2015 Topps Pro Debut - The Dodger Base Cards

Everybody loves rookies.  They bring much promise and opportunity for a club looking to improve, and fans grow eager by the minute hoping to see their next favorite player wow them on the field.  Collectors love rookies for many of the same reasons.  Sets focused on up-'n-coming players creates an opportunity to chase after the next great star.

Last week Topps released their newest set, and it's a product focused on some of the top rated prospects in the game.  It is called 2015 Topps Pro Debut, and there are five Dodger high-flyers in the base set.  Check them all out below.  I've included example pics of the reverse of most of the cards.  Go here to see a complete checklist of the set.  Tomorrow I'll have photos of all the insert cards that are available.

The Base Set

#5 Alex Verdugo - AZL Dodgers

Dodgers Channel - SportsNet LA - Is Coming to Charter Customers Next Week!

True to their word, Charter Communications, who is currently in the process of purchasing Time Warner, will make SportsNet LA available to all of their customers next week, Tuesday, June 9th.

When they had originally announced that they would open up this channel for all of their customers before closing on the purchase of Time Warner I was suspicious.  After all, who ever heard of a cable company being not only true to their word but also forward-thinking?  This move will create a significant amount of goodwill within fan circles, and hopefully they can find a way to include other cable carriers soon.

Per their press release:

SportsNet LA will be available on Charter Spectrum TV Select, Charter’s most widely subscribed to tier of service, on channel 44 SD/ 789 HD in the Los Angeles DMA, channel 44 SD / 773 HD in San Luis Obispo, and channel 44 SD in Porterville.  SportsNet LA’s Spanish-language game telecasts as well as its Korean-language Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) will also be made available to Charter customers.

“The Dodgers are an iconic franchise and part of the fabric of the community,” said Tom Rutledge, President and CEO of Charter Communications.  “We are very excited to be bringing the Dodgers back to Charter customers in the LA area.”

“We’re thrilled that Dodger fans will now be able to watch SportsNet LA’s 24/7 Dodger programming on Charter’s systems,” said Stan Kasten, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers. “SportsNet LA continues to deliver unparalleled coverage of the Dodgers and we hope other providers come on board soon so all fans can enjoy the network’s first-rate programming.”

BTW, Charter is not a significant player in the Southern California market, but this move is a great start.  Per a story by Michael Lev at the OC Register:

Ideally, Charter adding SNLA would put pressure on other distributors to fall in line. This is the best-case scenario, but it also feels like a long shot. Although Charter carrying SNLA is obviously great news for Dodgers fans living in Long Beach, San Bernardino, Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale, Calabasas and other locales, its subscriber base of about 250,000 represents only 5.6 percent of the market. Charter is a domino; it’s not the domino.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/4/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Pederson and Kenley Jansen

Today is the 51st anniversary of Sandy Koufax's third career no-hitter against the Phillies.  He became only the second pitcher in the modern era to throw three no-no's - Bob Feller was the first.  Photo above via @sportsphotos on twitter.

Below are some links to check out:

• Check out a new Dodger blog called "From Duke to Joc, All Things Dodgers" here.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Yasiel Puig will start rehab assignment Thursday with Rancho Cucamonga."   BTW, Eric also tells us that Hector Olivera will make his debut in Tula today, as well (here)
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Paco Rodriguez MRI shows no new elbow damage."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Joc Pederson's power continues to blossom."

“I still think the best is yet to come for Joc,” Mattingly said. “That doesn’t mean he’s going to hit 60 homers or anything, but I think just the consistency of at-bats will get better and better.”

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "A new voice for a critical 2015 Dodger draft."

“The power of the group together and more minds is better than one mind,” (Billy Gasparino) said. “It worked every draft I’ve been a part of. The best drafts, the best outcomes have been a group reflection of the board and the players we take, not just one person.

“We emphasized that in San Diego. We’ve had some success. We’re going to emphasize it here. Josh, Andrew and Farhan have all had their own success in places they’ve come from and we’re just trying to combine it all together.”

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Mystery surrounds Kenley Jansen's absence."

"I don't know who wants to talk about it. I'm not the one who wants to talk about it, though," said Mattingly, clearly perturbed. "He was unavailable."

Former Major League pitcher Rick Sutcliffe tweeted this out; which only adds to the mystery.  BTW, you may recall that a couple of years ago he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat - atrial fibrillation:

Sending my prayers to #Dodgers and closer @kenleyjansen74

— Rick Sutcliffe (@Sut_ESPN) June 4, 2015

• Panini will once again create special Father's Day cards that will be available at participating hobby stores, and they shared a bunch of pics online.  Go here to check out a whole bunch of preview photos.  Below are the Yasiel Puig, Clayton Kershaw and Joc Pederson cards.

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

(pic via @2EP0L on twitter)

The next homestand starts tomorrow against the St. Louis Cardinals, and several former Dodgers are scheduled for an autograph session with fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

Levy Restaurants now offers Smoked BBQ Chicken Wings at the Think Blue BBQ located in the left-field plaza. This dish is prepared with a honey bourbon sauce and served with potato salad and corn bread. For the series against St. Louis, Levy Restaurants will also offer the St. Louis Dog, a super dog topped with BBQ brisket, BBQ sauce and crispy onions and can be purchased at the Extreme Loaded Dog locations on the field, loge and reserve levels.

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Thursday, June 4th at 7:10 PM
RHP Michael Wacha vs. RHP Carlos Frias
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Thursday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM.  The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Kenley Jansen bobblehead.  See it on the left.

The national anthem will be performed by Kearran Giovanni.

Dodger alumnus Tim Leary will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Army National Guard Master Sergeant Patrick Chavez of Albuquerque, NM. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1995 as a Motor Transportation Operator and served at Camp Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, and Air Ground Support Element at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. After completing his service in the Marine Corps, he enlisted in the New Mexico Army National Guard as a heavy motor vehicle operator and is currently stationed in Albuquerque, serving as the Operations Non Commissioned Officer in Charge and Senior Enlisted Leader for the New Mexico Counterdrug Support Task Force.

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Friday, June 5th at 7:10 PM
RHP Carlos Martinez vs. LHP Brett Anderson
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 set to music by composer John Williams. .  Go here for information about future firework themes.

Two-time GRAMMY®-nominated Producer/DJ Morgan Page, whose latest album, “DC to Light,” is set for release on June 9, will present a pregame DJ set at 6:40 p.m. Page will also throw the ceremonial first pitch. Tahj Mowry will perform the national anthem.


Pregame entertainment will also include a stilt walker in the left-field plaza and DJ Adam in the right-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Dodger alumnus Lee Lacy will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Army Warrant Officer Joshua Creadick of Burbank and Navy E-6 Damage Controlman Petty Officer First Class Rene Saavedra of Los Angeles. Creadick has served two deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. Saavedra completed two deployments to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and is currently an explosives handler and instructor at the naval weapons station in Seal Beach.
• 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 Joc Pederson autographed photo, Fernando Valenzuela autographed baseball and Adrian Gonzalez autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 8:45 p.m.

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Saturday, June 6th at 7:10 PM
 RHP Jaime Garcia vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw

 SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Saturday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 3:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM. It is Hollywood Stars Night at Dodgers Stadium.  This year, the Dodgers will play host to two teams of celebrities in a softball game beginning at 5:00 PM.  Talk show host Larry King and actor, director, producer and writer Garry Marshall will manage the teams.  Glee star Dot Marie Jones will serve as one of the umpires for the game.

Celebrities expected to participate in the game include:  Alan Thicke (Growing Pains), Anthony Anderson (Black-ish), James Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek), Kevin McHale (Glee), Frank Grillo (Captain America), Jaleel White (Family Matters & Dancing With the Stars), model Charlotte McKinney (Dancing With the Stars), Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf & Road to Perdition), Austin Stowell (Love and Honor), Clark Gregg (Iron Man), Vivica A. Fox (Independence Day) and Brian Dietzen (NCIS).  Former WNBA great Lisa Leslie, USA soccer star Landon Donovan, Entertainment Tonight co-host Kevin Frazier, actor/comedian Rob Riggle, tennis pro Mardy Fish and Blink 182 bassist Mark Hoppus will also be showcasing their softball talents.


Academy Award and Grammy-nominated actress Minnie Driver will perform the national anthem. A MVP will be chosen from the Hollywood Stars Game to throw Saturday’s ceremonial first pitch.

