Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Sutton, Puig and a Couple of Rams

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.

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WTF! The Justice Department Suing AT&T over a Dodgers TV Conspiracy

What the heck is going on!

Word is spreading that the Justice Department filed suit today against AT&T accusing their DirectTV unit of an concerted, orchestrated and collusionary campaign to illegally block carriage of the Los Angeles Dodgers' TV channel -- SportsNet LA.

Wha...?

Per Meg James of the LA Times:

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles, the Justice Department accused DirecTV of being a ringleader in an effort to make sure that three other pay-TV companies — Cox Communications, Charter Communications and AT&T (which was then separate from DirecTV) -- would refuse to carry SportsNet LA, the Dodgers-owned TV channel.

The lawsuit alleges that the four companies engaged in illegal conduct, sharing nonpublic information among themselves, to gain bargaining leverage in negotiations with Time Warner Cable, which was struggling to get the pay TV companies to sign up for the channel.

This is like some sort of corporate conspiracy, and only adds fuel to the belief in most Americans that cable companies are a bunch of conniving monsters who should be forced to relinquish any and all monopolies that they enjoy.  This whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.

UPDATE:  Per a Justice Department press release:

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that DIRECTV unlawfully exchanged competitively-sensitive information with Cox, Charter and AT&T during the companies’ negotiations for the right to telecast the Dodgers Channel.  Specifically, the complaint alleges that DIRECTV and each of these competitors agreed to and did exchange non-public information about their companies’ ongoing negotiations to telecast the Dodgers Channel, as well as their companies’ future plans to carry – or not carry – the channel.  The complaint also alleges that the companies engaged in this conduct in order unlawfully to obtain bargaining leverage and to reduce the risk that they would lose subscribers if they decided not to carry the channel but a competitor chose to do so.  The complaint further alleges that the information learned through these unlawful agreements was a material factor in the companies’ decisions not to carry the Dodgers Channel.  The Dodgers Channel is still not carried by DIRECTV, Cox or AT&T.

“As the complaint explains, Dodgers fans were denied a fair competitive process when DIRECTV orchestrated a series of information exchanges with direct competitors that ultimately made consumers less likely to be able to watch their hometown team,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Sallet of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.  “Competition, not collusion, best serves consumers and that is especially true when, as with pay-television providers, consumers have only a handful of choices in the marketplace.”

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Blog Kiosk: 11/2/2016 - Dodgers Links - Calhoun, Bellinger and Clayton Kershaw

In honor of Fernando Valenzuela's 56th birthday yesterday the Dodger Insider blog shared 34 fantastic photos of him from his career in LA -- many of which you may be seeing for the first time.  Go here to check them all out.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1977 Tommy John comes in a distant second place in Cy Young voting -- having been beaten by Steve Carlton of the Phillies. John went 20-7 for the Dodgers with an 2.78 ERA, FIP of 3.05, eleven complete games and three shutouts.
• Happy Birthday, Al Campanis!

Blog Kiosk: 11/1/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Above is a fantastic vintage International News press photo of Jackie Robinson, sporting one of those satin jersey's, with young son Jackie Robinson Jr. from the 1949 season.  It had recently sold ($750) at Christie's auction house last month as part of the National Pastime Museum auction.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1942 Branch Rickey becomes General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  In 1951 Roy Campanella is named the National League MVP -- his first of three MVP's he would win.  In 1966 Sandy Koufax becomes the first three-time winner of the Cy Young Award. He is a unanimous winner for the second-straight year. This is the last year that only one award is given for pitchers in both of the major leagues. 
• Happy Birthday, Fernando Valenzuela!

Kenley Jansen 2016 Topps Now Card - NL Reliever of the Year - #OS-3

As you know, Kenley Jansen was named the 2016 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year on Sunday.  Naturally, Topps has commemorated the award with an 2016 Topps Now card that features both Jansen and the AL winner Zach Britton.  Go here to check it out and order.

Per Mark Newman at MLB.com:

"Thank you so much for this tremendous honor," Jansen said via video. "I'm so sorry that I could not be there to receive the Trevor Hoffman Award from the man himself, a pitcher I respect and always admire. … Thank you for the legends and Hall of Famers to vote for me. To earn that respect from the greatest reliever of all time means a lot."

Blog Kiosk: 10/31/2016 - Dodgers Links - Congrats, Kenley!

Here is a fantastic vintage photo of soon-to-be Dodger star hurler Joe Black that I ran into at Hake's auctions.  (Auction Link)  It was taken following an impressive winter season effort where he lead the Cuban League (1951-52) in both wins and strike outs.  As you can see, a makeshift crown was placed on his head to commemorate this achievement.

As you may know, Joe joined the Dodgers that Fall and absolutely blew everyone away.  In 1952 he would go 15-4 with an 2.104 ERA, 85 strike outs, 41 walks, a 4.4 WAR and an ERA+ of 171.  Furthermore, he would be named the Rookie of the Year and come in third place in MVP voting.

Below are more links to check out:

• Happ Birthday, Javy Guerra!