Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 9/6/2012

No Hello Kitty Magic last night.  Pic via Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers 2012.

• 4 college kids are going through a roadtrip any Baseball fan would envy.  They are going to all 30 ballparks in 38 days, and have been blogging all about it.  See it here at "The 30 in 38 Project."  Here is their Dodger Stadium story.
• Mark Langill reminds us that today in 1996 Brett Butler came back to the lineup after being first diagnosed with cancer in May of that year.  I remember there being quite an ovation for him.
• JP Hoornstra at the Daily News notes that both Ted Lilly and Scott Elbert continue to rehab. 

Mattingly reiterated his hope that both can pitch again this season.

• Matt Kemp is a good dude.  Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times:

 The boy couldn’t walk. He used his arms to get around the bases.

Kemp asked to meet the boy after the game.

Wednesday night, Isaac Lill and his family were Kemp’s guests at Dodger Stadium.

“He’s a special kid,” Kemp said. “He’s an amazing kid. He’s an inspiring kid.”

• Check out these really cool Ballpark Prints from City Prints Map Art.  The Dodger Stadium print is below.

• Gann Matsuda at Frozen Royalty writes of Kings broadcaster Bob Miller's greatest fear going away.
• Do you love tennis?  Do you collect tennis?  Well, if you said yes then the US Open is running an auction you might want to check out.  Hat Tip: Sports Collectors Daily.
• Jeremy at "No One's Going to Read This Blog", writes of his visit to the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art and the collection of Jefferson Burdick cards on display there.  Burdick is considered the father of modern card collecting.
• Gangnam Style, live!

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A Solid First Pitch from Three Year Old Christian

A few months back I featured a preschooler named Christian Haupt who was obsessed with the Dodgers, was already way ahead of his peers when it came to playing the game, and parlayed that into an appearance in the recent Adam Sandler film "That's My Boy".  See that story here.

Well, Christian just had a chance to throw the first pitch this past Tuesday to the delight of his family and the crowd.  His mom was kind enough to forward along some pictures and a video of the event, and you'll notice that Christian does his best Clayton Kershaw impression while on the mound.  Although he didn't reach the plate with his throw, he did get it there on a bounce with a sold throw from the mound; especially for a 3 year old.  Really, this kid is that young.

Here is a video of Christian Haupt throwing out the first pitch.

Video Link:

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That Catch Hurt- Matt Kemp Misses a Homer on a Great Play- Video

Last nights game was just disappointing, and was made unbearable when Matt Kemp came up to the plate in the bottom of the 7th inning.  With Adrian Gonzalez on first base, Matt Kemp drove a 2-1 pitch off of Boxberger to deep centerfield. 

Cameron Maybin moved back to the warning track.  He got to the wall.  The ball looked like it had the distance.  It was going, going, caught!  Maybin leaped a bit and grabbed a potential 2 run home run.  It could have given the Dodgers a lead, and a win.  Unfortunately, the Baseball gods had something else in mind.

Check out a video of the catch below.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: How About Some Galaxy

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.

There doesn't appear to be much happening on the autograph front this coming weekend.  A CJ Wilson signing was originally planned for this coming Saturday at OC Sportscards, but that has been postponed and pushed back a couple of weeks.  Also, as you'll see below the Derrel Thomas signing at Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe has also been postponed.  Hey, at least there's soccer.

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A Special Notice

As has been widely reported elsewhere, Derrel Thomas was to make an appearance at Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe in the City of Industry.  Unfortunately, it was reported on their facebook account that it has been postponed.  It will be rescheduled. 

Again, Derrel Thomas will not be there this Saturday!  Below is the original flyer from Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe.  The Manny Mota appearance on September 29th is still expected to happen.

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This might be the only public signing event this weekend.  LA Galaxy defender AJ DeLaGarza will be at a Grand Opening of a Home Depot in Fullerton!  He will sign for fans, and there will be prizes.  It will be on Saturday, September 8th from 11:00 am -12:30 pm.  Go the Galaxy's calendar of event for more information, here.

The Home Depot

625 S. Placentia Ave,

Fullerton, CA 92831

Hat Tip: LA Inspiration

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Billingsley Done; 1st Year Pro Paco Rodriguez Called Up

Chad Billingsley is officially done for the 2012 season.  Per a Dodgers press release, Chad has been transferred to the 60 day DL.

The Los Angeles Dodgers today transferred right-handed pitcher Chad Billingsley to the 60-day disabled list (right elbow pain) and selected the contract of left-handed reliever Steven Rodriguez from Double-A Chattanooga. Billingsley, who last pitched on Aug. 24 against the Marlins, went 10-9 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 starts this season, finishing the campaign on a six-game winning streak.

He had been one of our better pitchers going down the stretch, so losing him is gonna hurt- big time.  Worse yet, Bill Skaikin at the LA Times notes that he has a partially torn ligament in his right elbow and might have to have Tommy John Surgery.

Since this is the end of the season, she (Sue Falsone the Dodgers athletic trainer) said the Dodgers can afford to allow Billingsley several months to try to recover without surgery. If Billingsley has surgery, the rehabilitation period is about one year, so he would miss all of next season whether he has the operation next week or next spring.

Along with this move, the Dodgers bring up first year pro Steven Rodriguez from Chattanooga.  Also, from a Dodger press release:

Rodriguez, 21, has gone 1-0 with five saves and a 0.92 ERA (2 ER/19.2 IP) in 21 combined relief appearances with Single-A Great Lakes and Double-A Chattanooga in his first professional season after being selected by the Dodgers in the second round (82nd overall) of the June First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Florida. Since being promoted to Chattanooga on July 28, Rodriguez has limited opposing hitters to a .149 batting average (7-for-47) with 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. As a collegiate hurler, Rodriguez earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a junior in 2012 and pitched three seasons at Florida, compiling a 9-4 record with seven saves and a 2.19 ERA in 86 games (two starts). His career ERA was the lowest by a Gator since aluminum bats were introduced in 1974 and he ranks among the all-time Florida leaders in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (10.64, first), opponents’ batting average (.227, T-eighth) and relief appearances (86, seventh).

Below is his 2008 Upper Deck Team USA Baseball autographed card.

BTW, as JP Hoornstra of the Daily News notes, Steven actually goes by Paco- which fits perfectly well in a Hispanic bastion like Los Angeles.  Now, why was he called up so quickly?  Well, Paco happens to be a needed left-hander out of the pen.

"He wasn't a high school kid. He was a college kid who's pitched in some big games, has some angle for left-handers," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "That's what we're looking out of that -- somebody that can get a lefty out. Try to use him like that. It's another lefty out there, another weapon."

So, Paco Rodriguez... Welcome to the Show!

You should check out this video from MLB.com that was put together when Paco was drafted earlier this year.  Take note that an analyst mentioned that he might be the earliest of all draftees that year to join the big league club.  How prescient was that?

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Wow! I'm the LA Kings Fan of the Week on Pinterest

September is starting out to be a great month.  I just received word that I have been selected by the LA Kings on Pinterest as this weeks "Fan of the Week."

Woo Hoo!!!

If you don't already know, I have a Pinterest account (go here to see it), and I have been very active in pinning every photo I can find related to my favorite sports teams.  I have been especially manic about pinning up every Kings photo and video related to their recent Stanley Cup run.  As of right now, I have 580 photos of the Kings pinned up (see here), 23 Kings videos not Stanley Cup associated (see here), and 103 videos of just the Kings romping through the NHL to win the Stanley Cup (see here).

My main reason for all of the Pinterest activity is that I like how it allows me to easily archive my favorite photos and videos in one easy place.  When I'm aching to relive the Stanley Cup run all I have to do is check into my Pinterest account.  I don't need to go on youtube and search- it's already nicely cataloged in one place.  BTW, I've got a bunch of Dodgers photos pinned (see here) as well.

On a side note, I'm not being facetious when I say that I go on it daily just to watch video highlights and montages of the Kings winning the Stanley Cup.  Heck, I was telling a buddy the other day that I still wake up from time to time wondering if it really happened.  As a long time (and once suffering) fan it is still hard to believe.

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