Why So Sensitive?

I can't believe what I've been reading.  Maybe it's the nature of the online world, but I cannot understand what exactly is wrong with a manager stating something that he believes has got to be said.  Sure, you can argue that Donnie should have done this a long time ago, but that's neither here nor there.  All we can look at is what needs to be done today, and I applaud this initial effort to try to steer the ship in to the right direction.

After all, If a manager perceives that a player is lacking in his hustle (his grit) and he doesn't do something about it, doesn't that mean that said manager isn't doing his job?  Sure, you prefer it stay in-house.  I get that.  You always prefer that this kind of thing stay in the clubhouse, but sometimes public admonishment is needed too.

Heck, I don't even believe this was all that bad.  Mattingly just stated what he thought to be obvious.  He put the best team, on that given day, on the field that he believed would give the team the best chance of winning.  If that means that Ethier has to sit because he hasn't been giving the kind of effort the coach believes is necessary to win, then so be it.  And on some other day, Kemp might sit for the same reason.  Or Carl Crawford.  Or Adrian Gonzalez.  Or AJ Ellis.

And there is nothing wrong with that.  There is no shame in it.

Have we become so damn sensitive that public criticism of a millionaire ballplayers effort is construed as an insult that cannot be allowed? 

Get this straight.  Ethier should feel no shame because of the recent comments made by Mattingly.  Mattingly was not trying to insult him or publicly out him as a villain.  He was signalling to Ethier that he knows he has more to give.

In sports this is often called "Compete Level", but I prefer to call it "Manning Up".  You experience it when you are about to take that midterm exam, or when you're at work getting prepared to give an important presentation. 

The test here is how the player in question responds.  We'll get a good look at his mettle, and for that matter the mettle of the entire team.

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Is Donnie Doing a Sutter, or is Donnie Asking to Get Fired?

You're probably wondering, "Who the heck is Sutter?"

Well, Darryl Sutter is the current LA Kings coach who has been credited with bringing his own kind of homespun logic that borders on in-your-face honesty to transform the once addled Kings into Champions.  He has an ingenious way of being direct, and it had made believers out of a group of players who were just not doing enough.

The situation Sutter came into last season (before their rise as Stanley Cup Champions) was not an easy one.  The Kings were not unlike the Dodgers of today.  They were filled with many players that were arguably superstars in their sport.  Heck, like the Dodgers they made some huge trades to get them.  And like the Dodgers, they didn't immediately perform the way you would expect.  It was like they were getting crushed by the expectations.

Founds familiar, don't it? 

Then, in comes Sutter and he provided an honest intensity that was embraced by the team.  He told it like it was, and we all knew deep down that he was right.  More importantly, the team responded because they knew it too.

Well, as reported by Bill Plunkett of the OC Register this morning (Hat Tip: Craig Calcaterra at Harball Talk) Dodger skipper Don Mattingly made some direct comments that some folks find too critical.  Too honest.  Too in-your-face.

But you know what, he's right.  See what Plunkett wrote below.

Must-read strong comments from #Dodgers mgr Don Mattingly pregame seemed to point finger at not only lack of "mental toughness" from his players but also at poor construction of the team.

"We gotta find a team with talent that will fight and compete like a club that doesn't have that talent," he said, pointing to last year's team which led the NL West by 5 1/2 games at the end of May despite a far less-talented lineup.

"I felt we got more out of our ability (last year). I don't know about being tougher but I felt we got more out of our ability.

"There has to be a mixture of competitiveness. It's not 'Let's put an All-Star team together and the All-Star team wins.' It's finding that balance of a team that has a little bit of grit and will fight you. And also having talent to go with it.

"All grit and no talent isn't going to make you successful. But all talent and not grit isn't going to get you there either."

The only problem I have with Plunkett's description is the part about involving the construction of the team.  I don't think Mattingly was questioning who was signed or who we traded for.

I do think Mattingly does question the players will.  I think he questions their willingness to fight.  And as he puts it, "all talent and (no) grit isn't going to get you there either."

So Dodgers, can you muster the energy, the will, the grit to win?

