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Monday, January 06, 2020

Blog Kiosk: 1/6/2020 - Dodgers News & Links - Some Odds and Ends


Above is a 1947 press photo (eBay link) featuring today's birthday boy, Ralph Branca. Per the descriptor:
Yankee Stadium, Sept. 30 -- Opposing Pitchers -- Yankees Frank Shea (left) and Dodgers Ralph Branca, World Series opening game pitcher's shake hands before start of game here today.
As you may know, the Dodgers would not prevail. They would lose to the Yankees, 5-3, and eventually lose the series in seven games.

Below are links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers History: In 1997 Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley publicly announces that the Dodgers are for sale. The O'Malley family had been in control of the franchise since 1950. As you know, the club would eventually be sold to the Fox Entertainment Group for $311 million -- at the time, the most ever paid for a professional sports franchise.
  • Happy Birthday, George Shoch, John Corriden, Lee Walls, Ralph Branca & Marlon Anderson!
  • Podcast: Big Swing Podcast -- Ross Stripling does a NFL Season Recap, and chats about Hyun Jin Ryu and Dodgers Future. (Podcast Link)
  • Even given the Dodgers lack of activity during the winter they still find themselves in a good position. As evidence, Alyson Footer at MLB.com ranks them as second on their just released preseason '2020 Power Rankings'.
The Dodgers have been one of the quietest teams this offseason but remain the favorites to win the National League West title for an eighth consecutive year, and even months before Opening Day, it's not a stretch to say their chances to win the NL pennant are favorable. That doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement, especially with regard to their abrupt and shockingly early exit from the playoffs in '19. But even with the loss of Hyun-Jin Ryu, who signed a four-year pact with the Blue Jays, the rotation is in good hands with Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, and most of the stacked lineup will be back this year.
But based on his offseason spending, it seems as if he’s satisfied with just winning the division every year and unwilling to write that extra check.
“Some people may think that, I think that is silly and contrary to the facts,” (Stan Kasten) said. “I think there were three teams in all of baseball that spent more than us last year ... two of them didn’t make the postseason. So, to say we don’t spend enough, it is ludicrous. 
“Then you see teams with much smaller payrolls that make the postseason and even win the World Series. It’s obviously not about what you spend, it is about the moves you make, the decisions you make. I think questioning those things, criticizing those things, that’s absolutely fair. But just to say there’s a [payroll] number you need to hit and if you don’t hit it you’re not trying, that’s just silly.”
Although primarily a second baseman, Sepulveda also has some experience at shortstop during his five professional seasons, four in the MiLB while in the Cubs organization and one in the Mexican Winter League. During that combined time, he posted a slash line of .262/.344/.309/.653. On the other side of the ball, the 5′-10″ / 170-pound middle infielder posted an excellent .987 fielding percentage (14 errors in 1,068 total chances) in his combined 244 MiLB games at second base and one error in 17 total chances at shortstop for a .941 FPCT.
  • James Loney wants your betting advice, via his tweeter:


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