Dodgers Force Friday Star Wars New Era Caps

MUST HAVE NOW!

Star Wars is everywhere.  It's a plague that has spread throughout the world - determined to take every hard earned dollar you have.  Nearly forty years of marketing madness has convinced everyone that you must consume everything related to "The Force," and unfortunately I am unable to break free from that grasp.

Please help me!  I'm salivating at the thought that the cap featured in the pics above and below actually exist.

As you surely know, the newest Star Wars trilogy begins later this year, so naturally a campaign has begun months in advance to sell, sell, sell.  As a part of the #ForceFriday marketing campaign starting today (all the new toys for the new movie are now available) New Era has released Star Wars themed caps. 

My head just exploded.

Three different styles exist, but each team has only one style available.  Styles include Darth Vader, a Storms Trooper and Boba Fett on the bill.  The Dodger lid features a Storm Trooper.  Go here to check out all of the caps that are available.

Hat Tip: Mike Oz at Big League Stew

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Seager Mania! - Take a Look at All the Early Corey Seager Cards

With Corey Seager now on the minds of just about every Dodger collector in the universe, I thought I would take a moment to run through a checklist of some of the earliest and likely most sought after Corey Seager cards in the hobby.  BTW, Cardboard Connection has a fantastic list of his Top-10 cards that you can check out here.  Featured below are most, if not all, of the Corey Seager cards produced from 2010 to 2012.  Please let me know if I missed anything.

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As most of you know, Seager was drafted by the Dodgers in 2012, but that doesn't mean he is without any cardboard gold during his prep years.  In fact, he had been scouted and pursued by the collecting public several years before becoming a pro.

In 2010 he was a member of the Team USA Under 16 club, so Topps included him in a couple of sets.  His very first Baseball card is in the 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects set.  There is a base card (as seen on the left below) and a companion autographed version (seen on the right below).  There is also a game-used relic card.  Of course, numerous parallels are available.

2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects

USA 16 & Under

#BDPP108                                               #USAA-18

2015 Panini Immaculate Baseball - The Dodger Autograph Cards

Here is a final look at Panini's Immaculate Baseball card set.  This time I share pics of most of the Dodger autograph cards that are available.  Unfortunately, I'm missing pics of a couple of them, so if you happen to run across them please pass it along.  For instance, I have yet to see the Fernando Valenzuela Immaculate Ink (#17) card that is numbered to only #10 copies.  The only other card I have yet to lay eyes on is the Shadowbox card of Corey Seager - which really sucks.  These cards look fantastic.  If Panini could use team logos I might call this card as one of the best of the year.

Immaculate Ink

#17 Fernando Valenzuela (#/10)

Immaculate Auto Material

#31 Adrian Gonzalez (#/20)

Blog Kiosk: 9/4/2015 - Dodger Links - It's Corey Seager's World, We're Just Here to Witness It

Corey Seager had quite a first day in Dodger Blue.  He was awoken early Thursday morning to the news that he was coming to the show.  Then jumped on a plane later that day, certainly after spreading the news to family and friends, towards San Diego.  It was there that the real circus began.  Given uniform #5 to wear, Seager was immediately surrounded by throngs of teammates and reporters.  All of whom, no doubt, had questions galore.

(pic via @SportsNetLA on twitter)

They prodded.  He answered.  The cross-examination seemingly lasted forever.  When the dust settled he followed his routine and prepared for the game.  Corey Seager would come onto the field that evening to play his first Major League game as the starting shortstop, and "oh boy" did he impress.

(GIF via @MLBGIFS on twitter)

After whiffing in his first at-bat in the 2nd inning, Corey doubled off of Padres pitcher Colin Rhea for his first Major League hit (You can watch it above).  He would soon score the Dodgers first run of the game on a Joc Pederson single.  Then in the 6th inning he single to center to drive in two runs to give the Dodger the lead, 5-4. 

Unfortunately, the Dodger bullpen did as they are wont to do this season - they imploded into a magnificent mess.  They surrendered four runs in the 8th inning to sink the Dodgers like an anchor in San Diego Bay.  Via Beth Maiman and Jay Paris at MLB.com:

"The first hit, that was really cool,'' Seager said. "That was my first thought where I was like, 'Wow, I'm actually here.'"

Via Mark Saxon at ESPN:

“It was a lot of fun,” Seager said. “It would have been nice to get a win, but at the end of the day, I still had fun on my first day.”

Although we don't have a victory to accompany a fantastic start for the young phenom, we do get an opportunity to see it all again.  He'll start tonight's game at thirdbase - spelling Justin Turner in the lineup. 

Photo at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers on twitter.  Check out some great photo by Jon from yesterday here.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "Seager call-up overshadows major movement Down of the Farm."
• Via Matthew Moreno at Dodgers Nation, "Mattingly Frustrated Over Missed Call, Exchange With Umpire."

He [Conroy] said it wasn’t neighborhood [play], I guess. Actually, he told me he doesn’t believe in the neighborhood play. So, I guess he changed the rules tonight, and it’s something for the league to think about. I didn’t really realize he could actually change the rules during the game. Jim Joyce believed in it the other day against the Cubs. I’m just frustrated right now.”

