Dodgers Honor Vin Scully at 1st Home Game Since Iconic Broadcaster's Death
Aug 6, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 05: Flowers and gestures left at the Sunset entrance in a tribute to Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully who died on August 2, 2022 at Dodger Stadium on August 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to legendary broadcaster Vin Scully before their Friday evening home game against the San Diego Padres.
The ceremony began with the Dodgers and Padres lining up on the baselines as Dodger Stadium honored his memory with a moment of silence.
The Dodgers players then gathered in the infield. Afterward, manager Dave Roberts spoke to the crowd and led them to shout Scully's famous phrase in unison.
Dave Roberts leads all of Dodger Stadium in saying “It’s time for Dodger baseball” pic.twitter.com/JgoxMcr7KA
Scully worked as the Dodgers' play-by-play broadcaster from 1950 until 2016, when he retired. He ended up calling 25 World Series, with his first one done at the age of 25.
Tonight, the @Dodgers honor Vin Scully in their first home game since his passing.
In addition, the versatile Scully called the NFL, PGA Tour and tennis for CBS Sports.
Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. Set for Rehab Assignment amid Wrist Injury Recovery
Aug 6, 2022
San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. will begin a rehab assignment this weekend in San Antonio with the club's Double-A affiliate as he nears a return from a wrist injury that has sidelined him for the entire 2022 season.
There is still no firm timetable for his return.
"I don't think we have a set amount of at-bats," Padres manager Bob Melvin said of the club's goals for Tatis' assignment. "And also, you'd like to get a guy back here when he's swinging the bat pretty well too. We are later in the season; this isn't going to be a three-week process to get him back here, so we'll just take it day to day and see where he is physically and how he's feeling at the plate."
Tatis was one of the best players in MLB in 2021. He finished with 42 home runs, 25 steals and a .611 slugging percentage. The dynamic shortstop showed exactly why the Padres were willing to hand him a 14-year, $340 million extension
That made it all the more frustrating when Tatis underwent surgery on his wrist in the offseason.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller made it clear when he provided an update in mid-June the 23-year-old was no closer to returning.
A.J. Preller said Fernando Tatis Jr.'s imaging yesterday did not show enough healing in his wrist for him to begin swinging a bat. Preller said the exam overall was "positive." The Padres plan to take it week to week with Tatis' timeline. No decision yet on his next wrist scan.
Despite missing their best player, the Padres are 61-47 and on pace to claim a wild-card berth in the National League.
Manny Machado has played at an MVP-type level, while Jake Cronenworth, Jurickson Profar and the rest of the offense have done enough to make up for Tatis' absence, with Juan Soto joining the club from the Washington Nationals ahead of the trade deadline.
Still, there's a sense San Diego is treading water a bit until Tatis is finally back in the lineup and that the team's World Series hopes rest on his contributions.
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw Placed on IL with Lower Back Injury
Aug 5, 2022
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 04: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Oracle Park on August 04, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been placed on the injured list with lower back pain, the team announced Friday.
Dave Roberts said they’re still waiting on results of Clayton Kershaw’s MRI
Roberts said they don’t have a firm timeline yet, but thinks he could could be out a couple weeks to a month
He said they thinks there’s enough time for Kershaw to be back to normal by playoffs
Kershaw exited a 5-3 win against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday after just four innings because of the ailment. He also missed time this season with pelvic joint inflammation.
The 34-year-old might be past his prime, but he has still played a significant role in L.A.'s rotation this season. He has posted a 7-3 record with a 2.64 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 85.1 innings across 15 starts.
Kershaw, who has spent his entire 15-year career in L.A, signed a one-year deal to return to the Dodgers in 2022 following the departure of Max Scherzer to the New York Mets.
When the three-time Cy Young winner is sidelined, the Dodgers can still rely on Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney.
The Dodgers are first in the NL West with a 72-33 record. They'll need Kershaw to remain healthy for a deep playoff run in a difficult NL.
