Happy Festivus Day!

A Festivus for the rest of us!

In honor of this Seinfeld holiday I felt it would only be proper to air some grievances.

• I don't quite know who to blame for the Dodger television mess.  But Time Warner, SportsNet LA and the Dodgers... You are on notice.  Get your act together and put Dodger Baseball on tv for all to enjoy!
• To those who scoff at my fandom for Matt Kemp - do you not have any sense of decency?  Can I not mourn the departure of a great Dodger player while at the same time also realize it is best for the long-term health of the club?
• I also got something to say about those folks who have or plan to 'boo' Matt Kemp... You are so disappointing.  Have you any sense of Dodger Blue loyalty? 
• To those afraid of the changes - get over it!  We always knew the Dodgers would go through a dramatic transformation and it would be likely that many of our favorite players might be traded or allowed to walk away.  The Dodgers cannot succeed as a collection of high-priced free agents. 
• To the saber-geeks, you should read Joe Posnanski story at NBC Sports entitled "Vanguard after the Revolution: Bill James sparked a baseball insurrection, but he has regrets about the world he wrought."

“I have to take my share of responsibility for promoting skepticism about things that I didn’t understand as well as I might have,” he says. “What I would say NOW is that skepticism should be directed at things that are actually untrue rather than things that are difficult to measure.

 i.e. leadership, clutch and grit.

If you have any other grievances please share them.  I'm moving on to the "Feats of Strength." Anyone want to wrestle?

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Blog Kiosk: 12/23/2014 - Dodger Links - Alston and Superman, Kershaw on Anderson and Adrian Gonzalez

I came across this photo on eBay and immediately had to figure out what this was.  As you can see, former Dodger manager Walter Alston is with Superman.  But who is playing Superman and what is this for?

Some research unveiled that the Superman in the photo is Denny Miller who played the character in Air Force recruiting commercials in the 1970s. At erbzine.com he shares his memories of this event:

In the spring a young man's fancy turns to baseball. Okay, the love of baseball. And Florida is covered with a migration of the best baseball players in the land. It's called spring training. 

I'm going to spend several weeks at ten of these training camps making a one-minute or thirty-second TV recruiting spot at each camp. We'll shoot on the baseball diamond with the players in the background. In the foreground will be that team's manager talking with Superman, me. I get to meet and work with Joe Torre, Yogi Berra, Walter Alston and seven other managers. Plus, I get to meet some of the players.

It was a baseball fan's dream. That was the good news. The not-so-good news was that I have to get dressed and have make-up put on in the team's locker rooms.

Go here to read what else he had to say about the experience.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Matthew Moreno at DodgersNation, "Matt Kemp Booed At Clippers Game, Doc Rivers Calls It ‘Cold’"
• Brett Anderson is highly regarded by our ace.  Via a tweet from @MLBNetworkRadio, Ellis said this:

Ellis: When we signed Anderson, got a text from Clayton saying 'this is huge we got a guy with probably the best stuff in baseball' #Dodgers
— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 22, 2014

• Via J.P. Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Reports: Dodgers will pay $18 million of Matt Kemp’s salary in 2015."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Juliomania? There could be more parallels with Fernandomania than just the pitching."

• MLBPA must have some sort of deal with the Konami video game Pro Evolution Soccer 'cause they have several 'create-a-player' videos on youtube right now, and Dodger first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is one of them. Check out a couple of videos below of them creating AGon and another video of some AGon gameplay of PES2015.

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2014 Leaf Trinity - The Dodger Cards

Here is a look at Leaf's newest Baseball card set - 2014 Leaf Trinity.  This is a high-end brand that includes only 5-cards in a $100 box and every card available is autographed.  Go here to see a complete checklist.

Only two Dodger prospect are included in the set - Darnell Sweeney and Grant Holmes.  Check out all of their available cards below.

The below Trinity Signature cards are all inscribed, and from what I can tell there are three different inscriptions for each Dodger prospect. 

Trinity Signatures

#A-DS1 Darnell Sweeney

#A-GH1 Grant Holmes

Patch Autographs

#PA-DS1 Darnell Sweeney

#PA-GH1 Grant Holmes

Pure Autographs

#P-DS2 Darnell Sweeney

#P-GH1 Grant Holmes

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Blog Kiosk: 12/22/2014 - Dodger Links - Kershaw, Pederson and Andrew Friedman

With Spring Training around the corner I really get a kick out these vintage press photos of the Dodgers in Vero Beach.  Featured above is Carl Furillo hurdling over a bat held by Gene Hermanski and Duke Snider.  It was taken on March 3, 1951 and was originally found on eBay, here. 

Below are some links to check out:

• Via John Schlegel at MLB.com, "Kershaw etched among all-time greats with historic '14."

