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Friday, April 06, 2012

Game 2: Dodgers vs. Padres: Will Magic and McCourt Do Another Double Date?


Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres

Friday, April 6, 2012 at 7:05 PST

at PETCO Park

on KCAL and AM570

(pic from yesterdays game via twitter @CorkGaines)

Dodgers Lineup:
Dee Gordon SS,
Mark Ellis 2nd,
Matt Kemp CF,
Juan Rivera 1st,
Andre Ethier RF,
Jerry Hairston Jr. LF,
Juan Uribe 3rd,
AJ Ellis C,
Chad Billingsley P
Padres Lineup:
Cameron Maybin CF,
Will Venable RF,
Chase Headley 3B,
Jesus Guzman LF,
Yonder Alonso 1B,
Nick Hundley C,
Orlando Hudson 2B,
Jason Bartlett SS,
Cory Luebke P
Dodgers Starter Chad Billingsley will face off against Cory Luebke. Below are historical statistics for both of them.

Chad Billingsley


Cory Luebke

No Autograph Alley On Opening Night, But There Will Be the Following Weekend

Later on, I will post up some information about Opening Day at Dodger Stadium this coming Tuesday. At this time, though, I wanted to focus a bit on Autograph Alley at Dodger Stadium.

Unfortunately, on Opening Day there will not be any scheduled signers at Autograph Alley. I guess the spectacle of the day will make it too difficult. After all, there is likely to be a lot of activity going on where they usually set up.

That being said, Autograph Alley is not going away.

The weekend after Opening Day there will be some former Dodgers on hand to sign for fans before each game. Check out the schedule below.
Friday, April 13:
5:10 PM - 6:30 PM
Tim Leary

Saturday, April 14:
4:10 PM - 5:30 PM
Kenny Landreaux

Sunday, April 15:
11:10 AM- 12:30 PM (at Viva Los Doyers)
Derrel Thomas


Blog Kiosk: 4/6/2012

Panini unveils more preview picks of 2011 Prime Cuts Baseball that should be going out live in the next few days, via the Knights Lance. For the life of me, I still do not understand why they label it a 2011 product. We are already past the 1/4 mark of the new year.
  • Kershaw's Challenge is back. He'll be donating $100.00 for each strike out this season to Arise Africa. Go here to make your own donation to this worthy cause.
    During the 2012 season, which began yesterday with Kershaw on the mound for the Dodgers in San Diego, the funds will go to four diverse non-profit causes, including one in Southern California, one in the Kershaws’ home state of Texas, a national movement called “I Am Second,” and the work with orphans in Africa that started it all.
  • Man-O-Live! There are some rumbles being heard about the Magic/Kasten/Guggenheim group bid to buy the Dodgers, via SI.
    The group was expected to file a Purchase and Sale Agreement with MLB earlier this week, but postponed the filing for two days before submitting a short form agreement that lacked what MLB regards as most of the necessary details. Of particular interest to MLB is a breakdown of where the money is coming from to cover the $2.15 billion sale price and what role McCourt has in the ownership, control and profit-sharing of the Dodger Stadium parking lots.
  • Be sure to check out the video chat between Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts and Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, here.
  • Cruel Curveball Science; Nasty Koufax Stories, via Wired.
    The book on Mantle, Leavy explains, was never ever ever EVER throw him the curve. For he was so strong in his upper body and arms that even if you fooled him badly and got him to commit his hips too early, he could still crush the ball as long as his hands were still back. So don’t throw him the hook. Just don’t. And if you can throw 100 mph, like Koufax could, why throw the curve?

    Because you’re Koufax.

  • Check out Dodgers prospect Zach Lee and his season opening start in the Cal League, via Bullpen Banter.
  • Busted Coverage takes a look at the homes of 13 Major Leaguers that are on the market. Andrian Beltre's LA area home is sweet.
  • Baseball Reference is cataloging every former and current players twitter account.

Videos From Opening Day

Like many of you I was stuck at work for the start of yesterdays Opening Night game between the Dodgers and Padres. On top of that, I did not have a chance to watch any of the game since after work I quickly headed off to the Staples Center for "Fan Appreciation Night" at the Kings game against the San Jose Sharks. It was the second to last game of the season, and the Kings were still fighting for a playoff spot. I'm glad to announce that they claimed a spot last night and will be joining 16 other teams for hockey's second season.

Anyway, since I could not enjoy the kind of Baseball day I would have liked to on Opening Day I figured I should spend a little bit of time tracking down some videos. Check out what I found.

First of all, the Dodgers have a bunch of videos from Opening Day on their website. Unfortunately, I can't embed them at this time. So go here to check them out.

Here is a pre-game video from MartyTownTV that features interviews with Tony Gwynn Jr. and Matt Kemp.

Video Link:

Oh, Boy! Dee Gordon has quite a glove, via Big League Stew's Play of the Day. This play happened to end the 4th inning.

Video Link:

And to make you smile, here is Bill Murray's Opening Day "First Pitch" at Wrigley Field.

Video Link: