Sue Falsone will reportedly be named head athletic trainer of the Dodgers early next week, according to both Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times and Stephania Bell of ESPN.com. Falsone, who in 2007 with the Dodgers became the first female physical therapist in baseball, will become the first female head athletic trainer in baseball history. Bell caught up with Curt Schilling, who rehabbed with Falsone while he was with the Red Sox:
"I can't imagine anyone more equipped to get that position, both from an intelligence perspective and the makeup of her personality," Schilling said when told of Falsone's impending hire with the Dodgers. "She was destined for this."
Stan Conte, whose title is Director of Medical Services but has also been the head trainer for the last five years, will remain with the Dodgers. Conte will "continue to oversee the medical department" per Hernandez, who also reported on some other personnel changes on the training staff.
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In other news, Matt Kemp finished third in the Sporting News Player of the Year award, behind Justin Verlander and Curtis Granderson. The award is voted on by MLB players, and Verlander finished first with 67 votes, with Granderson collecting 57 votes to Kemp's 41.
There were 289 players that bothered to return ballots to The Sporting News, including 177 from the American League and just 112 from the National League. I have to think a better participation rate from the NL would have helped Kemp, if not won him the award.
Orel Hershiser was the last Dodger to win the Sporting News Player of the Year, doing so in 1988. He was also the last pitcher to capture the award until Verlander this year.