Tommy in Stable and Comfortable Condition

With a collective gasp, all of Dodger nation was shook by the news from early this morning that Tommy Lasorda was submitted into the hospital for a heart attack on Monday.  Tommy was not at the MLB Draft yesterday where he was slated to announce the draft picks for the team.  As TMZ noted, Lasorda's absence at the draft was noticeable and caused some to worry.  Thankfully, as noted by the Dodgers in a just released press notice, Tommy is fine: 

Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda suffered a mild heart attack Monday while in New York for the Major League Baseball 2012 First-Year Player Draft. Lasorda, 84, was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center for treatment.

 

Doctors inserted a stent to correct a blocked artery in Lasorda’s heart. He is resting comfortably and in stable condition.

 

“The doctors confirmed I do bleed Dodger Blue,” Lasorda joked. “I’m looking forward to being back at the stadium to cheer on the Dodgers.”

I was glad to read that Tommy is back to his old self.  For those interested, TMZ has some exclusive footage from this past Sunday evening as Lasorda regaled the patrons at a Brooklyn Italian restaurant with his wonderful singing.

Catching Up on Some Dodgers News

With all of the excitement of the Kings playoff run currently taking over my mind I've been a bit remiss in sharing some recent Dodger news.  So, below is a brief roundup.

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The 1st round of the Draft was yesterday and the Dodger chose high school shortstop Corey Seager with the 18th overall pic.  Via the Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected Northwest Cabarrus High School (Concord, NC) shortstop Corey Seager with their first-round pick (18th overall) and Puerto Rico Baseball Academy shortstop Jesmuel Valentin with the 51^st overall pick in the supplemental round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.  Assistant General Manager, Scouting Logan White made the announcement.

Seager, a 6-foot-4, 205-pounder, batted .519 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI this season to earn a selection as the Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year. The 18-year-old also stole 13 bases while posting a 1.062 slugging percentage and a .664 on-base percentage. The younger brother of Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager was rated by Baseball America as the top third baseman in the 2012 draft.

“We’re excited to have taken a quality young man,” said White. “He’s athletic, can hit and comes from a great family with the bloodlines we look for.”

Seager was selected for the 2010 USA Baseball 16-and-Under National Team and earned All-Tournament honors by helping Team USA win a gold medal at the Pan-American Games, batting .514 with a home run and 12 RBI in nine games.

Since he was a member of Team USA Seager already has some cards that you can add to your collection.  Check them out below.  Click the pic below to embiggen.  Unfortunately, Valentin does not appear to have a card in the market.

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Jay Guerra goes on the 15-day DL.  Via the Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed right-handed reliever Javy Guerra on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to June 3) with right knee inflammation, selected the contract of right-handed reliever Shawn Tolleson from Triple-A Albuquerque and transferred right-hander Matt Guerrier to the 60-day disabled list...

Tolleson, 24, will hope to make his Major League debut and has gone a combined 0-1 with five saves and a 2.82 ERA in 19 relief appearances with Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Albuquerque. The Texas native has limited opposing hitters to a .198 batting average with 34 strikeouts in 22.1 combined innings this season, last pitching on Thursday with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning against New Orleans. Tolleson was named the Dodgers' 2011 Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year, going a combined 7-2 with 25 saves and a 1.17 ERA in 57 relief appearances with Single-A Great Lakes, Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Chattanooga. Tolleson, who will wear No. 38, has 178 strikeouts in 120.0 innings in his three professional seasons and was originally selected by Los Angeles in the 30th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Baylor University.

Tolleson also has several Baseball cards to collect.

Vintage PostCard Collection: Who Wins!!

Who Wins!!

The Kings Win!!

They now have a 3 games to 0 lead in the 7 game series.  I don't want to get too far ahead of myself (after all, Kings fans are conditioned to expect the worse), but it might be fair to say that the Devils are toast.  As I've read and heard numerous times during this playoff run, the Kings make good teams look average.  They have done that throughout the playoffs, and there is no reason to believe they will falter now.  I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that this coming Wednesday I'll be celebrating in the street of downtown LA.

If the Kings win it, please win it at home.  I want nothing more than to see that shiny cup held aloft in our house.

Above is another c. 1910's vintage postcard  in my collection.  I thought it was an apt collectible to share this morning.