Blog Kiosk: 9/7/2016 - Dodgers Links - AJ Ellis, De Leon, Ethier and the Vin Scully Coin

ICYMI:  The Dodgers recently added a new game giveaway to their schedule, and it commemorates the career of retiring legend Vin Scully.  It will be given out on Saturday, September 24th against the Colorado Rockies, and that is the second to last home game of the regular season.  Check out what it looks like in the graphic above, via @Dodgers on twitter. 

As for the game, the Dodgers won their fourth game in row by taking advantage of Diamondback starting pitcher Shelby Miller, 5-2.  They recorded eleven hits and scored five runs in the 4.1 innings he pitched.  Per Jack Baer and Steve Gilbert at MLB.com:

"We put some at-bats together and got a lot of hits out there, got a lot of baserunners," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I thought it was really good. Jumped on Miller early, stressed him early. It was just a well-played baseball game."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1903 the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) and the NY Giants play a two-stadium, same-day doubleheader.  The first game began at 10:30 AM at Washington Park (Giants won, 6-4), and the second game got underway later that afternoon (Brooklyn won, 3-0).  In 1962 Maury Wills stole four bases against the Pirates to break the modern National League record for stolen bases at 82.  In 2001 Shawn Green broke the Dodger record for home runs in a season at 44.
• Happy Birthday, Willie Crawford!

2016 Bowman Platinum - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Last week I put up pics of the Dodgers base cards found in packs of 2016 Bowman Platinum (an Walmart exclusive offering).  Today I share pics of everything else.  Below are the various insert and autographed cards that are available. 

Veteran and Rookie Autographs

#PA-CS Corey Seager          #PA-FM Frankie Montas

Blog Kiosk: 9/6/2016 - Dodgers Links - Seager, Puig, Hill, McCarthy and Kenta Maeda

What more can you say about Kenta Maeda?

He has been fantastic and easily counts as the Dodgers best acquisition of this past year.  Given early fears that he would be susceptible to an arm injury you wouldn't be blamed for being skeptical.  Thankfully, Maeda was extremely confident in his abilities and was willing to sign with us on an performance based contract, and now we understand why.  Kenta Maeda is the Dodgers ace in the absence of Clayton Kershaw.

Last night he barrelled over an unmatched Diamondbacks club by going 6.1 innings, giving up just three hits and a lone earned run.  Furthermore, eight Arizona batter struck out and only one batter was given a walk.  Per Jack Baer and Steve Gilbert at MLB.com:

"Kenta threw the ball great," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I think you could see with those hitters and their approach, sitting soft. He was effective with his fastball tonight and locating it inside, outside. Kept those guys guessing and made his slider that much more effective. We tried to get through that seventh inning, but he gave us a great, great effort. Something we really needed."

At one point he retired 18 batters in a row.  Not lost on the evening was the Dodgers power surge at the plate against former teammate Zack Greinke.  They pounded out five home runs against the highest paid pitcher in the game; including four in the fifth inning alone.  Last nights 10-2 victory gives the Dodgers a four game lead over the Giants

Pic above via Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jill and Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1924 the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) recorded their 15th consecutive win, establishing the longest winning streak in franchise history.  In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela recorded his seventh shutout of the season, tying a National League rookie record for shutout.  In 1996 Brett Butler returns to the Dodger lineup four months after having surgery for throat cancer.  You can watch a news report on his first game back here.

Jose De Leon's Nine Strike Out Victorious Debut - 2016 Topps Now - #426

In commemoration of Jose De Leon's fantastic debut game Topps has issued a 2016 Topps Now card for him.  Go here to check it out and order.  De Leon struck out nine Padres batters and walked none to record his first victory of his career.  As you can imagine, Jose's entire family flew in to town to take in the game.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I was pretty calm until I saw my brother," he said. "He went up to the rail and I just saw him. Usually when I pitch, I stick with my routine, but when I saw him I stopped my warmup and went up to him, hugged him, told him, 'I did it.' That was pretty special, I got emotional there. He didn't say much, but I know he almost cried.

"I saw on the replay for my first strikeout, my dad just jumped all over the place. It was my first time actually seeing them in the stadium since I signed in 2013 and now I know what they go through when they see me on the TV when they're in Puerto Rico."

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 705 copies.

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Blog Kiosk: 9/5/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Kershaw, Bellinger and De Leon

That wasn't a bad debut for Jose De Leon yesterday.  He went a strong six innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits and no walks.  De Leon also struck out nine Padres batters.  Per Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA:

“The line score doesn’t speak to how Jose pitched today,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the game. “Obviously the punch outs were great, but throwing strikes and holding base runners – picked a guy off – and even when there was the soft liner, the bunt base hit and the close play by [Travis] Jankowski that got away from him and scored a run, he kept his composure.”
...
“Remember, Jose has been a strikeout pitcher all his life,” said Jose M. De Leon, the young right-hander’s father who flew his family in from Puerto Rico for his son’s MLB debut. “But I didn’t expect that; to project that strikeout success that he had before to the big leagues. But nine strikeouts in six innings, I guess he’s going to keep doing what he has been doing all his life. He’s a strikeout pitcher.”

The rookie earned his first victory of his career and helped propel the Dodgers to a three game lead over the slumping Giants.  BTW, only two other Dodger pitchers have recorded more strike outs in their professional debut - Pedro Astacio and Kaz Ishii with ten each.  Furthermore, since 1913 only four other hurlers in the Major Leagues have recorded at least nine strike outs and zero walks in their debut.

On a side note, we also found out (via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA) that Yasiel Puig called his three0run home run in the third inning of yesterdays game:

“He called it, he actually called it,” De Leon said of Puig’s home run. “It’s actually like the third time this year that he’s called some shots. It’s amazing.”

As a result, De Leon shared a huge hug with Puig in the Dodgers dugout after his three-run blast.

“That guy has done it so many times that it just cracks me up,” he added.

Photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon and Juan Ocampo from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1908 Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) pitcher Nap Rucker throws a no-hitter against the Boston Braves at Washington Park.  In 1955 Don Newcombe beat the Phillies for his 20th win of the season and hit his seventh home run of the year - breaking a National League record for homers by a pitcher. 

Diamondbacks Series Starts on Monday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.   Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The eleventh 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, spotlighting the Dodgers’ push toward a title despite the injury to Clayton Kershaw, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  On the cover are Kenley Jansen, Adrian Gonzalez, Kenta Maeda, Justin Turner, Corey Seager and Dave Roberts.  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation.

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Monday, September 5at 5:10 PM
RHP Zack Greinke vs. RHP Kenta Maeda
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)