Dodgers sign 23 draft picks

The Dodgers announced their first batch of draft signings, highlighted by fourth-round pick Mario (aka Angelo) Songco of Loyola Marymount.

Rd./Pick	Name	Pos.	DOB	B-T	Ht./Wt.	School	Scout
4/127	Mario Songco	OF	9/9/1988	L-R	6-0/190	Loyola Marymount University	Bobby Darwin
6/187	Jan Vazquez	C	4/29/1991	S-R	5-10/170	Puerto Rico Baseball Academy	Manny Estrada
8/247	Jonathan Garcia	OF	11/11/1991	R-R	5-11/175	Luis Munoz Marin High School	Manny Estrada
10/307	Andy Suiter	LHP	6/10/1987	L-L	6-3/210	UC – Davis	Fred Costello
12/367	Brian Cavazos-Galvez	OF	5/17/1987	R-R	6-0/215	University of New Mexico	Calvin Jones
13/397	Joe Paxson	RHP	7/28/1986	R-R	6-4/250	Western Kentucky University	Marty Lamb
14/427	Casio Grider	SS	8/17/1987	R-R	6-1/165	Newberry College (SC)	Lon Joyce
16/487	Mike Pericht	C	5/23/1988	R-R	6-5/235	St. Joseph’s College (IN)	Chet Sergo
17/517	Steven Ames	RHP	3/15/1988	R-R	6-2/205	Gonzaga University (WA)	Hank Jones
18/547	Greg Wilborn	LHP	6/3/1987	L-L	6-1/170	Univ. of Louisiana - Lafayette	Matt Paul
19/577	Nick Akins	OF	12/25/1987	R-R	6-1/190	Vanguard University (CA)	Brian Stephenson
21/637	Chris Henderson	3B	6/23/1988	L-R	5-11/190	George Mason University (VA)	Clair Rierson
22/667	Stetson Banks	OF	1/14/1988	R-R	6-1/185	BYU	Brian Stephenson
23/697	Jimmy Marshall	RHP	4/13/1987	R-R	6-1/210	Florida State University	Scott Hennessey
28/847	John Hernandez	RHP	6/21/1987	R-R	6-1/200	Barry University (FL)	Manny Estrada
30/907	Nick Gaudi	RHP	8/2/1986	R-R	6-5/215	Pepperdine University (CA)	Chuck Crim
31/937	Austin King	OF	12/1/1988	R-R	6-2/205	Jackson State CC (TN)	Marty Lamb
32/967	Graham Miller	LHP	10/18/1986	L-L	6-2/205	The Masters College (CA)	Chuck Crim
33/997	Steve Cilladi	C	3/15/1987	R-R	5-9/182	Kansas Wesleyan University	Scott Little
34/1027	Justin Dignelli	RHP	2/26/1987	R-R	6-4/220	George Washington Univ. (DC)	Clair Rierson
35/1057	David Iden	2B	3/4/1987	R-R	5-9/170	California Lutheran University	Chuck Crim
36/1087	Kevin Childs	RHP	4/21/1987	R-R	6-3/195	Culver-Stockton College (CA)	Scott Little
41/1237	Chris Handke	RHP	3/19/1988	R-R	6-10/235	Cornell College (NY)	Scott Little

Comments

[delias man]

I am sure the Niekros have pitched against each other many times. Ancient history.

[Craig88USC]

Welcome aboard to all the baby Dodgers and thanks to all the Scouters for scoutin' the new '09ers..

[Dodgers49]

Boston Globe

In return, Manny will be The Man

>> When the Dodgers played in Florida against the Marlins, Manny addressed his teammates at the Trump International Hotel.
“It was really strange,’’ recalled Loretta. “They had us go into a conference room. There were a bunch of chairs in the room and our traveling secretary didn’t want Manny to walk in and see us all lined up, sitting in chairs, so they emptied the room of furniture and guys were sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall. Manny just came in and said, ‘Sorry you guys have to go through this.’ <<

## As always, Torre has been a master of patience and communication. He says he talks to Manny every other day. He has no doubt Manny will be back in the lineup July 3. ##

http://tinyurl.com/lg94ow

[Craig88USC]

And regarding all of Manny's "getting in fightin' shape"
games in front of Dodger fans IN the Albuquerque & San Berdoo home parks -

Nice touch.

[Phenomenal Smith]

The Niekros faced each other nine times, although I don't think Joe was a starter in all of them.

