2018 Topps Now - #850 - Kershaw's Magnificent Game 2

Here is a look at the Topps Now card issued yesterday to celebrate Clayton Kershaw phenomenal Game 2 star against the Braves. It sold 447 copies. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"He pitched," manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw, who has allowed one earned run in 21 career postseason innings against Atlanta. "For me, one of the best outings I've seen that I can recall. He changed speeds, used both sides of the plate and changed eye levels. There was soft contact and he was in complete control. You've got Sandy Koufax in the front row and he was outstanding."

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2018 Topps Now -- #840, #841 & #842 -- Three Cards to Commemorate Game 1 Victory

Last night's three heroes now have their own Topps Now cards to call their own. First up is Hyun-Jin Ryu and it makes note of his stellar seven inning pitching performance. He yielded no runs, only four singles and struck out eight Brave batters. Go here to check it out and order. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

His changeup had the Braves off balance throughout the lineup. 

"He did what we knew he was going to do," said Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman. "He pitches backwards. Every time you think you're going to get something, it's always the opposite. He commands up, down, in and out. The back-door cutters were big against righties and he kept throwing changeups to lefties, which kept us off balance."

Blog Kiosk: 10/5/2018 - Dodgers Links - One Down, Ten to Go!

Apparently, folks are only now noticing Max Muncy and his Ruthian abilities. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“I think Muncy’s three-run homer there was definitely the reason why I was able to pitch seven solid innings,” Ryu said. “That three-run home run was big for all of us, including me.” 

Muncy went 1-for-1 with the homer and three walks in the game, becoming the second player all time to have that line. The other was Babe Ruth in Game 7 of the 1926 World Series. 

Muncy was asked when was the last time he was compared to Ruth. 

“Besides now? Never,” he answered back.

Photo above via Juan Ocampo/Dodgers 2018 at Dodgers Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 the usually dependable Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen dropped a two-out third-strike to Tommy Henrich in the ninth inning of Game Four of the World Series to give the Yanks an opportunity to come-from-behind. New York would then immediately rally to win the game, 7-4, and take a 3-1 World Series lead. In 1947 Dodger outfielder Al Gionfriddo robbed Joe Dimaggio of an extra base hit and several RBI's when he made a leaping grab near the left field bullpen during Game 6 of the World Series. Go here to watch a highlight reel of the play. In 1980 the Dodgers came back to defeat the Astros, 4-3, to sweep a season-ending, three-game series and force a one-game playoff with the Astros for the National League Western Division title. Ron Cey had hit a two-run stunner in the 8th inning to help win the game. Unfortunately, the Dodgers would lose that one-game playoff, 7-1, the next day.
• Happy Birthday, Fred Claire, Bill Steele, Andy Kosco & Tracy Woodson!

1988 World Series Dodgers Memorabilia at Goldin Auctions

I'm having a World Series fever dream. Everywhere I look I see a Dodgers World Series. For instance, today marks the 63rd anniversary of Game 7 of the 1955 Fall Classic -- the Dodgers first championship ever. It's also the 59th anniversary of the Los Angeles Dodgers very first postseason victory on the west coast -- defeating the White sox, 3-1, in front of 92,234 fans at the Coliseum. Now, as I peruse through the Goldin Auctions catalog, I ran into some memorabilia from the Dodgers historic 1988 run.

As you know, it is the 30 anniversary of the Dodgers last championship in 1988, so these items currently available are very timely. Featured above and below are original lineup cards from the series that are a part of the Tommy Lasorda collection and come directly from Lasorda's agent.

Here are the rosters for the NLDS

We are just a mere six hours, or so, away from the start of the NLDS, and we now get a first look at the rosters for each club. Check out the Dodgers roster above (via @Dodgers on twitter) and the Braves roster below (via @Braves on twitter).

There aren't a lot of surprises here for the Dodgers. Notable players missing include Ross Stripling, Chase Utley, Alex Verdugo, John Axford, Tony Cingrani, JT Chargois, Kyle Farmer, Zac Rosscup, Julio Urias, Andrew Toles. Additionally, it is my understanding that Chase Utley will remain in the Dodger clubhouse/dugout for this series and will travel with them to Atlanta. His poise and experience alone provides untold value to the club, so this bit of news is very welcome.

As for the Braves, they are missing their starting shortstop Dansby Swanson. He had been diagnosed with a "partial ligament tear" a few days ago and will likely miss the entire playoffs. In his place will be the very capable Charlie Culberson, and we all know he's not someone to scoff at. In my mind, he's a wildcard in this series, and I suspect he'll prove to be a tough out.

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Blog Kiosk: 10/4/2018 - Dodgers Links - March to 11 Victories

It'll take 11 wins for the Dodgers to capture a championship, and tonight's starter, Hyun-Jin Ryu, will have an opportunity to get things started right. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I’m very happy that the team trusted me, and I would like to say that I’m going to go full throttle from the very first pitch in the very first inning tomorrow, make sure that I get my job done as the starting pitcher and put the team in the position where it can win,” Ryu said.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1955 the day Dodger fans had been waiting for finally happened. On this day the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series to win a championship for the very first time in its franchise's history. In 1959 the Dodgers won the teams very first playoff game in Los Angeles when they defeated the Chicago White Sox, 3-1.  92,234 fans attended the game at the LA Coliseum, setting a new record for attendance for a World Series game. This win put them up two games to one in the series.  They would win the World Series in the sixth game four days later. In 2006 the worst play in Dodgers playoff history happened (in my opinion) when two runners are thrown out at home plate on the same throw during Game 1 of the NLDS against the Mets. You can relive the horror here.
• Happy Birthday, Rip Ripulski, John Duffie, Mike Sharperson, Dennis Cook, Adam Riggs, Tony Gwynn, Jr. & Stephen Fife!