Card Of The Week: Sawed Off

Rob Deer was all about power. He tried to slug with the best of them in the 80's. Unfortunately, he never really came close to leading the league in homers. On the other hand, he did lead the league in being struck out four times in his career.

The above 1992 Leaf card of Rob Deer was one of my favorites from the set. It shows both his mighty swing and the disappointment of a splintered bat in his palms. In fact, you can say that it epitomized his career. He was a "feast or famine" hitter. His powerful swing was evident for all to see, but, ultimately, it was all for naught.

Tommy Says It All

Tommy is in Philly and let's us know how he feels.

I hate the Phillie Phanatic.

(pic link: Twitpic TommyLasorda)

It may have something to do with this.

YouTube Link: LADRLZ:

UPDATE: This comes directly from Tommy's blog.

I called the front office of the Phillies and told them how I felt. They can play with kids in the stands, but running over the dummy was simply wrong, and that kids would get the wrong impression. Apparently, they didn’t care.

The next time we were in Philadelphia, I confronted the Phanatic. I told it not to use my jersey anymore, and so the next time he did, I was forced to act. I went right up to it and body slammed it to the turf.

I often wondered how it got my jersey, and then I found out how. Steve Sax would give it the jerseys because my players thought it was a funny thing to do.

That is so great. Steve Sax is my new hero.

Dodger Correspondence: Ralph Mauriello

(pic link: Baseball Almanac)

Here is another edition of vintage correspondence with an old-time Dodger player. USC graduate and former Dodger pitcher Ralph Mauriello writes to Roy and shares his main career highlights.

My career highlights were two:

1. My first (and only) major league win against Chicago, September 1958.
2. Being a member of the Dixie Series Champions of 1955, the Mobile Bears. We were in last place on July4.

Ralph only had a opportunity to pitch for the Blue Crew in three games in 1958, two of them starts. In 11.2 innings he struck out 11 (not too bad), but yielded 8 walks and 10 hits. Unfortunately, his lack of control with the big club meant a short Major League career. Nevertheless, he did find success on the diamond at one time. In 1955 with the AA Champion Mobile Bears, a Brooklyn farm club, he went 18-8 with a 2.76 ERA.

eBay Auction Link: Ralph Mauriello:

(pic link: zimbio.com: Opening Day 2008, Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images North America)

Blog Kiosk: 10/18/2009

I choose to ignore the divorce talk. After all, they are but temporary holders of the "Boys in Blue."

• Will Ohman has bee released. His option with the Dodgers for 2010 has been declined and his contract was bought out.
  
• Great pic of a Dodger fan from twitter: @DodgerLadies.
• I'm hoping for a quick recovery for rising soccer star Charlie Davies after a deadly car crash this past week.
  
• Zack Hample visited the MLB Network and has pictures to prove it.
• Here's a nice story about Josh Gibson in the NY Times. (Hat Tip: Vin Scully is My Homeboy) Below is his one and only known vintage Baseball card, a 1950-1951 Toleteros from Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, it came out several years after his death. There is no known card produced during his playing days. Vintage collectors still hope one will show up from his playing days in the Mexican Leagues, Puerto Rico, Cuba or the Dominican Leagues.
• The Topps Archives introduces us to the 1956 Topps Western Round-Up non-sport set.
• Giving credit when credit is due. T.S. O'Connell writes a great commentary about the disappointment of not getting the Olympics in Chicago.
  
• Check out these never before seen photos of the 1969 Miracle Mets.
  
• College phenom, Stephen Strasburg, pitches 3.1 innings in his professional debut in the Arizona Fall League.
  
• A Brazilian paint fight.

YouTube Link: SocialChallenge:

Yhea, I'm a geek. Stormtroopers reminisce about the Death Star.

YouTube Link: zyonasan2002:

Watch Party and a Landreaux Autograph

I'm still reeling from this afternoons come from behind victory over the Phillies when I get an email letting me know about a watch party being set-up at the ESPN Zone at LA Live for this coming Sundays game. It will be from 5 pm to 9 pm and former Dodger Kenny Landreaux will be on hand to sign autographs.

What a Game

Who would have thought that the ailing statesman, Pedro Martinez, and castoff, Vicente Padilla, would equally throw gems this afternoon. This game two, of a best of seven series, was a duel reminiscent of games experienced at Dodger Stadium in the 60's. We saw two pitchers duking it out with outstanding location and sharp pitches that staggered the batters and wowed the crowd.

It's only appropriate that both starters have true blue credentials. Pedro was born with a blue bonnet on and Vicente comes to town hoping to revive his career with the team known for cultivating great pitchers. It seemed that both were channeling the ghost of Dodger pitchers past in the home that Koufax and Drysdale built.

The only mistake was a curveball left high in the strike zone to Ryan Howard that he belted into the outfield stands. As is the case with these type of games it was decided by the bullpen and the late inning heroics that have been commonplace to us fans.

If you make a mistake the Dodgers will capitalize. They did it against the Cardinals when Holliday dropped that last out in game two of the NLDS, and they did it today when Utley couldn't complete a double play.

What a game!