Sunday Dodger Videos: Puig's ESPN Magazine Shoot, Magic on Puig and Steve Lyons

Here are this Sunday's Dodgers' videos.

On the Arsenio Hall Show on Monday: Magic Johnson's Simple Solution To Keep Yasiel Puig Out Of Trouble.  (Hat Tip: Ross Gasmer at Dodger Nation)

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Go behind the scenes with Yasiel Puig on his ESPN The Magazine photo shoot for the magazine's Cuba Issue.

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Eddie Mata shares a great interview with Steve Lyons.  Check it out. I liked Steve as a Dodgers broadcaster.  I hope he catches on with another team or network.

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Sports Speak Radio put together a nice video from the Dodgers FanFest that includes Matt Kemp on stage.

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Orel Hershiser is Returning to the Blue

The Bulldog is Back!

There have been plenty of rumors swirling around about the future of LA Dodgers broadcasting.  The team recently signed a new television contract with Time Warner, and would soon field their own sports channel filled with wonderful Dodger delights.

With this added exposure, the Dodger chose to let go a couple of their broadcasters, Eric Collins and Steve Lyons, in order to refill their tanks with some fresh blood.  Word is, they wanted to reach out to some former Dodgers to take the reigns.  After all, who else would be better to represent the Dodgers than some old blue bloods.

Last week, they made their first move.  Via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times, they signed up Nomar Garciaparra to add some commentary to their pre- and -post game coverage.  Over the weekend, we received some additional news.  Steve Dilbeck tells us that the Dodgers have just hired former Dodger World Series hero Orel Hershiser.

Hershiser has national broadcast experience.  He has worked with ESPN since 2006, and has play-by-play experience as co-host of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.  It is expected that he'll take on a role similar to what Steve Lyons did for the Dodgers, and there is likely to be some Dodgers-themed tv shows coming down the pike that feature Hershiser. 

BTW, there was a 3rd hiring.  The Dodgers have also added Alanna Rizzo to their broadcast team.  She has worked for the MLB Network the past 2 years as a -pre and -post game reporter.  Prior to that, she was a sideline reporter for the Rockies.  FYI, Alanna is on twitter.  Follow her at @alannarizzo.

These moves are definitely in the right direction.  In celebration, I made several fantasy Baseball cards for each of them.  I used the vintage 1987 Topps Baseball card design.  Also, the card at the very top is a 1991 Topps Stadium Club Baseball card of Orel Hershiser.  Yes, he really did pose for that picture, and Topps really did put it on a Baseball card.

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Blog Kiosk: 12/5/2013 - Dodgers Links - Isotopes Go Breaking Bad, an Interview with Bundy and Steve Lyons Lays Down Some Snark

This just might be the best thing ever!  Via Danny Wild at MiLB.com, "Isotopes pay tribute to 'Breaking Bad': Heisenberg-esque tee a unique souvenir for Albuquerque fans". 

• Via Chris Flick at True Blue Crew writes, "Is JP Howell targeted by the Nats?"
• Ryan Walton at Valley Bay News caught up with recent Dodger minor league signee Clint Robinson.
• Via Greg Zakwin at Yahoo, "Los Angeles Dodgers Easily Have Best Rotation in Baseball".

While there are plenty of rotations that can lay claim to a top-three ranking in the game, one group clearly stands above all others as easily the best in baseball: the staff of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• Via Ross Gassmer at Dodgers Nation, "Video: Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Discusses Contract, NLCS Loss".
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "New (Dodgers) third-base coach Bundy has paid his dues".

"For those of us who have been in the Minor Leagues a long time trying to get to the Major Leagues, with all the hard work you have to do in the Minors, and now to be rewarded, well, I feel like I earned it," Bundy said from Mexico, where he is into his third decade as a Winter League manager because "I'm trying to get better.

• Here's an old friend alert.  Via Dodgers Nation on twitter, former Dodger Dave Hansen has joined the Angels coaching staff as assistant hitting coach.
• Tom Verducci at Sports Illustrated writes a great argument for including Jack Morris into the Hall of Fame.  His article explains what I have believed for some time; that Jack Morris, when placed in context of his peers during his era, was one of the best - if not the best starting pitcher in Baseball.
• This is for those interested in the upcoming 2014 Draft.  Via Jim Callis at MLB.com, "Next year's Draft deeper, packed with pitchers".

