Suspended! Mattingly Gets Two Games While Kemp Gets None

As has been widely reported, Don Mattingly has received a two game suspension for his recent ejection in Pittsburgh.  Per an MLB press release:

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has been suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount for his excessive arguing in the top of the second inning of his Club’s Thursday, August 16^th game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.  Joe Garagiola, Jr., Senior Vice President of Standards & On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement.

Mattingly’s suspension is to begin tonight, when the Dodgers are to continue their series at Atlanta.

Furthermore, Ken Gurnick confirmed on twitter that Matt Kemp will not receive a suspension.

(twitter link)

If you haven't seen the melee then check out the Dodgers video below.  Kemp gets rather heated.

Video Link:

Did you notice the kid in the above video getting the earmuff treatment?

(pic link: reddit pitpanthersfan)

I think everyone on twitter did.  It was the subject of a lot of laughter.  Of course, Don Mattingly didn't think it was too funny.  Per Deadspin, he saw a replay in the clubhouse and immediately sent along a gift to the family as an apology.  The signed ball says, "It's a Reality Show, Best Wishes"

Finally, both Don and Matt speak about the ejections below.

Video Link:

Pic Link: The Infocom Gallery.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/18/2012

Today is the Civil Rights Game between the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.  Check out Jon SooHoo's photograph of the commemorative hats the Dodgers will be wearing.

• The ninth edition of Dodgers Playbill features Dodger shortstop Hanley Ramirez sporting his familiar “I See You” gesture for the camera. Inside the playbill are features on Ramirez, Hall of Fame Broadcaster Vin Scully, Dodger prospect Yasiel Puig and Star Trek’s William Shatner. Fans receive Dodgers Playbill at all parking gates.  See it at left.
• Check out this funny comic by the Sports Guys at the Webcomic Factory.  It features the Dodgers, and is called "The Ump is Always Right."
• Former Dodger Kenny Landreaux will be signing free at autographs on Tuesday, August 21st in Autograph Alley at Dodger Stadium prior to that evenings game from 5:10 PM to 6:30 PM.  To see other Dodgers scheduled to sign prior to games during the upcoming homestand go to my calendar.

• BTW, Kevin Gross will be honored before Wednesdays game, just a few days after the 20th anniversary of his no-hitter against the Giants on August 17, 1992.
• Here's what the childrens backpack looks like that will be given to youngsters (14 and under) on Sunday, August 26th.  Oh, to be a kid again.  See it at right.
• Via Larry Brown Sports, AJ Burnett Blast Hanley Ramirez for Home Run Celebration.

“If you’re going to hit a homer, act like you’ve hit one before,” Burnett told reporters after the game according to the Associated Press. “The first batter, (James) Loney, hit one, was very professional about it. Ran hard the whole way. I just thought he did a little something at second base. I could be wrong. It was the heat of the moment.”

• Jon Weisman at LA Magazine's CityThink writes that "Kershaw Sneaks into Cy Young Race."
• Deadspin has the scoop, after Kemp's and Mattingly's expletive filled ejection the other day, Mattingly sent an autographed Baseball to the kid who got earmuffed. 

• Check out a little snippet from tonight's episode of My MLB Life that features Matt Kemp below.  It will be on the MLB Network at 6:30 PM EST.

Video Link:

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Collection: Some Presidential Trade Cards

Following up last weekends post featuring the 1965 Topps Presidents and Famous Americans set, check out a group of 4 Victorian era 19th century trade cards of some Presidents.  These date to at least 1885 to 1889 based upon the printing on the Grover Cleveland card above.  The Cleveland is clearly the last card in the set since it refers to his time in office as "President from 1885" while the other cards give the range of years they were in office. 

I don't know much about the set overall.  It includes an advertisement for The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company at the bottom, which is common for these kinds of cards.  The backs are blank.  As I had written previously:

Trade Cards are one of the more interesting hobbies to crop up in American history. It originally started in the late 1870's and thrived throughout the rest of the century. It became one of America's early fads and collecting crazes. They started out as business/ advertising cards given away to customers. The name of the establishment would be printed on the front with a simple design around the edges. Soon the designs became more ornate and customers started collecting them to put into scrapbooks. This started the age of Victorian scrapbooking in America.

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A Video of Yasiel Puig's Debut At-Bats in Rancho Cucamonga

Redditor daringescape shares a video of Yasiel Puig and all of his at-bats from this past Tuesday with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes- the Dodgers High A farm club. 

On this night he went 1 for 4 with a single (a hard grounder up the middle).  Puig also stole two bases and scored a run in his debut.

Overall, Puig has gone 7 for 16 for a .438 average in the 4 games he's played for the Quakes so far.  He doesn't have an extra base hit, but has scored 3 runs while stealing 5 bases- Puig has been caught once.

Video Link:

For a closer look at his first hit (a single) from the game above then check out the below video.

Video Link:

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