Some Guys Just Don't Look Right in a Dodger Uniform

photo by Jon SooHoo (L.A. Dodgers)

Some guys just don’t look right in a Dodger uniform.  That was my first thought when photos on twitter appeared of Mark McGwire wearing Dodger blue.  It just looked odd.  I know it shouldn’t.  Mark grew up in the southland and as a Dodger fan, but it just does.  Maybe things will change over time and it’ll not look awkward.  Right now that is the case.  I remember thinking that Torre and Mattingly looked strange in Dodger uniforms at first, and that changed with time.

There are a few that wore Dodger unis that I never could get used to though.  Looking at photos from years past of them hasn’t changed my position.

There was Richie Allen.  A Phillie, Cardinal (for a short time) and Whie Sock.  He looked normal in all those uniforms.  For some reason, he simply looked awkward to me in the Dodger duds for his lone season as a Dodger in 1971.

Then the next year, Allen was traded to the Sox for Tommy John and the Dodgers attempted to replace his big bat in the lineup with former Red and Oriole Frank Robinson.  Again, the future hall of famer didn’t look right in the blue.

Of course the worst match of a player in a Dodger uniform was this future hall of famer.  Is it any wonder that he didn't last a month.  No need to even discuss it.

Years passed and other players that don't quite look right wearing Dodger blue comes to mind.  I won't name their names, (though some of the photos are of baseball cards, so their names are given away).  One thing for certain, they all served the bulk of their careers in other uniforms.

Who comes to mind for you?

Dee Gordon...the Good and the Bad

(Photo: Los Tigres de Licey, team website)

In a small sample of Winter League games, we have some numbers on how Dee Gordon is performing. Through nineteen dates in the Dominican Winter League with the Licey Tigers, Gordon is hitting .329 with an OBP of .402.  He has tripled four times, scored 13 runs and stolen 8 bags in 11 attempts.  This is the kind of offensive output we have hoped for from Gordon.  The old adage “you can’t steal first base” has been the biggest problem as his on base percentage has made putting him at the top a the lineup a big problem.  Most encouraging from this output is that he has drawn seven walks, a pace that is five times better than his normal rate in the majors.

Now for the bad news:  19 games, 9 ERRORS.  Yes, that’s nine including the one committed in last nights ninth inning to cost his club the game in a 5-4 loss.

As the years go by, Dee’s defense seems to have gotten more erratic.  At the end of this season, he looked completely lost out there.  Granted, he was returning from a dislocated thumb in his throwing hand.  I’m hoping that the cause of his problems is that he’s still recovering from the injury, because here we are, with Dee possibly entering his third year of major league service and he’s still a defensive liability out there. 

I know there are many that are thinking the Dee is trade fodder.  I am hoping that isn’t so.  With Gordon’s speed on the base paths and range defensively, I still think he can be a valuable Dodger for years to come.  The thing is, there isn’t much room on the present day roster for him.  If he’s dealt, I’m hoping it's to the American League where he won’t come back and haunt us.

The Dominican League isn't an easy Winter League to thrive in.  Fans are tough.  The competition is very good too.  Gordon did well in the Puerto Rican League two years ago, so it is encouraging to see him do well offensively in the Dominican.  The Liga Dominicana is viewed as the most competitive of all the Caribbean Winter Leagues.

Hyun-Jin Ryu, Youkalis, Torii Hunter...Is There Anyone Not Rumored to Join the Dodgers?

With the announcement that an MLB team has posted over $25 million for the rights to negotiate with Korean left handed starter Hyun-Jin Ryu, rumors are circulating that the team that won the bidding war is the Dodgers.  This shouldn't be surprising to any of us.  The Guggenheim group is sparing no expense to assemble a championship club.

Ryu was instrumental in leading the Korea National team to the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympics.  He tossed 8 1/3 innings against the Cuban national team in the gold medal game, winning 3-2.  He also has World Baseball Classic Championship experience in 2009 hekping the Korean to a second place finish against Japan.  

