First, a look back at baseball in Ogden which has maintained a small town atmosphere. The Ogden Raptors are the Dodgers’ Rookie League team in the Pioneer league. The Raptors are an advanced rookie team that became affiliated with the Dodgers in 2003. Prior to that, the Ogden team was an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Ogden, with a population of about 83,000, claims to be the oldest settlement in…
At the trade deadline, the Dodgers sent right-hander Ross Stripling to the Toronto Blue Jays. Certainly, a number of fans, myself included, were sorry to see Ross go. I do think it is a good move for him where he can be assigned a definite role, most likely a shot at a regular starting assignment. That certainty should help him out not having to be concerned that each start will…
This is to follow up on Bear’s excellent piece on Pee Wee Reese. That is, Captain Pee Wee Reese. It is written in the present tense as I wrote it back when there were still three MLB team captains on July 12, 2013. So, I am again digging through the archives. I thought it might be appropriate as a number of the official or unofficial duties of the now defunct…
It is strange how the mind works. Yesterday, while doing some harvesting in our garden, I was thinking a bit about baseball and how much I miss minor league baseball. Several things ran through my mind such as the conversations AC and I had during the Loons championship year in 2016, the personal relationship I had with then Loons play-by-play announcer Chris Vosters, several players in the Dodgers minor league…
I am about to throw a curve today. That is not quite accurate as I most likely cannot throw a curve anymore. I can still throw overhand so perhaps could beat Dr. Fauci’s opening day pitch in Washington. There is a buzz in our Dodger world now after two expected type games. For me it is business as usual checking the game when I get up in the morning. All…
A few days ago I posted an article on young right-hander Geraldo Carrillo whom I had included in a group of players who seemed to be unlikely candidates to make it to the Dodgers. I mentioned Caleb Ferguson, Zach McKinstry and Victor Gonzalez. Another player came to mind that I neglected to mention that has proven it can be done. Also, since the minor league season is in hiding until…
This definitely has turned out to be a different summer which is also slipping away very quickly. Starting on Friday we will be wearing masks for indoor activities. My best friend since the sixties has just completed 20 radiation treatments for prostate cancer and we are under a heat wave with very high humidity. Baseball has resumed at the MLB level, at least temporarily, and as fans we should be…
No, not JP Howell whom I expect we all remember well. JP, as in Dodger catcher Joe Pignatano. For some unknown reason, his name popped into my head the other day. Perhaps it is because I am partial to catchers. Older Dodger fans such as myself will remember Joe. He is now one of the oldest living Brooklyn Dodgers at age 90. Joe Pignatano was truly a Brooklyn Dodger. He…
Last Friday in a post on LADT our own DodgerBlueMom indicated she hoped a Bill Haselman column could be posted as he is one her favorite AAA managers. It just so happens that I had posted an article on Haselman in Think Blue LA way back on January 18, 2014. What follows is a reprint of that article with a few editorial changes and an update through his time in…
I have to tell you folks that with minor league ball gone belly up my baseball oxygen is basically depleted. I am only on life support with MLB and the goings on. The Dodgers have thus far signed only one undrafted free agent – righty Robbie Peto out of Stetson University. A few signings would definitely provide some more baseball oxygen for me. I have looked at the 60-man roster…