Blog Kiosk: 7/24/2013 - Dodgers Links - A Vin Scully Bobblehead Game Contest, Schumaker's Stern Words and a Preview of Puig's Allen & Ginter card

Chris Olds at Beckett shares some preview pics of this season 2013 Allen & Ginter cards; including the above Yasiel Puig card above.  Just a reminder, there will also be a Puig autographed card inserted into packs.

• Check out my post from yesterday featuring items from former Dodger short stop Bill Russell's collection that are on auction at SCP.
• Vin Scully Bobblehead day is officially sold out!

Vin Scully Bobblehead Night presented by Bank of America (Thursday, July 25th) is officially sold out.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2013

• If you've been shut out, how about trying this contest out.

Here is your chance to not only be at Dodger Stadium for Vin Scully Bobblehead Night but also meet the Hall of Famer: pic.twitter.com/jxv8RBCglB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2013

• Bill Plunkett of the OC Register shared on Sulia some strong words from Skip Schumaker to Ryan Braun.

"I can't stand it. It (PED use) needs to be eliminated from the game. I have an autographed Ryan Braun jersey hanging in my baseball room at home that I'll be taking down now because I don't want my son connecting this with what I had to do to get to to where I am and to have what I have."
Braun's 65-game negotiated suspension is not enough for Schumaker.

"In my opinion, it should be an automatic lifetime ban," he said. "One strike -- you're out. ... It's ridiculous. They're still doing it?" 

• Check out this great "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" Jib Jab video featuring some Dodger players.
• Why the r/Dodger Reddit is the best.  They just replaced the downvote button with a pic of Ryan Braun.  See it on the left.  Barry Bonds had formerly occupied this space.
• Matt Novak at Paleofuture tells us of "Sci-Fi Legend Arthur C. Clarke's 1986 Predictions for Future Baseball" that includes a future scouting report on the 2019 Dodgers.
• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Matt Kemp 'disappointed' in Ryan Braun; doesn't want his MVP award".

“I’m disappointed,” Kemp said. “I don’t like to get lied to. I don’t think anybody likes to get lied to. I think a lot of other people feel the same way. I’m not the only one in that boat. I’m just another one of those guys on the list that are disappointed in what has come about in the last couple days.”

• Then, Kemp says the same afternoon that Braun should lose the MVP award, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.

"Do I feel like it should be stripped? I mean, yeah, I do," Kemp said. "I feel like it should be, but that's not for me to decide, you know? That's not for me to decide."

• Via John Aravosis at AmericaBlog, "A wonderful tribute to a dying sports fan". 

From what I can glean from YouTube, Marck Bakker, aka Red Mark, was treated to a tribute at a soccer game in the Netherlands. Mark was terminally ill, and died three days after the tribute.

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Carlos Marmol Makes His Way to the Big Club - Are Dodgers Just Being Careful with Jose Dominguez?

In some news that causes me to scratch my head, the Dodgers just announced that veteran reliever Carlos Marmol has been brought up to the Dodgers.  On the next available flight out of town will be youngster Jose Dominguez.  Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of right-handed reliever Carlos Marmol from Double-A Chattanooga and optioned right-hander Jose Dominguez to Triple-A Albuquerque. Marmol, 30, was acquired along with cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs on July 2 in exchange for right-hander Matt Guerrier. The Dodgers also acquired international signing bonus slot No. 92 valued at $209,700 from the Cubs as part of the deal.

Marmol, who will wear No. 49, has made five minor league appearances (0-0, one save, 3.60 ERA) since being acquired by Los Angeles, allowing two runs in three appearances with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (3.0 IP) before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga on July 18, where he tossed 2.0 hitless, scoreless innings. The native of the Dominican Republic last pitched on Sunday, striking out one and throwing 17 pitches (nine strikes) in a scoreless frame at Birmingham (White Sox).

I thought Dominguez pitched very well for a greenhorn, so it was shocking to see this develop.  On the other hand, he might be aching a bit.  Dodgers Nation noted on twitter that he limped after his relief appearance last night.

Jose Dominguez looks to be limping on his way back to the dugout. Dodger relievers haven't given up a run in 10 straight innings.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) July 23, 2013

And Ken Gurnick on twitter shared that he tested his quad this morning without any discomfort.

Jose Dominguez said he tested his quad today and was able to throw with no discomfort.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) July 23, 2013

Obviously, the Dodgers were concerned enough about Jose that they opted to take it easy on him.  It's hard to say if this is the right move for now, but I can't blame them for doing this; especially considering what a horror this season has been for the health of individual players.

Clearly, they are just being careful.

UPDATE:  As I suggested above, Jose Dominguez is actually injured.  He has not been sent to AAA.  Instead, he is on the 15-day DL, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.

The Dodgers have changed Dominguez from optioned to the 15-day disabled list with a left quad strain.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) July 23, 2013

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SCP: Bill Russell Collection on Auction - Including '81 & '88 World Series Memorabilia

SCP is on quite a roll.  They've handled some of the greatest Dodgers related collectibles to hit the auction block over the past several years. Earlier this year they handled the memorabilia collection of Steve Garvey, and a couple of years ago they sold mementos from the 1988 World Series that belonged to Kirk Gibson.  Now, they are handling a huge collection of collectibles from former Dodger short stop Bill Russell.  See the entire group of Russell items right here at SCP.  BTW, the auction officially starts on Wednesday.

There are a total of 46 lots, and it includes items from his days as a little leaguer to him being skipper of the 1999 Orlando Rays of the Southern League.  Heck, there are 13 different rings available.  Check out some of my favorite items below.

Here is Bill Russell's game-used glove from his Little League playing days, a store model Revelation Richie Ashburn model glove.

(Auction Link)

I found this item totally fascinating.  I'm sure many of you are familiar with Al Campanis' book "The Dodger Way to Play Baseball".  Well, below is the Dodgers official defensive playbook.  It includes 43 pages graphically outlining proper positioning for infielders in any number of defensive situations.

(Auction Link)

I've included a couple of pages to study over.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

Russell is also selling his World Series trophies.  Below is his personal 1981 Dodgers World Series trophy.

(Auction Link)

Below is the 1988 World Series trophy.  Russell was a coach under Tommy Lasorda.

(Auction Link)

He is even selling his 1988 World Series Championship rings.  See it below.

This next item is totally awesome, and definitely one-of-a-kind.  Below is a complete set of all 5 dugout line up cards to the 1988 World Series.  As the Dodgers bench coach, Bill Russell was in charge of keeping track of the lineup cards for the series.

(Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 7/23/2013 - Dodgers Links - Greinke, Kemp and the Newest Dodgers International Signing - Alexander Guerrero

All of Dodger Nation, if not the entire Baseball fanbase, see's you, Hanley!  Pic via Dodgers tumblr.

• Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs writes, "Zack Greinke's Babe Ruth Season".
• Matt Kemp expected to miss 3 games (entire Blue Jays series) due to ankle injury, via USA Today.
• Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times has some quotes from Kemp regarding his ankle injury.

“I probably don’t feel as good about it today as I did yesterday,” Mattingly said. “It could go the wrong direction.”

• BTW, Kemp had X-rays done, and they were negative, per twitter @Dodgers.

X-rays on Matt Kemp's ankle came back negative.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2013

• Tom Owens at Baseball by the Letters reminds us of how great the late Dick Gray was when it came to Dodgers/Baseball fans.
• Via Chad Moriyama, "Dodgers sign Cuban shortstop Alexander Guerrero for 7 years, $32 million, according to report".

(pic via Beisbol en Cuba.com)

• Now, according to Ken Gurnick at MLB.com the Dodgers are no longer interested in Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.  And I had a post with a fantasy card ready to go!
• Emily Green at LA Weekly shares a great story of some found Baseballs in a park seemingly signed by some of Baseball's greatest only to find out that they are very good fakes.  Check out her story.
• Do you want a San Diego ComicCon overload?  Tested.com shares over 800 pics of just cosplayers. 
• Via Tom Bartsch at Sports Collectors Digest, "Sports Memorabilia Show to be Filmed at National Convention".

The premise of the show, called A Piece of the Game, is Pawn Stars meets sports memorabilia but with a twist. The show deals with some pretty serious money and has some interesting characters. Is the stuff real or fake? What’s it worth? Will the owner take the money or just walk away?

• Finally, how great does this look?

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Woo Hoo! Dodgers are Officially Alone in 1st Place!

Please forgive me as I revel in pure joy!

At the beginning of the day the Dodgers found themselves 1/2 a game behind the Diamondbacks.  Well, after watching the Blue Crew wallop the Blue Jays, I waited patiently to find out how Arizona fared in their game against the Cubs. 

I am happy to report that the Cubs defeated the Diamondbacks 4 to 2, and now we can all smile as the Dodgers are in lone possession of 1st place in the National League West.

Woo Hoo!

Of course, we are still a long way before the end of the season, so there's really no reason to be over-exhuberant.  Still, considering we were 9.5 games behind the Diamondbacks exactly 1 month ago today, I can't help but be excited.

It sure feels good to be at the front of the pack.

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Ryan "Roider" Braun Suspended... Can Kemp Get his MVP Now?

Can Matt Kemp Get His MVP Award Now?

I say the above partly in jest.  After all, in 2011 it was down to two men for the NL MVP Award, and this fan still believes (regardless of today's PED suspension) that the wrong man walked away with the prize.  Heck, even Left Field Pavilion thought so based up this great graphic he put up in late August of that year (and posted up above).  Unfortunately, what's done is done, so there really is no use to complaining about it nearly two years later.  Still, its got to sting a bit for the Bison.

Anyway, on to this afternoon's jarring news.  Via Mike Axisa at CBS Sports, Ryan has accepted a plea deal with MLB.

Brewers slugger Ryan Braun has been suspended -- effective immediately -- for the rest of the 2013 season without pay, MLB has announced. He admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and violating the Joint Drug Agreement, though he did not give any specifics.

“As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," said Braun in a statement. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it is has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed – all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love.”

“We commend Ryan Braun for taking responsibility for his past actions,” said Rob Manfred, Executive Vice President, Economics & League Affairs for Major League Baseball. “We all agree that it is in the best interests of the game to resolve this matter. When Ryan returns, we look forward to him making positive contributions to Major League Baseball, both on and off the field.”

This is the first of what is expected to be many suspensions arising from the Biogenesis investigations.  Other names expected to have the hammer of MLB law smacking them include Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Jhonny Peralta, and Everth Cabrera.

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