Zack Greinke Wins the Silver Slugger Award - AJ Ellis Provides Some Comic Relief

This is no surprise.  Zack Greinke proved that he can swing the bat.  Heck, at times, I thought he was a better option off the bench than who we had.  In fact, he pinch-hit once this season against the Diamondbacks.  He came up for Paco Rodriguez in the 10th inning in a 5-5 tie, and walked.

Per a Dodgers press release:

Louisville Slugger announced today that pitcher Zack Greinke won his first-career Silver Slugger Award during a special hour-long telecast on MLB Network.

Greinke, 30, led qualifying Major League pitchers with a .328 batting average, 19 hits, a .409 on-base percentage and two stolen bases (T-1st), while ranking among the leaders in runs scored (5, T-7th) and doubles (3, T-3rd). He batted .368 with runners on base (7-for-19) and hit .357 with runners in scoring position (5-for-14), while posting a .500 batting average (6-for-12 with a double) against left-handed pitchers.

Since 1974, Greinke's batting average was the second-highest by a Dodger pitcher, behind only Orel Hershiser's .356 mark in 1993, while his on-base percentage was the highest during that period.

With 19 hits in 2013, Greinke, who has spent only two and a half seasons of his 10-year big league career in the National League, more than doubled his career hit total (18 entering the season) to raise his career batting average to .226 along with eight doubles, three homers and eight RBI in 300 games.

Greinke also had a stellar season on the mound, going 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 28 starts in his first season with the Dodgers.

Greinke is the first Dodger to be honored with a Silver Slugger since outfielder Matt Kemp won in 2011 and the first Los Angeles pitcher to take home the award since Orel Hershiser in 1993. It's the fifth time a Dodger pitcher has been awarded a Silver Slugger since the creation of the award in 1980 and 23rd time overall that a Los Angeles player has won the award, led by Mike Piazza's five trophies.

Pic at the very top via the @Dodgers on twitter.

BTW, AJ Ellis decided to send his congratulations this afternoon on twitter.  It's a hoot!

Congrats on Silver Slugger to best pure hitter on @Dodgers Zack Grenkie. We will never hear the end of this one.
— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) November 7, 2013

Appreciate all those spell checking my tweets. I'm sure Zach Grenkie won't mind. #thatsajoketoo
— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) November 7, 2013

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For the Golfers Out There - Spend Monday at Frank Robinson's Celebrity Golf Tournament with Some MLB Stars

This sounds like it could be fun. 

This coming Monday is the inaugural Frank Robinson Celebrity Golf Tournament on Monday, November 11, at 9:00 AM at the Wilshire Country Club. Go here to sign-up.

UPDATE:  BTW, this is far from cheap.  It's a foursome sponsorship price of $4,500.00 and $1,200.00 for individuals (from what I'm told).  Keep in mind that it's a charity event being held at a rather posh place.

UPDATE II:  The following changes have occurred with sports/entertainment celebrity participants:

IN:
Cedric the Entertainer
Rocky Carroll

OUT:
Anthony Anderson
Hank Conger
Mike Piazza
Dominic Smith
Mark Trumbo
Scott Wolf 

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Steve Garvey, Steve Sax, Dale Murphy, Wally Joyner, Nick Young of the Lakers and Norm Nixon

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.

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Here is something that came out of nowhere.  According to Steve Garvey on twitter, he will be in Palm Desert this coming Sunday at the grand opening of a Dick's Sporting Goods store at the Westfield Palm Desert Mall from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.

Dick's Sporting Goods
WESTFIELD PALM DESERT  
72-800 HIGHWAY 111, SUITE 2010
PALM DESERT, CA 92260
760-340-3526

Palm Desert Ca is in the Big Leagues! @DICKS Sporting Goods is Opening with Yours Truly this Sunday @WestfieldPD 12:30-2:30 See you There😎
— Steve Garvey (@SteveGarvey6) November 6, 2013

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On Thursday, November 7th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM both Dale Murphy and Wally Joyner will be signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans at The OC Dugout in Anaheim.  This is a pay event.  Go here for more information.

The OC Dugout
1238 S. Beach Blvd., Ste. K
Anaheim, California 92804
(714) 527-6319

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Steve Sax will be at Manuel's El Tepeyac Cafe on Saturday, November 9 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.  See the flyer below.

Manuel's El Tepeyac Cafe
13131 Crossroads Pkwy S. 
City of Industry, CA
(562) 695-2277

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Lakers forward Nick Young will be signing autographs at Westside Sportscards & Memorabilia in Santa Monica on Saturday, November  from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.  Check out the flyer below.

Westside Sportscards & Memorabilia
1431 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, California 90404
310-828-1777

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Norm Nixon will be at Frank & Sons on Saturday, November 9 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.  Check out the flyer below.

Frank & Sons
19649 San Jose Ave
City of Industry, CA 91748

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Blog Kiosk: 11/6/2013 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Puig and Mattingly are Finalist for the Big Awards

An extremely cheery Roy Campanella shows of his catch, a sea trout, that he caught between workouts at Dodgertown in Vero Beach.  The above pic was found on ebay.

• Josh Jackson at MiLB writes, "Prospect Q&A: Seager's magical year: Dodgers prospect talks about his baseball family, busting out".

MiLB.com: Having so much going on on the periphery could be overwhelming for some players your age. Do you have to get into a certain mind-set to only take from that stuff the time and energy that will help you?
Seager: Yeah, for sure. You never want to root against anybody or anything like that, but you can't get caught up in somebody else's game. You root for everybody, but you really need to remember that the most important thing, by far, is to handle your own business.

• Puig Destroyer will be releasing their 2nd EP in 2 weeks, per their facebook.
• Speaking of Puig, he is a finalist for Rookie of the Year, via a tweet from the @Dodgers.  The fact that Ryu is not a finalist is a surprise to me.  I thought he was better than Shelby Miller.  Not by much, but still better.  BTW, Don Mattingly is also a finalist for NL Manager of the Year and Clayton Kershaw is a finalist for the NL Cy Young.

No Surprise Here: @YasielPuig is a National League Rookie of the Year finalist.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 5, 2013

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Wallach could move from third to dugout in '14: After being passed over for managerial openings, LA bench coach a possibility".
• If you are going to be in the Dover, Delaware area this weekend then this might be worth your time.  Former Dodger Delino DeShields will be there to sign autographs.  Sons of Steve Garvey has all the detailsde.
• Chad Moriyama makes note of the 25 Dodger minor leaguers that are hitting free agency.
• Hollie Webb of the Chattanoogan.com tells us that Yasiel Puig's reckless driving charge has been dismissed.  (Hat Tip: Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts)
• David Brown at Big League Stew tells us that, "Expanded video replay gets first test at Arizona Fall League game".

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2013 Topps Triple Threads - The Dodgers Relic Inserts

Here is my final post featuring Dodgers cards within Topps 2013 Triple Threads set.  Go here to see all of my previous post from this set.  This time, I show the Dodger relic cards.  Check them out below.

Triple Threads Legends Relics

#TTRL-JR Jackie Robinson

Triple Threads Relics

Andre Ethier

#TTR-AE1                                       #TTR-AE2

#TTR-AE3

Adrian Gonzalez

#TTR-AG1                               #TTR-AG2

#TTR-AG3

Carl Crawford

#TTR-CC1                                   #TTR-CC2

#TTR-CC3

Matt Kemp

#TTR-MK1                                 #TTR-MK2

#TTR-MK3

Zack Greinke

#TTR-ZG1                                      #TTR-ZG2

#TTR-ZG3

Triple Threads Relic Combos

#TTRC-HGA1 Alonso, Howard & Adrian Gonzalez

#TTRC-KGG Kershaw, Greinke & Gonzalez

#TTRC-KKG Kershaw, Kemp & Gonzalez

#TTRC-KSH Kershaw, Harvey & Strasburg

#TTRC-SKL Sale, Kershaw & Lee

#TTRC-VGG Goldschmidt, Votto & Gonzalez

Triple Threads Relic Double Combos

#TTRDC-6 Jackson, Griffey Jr., Kemp, Jackson, Harper & McCutchen

Clayton Kershaw is featured with several different Triple Threads All-Star cards.  Most of which are "1 of 1's".  The Laundry Tag All-Star card has yet to be found (#ASLT-CKE).  A checklist I've seen indicates that Matt Kemp also has some cards, but I have to see any.  Considering he was not a member of the 2013 All-Star team, I wouldn't be surprised if those cards do not exist.  In other words, I think the checklist I've seen is inaccurate.

Triple Threads All-Star Patches

#ASP-CKE Clayton Kershaw

Triple Threads All-Star Jumbo Sleeve Patches

#AJSP-CKE Clayton Kershaw

Triple Threads All-Star Jumbo Sleeve Team Patches

#JSTP-CKE Clayton Kershaw

Triple Threads All-Star MLB Logo Patches

#AMLP-CKE Clayton Kershaw

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Dodgers Outfielder Nick Chili Buss Makes Topps 2013 AAA All-Star Team

With the winter season upon us all we can do is speculate about future deals, and count the awards that will be coming the Dodgers way.  

Fortunately, after years of practice I've become practically immune to the inane rumblings of the chattering class.  So, unsubstantiated rumors and potential trades hardly cause the heartburn it did when I was a younger lad - with exception of the recent Price rumors that had me quivering from the stupidity.  

As for year-end awards, all I can do is wait for their announcements.  We got shut out on the Gold Glove front, but that's small potatoes compared to whats coming down the pike.  (Cy Young, anyone)  From here on, we are likely to see a progressive number of awards and accolades that could make a grown man blush.

This morning we find out that Dodgers AAA outfielder Nick Buss, who was called up late this season for the first time in his career, was named to the MiLB and Topps 2013 AAA All-Star Team.  Per a report at MiLB.

Nick Buss (27) of Southfield, Mich., finished the season as the Pacific Coast League's leader in RBIs (100). He also finished in the top 10 in hits (139), runs (84), slugging percentage (.525) and OPS (.888). The Albuquerque Isotopes outfielder also hit 11 triples, good for second in the PCL. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Buss in the eighth round of the 2008 Draft.

Congrats, Nick... Or is Chili more appropriate?

Nick is more affectionately known as Chili.  Not because it's a nickname, but because it's his actual real name.  Really, his middle name is Chili, and he was named after ballplayer Chili Davis.

Below are his professional stats, via Baseball Reference.  He recorded his first MLB hit in his 2nd at-bat on Saturday, September 14th in a game against the Giants.  It was a single through the hole between 1st and 2nd base against Tim Lincecum.

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