Dodgers Briefing: Joe Kelly, Astros cheating, unforeseen advantage

Everything you need to know about the Dodgers and Major League Baseball.

Hey, Dodger fans! Let’s get you caught up on the day of baseball news from Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Dodgers News

The latest happenings concerning the Dodgers.

1. Joe Kelly struggles with his command

Dodger fans are used to seeing reliever Joe Kelly struggle with his command on the mound, but earlier this week he shattered a window when a pitch got away from him in his backyard. There was literally a giant bulls-eye for him to hit, and he missed it.

https://twitter.com/Cut4/status/1250846395927392257?s=20

The right-hander later explained on The Bradfo Sho podcast that he was throwing a CleanFuego, which is “hard as a rock” and resembles a baseball cut in half. He was using it to work on his change-up grip.

The best part of the whole story is that Kelly went inside, found the CleanFuego amongst the broken glass, and then went back outside to continue his throwing program for another twenty minutes before cleaning up the mess (which he said took him three hours).

2. Orel Hershiser emotional about sign stealing

The legendary Ace, who was the last man to stand on the mound when the Dodgers clinched the 1988 World Series championship, gave an emotional opinion of the Astros sign-stealing scandal and its long-lasting impact on the 2017 Dodgers roster.

“It’s just emotional to me because ’88 changed my life,” Hershiser said on the second episode of his new podcast with broadcaster Joe Davis. “And this should have changed those guys life. They’re champions in my mind. They’re champions in my heart. They’re not champions in the books of baseball.”

3. Red Sox GM admits “unforeseen advantage”

As Dodger fans worry about whether their team traded away a package of young players and prospects for a superstar who might not suit up for them if the 2020 season is canceled, Red Sox chief decision-maker, Chaim Bloom, admitted he might have indirectly gained from the timing of the coronavirus.

“I cannot sit here and tell anyone I had my Nostradamus hat on enough to know that a global pandemic was around the corner,” he said on a local radio show in Boston. “Very unforeseen advantage of perhaps taking the long view.”

4. Dodgers donate lunches from local restaurant

The Dodgers donated 1,000 lunches through the Dream Center on Thursday. They made sure to do so while supporting local business, purchasing food from Giamela’s Submarine Sandwiches, Pizza and Pasta, according to CBS Los Angeles.

Dodgers History

On this date in Dodgers history, courtesy Baseball-Reference.com.

1945: Two years before making his historic Major League debut to break the color barrier with the Dodgers, Jackie Robinson was granted a tryout with the Boston Red Sox, who ended up becoming the last team to integrate.

1983: Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey plays in his 1,118th consecutive National League game, setting an NL record, which ended several months later at 1,207 games, still unsurpassed by anyone who has played in the senior circuit.

MLB News

The biggest headlines from around the major leagues.

1. MLB might ask players to take less pay

While MLB and the Players Association reached an agreement last month to provide salary coverage for players stuck at home due to the coronavirus, apparently there is still some negotiating to do if games return in empty stadiums.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed during a CNN interview on Wednesday that New York Mets owner Jeff Wilpon told him players would need to take a reduction in pay before baseball resumes in 2020.

“Apparently, Major League Baseball would have to make a deal with the players,” Cuomo said. “Because if you have no one in the stands then the numbers are going to change, right? The economics are going to change.”

2. Mike Trout sends goodies to hospital workers

In showing his appreciation for hospital workers battling the novel coronavirus, Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout sent pizza, soda, and cookies to a medical center near his hometown in New Jersey.

Trout recently went on record to call MLB’s proposal to sequester players in Arizona for the 2020 season “pretty crazy.” His wife is due with their first child in August, so he is worried about missing the childbirth if he is forced to remain separated from her in Arizona.

Something fun before you go…

https://twitter.com/SI_ExtraMustard/status/1250565997695660032?s=20

Thanks for reading!

Check back tomorrow for all of your latest Dodger news and analysis.