Early Random Photos

Here are some pics from today.

Below is my view from the press box.
Dodger batting practice.
View from the top of the park.
Here are some pics along the walls as I head out to the field.These pics are from the elevator to the Dugout Club.

Torre Pre-Game Rap

I was just on the field and sat in on Joe Torre's pre-game talk with the media. Here are some notes:

• Kershaw coming into last nights game was really only operative if Kuroda could not go 5 innings. He certainly would have been available if the game went into extra innings.
• Dodgers miss Manny's presence. He knows how to stay within the game- try not to do too much. He contributes with his personality.
• We can win a lot of close games since we do not depend on the home run. We have the ability to manufacture runs.
• "It's not how far you hit it, it's how often you hit it."
  
• Torre is very comfortable with the offense. We can score in a lot of different ways.
• Team has good balance.
• Someone asked if the 13-0 start at home and the following poorer record was indicative of anything. He basically said it is only natural for the team to revert to the mean after a start like that.
  
• Russell Martin didn't center a lot of balls last night that ultimately contributed to the wild pitches. His day off tonight has nothing to do with yesterday's game. Torre had already decided on Tuesday as a day off on the plane trip back from the recent road trip.
• Felt Kuroda overthrew a bit yesterday.
• Casey Blake is running better today. He brings a "grunt" mentality to the game.

Pre-Game Notes

I've just landed at my seat within the Vin Scully Press Box and figured out the internet. connection.

Here are some opening notes before I go wonder around and try to get lost.

• Here is a pic from yesterdays first pitch featuring Olympic Gold Medalist and "Dancing with the Stars" champion Shawn Johnson with her biggest fan Casey Blake- and when I mean biggest fan I'm not kidding. Look at the size difference. (Photo credits: LA Dodgers) Man-O-Live! She is small. Here, Michael Eaves is interviewing her.
• Chad Billingsley will host a group of 10 children from Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA on Tuesday as part of his Chad’s Champs community program. Each child will receive a T-shirt and a meal voucher courtesy of Panda Express and will get to meet with Billingsley on the field during batting practice and get his autograph.
• Shannon Garrison, a teacher at Solano Avenue Elementary School , will throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game. Solano has been a Dodgers Adopt-A-School partner for 29 years and is currently rated as the ninth-highest elementary school serving inner city students in the state of California . Garrison has taught at Solano for 11 years and her fourth graders continuously score amongst the highest in the city on state tests. Earlier this year, the Milken Foundation honored Garrison as one of four Milken Educators of the Year for the state of California.
• If you haven't seen this yet then go ahead and click play. I found myself laughing like a banshee this morning at work.
  

Video Link: ESPN:
Hat Tip: Bugs & Cranks:

Players Poll

This coming weeks issue of Sports Illustrated has a players poll asking who will win the World Series. 341 players took part as this mid-May prediction heavily leans towards the Red Sox and the Dodgers as October victors. I wouldn't mind that match-up in the October classic.

Collection: 1914 B18 Blankets

Here are some examples of one of my favorite oddball early 20th century Baseball items. Below are 1914 B18 Baseball felt blankets that were inserted into packs of Egyptienne Straight Cigarettes. They are diamond shaped (measuring 5 1/4" X 5 1/4") and come in various different colors. A total of 90 subjects from 10 different teams complete a set. Also, each player comes in at least 2 different color variations.

For instance, the Dodger set can be found in 2 different colors for each player. Below is the green infield and blue infield versions of Jake Daubert.
Below is the green infield blanket of Hall of Famers Casey Stengel and Zach Wheat. Check out the rest of my blankets here in my photoalbum.

Can You Hit a Whiffle?

First brought up by Jon at Dodger Thoughts, James Loney was in a recent episode of Sports Science on FSN. He would go up to bat against the best profession whiffle ball pitcher this side of the Atlantic. Hat Tip to Vinny is my Homeboy for finding the video.

YouTube Link: Rockboy1138: