James Loney and Andrew Jones Signing Event

I just received a note from the Dodgers PR Department about a signing event featuring James Loney and Andrew Jones. It's not exactly free, but if your in the area it might be worth a visit. Below are the details.

What: The Dodgers have partnered with Macy’s once again for a Father’s Day promotion. Fans can meet and get autographs from Dodger first baseman James Loney and outfielder Andruw Jones tomorrow at Macy’s Sherman Oaks with a purchase of $50 or more on Fossil merchandise in the men’s department. Fans will then be given a Dodger baseball to get autographed by both players.

Macy’s customers will also receive a free Family Four Pack of ticket vouchers to a Dodger home game with their Fossil purchase of $50 or more. Additionally, all fans can enter to win a sweepstakes at participating Southern California Macy’s where 8 dads will win the chance to take the field at Dodger Stadium before the June 22 game against the Cleveland Indians at 1:10 p.m.

Where:
Macy’s Sherman Oaks
Men’s Department, Level 2
14000 Riverside Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

When: Friday, June 6, 2008, 1 - 2 pm

Misc.: One Dodger baseball per customer with purchase; available while supplies last and while time permits. No personal items will be autographed. Dodger Family Four Pack ticket vouchers available with $50 Fossil purchase and limited to one per family. See retail location for complete details.

Dodgers Take Ethan Martin

Ethan Martin from Georgia is the Dodgers 1st pick of the 2008 Draft. Go to Dodger Thoughts for a roundup here.

Update: Thank you Jon for linking here from Dodger Thoughts. I thought I'd pass along some info in this update about the two cards shown here. They were exclusive cards made only for the 2007 AFLAC All American Baseball Classic in August 2007. The game was held in San Diego. From my understanding, each card is limited to a production of 250 cards. At the game each spectator was given 3 different cards of these teenage players, so the set may be very difficult to complete.
Update: From the Dodgers press release today:

“Ethan is a fantastic young athlete who excels on the mound with an exploding fastball and a sharp-biting curve,” said Assistant General Manager, Scouting Logan White. “He is a terrific competitor with first-class makeup.”

Martin last week was named the 2008 Gatorade Georgia State High School Player of the Year after going 11-1 with a 0.99 ERA as a senior at Stephens County High School (stats do not include last weekend’s Class AAA Georgia State Championship Series). He also had 141 strikeouts in 79.0 innings of work entering the season’s final series. Martin had entered the season as a Baseball America Second-Team Pre-Season High School All-American.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder was named as a 2007 AFLAC All-American after his junior season, during which he went 6-1 with 81 strikeouts and a 1.41 ERA.

The 18-year-old is rated by Baseball America as having the second-best fastball among draft-eligible high school pitchers. He is also rated by the publication as having the third-best secondary pitch amongst the same group.

“Ethan has a good angle on his fastball with late sinking action anywhere from 90-96 miles per hour,” said Scouting Director Tim Hallgren. “He also has a plus-curveball that has late three-quarter downward action at the plate.”

Martin entered the draft as the eighth-best pitcher – and the 16th-best overall prospect – among draft-eligible players according to Baseball America.

Although drafted by the Dodgers as a pitcher, Martin also played third base this season and hit .540 with 14 homers and 33 RBI in 31 games going into the Class AAA three-game final series last weekend.