Blog Kiosk: 5/19/2016 - Dodgers Links - Yadier Alvarez, Mike Bolsinger and Louis Coleman

Mike Bolsinger returned to the Dodgers rotation and did the best he could.  He scattered six hits and gave up only a lone home run to Mike Trout before the dreaded fifth inning came around.  That's when the wheels fell off.  Bolinger got into another jam, and what could only be called 'bad luck' then sunk the team.  Per Jack Baer at MLB.com:

"I thought Mike had did what we had hoped," Roberts said. "There were 60 pitches that he threw in that last rehab start ... and where he was at with the third time through, I thought he gave us a chance to win."

(Coleman via Jon SooHoo/Dodgers)

In that fifth inning, Bolsinger left the game with two men on and one out when Louis Coleman was called in.  As you may know, Coleman has been one of the more effective relievers on the Dodgers staff.  Since April 25th he had not given up an earned run and allowed just one inherited runner to score in 10.1 innings pitched.  Over that span he has recorded 12 strike outs, walked only two and the opposition was slashing .088/.139/.118/.257.  Of course, this is a small sample size, but you had to like the results so far, and you had to figure he was the right man for the job.  Unfortunately, sometimes a version of Keystone Cops erupts on the field.

First he walked Pujols to load them up.  Then the next batter, CJ Cron, hit a infield single between Seager and Turner to score a run.  Following that was a little dribbler that was mishandled by Kendrick, the evenings 1st baseman, to score another.  Then, Rafael Ortega hit a 'Texas Leaguer' to left that Thompson dove for and missed.  Another fly ball to right scored the last run of the inning.  Overall, four balls where hit with Coleman on the mound, and only one was hit hard - the sacrifice fly.  Nevertheless, five runs crossed the plate to seal the game for the Angels.

Photo at the very top via SportsNet LA on twitter.  Go here to check out more pic from yesterdays game by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1988 Tim Leary threw his second shutout of the season against the Montreal Expos.  He had been winless in his past five starts.

2016 Topps Finest - The Dodgers Base Cards

Topps decided to change things up with the 24th edition of their Finest Baseball card brand.  For the first time ever collectors could order boxes/cases directly from Topps online.  They also sold cases to Topps MVP direct stores on a preorder basis.  The pre-online sales to collectors occurred from April 257th to May 9th, and I understand that more boxes/cases are now available for order from Topps.  Go here or here to check that out.

As for the cards themselves, there are five Dodgers' in the base set, and an handful of inserts available.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Below are the Dodgers' base cards.  The Montas card is a green refractor parallel numbered to 99 copies.  I should have pics of the inserts in a day or two.

#8 Frankie Montas                                 #19 Joc Pederson

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Scott Schoenweis and Several Dodgers in Rancho Cucamonga

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

-------------------

That Makes it Three - Clayton Kershaw Gets his Third 2016 Topps Now Card - #80

At this rate he'll finish with over twenty Topps Now cards this year.

Clayton Kershaw has just been awarded his third 2016 Topps Now card - joining Trevor Story, Bryce Harper and David Ortiz as the only players with three or more cards (Story and Ortiz have four cards in this years set and Harper has six).  Go here to order or check it out.

Kershaw continues his march through the record books. Last night he recorded his sixth straight double digit strike out and one walk or less game streak by stifling the hapless Angels.  Via Alden Gonzalez at MLB.com:

"All his pitches move late," Calhoun said. "That's the biggest thing."

"You come out aggressive, ready to hit," Giavotella added, "but sometimes those strikes are in different spots than they appear to be."

Clayton Kershaw is on his way to having one of the more dominating seasons the game has ever seen.  He is currently striking out 22 batters for ever walk (an unheard of percentage) and leading the league in complete games, shut outs, strike outs, WAR, pitching WAR, FIP and WHIP.  His ERA is a minuscule 1.67 in 70 innings pitched.  It's hard to believe, but after five straight fantastic CY Young worthy seasons he just might be getting better.

UPDATE:  This issue has a print run of 421 copies.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 5/18/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Maeda's Bobble and the Time Warner/Charter Merger is Done

Kenta Maeda finally got a look at the promotional bobblehead the Dodgers are giving out on Tuesday, July 26th against the Tampa Bay Rays.  As you can see, in the photo tweeted out by the Dodgers, he definitely got a kick out of it.  On the right is a better look at the bobble, via another tweet by the Dodgers.

BTW, Clayton Kershaw was fantastic once again last night.  For the sixth straight game, resetting the MLB record, he recorded double-digit strike outs and had one or less walks.  Overall, he went eight innings, allowed four hits, struck out eleven and walked none to record his sixth win of the season.  Via Ken Gurnick and Fabian Ardaya at MLB.com:

"When you see [Mike] Trout walking up to the batter's box and he looks at me and shakes his head like, 'I'm going to take my medicine,' that respect is earned," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "There's that novelty, that respect that Clayton has from other players, so when you get in there, you're almost defeated."

On another note, the Dodgers youngsters continue to wreck the ball.  For the third straight game one of the kids hit a couple long balls in the game.  On Sunday, Corey Seager hit two homers.  On Monday, Trayce Thompson hammered two of his own.  Then last night, Joc Pederson pocketed a couple while Seager hit another. 

Go here to check out a bunch of great pics from yesterdays game from Jon SooHoo.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1931 Dodgers outfielder Babe Herman would hit for the cycle for the first time. He would do it against Cincinnati, and accomplish this feat three times in his career.
• Happy Birthday, Eric Young!

A Brooklyn Dodgers Themed Prayer/Mass Card at Lelands Auctions

Here's something you don't see everyday.

Featured at Lelands Auction is the above 1956 prayer/mass card extolling its adherents to pray for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  As you can see, on the reverse it makes reference to the "death" of the "Brooklyn Dodger Bums" on October 10th - the day the team lost Game 7 of the 1956 World Series to the New York Yankees.  It adds:

"We have loved them during life; let us not abandon them, until we have conducted them by our prayers, into the house of the Lord."  - St. Ambrose

The melding of religious devotion and local team fanaticism was one of the hallmarks of the old Brooklyn club.

In fact, there is a great story about how one Catholic priest asked his parishioners to pray for Gil Hodges during a Sunday homily in 1953.  As the story goes, Hodges was suffering through a slump for the ages.  He had gone hitless during the last eleven games of the prior year (including the entire seven game World Series against the Yankees) and basically began the new season right were he left off.  By the 29th game he was slashing a lowly .193/.360/.227/.588.

Naturally, the Brooklyn faithful did all that they could to help him turn things around.  Gil received countless letters, postcards and telegrams.  He even received numerous good-luck charms from fans.  Then, Father Herbert Redmond of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church decided to reach towards an higher authority, saying one Sunday afternoon:

"It's far too hot for a homily. Keep the Commandments and say a prayer for Gil Hodges."

Soon thereafter, Gil Hodges started to hit again, and eventually ended the season slashing a greatly improved .302/.393/.550/.943.  Furthermore, he never again struggled in the postseason.

Of course, this is not to say that a higher power had anything to do with Gil's improved fortunes.  After all, I've read that a minor adjustment to his batting stance did wonders for him that year.  I do wonder, though, if just a little bit of faith that things will turn out fine is all we need to see the fortunes of several current Dodgers turn around.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *