Pirates Series Starts Friday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info, Autographs and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand. Here are some important links:

• 2019 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 
• Friday Night Fireworks Schedule 
• Viva Los Dodgers Schedule
• Dodger Stadium Parking / Transportation 
• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  

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Friday, April 26th at 7:10 PM

TV: SportsNet LA, SNLA Spanish

Radio: AM 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020

Pirates Series Starts on Monday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.   Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

• 2018 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 
• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  

In celebration of Independence Day all teams throughout the league will be wearing special commemorative caps and jersey's starting today to the Fourth of July. Furthermore, matching socks are also available for ballplayers to wear (you can see these at the very bottom of this post). Check out the Dodgers' commemorative uniforms above and below.

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Monday, July 2nd at 7:10 PM

Alex Wood vs Nick Kingham

TV: MLBN (out-of-market only), SportsNet LA, SNLA Spanish

Radio: AM 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020

Blog Kiosk: 8/15/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Ethier, Magic and Kershaw

Check out who made it to the LA Coliseum for the Rams first preseason game in Los Angeles since coming back to California, via a pic tweeted by the NFL.  Clayton Kershaw, following an afternoon win at Dodger Stadium over the Pirates, 8-4, was spotted on the sidelines during the Rams victory over Dallas. 

I wonder who he was rooting for.  Being a Texas native it wouldn't be surprise to find out that he's a Cowboys fan.  On the other hand, he did send the LA Rams players, coaches and personnel 200 bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch whisky as a welcome gift to the Southland.

BTW, this past Sunday was Magic Johnson's birthday, so the team presented him with his own cake on the field.  Photo directly above via Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game from Jill and Jon SooHoo.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1914 Jake Daubert set a NL record with four sacrifices in one game.  In 1926 Babe Herman famously tripled into a double play.  Per a description at Dodgers.com:

With one out and the bases loaded, Herman hit a line drive off the right field wall and Hank DeBerry, the runner on third, scored easily. Dazzy Vance, the runner on second, rounded third, but stopped 30 feet past the bag and started back. Chick Fewster, the runner on first, was coming full steam around second and soon found himself at third with Vance.

Herman, meanwhile, oblivious to what was transpiring at third base, tore around the bases until he also was at third base. Both Fewster and Herman were tagged out, ending the inning.

"Everybody," Herman said years later about the play, "overlooks the fact that the run I knocked in on that play was the winning run."

Pirates Series Starts on Friday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.   Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The Pittsburgh “Primanti” Dog will be available for this homestand only against the Pirates at the Extreme Loaded Dog concession areas located on the field, loge and reserve levels. It features an all-beef hot dog topped with French fries, provolone cheese, coleslaw and tomatoes.

The ninth 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring Howie Kendrick on the cover, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation. 

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Friday, August 12th at 7:10 PM
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Blog Kiosk: 9/22/2015 - Dodger Links - Anderson, Jansen and Jaime Jarrin

Brett Anderson got knocked around pretty good last night.  He went 4.2 innings, giving up ten hits, five runs and two round-trippers.  Anderson struck out only one batter.  It was not his best game and an worrisome loss as we head towards the end of the season.  Hopefully, this is just a minor speed bump.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"My stuff was fine," he said, rejecting a suggestion that he is fatiguing. "They were swinging early in the count and just hit me. Only a handful of times I feel I just got beat and today was one of those times. They had a good game plan, like they were angry at the baseball or something, hitting rockets. It was just a bad outing. I only have a couple more and I expect to pitch better."

He also wants to pitch regularly. While management has been trying to give him extra days of rest, especially after he suffered a calf cramp three starts ago, Anderson feels whatever benefit is negated by messing with routine.

"I would like to be on normal rest to get back in the rhythm," Anderson said. "It's tough, trying to get me extra rest. I'm in uncharted territory with starts and stuff; still, I'd like to get in a normal routine. That's when I was pitching the best, every four or five days and knowing what I'm doing day in and day out."

