Blog Kiosk: 2/21/2020 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It was Photo Day at Camelback Ranch yesterday and fortunately Dodger Insider was kind enough to share a bunch of pics taken by Jon SooHoo. Featured here are David Price, Kiké Hernandez, Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger. Go here to check out more. Below are some notes about Spring Training, as provided by the Dodgers.

• The Dodgers had 62 players report to camp including 25 infielders/outfielders (10 non-roster invitees), five catchers (two non-roster invitees) and 32 pitchers (10 non-roster invitees).
• The former Vanderbilt Commodore Walker Buehler pitched in live action for the second time this Spring, tossing two simulated innings against teammates Corey Seager, Mookie Betts, Gavin Lux, Tyler White, Austin Barnes and Terrance Gore. Joining Buehler in throwing live bullpens today were Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Caleb Ferguson, Jordan Sheffield and Victor González.
• The Los Angeles Sports Council will honor 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger as the Los Angeles co-Sportsman of the Year alongside American League MVP Mike Trout.
• On Thursday, May 7, 2020 at Dodger Stadium, Clayton and Ellen Kershaw will host their 8th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose benefiting their charity, Kershaw’s Challenge. Kershaw's Challenge was founded by Clayton and Ellen Kershaw in 2011 and has raised over 12 million dollars to support at-risk children and families around the globe.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1953 Tommy Lasorda is sold to the St. Louis Browns. He would then be returned to the Dodgers in late-March. In 1957 Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley traded minor league franchises with Phil Wrigley of the Cubs. Brooklyn traded the Ft. Worth club (Texas League) in return for the Los Angeles Angels (Pacific Coast League). In 1984 outfielder Dusty Baker is granted free agency. He played eight season in Los Angeles, slashing .281/.343/.437/.780 with 144 home runs and 586 RBI's. 
• Happy Birthday, Jack Billingham, Franklin Gutierrez, Ted Savage, Sam Fletcher & Norman Plitt!
• Video: NBC4 speaks with Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo (video link).
• If you've been tracking Julio Urias' progress since the Dodgers signed him 2012 then this is the season to watch. This is the year he will pitch without restriction. This could potentially be his breakout. Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider -- "It’s full-go for the first time for veteran pitcher Julio Urías."

“We’ve obviously had the reins on him for his benefit,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He’s taken it in stride. It’s frustrating I’m sure at times, but now we can be a lot more liberal. What that means right now as far as innings, I don’t know. But yeah, certainly, he’s a full (go).”

...
“I always liked starting when I was a kid when I was playing in tournaments representing Mexico, or when the Dodgers first scouted me,” Urías said through a translator. “Being in this situation when you have a guy like Clayton Kershaw and now you have a guy like David Price that comes from another team and you see how they prepare and the way they go about their work to be ready for every fifth day, it almost injects you with this new passion of wanting to be a starter and wanting to take the ball every fifth day.

Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com -- "Urías takes on challenge of fourth rotation spot."

“If this season they give me the opportunity to really go out there and just pitch,” said Urías, “I feel like this year is the year I can really take off. I feel it’s a really important year for my career.”

• If you're in the Central Valley then you should check out this play in Bakersfield. Via Stefani Dias at Bakersfield.com -- "Dodger blues: 'Chavez Ravine' tells tough history of LA neighborhood."
• Per Mike DiGiovanna at the LA Times -- "Former Dodgers Kenta Maeda and Rich Hill are now brimming with optimism as Twins."

“I was a starter all my life, so to be moved to the bullpen was a little frustrating at times,” Maeda said through his interpreter, Daichi Sekizaki. “The preparation and the mind-set as a reliever were different than a starter.

“I personally want to be a starter all throughout the season, and for [the Twins] to see the value in me as a starting pitcher is really great to hear.”

• ICYMI: Via Paul Caputo at Sports Logos.net -- "OKC Dodgers commemorate 25th anniversary of OKlahoma City Bombing.
• Wha...? Per Darren Hartwell at NBC Sports -- "Alex Verdugo shows Manny Ramirez love with unique Red Sox number choice."
• Fantastic! Via Greg Bates at Sports Collectors Digest -- "The King of Cards: Paul Jones has amassed 2.8 million baseball cards, and they’re a godsend."

“What happens then is they’ll say, ‘2.8? Are you kidding me?’” said Barry, who noted Paul adds about 300,000 cards to his collection annually. “They give you that unbelievable, ‘Nobody has 2.8. Why would you collect that many cards?’ That’s what usually happens when you say 2.8. People are non-believers. But then I explain Pauly has a learning disability and baseball was like the saving grace for him.”

Said Paul: “I have a passion for the game of baseball and I love card collecting. I just think it’s a great thing to do. I love the sportsmanship and the camaraderie.” 

• Why am I only finding out now that Gold Glove winners get to have a Gold Glove patch on their glove? Check out this tweet from Bill Plunkett about Cody Bellinger:

#Dodgers Cody Bellinger proud to have the gold patch on his glove signifying he is a Gold Glove winner pic.twitter.com/2r4Ee7jAyc

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 20, 2020

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