Blog Kiosk: 5/13/2016 - Dodgers Links - All About Clayton Kershaw

Preparation.

Clayton Kershaw not only warms up then studies the lineup for an upcoming game, but he also takes a moment to sit in the dugout, look out onto the field and mentally prepare for the job to come.  In the photo above, via a tweet by the @Dodgers, he is shown taking some time before the game to get his mind in the right place.  He's the best there is, and his physical and mental routine are the foundation for his excellence. 

Last nights performance is an example of the outcome we've come to expect from Kershaw.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

“I don’t know how to explain it other than walking guys is how you get in trouble. For me, I’d rather have them string hits together and make them swing the bats to beat me. That’s just always my mentality.

So how good has he been?  According to MLB on twitter, Clayton is the first pitcher since 1913 to record five straight starts with ten or more strike outs and one or fewer walks.  In fact, in eight starts and 62 innings pitched he has walked only four batters.  FOUR!  It's a feat so remarkable that August Fagerstrom at FanGraphs took some time to write about each of those walks here.

Clayton Kershaw’s been nearly perfect this year. The pitcher who was already thought to be just about perfect before any of this is running a career-best ERA, a career-best FIP, and a career-best xFIP through eight starts, and he’s shaved his already-elite walk rate more than every pitcher in baseball except for one. He’s unthinkably walked just four batters out of 225, and a closer look into those walks reveals one walk that featured two borderline strikes and a check swing, another with the season’s worst-called ball plus another missed call, another with a borderline 0-1 call that could’ve swung the count, and a really good at-bat by David Wright with a couple bad misses by Kershaw.

BTW, you can go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game from Jon SooHoo here, and listen to him talk about his performance with Alanna Rizzo here.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: Today was supposedly the day in 1947 when Pee Wee Reese put his arm around Jackie Robinson as a sign of solidarity at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.  Of course, we now know this incident never happened.
• Happy Birthday, Johnny Roseboro and John Ely!

Remembering ElyMania - A New Ely Autographed Card for My Collection

I remember ElyMania like it was yesterday.  He was an unsung pitcher with some decent peripheral numbers in the White Sox system, so nobody could have predicted his amazing start. Quickly though, like a tornado or a flying sombrero, he captured the hearts and minds of Dodger fans everywhere.

Ely won three games in his first five starts, and in another three starts in his first eight games he gave up a run or less for no-decisions.  For awhile it seemed like we had found a diamond, or at the very least a solid back-of-the-rotation pitcher.  Unfortunately, that luster soon disappeared.  Ely started to get wild and lost command of the strike zone.  In his first eight games he walked just ten batters.  In his next ten starts he walked thirty. 

Today, Ely pitches for the Red Sox AAA team in Pawtucket.  He has since been converted into a reliever and has pitched well for them.  So well, in fact, he just might find longterm success in that capacity. I know if he does, I will continue to root for him.

Featured here is an autographed card of John Ely that I recently added to my collection.  It is a 2010 Topps Peek Performance autographed card that was found in packs of their update series.

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Blog Kiosk: 9/19/2013 - Dodgers Links - Adrian Thrown Out, Resting Hanley Ramirez and Onelki Garcia's First Card is Coming

Yasiel Puig belted his 17th home run last night, pic via Dodgers tumblr.  The Dodgers couldn't close it out last night, but they'll have an opportunity this afternoon. 

• "Adrian making major impact on LA Latino community," via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.
• Do you remember John Ely?  If you do, check out his interview with him by Aiden Weber at The Columbia Chronicle.
• "Four-outfielder issue actually a huge asset," via Mark Saxon at ESPN.
• Topps unveiled a preview image of an autographed 2013 Bowman Chrome card of rookie Onelki Garcia.  This set is supposed to come out early next month.  Click on the pic on the right to embiggen.

• Topps also unveiled a preview image of a 2013 Heritage MiLB relic card of Joc Pederson.  This set officially goes live next week.  Click on the pic on the left to embiggen.
• Good Guy Kemp does it again.  Only, a little differently.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Kemp flies Dodgers' bat boys into Phoenix".
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA discusses, "The Hanley Ramirez plan".

"Whatever we have to do to get him right," Mattingly said. "It's going to be a matter of keeping him sharp but getting plenty of rest."

• "High-stakes call in Arizona pads case for replay," via Barry Bloom at MLB.com.  Replays showed it was an obvious bad call.  Sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles.

"It changes the game right there," Mattingly said after his club's clinching party was delayed at least one more day because of the 9-4 loss to the D-backs. "It would have been 4-3 with [one] out. Yeah, it would have been great to be able to use [replay]. Nothing against the umpires, but all we want to do is get it right. Let's get it right."

• "Missed opportunities, managerial miscues and celebrations delayed," via Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe.  Tony has some hard criticism on Mattingley's managerial decisions.
• I love this.  "Adrian Gonzalez ejected for telling umpire to hustle," via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.  You gotta keep the umpires on their toes.

Gonzalez was standing on second base after what he thought was an RBI double that would have brought the Dodgers to within 4-3. But Young was called out at home plate. Not by home plate umpire Joe West, but rather by first base umpire Jim Joyce, as the umpires were on a rotation with a ball hit into left field.

Gonzalez didn't think Joyce was in proper position to make the call.

"He's got to go from first base to home," Gonzalez said. "I was more mad that he was not in position to make the call. It's not that he wanted to get it wrong, it's that he didn't see it."

•  Yasiel Puig: Rapid Fire - Yasiel Puig answers a barrage of rapid fire questions. Find out whether he prefers twitter to instagram and who he thinks is the Dodgers best looking player. Watch the video here.

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Welcome to the Blue, Michael Young!

This news came right out of left field.  Via Ken Rosenthal on twitter:

BREAKING: #Dodgers get Michael Young from #Phillies
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 1, 2013

So, the Dodgers pick up an infielder (2nd, SS & 3rd) from the Philadelphia Phillies.  Details about who we gave up has yet to leak, but it isn't much.  Via Bill Shaikin on twitter:

Return for Michael Young described as a non-prospect minor leaguer. #Dodgers
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 1, 2013

UPDATE:  We now know that the Dodgers traded AA lefty pitching prospect Rob Rasmussen, via Bill Shaikin on twitter.

#Dodgers confirm trade: Michael Young and cash for Rob Rasmussen.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 1, 2013

As you'll remember, Rasmussen originally came to the Dodgers late last year in a trade with Houston for John Ely.

Young has had a decent season (and an even better career), but I just don't think he comes in to supplant any of our current starters. He's basically on par with Juan Uribe and Mark Ellis with the bat, but is much poorer with the glove.  Maybe he comes in to be a bat off the bench with an occasional start to rest our regulars.

What this also does is give us another in-house option for a third baseman next season.  Since Uribe is a free agent in 2014, Young provides another option since he is also a free agent.  Maybe, he gets a month to wow us and the Dodgers staff.

Below are Michael Young's career stats, via Baseball Reference.


From the Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired third baseman Michael Young and cash considerations from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Rob Rasmussen. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred Josh Beckett to the 60-day disabled list.

Young, 36, is a seven-time All-Star and won the 2005 American League batting title with the Texas Rangers, who he played for from 2000-2012. Young twice led the American League in hits (2005 & 2011) and his 2,359 career hits rank seventh among active players. Young owns a .300 career average in 1,949 games, while posting six 200-hit seasons in his career. The Covina native is a career .321 hitter with runners in scoring position.

Defensively, the 2008 AL Gold Glove winner at shortstop has appeared in 155 or more games in 10 of his 14 seasons and has posted a career .959 fielding percentage at third base.

In 126 games this season, his first with Philadelphia, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder led the Phillies in hits and batted .276 (129-for-468) with eight home runs, 24 doubles and 41 RBI. On June 19 vs. Washington, Young eclipsed the 1,000-career RBI mark with a two-run home run.

Young has appeared in the postseason three times, including reaching the World Series in 2010 and 2011 as a member of the Rangers. In 34 career postseason games, he is batting .248 with three home runs and 19 RBI, including a five-RBI performance in Game 6 of the 2011 ALCS-clinching victory at Detroit. Young was also the 2006 All-Star Game MVP in Pittsburgh.

A graduate of both Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente and UC Santa Barbara, Young was originally selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft.

Since 2006, the Dodgers have made a number of key late August deals, acquiring such players as Marlon Anderson (2006 -.375 in 25 games), Ronnie Belliard (2009 - .351 in 24 games), Jon Garland (2009 -2.72 ERA in 6 starts) and Hall of Famers Greg Maddux (2009) and Jim Thome (2009).

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Goodbye ElyMania

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that John Ely has been traded by the Dodgers to Houston for left-handed pitching prospect Rob Rasmussen.  

Oh, woe is me.  John Ely was quite the rage in 2010, and now he is gone.  

I shall always remember you, John Ely.  You were a shining light during a time of great tumult.  We all hated the situation the Dodgers where in, and immediately grasped at anything that could divert our attention- even for just a little bit.  For a short time, it was you.  You seemingly came out of nowhere to throw strikes and win some game, and I am forever thankful to have been a witness to it all.  

Good luck, my kind sir.  You deserve a shot at a starting pitching role, and I can't think of a better place to get your feet settled than in Houston.  They need the help, and I think you'll establish yourself there.


I thought it would be fun to reminisce a bit about those good-old-days, so I dug around a bit and found this great fantasy SI cover made by a twitter user named PA_Dodger (Now renamed @FLA_Dodger).  I never cease to get a laugh out of this one.

(pic link)

Of course, who could forget about the Ely jokes.  See some below.

• John Ely is so good, he struck out Chuck Norris. Twice. (@kjasalter)
• John Ely struck out Chuck Norris... with 2 pitches. (@Russaldo13)
• John Ely CAN tailgate at Dodger Stadium. (@IEEric)
•  John Ely can't walk and chew gum at the same time, because he doesn't walk anybody. (@ToddKaplan)  
• The only reason Andre Ethier's pinkie hasn't healed yet is because John Ely hasn't touched it. (@truebluela)

Via an email from the Dodgers:

Rasmussen, 23, is a native of Arcadia and played collegiately at UCLA after starring at Polytechnic High School in Pasadena. In 2007, the Dodgers selected him in the 27^th round of the amateur draft, but he decided to attend UCLA instead.

Rasmussen was selected by the Marlins in the second round of the 2010 amateur draft and then traded to the Houston organization on July 4, 2012 as part of the deal that sent Carlos Lee to Miami.

In three minor league seasons, Rasmussen is 20-21 with a 3.88 ERA in 60 games (53 starts), including 4-4 with a 4.80 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) at Double-A Corpus Christi in 2012.

Ely, 26, was acquired in a December 2009 trade with the White Sox and went 4-13 with a 5.70 ERA in 25 games (19 starts) over three seasons in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers now have 39 players on their 40-man roster. 

 Below are the career minor league stats for Rasmussen.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 9/28/2012

Here is a look at this seasons 12th edition of the Dodgers Playbill.  It features the Dodgers 2012 Roy Campanella Award winner, AJ Ellis.

• Congrats to both John Ely and Joc Pederson for winning this seasons Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year Awards, per a Dodgers press release.
• Okay.  I guess I lied about not putting up any more 2012 Topps Triple Threads cards.  Check out this great Matt Kemp "1 of 1" All-Star Game Laundry Tag Book card that was just put up on eBay.

• Ned Colletti speaks with Barry Bloom of MLB.com.  Word of a little argument in the clubhouse between Ned and the coaching staff leaked out.

MLB.com: So there was a little blowup in the clubhouse after Tuesday night's loss here. We heard that was you.
Colletti: I had a passionate exchange in the coach's room.
MLB.com: What was the message?
Colletti: Were you invited?
MLB.com: No, but I wish I was.
Colletti: It was just a bit of an evaluation.

• Dan Braunstein at ESPN discusses how good Luis Cruz has been for the Dodgers.

Cruz has proven to be an effective low-ball hitter, hitting .326 in at-bats ending with a pitch in the lower third of the zone or below. That’s the sixth-highest average in the league among players who have at least as many at-bats as Cruz has.

Unlike many players without much major league experience, Cruz has also shown he can be effective against breaking pitches. He’s hitting .323 when the at-bat ends with a breaking ball; only four players in the league have more overall plate appearances and a higher average against breaking balls. 

• Steve Garvey will be signing autographs this coming Sunday, September 30th at Dick's Sporting Goods in San Diego from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, via his twitter account.

(twitter link)

• Panini's 2012 Americana Heroes & Legends set honors several American war hero's; including 9 Tuskegee Airmen and 5 living Medal of Honor recipients. Panini's blog has some pics to look at.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/29/2012

I'm not sure if I've ever seen this before.  Above is a canvas giclee painting of Vin Scully done by Stephen Holland. I found this on eBay.  This piece is numbered to an edition of 93, but I'm sure more affordable prints can be found.

• Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts writes a piece for CityThink at Los Angeles Magazine called "In Praise of Vin's Voice."
• Scott Andes at Lasorda's Lair writes of his recent first meeting with Vin Scully while working the press box.  
• Matt Kemp is just fine, via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.
• Mike Axisa at Fangraphs writes about Nick Punto.
• Former Dodger Paul LoDuca is playing a part in the Melky Cabrera steroid investigations, per Bob Nightengale at USA Today.  (Hat Tip:Craig Calcaterra at Hardball Talk)

 The people told USA TODAY Sports that Lo Duca alleges Seth and Sam Levinson, through their firm ACES Inc., introduced him to Radomski. Lo Duca also alleges a checking account was opened for Lo Duca to pay Radomski for steroids, human growth hormone, amphetamines and sexual-enhancement drugs, according to the people. The MLB probe is part of the investigation after the failed drug test and suspension of San Francisco Giants All-Star Melky Cabrera two weeks ago.

• Per a Dodgers press release:  

Scott Elbert on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation and recalled right-handed pitcher Shawn Tolleson from Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. 

• Another major vintage Baseball card lot was found in Maine.  It goes on auction today.  Via The Morning Sentinel.

The card, found by an antiques picker from Kennebunk who asked the auction house not to identify him, is one of seven Old Judge Cigarette cabinet cards from the 1888 Boston Beaneaters that will be auctioned Wednesday by Saco River Auction. The Boston Beaneaters went on to be known as the Boston Braves and, eventually, the Atlanta Braves. 

• John Ely has been named the PCL pitcher of the year, via @Dodgers on twitter.  Right now, I prefer to see him over Harang and Capuano.

(twitter link)

• A 1914 Babe Ruth Minor League Rookie card just sold in a private for $575,000.00, via Sports Collectors Daily.  That's a huge price for a card in PSA 2 (good) condition.  I wonder what a Near-Mint example would sell for.  Heck, does one even exist?
• Alan Kleinberger at Sports Collectors Digest writes about his day at The National.

I’m not sure how you would define “enthusiastic.” I’m also not sure how you’d define “crazy.” I had back surgery a little more than two weeks before this year’s National, held in Baltimore Aug. 1-5. So when I got up at 4 a.m. to catch a commuter train to New York’s Penn Station, where I would catch the 6:05 a.m. Amtrak to Baltimore, I was wearing a neck brace. Yeah, I say enthusiastic. My wife and more sane people would say crazy. Not the first time I was called that, and probably not the last.

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Ely Can't Draw

What the heck is that? Do you see what I'm looking at here? That drawing is horrendous. The guy been on the team, off and on, for two years. John Ely, you need some lessons because an artist you are not. Go and watch some Bob Ross. He has a strange ability to inspire those creative juices, and you need the help.

Here is a 2011 Topps Update Player Sketch card I stumbled upon on eBay. It was given to John Ely to draw anything he wanted. Instead of stick figures on a ballfield (I'm shooting low here for the artistically challenged), or a grouping of Baseball equipment, he draws a poor rendition of the Dodger logo. It is a 1 of 1, although I'm sure we never want to see another from him.

(Auction Link)

Dodger Bats Come Alive as Pitching Gives a Scare

(Pic Link: TwitPic @aj82lo)

What a nice offensive showing by the Boys in Blue this evening; especially after a shellacking I would prefer to forget. Nine hits, a bomb by Kemp, and a couple of triples helped propel the Dodgers past the Giants in a nail-biter, 7 to 5.

The Dodgers even showed some heart as they retook the lead after being unable to hold a early three run cushion. They just continued to hack away and grab a victory.

Kuroda was good enough to win as he held the Giants at bay, but the relief staff was another story. Kuo was shaky and Guerrier did not instill much confidence- although he did finish the job by limiting the damage. The enigmatic Broxton was roughed up again as he gave up another home run and put the tying run at the plate. Fortunately, he was able to close the doors and recorded his third save.

