Watch a Puig Interview Tonight, a Dodger at the Echo Park Community Parade and Adrian Gonzalez to Hand Out Gifts Tomorrow

With the MLB Winter Meetings being rather boring and lackluster for Dodger fans, any news about the Boys in Blue is welcome. 

Fortunately, there is something on television tonight that Spanish speaking Dodger fans will be able to enjoy.  As for non-Spanish speakers, like myself, you might just want to watch it anyway because there isn't any other real news available.

Enrique Aníbal Gutiérrez of Time Warner Cable Deportes sat down with Yasiel Puig for a one-on-one interview, and it will air tonight at 8:30 PM.  Go here to watch a promo video.

As a teaser, they shared the following:

In one of many interesting revelations during their conversation, when Puig was asked about how he felt about other sports, he confessed that, “to play, I like baseball. But, if I want to enjoy myself, I’d much rather play soccer or basketball”.

Apparently, Puig dreams of being Kobe and Ronaldo.

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The Echo Park Community Parade is tomorrow and the Dodgers will be represented.  Go here for information on the parade.  From a Dodgers press release:

The Echo Park Community Parade, themed “Neighbors Make Echo Park Beautiful,” begins at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow on Sunset Boulevard from Elysian Park Avenue to Park Avenue in Echo Park. The Dodgers are a sponsor of the Echo Park Community Parade and will be represented by alumnus Lee Lacy who will ride in the parade.

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Ned Colletti is getting into the giving spirit.  He'll be joining Mayor Garcett and the LA Rotary Club for a toy giveaway Algin Sutton Recreation Cente as a part of their 5th Annual Angel City Celebration.

Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti will be on hand beginning at 9:00 a.m. for Mayor Garcetti and LA Rotary’s Angel City Toy Giveaway at Algin Sutton Recreation Center located at 8800 Hoover Street. This is also the sight of one of the Dodgers’ Dreamfields. Colletti has donated his time for several years to help hand out toys and gifts to children at this holiday event. The Dodgers have donated blankets and other items in the past and this year provided backpacks, T-shirts and hats.

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Adrian Gonzalez will be is East LA on Saturday to celebrate the winter season.  He'll be handing out gifts to the kids.  From a Dodgers press release:

From 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. tomorrow at the East L.A. Civic Center the Gonzalez family will distribute toys purchased by Gonzalez to children as part of the East L.A. On Ice Winter Wonderland. Gonzalez will join Supervisor Gloria Molina on stage to greet attendees and partake in the ice rink ribbon cutting. Other attractions will include a visit from Santa Claus, piles of real snow for winter play, face-painting, magicians, holiday train rides, carolers, food vendors with holiday antojitos (tasty treats), arts-and-crafts and music provided by a DJ.

Go here for more information about this.

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Dodger Goodies from Hunt Auctions: Art from Steve Sax

Once again, Hunts is running their monthly sports auction, and it includes some great Dodgers collectibles.  Check out my favorites below.

This is another acetate photographic negative from the collection of noted photographer Dennis Brearley.  Dodger stars Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Newcombe have been cornered by some eager fans seeking an autograph, circa 1951.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

(auction link)

I love this drawing even though I don't quite understand it. It features the Brooklyn Bum created by noted sports/editorial cartoonist Bill Crawford.  He worked for the Washington Post, Washington Daily News and Newark News, and had his work distributed to over 700 newspapers around the country.  In the below drawing the "Bum" is feeding a group of Cardinals a bag of nuts.  He remarks, "If we win dis one we're 10 games ahead - if not we're 4 ahead.  What've we got to lose?"

(auction link)

This is not the Steve Sax you were thinking of.

The next two items were created by an artist named Steve Sax.  And no, I don't mean the former Dodger 2nd baseman.  This Steve Sax is a Brooklyn born artist who is known in the sports world for his modern folk-art inspired artwork.  Go to his website here.  Check out a couple of great Dodgers-related pieces available for sale below.

Here is a large two-dimensional piece featuring Jackie Robinson attempting to steal home.  Yankees catcher Yogi Berra does his best to cover home plate, but to no avail.  As you know, you can't stop Jackie.

(auction link)

This next item has been signed by both Bobby Thompson and Ralph Branca.  It celebrates the 1951 game at the Polo Grounds where Dodger dreams of another World Series appearance disappeared.  The background is reminiscent of centerfield at the Polo Grounds.

