Blog Kiosk: 9/13/2011

• Roberto at Vin Scully Is My Homeboy has the full list of Dodger signers for the last Viva Los Dodgers game of the season. It is an impressive list featuring free autographs of some former and a current Dodgers.
  
• McCourt attorneys back in court Wednesday, Steve Dilbeck at LA Times.
  
• Clayton Kershaw named the Dodger representative for the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award. Check out more here.
  
• 2011 Dodgers proving that the best bullpen is often times an inexpensive one, via True Blue LA.
• Bryan Stowe's medical bills to top $50Mil, via ESPN.
  
• OK, single Dodger guys and gals, check out Dodger Singles Night this coming Friday.
  
• Al Yellon ask the unthinkable at SB Nation- What Would MLB Do in the Event of a Team Disaster?
  
• The Baseball geek in me finds this utterly fascinating. The Rise and Fall of New England- Style Ballplaying, via John Thorn. Then check out "10 Things You Might Not Know About Early Baseball."
  
• Seamheads.com launches their database of Negro League stats, here. This is long overdue and a great start to learning and understanding the league. It is a work in progress, and I expect that I'll be checking it out constantly.
  
• This years must see Baseball movie- Moneyball, via Dodger Thoughts.
• Andre Ethier talks about his love pf Parks BBQ.

Video Link:

Today was Team Photo Day

Check out the photo tweeted by the Dodgers this afternoon. It was team photo day today. It's a little weird it's happening so late in the season. Of special note is team photographer Jon SooHoo in the foreground. He is principally responsible for many of the great photos the Dodger release.

(Pic Link: LA Dodgers Lockerz)

Taiwan To Flex Their Muscles

With all of the hoopla surrounding the recent $1.2Billion bid by China to purchase the Dodgers, it only make sense that the independent nation of Taiwan (also known as the Republic of China) would want to stake their own claim.

The First Lady of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Mei-Ching Chow Ma will visit Dodger Stadium for the first time on September 21 (vs. SF at 7:10 p.m.). Madame Ma will throw out a ceremonial first pitch as part of her visit.

An avid baseball fan, Chow was the first Taiwanese First Lady to hold a profession upon her husband Ma Ying-jeou’s 2008 election. A graduate of New York University Law School, Chow sustained a 20-year career at Mega International Commercial Bank, a major Taiwanese bank, and ended her tenure as director of legal affairs shortly after President Ma Ying-jeou’s inauguration. Since, Chow has served as an ambassador of Taiwanese arts and culture and serves in various charitable capacities.

I think the Dodgers may be on the verge of starting an international crisis. The communist country of China has had its eye set on taking over that island for decades now. With both nations vying for the hearts and minds of Angelinos we could be seeing the first volley in an extended Pacific war.

Collection: Kirk Gibson WS Highlights Auto

This is easily one of my favorite autograph cards in my collection. It is a 2003 Topps World Series Highlights card featuring Kirk Gibson's 1988 home run.

The Manny Implosion

Manny is a mess. Who'd have thought he would fall so far. From ESPN:

Former World Series MVP Manny Ramirez was arrested and charged with battery Monday after a domestic dispute at his South Florida home, police said.

Ramirez, 39, and his wife were arguing in their bedroom when he slapped her face, causing her to hit her head on their bed's headboard, according to a police report. She told the deputy she was afraid the situation would escalate and called police.

Ramirez denied hitting his wife, according to the report, telling a deputy "he grabbed his wife by the shoulders and when he shrugged her, she hit her head."

Ramirez's wife, Juliana, had red swelling on her face and a small bruise on the back of her head, the police report said. She did not want medical treatment.

Yikes!

Dodgers Losing a Good One

From the LA Times we learn that the Dodger VP of Communications and the person who first made the team so available to the Dodger blog community is leaving the team to take a Senior Vice President of Communications post with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

I don't know how active the DBacks are with their fans and blogging community, but I am certain he will be an asset to their organization. Like I said, he was instrumental in reaching out to bloggers, and this blogger will always be appreciative of his efforts.

Good Luck and many rewards on your new challenge.