Ahoy, Matey! We'e Got Oursel'es a Doubleheader

Arr, me hearty!

In the spirit of "Talk Like a Pirate Day" here's thar startin' gentlemen o' fortune.  We battle them scallywags of DC.  Thars like the menacing go'ernment privateers o' the east.  We shall plunder and defeat 'em wit the strength of a thousand men!  Then make 'em walk the plank. 

Thars a double-bill, so hold on to ya hats.  Our mateys are in fore a long night.

1. Mark "Peg Leg" Ellis shall man second base
2. Andre "Lefty O' Jack" Ethier is in right
3. Matty "Bison Dubloons" Kemp in that center
4. Adrian "the Spanish Buccaneer" Gonzalez shall take first
5. Hanley "Deadlights Ketch" is thar shortstop
6. Shane "Corsair Islander" Victorino in left
7. Luis "the Little Buccaneer" man the hot corner
8. AJ "Cap't" Ellis is catchin'
9. Aaron "Hangman" Harang shall be throwin' darts

Who'll will them DC Scurvy's send to swab against us?

Who cares!  Victory is ours!

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: A Bunch of Angels

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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CJ Wilson, Garrett Richards and Kevin Jepsen will be signing autographs at The OC Dugout this coming Saturday, September 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Go here to order your tickets.  You can also get tickets the day of the event.  BTW, this store is also having a private signing with Nomar Garciaparra on September 25th.  Go here for ordering information.

The OC Dugout

1238 South Beach Boulevard, Suite J

Anaheim, CA 92804

714-527-6319

CJ Wilson autograph prices:

• Small items: $40
• Large items: $60
• Inscriptions: $20
• PSA/DNA authentication: $10

Garrett Richards autograph prices:

• Small items: $20
• Large items: $30
• Inscriptions: $10
• PSA/DNA authentication: $10

Kevin Jepsen autograph prices:

• First 100 people in line: 1 FREE autograph (limit 2 per group)
• Additional autographs after 2 per group: $10 per autograph 
• After the first 100 people: $10 per autograph
• PSA/DNA authentication: $10
• Note: If you pay for a Jepsen autograph, you are entitled to   1 FREE inscription if you'd like. 
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Metta World Peace hosts charity fundraiser for his non-profit, Xcel University on Thursday, September 20th from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at The LAugh Factory on Sunset. *Tickets will be available at Will Call starting at 6:30pm.  Metta will MC the event and the Comedian Line Up is: Alex Scott, Malik S, Chris D'elia, and TOM ARNOLD!  It is $30.00 and get your tickets here.

@ the Laugh Factory
8001 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Hat Tip: LA Inspiration

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MVP candidate Mike Trout will be at the Oakley Store in the Irvine Spectrum on Saturday, September 22 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.  No outside items allowed.  Customers will be able to choose between a free baseball or a free poster to be signed by Mike Trout, no purchase necessary.

Irvine Spectrum Center Oakley Store
71 Fortune Drive, Suite 944
Irvine, CA 92618

Hat Tip: LA Inspiration

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 9/19/2012

2012 Topps Triple Threads is officially out.  Topps shared the above photo of the Jackie Robinson bat knob card on twitter in celebration.  Below is a really great looking Steve Garvey book card they shared.  Both of these cards are "1 of 1".  BTW, I'll be featuring cards from the set, including base cards and some of the relics, soon

• So, wait a minute here... Kershaw might pitch again this season.  Why are we playing with danger.  Via Mike Fiammetta at MLB.com we find out that Clayton got a second opinion.

Clayton Kershaw was examined Tuesday by a hip specialist, who said the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner can continue to pitch without risking further damage to his right hip, but the Dodgers will not allow Kershaw to take the mound if the pain persists.

• As some of you may know, Ned Colletti is a huge hockey fan.  Ryan Kantor of the Kings took a moment to sit down and talk to him about it.

Q: What are the similarities between hockey and baseball?
A: “I think the grind. You don’t play every day in hockey but the physical grind of playing an NHL season is not easy, much like playing baseball where you play it every single day. They’re different type of sports, baseball’s not a contact sport as hockey is, but the daily grind, traveling all the time and getting ready to play every day is very similar. From an athletic standpoint you need great hand-eye coordination in both sports.”

