These Dodgers Draft Picks Deflated
PLUS: DESIGNING A 2025 BASEBALL BOOK COVER
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Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
More proof that the three-divisional arrangement and tournament-style playoffs stifles the trade deadline and hurts the game: Washington, even with a sub-.500 record entering play Tuesday (35-36), was tied with the Padres for the final Wild Card spot in the NL and had not decided how to approach the deadline . . .
First basemen wanted: Yankees (Anthony Rizzo broke his arm), Red Sox (Dominic Smith a dud), Astros (Jose Abreu released, team relying on retread Jon Singleton), Reds (Christian Encarnacion-Strand likely out for season), Pirates (Rowdy Tellez), Nationals (Joey Meneses), and more . . .
Ex-Met J.D. Davis, just cut by Oakland, could fill the bill and can play third too . . .
Ian Anderson, a 2021 World Series pitching hero for Atlanta, has begun rehabbing in the minors after not pitching for the Braves since Aug. 13, 2022 (Tommy John surgery and more) . . .
The Braves and Dodgers are in a tug-of-war over Tampa Bay outfielder Randy Arozarena, another proven post-season commodity . . .
With 41-year-old staff ace Justin Verlander again on the IL — this time with neck pain — the Houston Astros have a rotation of Framber Valdez, Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti, and a prayer . . .
Congratulations to the Minneapolis chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) for bagging four Hall of Famers as guest speakers at SABR 52 Aug. 7-10: Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Jim Kaat, and Tony Oliva.
Leading Off
Five Worst First-Round Draft Picks By Dodgers
By Paul Banks
Many writers have a favorite Shakespeare quote, and this gem from Hamlet is near the top of my list. "There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so."
The five former ballplayers listed below were all in their own way quite good. They were better at the amateur level than most of their peers, which is why the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted them. However, none of them came close to reaching the expectations that accompany a first-round draft pick.
The next edition of the MLB Draft will be here next month, and the Dodgers are slated to pick 23rd. Here is a link to who we think they'll pick. For his sake and the sake of the franchise, hopefully he won't someday end up on a list like this.
Here, in no particular order, are the five worst first-round picks in Dodgers history.
Bill Bene, RHP, fifth overall, 1988, California State University, Los Angeles.
Never made it to the major leagues, and after nine seasons in the minors he was found guilty of fraud and tax evasion. He did so in a rather unique and notorious manner. In 2012, Bene was sentenced to six months in prison for selling illegal karaoke jukeboxes and failing to report the more than $600,000 in income to the IRS.
Lifetime in nine minor league seasons: 15-30, 5.58 ERA, 1.946 WHIP.
Kiki Jones, RHP, 15th overall, 1989, Hillsborough High School (Tampa, FL).
Dominant during his first professional season at the Rookie Great Falls Dodgers in 1989 (8-0 1.92, 0.973), injuries and legal problems derailed his career. In 1992, Jones was arrested for falsely reporting his car stolen and collecting the insurance money.
The Dodgers released him the next year.
Ryan Luzinski, C, 32nd overall, 1992, Holy Cross High School, Willingboro, NJ.
As they had once before, Dodgers hoped to match the success of this late-round pick of a catcher out of Pennsylvania.
You know the other story: As a personal favor from his childhood friend, Tommy Lasorda, automobile magnate Vince Piazza helped get his son, Mike, drafted in the 62nd round.
While Mike Piazza became the Dodgers backstop on his way to the Hall of Fame, Luzinski stagnated in the minors and was eventually dealt to Baltimore. The offspring of Hall of Very Good slugger Greg Luzinski, it was hoped the son would also rise, but he never rose above AAA.
Best season in the Dodgers organization (1996 at three levels): .311/.371/.443
Chris Anderson, RHP, 18th overall, 2013, Jacksonville University.
Not a lot of return on investment with this hurler, who received a $2,109,900 signing bonus. Anderson did advance to the AAA-OKC Dodgers in 2016, but was rocked during his three appearances, to the tune of 15 runs allowed in 6 1/3 innings. Released the following spring, he was signed by the Minnesota Twins who then released him after just three games (18.90).
Best season in Dodgers organization (2013 Great Lake Loons): 3-0, 1.96, 1.217.
Ronnie Walden, LHP, ninth overall, 1990, Blanchard High School, Oklahoma City, OK.
