Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 8/16/2018 - Dodgers Links

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Blog Kiosk: 8/16/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Ryu was good. Really, really good! Per Doug Padilla at MLB.com:

After nearly 3 1/2 months in recovery mode from a left groin strain, Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu looked as sharp as he was before he was injured, if not better, delivering six scoreless innings. The left-hander gave up three hits, and two of those came in the fifth. Ryu struck out six and let only two baserunners reach second base. None made it to third.

"It was huge," (Dave) Roberts said. "I've said it before, that you win with starting pitching. Our starters have been lights out, they really have. And to get [Ryu] back, the way he's throwing the baseball, that's a huge boost for our club."

Unfortunately, Ryu's effort wasn't quite enough, as the bullpen again failed to hold the lead. Then, walk-off magic happened in the 12th, courtesy of Brian Dozier, to break the losing streak.

"Last I checked, the majority of winning streaks always come after a loss, right?" Dozier said. "That's the thing with baseball, it flips just like that. Hopefully we can reel off a few in a row."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1950 Giants third baseman Hank Thompson hit two inside-the-park home runs off Dodger pitchers Don Bankhead and Carl Erskine at the Polo Grounds. Brooklyn got pummeled 16-7. In 1964 Cardinals great Curt Flood recorded eight consecutive hits against the Dodgers during a doubleheader in Los Angeles; including four hits against Sandy Koufax. Unfortunately, Koufax injured his elbow while on the basepaths and would not pitch again this season. In 1988 the Dodgers traded fan favorite Pedro Guerrero to the Cardinals for starting pitcher John Tudor. This move would prove to be an impactful one. In nine starts Tudor would solidify the rotation by going 4-3 with an 2.41 ERA and 3.36 FIP.
Happy Birthday, Hub Northen, Billy Rhiel, Roger Cedeno & Yu Darvish!
Memorabilia Watch: This is very cool. Check out this vintage, circa 1958, printing plate featuring a portrait of Roy Campanella (eBay link). One of these days I'll pull out my small collection of Brooklyn Eagle printing plates featuring Brooklyn ballplayers. Here are some vending machine advertising signs celebrating the 1988 playoffs and World Series in Los Angeles (eBay link). I must admit that as a teen I took a few of these too.
RIP, Aretha Franklin. I have nothing but respect.
What the heck is this? Per Darren Rovell at ESPN; "Elon Musk's tunnel company aims to reduce Dodger Stadium traffic with 'Dugout Loop'"

Elon Musk's tunnel construction and infrastructure firm, The Boring Company, in cooperation with the city of Los Angeles, announced Wednesday it would build a privately funded tunnel from a subway station in East Hollywood to Dodger Stadium that would reduce time in traffic from more than an hour in the car to fewer than four minutes by electric vehicle.

The Boring Company is projecting that, when ready, 1,500 fans per game can take the company's underground high-speed vehicles through the tunnel called "The Dugout Loop," instead of sitting in their cars in traffic. That number can eventually rise to 2,800 fans, or 5 percent of Dodger Stadium's capacity.

Go here for "The Boring Company" description of the Dugout Loop.

BTW, Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts takes a realistic look at this venture.

Per Deesha Thosar at MLB.com; "Shred Hate program gains 5 new MLB teams: Angels, Dodgers, Phillies, Pirates, Rangers join initiative to end bullying."
Check out Andrew McCutchen's thoughts about the little brawl, via the Bleacher Report on twitter: