From the greatest to the youngest, this year’s FanFest inside Dodger Stadium was a wonderful time.
Ken Gurnick of MLB.com recaps the event, and in a separate story, captured Zack Greinke’s typically candid assessment of the state of things. More photos from the event are at LA Photog Blog.
– Jon Weisman
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By Jon Weisman
Add Mike Bolsinger to the group of new Dodger pitchers who knew Clayton Kershaw when.
Like Brett Anderson, Bolsinger’s knowledge of Kershaw dates back to their high school playing days.
Bolsinger, a righthander who turned 27 on Thursday and is seven weeks older than Kershaw, played on the McKinney High School team that topped Kershaw’s Highland Park High team for the 2006 state title in Texas.
Bolsinger recalled during a chat at FanFest today that under the tournament rules, there was a coin toss to determine whether the championship showdown would be a single game or a three-game series. McKinney won the coin toss, and wisely chose to go for the longer series rather than do-or-die against Kershaw, who went undefeated in his senior season.
“He pitched the first game and won,” Bolsinger said, “and we won the next two.”
A little inside baseball at City Hall: @YasielPuig reaches up for the throw from councilman Tom LaBonge. pic.twitter.com/bA7n3UaA8P
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) January 30, 2015
By Jon Weisman
Yasiel Puig was filled with insouciant musings during today’s conclusion of the Dodgers’ Pitching in the Community caravan, and Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com captured it in an entertaining piece. Here’s an excerpt:
… Puig looked strong, but had no idea how much he weighs with 27 days left until the first full-squad workout.
Perhaps somewhere between 255 and 260.
“Whatever weight I come in, it doesn’t matter,” Puig said, citing teammate Juan Uribe as an example by calling him a “gordito,” exaggerating his weight and saying, “He saves us every game at third base.”
Puig also glowed about Astros 5-foot-6 second baseman Jose Altuve, his teammate for an exhibition tournament throughout Japan in November and someone he credited with inspiring him to intensify his workout regimen this offseason.
“I don’t like working out,” Puig said. “It’s like you have to pay me to enter the gym.”
But Puig did, because he wants to steal more bases and he wants to limit the highs and lows of a six-month regular season. …
Jon SooHoo has more photos from the caravan at LA Photog Blog: first stop, second stop, third stop and fourth stop.
So what else is going on?
Always different to see the Dodgers away from the ballpark. #DodgersCaravan pic.twitter.com/segbL6KjZn
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) January 30, 2015
Howie Kendrick and friends getting in shape for 2015. #DodgersCaravan https://t.co/dGQHu0eHyE
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) January 30, 2015
It was revealed this morning online and makes its full public debut Saturday at FanFest. It’s the Dodgers’ 2015 slogan, “We Love LA.”
“Since 1958, the fans of Southern California have had a love affair with the Dodgers, our broadcasters and Dodger Stadium, and the feeling has been mutual,” said Dodger executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen. “What better way to express our admiration to our fans for their overwhelming support than with this year’s slogan.”
— Jon Weisman
By Jon Weisman
For the first time, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin and his son Jorge will form the broadcast team for the Dodgers’ Spanish radio broadcasts on KTNQ 1020 AM.
Pepe Yniguez and Fernando Valenzuela will be the Spanish broadcast team for SportsNet LA on television, with Manny Mota contributing on both radio and TV.
On the English-language side, the broadcast teams pick up where they left off, starting with Vin Scully on SportsNet LA for Dodger home games and select road games. Scully will simulcast the first three innings on KLAC 570 AM, with Charley Steiner and Rick Monday taking over on radio in the fourth inning.
For the other games, Steiner, Orel Hershiser and Nomar Garciaparra will work TV, with Monday joined by Kevin Kennedy on radio.
This is season No. 66 for Scully with the Dodgers and No. 57 for Jaime Jarrin. Monday is working his 23rd season behind the Dodger mic; Yniguez his 17th, Valenzuela his 13th and Steiner his 11th. Mota is in his sixth season as a Dodger broadcaster and 47th overall with the franchise.
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By Jon Weisman
Joe Wieland has already made it back. More than two years after July 2012 Tommy John surgery, the 6-foot-3 righthander pitched in four games for the San Diego Padres this past September, including an 84-pitch start September 24 that gave him his first big-league win.
The kinks, literally and figuratively, have been worked out, and having come to Los Angeles alongside Yasmani Grandal in the de facto three-way trade with the Padres and Philadelphia, Wieland is completely ready to take on 2015 as one of the new members of the Dodger pitching staff.
By Jon Weisman
As often as the top Dodger minor leaguers get recognized for their potential, I never get tired of it …
Maybe April 15th we'll all wear #42 with this Jackie Robinson replica jersey, presented by Bank of America. pic.twitter.com/sqdhNmH7Mw
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 29, 2015
Wrap yourself in greatness. Get your fleece blanket, presented by Security Benefit, April 29th. pic.twitter.com/gZ3Be07iSW
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 29, 2015
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By Jon Weisman
Pitchers Erik Bedard and Ben Rowen have officially been signed by the Dodgers to minor-league contracts with invites to big-league camp at Spring Training.
Make sure you check out the Dodgers’ guide to Saturday’s free FanFest at Dodger Stadium, which can be downloaded over at the official FanFest page. Above, you can see what will be the lay of the land. Again, this is the first year that FanFest is taking place on the Dodger Stadium field.
— Jon Weisman
By Jon Weisman
On Day 2 of the Dodgers’ Pitching in the Community caravan (presented by Bank of America) today, Dodger alumni including Al Downing, Lee Lacy (pictured), Tim Leary and Dennis Powell visited Hollenbeck Middle School for a project with City Year, which “works to bridge the gap in high-poverty communities between the support that students actually need and what their schools are designed and resourced to provide.”
Next, the caravan visited the After-School All-Stars at Cesar Chavez Elementary, led by Al Ferrara, Matt Luke Luke, Powell, Dodger employees and Bank of America volunteers. After-School All-Stars Los Angeles “educates, enlightens and inspires young people by providing dynamic and exciting opportunities for success, while cultivating self-esteem, leadership and respect to help build healthier communities.”
For more photos from today, visit LA Photog Blog.
Meanwhile …
Howie Kendrick and family meet the press in December. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
By Jon Weisman
Hi. Here are the uniform numbers for the offseason additions to the 40-man roster:
Oh ya' know, just learning from the pros. No big deal. #DodgersCaravan https://t.co/xJ5DBOVToS
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 26, 2015
By Jon Weisman
Despite this afternoon’s rain, the 2015 Pitching in the Community Caravan, presented by Bank of America, got off to a happy start today with a baseball skills clinic featuring Dodger first baseman Adrian Gonzalez at Garfield High School.
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By Jon Weisman
“On a Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, the crafts of pitching and broadcasting came as close to perfection as we’ll ever see,” said Tom Verducci at Saturday’s Baseball Writers Association of America dinner as he introduced the Willie, Mickey & the Duke Award, going to the Cubs’ Bob Hendley and the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax and Vin Scully in recognizing the historical significance of the September 9, 1965 night that Scully broadcast Koufax’s perfect game beating Hendley’s one-hitter.
“The broadcast of the game, we’ve heard it a lot – at least I have,” Koufax said, “and Vinny was so special, it’s probably more exciting listening to him than it was doing it that night.”
Hendley, who joined Koufax in accepting the award, noted that Saturday was the first time he had actually met Koufax. He also charmingly pointed out that five days after the perfect game, he outdueled Koufax with a four-hitter in a 2-1 victory, meaning that in the two games combined, each pitcher allowed exactly two runs on five hits.
But Hendley could not have been more gracious to Scully or Koufax.
“If you get beat, get beat by class, get beat by the best,” Hendley said. “And he is the best, and he is class.”
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By Jon Weisman
Quite a weekend for Clayton Kershaw: One day after his first child was born, Sandy Koufax presented him with the 2014 National League Cy Young and MVP Awards at the 2015 Baseball Writers Association of America dinner in New York.
“If the writers still have their notes from last year, change 25 years of age to 26, change two Cy Youngs to three, add one MVP and you’re done,” Koufax said.
Kershaw’s speech was filled with thanks to Dodger teammates and staff, kicked off by gratitude to Koufax …
“Sandy, I don’t know where to start,” Kershaw said. “It’s tough for me to put into words how honored I am that you would even want to be here tonight.”
… a tearful acknowledgment of his wife, Ellen.
“She’s makes it all worth it,” he said.”
… and even a nod to the St. Louis Cardinals.
“Thank you for reminding me that you’re never as good as you think you are,” Kershaw said.
What happens when three old friends in crisis fall into an unexpected love triangle? In The Catch, Maya, Henry and Daniel embark upon an emotional journey that forces them to confront unresolved pain, present-day traumas and powerful desires, leading them to question the very meaning of love and fulfillment. The Catch tells a tale of ordinary people seeking the extraordinary – or, if that’s asking too much, some damn peace of mind.
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