Not a bad start for the Dodger so far. They take the first series of the season and (I like to think) force the Giants to leave town with their tails between their legs. Three wins and one loss, I'd take that any day.

Colorado is next as the Dodger leave town on their first road trip for a game Tuesday.

(Pic Link: TwitPic Tommy Lasorda)
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• MLB Trade Rumors starts thinking about who will be the Dodgers fifth starter next Sunday. They speculate that they may call up Ely, or make room for Tim Redding at the risk of removing someone from the 40 man roster. Get the details here.

(Pic Link: Plixi Dodgers)

*************

• A fund has been set up for Bryan Stow. He is currently in a medically induced coma after being attacked in the Dodgers parking lot.

Donations for Bryan: Go to at any bank listed at www.CUSWIRL.com or Common Wealth Credit Union and donate to account number #118881 at Common Wealth Credit Union.

Day 20 Spring Training Report

Here is the Dodger lineup for the B Game today: Oeltjen CF, Sellers SS, Hoffmann RF, Sands LF, Ellis C, Baez 3B, Galvez DH, Jacobs 1B, Ynoa 2B, Kuroda P.

Lineup for the A Game: Gwynn RF, Navarro C, Ethier DH, Kemp CF, Gibbons LF, DeJesus 2B, Mitchell 1B, Castro SS, Miles 3B, Ely P.

Below are some Spring Training Notes from the Dodgers.

• ROLL OUT THE BARRELS: The Dodgers make the short bus ride over to Maryvale this afternoon to take on former Dodger Takashi Saito and the Brewers. Los Angeles went 4-2 against Milwaukee last season, which included a three-game sweep at Miller Park in August, and will face the Brewers for the first time in 2011 for a two-game set at Dodger Stadium on May 16 and 17.
• THE BOOK ON ELY: Dodger right-hander John Ely makes his second start of the spring season this afternoon and has allowed just one hit with five strikeouts in 3.0 innings over his two Cactus League appearances. At Dodger Stadium last season, Ely limited the Brew Crew to four hits and one run over 6.2 innings on May 6 in his second Major League start. The 24-year-old will be followed by LHP Ron Mahay, RHP Travis Schlichting and RHP Javy Guerra. RHP Takashi Saito will get the start for Milwaukee.
• PLAY “B”ALL: This morning, the Dodgers took on the Mariners in a “B” game on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. Hiroki Kuroda started for Los Angeles with Luis Vasquez coming out of the ‘pen. The top of the Dodger lineup featured the familiar names of Trent Oeltjen, Justin Sellers, Jamie Hoffmann, Jerry Sands and A.J. Ellis with the rest of the squad coming from minor league camp. An update on the game action will be sent out as soon as it’s available.

(Pic Link: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2011)

(Los Angeles Dodgers Don Mattingly and Franklin Stubbs smile in the dugout during game against the Cincinnati Reds Thursday, March 3, 2011 at the Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona.)

• LETTING THE STICKS DO THE TALKING: Jerry Sands crushed a three-run home run to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning as Los Angeles downed Colorado 7-1 yesterday at Talking Stick. Sands added a triple in the eighth and is now batting .462 (6-for-13) with a 1.077 slugging percentage on the spring. The Dodger hit parade included a solo home run from Xavier Paul in the eighth and a 2-for-2 afternoon from A.J. Ellis, who plated a run with an RBI single in the seventh. The bullpen provided 5.2 scoreless innings in relief of Ted Lilly as Mike MacDougal (0.2 IP), Blake Hawksworth (1.0), Tim Redding (3.0) and Kenley Jansen (1.0) kept the Rockies off the board.
• TAKI-NG THE NEXT STEP: Congratulations to Dodger Assistant General Manager Kim Ng, who has accepted a position as Major League Baseball’s new Senior Vice President for Baseball Operations. The Dodgers would like to thank Kim for her nine years of service and wish her nothing but the best in her new position in New York.
• MAKING HIS BID: Yesterday, RHP Tim Redding fired 3.0 hitless innings of relief to pick up the victory and has yet to allow a run through 8.0 innings pitched this spring. Redding remains tied with Clayton Kershaw for the N.L. Cactus League lead with a 0.00 ERA and Chad Billingsley ranks third among qualifiers with a 1.35 ERA.

