2015 Topps Chrome - The Joc Pederson Base Variation Card

Information continues to trickle in slowly about Topps 2015 Chrome Baseball card set.  As you may know, this set has not officially been released by Topps yet, but folks have gotten a hold of boxes and are selling individual singles online.  So far, we know what the Dodger base cards look like (go here to check out pics of the five cards in the set), and now we know there is at least one base variation card to chase after.  Check that out above.

Featured is card #129 of Joc Pederson.  It is a short-printed variation to his base card, and appears to show a brief convergence of Dodger defenders during a game.  From the looks of it, the photo was taken at Wrigley Field in Chicago (based on what looks like ivy on the outfield walls in the background).  Clearly, Yasiel Puig is at the center and running back towards his position, but I'm not quite sure who the fellow is on the left.  Is that Alberto Callaspo?  Or, maybe it's Roger Bernardina - who came along for a short stint at the end of last season?

Below is the reverse of the card.  As you can see, the back memorializes the afternoon he was tasked with getting coffee at Starbucks for the clubhouse in Chicago last season.

Among Joc's initiation duties with the Dodgers as a 2014 rookie; fetching coffee for the team (in full uniform) on the streets of Chicago.  He handled the assignment with good humor.  After all, delivering a jolt of energy has never been a problem for he 22-year-old, who has combined power hitting with a 28-steal average the past four seasons on the farms.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/12/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Peralta and the 2016 Topps Baseball Card Design

After no doubt hearing the recent talk about his playing time being cut and news of his placement on waivers, Yasiel Puig decided to put his bat to work by slugging a home run and recording five RBI's.  That's not to say that this all lead to a greater effort by him, but clearly he wants to make the statement that he's here to play.  Hopefully, this single day explosion leads to an avalanche.  Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com:

"The swing is good right now, which helps him as much as anything to handle all pitches," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Momentum comes from having success. So when you put some success down, you have to start from somewhere."

Puig adds further:

"I have the same swing, I've just been having trouble connecting," Puig said. "What I've been working on is being able to pick better pitches. Changing that, hopefully I'll be able to connect better based on my stance."

Of note, returning Dodger Yimi Garcia, who joined the club yesterday when Peralta was sent to the DL, pitched two scoreless innings. 

Photo above via @SportsNEtLA on twitter.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Yasiel Puig claimed on waivers, pulled back by Dodgers, per report."

This is also a time to remind people that almost literally every player in baseball - the ones on the 40-man roster, at least - are placed on revocable waivers at some point in August. Scores and scores of then are claimed and pulled back, like Puig, and cannot be traded until after the season.

• Eric Stephen also tells us that, "Andrew Sopko, Scott De Jong, Ariel Sandoval win minor league awards."
• Via JP Hoornstra at the Daily News, "Dodgers find a place for struggling Joel Peralta: The disabled list."

Tuesday, Peralta said he’d been hurting since the Dodgers played the Phillies — a series that began eight days earlier.

“The neck is a little bit irritated,” he said.

• This is very cool.  Via Chris Cwik at Big League Stew, "For the first time in MLB history, all 15 home teams won."
• With the 2015 season far from over Topps unveils next years design for their flagship Baseball card set.  Check it out on the right.  The design will be border-less.  Unfortunately, it features a giant player - Buster Posey.  Per their blog:

“We have had a white border for so many years and it was sort of a staple of the Topps design,” said Topps senior art director John Doldan. “I think we are trying to move forward and make the cards a little more modern and current. I think gradually we have been going in that direction and break from the past a little bit.”

• Where was I when this happened?  ESPN once aired the national rock, paper, scissors championship, and you can watch it below.  It's epic.  (Hat Tip: r/JKCompany on reddit)

Video Link:

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Take a Look at the 2015 Vin Scully Bobblehead - Where is the Rainbow?

For the third time over the past four seasons the Dodgers are giving away a Vin Scully Bobblehead, and you can now check it out in the photo above.

As you can see he is standing on the field with a Baseball in hand while waving to the fans.  In fact, as I look at it I can't help but sense that there's something familiar about it.  In fact, I'm certain I've seen this exact same pose before... Maybe immortalized in a photograph we should all know very well.

After a brief search I think I've figured it out.  This bobblehead looks just like the day the Dodgers gave out the very first Scully bobblehead in 2012.  You know, the afternoon when a rainbow appeared to memorialize the occasion.   Check out the photo taken by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012 to recall the event below.

Except for the tie and his shirt that's an exact copy of the day, save one glaring omission.

"WHERE IS THE RAINBOW?"

The bobblehead will be given out on Wednesday, September 23rd. 

(Graphic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Blog Kiosk: 8/11/2015 - Dodger Links - Rollins, Peraza and Grandal

Jimmy Rollins is seen goofing around with a young child prior to the start of yesterday's game, via the photo above by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterday's game.

