My Choices for the 2013 Baseball Blogger Alliance Post Season Awards

The Baseball Bloggers Alliance is a 4-year old organization that brings together hundreds of Baseball blog writers from throughout North America to foster communication and collaboration.  We are encouraged to use one another to deepen our understanding of the game and the teams that play it. It is for this reason that I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the group

A side benefit to membership is having an opportunity to vote on end of the year awards; much like the more established BBWAA.  Here are my choices for the years best in the National League.

The Connie Mack Award is given to the top manager each year.

Clint Hurdle.  The Pittsburgh Pirates did great things in 2013.  They went from finishing 4 games below .500 last season to 26 games above .500 a year later.  That's a 30 game turnaround, and the franchises first winning record since 1992. Clint Hurdle took a band of misfit ballplayers and transformed them into a cohesive unit ready to battle for a pennant.  Sure, the stellar play of their MVP caliber outfielder Andrew McCutchen helped lead the way, but without an able skipper they would have likely just waded in the pool.

The Willie Mays Award is given to the top rookie each year.

Jose Fernandez.  This was a tough pick, but I believe Fernandez had a better rookie season then our rising star, Yasiel Puig.  At just 21 years of age he won 12 games for the lowly Miami Marlins.  In 28 starts he recorded 2.18 ERA, a 6.3 WAR, an 0.979 WHIP average, and a league leading low of just 5.8 hits per 9 innings.  As the lone representative in the All-Star game for the Marlins, he pitched a scoreless inning and struck out 2.

The Goose Gossage Award is given to the top reliever each year.

Craig Kimbrel.  The 2011 Rookie of the Year winner was just outstanding on the mound this season.  He tied with Jim Johnson of Baltimore for the Major League lead in saves with 50.  With a  devestating four-seam fastball clocked in the high-90's and a phenomenal curveball, he recorded a 1.21 ERA, a 0.881 WHIP average, and 13.2 strike outs per 9 innings.  Not only that, Craig Kimbrel is a good guy.  Via his website, he donates $100.00 per save and $25.00 for each strike out he records to help kids with cancer.

The Walter Johnson Award is given to the top pitcher each year.

Clayton Kershaw.  I don't think there's any doubt that Clayton Kershaw was the best starting pitcher in the Major Leagues this season.  He lead the Major Leagues (not just the National League) in ERA with 1.83 and a 0.915 WHIP average.  He also recorded a 2 shutouts, 232 strike outs, and a WAR of 7.9.  On top of that, he reached 1,000 career strike outs, was the NL Pitcher of the Month in July, won the Warren Spahn Award as the best left-hander in the Majors, and named onto the Sporting News NL All-Star Team at the end of the season.  We are in the midst of witnessing greatness, and this season was his best so far.

The Stan Musial Award is given to the top player each year.

Paul Goldschmidt.  This man should have been a Dodger.  He was originally drafted by us in 2006, but opted to go to college instead.  Damn that college education.  In 2013 he broke out in a big way.  Goldschmidt lead the league with 36 home runs, 125 RBI's, .551 Slugging Average, .952 OPS, and 332 total bases.  Furthermore, he was 4th with a .401 OBP, 4th with 182 hits, 3rd with 99 walks, and 3rd with 103 runs scored.  Goldschmidt was unstoppable.

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Blog Kiosk: 10/29/2013 - Dodgers Links - Seager & Garcia in Fall Star Game, Kershaw to be Honored this Saturday and Gold Gloves Announced Tonight

Check out Fernando Valenzuela 'behind the scenes' at Nacion ESPN, pic via twitter @DodgersPR.

• Just to let you know, the Gold Glove Awards announcement will be later this afternoon on ESPN, per a ESPN press release.  Five Dodgers are in the running for an award: AJ Ellis, Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez, Juan Uribe and Mark Ellis.
• BTW, DodgerTalk starts up again this coming Wednesday (and every Wednesday this winter) on AM570 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
• Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe writes, "The continuing baseball education of Corey Seager".

“One of the best things my brother told me was just to treat every stop like your own major leagues, and just kind of be in the moment, that way you’re not always looking up at all the levels you still have to go through,” he said. “It’s hard to do sometimes, but it was great advice.”

• BTW, Seager and Yimi Garcia will be in the AZ Fall League Falls-Star Game, via a tweet from @Dodgers.

#Dodgers prospects Yimi Garcia and Corey Seager have been selected to play in the @MLBazFallLeague Fall Stars Game.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 28, 2013

• Greg Zakwin at Chad Moriyama's site tells us more about some more Dodger prospects on the farm.
• If you are free this coming Saturday then you might want to check this out, via a tweet from Kershaw's Challenge.  Sharefest is recognizing Clayton Kershaw as its Honorary Chair.

Clayton & Ellen are excited to join @Sharefestinc on Nov 2nd in LA for their charity event! Tickets still on sale at http://t.co/2idNaPDdZg
— Kershaw's Challenge (@KershsChallenge) October 29, 2013

• Via Craig Calcaterra at Hardball Talk, "Doomsayers be damned: Baseball is healthy and ratings are strong".
• Chris Olds at Beckett writes, "Behind the Scenes: Where the magic happens in the sports card industry — outtakes & more".
• A twitter account named @BestFansStLouis does its level best to show that Cardinals fans are far from being the best fans in the league - that's such an overused phrase.  Heck, he just proves that their fans are just as dumb and vile as fans from any other team.
• Philip Van der Vossen at Gunaxin Sports shares some great photos of NFL Cheerleaders celebrating Halloween.  Va-va-voom!
• As a former marching band geek, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Ohio State Marching Band's routine this past weekend.  It's impressive. 