Juan Soto: 'I Wish Good Luck to the Other Pitchers' Facing Padres Lineup
Aug 3, 2022
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 3: Juan Soto #22 of the San Diego Padres, right, and Josh Bell #19 talk during a news conference held to introduce them to the team August 3, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Juan Soto sent a clear message to opposing pitchers who will be facing the new-look San Diego Padres lineup.
"It's going to be really exciting," Soto told reporters when asked about San Diego's offense. "I wish good luck to the other pitchers."
The Padres pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster trades in Major League Baseball history on Tuesday. They acquired Soto and Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals for six players, including C.J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore and top prospect Robert Hassell III.
It was a massive return for the Nationals, with The Athletic's Keith Law calling it "the biggest prospect haul in a single trade in my lifetime" and "the best" deal general manager Mike Rizzo could have gotten under the circumstances.
Coming into the season, MLB.com ranked Abrams, Hassell and Gore as top 100 prospects. James Wood, who was also in the deal, is currently the No. 88 prospect in baseball.
But the Padres did it knowing they were bringing in one of the best players in the sport during his age-23 season and adding Bell, who is having a career year, to boost a lineup that needed plenty of help as they chase a playoff spot.
Soto and Bell will likely play right field and first base, respectively, in San Diego.
Padres right fielders have a .233/.286/.323 slash line with three homers and 39 RBI in 378 at-bats this season. Their first basemen are hitting .266/.339/.406 with 10 homers and 52 RBI in 402 at-bats.
In total, the Padres offense had a league average wRC+ (100) as previously constructed, per FanGraphs.
Soto is hitting .246/.408/.485 with 21 homers, 46 RBI and 29 more walks (91) than strikeouts (62) in 436 plate appearances in 2022. Bell has a .301/.384/.493 slash line with 14 homers and 57 RBI.
On top of the likely improvement at those two positions, All-Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. looks to be moving closer toward making his 2022 debut. He faced live pitching for the first time all season Monday and could go out on a rehab assignment as soon as Friday.
Add all the pieces together, and the Padres lineup is going to have very few easy outs going into the stretch run. They still have 12 games remaining against the Los Angeles Dodgers, so it's not impossible for them to make up their 12-game deficit in the NL West.
But the additions of Soto and Bell were done to prepare this roster for a potential deep run in October. It certainly looks like a brilliant move on paper. Fans will get their first taste of what it will look like on Wednesday when the Padres host the Colorado Rockies.
Nationals' Mike Rizzo Recounts 'Brutal' Process of Trading Juan Soto to Padres
Aug 3, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 1: Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) salutes as he walks too the plate for his first at-bat against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo on Wednesday addressed the trade of Juan Soto, calling it a "brutal" and "emotional" moment for the franchise.
"Brutal scene. It was very, very difficult," Rizzo told The Sports Junkies. "I had kept Juan and Josh in the loop on where we were at during the trade talks and that type of thing, because I think it's only right to inform them, because they're reading all the stuff that's out there and that type of thing."
The Nationals traded Soto and first baseman Josh Bell to the San Diego Padres for MacKenzie Gore, C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III, James Wood, Jarlin Susana and Luke Voit ahead of Tuesday's MLB trade deadline. The move was an about-face for Rizzo, who previously said the organization had no plans to trade the 23-year-old two-time All-Star.
Rizzo said the team's outlook changed when Soto rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension. While most observers feel the Nationals received a historic haul from the Padres, Rizzo called his meeting with Soto to inform him of the trade an "emotional time."
"Yeah, it was a warm farewell and it was very emotional," Rizzo said. "I told him I loved him and he'll always be a part of my history and my family, and go on and have the career that we all think you're gonna have. And that was it. Yeah. We signed him at 16-and-a-half years old. I had known him since he was 14. It was...yeah, it's a very emotional time."
Washington signed Soto in 2015. Early this year, Elian Soto, Juan's younger brother, verbally agreed to sign with the team when he becomes eligible in January.
