Dodgers Show Braves Who's Boss in Game 1

This game was like watching an older brother push aside his younger sibling without a sweat.  Sure, there were a couple moments when thoughts of a Braves rally crept into your mind, but then those ideas quickly dissipated as Dodger dominance came back in to play.

To start, the Braves came out strong as Medlen struck out the side in the 1st inning.  Fortunately, Kershaw was equal to the task as he struck out two in his bottom half.  Then, the Dodger bats got started.  Puig grounded to center for a single, Uribe lined a single to center to send Puig to 3rd, and Schumaker flied to center to score Puig for their first run of the game.  Next up was AJ Ellis. 

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Ellis' double scored another run for the Dodgers, making it 2-0.

The very next inning, Adrian Gonzalez came up to bat with Mark Ellis in scoring position.

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4-0, Dodgers!

From there, a Dodger win was a near certainty.  Via a tweet from Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.

Dodgers when scoring 4 runs in a Clayton Kershaw start this season are 14-1 (Kershaw is 11-0)
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) October 4, 2013

Clayton Kershaw went 7 innings, striking out 12, walking 3 and allowing just 1 earned run.  What was even better was watching a well balanced Dodgers offense.  Mark Ellis, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and AJ Ellis all had two hits, and five different Dodgers knocked in a run. 

The Dodgers take the first game of the series, 6-1, and look to win again tomorrow with back-up ace Zack Greinke on the mound.

As for some additional highlights, watch Yasiel Puig snag a Chris Johnson's fly ball, then fire to first to complete the double play in the 2nd inning, below.  Watch a video of the play here.

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BJ Upton looked like a frightened deer as Clayton throws a bender to strike him out in the 6th inning.

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If watching one Kershaw strike out isn't enough, here are the 6 straight strike outs he threw from the 5th to 6th innings.

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And here is the final out by Kenley Jansen - fittingly via a strike out.

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Game 3 Gametime is Set for 5:07 PM on Sunday

Just in case you needed to know, Game 3 of this series at Dodger Stadium on Sunday will start at 5:07 PM. 

Unfortunately, the gametime for Game 4 was not announced in concert - which is dumb since planning for a weekday game is far more dire a situation than for Sunday.  Working stiffs need to know the time for Mondays game right away - assuming there is a Monday game!

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Check Out Tonight's Lineup - Dodgers vs. Braves

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves

Clayton Kershaw vs. Kris Medlen

Game Start: 5:37 p.m., PST
TV: TBS
Radio: Dodgers 570 AM (English), 1020 AM (Spanish), ESPN Radio

This is Game 1 of the NLDS game between the Dodgers and Braves.  Yasiel Puig will be batting 5th and Skip Schumaker will man centerfield.  I am antsy in anticipation.

Dodgers Lineup:

#Dodgers lineup at Braves. #ITFDB pic.twitter.com/KNg1mDYmA2
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 3, 2013

Braves Lineup:

Tonight's lineup vs. LAD (8:37, TBS/680AM/BRN): Heyward 8 JUpton 9 Freeman 3 Gattis 7 McCann 2 CJohnson 5 Simmons 6 EJohnson 4 Medlen 1
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 3, 2013

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A Model of 1955 Ebbets Field is on Auction

Following up on yesterdays post featuring a couple of rare Brooklyn Dodgers programs, I now bring to you an incredible model recreation of Ebbets Field.  It was created by Steve Wolf, who built the stadium models you can see at Gary Cypres' Sports Museum of Los Angeles.  Check out his website, here, that includes his other creations.

Per the auction description:

The replica of Ebbets Field, which depicts the ballpark exactly as it was in 1955, recreates the stadium to the most exacting detail, and is complete with working light towers and interior lighting under both decks. Wolf, who is the foremost model-stadium builder in the country, spent over 1,800 hours in producing this model, which, as one can clearly see by the images shown here, is nothing short of miraculous. What is even more amazing is the fact that ninety-five percent of the materials used in its construction, including various woods, Plexiglas, copper, plastics, and virtually every other building material under the sun, were meticulously hand-cut by Wolf. In all, more than 50,000 pieces make up the stadium, including approximately 32,000 seats, all of which were meticulously put together by hand.

Check out a bunch of photos below.  Most of Steve's work is commission based, and according to him he would charge a client upwards of $75,000.00 to have this made. 

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2013 Bowman Chrome Baseball - All the Dodgers Cards

Last week Topps released another Baseball card set.  This time it was their 2013 Bowman Chrome set and it is basically a mirror image of the Bowman set from May - just a lot shinier.  See a complete checklist here. 

The base cards use the exact same photos as the their normal Bowman set, but there are two new additions that are brand new - Matt Magill and Yasiel Puig.  Check out all of the Dodgers' cards available below.  The only card missing is a Hyun-Jin Ryu autographed card.  A redemption for Ryu's autograph is inserted into packs.

#47 Josh Beckett                                 #60 Hanley Ramirez

#66 Matt Kemp                                       #78 Yasiel Puig

#101 Adrian Gonzalez                         #154 Hyun-Jin Ryu

#190 Matt Magill                                  #196 Andre Ethier

#218 Paco Rodriguez                          #220 Clayton Kershaw

Prospect Cards

#BCP118 Onelki Garcia                      #BCP125 Corey Seager

#BCP142 Jeremy Rathjen

Prospect Variation Cards

#BCP125 Corey Seager

Prospect Autograph Cards

#BCA-OG Onelki Garcia                        #BCA-YP Yasiel Puig

Fit the Bill Insert Cards

#FTB-CK Clayton Kershaw                          #FTB-YP Yasiel Puig

Rising through the Ranks Mini Insert Cards

#RTR-CS Corey Seager                     #RTR-JP Joc Pederson

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Blog Kiosk: 10/3/2013 - Dodgers Links - Vin Scully, Schumaker and Buss

The final workout before tonight's game.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

• Vin Scully Tweets collects the 16 best Scully moments of the 2013 season.  Check them all out here.

• Via Tom Hoffarth at Farther Off the Wall writes, "Q and A: Scully, on McCain, champange and, really, when you’re calling games in October, how can you complain?"

I have never, in all my years, have had champagne poured on me. I’m usually on the air, and way back, I would throw it to Jerry Doggett in the clubhouse, and he’d be drowned in all of that.  The closest I’ve ever come to that was the 1963 World Series. 

• Ben Bergman at KPCC writes that Vin may hang it up after next season.

“Right, I’m pretty well sure – and I don’t want to go back and forth with it – but I’m looking to next year and thinking that should be about it,” Scully told KPCC in a recent interview.

• I was a little worried.  "Vin Scully refutes the idea that he'll retire after next season," via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.

“I look at each year as possibly my last,” Scully said. “Next year will be no different. It all boils down to come July or August, how I feel physically. I’ll look at how many mistakes I’ve made and if they’re coming for me yet, and how I feel.”

• "With Dodgers' offense hurting, Carl Crawford could be key in playoffs," via Dustin Nosler at Feelin' Kinda Blue.
• "Dodgers counting on Schumaker," via Mark Saxon at ESPN.

“Actually, I thought he was our best outfielder in St. Louis. He definitely has the strong arm. He’s very, very accurate and he battles out his at-bats,” McGwire said. “He does his homework, he does his studying. I’ve just got to keep him relaxed.” 

• Ron's been on a roll.  "Nick Buss – living the dream," via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA.

“Getting an understanding of what it’s like up here and how things are done, there’s something to it,” said Buss. “It’s been a ton of fun up here, it’s a great team to come up with and be a part of.”

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Here is the Official Dodgers Roster

Just in the nick of time, the Dodgers announce their roster for the postseason match-up against the Braves.  See it below.

There are a couple of shockers.  First of all, Chris Capuano made the roster over Carlos Marmol and Edinson Volquez.  He was out for three weeks due to groin issues, but came back during the final week and impressed the staff with two scoreless appearances - including three strike outs in two innings of play.  As expected, Brandon League will not figure in this series.  Another unusual addition is Dee Gordon.  I suppose he'll provide some speed off the bench, and is likely to be used as a pinch-runner in the case that Andre Ethier gets on base when he pinch-hits. 

And remember, tonight's game starts at 5:37 PM PST.

Pitchers (11)                                                   

Starting Pitchers:
LHP Clayton Kershaw
RHP Zack Greinke
LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu
RHP Ricky Nolasco
 
Relievers:
RHP Ronald Belisario                                  
LHP Chris Capuano
LHP J.P. Howell                                             
RHP Kenley Jansen
LHP Paco Rodriguez
RHP Brian Wilson
RHP Chris Withrow                                        

Position Players (14)

The Starters:
C A.J. Ellis
1B Adrian Gonzalez
2B Mark Ellis
SS Hanley Ramirez
3B Juan Uribe
OF Carl Crawford
OF Yasiel Puig
IF/OF Skip Schumaker

Reserves:
IF/OF Scott Van Slyke
IF Nick Punto
IF Michael Young
IF Dee Gordon
OF Andre Ethier
C Tim Federowicz

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