Joe was 2 for 18 as a hitter against Phil with one home run.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/shareit/X2a5

Phil was 6 for 19 against Joe, but no homers.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/shareit/CJaz

[Tripon]

ben (los angeles)

Jerry, will Kershaw ever learn to "pitch" rather than rely on his overpowering stuff? He rarely lasts more than 5-6 innings before his pitch count is over 100....if he develops he is going to be something.
Jerry Crasnick

Ben, He's 21 years old, right? We've elevated expectations for young players so much, we forget that a kid that age is going to struggle at times. Just imagine what it must be like pitching for a big market team in a pennant race at that age. In a perfect world, Kershaw would still be refining his game in Double A or Triple A right now. Let's cut him a little slack.

[Gen3Blue]

Darn it--LATed again (I'm a slow composer)

Some nice work by Eric and GoBears this morning. Definitely a burst of Friday morning productivity.

The strange case of R. Martinis is certainly puzzling, though it is not as wierd as the Andruw affair last year at this time. I don't think baseball is the kind of sport where most guys in there twenties or early thirties need rest, but of course this doesn't include pitchers and catchers. But some of the things Martin is doing( or not doing) don't feel fatigue related . And it's still pretty early in the season. Anyway, as people here have hashed out Martin still has value to this team and we can afford to carry him for a while. Personally, I would carry him a long time given his potential upside and what he has meant to this team in the past.

[underdog]

Ah! There are the signings I was looking for. Figured they'd come in bunches.

Now comes the tough signings, especially pick #65, Gould.

[Old Dodger Fan]

Of the 23 draft picks listed above 16 are older than Kershaw and one shares his birthday of 3/19/88.

This kid is amazing for 21.

[Eric Stephen]

What sucks about the Manny IE experience is that the Tuesday game is an 11:05am start.

[Tripon]

Ryan (Buckhead)

Braves have a somewhat surplus of pitching right now. Why not throw Chris Medlin and Francoeur Billy Beane's way for Holliday? If Wren doesn't get another bat, a good one, Braves aren't making the playoffs.
Jayson Stark

Here's the hangup there: Francoeur has no value right now, the way he's playing. And he isn't exactly a Moneyball kind of guy. Do you really see Billy Beane trading for a hitter who swings at every pitch he sees?

[Dodgers49]

From Previous Thread:

10:15 AM Not sure if it was mentioned in a previous discussion but when was the last time two brothers pitched against each other? Maybe a previous Weaver v Weaver? Is there a list somewhere?
vr, Xei

Dodgers' Weaver to oppose brother

>> The last time opposing brothers started was 2002 (Andy and Alan Benes). In all of Major League history (going back to 1871), it has happened only 20 times, with the Dodgers involved twice -- 1996 when Ramon Martinez pitched for the Dodgers and Pedro for Montreal; and 1926 when Jess Barnes pitched for Brooklyn against Virgil and the Giants. <<

http://tinyurl.com/l9n2f4

[Craig88USC]

Eric - Wow, a 66er morning game?
Is it Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast Day at the Arrowhead?
; 0

[ucladodger]

For the second time in about a month, a DT poster makes ESPN.com in Rob Neyer's notes. Here's BHSportsguy's moment of glory...
http://tinyurl.com/mqukbt.

[Jon Weisman]

I think that's two more times than I have. :)

[Eric Stephen]

UCLADodger,

Don't forget our own JPG reached Neyer link status as well.

[Jon Weisman]

New post up top.

[Xeifrank]

Thanks Dodger49, I will give you the "hat tip" on that one.
vr, Xei

[bhsportsguy]

But Josh S. on Dodger Talk cited Jon's post about bullpen usage on last night's show.

[Gen3Blue]

Link to Neyer doesn't seem to work for me. I can find it.

[GoBears]

Gen3Blue - it worked for me. Just took a while to load. All it does is link to BH's guest post on Edwin Jackson - no extra commentary from Neyer. Stil, that's pretty cool.

[pdotmac1]

Remove the . after the tinyurl link

[Rob McMillin]

Mario Songco sounds like Nintendo's licensing agency.

[Drew]

Did anyone notice the Dodgers only signed one switch hitter? Does anyone know if there are more switch hitters drafted, just not signed yet?

BTW this is my first post here! JW, LAT, thank you for this platform for REAL DODGER FANS to communicate.

Doesn't this season feel special???
GO BLUE!

[Brian]

It will be interesting to see how Chris Henderson handles third base since he was a catcher at Mason. He can definitely hit, but I believe last season he never hit below .400. Too bad he wasn't selected in the earlier rounds, but the Dodgers got a good pick out of him in the 21st round.