Mash it Up - Dodger Style

It's all the rage these days. Combine two seemingly incongruent things, and watch the pair blossom into a rose.  So, when noted .gif creator and photoshop savant @akaTheConman decided to mash together the 2015 Dodgers with the hit television show "Parks and Recreation" the result was magical.  Check it out below:

Not to be outdone, inspired reddit user u/NightHawk_88 decided to follow TheConman's lead.  He/She mashed together the Dodgers with "The Office" to make a brilliant video.  Watch it below.   

Video Link:

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2015 Topps Series 1 - Dodgers - Highlight, Inspirations, Robbed and Logo Pin Relic Cards

Here are even more Dodger insert cards to gaze at.  Featured below are the Highlight of the Year, Inspirations Duals, Robbed and MLB Silhouetted Batter Logo Pin Manufactured Relic Cards.  Go here for all of my past post on this set.

Highlight of the Year

#H-21 Fernando Valenzuela

Highlight of the Year Relics (#/99)

#HYR-FV Fernando Valenzuela

Blog Kiosk: 2/10/2015 - Dodgers Links - Some odds and Ends

I've got Spring Training on the mind.  So when I catch a glimpse of a vintage photo from the preseason I pay attention.  Featured above is a March 16, 1935 ACME press photograph of utilityman Jim Bucher at the Dodgers training camp in Orlando.  He is hard at work practicing on the field while the police keep an watchful eye on him.  No doubt ensuring no error is committed.  Pic found via eBay, here.

BTW, Jim Bucher was valued more for his defensive than his work with the bat.  He played all over the diamond, platooning at 2nd and 3rd base, but was also versatile enough to play all three outfield positions.  Bucher also batted .269 in his four years in Brooklyn; posting career highs in 1935 by batting .302, hitting 7 home runs and 58 RBI's.  His claim to Baseball fame is that he was part of the package the Dodgers sent to the Cardinals for future Hall of Famer Leo Durocher in 1937.

Below are some more links to check out:

• I think Jon Weisman makes a salient point.  Via his article yesterday at Dodger Insider, "The politics of fandom."

But I can’t pretend to understand those who go claim to know the future, who don’t merely fear future disappointment but rather are convinced they have proof of it. Because that flies in the face of everything sports and life have taught us, that in the world of human beings, the unexpected happens. And yes, the odds are worse for some than others, but certainly it didn’t make sense to plant the flag of hopelessness on a first-place team.

I don’t believe in blind faith — I disavow it. But blind cynicism is no better.

• Via Eric Edwards at Dodger Insider, "Dodger Fans Give Back."  The Dodger FanFest garnered more than $135,000 for the LA Dodger Foundation.
• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Get to know this year’s foreign imports: Hector Olivera."
• Holy Moly!  Julio Franco lives!  Via Mike Axisa at CBS Sports, "Julio Franco, 56, joins semi-pro team in Japan as player-manager."  
• This might be the best thing ever.  As a part of the current "Dodger Takeover" of the r/baseball reddit, Dodger fan r/bq87 put together a fantastic video called the "Ryuribe Compilation."  It features the best bromance in the game.  Watch it below.

Video Link:

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2015 Topps Series 1 - Dodgers - Archetypes, Baseball History and Gallery of Greats Cards

Here's a look at some more Dodger insert cards within 2015 Topps Series 1.  Featured below are the Archetypes, Baseball History and Gallery of Greats insert, relic and autograph.  Go here for all of my past post on this set.

Unfortunately, several of the autograph cards have yet to be unearthed.  They are all listed below.  All of the Dodger "Gallery of Greats" autograph insert cards are available only through a redemption card.

Archetypes

#A-5 Yasiel Puig

#A-21 Jackie Robinson

Blog Kiosk: 2/9/2015 - Dodger Links - Dodgers Represented at Grammy's

The first issue of Dodger Insider magazine is coming out soon, and it includes both Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins on the cover.  Check it out above.  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider shares some highlights of what's inside, here.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Who'd a thunk that the Dodgers would win the Grammy's?  But they did, and it was all thanks to Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds.  He attended this past weekend Grammy awards wearing a full Dodger uniform.  Check out a pic of him with drummer Brann Dailor, via Eric Alper on twitter.  Unfortunately, they didn't win a Grammy for Best Metal Performance of the year.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers prevalent at Hector Olivera showcase in Dominican Republic."

Of all the teams at the showcase today, the Dodgers had the most notable presence. Dodgers vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes, VP of amateur and international scouting David Finley and director of player personnel Galen Carr were all there. 

• Via Jonah Keri at Grantland, "Baseball’s Worst Contracts."  Andre Ethier's deal with the Dodgers ranks as #9 on his list.

Ethier was a good hitter when the Dodgers dropped a five-year contract into his lap in June 2012, but he wasn’t particularly good at anything else, making the extension a puzzler at the time, and a decision that has looked worse with each passing day. 

• Everyone appears high on Kike Hernandez, via a tweet by Peter Gammons:

Scout thinks the best young player in the Caribbean Series is Inf. Kike Hernandez, a piece of the Dee Gordon deal that got LA Howie Kendrick
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) February 6, 2015

• Vie Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers sign B.J. Rosenberg, Ramon Troncoso to minor league contracts."
• BTW, the Dodgers are currently hiring for seasonal/part-time work for the upcoming season.  Have you ever wanted to be a Dodger ball boy/girl?  Go here for information.  Are you interested in wearing the Dodger bobblehead costume at games?  Go here for information.  Do you want to be a Dodger Blue Crew Member?  Go here for information.

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Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi went on the Tweet Seat Today

Inquiring minds want to know... everything.

We want to know who you are, what you will be doing and when should we expect a championship.  Will there be any more trades, signings of any more free agents or is a certain Cuban in our crosshairs?  Heck, there isn't much we don't want to know about our Dodgers, so when one of the front office honchos decides to stick his head out of the cave for a public grillin' you better take heed.

This afternoon Dodger GM Farhan Zaidi, a new hire for the club, decided to come out of the shadows and onto twitter for a "Tweet Seat" session with fans and I've got a collection of the best responses below. 

BTW, this was one of several "Tweet Seat" interactions the Dodgers have hosted over the past several years.  Past participants include Hyun-Jin Ryu, Zack Greinke, Ricky Nolasco, Corey Seager and Vin Scully.  Check out all of my past post on these events here.

Now, on to Zaidi's twitter adventure.

First, he is asked to address the current bullpen situation by @luisace82 & @HLPresents:

.@luisace82 we're constantly looking for ways to upgrade the ML roster. I like our current bullpen, though.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 6, 2015