Auto Collection: Russell Martin Bowman Originals

Here is a 2006 Bowman Originals uncirculated card of Russell Martin. I like that he's sporting a Team Canada jersey.

LA Kings Night Coming in Late July

This is over a month away, but I though I would post this as fair warning for those who are looking to attend. On Friday, July 29th, in a game against the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers will be holding LA Kings Night. While perusing Facebook I came across a Kings post announcing this along with a link to a contest to win some tickets and a pre-game experience on the field, so I thought I would pass along a link, here.

Also, just a reminder, a limited Kings themed Dodger cap will be given away, but only to those who purchase tickets through the Dodgers SuperGroup ticket program. Go here for info, and check out the hat below.

No word yet on any Kings expected to be in attendance.

June 30th Is the Day

More good news is coming down the pike. The LA Times reports that about $30 million is required for payroll on June 30th and the Dodgers have no chance of meeting that.

The Dodgers owe about $10 million in payroll Wednesday, according to one of the people, but that figure roughly triples for the June 30 payment as several deferred salaries come due, including more than $8 million to Manny Ramirez.

The Dodgers appear to have "no chance" to meet the June 30 payroll without a cash infusion from a new television contract, according to a person familiar with McCourt's finances but not authorized to discuss them. If McCourt misses payroll, Selig could make the payments for him, seize the team and put it up for sale.

From my understanding, deferred payments are also due to Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones.

Our long regional nightmare may soon be coming to an end. (I'm crossing my fingers)

I guess the only thing that could stop the inevitable is if Selig approves the TV deal soon thereby giving McCourt the funds to continue his ownership. But, by the sounds of this LA Times report, that doesn't seem likely since the MLB report is not due until the end of this month which probably makes it too late for McCourt to gather the funds to make payroll.

Perfect timing, eh?

That Selig, he's a crafty one.

Could Manny Save the Day?

After being traded away last year, Manny Ramirez could still prove to have an important impact on todays' Dodgers. ESPN has the story.

The cash-strapped Los Angeles Dodgers must pay Manny Ramirez $8.33 million by June 30, a source said on Monday.

The polarizing slugger is due the deferred money from the $42 million contract he signed with Los Angeles before the 2009 season. The Dodgers traded him to the White Sox last year but still owe him an additional $8.33 million in 2012 and $8.33 million in 2013. Ramirez retired in April after failing his second drug test in three seasons.

Talk about possibly going full circle. He comes to LA and leads us to the playoffs, then leaves the game in disgrace, only to comes back around to potentially be our savior. Manny... you sure are magical.

On a side note, how sad is it that I and many of my brethren seek this kind of ending, any kind of ending, for the current ownership of the team?

Blog Kiosk: 6/13/2011

The game saving catch by Tony Gwynn Jr. from this past Saturday is above, taken by Jon SooHoo of the Dodgers.

• MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at Hiroki Kuroda and his Free Agent Stock.
  
• The LA Times grades Southland General Managers.
  
• Edgar shares some pics of an Adrian Beltre bobblehead he recently received at an Inland Empire 66er's game at My Autograph Signings.
  
• Check out Mark's Emphemera's 1995 Score Hershiser cards he got in a trade with Night Owl.
  
• Here is a new Dodger blog called Abort McCourt: Save Dodger Baseball.
  
• Check out this great write up on former Dodger Billy Harris, who passed away a couple of weeks ago, from the Examiner.com.

  When asked about his breakout season, Harris remained humble about his achievement. “I think the record still stands for ERA, 0.83. I won 25 games and three more in the playoffs which doesn’t count in the standings. I had good defense, but I had good stuff. My fastball was really moving,” said Harris, who also gave a lot of credit to his teammates. “I don’t know it was just one of those deals. It was kind of a pitcher’s league, but we had a good team behind me. I had Chico Fernandez at short, Dick Gray at third and [Jimmy] Bragan at second base. We had a good outfield that could go get ‘em, so that helped the team. All I had to do was throw the ball over the plate I guess.”

• The Angels, In Order visits a collegiate ballgame in Sedalia, MO at a very old and cool stadium built in the 1930's
  
• MLB realignment? Via ESPN.
  
• Wow. Livan Hernandez might be in big trouble, via Baseball Mussings.
• Here is a great video featuring Fernando Valenzuela talking about the 1981 World Series.

Video Link:

1986 Dodgers Police

Continuing with my feature showing those great little Dodger Police cards from the 80's here is the 1986 Dodgers Police set. See the other sets I've shown here and, as always, click on any of the pics to enlarge.