(PicLink: TwitPic TommyLasorda)

• FAB FIVE: Ted Lilly made his first official start of Spring Training yesterday and continued the Dodgers’ trend of superb starting pitching, allowing just one run over 3.1 innings. Through 11 games, Dodger starters have posted a miniscule 1.20 ERA (4 ER/30.0 IP). The Los Angeles projected rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda and Jon Garland will boast five pitchers who each won 10 or more games last season. Their cumulative 2010 ERA of 3.39 (371 ER/986.0 IP) and .234 opponents’ batting average (857-for-3,663) would have led all Major League starting rotations and their combined 844 strikeouts would have ranked third. Each member of the club’s starting rotation posted an ERA under 3.65, pitched more than 190.0 innings and made 30 or more starts last season.
• CAN’T TEACH SPEED – Dodger outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. swiped his Major League-leading fifth stolen base yesterday as the Dodgers moved into a tie with Pittsburgh for the National League lead with 16 steals. Eugenio Velez also stole his third base of Spring Training in yesterday’s contest. Only two Dodgers have been caught stealing in 11 games this spring after the club stole just 10 bases in 30 Spring Training games last season.

(PicLink: TwitPic DeadtoFred)

• SIMPLY CLASSIC – On Sunday, Dodger Stadium will host the 2^nd Annual Dodgertown Classic presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The doubleheader of collegiate baseball kicks off at 10:00 a.m. as Saint Mary’s battles the University of Georgia followed by the crosstown rivalry game of USC vs. UCLA at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Dodgers.com/classic with free parking and half-priced concessions for the day of family fun.
• HIGH NUMBERS: 10 Dodger minor leaguers will join the big leaguers in Maryvale this afternoon. Infielder Corey Smith (97) was a 2010 Double-A Southern League All-Star after ranking second in the league with 86 RBI and finishing ninth with a .467 slugging percentage. RHP Steven Ames, RHP Francisco Felix (91), INF Christian Lara (87), INF Jaime Pedroza (90), LHP David Pfeiffer (89), RHP Stuart Pomeranz (98), RHP Javier Solano (95), RHP Merkin Valdez (96) and C Matt Wallach (92) will round out today’s minor league additions.

(Pic Link: TwitPic KellyKelll)

• TOGETHER IN TUCSON: It was announced on Friday that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks will play a Spring Training game on Friday, March 25 at 1:05 p.m. in Tucson with proceeds benefitting the Tucson Together Fund. The fund provides financial assistance to the victims, witnesses and their families for expenses associated with the January 8^th tragedy. The contest will be played at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium (formerly known as TEP) with tickets available at Dodgers.com/Spring.

Mailbag: Ely & Link Autos

There is nothing better then going to the mail box and finding a nice little package from an eBay purchase. Since I had failed miserably in getting a Dodger autograph from a group break I wrote about here I thought it would be best to snag a couple of them on eBay for, what I thought, was a great price. Here are the Jon Link and John Ely 2010 Topps Chrome autograph cards that just came in. I got them for $2.99 + $3.00 shipping. Heck, shipping them cost more than the cards themselves.

(click on pic to enlarge)

2010 Topps Update Inserts

Now, I am just trying to catch up from my recent bout of posting laziness. I had meant to post these weeks ago. Here are some more inserts from the 2010 Topps Update set. Check out these previous post for more Dodgers from this set: here, here, here and here.
Here are on-card Peak Performance autographed cards of Andre Ethier and John Ely.
Here are 3 old-time Dodgers from the "Vintage Legends Collection."

Roy Campanella
On a 2001 Topps card design

Jackie Robinson
On a 1981 Topps card design

Pee Wee Reese
On a 2003 Topps card design

Group Break: 2010 Topps Chrome

From time to time I have participated in a "group break" with other Baseball collectors online. It gives me an opportunity to get a bunch of cards from a particular product, usually of just one specific team, without spending an arm and a leg to buy box after box.

Recently, I threw my hat in the ring on a small break of 6 boxes of 2010 Topps Chrome and staked my claim to the Dodgers. I've never been much of a shiny card collector, but figured I would give this one a try. The "group break" was put together by Georgia Mindset.

