Saturday, August 25, 2012

Tomorrows Viva Los Dodgers


I suspect Viva Los Dodgers will be a rather large affair tomorrow.  Not only since they just got the biggest Mexican Baseball star in the league, but because there are 3 different autograph guest slated to appear.  BTW, the first 15,000 kids (14 years old or younger) into the stadium will receive a "Back to School" backpack.

The festivities begin at 11:00 AM in Parking Lot 6.   Ana Tijoux and Moonlight Trio will perform live. Also, former Dodger Matt Luke will be signing free autographs from 11:10 AM to 12:10 PM.

Furthermore, a couple of boxing champions will also be signing for fans.  WBC Welterweight Champion Josesito Lopez and WBC interim and NABO Champion John Molina, Jr. will be signing from 11:15 to 11:45- although they may sign til noon.

Here is a complete schedule for tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow, Sunday, August 26
11:10 a.m. 
Viva Los Dodgers Day begins

11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.  
Matt Luke autograph session

11:15 a.m. – 11:45 p.m.
Josesito Lopez and John Molina Jr. autograph session

11:27 a.m. – 11:47 a.m.
Moonlight Trio performs

11:49 a.m. – 11:59 a.m.
Jenni Rivera on stage

12:01 p.m. – 12:21 p.m.
Ana Tijoux performs

1:10 p.m.  Game time
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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Adrian in Blue!

Adrian Gonzalez looks pretty good in a Dodgers cap.  Pic via twitter @Dodgers.
(twitter link)

UPDATE:  Also from the @Dodgers twitter feed.
(twitter link)


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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

They're Here!

Our newest Dodgers have landed and have made it to Dodger Stadium.

Via twitter @Dodgers, they are greeted by Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten.
(twitter link)

Here are their new lockers.

(twitter link)

Josh Beckett is greeted by Don Mattingly.
(twitter link)

Jaime Jarrin and Pepe Ynigiez say hello to Adrian Gonzalez.
(twitter link)


Even Carl Crawford expressed his excitement to Matt Kemp. 
(twitter link)


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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/25/2012


Hanley Ramirez shows off his new leather, via twitter @HanleyRamirez.
  • Hello Kitty once again proves its mass appeal.  The September 5th Hello Kitty Tote Bag will now be given out to 50,000 Dodger fans at the game.  It was originally only 30,000 bags.
  • Mark Saxon at ESPN puts together a great writeup on Luis Cruz called "The Power of Two Little Pigs".
Luis Cruz, the son, has been around baseball since he was 2 years old, about the time his father, also named Luis Cruz, began teaching him how to hit.The relationship hasn't really changed, and neither has the game, though they're separated now by thousands of miles. The father is the hitting coach of the Mexico City summer league team. The son has been one of the National League's hottest hitters for the past month. 
Some scouts considered Urias, whose rights were transferred from Mexico City of the Mexican League, to be one of the better pitching prospects on the market. He has touched 92 mph and shown good feel for pitching for his age. 
(twitter link)
  • Mayor's Manor speaks with ABC TV's Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet about the Kings and Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, and includes a video interview.
  • Mayor's Manor also interview Jim Fox, who was at LA Kings Night at Dodger Stadium.  See the interview below.

Video Link:

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Meet Your Newest Dodgers on Twitter

In this day and age of instant communication, there's no better way to stay in touch with your favorite player or team then on twitter.  So, let's take this moment to meet up with our newest Dodgers over there. 

Adrian Gonzalez is fairly active on twitter- sharing photos and making random comments from time to time.  Check him out at: @Adriangon28.  In fact, he has already spoken about this trade.
(twitter link)

A-Gon also speaks to his legions of Hispanic fans.  He writes:
"Ready to start my career with the Dodgers. Excited to return to California with my people!"
(twitter link)

Nick Punto is also active on twitter at @Shredderpunto.  He recently twitted from the Dodgers jet.
(twitter link)

Josh Beckett is also on twitter, but only through his foundation.  He's at @thejoshbeckett.  There has yet to be any public comments, but I did discover that he runs a bowling charity event called "Beckett Bowl."  So, we now know who will replace James Loney as host of the Dodgers Dream Foundation Bowling Extravaganza.  UPDATE: Josh Beckett has just started a new twitter account.  Go here @beck19bb.

Carl Crawford has a twitter account, but has been absent since the end of last season.  He can be found here: @CarlCrawford_.

BTW, several former and current Dodgers have commented on the trade on twitter.  Check them out below.
  • Shawn Green
(twitter link)
(twitter link)
  • Steve Garvey
(twitter link)

(twitter link)
  • Matt Kemp
(twitter link)

  • Luis Cruz: 
"Hello good morning a pleasure to know that a player of the quality of Adrian will join us today happy and excited .... lets go Dodgers"
(twitter link)


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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Trade Done! The Times, They are A-Changin'!



We have just entered a new Dodger era.

At this moment, I am still in shock that this deal was done.  I had been conditioned to believe that this kind of thing doesn't happen to us.  Save that short period when NewsCorp owned the franchise, we had never been a team willing to take on huge amounts of salary.  Instead, we were the frugal franchise.  Now.... Well, anything seems possible.  For better or worse, this team has taken on a new persona, and I must admit I'm a little giddy about it.

Do we have an unlimited amount of cash to work with?  Of course not.  But we are a franchise that is no longer afraid to pull the trigger, and this change has got to get every Dodger fan excited, if not engaged with the team at a level we've never experienced.  Instead of dreaming of getting this guy or that guy, we can now safely assume that we are in play for anyone.

Wow!  Being a Dodger fan has really changed.

The trade for Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Nick Punto and Carl Crawford has been completed.
(twitter link)

And, our new "Boys in Blue" are heading to LA as we speak.  It is anticipated that A-Gon will be in todays starting lineup.
(twitter link)

Via Nick Punto's twitter, we get a photo of the new Dodgers heading towards LA.
(twitter link)

As you can imagine, plenty of folks have chirped in with their views and opinions.  Below is just a sampling:
The big prize for the Red Sox is all the freed-up payroll, but the trade was not just a pure salary dump. Webster and De La Rosa have the potential to be impact big leaguers and both Sands and De Jesus should be able to carve out a niche at the Major League level. Three of four prospects figure to see time with Boston next month, and Webster should be in consideration for a job at some point next season.
For the Dodgers, this trade puts them even more fully into "win now" mode, while putting more gaps in the farm system.
Winners: Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten and the rest of the Dodgers' ownership group

In less than four months, these owners have managed to completely rebrand the franchise, and, even if the Dodgers don't make the playoffs this year, they've set themselves up for a major bounce forward in attendance and interest and team success in 2013. The city might throw them a parade even if they don't win the World Series because, ding-dong, the Frank McCourt era is over.
Per the collective bargaining agreement, any payroll over $178 million in 2013 (and over $189 million in 2014) will be taxed. First time offenders, which the Dodgers could be, get popped at a 20 percent rate for any amount over the threshold.
 In fact, the deal looks somewhat bizarre from the Dodgers’ perspective, according to rival executives. As one asked Friday night: Why didn’t the Dodgers just do Gonzalez for Webster and De La Rosa?
That leaves us with the Dodgers. Along with officially purchasing the team back in May, the new ownership apparently also picked up a copy of How To Build A Winner by George Steinbrenner, circa 1984. The new ownership group has given the front office a seemingly blank check, and assuming they take on all future obligations to the trio from Boston, they’ll have spent approximately $420 million on player acquisition in the last three months, and they haven’t even locked up Clayton Kershaw yet. 

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