On the other hand, maybe the pundits are right and Mattingly is not long for the job.  Maybe he has thrown his arms up the air and said, "screw it!"  Maybe Mattingly has made an unconscious effort to sabotage his job as manager.

I dunno.  I guess anything is possible.

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I know sometimes it might seem that I have a huge crush on the Kings and how they do things.  Well... ya know what?... I do.  I've witnessed their transformation and I hope for the day when the Dodgers can emulate it.

I know they can and I really believe the Kings are a great model to learn from.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/22/2013

Perfection in motion.  Above is a pic of Clayton Kershaw doing what he does best.  Pic via the Dodgers tumblr Dodger Dugout Steps.

• David Brown at Big League Stew first reported that every MLB team will be wearing special camouflage uniforms to commemorate Memorial Day this year.  Then, Roberto at VSIMH tracks down photos of the Dodger cap and jersey.  See the cap to the right.
• Check out Greg Zakwin's (of Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle fame) first piece on Yahoo entitled, "Los Angeles Dodgers Have a History of Mishandling Injuries, but They Did Right by Zack Greinke and His Broken Collarbone."
• Tommy Lasorda and Charlie Hough will represent the Dodgers on the first day of the 2013 Baseball Draft, via Spencer Fordin at MLB.com.
• Michael Clair at Baseball Prospectus writes a piece that ... well, let's just say that I'm sure the Baseball world tried to forget about this.  He analyzes the ballplayers who appeared within the pages of Playgirl in the 80's.  BTW, our own Steve Yeager is included.
• I miss Kuroda.  Via Brian Costa at the Wall Street Journal, Kuroda may be the best free agent signing the Yankees have ever made.  Sigh.
• Eric Nusbaum at SB Nation writes about one of the greatest sluggers to ever play the game that no one knows about.  Meet Hector Espino - Mexico's greatest hitter.

Yet Héctor Espino did not feel deprived or denied of anything; he could have played, yet he chose not to. To him there was nothing unfortunate at all about staying in Mexico. He embraced the baseball of his nation, and in doing so also rejected the notion that Mexico was some kind of little brother; that the United States owns the history of the sport. He refused to allow himself to be defined in American terms, to be measured by those who did not know him or his country. In the United States, Espino would have been a foreign entity - always and forever a Mexican slugger. His reward for staying home was a kind of heroism, a unique status of immeasurable respect and deep reverence that eludes all but a very few. Where else but Mexico could Espino have been Espino?

• Dodger Penguin shares a a great autographed Baseball of Roger Craig that has the notation 1955 Champs.  Awesome!  I hate knowing that he used to skipper the hated SF Giants, but having that Dodger notation on the ball really helps erase that memory.
• Greg at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle shares his haul from this past weekends card show in Culver City.  I love the vintage Batman cards he got.  The artwork is fantastic.  Jesse at LA Inspiration also shares what he came home with.

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Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Trolls, please stop!  Really... It's not right.

Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew we find out that the phrase "no good deed goes unpunished" is unfortunately true.

But here's the thing: Kemp, who is from nearby Midwest City, hit only his second home run of of the season on Monday. That's in 165 at-bats. Kemp makes $20 million this year from the Dodgers, as part of a $160 million contract he signed in 2011. It's easy to look at this all this and say Matt Kemp is being "cheap" — oh, and people have.

Last night I posted up a brief story on this blog about how Kemp would be lending some support to his hometown.

After this evenings game, Matt Kemp went onto twitter to lend his support.  He promises to donate some funds to the current relief effort.  See his tweet below.

It is an act of kindness from a man who is known for being one of the good guys.  So, to find out that there are those who wish to debase him for it is nothing but a vile, disgusting and inappropriate act.

Decades ago I was introduced to a phrase that I know applies here.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"

In other words, you should never question the reason or amount of charity/goodwill a person provides.  It should be enough that he's willing to help.  And if it's not good enough for you, well... I think that says more about you than Kemp.

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2013 Topps Museum - The Dodgers' Autographed Cards

I am finally getting around to posting up more Dodger cards from this years 2013 Topps Museum card set.  Below are most of the Dodgers' autographed card that you can find.

Autographed Cards

#AA-AG Adrian Gonzalez                           #AA-DSU Don Sutton

#AA-MW Maury Wills                     #AA-SK Sandy Koufax

These next cards below are really the cream of the crop when it comes to autographed cards in this set.  BTW, there is a Hyun-Jin Ryu card, as well.  Unfortunately, only a redemption is made available in packs.

Museum Collection Autographs

#MCA-AG Adrian Gonzalez                   #MCA-CK Clayton Kershaw

#MCA-SK Sandy Koufax

Unfortunately, not every available Dodger card from the Momentous Material Jumbo Relic auto cards have shown up yet.  See what I've been able to collect, so far.  As for cards not yet seen, there are a couple of Kershaw cards (likely a redemption), another Sutton variation available, and a Hanley Ramirez Jumbo autographed card out there.

Momentous Material JUMBO Relic Autographs

#MMJAR-AE Andre Ethier                 #MMJAR-AG Adrian Gonzalez

Don Sutton

#MMJAR-SK1 Sandy Koufax              #MMJAR-SK2 Sandy Koufax

I've only seen the Kershaw and Koufax Quad Relic Book-Card.  A Gonzalez, Sutton and Hanley card exist, as well.

Primary Pieces Quad Relics Book-Card Autograph

#PPAR-CK Clayton Kershaw

#PPAR-SK Sandy Koufax

A Clayton Kershaw exist, but a redemption is made available in packs.

Signature Swatches Dual Relic Autographs

#SSADR-AE Andre Ethier           #SSADR-AG Adrian Gonzalez

#SSADR-HR Hanley Ramirez

As with the above autographed relic card, there is also a Kershaw triple relic available, but a redemption has been placed within packs.

Signature Swatches Triple Relic Autographs

#SSATR-AG Adrian Gonzalez

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Blog Kiosk: 5/21/2013

Clayton Kershaw was brilliant again last night in the Dodgers victory over the Brewers. Pic via Dodger Dugout Steps.

• I love Don Sutton's hair in this bobblehead.  Check out a pic of the Sutton bobble that will be give out to fans on June 6th.  Pic via twitter @Dodgers.
• Dustin Nosler at Feelin' Kinda Blue writes a bit about Dodgers prospect Rob Rasmussen.
• "Animated: Dodgers’ Andre Ethier Gives Home Plate Umpire Death Stare," via Ross Gasmer at Sports City.com.
• Via Ray Robinson at the NY Times, "Jackie Robinson and a Barrier Unbroken."

Two big surprises have emerged from the film“42,” which deals with Jackie Robinson’s breaking major league baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. One, it appears that many people who never set foot in Ebbets Field in the 1940s and ’50s have been flocking to see it. And two, the chief tormentor of Robinson, Philadelphia Phillies Manager Ben Chapman, is portrayed exactly as he was in life: a meanspirited, unreconstructed bigot. 

• Come on, people!  When you place a bid on eBay you are contractually obligated to pay.  Even if you meant it as a joke!  Via Susan Lulgjuraj at Beckett, the winning bidder to the Jack Hoffman autographed card that was to go to charity will not pay.  I think you should publicly out the guy for being a douchbag!!!
• Night Owl has another great enlightening post titled, "Everyone Changes".
• GCRL completes his 1963 Fleer Dodger team set.  Check it out here.
• Manny Ramirez moonwalks on the ballfield, via Zach Stoloff at NESN.com.  A video is included in the link. 
• Shawn Chaul, the man who built the greatest Gretzky collection of all time, shares some tip on how to build a memorabilia collection, via The National Post.

BUY FOR LOVE
“Be in it for the enjoyment,” he says. “Don’t ever think of sports memorabilia as an investment. It’s like a car. It’s an expense. Don’t ever plan on getting your money back. When you’re in it for the enjoyment, you’re never going to pay more than you’re comfortable spending. Then you can spend with heart.”

• This is some very sad news.  Zach Sobiech, who wrote a song called "Clouds" after discovering that his cancer became terminal, just passed away at the age of 18.  RIP, Zach.  Below is his song.  My eyes are starting to tear - it's too dusty in here.

Video Link:
Hat Tip: America Blog

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