So while the divorce between Juan Soto and the Nationals was one few saw coming before the 2022 season, the two sides also apparently have no hard feelings.
NL Exec: Padres 'In Danger of Entering Angels Territory' After Juan Soto Trade
Aug 3, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 1: Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) was all smiles after he hit a solo homer off of New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) in the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Not everyone is sold on the San Diego Padres' trade for Juan Soto.
One National League executive wondered if the Padres are building too much of a top-heavy roster around Soto, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
"San Diego is in danger of entering Angels territory within the next few years," the executive told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. "A strong top-third of the roster with below-average depth behind it due to a series of system-busting trades."
The Padres traded MacKenzie Gore, C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III, James Wood, Jarlin Susana and Luke Voit to the Nationals in exchange for Soto and Josh Bell, a deal that's been described as one of the biggest prospect hauls in baseball history.
Gore and Abrams are former top prospects who made their MLB debuts this season, and Hassell is a quality outfield prospect who could be ready for a call-up next season. Wood and Susana are both teenagers still getting their feet wet with pro ball, but Wood has looked like a promising outfielder in his limited time in Single-A.
That said, none of the players given up have a ceiling that even remotely touches that of Soto, who is one of baseball's premier players at age 23. The All-Star is a generational talent, gifted with a combination of power and eye at the plate that is borderline unheard of for someone his age.
With Soto and Tatis, the Padres have arguably the game's two brightest under-25 stars. Locking up Soto before he hits free agency will be expensive—he'll likely seek to become the highest-paid player in MLB history—but would give the Padres the best one-two punch in the sport for at least the next decade.
Whether San Diego's World Series pursuit proves fruitful may simply depend on how much ownership is willing to spend. If the Tatis-Soto-Machado-Bell top of the lineup is kept together for the foreseeable future, there aren't many—if any—teams that can compete with that level of talent.
Juan Soto Thanks Nationals, Fans After Blockbuster Deadline Trade to Padres
Aug 3, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 1: Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) was all smiles after he hit a solo homer off of New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) in the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Superstar outfielder Juan Soto tweeted a message of thanks to the Washington Nationals and their fans early Wednesday morning following his pre-deadline trade to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
In a series of tweets, Soto expressed gratitude for the Nats organization and the fans who supported him, while also mentioning the importance of helping Washington win its first World Series title in 2019:
Thank you to the Nationals organization for the opportunity to realize a childhood dream. I am forever grateful to my teammates and coaches, as well as the player development and training staffs. pic.twitter.com/msrTSv48a1
To my Nats Fans: since day one I’ve always had the feeling you would have a special space in my heart but the appreciation that I have for you went over my expectations. Thank you for being such a great family to me. With Love & Gratitude...Forever Yours, Juan Soto
After Soto reportedly rejected multiple contract extension offers, the Nationals made him available via trade leading up to the deadline, and they sealed a blockbuster deal on Tuesday.
All told, the Nationals received a bevy of prospects and young players in shortstop C.J. Abrams, outfielders Robert Hassell III and James Wood, and pitchers MacKenzie Gore and Jarlin Susana, as well as veteran first baseman Luke Voit in exchange for Soto and first baseman Josh Bell.
While the Nationals had to part ways with one of the game's great young stars in the 23-year-old Soto, their rebuild received a major jump-start in the form of multiple players who can contribute now and in the near future.
During at least parts of five seasons with the Nats, Soto left an indelible mark on the franchise.
He earned two All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger awards, one batting title and won a World Series in 2019. Also, in one of his final appearances in a Nationals uniform, he won the 2022 Home Run Derby.
In 2018, Soto came out firing and finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. He followed that with a career-high 34 home runs and 110 RBI the next season en route to winning the World Series.
In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Soto won the batting title with a .351 average and led the NL with a .490 on-base percentage and .695 slugging percentage.
Last season, Soto finished second in the NL MVP voting when he slashed .313/.465/.534 with 29 homers and 95 RBI.
