Dodgers notes: Garret Anderson, Hyeseong Kim, bullpen improvement
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 02: Garret Anderson #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting the game winning base hit in the 14th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on June 2, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images Garrett Anderson, who played the first 15 seasons of his career with the Angels and finished up with the Dodgers in 2010, died at age 53, the Angels announced on Friday. Anderson was born and raised in Los Angeles, and played at Kennedy High School before getting drafted by the Angels in 1990.
I first saw him play with the Class-A Palm Springs Angels in 1992. Anderson made three All-Star teams and drove in the go-ahead runs in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series to help clinch the Angels’ only championship. With the Dodgers, a 38-year-old Anderson played sparingly, but did notably drive in the only run of a 14-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 2, 2010 .
It marked the first time the Dodgers had won back-to-back 1-0 games for the first time in 26 years. Freddie Freeman, who grew up in Orange County, told Jack Harris of the California Post that Anderson was his favorite player : “You always hear, ‘Don’t meet your heroes,’” Freeman told The California Post. “But then I got to meet him, and I was like, ‘I’m glad I did.
’ Because he was a beautiful man. And I wish he was still here. He meant a lot to so many people … I’m at a loss for words really.
” Anderson remembrances from Gabe Lacques at USA Today from Steve Henson at the Los Angeles Times from Jim Alexander at the Orange County Register from Tyler Kepner at The Athletic Hyeseong Kim talked to Jack Harris of the California Post about getting optioned to the minors at the beginning of the season, and his subsequent return two weeks ago when Mookie Betts was placed on the injured list. Manager Dave Roberts praised Kim’s swing, noting improvement from late in spring training: “I think he’s into the ground much better. I think the swing decisions are better mechanically.