Blog Kiosk: 10/13/2016 - Dodgers Links - Game 5 is Tonight!

I thought the above photo was worth noting.

The last time the Dodgers faced off against the Washington Nationals franchise in a Game 5 was 35 years ago.  It was 1981 and our opponent was known as the Montreal Expos.  Having never reached postseason play, the Expos leaned on two future Hall of Famers (potentially three if you consider Tim Raines) to take them to the promised land.  Unfortunately, they had the Dodgers to deal with... And Fernando Valenzuela... And Rick Monday.

As you surely know, Fernando pitched a gem.  He went 8 2/3 innings, recording six strike outs, three walks and allowed just one run.  Bob Welch came in to pitch a one out save.  The Dodgers offense was highlighted by a dramatic ninth inning home run off the bat of outfielder Rick Monday, as seen in the photo above.  Go here to watch Monday's home run.

So if history does repeat itself we just might see a young Mexican pitcher named Julio Urias, who's expected to pitch tonight, and an outfielder named Andre Ethier, who happens to wear Monday's number #16, do something incredible. 

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1938 Leo "The Lip" Durocher is named the new manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  In 1974 Dodgers closer Mike Marshall picked off A's designated runner Herb Washington to get the second out in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series.  He would eventually record a save to preserve the Dodgers only win in the series.  Oakland would win the title in Game 5.  You can watch the pick-off here.

Chase Utley 2016 Topps Now NLDS Card - #574

Chase Utley saved our collective hides yesterday when he slapped a single through the right side of the infield to score the winning run for the Dodgers in the bottom of the eight inning.  It was both a moment of elation and relief, and I think it's fair to say that Utley's been quite a godsend since he decided to wear Dodger Blue to close-out his career.

In commemoration of his base hit Topps has issued his very first 23016 Topps Now card.  Go here to check it out and order.  It says the following on the reverse:

No stranger to the big stage of the Postseason over his 14-year career, Chase Utley provides the Dodgers lineup with a calming presence at the plate and in the field.  Trailing the Washington Nationals two games to one in the NLDS, Chase lived up to that billing in Game 4.  The second baseman singled in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth and then preserved the lead in the ninth with a spectacular glove flip to closer Kenley Jansen, who was covering first.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 367.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Eric Karros, James Worthy and Marreese Speights

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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This coming Saturday, October 15th former Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros will be signing free autographs at the Grand Opening of a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Thousand Oaks from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.  Go here for information.

Blog Kiosk: 10/12/2016 - Dodgers Links - Dodgers Advance to Game 5 - WooHoo!

Clayton Kershaw gave it all he got, and fortunately he provided enough... just enough.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“That’s the thing,” Dave Roberts said. “That’s one of the challenges we talk about in our clubhouse, is after any game, whether it be a playoff game or a regular-season game, you should not be only physically but mentally exhausted. And the thing is, his conviction, his preparation … for Clayton to leave every bit of himself out there speaks to why he’s great. That’s why he’s the best pitcher on the planet.”

He went 6 2/3 innings, struck out eleven, walked two, allowed an uncharacteristic seven hits and five earned runs.  If not for a bullpen that couldn't record a third out fast enough -- when Kershaw was pulled with the bases loaded in the seventh inning -- his numbers would've looked better.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"I felt really, really good about it until the last, like, four minutes," Kershaw said. "It's a weird feeling, I guess, more than anything. You kind of have to swallow your pride a little bit and realize we won the game and be excited about it. We get to go back to D.C."

Fortunately, some late game heroics and clutch hitting saved the day; i.e. Toles and Ethier getting on-base for Utley to drive in the winning run in the eighth inning.  The Dodgers pulled out an 6-5 victory to send the series to five games.

Photo above via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Juan, Jill Weisleder, Mike Zito, Patrick Gee and Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1916 the Boston Red Sox won Game 5 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) to win their fourth-ever championship.  In 1920 the Cleveland Indians defeated the Brooklyn Robins to win the World Series.  In 1988 Orel Hershiser threw a five-hit shutout victory, 6-0, against the NY Mets in Game 7 of the NLCS to advance to the World Series.

2016 Topps Mini Factory Set - A Corey Seager Bonus Card

For the second year in a row Topps has released, exclusively for sale online, a mini-version of the flagship 2016 Topps Baseball card set - Series 1 & 2.  Go here to check it out and order. 

The set includes not only eleven random base parallels numbered to only ten copies or less, but also includes a complete ten-card insert set fashioned after the always popular 1975 Topps Baseball card design.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Only one Dodger player is included in this set.  Check it out below. 

BC-1 Corey Seager

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Blog Kiosk: 10/11/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Scully and Kershaw to Pitch Game 4

It just wasn't Kenta's day.  Per Ken Gurnick and Jamal Collier at MLB.com:

"I felt fine physically. I thought I had my stuff today, but again, they executed, they really executed today," said Maeda. "It was very regrettable that it didn't turn out to be a good outing. I understand it was a big situation, I went in there as a must-win situation in terms of preparing for this. I wasn't nervous at all, it just wasn't my day today."

Heck, even our ace closer had it tough.  Kenley Jansen gave up four runs in the ninth inning:

 "I was fighting with myself a lot today," said Jansen. "Just clearly was trying to fight and get out of the inning. It definitely was tough to get a rhythm."

The Dodgers got embarrassed, 8-3, and now are on the brink of elimination. 

BTW, tonight's Game 4 match-up with the Washington Nationals will be at 2:05 PM.  The photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon and Jill Weisleder from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1965 Willie Davis became just the second player to steal three bases in a World Series game.  He did it against the Twins in Game 5 of the '65 series.  The other person to do it was Honus Wagner on this exact same day in 1909.  In 1978 Bob Welch struck out Reggie Jackson on a full count with two outs in the ninth in Game 2 of the World Series to dramatically preserving a 4-3 Dodger victory over the Yankees.  In 1981 Jerry Reuss threw a five shutout against the Astros to win the best-of-five divisional series and advance to the National League Championship Series against the Montreal Expos.