He got off to a slow start this season, but he has turned things around over the past month and is slashing .246/.408/.485 with 21 home runs and 46 RBI.
Despite his solid play, the Nationals are just 36-69 this season and seem in line for a long rebuild, which is partially why the Soto trade made sense despite the fact that he could have been the face of the franchise for years had he signed a new deal.
The trade instantly changes Soto's outlook as well since he is headed to a Padres team in the thick of the playoff race with a 60-46 record.
Soto will join a stacked lineup that will eventually include Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the latter of whom is working his way back from a wrist injury.
The Padres have the pieces to be contenders in 2022 and beyond, and Soto could turn out to be the player who helps them win their first World Series in franchise history.
Vin Scully, Hall of Fame Dodgers, MLB Broadcaster, Dies at Age 94
Aug 3, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 20: Vin Scully arrives for 2018 From Paris with Love Children's Hospital Los Angeles Gala at L.A. Live Event Deck on October 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic)
Vin Scully, the iconic voice of Los
Angeles Dodgers baseball for 67 years, died Tuesday at the age of 94.
Scully served as the play-by-play
broadcaster of the Dodgers from 1950 through his retirement in 2016,
spanning the franchise's time in both Brooklyn and L.A. He earned the
Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford Frick Award in 1982.
The New York City native also covered
national MLB games for NBC Sports along with the NFL, PGA Tour and
tennis for CBS Sports during his seven-decade career.
Scully, who also worked radio coverage
for the Dodgers, became known for his unique style, which often felt
more like a carefree conversation with the viewer or listener than a
formal sports broadcast.
The wordsmith would weave in
interesting anecdotes without missing a single moment of the action,
telling memorable stories to help fill the time between pitches.
Here's an example from a 2012 game
between the Dodgers and rival San Francisco Giants where Scully
described his ice skating race against the legendary Jackie Robinson,
who'd never skated before:
Scully delivered several calls that
stood the test of time, ranging from Hank Aaron's historic 715th home
run to "The Catch" by San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight
Clark during the 1981 NFC Championship Game.
But he'll always be remembered most for
his work with the Dodgers, who retired his microphone as part of a
ceremony in 2017.
Dodgers president Stan Kasten released
a statement Monday night:
We have lost an icon. The Dodgers'
Vin Scully was one of the greatest voices in all of sports. He was a
giant of a man, not only as a broadcaster, but as a humanitarian. He
loved people. He loved life. He loved baseball and the Dodgers. And
he loved his family. His voice will always be heard and etched in all
of our minds forever. I know he was looking forward to joining the
love of his life, Sandi. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his
family during this very difficult time. Vin will be truly missed.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred also
commented on Scully's passing:
Today we mourn the loss of a
legend in our game. Vin was an extraordinary man whose gift for
broadcasting brought joy to generations of Dodger fans. In addition,
his voice played a memorable role in some of the greatest moments in
the history of our sport. I am proud that Vin was synonymous with
Baseball because he embodied the very best of our National Pastime.
As great as he was as a broadcaster, he was equally great as a
person. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest
condolences to Vin's family, friends, Dodger fans and his admirers
everywhere.
NBA legend Magic Johnson, who's a
member of the Dodgers' ownership group, posted his condolences on
Twitter:
He was just as popular as any Dodger player. His legacy will live on throughout Major League Baseball & he will be remembered as the greatest announcer ever in MLB history. Cookie and I are praying for the entire Scully family and Dodgers fans all around the world. 🙏🏾
Along with his broadcasting accolades
within MLB, Scully also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
in 1982 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
“The game of baseball has a handful of signature sounds. You hear the crack of the bat. You got the crowd singing in the seventh inning stretch, and you've got the voice of Vin Scully.”
He'll long be remembered as one of the
greatest play-by-play broadcasters in sports history.