"Awards aren't why we play the game, but I don't take it lightly," Kershaw said. "When fans chant that [MVP] stuff, it's an amazing feeling. I remember a few times pitching, and fans at Dodger Stadium would chant M-V-P -- that's unbelievable. It really is chilling. I don't know if I'll ever get used to that."

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Joc Pederson’s journey before the arrival."

“I’m excited (about next season),” Pederson said. “All you can ask for is an opportunity, and I hope I get one. So I’m just preparing myself to win a job. I don’t expect anything to be handed to me.”

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Andrew Friedman noncommittal on Joc Pederson in center field."

"We'll take some time in spring training and assess [Pederson]. We'll get a feel for him in camp and how he's handling things," Friedman said on Friday. "There will be a discussion we'll have with the staff, and I'm sure it will be an ongoing discussion we have between now and the last game in March."

• Via Stacie Wheeler at Lasorda's Lair, "Dodgers Continue to Add Catching Depth, Sign Minor Leaguer Ali Solis."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Andre Ethier defying trade odds again – for now."
• Listen to Andrew Friedman talk about sending Matt Kemp to San Diego and adding Yasmani Grandal, Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick to the lineup.

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Power106 Held a Matt Kemp Appreciation Party Yesterday

There is no doubt that many Dodger fans love Matt Kemp.  So much so, Big Boy of Power106 held a Matt Kemp Appreciation Party on air early yesterday morning and a bunch of his fans came to meet him personally to express their thanks.  Below are a couple of videos from the Power106 Matt Kemp lovefest. (Hat Tip: Ashley Hollabakk at Power106)

Here, Matt talks about being traded to the Padres. He discusses how he found out he was traded through social media, his plans on playing till he's 40, and how he feels about the trade itself.

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And check out this awesome cake.

. @TheRealMattKemp is in the house! And we have donuts! 🍩🍩🍩 #kempwithBigboy pic.twitter.com/qMeKus99En
— Power 106  (@Power106LA) December 19, 2014

Here is Kemp with some fans.

Full studio today for @TheRealMattKemp #KempWithBigBoy pic.twitter.com/gwW3JwP1vC
— Power 106  (@Power106LA) December 19, 2014

. @TheRealMattKemp signing all his fans gear #KempWithBigBoy pic.twitter.com/FxGxkqg3oT
— Power 106  (@Power106LA) December 19, 2014

Photo at the very top via @Power106LA on twitter.

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Blog Kiosk: 12/20/2014 - Dodger Links - Kendrick, Rollins and Friedman

Our new second baseman, Howie Kendrick, made his debut at Dodger Stadium yesterday afternoon and impressed the crowd with his glowing smile.  He really seems happy to be a Dodger.  Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“They’re always moving forward trying to get better, and there’s always some ways you can get better,” Kendrick said. “That’s very cool to come to an organization that’s wanting to improve the game. They’ve been division champs (two) years in a row, so hopefully we can win another one.”

The photo above was provided by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more pics from yesterday's press conference.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Jimmy Rollins zips from red to blue."

Rollins grew up in Oakland and greeted a conference-call question about his childhood allegiance today with a laughing “Are you trying to rub 1988 in my face or something?”

On the other hand, once he resolved to let go of his 18-year association with the Phillies organization, the Dodgers were his first choice for a new team.

“I’ve always loved the color blue – that’s my favorite color,” Rollins said. “I’ve loved that uniform. And they’re built to win from this very moment.”

• So, this is when it all begins, via a tweet by @ThinkBlueLA:

Dodgers announce pitchers & catchers report Thursday 2/19 w/ 1st workout 2/20, position players Wednesday  2/25 w/ 1st workout 2/26.
— ThinkBlueLA (@Think_BlueLA) December 19, 2014

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers DFA Kyle Jensen, Ryan Lavarnway claimed off waivers by Cubs."
• Chris Olds at Beckett provides a sneak peak preview of the 2015 Topps Archives Baseball set.  Check out the Kershaw card on the right.
• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Quotebook: Andrew Friedman on the Dodgers’ offseason moves."

Question from a reporter: “Are you aware the Dodger fans will hate you if the Matt Kemp trade doesn’t work out?”:
“Not anymore than we’ll hate ourselves. Look, all of us are focused on winning, and the fans’ passion is tremendous and I’m looking forward to experiencing the electricity in the building next year. I love the passion they have for the Dodgers, and everything we’re doing is in the vein of trying to put ourselves in the best position to make it into October and then play as long as we can.”

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Friedman: Moves make Dodgers 'highly functional'"

"It all gets back to us doing everything we could to mold the roster into a highly functional team, instead of a collection of talent," said Friedman

• Via Ben Badler at Baseball America, "How Will MLB Handle Big Changes With Cuba?"

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