On a side note, I know it feels like we are in the midst of deadly hail storm intent on destroying whatever accomplishments the Dodger have made this season.  It's like we're trapped within a dark forest of doubt and fear (us fans, that is), and everywhere we turn, every time we try to move forward, we end up taking a few steps back.  Believe me, though, this is just temporary. 

There's a constant ebb and flow to the season, and right now we are stuck in the valley.  Sooner or later we'll find ourselves climbing that mountain.  And when we do your mood and the general attitude of those online with mellow out like a good bourbon on a warm summers night. 

Sure, we still have memories of those game decisions that make us to rant like a group of bloodthirsty hyenas, but you should always keep in mind that this game has nothing to do with perfection.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider a few days ago:

Imperfection is not the same as incompetence. Not having reached the ideal — especially in August — does not mean the season is lost.

This game is about perseverance, and fortunately we've got plenty of Baseball left to play.  Right now, we remain in first place. That's something to not only be thankful for, but is also something that should strengthen whatever faith you have that the Dodgers will be OK.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Spencer Bingol at Beyond the Boxscore, "Yasmani Grandal is one of the most valuable young players in baseball."
• Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Dodgers in good hands of steady vet Rollins."

"Losing Howie hurts, but somebody else steps up. Your job as a leader is to make it as easy as possible, to help guys be themselves. Nothing changes; it's still baseball. The only thing that's different is that everybody's an All-Star now."

• Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Dodgers' Peraza debuts, triples for first hit."

"At first, I thought he was going to get that ball," Peraza said. "When I saw he didn't, I just kept running and running."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Carlos Frias has option voided, placed back on major league DL."  Nothing to really see here.  Frias is just reinstated to the Major League DL.
• Just in case you still have a Kemp crush.  Via jbox at Gaslamp Ball, "Meeting Matt Kemp and wearing his Oakley sunglasses."

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2015 Topps Chrome - The Dodger Base Cards

This set is not suppose to be available until next week, but boxes appear to have leaked and individual cards are already making their way onto eBay.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Topps 2015 Chrome Baseball set uses the exact same design as the Topps flagship Baseball card set.  Heck, for a majority of players they use the exact same image that can be found in Series 1 or Series 2 Topps packs.  What distinguishes this set is that they are super shiny.  So, the set is a bit superfluous.  On the other hand, there are a couple of new images for both the Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson cards, so that's nice.

It'll probably be a week or two before I'm able to nail down all of the inserts that are available.  In the meantime, check out the Dodger base cards below.

#52 Yasiel Puig                                    #55 Clayton Kershaw

#123 Yimi Garcia                               #129 Joc Pederson

#138 Adrian Gonzalez

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Blog Kiosk: 8/10/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Wow.  Check this out.  Here is a photograph of the rotunda within Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.  For whatever reason, there are very few photos of this part of the ballpark.  Pic via @MLBcathedrals on twitter.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Mattingly ready to turn page on Pirates series."

"We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves," Don Mattingly said. "Nothing happened here in Pittsburgh that changes our mind about our club. Basically, we had a chance to win every game in the series. We're lucky, really, where we're at. Nothing changes my mind that we can play with anybody."

• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Albert Pujols, Clayton Kershaw team up for charity."  Go here to find out more and to participate.

Pujols and Kershaw have launched a joint fundraising drive for their foundations, with two grand prize winners getting to play wiffle ball with the two stars at Angel Stadium next month. The minimum donation for the raffle is $10; other prizes are available.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Don Mattingly meets with Yasiel Puig about playing time." 

“I just let him know that he’s not just going to automatically be out of there against righties. He’s going to be in there, it’s just occasional days off,” Mattingly said. “I know a couple have come here recently as we want to mix Carl back in.

• Via Scott Eden at ESPN, "Federal investigations into Cuban smuggling, Major League Baseball slow."

But people with knowledge of the federal probes have told Outside the Lines that the MLB piece of the investigation has slowed, as federal agents have struggled to convince officials at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami that enough evidence exists to move forward.

• Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors, "Dodgers Release Chris Heisey."
• The Shorpy photo blog shares a fantastic family photo from early 1965, here.  It features a couple of kids on top of a wooden bench playing with a toy.  What makes this pic noteworthy is that the oldest kid is wearing a vintage Dodger t-shirt that must be from the 1963 Dodger season.  Check it out here.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "(Brett) Anderson injures right wrist on checked swing."

Anderson developed tendinitis in his right (non-throwing) wrist after a checked swing in an at-bat against Oakland's Sonny Gray on July 28. He is undergoing acupuncture and wearing a protective brace when not at the ballpark in an attempt to reduce the inflammation.

"I wouldn't be Brett Anderson without having stuff nobody's seen," the self-deprecating lefty said.

Check out a pic of some of those acupuncture needles in his arm via his instagram account, here.

• Shawn Anderson at the Hall of Very provides a brief update on a couple of former Dodger players: "Brian Wilson is Jacked" and "Andruw Jones Is Hoping For A Comeback."

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