MLB Trade Rumors: Dodgers Were Finalist for Juan Soto, Made 'Solid Effort'
Aug 2, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals hits a single in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on July 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers "made a solid effort" to land star outfielder Juan Soto before the Washington Nationals eventually dealt the two-time All-Star to the San Diego Padres prior to Tuesday's MLB trade deadline, according to Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times.
The Dodgers were finalists for Juan Soto. They "made a solid effort" and offered several top prospects, per source, but the Nationals (obviously) liked the Padres' offer better. There were also a few other clubs involved.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network and NBC Sports reported earlier Tuesday that the Padres, Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals were the three finalists for Soto, who has posted an .894 OPS with 21 home runs and 46 RBI this year.
In the Juan Soto sweepstakes, sources say 3 finalists remain -- the #Padres, #STLCards, and #Dodgers.
San Diego eventually landed Soto and first baseman Josh Bell for a package of six MLB players and prospects:
It's official. The Padres acquired Juan Soto and Josh Bell in exchange for Luke Voit, CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, James Wood and Jarlin Susana. Soon, San Diego can pencil in a lineup that includes Soto, Bell, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
L.A. may have missed out on Soto, but the 69-33 Dodgers still own MLB's best record and sit 12 games ahead of San Diego in the NL West.
However, San Diego is clearly going for it all based on its key deadline moves. In addition to Soto and Bell, the Padres acquired third baseman/utility player Brandon Drury (20 homers, 59 RBI, .855 OPS) from the Cincinnati Reds and four-time All-Star relief pitcher Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Although the division may be out of reach, the Padres are well-positioned to cruise into a wild-card spot, and they could easily be a formidable foe for L.A. if they meet in the postseason.
The Dodgers were content to largely stand pat at the deadline, although they did make a couple of notable moves by acquiring reliever Chris Martin from the Chicago Cubs and outfielder Joey Gallo from the New York Yankees.
Still, the Dodgers have a loaded roster featuring six All-Stars, including Mookie Betts and Clayton Kershaw. Adding Soto would have further solidified them as a World Series favorite, but that likely would have led to them parting with some elite prospects, including their No. 1 minor leaguer, Diego Cartaya.
For now, L.A. is looking to stay hot in the dog days of summer. The Dodgers, who have won five of their last six, will play the second contest of a four-game road series against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday evening.
Brandon Drury Traded to Padres from Reds for Victor Acosta
Aug 2, 2022
CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 29: Brandon Drury #22 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park on July 29, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cincinnati 6-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres aren't done making moves just yet.
The Cincinnati Reds announced they traded infielder Brandon Drury to the San Diego Padres for shortstop prospect Victor Acosta ahead of Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET deadline.
Acosta was the sixth-ranked prospect in the Padres' farm system on MLB.com ahead of this move. He is slashing .243/.346/.706 with two home runs, 11 RBI and five stolen bases in 111 minor league at-bats this season.
Yet the headline here is another move by the Padres.
First, they acquired four-time All-Star closer Josh Hader in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. That alone would have been a notable addition as San Diego attempts to close the gap with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West ahead of the playoffs.
However, it then stole headlines with a blockbuster Tuesday when they landed Juan Soto and Josh Bell in a trade with the Washington Nationals. It sent shortstop C.J. Abrams, pitcher MacKenzie Gore, outfielder Robert Hassell III, outfielder James Wood, pitcher Jarlin Susana and first baseman/DH Luke Voit to the Nationals.
Eric Hosmer was included in the initial trade, but Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported he rejected the deal with his no-trade clause. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the Padres eventually traded Hosmer to the Boston Red Sox.
While Drury isn't as big of a name as Soto, Bell or Hader, he is in the middle of a career-best season.
He slashed .274/.335/.520 with 20 home runs and 59 RBI in 92 games as a bright spot for a struggling Reds team. The veteran has also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets but never hit more than the 16 home runs he launched in his first full season in 2016.
Drury is now in the middle of a playoff race and can play all across the infield for the Padres as they look to mix-and-match their now loaded lineup.
