To Liven Up the Blues: Ep. 5 of Between Two Palm Trees

If they put up more of these, I might not care that we lost to the Giants 8 to 0.

Below, MC AJ Ellis ask Clayton about a Bieber Award he received.  Kershaw is so smitten with it he remarks, "for me just to be associated with that name, I'm just proud."

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Collection: Preacher Roe GOTG

Here is my 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game autographed card of Preacher Roe.  I remember getting this really cheap primarily because some doofus thought this card would be worth more if they wrote in a bogus number.  This card is not limited to 52 copies.  

Dodgers Should Sign Jenn Brown of ESPN- She Can Swing the Bat

As evidenced below, ESPN's Jenn Brown can swing the bat.  She's got a nice smooth swing in the left-handed batters box and shows clear signs of an ability to make contact from that side.  Her one weakness?  She obviously needs a little more work switch hitting.

That said, I would be willing to bet she could fit in nicely as a left-handed bat for the Dodgers.  Heck, she appears to already be a fan of the team.  In the video below, filmed during batting practice with South Carolina during the College World Series, she wears a LA Dodger cap.

Maybe we should consider having her play 1st base for us. 

Keep in mind, Jenn Brown is no novice when it comes to sports.  She is more than a pretty face.  Brown lettered 14 times in high school and captained in 5 different sports.  Also, while in college she played for the Florida Gators Softball team.

Below is the batting practice video.

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(Hat Tip: Lost Letterman)

Oh... and here are some obligatory pics of Jenn Brown.

(Jenn Brown)

Here she is with one of my favorite Dodgers, Nomar Garciaparra.

(Jenn Brown)

Of course, I couldn't leave without a more revealing look at Ms Brown.

Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 6/25/2012

For the upcoming 2012 National Sports Collectors Convention in Baltimore from August 1 to 5 Topps will be giving away a 4 card promo set.  Above is the Jackie Robinson Montreal Royals card in the set.  Go to Sports Card Info to see the rest of the set.

• All Trade Bait, All the Time joined a group break of 2012 Topps Archives and gets a pull of a lifetime- A Koufax Fan Favorites Autograph.
• "Dodgers Not Concerned by Kemp's Soreness, via Lyle Spencer at MLB.

 "We're still kind of wait and see," Mattingly said. "We're adding things to do, and it's kind of a reaction to how he does with that. [On Saturday] he was kind of sore. We don't look at it as a setback. It's part of doing more stuff. He's been getting after it pretty good. Since it's Matt, we talk about every inch of it."

• Wil Wheaton is funny.  See pic at left, via Wil Wheaton's tumblr.  Click on the pic to embiggen.  (Hat Tip: Let's Go Dodgers)
• Check out Maury Wills as he signs for fans in Anaheim, via Cut4.
• Peter O'Malley to buy the Padres?  Via Steve Dilbeck of the LA Times.

  There’s no getting used to it for anyone who’s been a life-long follower of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but O’Malley’s group appears to be zeroing in on purchasing the Padres.

• Eye on LA Sports has a recap from the recent Dustin Brown, LA Kings Captain, signing at Living Spaces.  LA Blue Crew was there too and has his own report.
• BTW, Dustin Brown will be signing again on Tuesday, June 26th at a Sports Chalet in Torrance from 7:00 PM to 8:00PM.  Only the first 300 fans are guaranteed an autograph.  Go here for more information.

• David Park was in Anaheim for the Freeway Series and waited after the game to get some Dodgers autographs on Friday.  He has photos from the evening on his blog, here.  Belisario, Gordon and Rivera signed for fans.  Then on Sunday he waits at the entrance before the game and gets a bunch more.
• The Vintage Sportscards Blog does a nice report on the vintage Exhibit cards from over 50 years ago. 

Sunday Dodgers Videos

Another lazy Sunday afternoon, another day to relax and enjoy the digital-tube.

When the Stanley Cup visited Dodgers Stadium Mayor's Manor was on hand to experience the festivities.  Mayor's Manor is a notable Kings blog who often records videos focused on the Kings.  Here, he interview Dodgers announcer Charley Steiner about his Rangers fandom and the Dodgers.

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This is an older video, but definately worth another visit.  Vin Scully discusses how he approaches each baseball broadcast, his love of the game, research without technology, and the greatest player he ever saw.

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Javy Guerra lends his support for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

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This seems like a lot of fun: Jr. Dodgers Broadcaster.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 6/23/2012

Tony Gwynn Jr. getting focused, pic via @Dodgers twitter.

• Billingsley is in the spotlight, but not for the right reasons.   Brian Kamenetsky at ESPN notes that "The Billingsley Questions Won't Go Away."

The Dodgers have their own clockwork ritual. Every fifth day Don Mattingly will sit down with the media before a game, trying to explain exactly what is going on with Chad Billingsley. “Every time he pitches,” Mattingly said ahead of Friday’s 8-5 loss to the Angels, “I asked him the other day, 'Bills, do you ever get tired of answering the questions? Because I’m getting tired of answering about you every time.' He was just kinda like, 'That’s the way it is.' ”

After last nights performance, we shouldn't be surprised at everyone's question.  As Ken Gurnick writes at MLB, "Billingsley Fumbles Five-Run Lead in Anaheim."

Only hours after manager Don Mattingly offered a measured defense of Chad Billingsley, the pitcher coughed up a five-run lead Friday night and the Dodgers' losing streak reached four in an 8-5 Interleague loss to the Angels. 

So, what do you do?  Aaron at Inside Dodger Baseball thinks "It's Time for the Dodgers to move Billingsley."

Once again, Billingsley showed the Dodgers and the rest of the world why he'll never live up to anything close to his potential. 

Mark Timmons at LA DodgerTalk even proposes some future moves, albeit sarcastically, but really suggest we all should just take a break and relax.

Kevin Youkilis for Chad Billingsley, then get Cole Hamels. Simple! Not really…

This is a bad streak that all teams have – it will pass! I promise.

This view is supported by Jon Weisman as he writes for CityThink.

Good teams have bad weeks, and one bad week like the Dodgers are having (with four losses in a row, including Friday's 8-5 come-from-ahead defeat against the Angels) doesn't ruin a season.

Jon even notes some comparables for Billingsley.

Even if Chad Billingsley has slipped to de facto No. 5 starter, he has still performed better than both Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito of San Francisco, as well as the mish-mash that Arizona has used to round out its rotation.

What do I think?  I find it hard to complain about being in first place, less than half way through the season.  Sure, we're going through a rough patch right now, but considering our situation (our recent DL parade of players) I can't be too displeased.  With Kemp missing half the season and the Dodgers still in first place I say "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

• Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times wonders, "What if the Dodgers had Hired Mike Scioscia as Manager?"

"In retrospect, I wish I'd named Mike Scioscia," Malone said. "I'd like the chance to do it again and see if Mike could do for the Dodgers what he did for the Angels. I think he possibly could or would. I'm a fan of his. We've seen each other since. I don't think there are any grudges. It was just a timing thing.

"It wasn't personal, it wasn't about his ability, it was just where the team was and the consensus and where Mike was. Should I have been able to project? Yes. I should have recognized it and I didn't. I guess I'll have to take that responsibility."

• Left Field Pavilion shares a great photo of Vin Scully arm wrestling Phyllis George, and makes a funny graphic- "Bills Gets Beat Like a Drum."
• GCRL focuses on 1978 Dodgers in the 1980 Topps Dodgers team set; photos included.
• Dustin Nosler scouts Dodgers prospect Garrett Gould.

Gould’s curveball is his bread and butter pitch, as it’s the best in the system and ranks among the best in the minors. He throws his curve 12-6 and it sat in the 77-78 MPH range, which is on par with scouting reports. It had really good, late breaking action and is definitely advanced for the competition.

• Upper Deck shows off one the nets used at the Staples Center during the Stanley Cup Finals.  I'm sure they plan to cut it up and insert them into premiums for some upcoming hockey card sets.
• There is something really great about this video."Where the Hell is Matt?" took a 4 year break from dancing throughout the world, but has come back with a 2012 video that is better than the previous two.  That's saying a lot.  I loved those older videos, and still watch them from time to time.  Below is the 2012 edition of Where the Hell is Matt?

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