Blog Kiosk: 8/7/2013 - Dodgers Links - Allen & Ginter is in Stores, Puig, and Donnie Almost Got Canned

BFF's.  Pic bove via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.  See more pics from yesterday's game right here.

• Check out this pic (on the right) of a 2013 Allen & Ginter cabinet box-loader of Matt Kemp that was shared by Topps on twitter.  BTW, this set officially goes live today, so you should be able to find them at your local store.  Cards are already showing up on eBay.
• "It’s been 85 starts since Clayton Kershaw was knocked out of a game," via Jon Weisman   at Dodger Thoughts.
• Via Cut4, "Here are 17 reasons why Yasiel Puig is baseball's most must-watch rookie".
• Ross Gasmer at Dodgers Nation informs us that recently released Dodger pitcher Ted Lilly has joined the Giants. 
• Chris Olds at Beckett shares some early pics from Topps 2014 Heritage set that will come out in March of next year.  Check out the Puig and Kershaw cards below.  I love the Kershaw gold embossed card.  Chris has even more preview pics.  BTW, Puig is slated to have an autographed card in the set.

• Just a brief update on the Puig arrest for reckless driving while in the minors, the court case has been delayed.  Via Chattanooga.com.
• Baseball America shares their list of Top-3 MLB Best Tools.  Kershaw, Ryu and Puig make the cut.
• "Giving Yasiel Puig guidance was teacher's extra-credit assignment, via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times.

When Puig was at double-A Chattanooga (Tenn.) earlier this season, his behavior raised concerns. His first assigned caretaker, former major league pitcher Eddie Orospesa, butted heads with him and lasted only a month. Puig’s demeanor was said to improve after Bravo joined him at the end of last school year.

• "Examining the Dodgers Road Win Streak," via Paul Swydan at FanGraphs.
• But now it's over.  "Dodgers' road win streak ends at 15," via Arash Markazi at ESPN.
• "LA righting its ship may have saved Mattingly's job," via Chad Thornburg at MLB.com.  Apparently, Don came very close to being fired.

"[Team president Stan Kasten] was really honest, because I think he didn't want to do anything, but he says, 'Donny, at some point I've got to do something,'" Mattingly said of their late May conversation. "If they're not listening and it's not going good, you've got to make a change just to be making a change. And you could be doing the best job you could possibly do and it still wouldn't make a difference. At some point, I get it. I got that."

• William Regenthal at Foul Bunt shares more pics from his weekend at Cooperstown during Hall of Induction weekend.  This time he has photos from the Hall of Fame parade.

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