Dodgers ThinkCure! Auction

The 2nd annual ThinkCure! Auction is currently online. Please go here to check it out. ThinkCure! funds collaborative research to cure cancer. Last year they raised over $165,000.00. You have until August 24th to bid, so get going.

There are all kinds of different things to bid on; including an opportunity to visit Vin Scully in the broadcasting booth, a team signed Fender guitar, a Spring Training vacation package, a bunch of signed jerseys and a chance to co-host DodgerTalk. You can even sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" or have Ken Levine critique your script. Below are some of those great items.

This would look great on the wall or plugged into an amp ready to make some noise.

Auction Link: Signed Fender Guitar:

Stephen Holland is the official artist of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Below is his painting of the great Jackie Robinson.

Auction Link: Robinson Painting:

Below is a wonderful painting of the 1955 Dodgers done by Opie Otterstad. From the auction description:

There may be no rivalry in sports history more noted than the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. And for over a decade the nation watched these two teams battle to the bitter end year after year as they faced each other in the World Series 5 times between 1941 and 1953. Each year the Yankees defeated the Dodgers. Leaving the Brooklyn fans saying "wait 'til next year."

This was more then a friendly rivalry between two teams. This defined a generation of New Yorker's and baseball fans. it was blue collar vs. white collar, neighborhood vs. neighborhood, neighbor vs. neighbor, and it was a feud that took a game otherwise measured one season at a time, to an epic of baseball history.

Auction Link: 1955 Dodgers Painting:

Waiting Impatiently for Hockey

Have I told you much I love Hockey? Well, during these dog days of summer I find myself, not only yearning for a World Series Championship, but also impatiently waiting for the hockey season to start.

The Kings are headed towards a great season. I know it. I can feel it. They are young and filled with the deepest prospects and young guns in all of hockey. If you think the Dodgers scored big with their crop of young stars wait until you get a look at what the Kings have to offer.

This afternoon I saw a video that makes me fidget like a flea in a glass bottle. Check it out below.

YouTube Link: KingsVision:
Hat Tip: KingCast:

Knuckler Tonight!

Image Link: The Baseball Cube:

Charlie Haeger will be making his Dodger debut this evening. Why is this notable?

Well, he is a 25 year old knuckleball pitcher- one of only a handful that exist in the majors.

I was going to go into some depth about the pitch, but soon found myself just as mystified as a batter trying to hit the pitch. So, instead, I ran into a bunch of quotes in wikipedia that made me laugh. So here they are.

• "Knuckleballs suck." ― Geno Petralli after giving up four passed balls in one inning
• "You're not expected to hit it. [I am] expected to catch it." ― John Flaherty summing up his day catching Tim Wakefield in a spring training game against the Twins by relaying a comment made by fellow catcher Mike Redmond. Flaherty retired the next day.
• "Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has always been at least one but rarely more than five or six devotees throwing the knuckleball in the big leagues... Not only can't pitchers control it, hitters can't hit it, catchers can't catch it, coaches can't coach it, and most pitchers can't learn it. The perfect pitch." ― Ron Luciano, former AL umpire
• "There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball. Unfortunately, neither of them works." ― famed hitting coach Charlie Lau
• "I always thought the knuckleball was the easiest pitch to catch. Wait'll it stops rolling, then go to the backstop and pick it up." ― broadcaster and former catcher Bob Uecker
• "I never worry about it. I just take my three swings and go sit on the bench. I'm afraid if I ever think about hitting it, I'll mess up my swing for life." ― All-star first baseman Dick Allen

And, of course, we have a great quote from our skipper.

• "You don't catch a knuckleball, you defend against it." ― Dodgers manager and former catcher Joe Torre

BTW, if you are interested in reading more about the pitch go to the Knuckleball Headquarters.

The Adventures of Lil' Matt

The Dodger PR department is pretty great. They send updates on the minors, notices of special events and photos I can put up on the site. By some accounts, they have been the most proactive team in Major League Baseball when dealing with the fan-based blog community. This morning, Yvonne was kind enough to direct me to a little video they made entitled "The Adventures of Lil' Matt." Enjoy.

As some of you know, this coming Wednesday the 19th is Matt Kemp's bobblehead night. Got your tickets yet?

YouTube Link: DodgersPR:

Card of the Week: 59 and Counting

I don't think this weeks "Card of the Week" needs much explaining. At least, Dodger fans don't need to be reminded about Hershiser's amazing feat. In 1988 we saw one of Baseballs most amazing records broken by the "Bulldog."

Blog Kiosk: 8/16/2009

Say a prayer for Hiroki.

• Baseball is hoping to be resubmitted into the 2016 Olympic Games. Alas, it was not to be. They have been rejected. Golf and Rugby have been recommended for consideration into the 2016 games instead.
  
• Something to ponder. Since 1995, every team to win a World Series crown has had at least one player linked to steroids.
  
• The Bleech. The Topps Archives introduces the 1967 Topps Blockheads mask set.
• Former Angel star and current free agent Scott Spiezio has joined the Fullerton Flyers of the Golden Baseball League.
  
• Meet the man who puts together "The Baseball Collector's Autograph Handbook."
  
• See the universe in 3D with the help of the Hubble Telescope. Read more about the video here.
  

YouTube Link:
Hat Tip: Americablog: