Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/7/2012 - Links and More

As Vin Scully says, "boys will be boys."  Ted Lilly gets the old bubblegum treatment.  Pic via twitter @Dodgers.

• Dodgers announced via a press release the hiring of Janet Marie Smith to oversee the planning and development of Dodger Stadium.  Hopefully, she can balance the historical nature of the ballfield with some modern amenities to benefit the fan experience at home games.  Based on her success in Atlanta and Baltimore, I think she just might be able to do it.
• In fact, with Janet Marie Smith's hiring we learn from Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that renovations will begin in earnest starting this winter.

"She kind of likes that retro '50s feel that this ballpark has, that really no other ballpark has. And no other ballpark has the palm trees and the San Gabriel Mountains. These are the things she would like to build on."

The Dodgers will be looking to add modern amenities.

"Kids' areas, more bars and restaurants, relaxation areas, history displays, interactive areas — the kinds of things you find in modern ballparks," Kasten said.

• Topps shows off a signed Sandy Koufax 2012 Allen & Ginter card that they just received from the left hander.  Redemption cards were put into packs, so collectors who had turned them in should be receiving them soon.  Pic at right via twitter @ToppsCards.  See the Tier 1 Koufax autographed card here.
• Via Alex Angert at MLB.com, we hear that Victorino wants to stay a Dodger.

"I don't want to just be a two-month or three-month rental," Victorino said in the report. "I want to be here." 

• BTW, the 2012 Topps finest set officially goes live this coming Wednesday.  Check out the base card design on the left of Matt Kemp.  Pic via twitter @ToppsCards.  I'll be sure to share the Dodgers cards in the set soon.
• During "The National" the Net54 Vintage Baseball Forum dinner was the event to be at for vintage Baseball collectors.  Many of the more prominent collectors and dealers use that forum, so if you want to pick anyone's brain about the hobby that is the best place to go.  Sports Collectors Daily was there and writes a report on a guest speaker's comments about the recent indictments of hobby heavyweights Bill Mastro, Doug Allen and Mark Theotikos.

"The government has investigated fraud in the hobby before but those defendants in those cases tended to be bottom feeders, guys who operated in the shadows and out of the public light (but) these are the big boys of your industry and now they've been indicted.  They were the kings of sports memorabilia and now the federal government is saying they're crooks.  They are, of course, innocent until proven guilty."

• The Foul Bunt Blog recently took a tour of Camden Yards and shares a bunch of photos.
• This is just plain cool.  Baseball Nuggets shares some images from a book published in 1913 about the 5th Olympiad in Sweden where they discuss Baseball being played as an exhibition sport.  There are even pictures.

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2012 Panini Triple Play- Dodgers Cards

Panini just released their newest Baseball card set, and it's strictly for the kids.  It is called Triple Play, and it emulates an old Donruss set from the early 90's of the same name that was also geared to children.  Unlike the old Donruss set, this set features players as cartoon drawings instead of using actual photographs.  Packs are super cheap at $1.00 a piece, and you should be able to find them at local retail store near you.

As for the Dodger players in it, there five to chase after (three of which are of Matt Kemp).  See them below.  There is also a sticker card of Clayton Kershaw that looks very much like the card below.

#40 Clayton Kershaw

 #41 James Loney

#42 Matt Kemp

 

#248 Matt Kemp - Focus subset

#289 Matt Kemp- When I Was a Kid subset

I wish I had a photo of the reverse of this card.  I would love to know what childhood story Kemp passed along.

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I Love Misty May-Treanor... She is True Blue!

This is becoming a "thing" for her.  After Misty May-Treanor's most recent match win in the Olympics she gave another shout-out to her husband, Matt, and the Dodgers.  I had featured her doing the same thing a few days ago.  See that post here.

At this point, I never want her husband traded.  Misty is far too valuable to the club.

Watch her most recent cheer below.

