Juan Out, Andre In

Torre takes charge and makes Andre Ethier our starting left fielder. This may be the most important decision Joe makes this season. Ethier is poised to break out this year and may establish himself as one of the leagues better hitters. I see him, at a minimum, being our version of a younger Garrett Anderson. On the other hand, it's hard to believe Juan Pierre could excel in his new a role as a pinch hitter. Tony Jackson broke the story and adds,

"Torre said there also could still be a last-minute trade."

It sounds like something may be in the works. Who's crossing their fingers? Imagine the offensive production we could have with Kemp, Jones and Ethier in the outfield.

In other news, Chan Ho Park is going to Las Vegas and is expected to be the first call up.

Story Link: Tony Jackson:

UPDATE: It appears the trade talk is for a 3B/Utility infielder. Clarified by Diamond Leung Kevin Pearson.

Weekly Blog Kiosk 3/30/2008

And the battle for the pennant begins.

• Baseball plans to end the 68 year tradition of the Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown after the 2008 season. Some fans have gotten together to try to save the game. Check out Save the Hall of Fame Game website.
• Jeff Findley has some great Dodger related photos on his website.
• Eric Neel writes about the power of Torre.
• Mike from Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness writes a 2008 Dodger Preview for LA Taco.
• Ricky O'Donnell creates a Top Ten Future Stars of Professional Sports List. Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish is #1. He's a name to remember.
• Brent Shyer writes about the Dodgers first game in LA at Walter O'Malley.com.

AP/World Wide Photo

• Andruw Jones is now a blogger.
• Go Dodgers Blog got her season tickets and is visibly jazzed. She even post pictures of the tickets, parking pass (now I'm jealous) and a tote bag freebie for season ticket holders.
• Steve Finley Was Here picks the card of the week and it's former Dodger outfielder Henry Rodriguez.
• Dan Bretta shares some vintage photos he was able to pick-up directly from the photoalbum of former Brooklyn Robin/Dodgers star Dazzy Vance. These date from 1923. See Brooklyn Robins catcher Charlie Schmidt below. Notice the Brooklyn club flag on the top left.

UPDATE: I can't believe I forgot to mention this. Sunshine shares her pics from Fridays game against Boston. She has tons of pics. Then she post a challenging Dodger quiz. How many can you get right?

Random Dodger Pics

You gotta love the internet. When you can't make the game- no worries- there are sure to be photos you can find.

SB Todd had the choice seats yesterday.

Pic Link: SB Todd on Flickr:

Pic Link: SB Todd on Flickr:

Orange Wheeeee! was in China for the Dodger game and was kind enough to share some pics with all of us.

Pic Link: Orange Wheeeee! on Flickr:

Pic Link: Orange Wheeee! on Flickr:

Pic Link: Orange Wheeeee! on Flickr:

GMBM took some great pictures during the Dodger vs Red Sox game yesterday. Check them out below.

Pic Link: GBMB on Flickr:

Pic Link: GMBM on Flickr:

Barney Stein's New Book

Nostalgia is as thick as fog these days. The Dodgers are celebrating their 50th Anniversary in Los Angeles this year with a game at their original ballpark in the Coliseum. Dodger Stadium is going through a complete face lift, complete with new concessionaires. Dodgertown is no more as the team removed itself from one of the last reminders of its Brooklyn heritage. Fortunately, the past is not all lost. The family of Barney Stein, the long-time official photographer for the Brooklyn Dodgers, just released a book of their fathers great photos. Go to their website for more info.

Barney, only 5-foot-4, was known as “the spry little guy with the camera.” He was the embodiment of perpetual motion, on the field and in the photographers’ box suspended between home plate and first base or in the locker room.

...

He not only taught me photography, but I learned about the strong emotions of the game and friendships among the players and those associated with the team.

In those days the Dodgers were like an extended family, and his photo archives are like a family album. It was a time when the fans walked the players home, win or lose, and the players would willingly sign autographs and pose for photos with their adoring fans. Major League Baseball blogger Derek Savage recently wrote: “They were the only team in MLB history to be named for a neighborhood rather than a city or state. It was all about community. The Dodgers were family; a metaphor for life in America. In the 1950s, the Brooklyn Dodgers were America.”

Below is Ralph Branca after his pitch to Bobby Thompson.

Barney-Stein Photography Website:
Story Link: Naples News:
Hat Tip: Sports Collectors Daily:

Dodgers Auctioning Game Used Jerseys from Coliseum Game

The Dodgers are going all out for ThinkCure. Not only are the game proceeds going to the charity, but it will broadcast a telethon on KCAL (Call 866-554-CURE) during the game and will be auctioning off the players game-used uniforms for ThinkCure. Click here to bid.

Each jersey will be autographed by the player or coach who wore the jersey, and will include a special ThinkCure patch on one sleeve and a 50th Anniversary patch on the opposite sleeve... ThinkCure was launched in July 2007 by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the McCourt family, City of Hope, and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. ThinkCure is a charity whose purpose is to raise funds to support cancer research, and whose mission is to find a cure for cancer.

Story Link: LA Dodgers:
To Bid on Jerseys Click Here:

Leland's March Auction

Leland's is about to conclude their most recent auction this weekend, and it includes several choice items I think Dodger fans (and Baseball fans in general) might enjoy seeing.

Below is a press telephoto from UPI celebrating Bill Singer's no hitter on July 20, 1970. The Dodgers beat the Phillies 5 to 0 and Singer accomplished every boys dream. What I find amazing about this photo is the use of the term "no-no" on the scoreboard. In fact, the term was just coined by Pirate pitcher Doc Ellis just one month before (June 20, 1970) when he threw a no hitter against the Padres.

"The Pirates were clinging to their 1-0 lead. Dock was staring at the scoreboard when he realized he'd pitched hitless ball for seven innings. He smacked Cash on the arm.

"Hey, look," said Dock, pointing at the scoreboard. "I've got a no-no going!"

Cash gave him a blank look. "A no-no?" asked Cash. He'd never heard the term before. But Cash wanted to keep the pitcher loose and happy, so he smiled and said nothing.

As some of you know, this event has become infamous. Ellis claimed years later, in 1984, that he was under the influence of LSD at the game. Anyway, Ellis is known as the inventor of the word, and it has stuck for nearly 40 years. Heck, just one month after his amazing feat it had became a normal part of Baseball lexicon as evidenced by the picture below. It's amazing how quickly slang phrases can spread.
Auction Link: Leland's March '08 Lot#198.

Below is a Type IV press wire photo of Babe Ruth sleeping in the laundry basket. After an afternoon of hot dogs, beer and Baseball Ruth passes out dead tired. I can imagine him bellowing, "just push me to the bus!"
Auction Link: Leland's March '08 Lot#236: