Tag: Dodgers

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Breaking News! Huge Trades After ASG

After the All Star Game, just before regular season games restart, two huge trades took place. Manny Machado was just traded to the Dodgers in his walk year. The multi-position All Star brings Gold Glove defense and a power bat to Los Angeles. The Dodgers are without their main shortstop Corey Seager for the season after he needed Tommy John Surgery.

The Cleveland Indians got a huge boost to their bullpen from the Padres on July 19. Dominant southpaw Brad Hand was traded in turn for a package of prospects. Hand carries in 24 saves with the Padres through 44.1 innings of work.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Top Ten Baseball Hats

All players are required to wear headgear that clearly exhibits which team you are on, whether it is a batting helmet or regular baseball cap. The headgear must remain the same for each player on one team except for slight variations like sweat marks or folding the brim. These teams demonstrate the best hats in my opinion: (Based on style. In other words, would people wear this as a fashion accessory?)

10. Cleveland Indians “C” hat

9. Miami Marlins home black “M” hat

8. Boston Red Sox home “B” hat

7. MLB Umpire Hat

6. Pirates home “P” hat

5. Diamondbacks blue alternate hat

4. Washington Nationals red home hat

3. New York Mets classic home hat

2. New York Yankees traditional hat

1. Los Angeles Dodgers’ traditional hat

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Cody Bellinger Hits for the Cycle!

On July 15, 2017, Dodgers’ rookie sensation Cody Bellinger accomplished one of the hardest feats in baseball. He hit for the cycle. The cycle in baseball is when a batter hits a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. As of July 16, there have been five cycles this year: Nolan Arenado, Wil Myers, Carlos Gomez, Trea Turner, and now Cody Bellinger. Along with his four hits, Cody drove in three RBIs and scored two runs. He became the youngest player to hit for the cycle at exactly 22 years of age and became the first Dodger rookie to hit for the cycle.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Steal Facts: Jackie Robinson

Jackie robinson

  • Jackie Robinson was born January 31 of 1919. He was the son of Mallie and Jerry Robinson.
  • Jackie was the first African American person to play Major League Baseball. He is famously known for breaking the color barrier.
  • Jackie Robinson played his entire career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was primarily a second baseman although he played in the outfield and as a shortstop.
  • Robinson was the first player to win Rookie of the Year honors. Now, the award is named after him. In 1947, when he won the award, Jackson collected 175 hits, stole 29 bases, and posted a batting average of .297.
  • He won the MVP award in 1949. That year, he collected 203 hits, 124 RBIs, 122 runs, a .342 batting average, and 37 stolen bases.
  • The first time Jackie got caught stealing was in his fifth year as a player.
  • Jackie Robinson finished his career with 1,518 hits, 273 doubles, 947 runs, 734 RBIs, 137 home runs, and 197 stolen bases in 1,382 career games.
  • Robinson sadly died in 1972. Now, his number 42 is retired throughout baseball and is honored every year.
by Jacoby Nolnaho

Steal Facts: Clayton Kershaw

      Clayton Kershaw

  • Clayton Edward Kershaw is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kershaw wears number 22. He stands at a solid 6 foot 3 with 225 pounds of muscle.
  • Kershaw showed signs of greatness in 2010 when he posted a 2.92 earned run average and struck out 212 batters in 204.1 innings of work.
  • In 2011, Kershaw completed a lot of milestones. That year, he won the National League pitching Triple Crown award. He led the NL in strikeouts with 248, wins with 21, and earned run average (ERA) with 2.28. He won the Cy Young award and the Gold Glove award for pitchers.
  • Kershaw won the Cy Young award again in 2013. He led the league in ERA with an outstanding 1.83 mark. He also won 16 games with 232 strikeouts.
  • 2014 was arguably Kershaw’s best year. Despite coming in late to the season, he still posted great numbers. In 198.1 innings, Clayton retired 239 batters via the strikeout, won 21 games, and posted a career best 1.77 ERA. He won the Cy Young and the Most Valuable Player award for the National League.
  • In Clayton Kershaw’s first 260 Major League appearances, he has picked up 125 wins while only losing 58 games. He led the league in ERA from 2011- 2014 and has picked up three Cy Young awards and an MVP.
by Jacoby Nolnaho

Gil Hodges

Gil Hodges was one of the best players of his era. He was also a legendary manager of the New York Mets. We now dive into the facts about Gil Hodges.

Gil Hodges was born April 4 of 1924. Gil Hodges was an outfielder/first basemen for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets. He was amazing with the bat and with the glove. Gil won the Gold Glove award in 1957, 1958, and 1959. 1954 was arguably his best season. That year, Hodges got a career high in home runs with 42, hits with 176, batting average with .304, runs batted in (RBIs) with 130, and slugging percentage with an astonishing .579. In his 18 year career, Hodges posted amazing numbers. In 2,071 games, Hodges crushed 370 home runs, drove in 1,274 RBIs, scored 1,105 runs, knocked 1,921 hits, got 295 doubles, and posted a .273 career batting average.

When Gil Hodges’ playing career ended, he transitioned to the manager role. He managed the Washington Senators for five years. He was an average manager. He led the Senators to a 321-444 record. One year, his team lost 100 games. Gil left the Senators and went to manager for his former team, the New York Mets. After one rough year in 1968, he gave hope to the Mets. The next year, he led the Mets to a 100-62 record. This record got them all the way to the postseason. The Amazin’ Mets ended up winning their first World Series in franchise history under the watch of Hodges. The next two years, the Mets posted a steady record of 83-79. 1971 was Gil’s last year in baseball. In 1971, Gil Hodges suffered from a sudden heart attack and died at the age of 61. Despite his loss, his memory is still survived. There is a lot of controversy about whether or not Hodges should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1982, he was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame by retiring his number 14. In conclusion, Gil Hodges was one of the best baseball figures of all time.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw is one of the most dominant pitchers of his era. If he is not leading in one pitching category, then he is leading another. We will now break down the legacy of Clayton Edward Kershaw.

Clayton Kershaw is a star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1988. Clayton was drafted by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2006 first year player draft. He wears number 22 and stands at an intimidating 6 foot 3 inches and weighing in at 225 pounds. Kershaw has piled up tons of awards and accomplishments in his career. In 2010, Kershaw began giving signs that he was going to be something special. In 204.1 innings, he was able to strike out 212 batters and post a 2.91 earned run average. 2011 was the start of the Kershaw dynasty. In 2011, Clayton Kershaw picked up his first Cy Young award. In 233.1 innings of work, Kershaw struck out a league leading 248 hitters and tied the league lead for wins with 21. He also posted an amazing 2.28 ERA. He carried his success into the 2012 season. 2012 saw Kershaw strike out 229 and a 2.53 ERA.  2013 and 2014 were Kershaw’s best seasons. He won the Cy Young award in both seasons. In 2013, he posted a 1.83 ERA and in 2014, he posted a league leading 1.77. In 2014, Kershaw won the National League Most Valuable Player award because he won 21 games, pitched a no-hitter, and struck out 239 batters in 198.1 innings of work.  In 2015, Kershaw’s bar was set extremely high. He had to fight for his fame due to the dominance of Jake Arrieta and teammate Zack Greinke. Kershaw did just that. He struck out 301 batters in 232.2 while posting a 2.13 ERA. He finished third in the Cy Young voting.

In Kershaw short career, he has been awarded a multitude of honors. From 2011 to 2014, he led the league in ERA. He has won three Cy Young awards, been on the All Star team from 2011-2015, won the Gold Glove award in 2011, and was declared the National Most Valuable Player in 2014. As one can see, Clayton Kershaw is one of the best players in Major League Baseball.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Greinke and Kershaw

During the 2015 season, the Dodgers’ two aces dominated the National League. Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke put up incredible numbers that led the league. Clayton Kershaw struck out an incredible 301 batters while Zack Greinke pitched to a 1.66 ERA. Zack Greinke also had 200 strikeouts on his own, too.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Yasiel Puig

Yasiel Puig is the Los Angeles Dodgers best outfielder. We look at this young sensation.

Yasiel Puig is the Dodgers best outfielder. He is fast enough to make diving catches and has one of the best arms in baseball. He can always make a great throw from the outfield to get the runner out. After he does that, he does his signature finger wag. It is a way of showing not to run on his arm again.

 

Does Yasiel do any other crazy things? Yes! Whenever he hits a home run or gets walked, he throws the bat high up in the air. A couple of times the bat almost hit the catcher and umpire. With the bat, Yasiel can do some great things. He is pretty average with home runs hitting with 19 in 2013 and 16 in 2014. But he is amazing with hits. He gets on base a lot thanks to his hits.

Yasiel also has quick feet on the outfield ground. Although he doesn’t steal that much, he still is fast. On almost every highlight show has Yasiel Puig in it.

Puig has also brought some joy to the Dodger clubhouse. His funny habits got the team a costum made LA Dodger bubble machine. Every time the bubble machine goes on means that somebody has homered. As you can see, Yasiel Puig’s off and on the field actions help keep the Dodgers’ clubhouse strong.