2016 Bowman Inception - The Rest of the Dodgers Cards

Below is a final look at the Dodgers cards found in Topps' 2016 Bowman Inception set.  Featured are the Autograph Relics, Veteran Autograph Relics, Inceptionized Bowman Prospect Autographs, Origins Autographs and various other rarities.

Autograph Relic

#IAR-CS Corey Seager                          #IAR-JP Jose Peraza

2016 Topps Now - #239 - Kenta Maeda

Kenta Maeda closes out the first half of the season with his fourth 2016 Topps Now Baseball card of the year. Yesterday afternoon he dominated the San Diego Padres to win his eighth game.  Maeda went a solid seven innings, gave up no walks, two hits and recorded a career high thirteen strike outs.  Even more amazing, he made some history.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

Maeda is the ninth pitcher in Dodger history to strike out at least 13 in a game while walking none. Kershaw has done it the past five times, including twice this year. Before Kershaw, there were Dazzy Vance, Van Lingle Mungo, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Kevin Gross, Brad Penny and Chad Billingsley.

That's some lofty company!

Go here to check out the card and to order.

UPDATE: The print run for this card is 322 copies.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/11/2016 - Dodgers Links - Piazza, Cotton and Kenta Maeda

What a fantastic way to end the first half of the Baseball season.  Kenta Maeda was on the mound and absolutely stymied the Padres. With 97 pitches he recorded a career high 13 strike outs, two hits, no walks and a single lone run on a homer by Derek Norris in seven innings pitched.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"You could see the look in Kenta's eye after that last outing. He was set to dominate and that's what he did, and it was just what we needed," said manager Dave Roberts. "Even for his psyche, for the starters, and to go into the break so strong, it was great for him."
...
"We chased offspeed out of the zone," (Padres manager Andy) Green said. "He pitched us backwards all day long and we didn't seem to make an adjustment. He could spin us early, hard and late, mix in a fastball periodically, but it was pretty much all offspeed."

BTW, Maeda is the ninth Dodger pitcher in history to ever record at least 13 strike outs and zero walks in a game.  On another note, Yasiel Puig is once again surrounded by persistent trade rumors (link here).  I have doubts anything will get done since management clearly will not take a discount, and rightly so.  Since coming back from the DL in late June Puig is slashing .317/.417/.467/.883 with two home runs, eight RBI's and a BABIP of .347.

Photo of Kenta and Yasiel on the bench above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1978 Steve Garvey becomes the first two-time MVP in All-Star history.  In the game played in San Diego Garvey hit a game-tying, two-run single and a triple to help the NL beat the AL, 7-3.
• Happy Birthday, Hal Gregg, Dick Gray and Billy Ashley!

Welcome to the Blue, Alec Grosser!

Remember that trade a few days back that netted us starting pitcher Bud Norris, outfielder Dian Toscano and some cash?  Well, there was an additional player in that deal that was to come to the Dodgers, but had yet to be named.  A veritable "player to be named later," eh!  Well, that player has now been named.  Coming from the Braves to the Dodgers will be right-handed pitching prospect Alec Grosser.  Per a Dodgers press release:

In addition, to complete the June 30 trade with the Atlanta Braves, the Dodgers acquired right-handed pitcher Alec Grosser as the player to be named later.

Grosser, 21, appeared in three games for Rookie-level Danville this year and the Alexandria, Virginia, native was selected by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

You can follow Alex on twitter here: @alec_del.

Blog Kiosk: 7/10/2016 - Dodgers Links - Toles, McCarthy and Liberatore

It was "Pups in the Park" day at Dodger Stadium and the four-legged canine guest in attendance were entertained with a fantastic victory.  Brandon McCarthy went five innings; giving up three runs on three hits, three walks and six strike outs.  Per Ken Gurnick and Jack Baer at MLB.com:

"It felt very weird and it was a struggle, but at least I'm happy to get through five [innings], keep the game close and give the offense and bullpen a chance to win it," said McCarthy, who had surgery April 29 of last year.

As McCarthy said the bullpen was solid.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

 “I know all of us would like to get deeper into games and it’s something we want,” McCarthy said. “There are a lot of guys dealing with a lot of different situations, so it’s not a group of five horses that are healthy, happy and have been here all year. It’s guys that are a little bit of hodge-podge, so it’s on all of us to get deeper into games. The bullpen has been outstanding in picking us up, but we need to do our share in the second half to make sure we take some of the load off them.”

In fact, Dodgers reliever Adam Liberatore broke a franchise record last night.  He threw his 24th consecutive scoreless inning; breaking John Candelaria's record.

“He told me congrats, and I really didn’t know what he was talking about,” Liberatore said. “It seemed like a really weird thing to say in that situation. I’m getting pulled and the guy is saying congrats. I was like ‘What?’”

In the dugout, he soon learned what all the fuss was about, getting a game ball and the adoration from his teammates. The moment was made better for the Pittsburgh native when he learned of Candelaria’s involvement in the record.

“I know that name a little bit so that’s cool,” Liberatore said of the former Pirates and Dodgers pitcher.

The photos above via Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jill and Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game; including more dogs.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1943 a Dodgers clubhouse dispute almost leads to a players strike.  Teammates were at odds with management due to a suspension of pitcher Bobo Newsome.  Durocher suspended Newsome for insubordination and his teammates threatened to not play.  Eventually Branch Rickey intervenes and the game against Pittsburgh is played.  In 1984 Fernando Valenzuela and Dwight Good combine to strike out six consecutive AL batters in the All-Star game in Candlestick Park.

A Yasmani Grandal 2016 Topps Now Card - #231

Yasmani Grandal had a once in a lifetime game on Friday.  The oft-injured catcher drove in six on a 5-for-5 night that included three home runs.  Heck, he even executed a perfect bunt single on a defensive shift and threw out a runner at second base in the fourth inning.  To commemorate the day, naturally, a Topps Now card was be created, and it is currently available til the end of today.  I should have posted this up yesterday, so I apologize for the late notice.  Go here to check it out and order.

BTW, he is only the third catcher in Major League history to hit three homers in a five hit game.  Per Jack Baer and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"It was surreal," said Grandal. "It makes me feel great, to be with two Hall of Famers, guys that did what they did, offensively and defensively. It still hasn't kicked in. When I get home and lay down, it will hit me a lot more."

Via Dave Roberts in the same article:

"As crazy as this night was, to look at Yas' night, it's one for the books," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "The work he's put in, the guy is watching video, working with the coaches, and to finally get rewarded with a historical night was great."

Go here to watch all three video featuring the home runs.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 286 copies.  

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