Blog Kiosk: 6/12/2020 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

2020 Draft is over and we now have six new prospects to watch -- assuming they sign on the dotted line. On Wednesday they picked University of Louisville right-hander Bobby Miller. Then on Thursday they added five more players -- Landon Knack RHP 60th overall, Clayton Beeter RHP 66th overall, Jake Vogel OF 100th overall, Carson Taylor C 130th overall and Gavin Stone RHP 159th overall.

I made a handful of fantasy custom baseball cards for Knack, Beeter and Vogel. I hope to have more to share soon, so stay tuned.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1940 the Dodgers made one of the biggest trades in their history. They received 1937 Triple Crown winner Joe "Ducky" Medwick and pitcher Curt Davis from the Cardinals for outfielder Ernie Koy, pitcher Carl Doyle, two minor leaguers and $125k in cash (a huge sum in those days). The Dodgers would win the pennant the following season for the first time since 1920. In 1955 Don Newcombe, having won his first ten decisions of the season, lost his first game of the year when Brooklyn falls to the Cubs, 9-5. In 2005 first baseman Hee-Seop Choi hit home runs in his first three at-bats this evening against the Twins to propel the Dodgers over Minnesota, 4-3. Watch all three here. 
• Happy Birthday, Jack O'Brein, Roger Bernadina & Damon Hollins! 
• YouTube Video: Dodgers First Rounder Bobby Miller speaks with Orel Hershiser (video link).
• Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider -- "Dodgers 2020 MLB Draft recap."
• Per Cliff Corcoran at Sports Illustrated -- "Evaluating the Dodgers' Drafts Under Andrew Friedman."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA -- "Dodgers scout Marty Lamb crucial in drafting Bobby Miller in 1st round."

“You have to give a lot of credit to Marty Lamb, he does a great job,” Dodgers vice president of amateur scouting, Billy Gasparino, said. “He’s very trustworthy, he’s very thorough. Everything he says, we take as gospel. It makes a big difference in the confidence with these picks, especially this year in not seeing as many players as we usually do in person.”

Marty Lamb has been scouting for the Dodgers since 1999, and currently covers four states — Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee. Of the Dodgers’ 10 first-round picks since 2015, Lamb was the area scout for six of them, and also signed Matt Beaty and Luke Raley, both of whom are on the 40-man roster.

• Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider -- "‘Big adjustments’ in short season lifted Bobby Miller to Dodgers’ top pick."

“To give the kid credit, he made big adjustments in his delivery,” Gasparino said. “He made big adjustments in his slider. His fastball rose by 3 mph. It kind of all came for him together.”

The adjustments gave signs to Gasparino that Miller possessed the aptitude and athleticism to continue taking strides once he works with the Dodgers’ player development staff. 

“Quite frankly, as soon as we saw the first start we were like, ‘Wow, it happened,’” Gasparino said.

• Per Marly Rivera at ESPN -- "Alex Cora: Astros' sign-stealing wasn't two-man show."

"There has been a narrative out there of what happened. Ever since mid-November until the commissioner announced the results of the Red Sox investigation, I have read many things that are true and many others that are not," he said. "Out of this whole process, if there is one thing that I completely reject and disagree with is people within the Astros' organization singling me out, particularly [former general manager] Jeff Luhnow, as if I were the sole mastermind. The commissioner's report sort of explained, in its own way, what happened. But the [Astros players] have spoken up and refuted any allegations that I was solely responsible."

He added: "If there is one thing I am absolutely sure of, it is that it was not a two-man show. We all did it. And let me be very clear that I am not denying my responsibility, because we were all responsible."

• This weeks Throwback Thursday #TBT Topps online exclusive set features the 1956 Topps FLAGS Of The WORLD design and includes Mookie Betts. Go here to check it out and order. Check out the Betts card below:

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