"Last year was one of the weakest Drafts I can remember," a scouting director with a National League team said. "Last year was really weak in high school pitching, and this year there's some really good-looking high school pitchers. Last year was the weakest year I've ever seen in shortstops, and this year there are shortstops. It's better in almost everything."

• Steve Lyons is not happy, via his twitter.  Lyons takes a little swipe at the reported newest member of the Dodgers broadcast team, Nomar Garciaparra.  He claims he's not trash talkin', still he sounds a little bitter about his exit.

I certainly wasn't an All Star when I played. Excuse my ego now but the new guy has big shoes to fill...
— Steve Lyons (@SteveLyons12) December 4, 2013

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Blog Kiosk: 11/12/2013 - Dodgers Links - Alexander Guerrero, Puig Comes in Second and Onelki Garcia has Surgery

The Dodgers held a special event at Dodger Stadium for Veterans Day, yesterday.  About 100 members of the armed forces came out for some batting practice.  Check out Tommy Lasorda in the photo above addressing the veterans, pic via twitter @Dodgers.  Austin Laymance at MLB.com writes about the afternoon: "Dodgers welcome troops for Veterans Day".  Jon SooHoo was there and shares a whole bunch of pics, here.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Some pluses and minuses of a Kershaw mega-deal".
• Bill Vouroulias at FoxNews Latino speaks with Alexander Guerrero: "Newest Cuban Defector In Big Leagues, Alexander Guerrero, Says Talent Back Home Almost Gone".  (Hat Tip: Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe)

“Now that people like Yasiel [Puig] and José Dariel [Abreu] are gone,” the Dodgers’ recent signee told Fox News Latino, “there are only five or six top-level ballplayers left.” After mentioning slugger Alfredo Despaigne he added, “There aren’t many others.”

• True to the Blue recaps his autograph experience at Frank & Sons - he got Reggie Smith and Steve Lyons.
• SCP Auctions announced that a couple of significant game-used Jackie Robinson bats will be on auction later this month.  Details here.

• Shawn Anderson of the Hall of Very Good shares his interview with "The Genius" Lanny Poffo, brother of Randy "Macho Man" Savage.

LANNY:   My brother (Macho Man) was a great hitter. He had a lot of pop in his bat. His swing was "a little too long" for a lot of the hitting coaches. His shoulder injuries led to throwing problems. He taught himself to throw left handed and signed with the White Sox as a first baseman in 1975. He made it through several cuts in Spring Training but was unconditionally released before the season started. He called it quits. He joined my Dad and me in Toledo, Ohio where we were working in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario. Ten years of hard work later, “The Macho Man” made his WWF debut.

• Josh Jackson at MiLB shares his picks for All-Stars within the Dodgers organization.
• JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers tells us about Kemp and Billingley, and their ability to participate in Spring Training.  JP hears from their agent, Dave Stewart.
• Thw BBWAA elected Jose Fernandez as the NL Rookie of the Year.  Congrats!  I definitely believe he was more deserving.  Dodger Yasiel Puig came in 2nd with 4-1st place votes and Hyun-Jin Ryu came in 4th, overall.  Check out the official announcement from the BBWAA, here.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "(Onelki) Garcia gets cleanup surgery on pitching elbow".

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Sharefest Honored Clayton and Ellen Kershaw on Saturday - Watch a Video

Sharefest celebrated their 10th Anniversary this past weekend with a gala event that featured Clayton and Ellen Kershaw as Honorary Chairs.  This group is a community driven organization that focuses on mentoring, volunteerism and establishing relationships with community leaders.

With a vision to create an imprint of lasting positive change in our community, Sharefest began as a simple idea to leverage a community’s assets through the creation of working coalitions, growing local leaders, equipping interested youth and fostering volunteerism utilizing established community organizations. Rather than just coming in from the outside and encourage a community to be a consumer of services, Sharefest collaborates with communities to help themselves, developing ownership.

Thankfully a reader (Thanks, Cathy!) was able to pass along some photos and video that you can see below.

Saturday's dinner exceeded their fundraising goal of $250,000.00 by $5,000.00.  So, in addition to being a great time, they also gained some needed funds to continue their mission.  BTW, Kershaw's Challenge chose Sharefest as one of the charities that they support.  In fact they

Set a goal to expand Sharefest’s Youth Development Academy (YDA) to another continuation high school.

Clayton and Ellen Kershaw visited a Sharefest YDA at Cal State Dominguez Hills earlier this year in order to provide kids with Baseball and life advice.  Watch a video of that event here.

Below are some photos from Saturday's dinner.  Go to the Sharefest website to learn about this great organization.

Here is Steve Lyons with Michael Haupt.  I don't care what anyone says, I like Steve Lyons.

Below is Ellen Kershaw (on the right) with a young lady who sang at the dinner.  Unfortunately, I do not have her name.

Clayton Kershaw works the crowd below.

Watch Clayton and Ellen Kershaw speak to the gathered crowd at the Sharefest Dinner this past Saturday, below.

Video Link:

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: DodgerFest -- Jaime Jarrin, Don Newcombe, Reggie Smith and More!

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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This is a big autograph event.  Steve "Psycho" Lyons, Dennis Powell, Reggie Smith, Don Newcombe and Jaime Jarrin will be at Frank & Sons in the City of Industry.  Check out the flyers below.

Frank & Son Collectible Show
19649 East San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, California 91748

Parking and admission to the show is free!

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Blog Kiosk: 10/14/2013 - Dodgers Links - Donnie Baseball, Free Parking Tonight and Hanley Ramirez is Still Questionable

Tonight we have an opportunity to set things right.  The game begins at 5:07 PM PST.  Please be loud and proud this afternoon.  During Don Mattingly's press conference yesterday he said:

"We're a couple of hits away from being up 2-0."

I do not disagree with Donnie Baseball's statement.  Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter and pic below is of Puig, Lopes and McGwire via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

• I might be in the minority here, but I like Steve Lyons.  Via his twitter:

I will not return with the Dodgers in any role in '14. Shattered, but not broken. I still LOVE this team.
— Steve Lyons (@SteveLyons12) October 12, 2013

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times also mentions that Eric Collins will also not be coming back.

• Remember, fans attending tonight's game with 4 or more riders get free parking.  Also:

Fans who carpool with four or more people will be allowed to use the bus lane approaching Dodger Stadium during the Postseason. #ITFDB
— Dodgers PR (@DodgersPR) October 11, 2013

• "Hanley to have CT scan on ribs after X-rays negative," via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.

"It hurts and we want to make sure we don't put anything at risk," Ramirez said of Sunday's scheduled test in Los Angeles. "We decided at the last minute [not to start]. I tried all day, did everything we can to play, but it hurt when I tried to hit and it didn't work the way we thought so we decided to get an X-ray.

"I want to make sure I'm able to swing. It was really painful. I took a swing off the tee and it hurt bad. It was getting worse and worse."

He received that CT scan yesterday, but we have yet to hear its results.

• "Dodgers need to take a page from their hated rivals’ book," via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA. 
• "Andre Ethier day-to-day with ankle injury," via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.
• The season isn't even over yet.  Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times writes, "Could Tony La Russa replace Don Mattingly as Dodgers manager?"
• True to the Blue recaps the Shawn Green and Paul LoDuca signing this past Saturday.
• Bob Nightengale at USA Today mentions in a story today that Don Mattingly will get an extension.  He also mentions that some players are grumbling about his managerial abilities, but I'll say that anonymous sources are a load of BS.  I consider this nothing more than a reporter satisfying a theme he's built into his story using conjecture.  Folks, this kind of crap happens all the time - just watch cable news, it's filled with it.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers express confidence before Game 3".

"This is a very confident group inside this clubhouse, a very tight-knit group," Punto said. "Inside that clubhouse we're extremely loose. I feel like we're about to break out."

• Jodes0405 at Gaslamp Ball tells us about the opening of Sullivan Family Baseball Research Center in San Diego.