The 25 year old lefty throws and assortment of 4 pitches.  With a fastball hitting as high as 94 MPH, Ryu set the Korean Baseball League record by striking out 17 in one game this past year.   He was 9-9 with a 2.66 ERA, striking out 210 batters over 182 innings.   Some believe he is best set to be a reliever in the Big Leagues but I have a hard time believing that the Dodgers would pay such a hefty sim for additional bullpen help.  Ryu is going to start.  

This is a pitcher that puts up innings.  He's a workhorse having led the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) in strikeouts five of the last seven years.  He also led the league in wins once and won the ERA title twice.   He has thrown between 165 and 211 innings in the KBO since joining the league in 2006.  His lifetime numbers in the KBO are: 98-52, 2.80 ERA.   In international competition aside from success in the WBC and Olympics, he has led his national team to two Asian Games championships. 

A pitcher with a hefty build he is listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 215 lbs.  Video clips of him show him to be probably closer to 240-250 though.  Some compare him to David Wells for that very reason.  Ryu is represented by Scott Boras, so expect the Dodgers to pay handsomely for him.  There is a 40-day window to negotiate a contract.  If nothing is settled in that time, The 25 year old lefty will return to the Hanwha Eagles.

Look for Ryu to be signed and the Dodgers to see how things play out in Spring Training with the starting staff.  The addition of Ryu means they enter Spring Training with Kershaw, Beckett, Capuano, Harang, a questionable Billingsley and Lilly and the new Korean left hander.  If opening day approaches and there are seven healthy starters, I wouldn't be surprised if one or two are dealt.  If there is one thing we have noted with Colletti, he seems to collect an over abundance of starting pitchers each year becasue he knows full well that there is usually someone that will break down.

The reports on Billingsley were encouraging this past week, but the fact that he is returning from a partial elbow ligament tear should be a major concern.  As much as we all want to see him next year, isn't in the Dodgers best interest to have him go under the knife and completely heal?  You have to figure that Bills will be overly cautious and perhaps will hold back a bit to remain healthy.

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Ken Rosenthal has mentioned that the Dodgers are interested in free agent Kevin Youkilis as a third baseman this year.  Youk had a career low .328 on base percentage.  For those that are against this possible move because of the emergence of Luis Cruz, it is important to look at Cruz's OBP of .326 this past year.  Maybe one year of Youialis and using Cruz as the super ultility guy is the way to go next year.  This is all contingent on signing Youk to a 1 year deal.  Anything more than that would be a waste on the aging third baseman.  I believe that Youkilis may be seeking a longer deal in an attempt to nab one last big money contract.  He is 33 years old.

It is also reported that there is interest in Torii Hunter as well.  Hunter, at 37 years old, had a fine year and the thought of adding him is an interesting proposition.  San Francisco is also rumored to be interested in Hunter who would fit in well in the Giant outfield that is lacking of a solid third outfielder.  If Hunter is willing to take on the 4th outfielder role with the Dodgers, this might be a good move.  The friendship between Kemp and Hunter is well chronicled.  Is that enough for him to accept a role of reduced playing time?

Matt Kemp and Torii Hunter take in a Laker game together.

Jeff Kent Antics on CBS' "Survivor"

I have a confession to make.  I watch the CBS show Survivior and have since it’s inception.  I’m not sure why I latched on to this reality show from the beginning because I really can’t think of any others that I watch, but I have enjoyed it over the years. 

photo by Monty Brinton/CBS

So I took a particular interest in this season’s Survivor show since Huntington Beach native and former Giant and Dodger Jeff Kent was a competitor on the show.  I have to admit I was rooting for him.  

I know that Jeff Kent is a polarizing baseball figure.  A lot of Dodger fans disliked him because of his roots as a Giant.  Many Giant fans hate him because he finished his career as a Dodger and got emotional when he spoke of attending Dodger games as a kid with his dad in the introductory press conference in 2005.  Others had issues with Kent because of his demeanor as a player.  He was an "all business" type of player.  He took the game seriously.  Personally, I loved his game.  