Pregame entertainment will also include a strolling magician in the left-field plaza, DJ Adam in the right-field plaza, DJ Lady Sha in the left-field reserve plaza and a Dixieland band in the right-field reserve plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Dodger alumnus Dennis Powell will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is Navy E6 Petty Officer First Class Ramon Noriega of Montebello. Noriega has served three deployments to the Arabian Gulf guiding missile destroyers and serving on aircraft carriers. He is currently stationed at the Center for Information Dominance Unit as a naval instructor in San Diego.

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Sunday, June 7th at 5:08 PM
 RHP Lance Lynn vs. RHP Zack Greinke

 SNLA/AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Sunday's game starts at 5:08 PM.  Auto gates open at 2:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 3:10 PM.  The first 15,000 ticketed kids 14-years old or younger will receive a Kids' Cereal Bowl.  Check it out on the left.

Viva Los Dodgers is at the historic 76 station, and begins at 3:00 p.m. Dodger alumnus Manny Mota will sign autographs from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by Viento Callejero and Los 5. Levy Restaurants offers Dodger dogs, carne asada tacos and Montejo beer for purchase at Viva Los Dodgers.

Lead singer of Lifehouse Jason Wade will perform the national anthem.

Dodger alumnus Mickey Hatcher will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Juan Gonzales of Woodland. Gonzales enlisted shortly after September 11, 2001 and has served deployments to Haditha and Fallujah, Iraq as a provisional rifleman and most recently to Herat and Helmand Provinces in Afghanistan with the Special Operations Task Force as an engineer. Gonzales is currently retired and resides in Temecula.
• 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 an Alex Guererro autographed photo, Orel Hershiser autographed baseball and Clayton Kershaw autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 6:45 p.m.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Scott Van Slyke and Tommy Lasorda

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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Scott Van Slyke will be signing autographs at Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe in the City of Industry on Saturday, June 6 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.  Go here for more information. 

$25 **KIDS ANY ITEM** (child must present item)
$30 for small items: balls,8x10-16x20 and mini helmets
$50 for large items: bats, bases, f/s helmets,jerseys and game used
$10 inscriptions

Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe
13131 Crossroads Pkwy South
City of Industry, California 91746

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A book signing and discussion with Lasorda, Gunderson and team historian Mark Langill is scheduled for this coming Saturday at Diesel Bookstore in Santa Monica at 3:00 PM.  Go here for information.  Per their description:

Diesel, A Bookstore in Brentwood welcomes baseball legend Tommy Lasorda to the store to discuss and sign his biography, Tommy Lasorda: My Way, by Colin Gunderson, on Saturday, June 6th at 3:00pm. Joining him in conversation will be author Colin Gunderson and Tommy's great friend and Dodger historian, Mark Langill. This event will be held in the Southern courtyard adjacent to our store. Please note that  he will only be signing copies of  his new book.

Diesel Bookstore 
225 26th St. Suite 33 
Santa Monica, CA 90402

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Welcome to the Blue, Ian Thomas!

The Dodgers are playing a doubleheader today, so the team decided to call up recently acquired lefty-reliever Ian Thomas as their 26th man.  He'll come out of the bullpen should he be needed.  Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled left-hander Ian Thomas (#58) from Triple-A Oklahoma City to be the 26th man for today’s doubleheader at Colorado.

Thomas, 28, was acquired as part of a six-player trade with Atlanta last week and has gone 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in 21 Major League appearances with the Braves in 2014-15, including allowing three runs (two earned) in five appearances this year (5.1 IP). He last pitched on Thursday (2.1 IP) and has combined to go 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, a .200 opponents’ batting average and a 0.83 WHIP in 10 minor league appearances this year with Oklahoma City and the Braves’ Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi.

Thomas comes to the Majors via an unusual route.  He was discovered by the Braves while he was pitching for the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Independent American Association in 2012, and has impressed ever since.  Via a report by gondeee at Chop Country in early 2014:

He’s a lefty, but not a hard thrower, topping out at around 90 mph. He creates a ton of deception with a similar motion on all his pitches, and his plus off-speed change and curve clock in around 20 mph less than his fastball, making it tough for batters to distinguish between his pitches. He was equally effective last year against lefties and righties, holding each to an identical .192 BAA.

In celebration of Thomas' arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph grabbed from the Braves.mlb page and the 1974 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:

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