Video Link:

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2013 Topps Triple Threads Baseball - The Dodgers Base Cards

This past Friday Topps released their very popular Triple Threads set.  It includes numerous autographed and relic Dodger cards that I will show over the next few days.  For today, I share the Dodger base cards within the set.  See them below.

#16 Clayton Kershaw                         #36 Hanley Ramirez

#42 Jackie Robinson                            #49 Adrian Gonzalez

#69 Yasiel Puig                                      #85 Zack Greinke

#86 Sandy Koufax                                    #90 Matt Kemp

#92 Duke Snider

The Hyun-Jin Ryu "Future Phenoms Autograph Relic" card is numbered #117; which suggest it's a part of the base set.  Unfortunately, the Ryu card is not inserted into packs.  Instead, there is a redemption card.  Below is an example of that card.

Future Phenoms Autograph Relics

#117 Hyun-Jin Ryu

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Blog Kiosk: 10/28/2013 - Dodgers Links - Guerrero, Pederson and the Essence of Baseball

In honor of the World Series here's a great pic of the Fenway Park crowd at the 1912 World Series.  Pic via Michael Beschloss on twitter.

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA writes, "Dodgers winter league update: Joc Pederson on fire in Venezuela".
• Via Zach Links at MLB Trade Rumors, "Offseason Outlook: Los Angeles Dodgers".
• Alexander Guerrero heading to the Dominican Winter Leage, via JP Hoornstra on twitter.

Am told #Dodgers Alexander Guerrero plans to play in the Dominican Winter League; contract hasn't been approved by league's commissioner yet
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) October 27, 2013

• Masahiro Tanaka is considered the top Japanese ballplayer expected to sign with a MLB team this winter, and many believe the Dodgers are in the hunt.  Via a tweet from Bill Shaikin of the LA Times.

Just did interview with Japanese TV reporter who believes that Tanaka's top choices would be #Dodgers or #Yankees. Too soon to say for sure.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 27, 2013

• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA wonders, "Where does Chris Capuano go from here?" 
• Baseball America names Yasiel Puig and Hyun-Jin Ryu to their 2013 All-Rookie Team.
• This is excellent.  Via Craig Calcaterra at Hardball Talk, "The obstruction play provides a glimpse of the essence of baseball".

And what is baseball? A decidedly 19th century construct shaped by all manner of rules and conventions. A construct In which, unlike its 19th century contemporaries such as boxing, weightlifting or horse racing, physical prowess is nowhere as nearly close to everything. Rather, it’s about physical prowess being channeled alongside a set of ground rules and formalities that require the mind and discipline to work hand-in-hand with the body and its fast-twitch muscles. It’s a pursuit in which force being applied via instinct rather than calculation is almost always punished rather than rewarded.

• Via Mark Townsend at Big League Stew writes about the, "Dancing Royals fan featured in spoof baseball ad on 'Tonight Show'".

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Sunday Dodgers Videos

Here are this Sunday's Dodgers' Videos.

The Dodgers thank you for your support.

Video Link:

For the Postseason, Major League Baseball is trying out some new announcer talent from other popular sports. Jack Morris & Charley Steiner are the resident professionals but in the end Major League Baseball realizes that the only thing they need is Marcia Gay Harden.

MLB's Postseason Broadcaster Auditions from Marcia Gay Harden     

Video Link:

As you know doubt know by now, Yasiel Puig visited a little league park this week and tossed some batting practice for a young team.  This was in the description.

Yasiel Puig came to play ball with us at Northeast Little League! Thank You Mr. Puig!

Here is a video.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 10/26/2013 - Dodgers Links -

It looks like Tommy is having fun.  Check him out in the cargo area of a C-17 air transporter.  Pic via @TommyLasorda on twitter.

• Dustin Nosler at Feelin' Kinda Blue writes, "Dodgers would be wise to keep Joc Pederson for the foreseeable future".

Through 12 games, Pederson has a .545 (!) on-base percentage and .686 slugging percentage. That comes from a ridiculous 20:11 walk-to-strikeout ratio and seven extra base hits (3 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B) in 35 at-bats.

Pederson, 21, had a really good season with the Lookouts in 2013 and is making it even tougher for the Dodgers to consider trading the center fielder.

• Jay Mohr at AM570 speaks with Carl Crawford.  Listen to it here.
• BTW, Carl Crawford has just made a new facebook for himself.  Check it out here.
• Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors puts together a free agent profile on Brian Wilson.  I would love for him to stay a Dodger, but contract demands might not make that possible.
• Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts does level best to serve some humble pie.
• Per Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Tim Wallach interviews for Tigers manager opening, per reports".
• Greg Zakwin at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle recently completed a Matt Kemp rainbow collection.
• Phil Hecken at UniWatch writes, "Vancouver Baseball - Treasures Uncovered by BSmile".  There are a bunch of great vintage Baseball photographs.

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