2015 Panini Contenders Baseball - The Dodger Insert Cards

Following up on Thursday's blog post featuring the Dodger base cards found in packs of 2015 Panini Contenders Baseball, I now show all of the Dodger insert cards that are available.  Check them out below.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.  I hope to have pics of most of the autographed cards in a couple of days.

As you can see, 2015 first round pick Walker Buehler (24th overall) , who has yet to pitch for the club due to Tommy John surgery, is all over the set.

Class Reunion

#12 Walker Buehler

Blog Kiosk: 11/16/2015 - Dodger Links - Cutting Payroll, Kiké's Plea and RIP George Genovese

Following up on Joc Pederson's plea to Zack Grineke on instagram, Kiké Hernandez went onto twitter with his own attempt at swaying the ace pitcher to stay Blue.  He wrote the following while including the above two photographs:

Dear Zack, I have no money to offer you but this is my pitch! PLEASEEEEE stay! 🙏🏼 #21 pic.twitter.com/BwEm0MAghC

— Enrique Hernandez (@kikehndez) November 14, 2015

You'd have to be a monster to say no to Kike.  After all, how can you resist a guy who not only sports your uniform number but also dons that magical hairdo that had fans swooning. 

Below are more links to check out:

• Legendary Scout George Genovese (who worked for Giants, Dodgers, Cardinals and Marlins) passed away last night.  RIP, George Genovese.  Via a tweet by Bob Nightengale:

George Genovese, perhaps the greatest baseball scout who ever lived, passed away last night, his family says. #SFGiants

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 16, 2015

• The managerial field narrows even further.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers' manager search looks to be three-man race after Erstad exits."

Humbled to be asked to interview for Dodgers job but Lincoln is where my heart is. Looked my kids in the eyes & knew we needed to stay.

— Darin Erstad (@Dstad17) November 15, 2015

• I never believed the Dodgers could maintain the payroll they had, so it had to come down to earth eventually.  Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Money is still an object for Dodgers, who are trying to cut payroll from $300 million."

That happened in 2015, primarily as a strategy to amass organizational depth by subsidizing close to $100 million in salaries of players who played elsewhere. The payroll will drop substantially in 2016, to what Boehly said he believed would be much closer to $200 million than $300 million.

"We're looking toward building something long-term, and sustainable," he said.

Leading the league in payroll every year, he said, is not sustainable.

"I think sustainable is more like the league average," Boehly said, "plus some, or plus a lot."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Jacob Scavuzzo keeps hitting, Dodgers showing versatility in Arizona Fall League."
• Via Erin Edwards at Dodger Insider, "LADF online Dodgers memorabilia auction begins." 

Now through December 7 , LADF will be hosting an online auction with autographed memorabilia, including items from your favorite current and former Dodger players. Go to dodgers.com/auction to place your bid on autographed baseball and jerseys.

• Via John Thorn at Our Game, "Diamond Visions: Baseball’s Greatest Illustration Art."  Thorn writes about some of the most fantastic 19th century Baseball art available.

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Blog Kiosk: 11/14/2015 - Dodger Links - Cricket, Scully and the Manager Search Narrowing

Here's a look at where the wicket is placed on the pitch at Dodger Stadium.  Pic above tweeted by Nick @njmiller4.  The Cricket All-Stars match is tonight at 6:30 PM and you can go here for ticket information.

Young Ryan hitting @ShaneWarne for 6 during his @MasterCard #pricelesssurprises experience pic.twitter.com/8ASmup9S66

— Cricket All Stars (@T20AllStars) November 13, 2015

Below are more links to check out:

• You should watch this.  Via CBS, "Exclusive Interview: Jim Hill Sits Down With Vin And Sandy Scully."

“What we did Jim, really, in trying to be fair, believe it or not, one of the guidelines for us was ‘The Brady Bunch’ on television,” Scully said. “Not so much for Sandy and me, but for our children, because they would watch ‘The Brady Bunch’, they would relate to that situation of families melding together.”

• The search for a new Dodger manager is narrowing.  Via Jim Bowden at ESPN Insider, "Dodgers narrow managerial search to four candidates."

The Los Angeles Dodgers have interviewed nine candidates for their managerial opening and are going to bring back four of them as finalists next week. The four will come from the following five candidates: Bud Black, Darrin Erstad, Gabe Kapler, Kirk Gibson and Dave Roberts. The rest of the field is no longer in contention, according to sources familiar with the search.

JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers has a different take:

One source told me that three candidates, not four, will get second interviews, and that one of the three might not be from the group of five ESPN reported. So we’ll see. The Dodgers aren’t confirming a specific number of second-interview candidates yet. 

• Wow. Via Owen Watson at FanGraphs, "The 2015 Rookie Class Was the Best in 100 Years."
• LOL!  I guess no one loves Chris Denorfia.  Via Steven Luke at NBC San Diego, "600 Padres Bobbleheads Mysteriously Left Near Local Residents' Doorstep." 

“We thought it was from a drug cartel or something,” echoed roommate Jalena Lau. “But when we went through them, they were just regular bobbleheads."

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Brett Anderson to Stay Blue - Accepts Qualifying Offer

Dodger starter Brett Anderson had a decision to make.  Will he stay or will he go.