You really have to feel for this guy, who told The Oklahoman in 1999 that when he retired, his arm was so damaged he would never be able to play catch with his kids. He reached this sad state after just seven career minor league outings (1-4, 1.47, 1.174).
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.” He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.
Cleaning Up
How To Make A Great Baseball Book Cover
By Dan Schlossberg
Authors don’t have total control over publishers before baseball books go to press.
That is why I am so grateful to Jason Katzman, my editor at Sports Publishing, for allowing me to pick the colors and cover pictures for the next edition of The New Baseball Bible.
This oversized paperback is an unorthodox illustrated history of baseball with an emphasis on oddities and ironies. Plenty of those pop up every day, in every game — so many in fact that I actually teach a Bergen Community College course for seniors called “Baseball Ironies & Oddities.”
The new book, due for publication next spring, is actually the third edition produced by Sports Publishing, an imprint of Skyhorse and my primary publisher over the last 10 years. They also published my 2024 Hank Aaron biography, the autobiographies I ghosted for Ron Blomberg and Milo Hamilton, and other efforts.
None was as big or as painstaking as The New Baseball Bible, which contains a subtitle called Notes, Nuggets, Lists, and Legends From Our National Pastime.
The last edition, published in 2020, featured bright yellow type on a black background at the top of the page, my name and the names of John Thorn and Al Clark separated by horizontal lines in the center, and a collage of players at the bottom.
Now, since Jason accepted my suggestions, the black background remains but the title appears in blue except for the word “New,” which has been changed to red (too many interviewers were forgetting to include it).
The player collection is also different.
After Jason and I agreed that it was important to include both Hall of Famers and representatives of assorted colors, creeds, teams, and leagues, we added Shohei Ohtani in a Dodgers uniform, subbed a photo of Bob Feller for a cartoon of Cy Young, and added our first black-and-white cover shot: Negro Leagues legend Josh Gibson.
Back from the last cover are three players whose pictures I took myself — Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Tom Seaver — plus David (Big Papi) Ortiz and Derek Jeter.
The toughest decision for me was Feller rather than Sandy Koufax but I didn’t want to overdo the Dodgers theme and Ohtani will suffice.
Gone from last time are Mariano Rivera, Young, and a large picture of Mike Trout in a red Angels uniform (Ken Griffey, Jr. had the spot in the 2017 edition).
With marketing in mind, there are two players from New York teams (Seaver and Jeter), one from Boston (Ortiz), one from Los Angeles (Ohtani), one from the black leagues (Gibson), and the greatest home run tandem in baseball history (Aaron and Mathews). Black, white, and Japanese players are represented too.
The book will run close to 500 pages again, contain a detailed index for easy reference, and have an extensive bibliography.
Publication date will probably be next April, just in time for the start of the 2025 season.
Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is author or co-author of 40 books, with two more on the way. Email him at ballauthor@gmail.com.
Timeless Trivia: Facts & Figures From 4-HR Games
“It was just one of those days.”
— Mike Cameron after his four-homer game for Seattle on May 2, 2002
Mets DH J.D. Martinez is not only the lone active player to hit four home runs in a game and also the author of two three-homer games . . .
No member of the 700 Club ever hit four home runs in a game (Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Albert Pujols all missed) . . .
Stan Musial and Nate Colbert both hit five home runs in one day but never won a home run crown . . .
First basemen Gil Hodges (Dodgers) and Joe Adcock (Braves) “traded” four-homer games in 1950 and 1954, respectively, with both efforts at Ebbets Field . . .
Six of the 18 men to hit four homers in a game are in the Hall of Fame . . .
Despite the looming presence of The Green Monster in Fenway Park, no Red Sox player ever hit four home runs in a game . . .
Mark Whiten had the most RBIs during a four-homer game, while Mike Cameron (4) had the fewest . . .
Lou Gehrig was the first American Leaguer and only Yankee to have a four-homer game (June 3, 1932) . . .
Shawn Green’s four-homer performance in 2002 was accompanied by a single and double, giving him a record 19 total bases in a game . . .
Fifteen years later, Scooter Gennett became the least likely player to hit four in a game (he hit 87 home runs in a career that lasted only seven seasons).
Know Your Editors
HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles Monday and Tuesday editions, Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] does Wednesday and Thursday, and Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com] edits the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HTP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.
Great news on the new book Dan!