Sign Her Up Coach! Caroline Wozniacki Can Throw a Strike

Folks... I think we got a glimpse at the Dodgers next free agent signing. 

Yesterday afternoon, tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki, tossed the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game, and absolutely wowed the fans.  She confidently strolled up the mound, took her place on the rubber and tossed an Eephus-styled pitch right down the middle for a strike. 

Wozniacki is currently ranked in the top-5 in tennis and a proven champion, so her athletic skills are no surprise.  Still, we've seen so many stars make this attempt and fail. 

Watch her make her pitch and read out "It's Time for Dodger Baseball" to the fans below.

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(Pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

(Pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

Best yet, when she headed out of town later that day she proudly wore her Dodger Blue jersey, as evidenced by the pic she tweeted out below.

(pic via ‏@CaroWozniacki on twitter)

*Photo at the very top via @SI_Tennis on twitter.

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Puig Now Has His Own SportsCenter Commercial

Yasiel Puig joins a list of sports greats today.  Released just this morning is his very own ESPN SportsCenter commercial.  Watch it below.

Yasiel Puig doesn’t only have walkup music during home games, he also has it during staff meetings. Stan Verrett follows suit.

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He joins a long list of athletes - and even pop culture stars - to record a little ditty for the network.  Go here to see a long list of past commercials.

Other Dodger players to film a commercial for ESPN include Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw.  You can watch both of those below.

Andre Ethier

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Clayton Kershaw

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Blog Kiosk: 8/3/2015 - Dodger Links - Ethier, Kershaw and Latos

Such young minds to mold.  Orel Hershiser poses with members of the Jr. Dodgers Broadcasters in the dugout at Dodger Stadium yesterday.  I'm not all that familiar with this youth program.  From what I understand, the Dodgers take several kids under their wing to mentor them on the fine art of sports reporting and broadcasting.  They do player interviews, report the news, and do play-by-play action of every 2015 regular season Sunday home game.

Sounds like fun, eh?  Who knows?  Maybe the heir apparent to Vin Scully is being molded as we speak.  Go here for more information about this program.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via David Adler and Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Dodgers sweep Angels on Ethier's 2 homers."

"It was the right time today to put us over the top," Ethier said. "There's not too many times in baseball where you get to take the last shot, and that was one of those opportunities."

• Via Anthony Witrado at ESPN.com, "Clayton Kershaw proves he's back in gear with return to action."

"He seemed a little bit rusty, honestly, early. Just command-wise," manager Don Mattingly said, blaming Kershaw's layoff. "It had been eight days since he pitched, but he got better as the game went on. His pitch count was up early, but he got it in line."
...
"It's crazy what two or three days off will do," Kershaw said. "I don't like days off, apparently. ... If I know they're coming I can deal with it, but this was a little bit different. Overall it worked out.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Mat Latos makes strong first impression with Dodgers."

"You don't see any fear in him at all," said manager Don Mattingly. "He's attacking guys, whether it's Trout or Pujols."

• Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Ellis set to be activated from DL on Tuesday."
• It's back!  Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Dodgers participate in Ice Bucket Challenge."

Friday, the Red Sox restarted the movement that went viral a year ago, and they challenged the Dodgers to follow suit. So Yasiel Puig and Enrique Hernandez stepped up Saturday and were doused in ice.

Watch it here.

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Institute for Baseball Studies receives Negro Leagues memorabilia donation."
• I'd like to extend a hearty Blue Heaven congratulations to former Dodgers Rafael Furcal.  Following on Fernando Valenzuela, Furcal became a US citizen last week, via a tweet from Yvonne Carrasco.

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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)

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Bring in the Clown - A LA Dodger "Bums" Sculpture by Ron Lee

It's been awhile since I've shared any unique Dodgers' finds I've come across on eBay, so I figured I'd get back into the grove by sharing something a little fun.  Featured here is an eight inch painted solid bronze sculpture by an Southern California artist named Ron Lee found on eBay. (check out his website here)  He is noted for creating numerous clown based statues, and one of them features what looks like an LA Dodgers "Bum" on the pitching mound.

The left-handed pitcher is not wearing an actual Dodger uniform (I'm sure copyright issues prevented that), but it's clear to me that this little fellow is supposed to be a Dodger.  On his cap is "LA Bums," a clear reference to Emmett Kelly's Brooklyn Dodger "Bum" depiction, and on his back is the number 53 (likely for Dodger Hall of Famer Don Drysdale).  Strangely, the name on his back is "Lefty," and as we all know Drysdale was a right-hander.  BTW, the statue weight 10 lbs!

According to the seller this statue is a part of Ron Lee's Emmett Kelly Jr. collection.  In 2002 Ron Lee received a license from Emmett Kelly Jr. to depict him on limited edition statues.  As you may know, Emmett Kelly Jr. is the son of the great Emmett Kelly that used to grace Ebbets Field in the 1940's and 1950's.  He followed his father's footsteps and became just as famous.  Unfortunately, I don't think this is a part of those works by Lee.  The seller states that this statue was produced in 1987 - many years before Lee's license with Kelly Jr.

I have no idea what something like this is worth, but I do know I would never pay the over $3K asking the price the seller is seeking.  That just seems steep.  Way too steep.

What I do know is that I would love to add something like this to my collection. 

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2015 Panini Cooperstown - All the Dodger Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards take a look at the Dodger inserts that are available in packs of 2015 Panini Copperstown below. 

The below "Etched in Copperstown" inserts have very unique parallels available.  As you can see, the normal silver card has a silver metallic look to them.  The parallels come in different shades, and also can include actual gems embedded within them (diamonds, emeralds or sapphires)

As an example, take a look at the Leo Durocher card below.  It is a Gold Emerald parallel card.  Look closely to the right of the bill of Durocher's cap.  That little green circular thing is a tiny emerald.

Etched in Cooperstown Silver

#16 Don Drysdale                                  #17 Duke Snider