Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 6/24/2020 - Dodgers Links & news

Baseball's back!

Featured above is a 9/29/1946 ACME press photo featuring the Ebbets Field granstands and a whole bunch of celebrating Brooklynites. Per the descriptor on the reverse (eBay auction link):

Futile Ray of Hope -- Brooklyn fans cheer at Ebbets Field as their team stops the Boston Braves momentarily. A few moments later, gloom descended again as the Braves went on to win the game, 4 to 0. Brooks are tied for first place in the National League with the St. Louis Cardinals, who lost to the Cubs, 8 to 3.

On a side note, I am still not entirely convinced that this is really going to happen. Nevertheless, I will celebrate with all the optimism and hope the game tries to inspire.

Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 Jackie Robinson stole home plate for the first time in his career. It was against the Pirates at Forbes Field during the fifth inning to give the Dodgers a lead and it was the eventual winning run, 4-2. In 1955 future Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax makes his Major League debut. He pitches in relief against the Milwaukee Braves and goes two innings -- allowing one hit, one walk and striking out two. In 1958 the Dodgers signed amateur free agent infielder/outfielder Ron Fairly out of USC. He would eventually play 12 seasons in Los Angeles -- slashing .260/.347/.385/.732 while helping the club capture three World Series titles. In 2018 the Dodgers tie a NL record when they collectively hit seven solo home runs during a single game. It was against the Met's at Citi Field, and it includes a game-winning homer by Justin Turner -- against his old club in the 12th inning, 8-7.
Happy Birthday, Jack Banta & Jason Romano!
WooHoo! Via tweet from the Dodgers:

WE. ARE. BACK. pic.twitter.com/702QK1iodW
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 24, 2020

Via Craig Edwards at FanGraphs -- "With Health and Safety Protocols Agreed To, Major League Baseball Is a Go."

The full schedule is expected within 72 hours, though Jon Heyman has reported there will be 40 games in-division (10 games vs. each division opponent) and 20 games against teams in the opposite league’s corresponding geographic division. Ronald Blum of the Associated Press reports that teams will play four games each against their interleague opponents and will make just one visit to all of their opponents during the season.

Along with the schedule, there’s been a steady flow of information on new in-game rules, the trade deadline, and perhaps the issue causing a delay — whether players living with individuals at high risk of complication from COVID-19 can opt out of the season and receive service time and salary. It was a known issue of contention as recently as Monday, with the league unwilling to accommodate the players’ request.

Spring training in LA, via a tweet from Jorge Castillo:

If there was any doubt: The Dodgers would hold Summer Training at Dodger Stadium.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) June 23, 2020

Oh, Boy! Via a tweet from Astros beat-writer Chandler Rome:

The Astros will play the Dodgers in the regular season.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 24, 2020

Via Jeffery Bellone at Dodgers Way -- "2020 schedule considered 4th easiest in baseball."
Panini America's blog recently shared some preview pics of their upcoming 2020 Immaculate Baseball brand. Check out the Gavin Lux card on the right. Go here to see more. This set will be arriving in stores on August 21st.
Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider -- "Welcome to the bigs: The story of Cody Bellinger’s MLB debut."

That January, we reached out to MLB.com’s prospect expert Jim Callis, and he shared this: “Personally, I think Cody Bellinger is the best power-hitting prospect in baseball.”

And he added this: “I can’t remember ever hearing a first baseman in the Minor Leagues being talked about like that defensively.”

Via 2demeter2 at LA Dodger Talk -- "Meet Robbie Peto."

As mentioned above, Peto was best friends with Zach Attianese. They roomed together as freshman at North Carolina State and the following year at State College of Florida. They would often talk about one day playing pro ball together for the same organization. Tim Hill II, who coached Peto and Attianese at the State College of Florida,, stated in an interview that the Los Angeles Dodgers called Attianese and expressed interest in selecting him during the 2018 MLB draft. Attianese, who had an excellent year at State College of Florida made it abundantly clear he wouldn’t sign a professional contract at the time because he wanted to continue his development and education at Florida State University for whom he was going to play in 2019. Peto, signed his contract with the Dodgers on the 2-year anniversary of Attianese’s untimely death. “He at all times wanted to play for the Dodgers because he loved (Clayton) Kershaw,” Peto said of Attianese, adding that his grandfather, Walt, who the Yankees drafted in 1967, was also a huge Dodgers fan. “It just felt like it was so right for me to go with the Dodgers,” said Peto, who called Los Angeles “a great organization.”

ICYMI: The Dodgers were named the 2020 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year in recognition of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF). Per a Dodgers press release:

“Our goal is to achieve the same level of excellence off the field that our fans demand from us on the field,” said Dodger Owner & Chairman Mark Walter, who also is chairman of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “This is much bigger than baseball. We want to tackle the city's most significant challenges, such as unequal access to education, and we are striving to become the best philanthropic organization in the city working on these issues.”

...
“LADF was built for this moment in time. The trauma of a pandemic and social justice events has exacerbated the significant disparities in our communities. We know that inequality can only be dismantled through proactive and strategic interventions, and we are starting with the root causes,” said Nichol Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “This award is a celebration of our organization’s accomplishments, but we are far from done. LADF will not waver. We will be part of the solution.”

Per Paul Banks at Sports Illustrated -- "Walker Buehler's Competitiveness Inspires Pirates Prospect Quinn Priester."

"As much as I enjoy watching Walker throw the ball I wouldn't say I model my mechanics after him, but man he's electric on the mound," Priester said in an exclusive interview this week.

"In terms of my mentality and competitiveness, that guy is incredible to watch."

Per Steve Young at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Latest On Yasiel Puig." He's gonna be a Giant. Oy Vey!

8:25pm: The Giants expect to be contenders to sign Puig when the league lifts its transaction freeze Friday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic tweets. They were connected to Puig on multiple occasions over the winter.