Wow!

Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“I’m here to win some rings and bring rings back to L.A. -- that’s all I’m focused on,” Betts said after signing a landmark 12-year contract extension that runs through 2032. 

“This is what I’ve been working for my whole life. I know the Dodgers are going to be good for a long time. I love being here, everything about being here. The people here made me feel so comfortable. Everybody’s amazing. This organization is a well-oiled machine. I love it.”

I need a Mookie jersey. Photo on the right, via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1939 the Dodgers once again used yellow-colored baseballs during a game at Ebbets Field. This time it was against the Cardinals, and Brooklyn lost the game, 12-0. In 1962 Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. You can listen to his induction speech here. In 1974 Steve Garvey, who was a write-in candidate, had a single, double and an RBI during the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. He would be named the MVP of the game. In 1975 Willie Crawford and Lee Lacy hit pinch-hit home runs in the ninth inning in a loss against the Cardinals, 5-4. The homers tied a Major League record for pinch-hit homers in the same inning.
• Happy Birthday, Hod Ford, Paul Chervinko, Pee Wee Reese, Don Drysdale, Nomar Garciaparra, Larry Barnes & Hung-Chih Kuo!
• Per Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Dodgers Extend Mookie Betts."

Betts’ contract includes a massive $65MM signing bonus, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (via Twitter). The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal adds that the contract contains $115MM in deferrals, and the salaries are backloaded such that Betts will be paid $17.5MM in 2021 and 2022. There are no opt-outs in the deal, which does not come with a no-trade clause, per Rosenthal.

• The 30-man Opening Day roster has just been announced. See it below:

Pitchers (16): Scott Alexander (L), Pedro Báez, Walker Buehler, Caleb Ferguson (L), Dylan Floro, Brusdar Graterol, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Clayton Kershaw (L), Adam Kolarek (L), Jake McGee (L), Dennis Santana, Ross Stripling, Blake Treinen, Julio Urías (L), Alex Wood (L) 

Catchers (2): Austin Barnes, Will Smith

Infielders (5): Matt Beaty, Max Muncy, Corey Seager, Edwin Ríos, Justin Turner 

Outfielders (5): Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Terrance Gore, Joc Pederson, AJ Pollock 

Infielder/Outfielder (2): Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor 

Injured List (1): Jimmy Nelson, RHP (45-day, low-back surgery)

• Congrats to Terrance Gore. I didn't think he'd be on the team. 
• Here's the starting rotation, via Brook Smith on twitter:

Kershaw, Stripling, Wood, Urias this weekend per Doc

— Brook Smith (@brookme3) July 22, 2020

• I knew this was coming. The Dodgers are offering fan cutouts for dogs. That's right! Now you can have you pooch siting in the stands during the season. Go here for more information. Per a press release:

Dodger fans and dog owners can now purchase a Los Angeles Dodgers Fan Cutout for their dog. With over 4,500 fan cutouts sold so far, the Los Angeles Dodgers will launch Pups at the Park presented by Lucy Pet Foods, a special section just for its four-legged fans. For $149, fans can include their dogs in Loge sections 143 and 145. Net proceeds from the sale of cutouts will benefit the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. 

...
“The cutouts have been a tremendous success and provide a colorful boost to the stadium,” said Nichol Whiteman, CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “The fans reflect the power of the Dodger community as we raise funds for crucial programs to help Angelenos during these challenging times.”  

Since launching last week, nearly $800,000 in net proceeds have already been raised in support of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. All Los Angeles Dodgers Fan Cutouts will be authenticated as game used through the MLB Authentication Program. The cutouts are made of Coroplast, a weatherproof material, and are 18” W x 30” H. Images are subject to Dodgers approval.  

• Via Joel Wagler at Dodgers Way -- "Joc Pederson shares his savory steak and wings grill secrets."
• Per Travis Sawchik at FiveThirtyEight -- "The Dodgers Lead Our National League Predictions, But Don’t Count Out The Nats Or … Reds?"

Los Angeles also has a deep system with potential future stars ready to contribute, like infielder Gavin Lux, one of the top prospects in the game, and catcher Will Smith, who hit 35 combined home runs between Triple-A and the majors last season. Only the Astros project to produce more position player wins above replacement than the Dodgers. And despite the free agent departure of Hyun-Jin Ryu, who left L.A. for Toronto, the Dodgers have plenty of firepower in their rotation in long-time ace Clayton Kershaw and an emerging No. 1 pitcher in Walker Buehler. 

• This is what I've always wanted to know. Per James M. Smolinga at Scientific American -- "How Many Hot Dogs Can a Human Theoretically Eat? A Sports Scientist Weighs In."

Ultimately, the mathematical modeling I performed suggests that Joey Chestnut’s record-setting 75 hot dogs in 10 minutes is not the pinnacle of what is biological possible. The historical data suggest that the record may eventually be able to rise as high as 83–84 hot dogs. My guess is that it will be decades before anybody approaches this, and it will take an individual taller and leaner than Chestnut to achieve this.