Photo of Anderson above via @SportsNet LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest shares his "2015 Dodgers All-Prospect Team."
• ICYMI: Jaime Jarrin has signed a three-year deal to remain the voice of the Dodgers in Spanish.  He is currently 79-years old and in his 57th year with the franchise.  Per a Dodger press release:
  

  “I’ve been so blessed,” said Jarrín of his tenure with the Dodgers and his broadcasting career.  “It has been such a special time sharing the broadcasts with our fans and having my son, Jorge, join me in the booth.  I started thinking about the number 60 in my mind this season.  I sat down with the Dodgers and agreed on three more years to get to my 60th year and then we’ll see about the future at that time.  I’m still having a great time and I love what I am doing.  And the Dodgers and our fans have been very supportive.”

• Kenley Jansen has been fantastic.  Via Owen Watson at Just a Bit Outside, "When one pitch is all you need."

And so we have Jansen. We know he’s great. He’s been great for a few years now; with his almost sole use of a hard cutter, it’s easy and fun to compare him to a version of Mariano Rivera. With that lofty comparison made, it might not be surprising that he’s putting together a very unique, special season.

Consider this fact: Jansen went the first month and a half of his season without walking a batter. He was injured for April, but after he debuted in mid-May, he didn’t issue a walk until June 28th. During that time, he struck out 26 batters in 15.2 innings. That’s a mind-boggling mix of dominance and control, and it’s formed the basis of what Jansen has become in 2015.

• I totally missed this.  Via Jason Foster at the Sporting News, "Dodgers owner Magic Johnson doesn't know what time his team plays."
• Even though this is the Pittsburgh Pirates enjoying themselves at Dodger Stadium I though I should pass it along.  Via Extra Mustard on Sports Illustrated, "Pirates dressed up like superheroes after beating Dodgers."  There are some fun pictures to enjoy.

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Pirates' Series Starts Tomorrow - Scheduled Autograph Sessions, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts tomorrow evening against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and several olde-tyme Dodgers will be in the house to sign free autographs for fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

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Friday, September 18th at 7:10 PM
RHP Zack Greinke vs. LHP Jeff Locke
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Friday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM. It is Friday Night Fireworks, so fans will be able to go down onto the field after the game to watch the spectacle. The theme will be a salute to Frank Sinatra; in honor of his 100th birthday.  Go here for information about future firework themes.

“Frank was a dear friend to me, he was a Dodger and he bled Dodger blue,” said Hall of Fame Manager and Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda. “I am so pleased to join Frank Jr. and the Sinatra family in paying tribute to Frank on his centennial year at his favorite ballpark with his favorite team. In my book, Frank Sinatra is the greatest singer God ever put on earth.”

It is also Frank Sinatra Night at Dodger Stadium.  Folks who ordered a special ticket package in the All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion or Infield Reserve will get an specially designed commemorative t-shirt with your ticket.  See that on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information. Now SOLD OUT!

Frank Sinatra Jr. perform the national anthem.Additional members of the Sinatra family will be in attendance along with Lasorda, a longtime friend of Sinatra. A giant birthday card celebrating Sinatra’s centennial birthday which will be given to his family will be in the right-field plaza for fans to sign. Sinatra’s favorite drink, Jack Daniels, will be featured in the plaza bar. Sinatra’s music will be played by DJ Adam from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Actress and star of “Castle” Stana Katic will throw the ceremonial first pitch. As part of the club’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, Mariachi Latina will perform in the left-field plaza from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Dodger alum Kenny Landreaux will sign autographs in the left-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Ernesto Hernandez and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Matthew Bamberger. 
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items up for auction on Friday include a Kenly Jansen photo, Corey Seager autographed baseball and Clayton Kershaw autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 8:45 p.m.

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Saturday, September 19th at 6:10 PM
LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. LHP Francisco Liriano
SNLA & MLB Network / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Saturday's game starts at 6:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 3:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 4:10 PM. 

As part of the club’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, Mariachi Latina will perform in the left-field plaza from 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. DJ Adam will provide entertainment in the right-field plaza. Reality Check will play in the right-field reserve plaza and DJ Lady Sha will be in the left-field reserve plaza.

Actor and star of “The Grinder” on FOX Fred Savage will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Dodger alum Tommy Davis will sign autographs in the left-field plaza from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Raymundo Esteves and U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Samuel Sosa.
• The Dodgers will play host to their Annual Scouts Day and Egg Drop Contest. This special event ticket package includes a ticket to the game, an exclusive Dodger themed Scout Night patch and the opportunity to participate in a special pregame Egg Drop Contest, where scouts will test the laws of gravity by engineering the perfect apparatus to keep a raw egg from breaking. All scouts participating in the Egg Drop contest will be recognized in center field during our pregame ceremonies. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting www.dodgers.com/scouts.

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Sunday, September 20th at 1:10 PM
RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Mile Bolsinger
SNLA/AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Sunday's game starts at 1:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 10:40 AM, and stadium gates open at 11:10 AM. The last of the Cy Young Collectors' Pin Series giveaways is this night.  The first 40,000 fans will receive an Clayton Kershaw pin.  See it on the left.

It is also Yoga Day at Dodger Stadium.  Folks who ordered a special ticket package in the All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion or Infield Reserve will get a Dodger Yoga mat and post-game yoga session on Dodger Stadium's Field instructed by certified teachers from Yogaworks.  See that on the mat on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information.

Viva Los Dodgers will take place in lot 6 starting at 11:00 a.m. Dodger alum Lee Lacy will sign autographs for fans from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by Remington and will include a folklorico performance by the Paso de Oro Folklorico.


As part of Viva Los Dodgers, two-time Presidential Award Recipient and United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta will throw the ceremonial first pitch and Sofie Landsman will perform the national anthem.

Dodger alum Tim Leary will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

• The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Army Staff Sergeant David Zamora and U.S. Army Sergeant Art Hernandez.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items up for auction on Sunday include a Yasiel Puig autographed photo, Don Newcombe autographed baseball and Jimmy Rollins autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 2:45 p.m.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/1/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke, Wood and Farhan Zaidi

Fantastic!

Not only is the photo above, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 from yesterday's game, phenomenal but the pitcher on the mound last night was just as good.  Zack Greinke went eight strong innings, and if not for the exploits of the games best hitter, Mike Trout, he might have gone all the way.  Damn that Trout.  He's a tough out against even nasty pitches.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN:

Greinke threw a tight 2-and-2 slider to Trout that broke sharply just as it crossed the plate and dove away from Trout, who somehow hit it off his shoe tops for a line drive into left-center field.

“So, that was pretty impressive,” Greinke said later.

Trout ended up with a run scoring triple and single against Grinke before hitting his 32nd home run of the season against Kenley Jansen in the 9th inning. 

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Alex Wood happy to be in L.A. after topsy-turvy deadline."

“I heard the speculation that there were things going on. One way or other, we ended up getting solid word that probably wouldn’t be the case,” Wood said. “I was excited. I told my agent if I ever reached free agency, this is the one place I’d want to play. It’s funny how things work out.”

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Farhan Zaidi offers insight into dealmaking process."

“There’s a tradeoff between talent and taking on money when you can. In our situation, with our directive to build up our farm system, to the point where we can operate at a level of sustainability … there are times when it makes sense to substitute cash for players.”

• Well, that was fast.  Michael Morse, who we got from the Marlins the other day, has been traded to the Pirates for Jose Tabata.  Tabata was promptly sent to AAA.  Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest writes a bit about it here: "Dodgers make minor move as trade deadline passes."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Brewers claim Preston Guilmet off waivers from Dodgers."
• Blue Skinny Fan got Scott Van Slyke's signature at Fod4Less recently and has photos to prove it, here.
• Jason Bateman is a great Dodger fan.  He recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and spoke a bit about his love for the team and how he once pissed off the DBack's mascot.  (Hat Tip: r/DontDoDrugsDingus on reddit)

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 10/14/2014 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this vintage press photo I ran across on eBay last night.  It appears to be a press photo, but doesn't have the type of markings on the reverse you would typically expect to see.  Still, it's a wonderful image of some olde-tyme Brooklyn Dodgers on the steps of their dugout.  Check out the eBay auction here.

The photo is clearly from 1942; as evidenced by the 'Health' patch on the players left shoulder.  From 1942 to 1945 MLB players wore patriotic patches like this for those four years during WWII.  This particular patch was only worn for one season, 1942, then was replaced with a similar looking patch - red stripes replaced the 'Health' lettering.

I'm fairly poor at photo identification, but I am certain that that fellow on the far left is Joe Medwick.  On his left is Billy Herman.  Then, Pee Wee Reese, Pete Reiser, Mickey Owen and Dixie Walker.  Let me know if you think otherwise.

Here are some links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers outright Stephen Fife to Triple-A Oklahoma City." 

Starting pitcher Stephen Fife cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City, the team confirmed. Fife is no longer on the 40-man roster.

Fife is likely out for all of 2015 after having Tommy John surgery on Aug. 13 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

• Are you ready for Halloween.  Well, MiLB on twitter is here to help you out.  They posted on a Vin Scully pumpkin template. Print out the PDF and carve your own Scully pumpkin.

"Hi everybody, and a very pleasant #Halloween to you, wherever you may be." The Vin Scully pumpkin template (PDF): http://t.co/xfe4OjZeHX
— MiLB.com (@MiLB) October 13, 2014

• The Topps 2014 Baseball Update Set comes out on Wednesday.  On twitter they have been released preview pics to collectors to check out.  On the right is a Clayton Kershaw All-Star Game Jumbo Patch Relic card.
• BTW, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter and Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle were named the 2014 Connie Mack Award winners today by the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.  The Connie Mack Award recognizes those considered the top manager for the season. Not bad choices, eh?  I, on the other hand, had someone else mind for the NL winner.  Go here to see who were my picks for the BBA (Baseball Bloggers Alliance) Post Season Awards.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/22/2014 - Dodger Links - Cardinals are Reckelss and Careless, Is AGon Heating Up?

Hyun-Jin Ryu fans were in force in Pittsburgh last night.  They came out with signs and cheers.  Check out the pic above featuring some of them, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Ryu pitched 7 strong innings in the Dodger 5 to 2 win over the PIrates.  He struck out 5 and walked only 1 batter.

Of special note, Adrian Gonzalez looks to be heating up.  Since the teams return from the All-Star break he has gotten a hit in every game, and last night he recorded 3 hits (including a couple of doubles).  He has career low numbers so far this season, but I do not believe that will last.  He's just too good a hitter.  I wouldn't be surprised to see him go on a tear and watch his stats move closer to the mean.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, Adrian Gonzalez believes the Cardinal pitchers are reckless and careless:

“One thing is pitching inside and another thing is pitching inside carelessly. They’re obviously showing that they don’t care if they hit him. They’re not on purpose, but they don’t care if they hit him. They hit Hanley last year, they hit [Yasiel] Puig yesterday, they hit Hanley twice today. It’s almost like, ‘Hey, we’re going to throw it inside. If we hit you, we hit you. If we don’t, we don’t.’

• JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers cogently explains why the team is received additional x-rays of Puig and Hanley.  Thanks, JP.  That was very helpful.  BTW, Bill Plunkett at the OC Register lets us know that both of those follow-up x-rays in Pittsburgh also ended up being negative.
• Here's an early peak at the Dodger lunch box they are giving away to kids on Sunday, August 17th on the right.
• Via Sax at the Sons of Steve Garvey, "Three Dodgers in Keith Law's Top 50 MLB Prospects."
• Think Purple Drank puts together a fun list of five ballplayers he would purposefully hit on the buttocks.  I'd like to include Reggie Jackson, even though he's an old man.  He can take it though.  Have you seen him lately?  He still look really fit, so it wouldn't hurt him.  It's just that I still hate him for his interference play and three-home runs in the playoffs... Damn you! (as I shake my fist in the air).
• If I were to put on my unbiased observer hat on, I would say that this is a savvy move by the Giants.  Via Ken Rosenthal on twitter, the Giants have picked up Dan Uggla off of waivers.  Uggla has had several recent terrible seasons, but has shown in the past the ability to get on base and record high slugging percentages - translating into a high OPS.  Also, it's just a minor league deal, so it's cheap and they get to see if he has anything left.  IN other words, he's a low risk, high potential reward pick up.
• Apparently, the Dodgers have signed another youngster.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers reportedly sign Keivert Ruiz for $140,000."  The kid ia 16-years old and a catcher.  According to Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest they also signed first baseman Eric Meza from Mexico.
• The Real BSmile makes note that the very first night Baseball game in Los Angeles happened on this date in 1930.  It was at old Wrigley Field, and some 25,000 Angelenos attended the game.  Go here to see a vintage photo of the spectacle.

