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LOS ANGELES -- Before delving into some of the more newsworthy items from Saturday's FanFest at Dodger Stadium, here are some miscellaneous Dodgers notes.
The club hired a new organist to replace the now-retired Nancy Bea Hefley, with Kings organist Dieter Ruehle joining the Dodgers. Ruehle filled in a few Dodgers games in 2015, and has a more rock and roll flair to his songbook.
Ruehle is the music director at Staples Center, and will continue to work Kings and Lakers games as well.
Excited that I'm the new @Dodgers organist! Big shoes to fill after @NancyBea retired. But I'll do my best. Looking forward to it!#fanfest
— Dieter Ruehle (@DieterRuehle) January 30, 2016
Numerology
FanFest, as well as the 'Dodgers Love LA' community tour through Los Angeles in the last week, afforded the opportunity to see several new players in a Dodgers uniform for the first time, wearing their new numbers.
Here are the known new numbers for the Dodgers in 2016:
8 - Bob Geren
11 - Micah Johnson
21 - Trayce Thompson
28 - Austin Barnes (switched from 65)
29 - Scott Kazmir
44 - Frankie Montas
67 - Jharel Cotton
68 - Ross Stripling
Kazmir wore number 26 for three different teams in the last three years, and also wore the number in 2005 with the Rays. He wanted 26, but that belongs to Chase Utley, so Kazmir took number 29 instead, calling it his "next favorite choice." Kazmir has also worn 57, 19 and 22 throughout his career.
"I've had so many numbers throughout my career that it doesn't have too much meaning," Kazmir said.
Quotables
Adrian Gonzalez on Corey Seager:
"I told this to Eric Young last year against the Rockies. He's a special kid. This is a kid I can see being a Hall of Famer in the future. He's got the talent, he's got the potential. I think he's going to be a great major leaguer for a long time."
Kazmir, 3-for-26 (.115) with 10 strikeouts and no extra-base hits in his career, on joining a National League team for the first time in his career:
"I'm ready to hit. I already talked to [pitching coach Rick] Honeycutt to get some swings in early just to make sure I'm ready, but he told me to pump the brakes, so we'll wait until spring training starts."
Brandon McCarthy on new manager Dave Roberts:
"People from all around the league reached out, and universally it was 'You guys got one of the best.' I haven't heard a person who has a single bad word to say [about Roberts], which is somewhat rare. I think everybody is very excited that he's on board."