• Via Aaron Gleeman at Hardball Talk, "Dodgers are already fed up with 6.56 ERA-pitching, excuse-making Mat Latos."  Mattingly has him on the short-leash, as they say.
• This sounds really cool.  Unfortunately, much of LA won't be able to watch it.  This coming Sunday, September 6th SporteNet LA will premier “Sports shrines of LA: Dodger stadium” at 5:00 PM.  It is part one of a six-part documentary series featuring six different sports facilities in LA.  This episode will feature the history and several unforgettable moments at Dodger Stadium.  Other venues include STAPLES Center, The Forum, LA Memorial Coliseum, the Rose Bowl and StubHub Center.  Per a press release I received:

“Sports Shrines of LA: Dodger Stadium” also will provide fans with unique insight into little-known facts about the venue – including stories never heard before – such as why Sandy Koufax almost never pitched a single game in Dodger Stadium, the most challenging renovation project of the stadium, and why baseball is just one part of the stadium’s allure.  In addition, the special touches upon the Dodgers’ brief residency at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which served as the Dodgers home for four seasons from 1958-1961. 

• This has been a terribly bad saga, and as a Kings fan it gives me much shame.  As you may know, defenseman Slava Voynov pled no contest to misdemeanor “corporal injury to a spouse" - basically he beat his wife - a couple of months ago, and has been in jail ever since.  Well, he just got out and was immediately taken in by ICE.  Via Josh Cooper at Puck Daddy, "Slava Voynov taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."  Maybe he'll get deported so that I don't have to go through the moral quandary of rooting for a team with a wife-beater on it. 
• In lighter Kings news, watch the Kings build the Staples Center ice surface here.

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2015 Panini Immaculate Baseball - The Dodger Relic Cards

I am finally getting around to showing off some of the various Dodger insert cards available in Panini's Immaculate Baseball set.  On Monday I shared pics of the Dodger base cards. Featured below are the relic-only insert cards.  I hope to have the autograph cards up tomorrow.

Of note is the Immaculate Cleats Jumbo Card of Corey Seager.  Unfortunately, this card has yet to make an appearance online, but it represents something very new to Baseball card collectors.  It featured a jumbo sized relic piece of his shoe.  Based on what I've seen so far, these cards are the coolest things I've ever seen - and I'm not a huge fan of relic cards.  From what I understand, card manufacturers have been making cards like this for several years, but this is the first time its been done for Baseball.  I've included an example of one of these cards below.

Accolades Materials

#6 Don Drysdale

Welcome to the Blue, Corey Seager!

He's coming!

It was reported this morning, via twitter by Jon Heyman, that the Dodgers #1 prospect Corey Seager is coming up to the Show.

Dodgers are calling up corey seager, the top prospect in mlb

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) September 3, 2015

This hasn't been made official yet, but has been confirmed elsewhere.  I don't know if he'll make it to San Diego in time for tonight's game; considering his Triple-AAA teams division clinching victory last night.  Surely, he'll be there by Friday. 

The former first round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2012 (18th overall) is the younger brother of Mariner infielder Kyle Seager, so he has some Baseball bloodlines.  He is 21-years old, stands 6'4" tall, weights 215 lbs, and bats left-handed but throws right-handed.  Seager currently plays shortstop in Oklahoma City, but is projected to be our everyday thirdbaseman in the future.

I suspect with the number of injuries we've had lately on the infield he'll primarily serve as a backup shortstop (and possibly thirdbaseman) for the remainder of the season.  We will no doubt get a chance to see his bat off the bench in later innings.  Per Bill Shaikin on twitter, you should expect to see a lot of Seager:

#Dodgers said Corey Seager wouldn't come up unless he would play. He's coming up, via @dylanohernandez: http://t.co/B6lZIdHpRj

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 3, 2015

Currently, he ranks high on just about everybody's prospect list.  Seager is the #1 overall prospect at Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, Keith Law's list at ESPN and Kiley McDaniel's list at FanGraphs.  MLB ranks him #2 overall.  Via Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com:

Seager has a very advanced approach at the plate, especially for his age, and doesn't strike out much for someone with his power potential. He has a smooth and balanced swing, uses all fields well and has both bat speed and strength.

In celebration of Seager's promotion to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph from Spring Training taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 and the 1972 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career minor league stats, via Baseball-Reference:


UDPATE:  The Dodgers just made it official.  Below is the press release.  BTW, the Dodgers have also called up reliever Yimi Garcia:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of infielder Corey Seager (#5) and recalled right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia (#63) from Triple-A Oklahoma City, increasing the number of players on their active roster to 33. To create room for Seager on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles designated infielder Andy Wilkins for assignment.

Seager, 21, will be making his Major League debut in his fourth professional season after being selected by the Dodgers in the first round (18th overall) in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. Seager, who is rated by Baseball America as baseball’s top overall prospect, combined to hit .293 with 37 doubles, 18 home runs and 76 RBI in 125 minor league games this year with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he was selected a midseason Pacific Coast League All-Star. In the field, Seager has combined to appear in 104 games at shortstop and 19 games at third base this year. He was selected as the Dodgers’ 2014 Branch Rickey Minor League co-Player of the Year and, in four minor league campaigns, the North Carolina native has a .307 batting average with 62 homers and 278 RBI in 390 games.

Garcia, 25, has gone 3-3 with one save and a 3.55 ERA in 46 relief appearances in three stints with the Dodgers this year. He’s limited opponents to a .212 batting average with 58 strikeouts against just nine walks in 45.2 innings, while posting a 0.99 WHIP.

Wilkins was acquired from Toronto on May 3 in exchange for cash considerations and batted .249 with 18 home runs and 70 RBI in 105 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

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