Now we have an answer.  According to a tweet by Buster Olney, he has decided to stay a Dodger:

Brett Anderson accepted the Dodgers' qualifying offer.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 13, 2015

What this means is that Brett Anderson will continue pitching for the club in 2016 for a salary of $15,800,000.00.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

Anderson, who turns 28 just before Spring Training, set a career high in innings (180 1/3) this year and had his best season since 2009, with a 3.69 ERA, a career-high 18 quality starts and an MLB-leading 66.3 percent groundball rate.

I gotta say that I'm happy to have him back.  He had a good season, and figures on being an important cog in the Dodger rotation next year.

BTW, Anderson commented just a moment ago on twitter about his decision:

Here's to being back in Dodger Blue for at least another year.

— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) November 13, 2015

And teammate Justin Turner welcomed him back:

@BrettAnderson35 And to playing 10 feet in front of the baseline all year #NoMoreSwingingBunts Glad to have you back buddy! #LA

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) November 13, 2015

In celebration of his decision to stay with the club I made the above fantasy card of him.  The photograph was taken by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 and I used both the 1972 Topps Baseball card designs.

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Blog Kiosk: 11/13/2015 - Dodger Links - Gordon, Ryu and Cricket at Dodger Stadium

Who are these bloke's in the photo above?

They are the international cricket all-stars who are scheduled to play an exhibition game at Dodger Stadium tomorrow evening.  Via David Wharton at the LA Times:

The Cricket All-Stars tour features 29 of the best players from the past two decades, with a roster including renowned batsman Brian Lara of Trinidad and Tobago and bowlers Wasim Akram of Pakistan and Glenn McGrath of Australia.

Warne, famed for his bowling skills, has come out of retirement to be one of the captains. Tendulkar has done likewise after a career that saw him help India to the 2011 World Cup and become the only player to complete 30,000 runs in international competition.

In other words, many of these guys are a big deal in the sport.  I don't know much about the game (except that matches can go on for days), but have always been fascinated by it.  After all, cricket is kind of like Baseball's long lost cousin from across the pond.  Go here to get tickets.

One other thing, why have I not seen any pics of what Dodger Stadium looks like as a cricket field?  I've search high and low online and I can't find a thing.  What's the deal with that?  Will someone please take some pics and post them online.

Photo above via Sachin Tendulkar on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Wow!  Dee Gordon has had a fantastic winter so far.  Not only did he end the season as the batting crown and stolen base winner, but he also took home the gold glove and silver slugger awards.  Congrats!  We may yet rue the day we gave up on his promise.  I also think it's fair to say that the Marlins are coming out smelling like roses on that trade right now.  Of course, we've yet to truly see the promise of Hernandez, Barnes, Hatcher and a future draft pick (assuming Kendrick goes elsewhere).  Still, Gordon's break-out does make me wonder what could have been.

Thank you Franklin Stubbs and Gene Clines for spending countless hours working with me in 2014 so I could hone my skills.

— Dee Gordon (@FlashGJr) November 13, 2015

• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi reflects on trade of Dee Gordon to Marlins."

I would say he exceeded our expectations," Zaidi said. "I think he exceeded everybody's expectations. That's a testament to him and his work ethic and his ability to improve. There were definitely people in our organization that felt like he had shown that ability to improve."

• Congrats!  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Maury Wills to receive lifetime honor at scouts dinner."
• Via Scott Pratt at RotoGraphs, "Justin Turner, The Forgotten Dodgers Star."

When the Dodgers traded Juan Uribe on May 27, long-time super utility player Justin Turner finally became a full-time starter. In the months since, Turner’s performance earned him praise, including from Dave Cameron on JABO, but it didn’t quite click for me just how good Turner had been until I looked at his offensive numbers from the past two seasons. Among hitters with at least 500 plate appearances since 2014, Turner has the 11th-best wRC+ (148), just behind Anthony Rizzo and ahead of players including Nelson Cruz, Jose Abreu, Michael Brantley, and the likely first selected fantasy third baseman in 2016 drafts, Josh Donaldson.

• This is great news.  Via Brian Han at the Korea Times, "A new Ryu: Dodgers’ pitcher slimmer, stronger returning from surgery."

“He has been speeding up his rehab,” it wrote in a Thursday press release. “He’s been working really hard. On behalf of the player, we’d like to thank the fans for supporting him through his recovery so far. He hasn’t been down on himself, and things have gone well.”

Furthermore, U.S. agent Scott Boras told reporters that he has been throwing long toss from 90 feet and “should be ready to go for spring training.”

• Robot Chicken presents Steve Aoki as the newest Dodger pitcher.  (Hat Tip: u/dablumoon on reddit)

Video Link:

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2015 Panini Contenders Baseball - The Dodger Base Cards

Panini America has been making fine use of the Team USA and Collegiate licenses.  They recently put out their Stars & Stripes and Collegiate box sets, and now they have released their Contenders Baseball card set.  It features players (both old and new) in either their university or Team USA garb.  Check out a complete checklist here.

Several of the Dodgers' top prospects are featured; including Seager, Urias, Buehler and Pfeifer.  Check out the base cards below.  Of special note, former Dodger outfielder Frank Howard and hitting coach Mark McGwire are shown in their alumni uniforms.  I'm hopeful that I correctly identified all the Dodger prospects in this set (since they only make mention of their college), but if I missed anyone please let me know.  I should have pics of the Dodger inserts and autographed cards in the next few days.

Base Season Tickets

#2 Corey Seager                                   #41 Frank Howard