Well... That Figures... Puig Scratched Due to Sore Shoulder...

Likely as a result of last nights little melee, Yasiel Puig has now been scratched from the starting lineup.

No announcement yet, but Puig is likely to be scratched with a sore right shoulder.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 12, 2013

According to various reports, he took a few swings during pregame batting practice, stopped, and went to the clubhouse in a huff. 

I'll cross my fingers and hope this is just the Dodgers be cautious.  After all, According to Tim Brown he's available to the Dodgers later in the game.  So, the Dodgers aren't rushing him to get an MRI.

Puig has shoulder soreness. Mattingly sd he won't be in lineup. Available to run, maybe PH.
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) June 13, 2013

Pic at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013

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Mailbag: A Podres Autograph and Some Bonus Dodger Cards

I recently picked up some Dodger Baseball cards off of eBay, and thought I would share my bounty here.  As a part of a multiple card lot, I received the above 2013 Topps Series 1 Chasing History autographed card of 1955 World Series hero Johnny Podres.  I've got multiple different Podres autographed cards in my collection, but I just can't help but add more to my collection.  Below is the reverse of the card.

Included with the Podres was a whole bunch of other Dodgers, most of which I didn't already have.  Check out some of the more modern issues below.  All of these cards came home with me for about $6 bucks, delivered.

The best of the bunch are the below 1978-1979 TCMA Baseball History Series cards featuring some old-timers.  I've seen these cards a number of times throughout my hobby life, but have never actually added a card to my collection.  So, I was ecstatic that they were included.

Can you name them all?

Here is a key to help you with identifying who they are:

Top Photo (from top row, left to right):

Carmen Mauro, Jim Gilliam, Johnny Roseboro, Rube Walker, Bob Wilson, Don Hoak, Chico Fernandez, George Shuba, and Chuck Templeton.

Bottom Photo:

Preacher Roe, Carl Erskine, Don Newcombe, Karl Spooner, Preacher Roe and Johnny Podres, Gil Hodges, and Wayne Belardi.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Jay Johnstone and Former Raiders Coach Tom Flores

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Jay Johnstone will be at Manuel's El Tepeyac in the City of Industry on Sunday, June 16, 2013 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.  One FREE autograph per person (Additional FREE autograph tickets w/ purchase of Sports Items).

Manuel's El Tepeyac
13131 Crossroads Pkwy South
City of Industry, CA 91746
(626) 488-9432

Hat Tip: Vin Scully is My Homeboy

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Prices are $25.00 for a small item and $30.00 for a large item.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/12/2013 - Dodgers Links - Gaines Caused the Bench Clearing Brawl

Davis Gaines is one of my favorite regular National Anthem singers at LA Kings games of all-time.  His operatic voice just resonates throughout the arena.  That being said, is it any wonder a hockey-style bench-clearing brawl broke out on the evening he came out to sing?  I think not.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

• This is getting out of hand.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Yasiel Puig making noise in NL Rookie of the Year odds".
• Via Chad Moriyama, "It’s not a positive that Yasiel Puig has accounted for over 40% of the team’s offense".
• AJ Ellis played his first rehab game in Lake Elsinore yesterday, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.
• It has now been confirmed by the Daily Telegraph in Australia that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks will start the 2014 season in Sydney Australia. 

The games have been described as the biggest internationally recognised event in this country since the 2003 Rugby World Cup final and come exactly 100 years after the Chicago White Sox played against NSW at the SCG.

"Sydney will host the first two games for the opening series of 2014 Major League Baseball at the Sydney Cricket Ground," Premier Barry O'Farrell said.

"The opening series will feature the LA Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks playing the first two games of the season.

"This is a significant win for Sydney and again delivers on my election commitment to bring major events to NSW. It's estimated the matches will deliver a $13 million benefit for the local economy, as well as attract visitors from interstate and overseas."

• Via Rob Neyer at Baseball Nation, "The increasingly poor decisions of Donnie Baseball".
• Kristi Dosh at ESPN, ranks the highest paying professional sports team by average pay per player.  The Dodgers are ranked second highest in the world.
• Take a look below of the Dodgers beach towel being given out on June 25th.  Pic via twitter @Dodgers.

• Matthew Kory at Sports on Earth writes about Baseball players under pressure.  (Hat Tip: JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers)

I'm usually skeptical of the impact of pressure on professional athletes. Often times I see it as the media inserting themselves into the story. The pressure (…from the media) was so great that the players just couldn't play properly! Oh, that powerful media! That said, it strikes me that just this year alone, we have three separate cases of this kind of thing, as the Dodgers and, to a slightly lesser extent, the Angels both fall into a similar category.

• Sir Patrick Stewart is hilarious.  Pic via twitter @SirPatStew.

(twitter link)

• This seems like the worst idea ever.  Via John Ourand at Sports Business Journal, he tells us about "Mandalay developing TV show based on life of Times writer (TJ Simers)".  Here is the video Mandalay produced to create interest featuring Simers, his daughter and Dwight Howard.
• All I gotta say is, EPIC!  Listen to Hank Azaria reading the Dodgers lineup from this weekend as Moe, Apu and Chief Wiggam.

Video Link:

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