2015 Bowman Baseball - The Dodger Base Cards

The set prospect collectors love has just been released.  It is Bowman's 2015 flagship set and below are all of the Dodger base cards.  As you know, this set has a strong focus on up-'n-comin' ballplayers, so you'll find Dodger minor leaguers like Urias, Seager, Holmes and De Leon throughout.  Go here for a complete checklist.  Over the next few days I'll have pics of most of the insert, relic and autograph cards.

#1 Clayton Kershaw                             #15 Zack Greinke

Blog Kiosk: 4/30/2015 - Dodger Links - Home Runs, McCarthy and Guerrero Takes the High Road

Kazuhisa Ishii was in the house last night to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  Great to see you Kaz!

And what a great game to witness, eh?  Heck, Ishii might have felt like he was in a different world.  After all, the Dodgers punched the ball out of the park like they were a mile high in Colorado.  He was witness to four Dodger dingers; including three in the first inning alone.

For whatever reason Dodger Stadium has not been the pitchers paradise it is known for.  I haven't spent much time trying to figure out why that is, and it's probably way too early in the season to believe this is the new normal.  Still, you have to wonder.  Reporters even asked Mattingly what he thought about it (certainly in jest), via a tweet from Bill Plunkett:

Asked Mattingly to explain all the HRs being hit at #Dodgers Stadium: "You mean other than global warming?"

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 30, 2015

Yeah, that's as good as any other reason.  Or maybe it's this, via Mark Saxon at ESPN:

"I think it's just taken Mac this long to get through to the guys," Mattingly said.

BTW, Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider had some fun with Dodger home run projections.  Check his post out here.  The above photo was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics by him from yesterday.  Below are some links to check out:

• Alex Guerrero is a high-road kind of person.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Alex Guerrero says he's unfazed by Madison Bumgarner's yelling."  Clearly, Bumgarner prefers the low-road.

“I think he was still thinking about the home run I hit in San Francisco, but I'm not the kind of person who gets upset at that kind of thing,” Guerrero said in Spanish. “To me, it's nothing.”

• Brandon McCarthy to have surgery today, via Alanna Rizzo on twitter:

McCarthy is scheduled for Tommy John Surgery tomorrow AM. It will be performed by Dr. ElAttrache. #Dodgers.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 29, 2015

• Via Craig Edwards at FanGraphs, "Joc Pederson Taking the Adam Dunn Path."
• Kudos to Adam Jones, via a Gabe Kapler tweet:

Adam Jones is a strong individual. Much respect for this powerful take. pic.twitter.com/sQDW2ngf92
— gabe kapler (@gabekapler) April 29, 2015

• I really hated the 80's, but the decade definitely had its moments.  Case in point, check out this oldy, but goody.  Here is Steve Sax's parody of the Billy Crystal song "You Look Marvelous;" which features Vin Scully dancing.  Yup!

Video Link:

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Madison Bumgarner was Disrespectful to the Game

A really strange thing happened during last nights game that has been vexing me.  In the seventh inning during a very tight game Madison Bumgarner responded to Dodger hitter Alex Guerrero in a manner not appropriate for a professional of his magnitude.

It was simply an act of a child - a kind of bullying you see from the insecure.  He allowed himself to verbally harass a player due to an ill-perceived slight; wholly manifested out of nowhere.  Bumgarner's own lack of respect for Guerrero (and frankly the game) was sad to witness, and I hope he comes to understand that it was himself who shows disrespect.

If you don't know what I'm talking about then watch the video below.

Video Link:

As you see, even the commentators can tell that whatever Guerrero did while coming out of the box was a sign of his own frustration.  Guerrero was clearly not showing up anyone... But clearly, Bumgarner was showing up Guerrero.

Matthew Moreno at Dodgers Nation does some lip reading:

Bumgarner appeared tell Guerrero, “You’re not that [expletive] good, man. You’re not that [expletive] good.” Guerrero, who hit a pinch-hit home run off Bumgarner on April 22, offered no reaction to the comments. 

I wonder what are fans suppose to think of Madison?  Doesn't this kind of action fall under the "lack of respect" for the game column?  Is not his apparent taunting disrespectful to the player, to his opponents, to his teammates and to the game at large?

UPDATE:  I thought I'd add, aren't Baseball fans suppose to care about "showing respect for the game," or does Madison (for whatever reason) get a pass?

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Steve Garvey in Lancaster on Thursday

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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If you're heading out to Lancaster this coming Thursday (tomorrow) then you should check out the JetHawks play the Dodgers Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.  And if you go you'll be attending that clubs first "Superstar Series" event of the season.  What this means is that you will have an opportunity to meet and get an autograph from Dodger legend Steve Garvey.  Below is a schedule of other players who will be attending on future dates.

From what I understand, each guest will be signing during the game (at its start) for approximately 90 minutes.  BTW, the games start at 6:30 PM.  You can go here for more information.

Lancaster JetHawks
45116 Valley Central Way
Lancaster, CA 93536

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Blog Kiosk: 4/29/2015 - Dodger Links - Kershaw, Peter O'Malley and Kirk Gibson

Clayton Kershaw was good last night - just not good enough.  He faced off against Madison Bumgarner and the Giants for the second time this season and again came out on the losing side.  Per Matthew Moreno at Dodgers Nation:

“The bottom line is I just got out-pitched,” Kershaw said. “Madison pitched better than I did and they won the game. So, not a whole lot of analyzation going on. I gave up two, he gave up one, he pitched eight innings, I pitched seven, so yeah, I got outpitched.”

Kershaw gave up seven hits and two runs, and had a heck of a time with Giants phenom Buster Posey - who drove in both runs.  On a happy note, Clayton is getting better with each outing.  Per Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com:

"I think he's just getting better and better as the season's going on. I think that's the one thing we see," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "There are years when guys get runs and years when they don't. You never know who you're going to match up with."

The above photo was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics by him from yesterday.  Below are some links to check out:

• This is quite an honor.  Former Dodger owner Peter O’Malley will be honored with “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” from the Government of Japan.  This is that nations highest award for a non-citizen.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider. 
• OMG!  I'm pullin' for ya, Gibby!  Via Jason Beck at MLB.com; "Gibson reveals diagnosis of Parkinson's disease."

"I have faced many different obstacles in my life, and have always maintained a strong belief that no matter the circumstances, I could overcome those obstacles," Gibson said in the statement. "While this diagnosis poses a new kind of challenge for me, I intend to stay true to my beliefs. With the support of my family and friends, I will meet this challenge with the same determination and unwavering intensity that I have displayed in all of my endeavors in life. I look forward to being back at the ballpark as soon as possible."

• This is fun.  Via Andres Tardio at MTV.com, "Kendrick Lamar Walks Us Through His First Pitch With The Dodgers."

“This is amazing, especially being from the inner cities of L.A. We’ve never been to the Dodger Stadium on this type of level. I’ve probably been way up there,” he said pointing to the upper deck, “but to actually be in the dugout and on the field, that’s a whole ‘nother story coming from Compton. It’s a blessing, man. It’s a blessing.”

• Listen to agent Scott Boras talk about Dodger baseball (Seager and Urias) with Mason and Ireland on ESPN, here.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Jansen opposes hitters; Ryu nearing same step."
• Awesome!  Greg at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle shares a new edition to his collection - a 1911 T332 Helmar Stamp of Zach Wheat.  I added a couple of these to my collection a few years ago - a Bell and Rucker.  Go here to check those out.
• You lucky dog, you!

Walk into the club house to this....Thanks @MagicJohnson #Showtime pic.twitter.com/ylMGLOb2U8
— Joc Pederson (@yungjoc650) April 28, 2015

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Enrique "Kike" Hernandez has Been Called Up - Carl Crawford to DL

One of the players acquired over the winter as a part of the Dee Gordon trade with Miami is now in Los Angeles wearing Blue.  Congrats, Kike!  It's great to have you here.  He'll be making his Dodger debut tonight as the starting center fielder.

In a corresponding move, Carl Crawford, who came up lame during yesterday's game, will be placed on the DL with a torn oblique.  Man-O-Live!  When it rains it pours, right?  Over the past week Puig, McCarthy, Peralta, and now Crawford have gone on the disabled list.  There's no word yet on how long he'll be out, but it's likely to be at least a couple of months.

Hernandez has had a bit of a rough start in the early going with the Dodgers farm club in Oklahoma City.  He is currently slashing only .169/.219/.254.  Considering the recent machinations within the Dodgers front office that has players freely moving in-and-out of the 25-man roster there's no telling how long he'll be up with us.  Nevertheless, he is very versatile on the field and aims to be a positive piece off the bench. 

Kike had this to say on twitter:

Hello LA!! It's been way too long! 😎
— Enrique Hernandez (@kikehndez) April 28, 2015

In celebration of Hernandez's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph taken by Dodger photoagrapher Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 and the 1972 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:


UPDATE: Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed outfielder Carl Crawford on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain and recalled infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernandez (pronounced: key-que) from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Hernandez, 23, batted .169 with two doubles, a homer and nine RBI in 16 games with Oklahoma City prior to his recall, appearing in games at shortstop (7), center field (4) and second base (3). The native of Puerto Rico tied for the club lead with six homers during Spring Training, batting .267 with two doubles and 12 RBI in 29 Cactus League games. He was acquired from the Marlins as part of a seven-player trade on Dec. 10, 2014 after seeing his first big league action last year and appearing in 42 games with Miami and Houston.

Crawford tripled in his only at-bat last night before being removed from the game in the third inning with right side tightness. He has a .245 batting average with a homer and three RBI in 15 games.

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