Dodgers to announce signing of highly regarded draft pick Garrett Gould, sources say

Since I'm pretty adamant with my skepticism toward unsourced reports, feel free to apply the same standard to this one. Although I can't offer on-the-record confirmation, I have gotten reliable indications that the Dodgers plan to announce the signing of second-round draft pick Garrett Gould today. 

Gould, Kansas' high school baseball player of the year, was a first-round pitcher who fell to the 65th pick overall because of bonus demands that were expected to exceed $1 million. Gould had a scholarship to Wichita State as a bargaining chip, and his signing is a welcome sign of investment in high-caliber draft picks after some hit-and-miss moments on that front in the last couple of years.

Here's some Gould video from Baseball Factory. Earlier this summer, the Dodgers signed their top 2009 draftee, Aaron Miller.

Update: The Dodgers have confirmed the signing in their press notes today.

Comments

[Eric Stephen]

Very good news.

[Bob Hendley]

That giddyup motion bothers me (hope it bothers the hitters as well).

[tleonp]

From last thread...

The other day, I DVR'd a Lakers-Jazz playoff game from 1988. Normally, these classic games you get on NBA TV use the national feed from the time, resulting in a lot of Dick Stockton on my TV. This time was different. They used the Prime Ticket feed, complete with Geoff Witcher doing the pre-game. And of course...Chick. Also, a much younger Stu Lantz, barely able to get a word in edgewise. Two things that struck me from the telecast:

1. This was Chick in his late prime. I had forgotten just how QUICK, and cutting, and observant he was. This was not the older Chick Hearn from 2000-2002, mellower and not always completely on top of the action. This was Chick bitterly ripping Kareem for "pussyfooting" a layup instead of dunking; musing that Utah may just be a better team; indicating that James Worthy "couldn't guard my mother, and she can't go to her left". This was the greatest basketball broadcaster of all time, at his best.

2. There are certain great athletes that seemed to have their own town crier, someone that served as the amplification for their deeds and are thus identified in memory with that athlete forever. DiMaggio had Mel Allen. Koufax had Vin Scully. And Magic had Chick Hearn. It is impossible now for me to watch films of Magic without hearing Chick's voice in my head. Chick was Magic's John the Baptist.

3. Magic had more impact on his supporting cast than any player who ever lived, in my view. I loved Larry Bird, but I have always had the feeling that if their places had been switched, it would've been the Celtics with 5 titles in the '80s, not the Lakers. People remember the flash, but I also remember the subtle brilliance: the right man picked out; the ball timed to arrive just when Worthy or Kareem or Jamaal could do something with it. He was a genius.

Now he's 50. and we are truly blessed to still have him among us. Happy, healthy, and safe birthday, Earvin.

[Jack Dawkins]

I saw our top draftee at a local watering hole/honky tonk after his signing. One of the chatsworth baseball coaches had brought him. He seemed extremely shy for an athlete, especially around women.

[jpg]

foils, scooped again.

Great news, not just the signing but the fact Frank stepped up and did the right thing since we didn't have a number one pick.

[Jack]

It'll be interesting to see how much above slot the Dodgers gave him.

[underdog]

This would be fantastic news. Fingers crossed.

[Schlomo]

I love the focus on pitching. Having Kershaw, Broxton, and Bills grow up in our system is awesome. Here's hoping that McDonald and Elbert can also make a strong contribution.

[GoBears]

Not sure if this has been linked before - a "Physics of Baseball" article on park effects in terms of how well balls "carry." Not surprisingly, they carry best at Coors. Somewhat suprisingly, the new Yankee Stadium is below average.

Bear in mind, this is about air currents, temperature, humidity. It does not factor in park dimensions. So a ball hit in Yankee Stadium might not carry as well as in, say, Wrigley, but might still be more likely to be a HR if the fences are closer.

Enjoy:
http://webusers.npl.illinois.edu/~a-nathan/pob/carry/carry.html

[Cey Hey!]

One of the last things I am is a pitching coach (Hey, I'm a former All-Star third baseman!), but does it seem like a lot of these young pitchers don't use their backs much?

[DougS]

OT (and painful just to read about), but of some interest regarding a notable ex-Dodger:

http://tinyurl.com/lx7g4j

Was anyone else around here aware that Beltre played without using a cup? I certainly never heard anything of the sort. :-0

[Jon Weisman]

Update: The Dodgers have confirmed the signing in their press notes today.

[scott]

Hopefully Garrett Gould doesn't turn into the next DD and that's not Don Drysdale.
Hopefully we all keep our fingers crossed and he can join Chad & Clayton as the #3 home grown talent. With all this great prospects we need more starters. We could have landed great lefthander Cliff Lee (now 3-0) with young pitching talent. How does the Phillies always trade for talent and we sit and watch.

Please Note: For the younger fans:
Donald Scott "Don" Drysdale (July 23, 1936 – July 3, 1993) was a Major League Baseball player and Hall of Fame right-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was one of the dominant starting pitchers of the 1960s, and became a radio and television broadcaster following his playing career. He was born in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California and attended Van Nuys High School, where one of his baseball teammates was actor Robert Redford. The Disney character Herbie has the number 53.

[john hale]

Re Beltre:

I haven't seen the play that Beltre go hurt on but in that well played 14 inning game he was part of a fantastic pickoff at third base in which he ended up landing with the " injured area" bearing his weight on top of the White Sox player (Posesednik?) I can't even imagine how much that hurt and how he played on after that. He just came back early from injury and then this. Is he motivated by contract year or just a mans man.

[Icaros]

Thanks for Don Drysdale bio. Never heard of the guy.

[DL]

I'm assuming the Dodgers went way over slot to sign Gould?

That may be good for us, but it's a bad trend for baseball.

[Phenomenal Smith]

Aside from pitchers and catchers, most players don't wear protective cups often. It's a problem with athletes in a lot of sports.

[Phenomenal Smith]

The Cubs lead the Pirates 17-2.

In the 4th inning.

[Seth]

As long as we're talking about retired/dead baseball players, why is Zack Wheat not recognized by the Dodgers ... like, anywhere ... by anybody

[DL]

Beltre might be in the running for a Darwin Award, actually.

[Phenomenal Smith]

The Dodgers would retire Zack Wheat's number except he didn't wear a number.

In general, the Dodgers don't care much about their history prior to 1941.

[Marty Leadman]

The Pirates really miss Adam LaRoche

[Craig88USC]

Scott, DD = Dodger Don Demeter? :)

[68elcamino427]

Cey Hey -

Yeah, his knee on his landing leg is locked.

The Dodgers will probably fix that.

If not he may experience some arm problems.

[Seth]

They could've put his name up there with the other retired numbers like what the Tigers do with Cobb. Still feels weird that there's no acknowledgment that he existed except for his name on the wall leading to the Dugout Club (unless I'm missing something)

[Phenomenal Smith]

Highest similarity score to Zack Wheat for his career:

Tony Gwynn

You want Zack Wheat remembered better? Talk to Roger Kahn.

[megaballs]

gould's date of birth?

7/19/1991!

[Icaros]

Gould looks like he takes about 5 minutes to deliver the ball out of the stretch.

[bhsportsguy]

Four players/managers inducted in Basball HOF who played primarily for the Brooklyn Dodgers and are not recognzied at Dodger Stadium:
Manager Leo Durocher, Pitcher Burleigh Grimes, Manager Wilbert Robinson, Pitcher Dazzy Vance and Outfielder Zack Wheat.

Durocher is recognized in the HOF as a Brooklyn Dodger, though he is also the last man to manage the Giants to a World Series victory in 1954. The Dodgers are the only franchise to have four managers enshrined in Cooperstown, the Yankees have 3.

[Ken Noe]

When Manny moves on, I say rename Mannywood the Wheat Field.

[underdog]

Bruce Jenkins probably didn't delight Giants fans with column today but it seems pretty fair to me!

Series showed that Giants are no Dodgers
http://bit.ly/19L55E

[underdog]

Posted by: Icaros | August 14, 2009 at 01:32 PM

I believe Gould is an olde Anglo-Saxon word meaning "Kaz Ishii."

[356man]

Any player who doesn't wear a cup gets what he deserves.

[Jtshoe]

With nobody on the Dodgers lead the league in average (.275). The Dodgers are 6th in the NL in batting average with runners in scoring position (.266). With runners in scoring position and 2 outs, they are 11th (.227).

Obviously, they are struggling a with runners on, but they are not doing as bad with runners in scoring position as some (mainstream media) may have suggested (overall they still rank 6th out of 16!). I think that the perception is worse because we see them hit well with no one on and have that expectation when they're up all the time, and there is certainly a large disparity between their average with no one on and with runners on, especially with 2 out. Part of this could just be luck, good and bad. It could also be that they are taking a different approach at the plate, and the fact that their on base percentage goes up, while their slugging percentage goes down in these situations suggests that may be the case. If so, is their hitting coach directing them to do the wrong thing? In other words, it could be that they are taking more pitches and being too selective when runners are on base. To have a better idea, I'd want to see that stat and I don't know if anyone has a way to sort for it (P/PA with runners in scoring position verses P/PA with no one one). Overall, they rank 4th in pitches per plate appearance (P/PA), and by itself its not a bad thing, as it seems that teams that have higher numbers in this stat (showing they are being more selective) typically have higher batting averages on balls in play (BABIP). The only real exception to this in the national league in 2009 is the Giants. I would think it means the Giants are just getting lucky alot? But are the Dodgers being too selective with runners on?

