2016 Topps Now - Father's Day Card Featuring Kenta Maeda

Take a look at the newest 2016 Topps Now card to feature a Dodger.  As you can see above, Kenta Maeda shares the spotlight with Rajai Davis of the Cleveland Indians and Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox.  All three players are wearing that days Father's Day uniforms.

This card not only commemorates Father's Day, but also will help provide some needed funds to fight prostate cancer.  All of the net proceeds from the sale of this card with go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation & S↑U2C!  Go here to order.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 431 copies.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/20/2016 - Dodgers Links - A Father's Day Victory

The Dodgers look pretty good in those Father's Day Baby-Blue Dodgers jersey's yesterday afternoon.  I especially loved the high-socks style used by several players; especially Kiké Hernández.  He had tied the game at one with an pinch hit home run to left field in the eighth inning.  Check out his home run swing in the photo on the right, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.

It's also notable how the Dodgers pulled out a victory in the end.  With the game tied at the bottom of the ninth inning Yasmani Grandal came up to bat for AJ Ellis with the bases loaded.  He then proceeded to grind out a six pitch walk to drive in the winning run.  Per Jack Baer and Adam McCalvy at MLB.com:

Grandal's winning walk was that talk of both clubhouses, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lauding Grandal's overall plate discipline and the Brewers focused on Thornburg's 1-1 pitch. Catcher Martin Maldonado held it an extra moment for umpire Tim Timmons, who deemed it just off the edge of the plate. But Pitch f/x data from the game suggested similar pitches had been called strikes.

"A 1-1 pitch is the pitch that changes [the outcome of a plate appearance] most often," Thornburg said. "Obviously, I wanted that call. I've gotten that call plenty of times before. But it didn't make or break the AB."

The photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 2008 the Dodgers received an Award of Excellence star from the Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.  The Dodgers star on the Walk of Fame is located adjacent to the constellation of stars along Hollywood Boulevard at the Hollywood and Highland complex.
• Happy Birthday, Juan Castro!

Nationals Series Starts on Monday - Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Monday against the Washington Nationals.   Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The DC: Half Smoke Dog will be available for this homestand only against the Nationals at the Extreme Loaded Dog concession areas located on the field, loge and reserve levels. It features a quarter-pound, all-beef hot dog topped with diced onion, yellow mustard and DC chili.

The sixth 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring Corey Seager on the cover, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation. 

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Monday, June 20th at 7:10 PM
RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Garvey Questionnaire from Legendary Baseball Statistician Bill Weiss

For much of the modern era of Baseball William J. Weiss was there to catalog it.  Starting in the late-40's he compiled statistics and biographical information for ballplayers on the West Coast.  Soon he started working for various leagues; like the PCL, Pioneer League, Northwest League and the American Association.  He even became the official historian of the PCL and edited a weekly newsletter for the California League for over thirty years.  In an over four decade span Weiss produced over 200 sketchbooks filled with data on both minor and major league ballplayers.  Without his diligent work we might not have the wealth of information we have today.

Featured above is an example of how he gathered up that data.  It is a basic biographical questionnaire, and it was filled out by Dodgers rookie Steven Patrick Garvey in 1970.  (Click on the pic above to embiggen)  It is currently available on auction through Hunt as a part of the All-Star Game Weekend celebration in San Diego.  Check out the auction listing here.

Notably, the survey asks, "what would you consider your greatest thrill in Baseball?"

Steve Garvey wrote back, "Starting Opening Game Dodger Stadium April 7th, 1970."

This questionnaire was completed about a month after his starting at third base on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, so it was no doubt still fresh in his mind.  BTW, the Dodgers were defeated that day by the Cincinnati Reds, 4-0.  Steve Garvey went 0 for 4 with one strike out while batting in the sixth spot of the order.

If you're interested in learning more about Bill Weiss check out this great writeup at SABR (Link Here).

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2016 Topps Series 2 - The Dodgers Scouting Report, Wrigley and 65th Celebration Cards

I now dive into the various Dodgers insert cards available in Series 2 packs.  Take a look at the Scouting Report, the 100 Years at Wrigley Field and Celebrating 65 Years cards below.

Scouting Report Autographs

#SRA-AW Alex Wood                       #SRA-CS Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 6/17/2016 - Dodgers Links - Urias, White and a Dugout Confrontation

Scott Kazmir was not sharp last night.  He consistently fell behind on the counts and ended up getting pulled after throwing 93 pitches in four innings.  Overall, Kazmir gave up five hits, three earned runs and struck out eight. Watch him talk about his evening here.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"That's on me," (Kazmir) said. "I put my team in a bad hole. Having the bullpen cover five innings, it's never good in a ballgame. Not getting ahead of hitters, I think 20-something foul balls, that'll do it. Could have minimized the damage making some quality pitches with runners in scoring position, but a couple hits and they get those three runs. Short outing, that's disappointing."

Unfortunately, a Dodgers bullpen, that had been one of the best of late, reverted to their old ways.  They gave up five runs to lose the game to the Brewers 8-6.  On a side note, there was a bit of a tussle in the Dodgers dugout during the game.  Justin Tuner confronted Yasmina Grandal for a boneheaded running mistake that almost cost the team the tying run in the sixth inning.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"It was one of those baserunning mistakes, I guess I had a brain [cramp]. I think this is first baserunning mistake I've made in two years here. Obviously, if the score was affected by it, we would have been down. I kind of just [messed] up. It's just the way it happens. Teammates want to make sure you play smart and the right way. I feel if they're getting on you, they care about the fact you should know better. We all make mistakes. It's not the first time I'll make a mistake and not first time weird things happen."

Grandal also said he was not disappointed that emotions got heated in the dugout between teammates.

"I think we need to play with some fire," he said. "If we fight, we fight. It doesn't matter if it's between each other or with the other team. I feel like if we get some fire within the team to get us going, its fine. At times I feel like we're better than the other team and we lay back and relax instead of making it happen."

Via Kyle Glaser/AP at the Miami Herald:

"It was just one of those things where (Turner) thought Yaz should've went back to first and not continued and made that play as close as it was," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Yaz would tell you, as the ball goes into second base he's gotta stop.

"Obviously with emotions it can get heated, but we cleaned it up."

The Dodgers need a catalyst.  Will this be it?  Can they find that burning fire deep within?  Will they now take on the season with the kind of determination required to win?  They need something to wake them up, and this incident is just the kind of thing to do it.  But they'll need a leader to rally the troops.  Who will do it?

Photo above of Scott Kazmir via SportsNet LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1885 Dodgers shortstop Germany Smith committed a Major League record 7 errors on the field. In 1983 Dodgers starting pitcher Bob Welch hit his first Major League home run.  It would be the deciding run in the game.  The Dodgers defeated the Reds 1-0.