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Saturday Game Info - Lee Lacy Signing at Game and Other Stuff!

Tonights game with the Pittsburgh Pirates is 2nd part of the Dodger Stadium Movie Series, and several old-time Dodgers will be in the house to sign free autographs for fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

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Saturday, May 31st at 4:15 PM

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-2, 3.10) vs. RHP Brandon Cumpton (0-1, 3.38)

This afternoon's game starts at 4:15 PM.  Auto gates open at 1:45 PM, and stadium gates open at 2:15 PM.  This evenings game features a postgame Dodger Stadium Movie Series viewing of the Baseball movie classic, "A League of Their Own." All fans in attendance are welcome to stick around after the game to watch the movie.  Fans seated in the pavilion areas are invited to sit in the outfield to view the game. 

Several actors that starred in “A League of Their Own” will be on hand to throw tomorrow’s ceremonial first pitch: Lori Petty “Kit Keller,” Megan Cavanagh “Marla Hooch,” Tracy Reiner “Betty Spaghetti,”Ann Ramsey “Helen Haley,” Bitty Schram “Evelyn Gardner, ”Patti Pelton “Marbleann Wilkenson” and Anne Cusak “Shirley Baker.” “A League of Their Own” Director Penny Marshall and Writer Kelly Candaele and family will be in attendance. Candaele’s mother Helen Callaghan and her sister Marge Callaghan played for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Former Dodger Lee Lacy (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Army Private First Class Anthony Corsi of Apple Valley. Corsi was drafted in 1943 at the start of World War II. He served with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division serving as a lead scout in combat, providing intel to his superiors. He was deployed to Germany, France and Holland and served in Belgium at the Battle of the Bulge. His accolades include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

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Game 4 Game Preview: Zack Greinke's Debut

Pittsburgh Pirates at Los Angeles Dodgers 

Jonathan Sanchez vs. Zack Greinke

Game Start: 7:10 p.m., April 5
TV: Prime Ticket
Radio: 570 AM (English), 1020 AM (Spanish)

After tonight’s game, everyone is invited down to the field for Friday Night Fireworks. The national anthem will be performed by the winner of Season 9 of “American Idol” Lee DeWyze.

• AJ Cassavell at MLB.com writes of Greinke's Dodger debut and his elbow.

"I still don't know how it's going to react," Greinke said of pitching every fifth day. "[The elbow] should be fine, but I guess it could pop up again."

• Via Austin Laymance at MLB.com, "Dodgers Hope Zack Greinke is Game Changer in NL West."

"I don't think there are guys on that staff that throw like him," (Giants reliever Jeremy) Affeldt said. "He's pretty methodical with the way he goes about his business and what he does on the mound. I think he brings just a style of pitching that there are not a lot of guys that can add and subtract with their heater like he does. I think they just wanted to add another ace, and they had the money to do it and that's what they did."

Dodgers Lineup:

(twitter link)

Pirates Lineup:

(twitter link)

Photo of Sanchez by Harry How/Getty Images

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Victorino Heats Up and Powers Dodgers Past Pirates

Victorino is starting to look pretty good at the top of the order.  Yesterday evening, he went 2 for 4, and blasted his first homer as a Dodger.  His home run was a deep line drive that easily climbed over the tall right field fence.  Click this link to see a video of his homer.  In all, Victorino drove in 3 runs and scored two himself. 

The pitching was also solid.  Aaron Harang went 6 innings and gave up 5 hits and 2 earned runs.  The bullpen held their own, but had several scares as Belisario coughed up 2 runs in his 1 inning of work.  Of special note was an exception defensive play by Randy Choate.  See the video below.

Video Link:

Javy Guerra got in trouble in the 7th inning, so Randy Choate came in to get the final out.  As you can see above, he gave up a hard liner towards his face that could have easily scored a run.  Fortunately, he was able to make a stab at it.

Overall, it was a nice 5 to 4 victory that keeps the Dodgers in the hunt for first place in the Western Division.