Video Link:

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Jerry Sands Gets Another Crack At It While Tony Gwynn Jr. Gets DFA'd

This is a game of musical chairs.  Once again, the Dodgers call up Jerry Sands to see if his recent adjustments at the plate will finally translate into big league success.  As indicated by Christopher Jackson at Examiner.com, Jerry

Has hit .400 (8-for-20) with three home runs and 15 RBI in his last five games, including a monster game in Nashville last Sunday where he became the fifth player in Pacific Coast League to hit two grand slams in one game.

What adjustments have been made?

“A couple weeks ago we had a bunch of (roving instructors) and coaches in town,” Sands said. “We kind of decided to go back to my old swing, but still use the things I’ve been working on pretty much the whole year.

“I’ve gotten where I can pull the ball a little bit better, just looking for pitches on what I want to do, get my hands ready a little bit earlier, a little bit of everything we’ve been trying to work on.”

So, who was sent down to make room for Sands?  Per the Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today designated outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. for assignment and recalled outfielder/first baseman Jerry Sands from Triple-A Albuquerque. Gwynn was batting .232 with a team-leading four triples and 17 RBI in 103 games with Los Angeles.

Oh well.  I kinda liked Gwynn and thought he had some value to the team.  He's still a great glove out in the field.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/6/2012

Don Newcombe is getting into the act.  He wants the Dodgers to know that he see's them.  (Pic via twitter @Dodgers Jon SooHoo/Dodgers 2012)

• Tommy Lasorda was in Baltimore signing at the National Sports Collectors Convention and had this to tweet.

(twitter link)

• Via David Pinto at Baseball Musings we hear of a story Bobby Valentine told about Tommy Lasorda while he was in the minors.

Bobby played outfield in rookie ball, but Lasorda stuck the 19 year old at shortstop, where he fielded poorly. He fielded so poorly that the other players got together and demanded that Valentine be demoted.

Go to the link for more of the story.

• I wish I knew about this, Matt Kemp made a special appearance at the Diamond Supply Co. Store and David's Autograph Signings was there.
• I've noticed Chad Billingsley's playoff beard, too.  Left Field Pavilion blog makes a great graphic celebrating it.
• Jerry Sands is on fire in Albuquerque.  Christopher Jackson from the Examiner.com has more.

“A couple weeks ago we had a bunch of (roving instructors) and coaches in town,” Sands said. “We kind of decided to go back to my old swing, but still use the things I’ve been working on pretty much the whole year.

• Via ESPN's Dodger Report, Dodgers' New Additions are Adding Up.

Victorino, his shirt already soaked in sweat, then looked at the imaginary watch on his right wrist and said they “better start showing up earlier around here.”

Now, Victorino said it with a smile on his face and shared a laugh with Loney and Guerra as he grabbed his glove and went back to work, but the message was clear: If the Dodgers are to get to and win a World Series as Victorino’s Philadelphia Phillies did in 2008, things are going to have to change.

I love the attitude these new guys can bring.

• Via mauceri on reddit, how sports can take down barriers.  South Korea vs. North Korea in a Olympic table tennis match.  Sometimes, all it takes is a handshake to get it started.

• Zach Schonbrun of the NY Times writes a fascinating article about a single pitch thrown by Freddy Garcia that had physics experts baffled.
• With the recent success of the Mars rover Curiosity I thought this letter from Letters of Note was timely.  It is from 1970 and is written to a nun who wonders why we spend billions when so many are suffering on earth.  Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger a NASA Associate Director for Science responds.  It is a long read, but is as pertinent today as it was then, as well as in the distant past.

The townspeople, however, became angry when they realized that the count was wasting his money, as they thought, on a stunt without purpose. "We are suffering from this plague," they said, "while he is paying that man for a useless hobby!" But the count remained firm. "I give you as much as I can afford," he said, "but I will also support this man and his work, because I know that someday something will come out of it!"

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2011 Topps Diamond Embedded "1/1" James Loney

I've been searching high and low for a 2011 Topps diamond embedded card of a Dodger player for quite some time.  Finally, one has arrived on eBay.  It is of James Loney, and I must say that it looks glorious. 

(eBay Auction Link)

Check out that rock. 

Here is the reverse of the card.

(eBay Auction Link)

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