(auction link)

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Blog Kiosk: 12/13/2013 - Dodgers Links - MLB to Ban Home Plate Collissions, the Hairston Legacy and Dodgers Phase II

The above photo was taken during the first ballgame at Ebbets Field, April 5, 1913.  Dodger Manager Bill Dahlen is seen looking out towards the field.  Pic via @Dodgers_History on twitter.

• Watch the Dodgers Season's Greetings Holiday message right here.
• ICYMI: Via David Brown at Big League Stew, "MLB will outlaw crashes at home plate".

"This is, I think, in response to a few issues that have arisen — one is just the general occurrence of injuries from these incidents at home plate that affect players, both runners and catchers," Alderson said. "And also the general concern about concussions that exists not only in baseball but throughout professional sports and amateur sports today. It's an emerging issue, and one that we in baseball have to address as well as other sports. So that's part of the impetus for this rule change as well."

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "What will Jose Dominguez’s role be in 2014?"
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers reportedly add Sam Demel on minor league contract".
• This is great.  Via Alex Remington at FanGraphs writes, "Jerry Jr. and The Amazing Hairstons".

Jerry’s actually from one of the great baseball families — his grandfather Sam, father Jerry Sr., uncle Johny, and brother Scott all reached the major leagues — and Jerry Jr. had more plate appearances than the rest of them combined. As a matter of fact, as Red Reporter points out, “The Hairston family is the biggest baseball family ever.” His family is one of only four three-generation families in major league history, along with the Boones and Bells, and, most recently, the Colemans (Joe Sr., Joe Jr., and Casey).

• Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports writes a great piece on the Dodgers plans - "Rosenthal: Will Dodgers stick to Phase 2 plan or keep adding payroll?"  I don't quite know what to think of this:

The Dodgers still could trade Kemp before then — he seems to have ticked off someone in upper management, though few seem to know who or why. 

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The Stand Up To Cancer Auction with a Bunch of Great Dodger Stuff

MLB has teamed up with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) to offer all kinds of great goodies for Baseball fans during the Baseball Winter Meetings.  There are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unique items available for auction.  On top of that, you help out a great cause.

“Stand Up To Cancer was founded on the belief that each and every one of us can make a difference in the effort to make more cancer patients survivors, and the incredibly generous support SU2C receives from all facets of the Major League Baseball community exemplifies that belief,” said SU2C Co-founder Rusty Robertson.  “The Winter Meetings auction, which brings together all 30 clubs as well as individual players, coaches and fans, is a powerful example of what can be achieved through collaboration.”

Check out a press release about the event here.  All of the Dodger items can be viewed here.

Dodger experiences include a "meet and greet" with Magic Johnson (already over $1500), a "Be a Host" on DodgerTalk (over $500) and golfing with Fernando Valenzuela (over $700).  The above three items close later tonight.  There are also a bunch of game-used uniforms, equipment and Baseballs to go crazy over.  These items close over the weekend.  Below are some of my favorites. 

(auction link)

Do you remember the tradition of ripping off the Dodger uniform? Well, available for auction is Matt Kemp's torn jersey that he wore when the Dodgers clinched the NL West Division on September 19th against the Diamondbacks.  This was also the day the Dodgers took a dip on the Diamondbacks pool.  I wonder if the smell of chlorine still remains?

(auction link)

BTW, a video of Kemp in the clinch pile can be viewed below.  At about the 0:30 second mark you see Kemp hoping like a bunny.  You also notice the dark stain on his shoulder (providing good evidence that the above jersey is real).  Although, I do not know when the jersey got torn, since I didn't notice that in the video below. 

Video Link:

Below is a Adrian Gonzalez game-used jersey from a July 10th game against the Diamondbacks.  Adrian hit his 14th homer of the year during this game in the 7th inning.  Watch that homer here.

(auction link)

Last but least, below is a Dodgers Celebration Champagne bottle from the day they clinched the NL West Division.  I wonder if this made it to the pool?

(auction link)

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2013 Topps Five Star Baseball - The Dodgers Autographed Cards

Following up on my post from Tuesday, I now share with you most of the Dodgers autographed insert cards that can be found in boxes of 2013 Topps Five Star.  Go here to see the other Dodger cards from this set.

Unfortunately, most of the big Dodger stars did not sign their cards in time to be included within boxes, so redemption cards are inserted in their place.  In fact, it appears that only Adrian Gonzalez can be found.  Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw, Yasiel Puig and Sandy Koufax are available only through a redemption card.  I should add that Topps tweeted out pics of several signed Puig cards, so they have them in hand ready to ship. I grabbed those photos and added them below.

