We’re are only one week away from the very first Dodger game of the season. There’s still a couple of scrimmages, and three exhibition games before next Thursday, but the ones that count are within reach.
- During a Zoom presser, Kiké admits he contemplated opting out because of the general uncertainty of the coronavirus. It became a sticking point when he found out his wife was pregnant. He said he “would’ve considered the thought of opting out” if he wasn’t becoming a free agent after the end of the season. He also said that being a free agent in his twenties is a “luxury” since being in your thirties is “the new forties in this league.” Kiké as well feels that this year’s team can do something really “special.” He also acknowledged other impending free agents on the team feeling this may be their “Last Dance” in hopes of winning a World Series with the Dodgers.
- Although there’s a photo of Keibert Ruiz inside of what looked like an indoor batting cage in an Instagram story yesterday, there was no timeline of when the photo was taken. Good chance it wasn’t recent since the Dodgers put their top catching prospect on the ten day injured list. The team hasn’t given any reason why they made the move.
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Max Muncy, Gavin Lux, and AJ Pollock faced pitching prospect Michael Grove in a simulated game on Wednesday. Doc also mentioned Max Muncy took some grounders on Tuesday and may see some action on offense and defense during scrimmage games either Thursday or Friday.
- It seems MLB umpires will be traveling with teams as a preventative measure, avoiding taking commercial flights to reduce the risk of being exposed to the coronavirus.
- Yesterday Dave Roberts was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall Of Fame.
He bled UCLA blue as team captain of the 1994 @UCLABaseball team and now bleeds Dodger blue as manager of the @Dodgers. Dave Roberts, welcome to the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame! #UCLAHoF2020 pic.twitter.com/43I1gYoWeG
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) July 15, 2020
- Around 5:30 pm on Wednesday, the Dodgers announced that they’ve sold 2,000 cut outs and plan to add more spots.
The Dodgers have sold 2,000 cutouts raising $400,000 for the @DodgersFdn and are adding more spots! Get your tax deductible cutout now at https://t.co/bkeWJCCxK1 and help support the Dodgers Foundation. https://t.co/xh9fdmNhxM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 16, 2020
- The crowd went wild during Wednesday’s intrasquad game, albeit artificial. The Dodgers simulated fan noise through the stadium speakers with the help of organist Dieter Ruehle and DJ Severe pumping music with the voice of Todd Leitz as the pubic announcer.
Oskar is a writer for Dodgers-Lowdown. Follow him on Twitter @2Rawsko94. Graphic credit: Alberto Amezola, Jr.