[Cey Hey!]

Has Brett Wallach signed?

[dalegribel]

Cautiously optimistic. Nice slot, but so many young pitchers fail to materialize.

[jujibee]

After spending the last few years missing out on Price, White, Hochevar (although that turned to be a blessing), Blair, etc, this is great news. He automatically makes the top 10, probably somewhere around #6 in our farm behind Martin, Withrow, Gordon, Eovaldi, Garate, VanSlyke

[Dave60]

I remember a Mariner pitcher of a few years ago, Josias Manzanillo, who also suffered an injury from not wearing a cup. In fact, I think he missed an entire season and returned one under par. Must be a Seattle thing?

[Eric Stephen]

Tonight's D-Backs lineup:

Drew SS
Roberts LF
Parra CF
Reynolds 1B
Montero C
Ryal 2B
Oeltjen RF
Ojeda 3B
Haren P

[Jon Weisman]

Leo Durocher - chapter 57
Zach Wheat - chapter 58
Burleigh Grimes - chapter 74
Dazzy Vance and Wilbert Robinson are in there too.

[john hale]

At what age do they stop doing "Cup checks" That never fails to get a reaction out of 10-11 year old little leaguers.

I hope its not a Seattle thing as I sit here sipping my latte watching the ferrys cross Puget Sound while also on the lookout for hard hit balls down the third base line.

[Phenomenal Smith]

To anticipate questions: ELT-jen

[Kevin Lewis]

So, I have Kershaw and Haren.

Bench Haren and start Kershaw?

[Xeifrank]

Kevin, start em both. No brainer.
vr, Xei

[Schlomo]

Kevin, I am starting them both. I expect quality innings from both of them; even if you don't get a win (from either) or you get a win and a loss, you'll still put yourself in a better position than just starting one.

[Alex41592]

Lineup:

Furcal, SS

Martin, C

Ethier, RF

Manny, LF

Blake, 3B

Loney, 1B

Kemp, CF

Hudson, 2B

Kershaw, P

http://insidethedodgers.mlblogs.com/

[Craig88USC]

As close as the teams' starters are tonight, it can be noted that one team is hitting 20 points higher.
Plus, a 17 game separation indicate huge talent differences ... Take the Kid.
Shoot, I would always take the Kid from here on out. What a 2009 story he's turned out to be.

[dalegribel]

It could be sarcasm at its best, but I can't tell from Icaros' post if he really has heard of Don Drysdale or not.

Zack Wheat definitely needs some organzational love, as does Babe Herman. Thank goodness Jon covered Burleigh Grimes.

[regfairfield]

I'm gonna guess that Icaros didn't discover Don Drysdale today.

I don't know who the other DD would be though

[TheAnc]

Darren Dreifort?

[regfairfield]

Makes sense, I guess I didn't see any comparison between Gould and Dreifort other than them being pitchers.

It's like saying I hope Andrew Lambo doesn't turn into F.P. Santangelo.

[underdog]

Going to the incredibly important Broncos @ Niners game tonight so I'll be missing the game live (maybe check the score on my phone though). But hope it's a good game and the pitcher's duel we expect.

Final score: 10-8. (Or maybe that'll be the final in the football game.)

[dalegribel]

In addition to Drysdale, Dodgers DD's include:
Delino Deshields
Darren Dreifort (the only original needled)
Dan Daub (pre-1900)
Don Demeter (previously mentioned)
Dick Dietz

[jim hitchcock]

Cal Neva WS Odds as of 6/1/09:
----------
Red Sox: 4/1

Yankees: 5/1

Dodgers: 5/1

As of 8/11/09:
------------------
Red Sox: 6/1

Yankees: 3/1

Dodgers: 5/1

The Dodgers are the very model of consistency!

[Eric Stephen]

Reg,

A possible Gould-Dreifort connection could be that GG was committed to play at Wichita State.

[Eric Stephen]

10-8...A total of 9 safeties, Underdog. :)

[regfairfield]

That'll teach me to be a smart mouth.

[Deuces are Wild]

What about the Dodger Dog?

[dalegribel]

Nice one Deuces. Arguably the most famous DD.

[Jon Weisman]

New post up top.

[Paul]

Go Fish! 5-1 in the top of the 8th.

Go Mets! 3-0 top of the 9th.

[Serge]

Hey Jon, how 'bout the rest of the draft picks we haven't signed? Are we close on Connor Powers, Richie Shaffer, the guy from Wisconsin (Effertz?) or anyone else??? I've heard Powers is as good as gone...

[Nathan N.]

ok we needed someone like this guy cuz right now we've lost 13 of 22 and our pitching has been terrible in this streak and garret will be in the rotatoion this year or the next so great job dodgers just wished you would've gotten cliff lee =(.