Anyway, here is some of the bounty. The recently released 2010Topps Chrome offering consist of shinier versions of the 2010 Topps set, plus a couple of extra versions only found in Chrome. In fact, see the below Jon Link and John Ely card below.
Yes, Link and Ely have cards in Topps prior offerings this year, but these two cards offer brand new poses. I know, that seems a little obsessive, but when your a Dodger collector you can't help but chase them all.
I also got two refractor cards in the break. As you can see the Ely refractor below is an even shinier version of the basic chrome card. If you tilt it just right under a light you can blind someone.
Here is the other refractor- a Russell Martin on a 1961 Topps design. Below that is the reverse of the card.
Since I didn't get any "hits", i.e. a Dodger auto or relic piece, Georgia Mindset offered the below extra unclaimed hit from the break. It is a blue bordered autographed rookie card of DBacks outfielder Cole Gillespie.

Ely Mania Continues

John Ely wouldn't have walked Eddie Gaedel (@TrueBlueLA)

Despite giving up a first inning walk to Brandon Inge, John Ely continued to impress. After a rocky start, he settled down and scattered 8 hits- 3 of which came in the first inning. He went a total of 6 innings while walking 1 and giving up only 2 first inning runs.

It is looking more and more like Ely is sewing up a permanent position on our starting pitching staff.

BTW, the Dodger won to give Ely his third win in a row. Kemp and Casey Blake hit homers, and DeWitt knocked in two with a triple in the fourth inning.

First place feels mighty good.

2010 Bowman Dodger Rookies & Inserts

This is my last post featuring Dodgers from the 2010 Bowman Baseball set, and I was sure to keep some of the best for last. Sure my post with the throwbacks from the set are great looking, but these cards are the rookies.

Bowman Prospect Cards

BP50 Tony DelmonicoRELIC CARDS Bowman Futures Game Triple Relic Cards

FG-32 Pedro Baez

Top Prospects 100

TP34 Andrew Lambo
TP36 Chris Withrow
TP48 Ivan DeJesus Jr.

TP61 John Ely
TP89 Josh Lindblom

Bowman Expectations (both the front and back of the card)

32 Matt Kemp/Jared Mitchell (who isn't even a Dodger)
34 Andre Ethier/Andrew Lambo

48 Chad Billingsley/John Ely

Ely Mania

Courtesy of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness and Memories of Kevin Malone we find that John Ely has gained star status among Dodger fans. Twitter is all aflutter with #ElyMania. Below is just a sampling.

• John Ely is so good, he struck out Chuck Norris. Twice. (@kjasalter)
• John Ely struck out Chuck Norris... with 2 pitches. (@Russaldo13)
  
• John Ely CAN tailgate at Dodger Stadium. (@IEEric)
• John Ely was the first to be with CoCo.(@MrLASportsFan)
• Coco is with John Ely. (@militantangleno)
  
• John Ely can't walk and chew gum at the same time, because he doesn't walk anybody. (@ToddKaplan)
• John Ely made Casey Blake's beard grow back. (@barkinj)
• The only reason Andre Ethier's pinkie hasn't healed yet is because John Ely hasn't touched it. (@truebluela)
• John Ely has heard of Andre Ethier. (@truebluela)
• John Ely is the antidote for Kryptonite (@tinatinita)
• John Ely knows how Lost ends. (@dpwtv)
• Al Gore invented the internet. John Ely invented Al Gore. (@nineteen84)

Ely Cool and Efficient

Eight in a row, Baby!

John Ely had another solid outing as he threw 67 strikes out of 97 pitches. He succeeded by changing speeds effectively and moving the ball from left to right, and up and down. Even with pitches that rarely broke above 90 mph he had the Houston Astros hitters baffled.

On another note, doesn't the pic above kind of freak you out. Not only did that guy have 8 fingers on one hand, he had 7 on the other and two pupils in each eye.

(Pic link from David Hoy/ Russiam Wax Museum)

A John Ely Dodger Card

John Ely now has a Dodger card in the newly released 2010 Bowman Baseball set. Stay tuned as I put up more Dodger cards from the set in the next few days.

Ely Wins

Thank goodness for some terrible Diamondback relief pitching. For a second there I thought the Dodgers would lose another one for the kid. Instead, they hold on and hand Ely his first Major League victory. Congrats!

Something tells me may have found our new #5 pitcher.

(pic from Matts Pen and Paper Heroes)