Blog Kiosk: 12/17/2019 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a play we are likely to never see again.

Charley Neal of the Dodgers retires Cubs' Dale Long at second base in the sixth inning. Long's barrel roll slows relay of ball (arrow) enough to avoid double play on Bobby Thomson's grounder to Pee Ree Reese.

BTW, Long's slide allowed a run to score on the play -- to make it 4-2 Dodgers (dated August 6, 1958) (eBay auction link). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1999, in what would be his final Major League season, the Dodgers signed free agent hurler and legendary pitcher Orel Hershiser to a one-year $2 million contract. He would not last the year, and be released on June 27th after going 1-5 with an 13.14 ERA. Overall, Hershiser would compile a 135-107 record in 13 years as a Dodger, with an 3.12 ERA, 24 shutouts, 65 complete games, 1456 strikeouts, an 116 ERA+, a 3.28 FIP and an 39.8 WAR. In 2004 Adrián Beltré leaves the Dodgers, after spending the first seven years of his career with the club, to sign a five-year $64 million free agent contract with the Mariners.
• Happy Birthday, Josh Sborz, Bob Ojeda & Chase Utley!
• Dan Szymborski at FanGraphs shares their 2020 ZiPS Projections: Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Via Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider -- "Verdugo still on the mend, hopes to be ready for Opening Day."

“It’s just about how I recover and how I come back the next day,” Verdugo said. “If I’m sore, what’s the pain? What am I feeling? I think right now we’re on a good pace of what we’re trying to do.”

• Per Sam Brief at the Chicago Dogs -- " Briefly Speaking No. 4: Fresh Off Signing with Dodgers, Casey Crosby is Fired Up."

SB: How did the signing come about?

CC: I’ve been emailing teams. My agent [Scott Pucino] has been helping me write to teams and sending video feeds from the American Association and the Atlantic League. I gave them references to Butch, my manager in Lancaster and scouts who have seen me this year. 

I actually knew the Dodgers’ Director of Player Development, Will Rhymes, from before. He was with the Tigers when I was there in the lower levels, and  he remembered me. The only thing was my injury history. But they contacted some people, and they came to the realization that I’m completely healthy. Then, they offered me.

• Awesome! Per John Thorn at Our Game -- "Baseball’s Most Valuable Prints: They lag behind cards, memorabilia, and artifacts."
• Here is a mini controversy -- see pic on right. Per Daniel Preciado at Dodgers Nation -- "Max Muncy Clarifies Request For Fans to Respect his Privacy." Ballplayers for decades have been receiving autograph request through the mail, but in todays world this is rife with issues. Is it appropriate for fans to know where our favorite player lives? I dunno. What I do know is that players have every right to protect their families -- especially in this day and age when crazy stalker types can do a lot of damage from behind a keyboard, or their homes become a target for thieves (remember the recent Puig robberies). Maybe ballclubs should be more proactive and request that all fans send these request to them so that they may forward to the players (both current and retired). Muncy asked for just that in his comments, printed below:

“I would like to take a moment to clarify my previous post. My wife and I genuinely cherish and respect each and every one of you, and can honestly say there are no better fans in baseball than Dodger fans. I truly enjoy going through and reading each of your letters and am more than happy to sign any cards or memorabilia that you have for me. With that being said, at some point over the past few months, our home address in Texas was leaked and we have been swamped with all of the items we are receiving. To help protect my family’s privacy and safety, I want to ask you to please send all requests going forward to the Dodgers clubhouse in Los Angeles. Please accept my apology and know how thankful we are to be a part of the best organization in MLB.”

The weirdest part is that there are companies out there that cater to fans who request autographs through the mail, so it's likely they tracked him down and released his info (for a price).

• Joc goes to the zoo, via the @Dodgers in twitter: 

.@yungjoc650 & Poppy take on the LA Zoo. #DodgersDayOff pic.twitter.com/brBRiScbAs

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 17, 2019

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