont banquet." Matt attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN. So, if your in the area I'd suggest checking out this event. It's scheduled for January 17th.
• Via David Adler at MLB.com -- "Rendon: 'Hollywood lifestyle' didn't seem to fit."

"I think when people think about California, they think of the straight Hollywood, that glamour lifestyle, whole bunch of flashes and so much paparazzi," Rendon said. "But everyone just said it's the complete opposite down here."

Rendon said it wasn't that he didn't want to play for the Dodgers -- saying they were "always a team we thought we would consider" because they're a perennial playoff team -- but he prefers a lower-key lifestyle, which he thinks his family can have in Anaheim but maybe not in L.A.   

"Nothing against [the Dodgers] as an organization," Rendon said. "We still loved meeting with them, we loved having those conversations, but in the end it was what we thought was going to be best for our family."

• It's now done. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com -- "Dodgers make it official with Treinen."

"I'm just excited to throw meaningful innings," Treinen said. "The decision wasn't made based on the role or whatever. It's the investment the Dodgers made in me and my family. I'm not worried about the role. I'm worried about showing them what I can do as a pitcher."

Nor is he worried about the "Hollywood" lifestyle that newest Angel Anthony Rendon said discouraged him from becoming a Dodger. Treinen grew up in a small Kansas town, but said he's excited about coming to Los Angeles. 

"I feel like that's where the Lord is leading me," said Treinen.

• Via Scott Soshnick at Bloomberg -- "Mark Cuban Sells Sports-Technology Company to Dodgers Owners."

Founded by a former Phoenix Suns coach, Synergy uses cameras to capture the movement of players across a court or field. Coaches can then use that data to break down plays, scout opponents and help evaluate talent. The company supplies information for teams, fantasy-sports products, fans and media networks.

Within the past year, Synergy has captured, tagged and analyzed more than 60,000 basketball games and 15,000 baseball games.

• Per Tim Rogers at Dodgers Nation -- "A Winter Meetings Chat With Will Ireton."

I was what they call a development coach in sort of a new new position that is being embraced across the industry where there’s somebody in charge of operating the technology and all these things that we have you know in our organization. Some of the technology like Rapsodo, Trackman as you might know.

• Still not 100%, but sounds hopeful. Via Ken Gurnick on twitter:

Alex Verdugo said his back rehab is progressing “at a good pace,” but he has not been doing baseball activities.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) December 13, 2019

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