Blog Kiosk: 10/8/2018 - Dodgers Links - Game 4 Today

That was a tough loss yesterday. We had our newest potential ace-in-the-making get on the mound to try to finish out the series, but it was not to be. One singular inning was the cause. Walker Buehler, during the second frame, struggled. He just couldn't find the plate. It was like a temporary case of the 'yips' that resulted in walking the bases loaded and throwing a 3-2 'meat-ball' that found it's way into the left field seats for a grand slam. After that, he settles down and proceeded to get the next ten batters out -- four on strike outs. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“It’s on me,” Buehler said. “I’ll fix it, and we’ll be better, and that’s it.”

...
 “It takes a lot of maturity and focus,” manager Dave Roberts said of Buehler’s recovery. “So he did lose his focus, I think, in that point in time, but again, for him in a big game like this to go back out there and throw up a couple more zeroes, that was huge for us, and we had a chance to win the baseball game. So Walker’s coming back and giving us five innings right there, it was big.”

Today's game starts at 1:30 PM and Rich Hill will face off against Game 1 starter Mike Foltynewicz.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Yankees hurler Don Larson threw his World Series Game 5 Perfect Game against the Dodgers, 2-0. He threw 97 pitches, struck out seven and walked none. In 1957 Walter O'Malley officially announced that the Dodgers would be moving to Los Angeles for the next upcoming season. In 1959 the Dodgers defeated the White Sox in Game 6 of the World Series to win their second championship. Larry Sherry came in to pitch 5.2 innings in relief to win the game, 9-3. In 2009 the Dodgers win Game 2, 3-2, of the NLCS against the Cardinals on a come-from-behind walkoff single by Mark Loretta. The victory was set up by an Matt Holliday two-out error on a sinking line drive in left field that gave the Dodgers an opportunity to rally. You can watch Holliday's flub here, and you can watch a condensed version of the game here.
• Happy Birthday, Jim Conway, Jimmy Peoples, Paul Schreiber, Lee Rogers, Enos Cabell, Mike Morgan & Olmedo Sáenz!

2018 Topps Now - #850 - Kershaw's Magnificent Game 2

Here is a look at the Topps Now card issued yesterday to celebrate Clayton Kershaw phenomenal Game 2 star against the Braves. It sold 447 copies. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"He pitched," manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw, who has allowed one earned run in 21 career postseason innings against Atlanta. "For me, one of the best outings I've seen that I can recall. He changed speeds, used both sides of the plate and changed eye levels. There was soft contact and he was in complete control. You've got Sandy Koufax in the front row and he was outstanding."

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2018 Topps Now -- #840, #841 & #842 -- Three Cards to Commemorate Game 1 Victory

Last night's three heroes now have their own Topps Now cards to call their own. First up is Hyun-Jin Ryu and it makes note of his stellar seven inning pitching performance. He yielded no runs, only four singles and struck out eight Brave batters. Go here to check it out and order. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

His changeup had the Braves off balance throughout the lineup. 

"He did what we knew he was going to do," said Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman. "He pitches backwards. Every time you think you're going to get something, it's always the opposite. He commands up, down, in and out. The back-door cutters were big against righties and he kept throwing changeups to lefties, which kept us off balance."

Blog Kiosk: 10/5/2018 - Dodgers Links - One Down, Ten to Go!

Apparently, folks are only now noticing Max Muncy and his Ruthian abilities. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“I think Muncy’s three-run homer there was definitely the reason why I was able to pitch seven solid innings,” Ryu said. “That three-run home run was big for all of us, including me.” 

Muncy went 1-for-1 with the homer and three walks in the game, becoming the second player all time to have that line. The other was Babe Ruth in Game 7 of the 1926 World Series. 

Muncy was asked when was the last time he was compared to Ruth. 

“Besides now? Never,” he answered back.

Photo above via Juan Ocampo/Dodgers 2018 at Dodgers Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 the usually dependable Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen dropped a two-out third-strike to Tommy Henrich in the ninth inning of Game Four of the World Series to give the Yanks an opportunity to come-from-behind. New York would then immediately rally to win the game, 7-4, and take a 3-1 World Series lead. In 1947 Dodger outfielder Al Gionfriddo robbed Joe Dimaggio of an extra base hit and several RBI's when he made a leaping grab near the left field bullpen during Game 6 of the World Series. Go here to watch a highlight reel of the play. In 1980 the Dodgers came back to defeat the Astros, 4-3, to sweep a season-ending, three-game series and force a one-game playoff with the Astros for the National League Western Division title. Ron Cey had hit a two-run stunner in the 8th inning to help win the game. Unfortunately, the Dodgers would lose that one-game playoff, 7-1, the next day.
• Happy Birthday, Fred Claire, Bill Steele, Andy Kosco & Tracy Woodson!

1988 World Series Dodgers Memorabilia at Goldin Auctions

I'm having a World Series fever dream. Everywhere I look I see a Dodgers World Series. For instance, today marks the 63rd anniversary of Game 7 of the 1955 Fall Classic -- the Dodgers first championship ever. It's also the 59th anniversary of the Los Angeles Dodgers very first postseason victory on the west coast -- defeating the White sox, 3-1, in front of 92,234 fans at the Coliseum. Now, as I peruse through the Goldin Auctions catalog, I ran into some memorabilia from the Dodgers historic 1988 run.

As you know, it is the 30 anniversary of the Dodgers last championship in 1988, so these items currently available are very timely. Featured above and below are original lineup cards from the series that are a part of the Tommy Lasorda collection and come directly from Lasorda's agent.

Here are the rosters for the NLDS

We are just a mere six hours, or so, away from the start of the NLDS, and we now get a first look at the rosters for each club. Check out the Dodgers roster above (via @Dodgers on twitter) and the Braves roster below (via @Braves on twitter).

There aren't a lot of surprises here for the Dodgers. Notable players missing include Ross Stripling, Chase Utley, Alex Verdugo, John Axford, Tony Cingrani, JT Chargois, Kyle Farmer, Zac Rosscup, Julio Urias, Andrew Toles. Additionally, it is my understanding that Chase Utley will remain in the Dodger clubhouse/dugout for this series and will travel with them to Atlanta. His poise and experience alone provides untold value to the club, so this bit of news is very welcome.

As for the Braves, they are missing their starting shortstop Dansby Swanson. He had been diagnosed with a "partial ligament tear" a few days ago and will likely miss the entire playoffs. In his place will be the very capable Charlie Culberson, and we all know he's not someone to scoff at. In my mind, he's a wildcard in this series, and I suspect he'll prove to be a tough out.

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