To me, Kent was old school and misunderstood.  He led by example and hated the modern day players that showboat with celebratory hijinks.  I know he had problems with some of the new core of players coming up to the Dodgers.   That caused some tension in the clubhouse that probably could have been dealt with better had the manager at the time (Torre) been less concerned about his ego and more about the team's cohesion and chemistry.  I saw Kent positively interact with fans, specifically children, my son being one (earlier in his years as a Giant and later when my boy was a teenager while a Dodger).  He was nothing but a gentleman and true professional.

Getting back to the CBS reality show.  Kent's antics on the show very closely paralleled the way he played baseball.  He was all business and a fierce competitor.  None of it had to do with money.  The guy just wants to win.  I bet if they were playing "Tiddlywinks" he'd be going all out.  

On the first episode, within the first 10 seconds that the game started Kent claimed that he tore his ACL jumping out of a boat and banging his leg on a wood piling.  I have no doubt that he was injured because Jeff hobbled for quite some time over the next several episodes.  Being the tough athlete that he is, he never revealed to anyone (except the camera men in private) that he was injured.  Once players in this game know you aren’t 100%, they circle you like sharks would to bleeding prey and they eliminate you.  Jeff knew that he needed to keep his injury concealed from other players.  Another thing he successfully kept hidden from other competitors was his background as a former baseball player.

He gritted his way through the competition without revealing his true identity.  Only one player, (Dawson) knew he was a former baseball player, but she didn’t reveal it to any of the players.  She toyed with him and attempted to make him scramble.  "Maybe I should date an athlete," she told him in an early episode.  When asked what an athlete was she added that she didn't consider baseball players real athletes, "There's too much standing around."

Before Dawson was voted off the game, she continued mentally toying with Jeff in an attempt to raise his apprehension. During one of the nights when they were all resting under the canopy of their shelter, out of the blue she said, “You know what baseball team is the greatest?  The Braves.”  Kent didn’t say a word and nobody caught on to her antics.

When contestant Dana Lambert, (an injured player that had to leave the Island early), was interviewed about her time in the game and it was revealed to her that Kent was a ballplayer and multi-millionaire, she expressed surprise and said that she wished she had known that.  “I would have approached him with it (the information on his past).  He already has millions of dollars.  Why do they need to give him another million?”  (  Link to quote HERE  )

Kent hobbled his way through competitive challenges and somehow figured out a way to run and exert himself physically while jumping, climbing, diving, swimming and sprinting through the competition.  He formed and broke aliances, used mental savvy to blindside competitors and forged friendships in his attempt to weasel his way into the final 9 players.  I think it would have been interesting had his identity been exposed, but it never happened.

Video footage of Kent's final episode LINKED HERE

On the episode that aired tonight, a decision Kent made the previous day back fired on him as a player that he agreed to give immunity to in exchange for him throwing a challenge, turned his back on him and voted him out.  A perturbed Kent walked off the Survivor Island with that arrogant swagger he had as a ball player.  He looked as angry as if he just lost the NL Pennant.  His closing comment had to be one of the best I have ever seen on that show:

“You know what pisses me off?  I think I’ve made something like $60 million dollars when I was playing baseball and I want this frickin’ million dollars in this game.  And it’s not even a million bucks, its 600 grand by the time Obama takes it.  I’m a game 7 World Series loser and I played in the biggest games in the world and the worst games in the world.  This just sucks!”

Now that was definitely the Jeff Kent I remember...

Pat Corrales Joins Dodger Staff & Other Baseball Notes

Pat Corrales was added to the Dodger staff as another Assistant to the general Manager.  It looks like Stan Kasten is adding his favorites to the staff as he had Corrales on his staff during his Atlanta  and Washington days.  Colletti remains in place, but how comfortable can he be with the likes of Gerry Hunsicker, Corrales, Bob Engle and Patrick Guerrero added into the administration mix.  Fewer and fewer Colletti guys inhabit the front office.  If the Dodgers falter early in 2013, look for Colletti's job to be in jeopardy.

What I find surprising is that no team has snatched away Logan White from the Dodgers.  He certainly has deserved a General Manager job somewhere.  I don't know how much longer the Dodgers will be able to retain him with his excellent track record.

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In other baseball news:

The Cardinals announced Jahn Mabry as their Major League hitting coach, replacing Mark McGwire.

Dodger minor league pitcher, Jose Dominguez (22), has failed a drug test.  He is suspended for 25 games.  Who is he?  I didn't know myself.  Played at Great Lakes and Chattanooga last season.  He's a right handed pitcher out of the Dominican Republic.  He put up poor numbers at Single A Great Lakes and in 7 innings at Chattanooga, he allowed just one earned run.

Dennis "El Presidente" Martinez has joined the Houston Astros coaching staff as a bullpen coach.

Former Brooklyn Dodgers Joe Pignatano and Ralph Branca were featured at the NBA Brooklyn Nets home opener whose arena is situated very near to where Walter O'Malley wanted to build a domed stadium that would have kept the Dodgers in Brooklyn in 1958.

The Cincinnati Reds are seriously considering putting Aroldis Chapman in their starting rotation.  Don't look now, but Reds reliever Jonathan Broxton will most likely be on the free agent market.  LINKED HERE

Still no word on the Washington Nationals extending Davey Johnson's contract as their manager.  Could his job be on the ropes?

The Angels are completely revamping the look of their pitching staff now that Dan Haren was allowed to walk and Zack Greinke is a free agent.  Look for the Halos to attempt to land a top tier pitcher this off-season if they are unable to re-sign Grienke.
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On this election eve I repost Upper Deck Presidential cards that relate to the two candidates on the slate. 

Mitt "Pudge" Romney (reenacting the 1975 Game 6 "Pole Shot")

Barack "Bobby Jenks" Obama (from the 2005 World Series Victory)

May the best candidate win.

Dodgers Press Release: 2013 Promo Schedule Out

Old Timer's Day is back!  The Dodgers haven't had one of those for years.  There are a lot of Bobblehead days.  Take a look.

Press Release Follows:

Friday, November 2, 2012                                                                                       

DODGERS ANNOUNCE 2013 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their 2013 promotional schedule today. The list of giveaways will offer fans unique collectibles and fan favorite items. The Dodgers will give away 10 bobbleheads, including legendary Dodger Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax, Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín, Dodger owner Earvin “Magic” Johnson, current Dodger stars Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez and Dodger broadcaster Rick Monday. Johnson will also be featured in a second giveaway item, a one-of-a-kind T-shirt. Hello Kitty returns for 2013 with a fleece blanket and mini bobblehead on the promotional calendar. In addition, there will also be seven different kids’ giveaway items.

Opening Day at Dodger Stadium is Monday, April 1 at 1:10 p.m. versus the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers will celebrate Jackie Robinson night on April 15 (vs. SD) with a Robinson, Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella statue giveaway. Brand new promotional dates include a hooded sweatshirt giveaway on April 3 (vs. SF), earbuds on June 29 (vs. PHI) and an Old-Timers’ Day and giveaway item on June 8 (vs. ATL). The return of Old Timers’ Day will feature a contest between Dodgers and Yankees legends.

The 2013 promotional schedule includes fan favorites such as Friday Night Fireworks, a sports bag, Mother’s Day tote bag, beach chair, back-to-school backpack, adult replica jersey, sleeved blanket and caps. Viva Los Dodgers Days will also return in 2013. Fan Appreciation Day will conclude the regular season on September 29 and the full promotional schedule is now available at www.dodgers.com/promotions.

The Dodgers will once again offer a 10-game bobblehead mini plan, a best seller in 2012, that enables fans to purchase all 10 bobblehead promotional dates. A 15-game plan includes all 10 bobblehead games, Opening Day and four other promotional dates. The Dodgers’ 20 and 30-game Pick ‘Em plans offer fans the most flexibility and best mini plan locations. Mini plan pricing starts at $11 and complete details are available now at www.dodgers.com/miniplans.

The best way for fans to collect 2013 promotions, purchase Opening Day tickets and secure Interleague matchups against the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels is to purchase season tickets. Season ticket options, one of the best values in Los Angeles and all of sports, start as low as $5 per ticket. Complete details on 2013 season ticket pricing can be found by visiting www.dodgers.com/seasontickets.

BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAYS (April 30, May 14, May 25, June 6, June 27, July 11, July 25, August 10, August 27, September 12)

Bobbleheads of Dodgers past and present are scheduled throughout the season. The 2013 bobblehead collection includes “I See You” Hanley Ramirez on April 30 (vs. COL), Matt Kemp on May 14 (vs. WAS), Jaime Jarrín on May 25 (vs. STL), Sandy Koufax on June 27 (vs. PHI), Adrian Gonzalez on July 11 (vs. COL), Vin Scully on July 25 (vs. CIN), a “flag saving” Rick Monday on August 27 (vs. CHI) and Magic Johnson on September 12 (vs. SF). The remaining three bobbleheads will be announced later.

FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS (April 5, April 26, May 10, May 24, June 7, June 28, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 23, August 30, September 13)

The popular season-long Friday Night Fireworks series will return for the 2013 season. Fans can watch the themed fireworks shows from the outfield grass after the game.

KIDS ITEMS (April 7, April 28, May 27, June 9, June 30, July 28, August 11)

There are seven Dodger kids’ items on the 2013 promotional schedule, including a kids Matt Kemp replica jersey on April 7 (vs. PIT), kids’ batting helmet on April 28 (vs. MIL), kids’ Fathead on May 27 (vs. LAA), kids’ compression sleeve on June 9 (vs. ATL), kids’ performance shirt on June 30 (vs. PHI), kids’ sunglasses on July 28 (vs. CIN) and kids back-to-school backpack on August 11 (vs. TB).

SPECIALTY ITEMS (April 3, April 15, April 17, April 27, May 7, May 12, May 28, June 4, June 8, June 11, June 25, June 29, August 13, August 31, September  28

Dodger specialty items on the 2013 promotional schedule include a hooded sweatshirt on April 3 (vs. SF), Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella statue on April 15 (vs. SD), Hello Kitty fleece blanket on April 17 (vs. SD), sports bag on April 27 (vs. MIL), T-shirt on May 7 (vs. AZ), Mother’s Day tote bag on May 12 (vs. MIA), Magic Johnson T-shirt on May 28 (vs. LAA), cap on June 4 (vs. SD), Old-Timers’ Day and giveaway item on June 8 (vs. ATL), beach chair on June 11 (vs. AZ), beach towel on June 25 (vs. SF), earbuds on June 29 (vs. PHI), cap on August 13 (vs. PHI), adult replica jersey on August 31 (vs. SD) and sleeved blanket on September 28 (vs. COL).

VIVA LOS DODGERS DAYS (April 7, April 28, May 26, June 9, June 30, July 14, July 28, August 11, August 25, September 1, September 14

Viva Los Dodgers Day, a season-long initiative, will enter its fourth year and celebrate Latino culture in Los Angeles and the legacy of Latin American Dodgers past and present throughout the 2013 season.  The family-friendly pregame festival is held in lot 6 two hours prior to each Sunday's game where fans can enjoy live music and a family-friendly celebration. La Gran Fiesta – Viva Los Dodgers, the culmination of a season-long series and the Dodgers’ marquee Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, is set for Saturday, September 14 and will be held in lot 6 four hours prior to the game. Fans can get more information on “Viva Los Dodgers Days” by visiting www.dodgers.com/viva andwww.losdodgers.com/viva.

2013 Promotional Schedule

4/1       Opening Day, Magnet Schedules

4/3       Hooded Sweatshirt *

4/5       Friday Night Fireworks               

4/7       Kids Matt Kemp Replica Jersey ^, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run The Bases

4/15     Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe & Roy Campanella Statue *, Jackie Robinson Night

4/17     Hello Kitty Fleece Blanket

4/26     Friday Night Fireworks

4/27     Sports Bag *

4/28     Kids’ Batting Helmet ^, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases

4/30     Hanley Ramirez “I See You” Bobblehead

5/7       T-Shirt *

5/10     Friday Night Fireworks

5/11     Natural Balance Pet Foods Bark in the Park #1 °

5/12     Tote Bag *, Mother’s Day & Postgame Walk Around the Park

5/14     Matt Kemp Bobblehead

5/24     Friday Night Fireworks

5/25     Jaime Jarrín Bobblehead              

5/26     MLB Network Drawstring Bag *, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases

5/27      Kids’ Fathead ^

5/28      Magic Johnson T-Shirt *                             

6/4        Cap #1 *

6/6        Bobblehead #4

6/7        Friday Night Fireworks

6/8        Old Timers’ Day & Item *, Old Timer’s Game

6/9        Kids’ Compression Sleeve ^, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases

6/11       Beach Chair

6/25       Beach Towel *

6/27       Sandy Koufax Bobblehead

6/28       Friday Night Fireworks  

6/29       Earbuds *

6/30       Kids’ Performance Shirt ^, Viva Los Dodgers, Kids Run the Bases                    

7/11       Adrian Gonzalez Bobblehead                                

7/12       Friday Night Fireworks

7/14       Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases

7/25       Vin Scully Bobblehead

7/26       Friday Night Fireworks

7/28       Kids’ Sunglasses ^, Viva Los Dodgers, Kids Run the Bases

8/9         Friday Night Fireworks

8/10       Bobblehead #8              

8/11       Kids’ Back to School Backpack ^, Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases

8/13       Cap #2 *

8/23       Friday Night Fireworks

8/25       Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases

8/27       Rick Monday “Flag Saving” Bobblehead

8/30       Friday Night Fireworks

8/31       Adult Replica Jersey *

9/1         Viva Los Dodgers Day, Kids Run the Bases

9/9         Hello Kitty Mini Bobblehead

9/12       Magic Johnson Bobblehead

9/13       Friday Night Fireworks

9/14       La Gran Fiesta – Viva Los Dodgers

9/15       Kids Run the Bases

9/27       Friday Night Fireworks

9/28       Sleeved Blanket *, Natural Balance Pet Foods Bark in the Park #2 °

9/29       Fan Appreciation Day

While supplies last.  Giveaways listed are for the first 50,000 fans unless otherwise noted. Only one giveaway item per person will be given to the bearer of the ticket upon entering the stadium. Schedule subject to change without notice. Please visit www.dodgers.com/promotions for complete details.

^ First 15,000 ticketed kids 14 and under in attendance

*First 40,000 fans

°Special ticket required

Remembering Pascual Perez

There was very sad news about Pascual Perez today.  A troubled right handed starter for numerous teams who had his issues with addictions.  His best years were with the Atlanta Braves.  He was found dead today in his Dominican Republic home, the victim of a violent home invasion murder.  The coronor in Santo Domingo estimates that the attack occured eight hours before Perez was found by his wife at 8:30 Am this morning.  Perez was 55 years old.  

  

Nicknamed “I-285” due to his failure to arrive for a scheduled start against the Dodgers in 1982 because he circled around on Interstate 285 for hours trying to find Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium, Perez was a flamboyant player that opponents hated due to his show-boating and exhuberance on the mound.The home fans loved his antics though as he would used his pointed finger in imaginery fashion to shoot opponents dead after striking them out.

On the day he got lost trying to find the ball[park, Braves Manager Joe Torre was forced to start Phil Niekro in his stead.  Perez arrived in the second inning of he game.  He finally pulled over because he was almost out of gas.  A gas station attendant recognized him and got him on the right track and to the game.  Perez was particularly important to the Braves that season, a year when the Braves beat out the Dodgers by one game for the Division title.  He had seven quality starts in the final month and a half of the season playing a key roll in their title drive.

Perez’ brothers included other major league pitchers Melido and Carlos.  The latter was a notable Dodger in the late 90’s, and not for good reasons.  Carlos had addiction problems too and was known to upset opponents with his showboating as well.  His Dodger career was less than stellar.

During the 1984 brawl with San Diego, Padre pitchers threw at Perez on three separate occasions.  On this one, Perez used his bat to defend himself.  (photo capture: MLB video)

Pascual Perez is also remembered as being the target of  several beanball wars, most notably a wild 1984 game with the San Diego Padres.  This August 12th game got so out of hand that I thought the umps were going to have to call it.  Take a look at the MLB clip.  That game was on highlight reels for years.  

CLICK HERE to See Video of Braves/Padres 1984 brawl

May he rest in peace.  My thoughts and prayers are with Pascual's family.