Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Game Time!!!

Go King Go!!!

Video Link:

Some Dodgers FanFest Details: Autograph Schedule



As many of you know, this coming Saturday is the Inaugural Dodgers FanFest at Dodger Stadium before that evenings game.  It promises to be a great event.  In fact, more than 45 current and former Dodgers will be on hand to meet fans.  That's right!  I said 45!!!!

Gates open at noon, everything will happen in Lot 6, and will run all day long until game time.  Entry is included with a purchase of a game ticket for that evening.  Here's a little blurb from their press release:
FanFest will feature autograph sessions with current and former Dodger players, question and answer sessions with Dodger players and coaches and family-friendly games and activities including a Sports Bounce Center, MLB Network Strikeout Zone, Batting cage, Dodger speed pitch inflatable, a velcro wall, custom photo flip books, personalized baseball card booth, DJ Spin art booth, play-by-play broadcast center, State Farm Whiffleball field for kids, face painting and other activities for Dodger fans to enjoy.

Food, beverages and Dodger merchandise will also be available for purchase at FanFest. Dodgers merchandise is offered at a 20 to 50 percent discount from last season.

Fans are asked to limit autographs to one item per person in order for as many fans to receive an autograph as possible.
Also, if I remember right photographs with the players will not be allowed in order to give more fans a chance to get as many autographs as possible.  Go here for tickets to the game.

Below is the appearance schedule:
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.          Autograph session with Scott Elbert, Elian Herrera, Adam Kennedy, Josh Lindblom, Jerry Sands, Matt Treanor, Scott Van Slyke 
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.            Autograph session with Chris Capuano, Matt Guerrier, Tony Gwynn Jr., Justin Sellers, Jamey Wright 
12:45 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.            Appearance and interview with Don Mattingly 
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.              Autograph session with Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell           
1:10 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.              Appearance and interview with Matt Kemp  
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.              Appearance and interview with “The Infield” Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.              Appearance and interview with Steve Sax and Steve Yeager      
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.              Autograph session with Ronald Belisario, Todd Coffey, A.J. Ellis, Mark Ellis, Andre Ethier, Javy Guerra, Ted Lilly, James Loney 
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.              Autograph session with Bobby Abreu, Chad Billingsley, Dee Gordon, Jerry Hairston Jr., Aaron Harang, Kenley Jansen 
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.              Appearance by Vin Scully 
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.              Autograph session with Al “The Bull” Ferrara, Ken McMullen, Dennis Powell, Derrel Thomas 
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.              Appearance and interview with Ned Colletti, Rick Monday, Charley Steiner 
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.              Autograph session with Billy Ashley, Lee Lacy, Kenny Landreaux, Wes Parker 
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.              Appearance and interview with Jaime Jarrín, Fernando Valenzuela and Pepe Yñiguez 
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.              Autograph session with Jimmy Campanis, Tommy Davis, Chuck Essegian,“Sweet” Lou Johnson 
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.              Tommy Lasorda addresses fans 
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.              Autograph session with Jaime Jarrín, Fernando Valenzuela and Pepe Yñiguez 
5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.              Autograph session with Tommy Lasorda

Dodgers Show Some Kings Love

With Kings set to play Game 2 in the Western Conference Finals this evening, the Dodgers decide to celebrate the moment by showing some Kings love.  Per an announcement on twitter, Dodger batters will be wearing specials "Silver & Black" hats during batting practice.  It could only be better if there was a little Kings logo somewhere on it.

Oh well.  I guess I'll have to settle for a Kings victory tonight, instead.

Go Kings Go!

Video Link:

UPDATE:  Check it out as Mattingly sports the Kings themed Dodgers cap.
(Pic link: twitter @THEREAL_DV)

UPDATE II: Here is another view of the Kings themed cap, via twitter @JessRosales1.
 This one is from the @Dodgers tweeter.

Blog Kiosk: 5/15/2012

Too darling to put into words, via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012.
  • Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the LA Kings and Phoenix Coyotes is tonight at 6PM on NBCSports.  Be there or be square.  I know... there's a Dodger game an hour or so later, but this is the playoffs and there's nothing like hockey playoff fever!
  • Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts makes a case that AJ Ellis is an All-Star.
  • Check out this great collection of vintage photographs featuring Orel Hershiser via the Dodger official photographer Jon SooHoo.
  • A Dodger prospect with Vero Beach was recently arrested for crack cocaine distribution.  Say Wa.....?  Via Deadspin.
  • I can't believe I've only now run into this.  John Thorn, a well regarded Baseball historian, tells us the real story behind the signing of Jackie Robinson.  There are 3 parts to the story and a lot of information to immerse yourself into.  Part 1Part 2Part 3.
  • Thank you Big League Stew for reminding me that Ty Cobb was one mean SOB.
Cobb suddenly vaulted into the stands toward Lucker, seated about 12 rows up in the grandstand. Knocking Lucker down, Cobb began kicking and stamping him.  (keep in mind that he had metal cleats on)
The script was included as part of Catherine's application to the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, and she was chosen as one of eight directors out of hundreds of applicants to participate in the program.  The film SILK, which calls attention to the scourge that is child marriage, will be shot this summer and screened here in L.A. before it goes worldwide and is banned in multiple countries.
AFI provides us with the equipment to shoot the film, but they also require us to raise the funds to pay for everything else.  So this morning we launched our web page at Kickstarter.
 Go here to help this worthwhile venture


  • FU, NBC.
 (twitter link: @LAKINGS)
 I don't accept your apologies via twitter.
  • This video has been going around, so I figured why not put it up.  Below is the most enthusuastic unpire you'll ever see.

Video Link:

Dodgers Get it Right- Kemp Put on DL

Following up on Steve Dilbeck's forceful words yesterday afternoon that begs the Dodgers to place Matt Kemp on the DL we receive word that the Dodgers have done just that.

As Steve wrote,
It's time to save Matt Kemp from himself. I'm convinced that somebody has to, for his and the team's sake.
He needs to go on the disabled list and get that hamstring completely healthy. Sacrifice a couple weeks to avoid the possibility of losing him for a couple months.
Thankfully, more reasoned actions have won out over the macho tendencies of an athlete.  Look, I understand why Kemp wants to be out there.  He's a winner and winners don't sit down due to a little hammy problem.  I get  that.  I think we all get that.  It's just that a more rational approach easily falls on the side on caution.  So, thankfully a rested and more rejuvenated Kemp can come back in a couple of weeks to continue to tear up the league. Besides, it's not like Kemp will be the Dodgers version of Wally Pipp.  He doesn't have to worry about losing his job to Jerry Sands.

From the Dodgers press release last night:
The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed outfielder Matt Kemp on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and recalled outfielder Jerry Sands from Triple-A Albuquerque. Kemp was the National League Player of the Month in April and was among the league leaders in most offensive categories.  The 27-year-old All-Star had played in a Major League-high 399 consecutive games prior to missing tonight’s contest against Arizona, last missing a game on Aug. 18, 2009.
 
Sands was hitting .257 and ranked second on the team with seven home runs while leading the Isotopes in RBI (28) and runs scored (27). The 24-year-old had five hits (5-for-7) with three homers and four RBI in his last two games prior to his call-up. Sands made his Major League debut in 2011 and hit .253 with four homers and 26 RBI in 61 games for Los Angeles last year.