• Michael Winerip at the New York Times shares some letters from his father who had written to both Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson with a questionnaire.  Check out their responses back to him.  Jackie named HOF Al Barlick as his favorite umpire, Branch Rickey as the greatest influence on his career, Dick Tracy was his favorite comic, and his favorite song was Mona Lisa.
• Eric Stonestreet of "Modern Family" fame was kicked out of a Dodger game for a little altercation, via TMZ.
• Three year old Christian Haupt is everywhere.  Here, Joe McDonnell at FoxSports writes about the pitching prodigy.

Christian Haupt is just three-years-old. That's not a typo. He's really just three. And with the perfect motion — at least for a prodigy — he threw the ball harder, straighter and longer than most of the men, women or children chosen to throw out the ceremonial first pitch over the course of a season in Chavez Ravine.

And this kid is passionately Baseball crazy.

 "He started watching a black and white baseball documentary one time, and it was the only show he would watch on television for a year-and-a-half. He would watch it for 10 or 20 minutes a day—nothing else. Not a live game; not cartoons. So, that's when we knew he had the passion."

• Lindsay William-Ross at the LAist notes that the Dodger Stadium renovation design team has been selected.

Fans of L.A.'s Big Blue, your team's Chavez Ravine digs are destined for a new look. The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected Ashton Design to do a renovation of the historic baseball stadium.

The Baltimore-based firm made the announcement themselves on their site blog, revealing two members of "team Ashton," Jonathan Han and Ronnie Younts, have already been doing some preliminary walk-throughs of the venue.

• AEG is for sale.  They are the owner of the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and the Galaxy.  Via The Fourth Period.

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Clayton Kershaw named Dodgers nominee for the 2012 Roberto Clemente Award

Clayton Kershaw receives some well deserved recognition for his good works.  Today, the Dodgers named him the Dodgers nominee for the 2012 Roberto Clemente Award.  Per a press release:

Major League Baseball and Chevrolet, the official vehicle of Major League Baseball, today announced that Clayton Kershaw was named the Dodgers' 2012 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Today marks the eleventh annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially recognize local Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Kershaw is one of the 30 Club finalists for the annual award, which recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet pays tribute to Clemente's achievements and character by recognizing current players who truly understand the value of helping others. The Award is named for the 15-time MLB All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Go here for a link to the awards website. 

As you know Clayton and his wife Ellen started Kershaw's Challenge- a foundation which believes in the transformation of at-risk children and communities through the benevolence and impact of others.  He has donated $100 for every strike out, co-wrote a book with Ellen called Arise: Live Out your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself, helped build an orphanage for children in Lusaka, Zambia, and hosted Clayton’s Texas BBQ and Hoedown.

I am sure the recognition of his efforts is appreciated, but probably unnecessary.  He and his wife strike me as the kind of couple who do this because they are driven to.  Nevertheless, good luck.  I can't think of a more worthy candidate.

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Vinny is Taken

I just received an email from a friend of mine.  Something unthinkable has happened.  Someone has TAKEN his Vinny bobblehead.  Check out what the culprits put up in his office.

In a fit of rage he responded.  Check it out below.

I know it's tough to read, so below are the words he had for the kidnappers.

I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let Vinny go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.

Just another awesome day in the office, eh?

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 9/18/2012

Damn you, NHL!

• Sam Miller at Baseball Prospectus unearthed some of the writings of Vin Scully from the LA Times in 1958.

Her name was Sister Virginia Maria and she sat behind a large, scuffed desk in an eighth-grade classroom that smelled of ink and chalk dust. She carried a tiny tin pail of water and a little sponge for cleaning the blackboard and it was badge of her profession as much as her long black habit and string of beads.

She was a member of that wonderful group of women known as the Sisters of Charity. She smiled with blue eyes behind a pair of thick spectacles and she frowned with a yardstick across the back of your knuckles. She was a teacher, mother, nurse and confidante to a group of 50 children in a small parish in New York and, above all, she was my friend. She helped me become a sports announcer.

Be sure to check out BP story.  They share a bunch of different things to check out.

• Both the Sons of Steve Garvey and Vin Scully is My Homeboy review the new Cool-A-Coo Ice Cream sandwiches at Dodger Stadium.  nom, nom, nom!!
• Nomo's Sushi Platter get some former Dodgers to sign through the mail.
• I'm happy to hear that Don Mattingly will be returned next season, via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
• Manny Ramirez finds God at a MegaChurch, via Busted Coverage.
• How about Luis Cruz, eh?  Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times writes about him being this seasons feel-good story.
• The Sons of Steve Garvey puts up some Dodgers rookie hazing pics.

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