Check out the above vintage spring training press photo, dated Mar 15, 1943, above (eBay auction link). Per the description on the reverse:
DODGER PITCHERS WARM UP. West Point, N.Y.....Pitchers Freddy Fitzsimmons, Kirby Higbe, Curt Davis and Bob Chipman (l-r) are shown loosening up at their first spring training practice held indoors today, at the Army Field House on the West Point Military Reservation.As you know, America was embroiled in WWII, so precautions were made to insure the safety of ballplayers and fans by having teams train in more inland locales. After all, nazi submarines were known to cruise the American east coast to sink all ships. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 2005 the trade that sends outfielder Shawn Green from the Dodgers to the Diamondbacks and includes $8 million changing hands is approved by the Commissioner of baseball, Bud Selig. The trade would officially be consummated eight days later. In 2006 the Dodgers signed free agent starting pitcher Brett Tomko to a two year/$8.7 million contract.
- Happy Birthday, Frenchy Bordagaray & Chris Van Cuyk!
- RIP, Don Larson. Via Jeff Jaffe at FanGraphs -- "Imperfect But for One Afternoon: Don Larsen (1929-2020)."
- ICYMI: Free agent Rich Hill has signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins. Thank you, Dick Mountain!
- Old Dodger friend Edwin Jackson is not done with the game. Per Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Edwin Jackson Intends To Pitch In 2020."
Edwin Jackson, 36, just told us on @MLBNetworkRadio that he’s planning to pitch in 2020. He set an @MLB record this year by pitching for his 14th team. He said his wife likes to say, “They’re going to have to pull you off the field by your ear.” @MLBNetwork— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 31, 2019
- The Cardboard Connection shares a bunch of preview pics for the 2020 Topps Chrome set, scheduled for release on July 29, 2020. Take a look at a Koufax card on the right. Go here to check out more photos.
- Per Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Mike Rosenbaum at MLB.com -- "These 30 prospects are set to break out in 2020." They chose catching prospect (as if the Dodgers need another high-end backstop prospect) Diego Cartaya as the Dodgers breakout candidate:
MLB Pipeline's top-rated international amateur in the 2018 class, Cartaya signed for $2.5 million out of Venezuela. Often compared to Salvador Perez, he has the tools to make a difference offensively and defensively and hit .281/.343/.432 between two Rookie-ball stops in his 2019 pro debut.
- Via KGET.com -- "Dodger’s Dave Roberts to speak at Fellowship of Christian Athletes fundraiser" at the Kern County Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet on Saturday, January 11th at Olive Knolls Nazarene Church in Bakersfield. Go here for tickets.
- Check out this RotoBaller report on Julio Urias. He ranks, for me, as the Dodger most likely to breakout and solidify a place on the rotation.
Julio Urias has been one of the top pitching prospects for a while but injuries have held him back from truly breaking into the Majors and claiming his spot in the Dodgers highly competitive rotation. That should change in 2020, Los Angeles has already announced Urias will start next season and fantasy managers hope this time it's permanent. Urias threw 79.2 innings in the Majors last season with a 2.49 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts in 37 games, eight starts. While his FIP (3.43) and xFIP (4.28) imply his ERA should be in the 3.50-4.00 range, there is a lot to like from the former prospect. Urias led all pitchers with at least 50 batted ball events with a sparkling 83.2 MPH average exit velocity and was the only pitcher with under 25 percent of balls hit 95+ MPH, per statcast. Soft contact isn't Urias' only specialty, however, the 23-year-old lefty averaged more than a strikeout per inning at every minor league stop and posted a respectable 26.1 percent K% last season in the Majors.
- Cody Bellinger and I have something in common -- I like Spam, too. Via a tweet from Christian Shimabuku:
2019 NL MVP @Cody_Bellinger, along with @Kado_Baseball, held his camp at Mid-Pac on Saturday morning. Although he doesn’t know what a plate lunch is just yet, he is a of Spam. pic.twitter.com/KvXuQOfZW9— Christian Shimabuku (@c_shimabuku) December 28, 2019
* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *
No comments:
Post a Comment