Photo Credit Above: Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012:

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Blog Kiosk: 1/31/2010

• Mark's Ephemera shares some Orel Hershiser cards he received recently.
• Jackie Robinson Topps Tribute auto was pulled earlier this month. UPDATE: Ya know... the more I look at this autograph the more I questions its authenticity. Of course, that is just my opinion and I'm no expert, but I have seen a bunch of them in person and in auction catalogs from sellers I trust over the years. I don't know, maybe I'm getting oversensitive to the authenticity issie that seems to be in the forefront of todays hobby.)
• eBay Fee Changes starting March 30th!

  No Insertion Fees for Auction-style listings when you list your item with a start price under $1—up to 100 listings per month. Pay only if your item sells.

• Yup! A lawsuit is brewing between Upper Deck and MLB/Topps.
• Nice find Wrigley Wax! He post a great cartoon found on the back of a 1955 Topps card. Little did they know that the Dodgers would win the World Championship later that year. I guess you can call that karma.
  
• Tom Hoffarth writes a great post celebrating Ernie Harwell's birthday. Did you know he was the first broadcaster traded for a player when the Brooklyn Dodgers GM, Branch Rickey, traded a catcher for him. He then departed for the Giants broadcasting booth which led to an opening for Vin Scully in Brooklyn.
  
• Check out this great interview Sports Locker did with the John Evers about the Merkle Ball.
  
• Topps has teamed up with LTL Prints to make large wall graphics (similar to Fatheads) that include Garbage Pail Kids. Imagine a 7ft. image like the one below on your wall.
• No more 5-second rule- it is now a 30-second rule. (Hat Tip: Dodger Thoughts)

  The results prove, according Goettsche and Moin, that you can wait at least 30 seconds to pick up wet foods and more than a minute to pick up dry foods before they become contaminated with bacteria.

• Mario Lemieux has offered to buy the Pirates.
  
• How to report the news.

Rickey Scouting Drysdale

(Click photo above to enlarge)

Dinged Corners has found something great. She searched through the Library of Congress American Memory website and came across a old scouting report on Don Drysdale written by Branch Rickey. At the time, Rickey was General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but we all know him as the pioneer who signed Jackie Robinson to Brooklyn in 1945.

The report was written on June 15, 1954 while Drysdale was still an 18 year old kid in Los Angeles. Rickey writes:

A lot of artistry about this boy. Way above average fast ball. It is really good. Direction of the spin and the speed of rotation the same on all fast ball pitches, -angle of delivery the same, stride is wide, and his body is in all pitches. Fine pitching hand, and placement on fast and curve ball needs no coaching. Let him alone on all his fingering. He is good. I don't know about his agility or whether or not he has the body control or can field his position, but his work on the hill itself has an unusual amount of perfection.

The letter goes on to discuss his pitches and then when he might be ready for the big leagues. The most fascinating part is the contract talk. Rickey's level of interest was high as he was willing to dole out a Major League contract. Of course, he shouldn't get paid more than $4,000 if he plays in the minors. Major League minimum salaries at the time was $6,000.

Alas, Branch's pursuit was fruitless. As noted in red on the bottom left, "signed with Brooklyn, Father is bird dog for them." In other words, we had a ace in the hole. A "Bird Dog" is a local scout.

Check out Dinged Corners for more great finds at the Library of Congress.

Nooooooo!

Pic Link: Josh Poems:

What was that! I was so sure of victory.

Our team had scratched and clawed themselves into a position to win. Then, Bam! It was over like a flash.

Dodgers lose on a three run homerun by leadoff hitter Nate McLouth in the ninth inning, 6 to 4.

I hate games like this one.

The Great Pirate Walk-Out

It appears the Pirate faithful have had enough. They have had enough of the losing. They have had enough of the sub-par play. Maybe, they have had enough of Jim Tracy too. Who knows? I guess losing for so long has a way of making your fans a little crazy. Watch for a potential walk-out during Saturday's game.

"The message board on Pirates.com teems with protest talk, and local television stations will be allowed to film the crowd during the game – no one from the organization wants to acknowledge the walkout."

Story Link: Jeff Passan:
Photo Link: Free Dictionary: