Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
Dallas is a pretty convenient stop on the way from Los Angeles to Nashville, and Clayton Kershaw’s house is a pretty nice place for a layover.
So on his way to baseball’s annual Winter Meetings, new Dodger manager Dave Roberts spent several hours meeting with Kershaw, to discuss next year’s team in general and the departure of Zack Greinke in particular.
Scott W. Grau/MiLB.com
Danned if they do, danned if they don’t. On the heels of today’s Danny Reynolds news, the Dodgers have claimed outfielder Daniel Fields from the Brewers.
The 24-year-old Fields, who bats left but throws right, has played in one big-league game, hitting a double while striking out twice for the Tigers against the A’s on June 4. He went from the Tigers to Milwaukee via waivers September 10. He had a .701 OPS for Triple-A Toledo in 2015.
— Jon Weisman
By Jon Weisman
An MLB charity auction benefiting Stand Up to Cancer among other organizations is underway, and a meet-and-greet with Vin Scully is among the items up for bid.
Other Dodger-related items available include a Spring Training batboy/batgirl experience and the chance to show our Matthew Mesa what you can do as the Dodgers’ social media coordinator for the day.
In addition, this year’s auction will benefit Do It For Durrett, in honor of the late Texas Rangers ESPN.com beatwriter Richard Durrett, who passed away suddenly last year, and the YouCaring page established for Miami Marlins Sun Sentinel beat writer Juan C. Rodriguez, who is currently battling a brain tumor.
Previously: LADF online Dodgers memorabilia auction begins
There is no small news during the Winter Meetings — only small page views. Anyway, the Dodgers announced today that they have claimed minor-league right-hander Danny Reynolds from the Angels and added him to their 40-man roster.
The 24-year-old Reynolds struck out 50 batters in 43 1/3 innings for Double-A Arkansas last season. He had control issues, walking 5.8 batters per nine innings, but allowed only one home run.
— Jon Weisman
While many root beers strive to make a bold statement, sometimes to the point of being the blue-tuxedoed uncle at your best friend’s wedding, AJ Stephans is daring only in its restraint. It dials back the sweetness and doesn’t linger, living extremely in the moment, not like a brash teenage snowboarder but rather a delicate piccolo artist inhaling each note, otherwise rapidly forgotten. Lack of edge prevents it from reaching the top tier, but unpretentiousness prevents it from sinking to the bottom.
Sampling date: December 1, 2015
Ingredients: Pure carbonated water, cane sugar, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, citric acid, sodium benzoate
Nutritional information: 12-ounce serving, 175 calories, 0 grams fat, 44 grams sugar, 30 milligrams sodium, 0 grams protein
Headquarters: Orange, Massachusetts
Rankings to date:
1) Route 66 Root Beer
2) Bulldog Root Beer
3) Capt’n Eli’s Root Beer
4) Sparky’s Root Beer
5) AJ Stephans Root Beer
6) River City Root Beer
7) Cool Mountain Root Beer
8) Rat Bastard Root Beer
By Jon Weisman
Zack Greinke has agreed to terms with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a six-year contract, according to multiple news reports, including MLB.com.
What is official is that Greinke’s three-year run with the Dodgers has come to an end.
Statement from Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman on Zack Greinke: pic.twitter.com/edegqWjc2R
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 5, 2015
Greinke, who turned 32 in October, pitched 602 2/3 innings as a Dodger with a 2.30 ERA (156 ERA+) — best in Dodger history for pitchers with at least 500 innings — culminating in his 1.66 ERA in 2015, the lowest by a Dodger in 99 years. Greinke also had a .300 on-base percentage at the plate and won two consecutive Gold Gloves.
It’s practically impossible to have been a Dodger fan and not loved Greinke. But it is completely possible to move forward, and that’s what the Dodgers will do.
After a short 39-month hiatus, I’m pleased to return with the seventh in my series of root beer reviews.
Sparky’s Fresh Draft Root Beer is a line-drive base hit, nothing unconventional, nothing that would bring a crowd to its feet, but neither a routine grounder to the right side for an out. Its engine revs at the outset of each sip, coasting into a pinching sweetness that is more cocky than coy.
Sampling date: November 30, 2015
Ingredients: Carbonated filtered water, pure cane sugar, honey, natural and imitation flavorings, spices, sodium benzoate to preserve freshness, phosphoric acid and caramel color
Nutritional information: Not provided
Headquarters: Pacific Grove, California
Rankings to date:
1) Route 66 Root Beer
2) Bulldog Root Beer
3) Capt’n Eli’s Root Beer
4) Sparky’s Root Beer
5) River City Root Beer
6) Cool Mountain Root Beer
7) Rat Bastard Root Beer
By Jon Weisman
If you’re visiting Dodger Stadium and spy something colorfully unusual in Lot 1 near the Sunset Gate A entrance, that would be the big top for Cirque du Soleil Kurios, which runs from December 10-February 7.
Above is a photo taken before today’s tent-raising; below is a short video snippet of the process.
[wpvideo PgomqzSc]
Curious about Kurios? Here are some facts and figures, provided by Cirque du Soleil …
By Jon Weisman
Six key arbitration-eligible players from the 2015 Dodgers — Luis Avilan, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Hatcher, Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner and Scott Van Slyke — have all been tendered contracts for the 2016 season.
None were a surprise, but the Dodgers had to make it official by 9 p.m. tonight or let them become free agents.
Any one of the sextet could still go to salary arbitration, but the Dodgers haven’t been to an arbitration hearing since Joe Beimel in 2007 and haven’t lost since Terry Adams in 2001.
Previously this week, the Dodgers signed A.J. Ellis and Joe Wieland for 2016.
By Jon Weisman
Relief pitcher Juan Nicasio and minor-league arm Lisalverto Bonilla were not tendered contracts by the Dodgers for 2016, making them free agents.
Nicasio led all Dodger relievers in 2015 in innings pitched, finishing the year with a 3.86 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. He had a 2.92 ERA through August 30, before allowing nine runs in his final nine innings and ending up off the Dodgers’ playoff roster.
This was Nicasio’s first full season as a reliever, after 3 1/2 seasons as a starting pitcher for Colorado.
Bonilla had been claimed October 21 by the Dodgers from the Ranger organization, after missing the 2015 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
A.J. Ellis homered and caught Alex Wood’s eight one-hit innings September 16 against Colorado. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
By Jon Weisman
A.J. Ellis is returning to the Dodgers for 2016 on a one-year deal that allows them to avoid an arbitration hearing.
Ellis had a .398 on-base percentage and .486 slugging percentage in 168 plate appearances after May 26, enabling him to finish the season at .355/.403 after a slow start. As Ken Gurnick of MLB.com notes, he hit all seven of his home runs last season in his final 35 games.
Drafted in 2003, Ellis has been in the Dodger organization longer than any other active player, and is the third-longest tenured player on the big-league roster after Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw. He made his MLB debut in September 2008.
With 461 career games behind the plate, Ellis is ninth all-time among Dodger catchers, and will pass Joe Ferguson and Paul Lo Duca to reach seventh if he catches at least 24 games in 2016.
Ellis’ negotiating power was no doubt boosted by his award-worthy appearance Tuesday on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” in which he also showed off his future coaching ability while working with ceremonial first-pitcher Lisa Vanderpump.
So this is why I'm watching Real Housewives of BH for the first time – moments like this, @AJEllis17 @Cindyluellis pic.twitter.com/i5joJxtEZ2
— Jon Weisman (@jonweisman) December 2, 2015
[mlbvideo id=”532636883″ width=”550″ height=”308″ /]
Fresh off the Think Blue Review presses, this week’s edition captures Dave Roberts introduction today as Dodger manager.
Jon SooHoo has also posted a photo gallery from this warm welcome.
– Jon Weisman
Hey, Skip! pic.twitter.com/qNyR3l8vgB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 1, 2015
By Jon Weisman
Dave Roberts is being introduced at Dodger Stadium shortly after 11 a.m. as the Dodgers’ manager. We’ll highlight some of the key quotes as they come here …
(Also, note that Roberts will be holding a live Q&A on Twitter this afternoon – check the hashtag #AskDave.)
Introducing Roberts is Dodger president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman: “We are highly confident that he is going to play a significant role in us shaping a culture of sustained success here. Magic Johnson then presents Roberts with his Dodger jersey, wearing No. 30.
Roberts begins with some introductory remarks:
https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/671771309529939968/photo/1
Next, the Q&A begins:
Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jon Weisman
Ahead of Wednesday’s deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players, the Dodgers have re-signed right-handed pitcher Joe Wieland to a one-year deal for 2016.
Wieland, who will be 26 in January, had a 4.59 ERA and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City this year. He also pitched 8 2/3 innings in two games for the Dodgers, allowing eight runs.
He was one of 16 pitchers to start a game for the Dodgers in 2015.
Wieland went from May 2012 to September 2014 without pitching in the Majors because of two surgeries, including Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2012.
Luis Avilan, A.J. Ellis, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Hatcher, Kenley Jansen, Juan Nicasio, Justin Turner and Scott Van Slyke are the Dodgers’ other players eligible for arbitration. They must be offered provisional contracts for 2016 by 9 p.m. Wednesday, or they will become free agents.
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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