With the opening of the new Central Library in downtown San Diego also came the opening of the Sullivan Family Baseball Research Center, home of the second largest baseball library collection in the world.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/21/2013 - Dodger Links - Just More Puig

I just this photo above.  It was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

• The new 2013 Chattanooga Lookouts (the Dodgers AA team) Baseball card team set is available for sale online.  It includes Yasiel Puig.  Go here to order.  A pic of the cards are on the right, and I think that's Puig in front.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts, "Yasiel Puig has a bad three-quarters of a game".
• Check out this tumblr site called "Sh** Steve Lyons Says".
• David Pinto at Baseball Musings tells us about Puig's historic start.
• I do not recall ever hearing about this.

On this date in 2008, the #Dodgers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star sits on Hollywood Boulevard near Highland.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 20, 2013

• Dustin Nosler at Feelin' Kinda Blue introduces us to the 2013 Ogden Raptors (a Dodgers A farm club) who are about to begin Pioneer League play.
• Cardboard Connections tells us about 2013 Topps Replacement cards being issued by Topps for collectors who have turned in redemption cards of cards that they have no hope of fulfilling.  They have a few examples; including the Don Sutton autographed card on the left.
• Apparently, there was a little protest "sit-in" at a Giants game a couple of days ago, via Eric Sherbert at the Huffington Post.

According to Officer Gordon Shyy, that group staged a "sit-down" near section 119, which is right next to the delicious-tasting garlic fries stand. The cops spoke with protest organizers and they understood they were violating AT&T Park/Giants fan code of conduct.

• Just another reason to dislike Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.  Via David Brown at Big League Stew, he is a Phillies fan.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Mattingly: Puig needs to earn All-Star selection".
• Via Bruce Markusen at Hardball Times, "Cooperstown Confidential: The wonderful world of Manny Mota".

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Blog Kiosk: 3/19/2013

Steve Lyons' is seen above sporting some St. Patrick's Day Oakley shades.  Pic via twitter @SteveLyons12.

• MLB's historian John Thorn writes about Jackie Robinson and the men who built the barrier he had to cross.

African Americans had played baseball near Madison Square in the 1840s, not far from the grounds of the New York and Knickerbocker clubs before they relocated to Hoboken’s Elysian Fields. In Rochester, in 1859, Frederick Douglass Jr., son of the great abolitionist orator, played baseball with the integrated Charter Oak Juniors. When young Douglass moved to Washington, he helped to form another baseball club, the all-black Alerts, which became the first such club to play against a first-rank white one, the Olympics of Washington, DC, in late September 1869. (The first interracial game took place in Philadelphia a few weeks earlier, with the black Pythians playing against the white Olympics, both of that city.)

• Some more Dodgers' moves: Sellers, Tolleson and Flores sent down, via twitter @Dodgers.

(twitter link: @Dodgers)

• TFed will be our #2 catcher.  Via Eric Stephen on twitter:

(twitter link: @truebluela)

• Rest Up, TJ Simers.  Via Craig Calcaterra at Hardball Talk, the "Dodgers Training Staff comes to TJ Simers' (an LA Times reporter ) aid after he had a Ministroke.

In it he notes that when the stroke hit he was in his Phoenix hotel room and called to Camelback Ranch to tell colleagues and Dodgers people that he wouldn’t be at the ballpark. Dodgers’ trainer Sue Falsone got on the phone with him and helped diagnose the stroke (which it appears Simers didn’t immediately recognize as such) and then dispatched assistant trainer Aaron Schumacher to his hotel to take him to the hospital. Great play, Dodgers.

• Evan Bladh at Opinion of Kingman's Performance shares a bunch of pics he took at a WBC game from last night.
• The Dodgers decide that outsourcing is not for them.  Via Rick Orlov at the Daily News, the Dodgers' are looking to replace private ambulatory services with the LA Fire Department.
• Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, he speaks with Ned Colletti and his explanation why Puig needs some molding in the minors.
• Matt Hunter at Beyond the Boxscore writes, "Are SABR's Changes to the Gold Glove Bad for Baseball?"
• Chris Olds at Beckett shares some unexpected news.  Topps extends their exclusive MLB agreement to 2020.  

“Since making Topps our exclusive baseball card licensee, they have continually validated that decision by bringing clarity to the marketplace and reinvigorating the hobby, especially among young people,” said Howard Smith, the MLB Senior Vice President, Licensing, in a prepared statement. “Generations of baseball fans have grown more attached to the game through collecting baseball cards, and Topps is continually coming up with new and creative ways to reach the next generation.”

A lot of collectors appear to be up in arms about this.  I am not.  Although I wonder what great cards Panini could make with a full license, I understand why MLB did this.  Topps provides consistency while MLB's experience with other manufacturers has been less than spectacular.  If you're looking for someone to blame for the use of an exclusive card license then I suggest looking at Upper Deck's way.  They helped create the atmosphere that put this all together. 

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Praise Across the Board on Twitter

I think last nights announcement that the Guggenheim/Stan Kasten/Magic Johnson group has been chosen as the winning buyers for the Dodgers was welcomed with relief and joy. Details aside (a JV partnership I'm not entirely comfortable with), having Magic as the face of the organization and Stan Kasten at the helm provides a certain sense that the right guys won.

That being said, I wondered what folks were saying on twitter. There were the obvious expressions of congratulations (@ShawnGreen15) (@SteveNash). The Magic play on words was everywhere (@Alyssa_Milano). Soon, folks were more hopeful of a brighter future (@TommyLasorda). Heck, Dee Gordon demands that it's now time for the Dodgers to shock the Baseball world (@Skinnyswag).

Of course, there were many more responses to go through. Check out some of my favorites below. Be sure to see the last one- could he be a potential bat off the bench?

• Matt Kemp expresses his approval of the new owner on twitter. With Stan Kasten
• So does Javy Guerra. Who then blames his spelling mistake on auto-correct, here.
• Steve Lyon's response on twitter was short and sweet- either that or he was left practically speechless.
• Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo does what he does best. He shares "Something Historical" of the future owner while saying, "Congratulations!"
• And the best tweet of all comes from an unlikely source- Jose Canseco.
• 

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 9

Steve Lyons hanging out with Don Mattingly, via twitter @SteveLyons12.

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

(Loney Signing for fans, via twitter @Dodgers)

• MARCH MADNESS: Chris Capuano, Mike MacDougal, Matt Guerrier, Todd Coffey, Javy Guerra, Scott Elbert, Kenley Jansen, Stephen Fife, Will Savage, John Grabow, Matt Chico and Alberto Castillo threw live BP to Dodger hitters today on the third day of full-squad workouts at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. With the calendar flipping to March, the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener is just four days away with the club taking on the White Sox on Monday at Camelback Ranch. The club’s home opener is the following day, on March 6, with Los Angeles taking on the Giants at 1:05 p.m.
• ON THE DIAL: Tonight, The Spring Training Baseball Show with Kevin Kennedy & David Vassegh debuts on the Dodgers’ new radio partner AM 570 Fox Sports L.A.. The show will air immediately following the UCLA-Washington State basketball game from approximately 10:30-11:30 p.m. PT and tomorrow night from 9:00-10:00 p.m., but the hour-long show will normally air six days a week (excluding Sunday) at 7:00 p.m.
• #THEHAWK: The Dodgers would like to wish right-handed reliever Blake Hawksworth a very happy 29^th birthday today. Hawksworth ranked fourth on the team last season with 49 appearances and 53.0 innings pitched as a reliever, going 2-5 with a 4.08 ERA and limiting opposing hitters to a .225 batting average in his first season with Los Angeles. Be sure to follow Blake and wish him a happy birthday on Twitter, @BlakeHawk425.

(A Sea of Dodgers, via twitter @SteveLyons12)

• GREEN BLUE EGGS WITH HAM: As a part of the 2012 Read Across America celebration, Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis and White Sox pitcher Addison Reed visited the Velma Teague Library in Glendale to read to local school children. Ellis, who also participated in the event last year, is poised to take over as the Dodgers’ starting catcher in 2012 after batting .271 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 31 games with Los Angeles a year ago. Back in Los Angeles, members of the Dodger Alumni Association will visit 10 local schools this weekend to read to kids and speak to them about the importance of literacy.
• SAY CHEESE: The media flurry has started at Dodger Spring Training with ESPN, FOX and PRIME TICKET interviewing players on site today and the club’s annual Photo Day taking place tomorrow morning at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. This year, a bevy of entities will be taking part in Photo Day, including the Associated Press, Getty Images, Dodger radio partner AM 570 Fox Sports Radio L.A., MLB International, MLB Photos, Baseball Magazine Sha, Dodger broadcast partner KCAL 9, Topps and MLB.com.

(Pic from Baseball tryouts at Spring Training, via twitter @Dodgers)

• DREAM A LITTLE DREAM: Earlier today, the Dodgers held their annual open tryout at Camelback Ranch – Glendale with candidates competing for a minor contract. One of the 125 hopefuls was 22-year-old Francisco “Chico” Herrera, who has worked the past four seasons as a batboy in the Dodger clubhouse. Herrera, an infielder, has already made several highlight-reel catches at Dodger Stadium with his exploits as a ballboy being showcased on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Blog Kiosk: 3/1/2012

Beckett shared some preview images of 2012 Topps Heritage. See them here. Above is a Matt Kemp "New Age Performers" insert card.

• Steve Lyons promises to be much more active on his new twitter account: @SteveLyons12.
  
• Brandon Lennox at True Blue LA ranks the top 200 Dodger prospects.
  
• Check out Will Carroll's Dodgers Team Health Report 2012 at Sports Illustrated, here. 3B

  Juan Uribe
  Uribe was terrible last year, but much of it was done fighting through a sports hernia. This wasn't a good signing, but if he's healthy, it might not be so bad. Then again, there's still some downside in him as well, since he's only had one good, healthy season.

• Emma at CrzBlue's Dodger Blue World put together a great tribute to Dodger Stadiums 50th Anniversary.
  
• Ramona Shelburne at ESPN writes about Dodger bat boy Francisco "Chico" Herrera and his invitation to tryout for the Dodgers.

  “Jon Garland and I were playing catch in the outfield,” Herrera said. “He was hurting at the time, but he could still play catch and he’s like, ‘You really do have a good arm. When are you going to try out?’”
  
  Try out?

• Check out this great interview at Panini with Deion Sanders- video included. He reminisces that he often wonders what could've been if he had just stuck with Baseball only. I often think the same thing about him and Bo Jackson.
  
• Ryan at Chaos and Kanji provides a tour of Prince ChiChibu Memorial Stadium and Museum in Japan.
  
• Greg Aronowitz visited the 2012 New York Toy Fair. Check out his report.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 5

Chad Billingsley sits with Tony Kinkela of Dodgers on Demand, via Twitter @JessRosales1.

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

• THE ARTISTS: As we near the first full squad workout, 80% of the starting rotation fired bullpens today as Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly and Aaron Harang took the mound along with Jamey Wright, Fernando Nieve, Angel Guzman, Wilfredo Ledezma, Josh Lindblom, Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Withrow, Scott Rice, Ryan Tucker and Michael Antonini.

(Pic Credit: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

• SORE HORSE(S): A couple of Dodger non-roster pitchers were nursing injuries today as right-hander Shane Lindsay (right shoulder soreness) has yet to throw a bullpen this spring. RHP Ryan Tucker (stiff neck) was able to loosen up and throw his scheduled bullpen session.

• THE DESCENDANTS: The Dodgers would like to welcome former right-handed reliever Tom Niedenfuer to Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Niedenfuer led the Dodgers in saves in both 1984 and 1985 and his 64 rescues from 1981-87 rank 10^th in franchise history. Of the hurlers ahead of Niedenfuer on the list, six amassed their totals after he did, including the top three of Eric Gagné (161, 2002-2006), Jeff Shaw (129, 1998-2001) and Todd Worrell (127, 1993-97). Other include No. 6 Jay Howell (85, 1988-92), No. 7 Jonathan Broxton (84, 2006-11) and No. 9 Takashi Saito (81, 2006-08). Current closer Javy Guerra is tied for 26^th on that list with 21 saves.

• MY WEEK WITH PSYCHO: The Dodgers would like to welcome PRIME TICKET’s Steve Lyons, who arrived at Camelback Ranch today to shoot several pieces that will air throughout the season. Lyons will be in Arizona until March 2, interviewing Don Mattingly, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Dee Gordon and Mark Ellis, among others. Lyons is beginning his eighth season as a member of the Dodger broadcasts, providing analysis alongside Eric Collins for all road games outside of the National League West. “Psycho” also provides analysis for PRIME TICKET’s “Dodgers Live” pre and post-game shows, where he breaks down the games with Patrick O’Neal, Jim Watson and Chris McGee.

(Pic Credit Jon SooHoo/ Los Angeles Dodgers)

• THE TREE OF LIFE: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to former outfielder and first baseman Matt Luke, who turns 42 today. Luke wore Dodger Blue in 1998 and 1999, hitting 12 home runs in just 237 at-bats. Currently, he is a member of the Dodgers Alumni Association, making community appearances and hosting autograph signings on behalf of the club.

• 9 AM IN LOS ANGELES: This Saturday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. fans can purchase a limited number of Opening Day tickets as well as single-game regular season tickets at Dodger Stadium and on Dodgers.com. Prices on many advanced individual tickets for the 2012 season after Opening Day have been reduced as much as $20 per ticket. The Dodger Stadium gates will open at 9:00 a.m. and the annual On Sale festivities will include music, trivia and contests, hosted by AM 570 Fox Sports Radio. Additionally, fans that purchase at least one ticket at Dodger Stadium at the On Sale event will receive a Dodger gift.

• THE HELP: On March 1, the Dodgers will hold their annual open tryout here at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, hosted by the amateur scouting department. The tryout will take place from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and potential prospects can call 323-224-1512 for details and instructions.
  

Blog Kiosk: 6/15/2011

The photo above is from USC Libraries and it features the Boy Scouts taking the field to help the Dodgers celebrate Flag Day on 6/14/1960.

• Zach Hample was at Coors Field this past weekend when the Dodgers were in town and ran into Steve Lyons.
• I didn't know this existed. Trolley Dodger shows a pic of a Jackie Robinson statue at UCLA.
  
• Congratulations Roberto! Your kid is gorgeous.
  
• GCRL makes some fantastic fantasy Dodger cards of Garvey, Cey, Russell and Lopes from the 1972 Topps set. On top of that, he pieces together an awesome "In Action" card back fantasy puzzle featuring Koufax, Jackie and Campy.
  
• The US Forest Service is working with MLB on the broken bat issue, via Boston.com. (Hat Tip: Baseball Musings)
  
• Gaslamp Ball introduces us to the Designated Driver Program at Petco Park. Next time you are there and don't plan on drinking, go to guest services and get a free non-alcoholic beverage coupon.
  
• Check out Kenny's Drew Doughty collection, via Upper Deck blog. Man... I miss Kings hockey. BTW, check out Kenny's website here.
• Here are some interesting pics of DIY weapons in Libya, via The Atlantic. The ingenuity of men to create weapons is both fascinating and frightening. It's like Mad Max out there. I hate to imagine what we could create, with American creativity, if we ever found ourselves in a similar situation.
  
• A cop having fun. Don't let the title of the video fool ya.
  

YouTube Link:

Spring Training Photos: March 21, 2007

Below are some photos I took this afternoon.

Derek Lowe working with Jon Broxton. Broxton has not been sharp his past two outings. I believe he was working on his release point, but don't hold me to that.

Steve Lyons and Russell Martin are in the middle of some filming. It looked like it may have been a instructional video shoot. Maybe this will be a program for Dodgers On Demand.

Below, Steve Lyons and Jeff Kent are out on the field for some filming. More pitchers at batting practice. Rick Honeycutt watches over Derek Lowe. Maury Wills is giving an interview.

Steven Lyons is more than happy to sign for fans.

Dodgertown would not be the same without Manny Mota riding around on his bike.

The Mets at batting practice before the game.

Kuo is warming up before the game.

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