Dodgers Win a Wild One - Magic Number is Now 14

The Dodgers won a wild one today - even with the reliable Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

In five innings of work he gave up five earned runs; including an uncharacteristic 11 hits.  Fortunately, the Dodger bats were up to the task of saving his hide.  They belted out 10 runs on 15 hits to help him win his 14th game of the year.

Andre Ethier had an historic game at the plate.  He hit a 2-run home run in the 6th inning, 2 doubles, and a total of 3 RBI's.  His doubles brought his season total to 30; which marks the first time in Dodger history a player has recorded 7-consecutive 30-double seasons.  Via a Dodger tweet.

Andre Ethier becomes first Dodger in franchise history to reach the 30-double mark in seven consecutive seasons -- no other Dodger with 6.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 2, 2013

The Dodgers won the game with a 10-8 score.  It was your typical Coors Field score. 

We now sit 12.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks, and have a "Magic Number" of 14. 

I  guess you can say that we're a Mike Scioscia away from a playoff berth.

On a side note, Yasiel Puig came out of the game in the 6th inning after mildly straining his right-knee sliding into 3rd base on a single by Adrian Gonzalez.  He was able to score on Hanley Ramirez's sacrifice fly, but was soon replaced by Skip Schumaker in the outfielder in the bottom of the 6th inning. 

According to Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe, Puig will not play in tomorrow's game, and apparently Puig has been having issues with his knee for awhile.

Puig, speaking through his interpreter, says the knee has been bothering him for a while, that he doesn’t remember exactly what he did to it or when, and that he first felt it today as he ran past first base after running hard through the bag when he reached on that error to lead off the sixth inning on a ground ball to third.

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K-Pop Supergroup "Miss A" Loves Ryu and the Dodgers

As Hyun-Jin Ryu continues his stellar play, the Dodgers become the go-to team for much of Korea.  As a result, K-Pop (riding its own wave of popularity) pair up to spread the Dodger/ MLB gospel. 

Go here to see what I mean.  K-Pop supergroup "Miss A" show off their Ryu/Dodger love in the video below.  Hat Tip: Reddit

Video Link:

Hat Tip: Reddit

BTW, the MLB-Korea website has some great photos and graphics.  Even if you can't understand a word of it, I suggest going through it just for fun.  Heck, check out what I found below.  Here is the website.

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2013 Topps Tier One Baseball - The Dodger Cards

Last week, Topps released their 2013 Tier One Baseball card set, and as usual they are gorgeous.  This is a high-end card set where boxes will run you almost $100 each, and that box has only one pack of 3 cards in it.  So, this product is not for the faint of heart.  BTW, there is no base set. 

I'd love to share with you all of the Dodger cards available.  Unfortunately, that just isn't possible.  Most of the major Dodger stars have redemption cards inserted into packs; such as Clayton Kershaw, Sandy Koufax, Yasiel Puig and Hyun-Jin Ryu.  Heck, even Kershaw's relic card (which is just a piece of a game-worn uniform) comes with a redemption.  What's up with that, eh?

Anyway, check out the Dodger cards I've been able to track down below.  Go here for a complete checklist of the set.

Thankfully, many Dodger old-timers (and one current player) signed cards in time to be included into boxes.  Yasiel Puig has a "Crowd Pleaser Autograph" but comes with a redemption card (see it now below).  I think my favorite card is the Bill Buckner.  Check out his super-thick brow.  It is glorious!

Crowd Pleaser Autographs

#CPA-AG Adrian Gonzalez

#CPA-BB2 Bill Buckner

#CPA-DS1 Don Sutton

#CPA-DS2 Don Sutton

#CPA-MW Maury Wills

UPDATE: Here is the Yasiel Puig Crowd Pleaser Autographed card below.

#CPA-YP Yasiel Puig

Below are Tier One Relic cards.  Three Dodgers are available: Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw.  As you'll notice, there are three different relics available for each player - single, double and triple relic pieces.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to track down an Adrian Gonzalez triple relic card.  Also, none of the Kershaw relics cards are in packs.  Instead, a redemption card is enclosed.  Why?  I don't know.

#TSR-AG Adrian Gonzalez

#TSR-MK Matt Kemp

UPDATE:  Below is the Kershaw relic card that was only available through a redemption

#TSR-CK Clayton Kershaw

Tier One Legends Relics

#TORL-JR Jackie Robinson

Below are the "1of 1" Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp All-Star Relic cards.

#TOASR-CK Clayton Kershaw

TOASR-MK Matt Kemp

UPDATE:  I had failed to mention that there is a 2013 Top Tier autographed card of Sandy Koufax.  See it below.  And, to the right of that is the Top Tier autographed card of Clayton Kershaw.

#TTA-SK Sandy Koufax                      #TTA-CK Clayton Kersahw

Also, here is the "Cut Signatures" checklist:

• #CS-DD Don Drysdale 
• #CS-DS Duke Snider 
• #CS-LD Leo Durocher

Here is the Dodger Bat Knob Autographed cards checklist:

• #ABK-BB Bill Buckner 
• #ABK-CK Clayton Kershaw 
• #ABK-HR Hanley Ramirez 

 #ABK-BB Bill Buckner

Here are is the checklist of Dodger Bat Knob cards:

• #TOBK-AGO Adrian Gonzalez 
• #TOBK-CC Carl Crawford 
• #TOBK-CK Clayton Kershaw 
• #TOBK-DS Duke Snider 
• #TOBK-HR Hanley Ramirez 
• #TOBK-JRB Jackie Robinson 
• #TOBK-MK Matt Kemp 
• #TOBK-SG Steve Garvey 
• #TOBK-ZG Zack Greinke

There is also a Dual Autographed cards featuringseveral Dodgers.  Below is a checklist:

• #DA-KA Hank Aaron - Sandy Koufax
• #DA-WB Dylan Bundy - Ryu Hyun-Jin
• #DA-WK Clayton Kershaw - Jered Weaver

 #DA-KA Hank Aaron - Sandy Koufax

 #DA-WB Dylan Bundy - Ryu Hyun-Jin

There are also Prodigious Patches Autographed cards of Adrian Gonzalez (#PPAR-AG ), Clayton Kershaw (#PPAR-CK) and Hanley Ramirez (#PPAR-HR).  Only the AGon and Hanley is seen below.

#PPAR-AG Adrian Gonzalez                 #PPAR-HR Hanley Ramirez

Another card I failed to mention is the Clear Reprint Autographs.  Sandy Koufax is the only Dodger in this set.  See the front and reverse below

#CRA-SK Sandy Koufax

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Blog Kiosk: 9/2/2013 - Dodgers Links - 16 is Our Magic Number

Zack Greinke was masterful again, yesterday afternoon.  Pic via Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers 2013.

• In case you were wondering, the Dodgers Magic Number is now 16!  We are a Nomo away from the playoffs.
• "Will Padres' September song have Chase Headley playing Dodgers' tune?," via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times.

"You can't help but see what's going on in L.A. and be impressed," Headley said, "with all the talent they have collected and to see how it all has fit together.

"In the beginning, it didn't seem like it fit together at all. Now it seems like they're playing at — I'm not a baseball historian, but it's been a historic pace."

• "Matt Kemp injury: Dodgers CF to extend minor league rehab assignment," via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.

"We both want him to be ready. I want to make sure he's feeling good, and is comfortable out there. I talked to him last night and I know he doesn't feel good yet at the plate," Mattingly said. "He's not pushing us to say 'I want to be there tomorrow' or anything else."

• "Yasiel Puig and Skip Schumaker do something nice for young Dodgers fan with leukemia," via David Brown at Big League Stew.
• Gary Joseph Cieradkowski at the Infinite Baseball Card Set makes an awesome Pete Reiser card.  "158. Pete Reiser: The Heartbreaking Ballad of Pistol Pete"
• Via ND at Baseball Happenings, "Dodgers infielder Bill Russell makes a putout on autograph seekers."  Russell is no longer signing autographs through the mail.  I think it's likely somebody wasn't very nice to him.

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