Weekend Autograph Opportunity: Yasiel Puig! -- UPDATE: Max Muncy, Too!

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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Blog Kiosk: 8/1/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Brian Dozier is now in the house. Per Bill Shaikin at the LA Times:

The first call Tuesday afternoon came from Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations. Players have 72 hours to report to a new team, but Friedman asked Dozier if he would consider hustling to Los Angeles for a game that would start in six hours. 

“Absolutely,” Dozier said. “I don’t like days off. No days off.”

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1906 Brooklyn hurler Harry McIntire lost his no-hit bid in the 10th inning  when he yielded a single to Pirates second baseman Claude Ritchey. He and the Dodgers would then lose the game in the 13 inning due to an unearned run, 1-0. In 1924 Dazzy Vance struck out seven consecutive Cub batters to set a major league record. The Brooklyn Robins would win the game, 4-0. In 1957 Gil Hodges hit not only his 13th grand slam of his career to set a new National League record, but it also proved to be the last grand slam in the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 2015 Clayton Kershaw battled Mike Trout, marking the first time that reigning MVPs had faced each other. Trout would go 0-for-3 against Kersh; including a first inning strike out, as the Dodgers defeat the Angels, 3-1.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Shaute, Howard Freigau, Myron White, Dave Anderson& Brian Bohanon! 

Welcome to the Blue, John Axford!

We all knew the Dodgers were looking to add a reliever. We just didn't expect it to be John Axford. As you likely know by now, in addition to the trade deadline deal that brought us Brian Dozer earlier today, we are also adding right-handed reliever John Axford from Toronto. In exchange we sent the Blue Jays a right-handed prospect named Corey Cropping.

Welcome to the Blue, Brian Dozier!

Here's a deadline deal no one expected.

At long last the Dodgers have gotten the infielder many fans had wished for a couple of years back. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite have the stock value he had back then. Today, he's an under-performing player who has a track record that suggest he could turn things around. Announced this afternoon is a trade that sends our second baseman Logan "Logie Bear" Forsythe, minor leaguers Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer to the Twins for second baseman Brian Dozier.

Blog Kiosk: 7/31/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Last night's power outage hit both the Dodgers and Dodger Stadium. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I haven't seen that one," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after the game. "They got it resolved quick enough. It was pretty weird."

As for the game, the Dodgers could only round up five hits to score only two -- losing to the Brewers 5-2. At least we fans got to witness Machado's first home run at Dodger Stadium. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider.

Machado gave the fans that stayed something to remember the night by with his ninth-inning homer, but that didn’t make him content in a 5–2 defeat. 

“I should’ve hit that a couple innings before,” Machado said. “I had runners in scoring position, got to tie the game up…we’re here to win games.”

The above pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1983 Dodger skipper Walter Alston is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1984 Baseball as an Olympic demonstration sport begins its Olympic tournament at Dodger Stadium. In 2004 the Dodgers receive outfielder Steve Finley and backstop Brent Mayne from the Diamondbacks for Koyie Hill, Reggie Abercrombie and southpaw Bill Murphy. They also traded outfield speedster Dave Roberts to Boston for Henri Stanley. In 2006 the Dodgers traded shortstop César Izturis to the Cubs for future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. In 2008 the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox (including a three team trade with Pittsburgh) for Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris (who goes to the pirates). Pirates outfielder Jason Bay goes to Boston.
• Happy Birthday, Pembroke Finlayson & Vic Davalillo!

2018 Topps Now -- #514 -- Kershaw's Remarkable Friday

Clayton Kershaw may not have the bat of a Shohei Ohtani, but he sure did show off a batting prowess unparalleled in todays modern game.

This past Friday Clayton Kershaw took the mound against the Braves and proceeded to puzzle Braves bats to the tune of eight strikeout and zero walks. At the same time, Kershaw also punished the opposing team with his bat  -- knocking in two runs with a single in the fourth inning and recording three walks. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I was super late and got fortunate," said Kershaw. "Folty's throwing 100 mph, it seemed like. I just happened to stick my bat out there and got lucky. On the walks, it's not easy for relievers to face pitchers. They're not used to it."