Directly below are the autographed base cards.  Signed Ryu (#FSBA-HR) and Koufax (#FSBA-SK) cards are also available.

UPDATE:  Below is a pic of the Sandy Koufax Base Autographed card (#FSBA-SK).  They Ryu has yet to appear.

Autographed Cards

#FSBA-AG Adrian Gonzalez                        #FSBA-YP Yasiel Puig

Silver Signature cards of Kershaw (#FSSS-CK ) and Ryu (#FSSS-HR) are also available.

Silver Signatures

#FSSS-AG Adrian Gonzalez

UPDATE:

Quatable Autographs

FSQA-AG Adrian Gonzalez

This set is filled with a bunch of different autographed cards with multiple signatures.  There's a Quadragraph Book (#FSBQ-2) card (featuring Hamels, Sale, Gio Gonzalez, and Kershaw) available, and 4 different Signature Book cards featuring autographs from 25 different stars (including some Dodgers).  None of them are available for viewing at this time.

Five Star Active Retired Autograph Patch

FSAP-YP Yasiel Puig

Yu Darvish and Hyun-Jin Ryu team up on several dual autographed cards.  There's a Dual Autographed Silhouetted Batter logo Patch Book (#FSDLP-DR) and a Dual Signatures Patch Book (#FSDSP-DR) available. 

3-Piece Signatures Book

#FSBA3-YP Yasiel Puig

There are numerous Cut Signature cards, and all of them are "1 of 1's".  You can find Dual Cut Signature Books of Jackie Robinson & Hank Aaron (#FSCSB-AR), Reese & Koufax (#FSCSB-KR), and Robinson & Koufax (#FSCSB-KRO).  There is also Cut Signatures cards of (#FSCS-DD) Don Drysdale and (#FSCS-DS) Duke Snider.  Check out the Pee Wee Reese Cut Signature card below.

#FSCS-PR Pee Wee Reese "1 of 1"

(pic via twitter @truemountaineer)

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Blog Kiosk: 12/12/2013 - Dodgers Links - Not Trading Kemp, Mattingly Accuses Cardinals and a Minor Trade

The Dodgers hosted more than 300 children from the community surrounding Dodger Stadium at the Children’s Holiday Party yesterday.  Pic via Jon ShooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.  Adrian Gonzalez and Al Ferrera are featured in the photo above.  See more pics here.

• Finally, some clarity. Hopefully this stops the rumor mongering.  Via Jayson Stark at ESPN.com, "Dodgers not planning Kemp trade".

"I just met with them," (Dave) Stewart told ESPN.com on Wednesday afternoon. "They said they have no plans to move him -- bottom line."

• Dustin Nosler at Fellin' Kinda Blue provides a Day 3 roundup from the Winter Meetings.
• Check out this ESPN video with Mark Saxon talking about the Matt Kemp situation and the Dodgers possibly still being in the pursuit of Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.
• Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors, "Dodgers Acquire Seth Rosin" in a minor trade with the Mets.

Rosin, 25, posted a 4.33 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 126 2/3 innings for the Phillies' Double-A affiliate in 2013. The Giants selected Rosin in the fourth round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Minnesota and traded him to the Phillies along with Nate Schierholtz and Tommy Joseph in the Hunter Pence deal of July 2012. Schierholtz was non-tendered after the 2012 season and signed with the Cubs, leaving Joseph as the last remaining piece of that deal. Of course, Rosin is no guarantee to stick with the Dodgers and could ultimately be returned to the Phillies.

• Former Dodger Edinson Volquez has signed a 1-year deal with the Pirates, via Ken Rosenthal on twitter.

Sources: #Pirates, free-agent RHP Edinson Volquez in agreement on one-year, $5M contract, pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2013

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Don Mattingly questions Cardinals".  Did St. Louis steal signs?

"We felt like we had to be sure we kept an eye on their first-base coach and their third-base coach," Mattingly said. "They're the ones with the easiest way to steal signs. Josie's a guy, at third, who's always looking for my signs from our dugout."

• This is what's happening at the Winter Meetings, via a tweet by Bill Shaikin.

Colletti said #Dodgers met with "far more agents than teams" at winter meetings. No deals expected before leaving tomorrow.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) December 12, 2013

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