Friday, November 08, 2013

Baseball Bloggers Alliance Year End Awards - Clayton Kershaw Named Walter Johnson Award Winner



For the 5th consecutive year, the Baseball Blogger Alliance came together to vote on the best ballplayers of this past season.  The BBA is a collection of several hundred Baseball writers and hardcore fans from throughout North America - covering every team, the game's history and fantasy Baseball fanatics.  We are encouraged to use one another to deepen our understanding of the game and the teams that play it.  Go here to find more about this organization.

Unlike in past years, there is little controversy in this years winners.  Go here to check out who I chose as this seasons best in the National League.

Here are the winners from the BBA:

2013 Connie Mack Award - Best Manager
American League – John Farrell – Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox skipper won the closest of all the votes held by the BBA this year.  Garnering 38% of the vote, Farrell held off the Cleveland Indians’ Terry Francona by less than 3%.

National League – Clint Hurdle – Pittsburgh Pirates
Hurdle was the recipient of 79% of the vote from the BBA membership.

2013 Willie Mays Award - Top Rookies
American League – Wil Myers – Tampa Bay Rays
Myers would arrive on the scene in June and immediately show that the hype was worthy of his presence.  Myers earned 95% of the BBA vote this year.

National League – Jose Fernandez – Miami Marlins
The National League winner had to withstand a late-season surge from Dodgers’ outfielder Yasiel Puig.  Fernandez produced a season that could withstand Puig-mania and earned the BBA’s respect along the way with 71% of the vote.

2013 Goose Gossage Award – Best Relief Pitcher
American League – Koji Uehara – Boston Red Sox
Uehara joined the Red Sox this season and became one of the most polarizing figures on the team.  His 21 saves were a key part of the Red Sox success this year and his continued success throughout the postseason made him a star.  His 52% of the BBA vote was good enough to hold off Greg Holland of the Kansas City Royals, who garnered 36% of the BBA support for his fine season.

National League – Craig Kimbrel – Atlanta Braves
In 2011, Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was awarded both the Goose Gossage and Willie Mays awards.  Last season, Kimbrel received 87% of the vote to claim his second consecutive award as the National League’s premier relief pitcher.  Kimbrel received an astonishing 90% of the vote from the Alliance to claim his third straight Goose Gossage Award.

2013 Walter Johnson Award –Best Starting Pitcher
American League – Max Scherzer – Detroit Tigers
The Tigers’ pitcher was dominant throughout most of the season and the Alliance recognized that with 95% of their vote.

National League – Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers
Not to be outdone, Kershaw garnered 98% of the vote on the National League side of the BBA.  Kershaw proved once again to be dominant and the BBA recognized that by making him a two-time winner of the Johnson award (2011).


2013 Stan Musial Award - Best Ballplayer
American League – Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Angels’ outfielder would garner his second-consecutive Musial Award by holding off the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera once again in 2013. Trout earned 65% of the Alliance vote while Cabrera would take the other 35%, marking the second straight year that the two players would receive the only votes. 
National League – Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates phenomenal season comes to fruition for one of the team’s most consistent stars. McCutchen was the team’s leader on and off the field and the Alliance recognized his importance to the great run the Pirates produced. Cutch received 69% of the BBA vote to earn his first Musial award.

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Attention Fans! - The Dodgers 2013 Holiday Mall Tour Begins Next Weekend! Yeager and Wills will be Signing in Culver City


The 2013 Baseball may be over, but that doesn't mean you should put the game the bed for the year.  So, get up on your feet and start thinking Blue!

Fortunately, the Dodgers are more than happy to help you get excited about the 2014 season.  Starting next weekend, on Saturday, November 16th the Dodgers will begin their 2013 Holiday Mall Tour at the Westfield Culver City Mall (at Macy's Court) with a fan meet and greet autograph appearance with Steve Yeager and Maury Wills.

So far, there are 5 different events scheduled over the next couple of months.  Go here for more information, or go here for my most recent updates on this mall tour.  Autograph session timing will vary, and appearances are subject to change.  BTW, there will be crafts for kids and other family friendly activities.  Go to this link for the most up to date information on this mall tour.

Below is the current schedule.  There will be more announcements over the coming weeks.  Check out my Autographs/Events Calendar for even more fan opportunities.

Saturday, November 16th
Westfield Culver City - Macy's Court
6000 Sepulveda Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90230
10am-5pm
Players: Steve Yeager: 11-1; Maury Wills: 2-4

Friday, November 29th-Black Friday!
Westfield Promenade - Level 2 by AMC
6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd
San Fernando Valley, CA 91367
11am-6pm
Players: Steve Sax: Time TBD; Steve Garvey: Time TBD

Saturday, November 30th
West Covina - Sears Court Level 2
112 Plaza Dr
West Covina, CA 91790
11am-6pm
Players: Steve Garvey: Time TBD

Saturday, December 7th
Santa Anita - The Promenade by Macy's
400 S Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, California 91007
11am-6pm
Players: Steve Garvey: Time TBD; Fernando Valenzuela: Time TBD

Saturday, December 14th
Century City - Center Court in front of Zara
10250 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90067
11am-6pm
Players: TBD

Saturday, December 21st
Del Amo Fashion Center
3525 W Carson St
Torrance, CA 90503
11am-6pm
Players: TBD

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Blog Kiosk: 11/8/2013 - Dodgers Links - Ryu in Korea, Uribe the Best Dodger Glove, and Dodgers Talking Trade?

(auction link)

Here is a May 18, 1945 AP press photo of 3 members of the US Navy ballteam.  From left to right; Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds, Pinky Mays of the Philadelphia Phillies and Pee Wee Reese (at center).  Pic via eBay.
  • Via Asia Society.org, Hyun-Jin Ryu received the Cultural Achievement Award from the Asia Society Korea Center.
  • Dan at MyKBO shares some video from a charity ballgame in Korea that featured Ryu playing some first base and batting 4th in the lineup.
  • SB Nation names Clayton Kershaw the NL's Best Pitcher.  Does he get an actual award for this?
  • Juan Uribe was named the Dodgers 2013 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year, via a tweet from the @Dodgers.



  • Via Chad Moriyama, "2013 Rule 5 Draft: Dodgers prospects to consider adding to the 40-man".  The first 3 selections are great choices, and I suspect we'll be seeing them at Dodger Stadium sometime next season.
  • Via Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports talks about some rumors; "Tulowitzki, Dodger vets top trade talk". 
That possibility, in fact, already is in the works; the Dodgers, according to major-league sources, are listening on Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, telling prospective suitors, “If you’re interested in one of them, make us an offer.”
  • Recent Dodger signee Alexander Guerrero played in his first professional game yesterday for Gigantes Del Cibao in the Dominican Winter Leagues, and he got a hit in his first at-bat.  In his second at-bat, he doubled down the left field line to drive in 2 with the bases loaded.  His third time up he struck out.  Check out a pic below of him in uniform before the game.


“Jackie Robinson took me by the hand and said, ‘To commemorate this occasion, I’m going to get the team to sign this baseball’,” Dr. Davis remembered. Minutes later, the boy was in possession of an official National League ball signed by 22 Dodgers, including six future Hall of Famers, plus Newcombe and Gilliam. It was a treasured possession and he proudly displayed it as he grew into a man.
Watch a video of the owner talking about it below.

    Video Link:

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