Welcome Back, Clayton!

WooHoo!  He's back!

Our golden left arm, our leader from the mound, the claw with a magic curve, a savior in a time of need, is officially back on the Dodger roster.  After what has felt like an eternity, Clayton Kershaw comes off the DL and has been activated. He will start tonight's game.

Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today reinstated left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Pedro Baez to Double-A Chattanooga.

Kershaw, the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, picked up the win on Opening Day against the D-backs in Australia, allowing just one run on five hits in 6.2 innings in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory, before being placed on the DL with a Teres Major strain. The 26-year-old made two rehab starts, April 25 for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (5.0 IP, 2 H, R, HR, BB, 6 SO - 56 pitches) and April 30 for Double-A Chattanooga (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO - 86 pitches), and will make the start tonight at Washington.

Baez was recalled from Chattanooga yesterday and made his Major League debut in last night’s loss.

No surprise with Baez being shipped to Chattanooga.  He was an insurance policy - to provide an extra arm to alleviate an overworked bullpen.  BTW, he got into last nights game, but was less than overwhelming.  He went one inning, gave up a single and a 2-run home run.  At least he officially has his name in the record books, eh?

Kershaw rejoins the Dodgers at a time when they are struggling, a bit.  They sit in 3rd place in the West - 3.5 games behind the Giants, and have a .500 record over the past 10 games.

Frankly, I think folks are getting a bit too worked up about the Dodgers recent misfortunes.  We still have a lot of Baseball left to play, and the current malaise that seems to surround the team appears to be the normal/typical daily grind you should expect in any season.  Nevertheless, it's great to see Kershaw back in Dodger Blue.  His presence on the mound can provide enough gusto to get us over this little hump.

In celebration of Clayton's return I made the below fantasy card for him.  I used a photo grabbed from Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014 from photo day during Spring Training and the 1987 Topps Baseball card design.  Don't you love that smile?

Pic at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.

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2014 Bowman Baseball - The Dodger Autograph, Relic & Boxloader Cards

Here is a final post featuring Dodger cards that can be found in packs of 2014 Bowman Baseball.  This time I show the relic and autographed cards. 

There are a bunch of different Julio Urias autographed cards.  Unfortunately, they only come with a redemption card in packs, so I do not have any photos yet.  BTW, once an Urias Superfractor shows up I'll feature them with another post.

Go here to check out all of my previous post on this set.

Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs

#BCAP-BT Brandon Trinkwon                 #BCAP-JS Jacob Scavuzzo

Two Dodgers are available as Bowman Black Autographs, but only a redemption card is inserted into packs.  Below is a checklist:

• #BBC-BT Brandon Trinkwon
• #BBC-JU Julio Urias

#BBC-JU Julio Urias 

Below are a couple of more Julio Urias autographed cards that are only found as redemption cards.

Bowman Chrome Mini Autograph Cards

• #CMA-JU Julio Urias 

#CMA-JU Julio Urias
(pic of purple parallel shown below)

Ultimate Prospect Autograph Book Card

• #Julio Urias - (This card features a booklet card with 25 different autographs)

AFLAC/Perfect Game/Under Armour Autographs

#Corey Seager

Futures Game Relics

#FGR-JP Joc Pederson

The card below is an oversized boxloader.  They are randomly inserted into hobby boxes of 2014 Bowman as a single pack.  So, not every hobby box has one of these packs.  They are roughly twice the size of a normal card.

BTW, I noticed a small error to this card.  Checklist I've seen indicates that this card should be numbered #OI-JU, but as you can see below they are numbered as #OAI-JU.  The latter numbering is what the autographed Oversized Iced Boxloader cards are supposed to be numbered as.  Also, the Oversized Autographed Iced cards are available only through a redemption.

Oversized Ice Boxloaders

#OI-JU Julio Urias

I can't wait to get a look at the card below.  If they look anything like the Yasiel Puig insert, then this card should look fantastic.

Oversized 1989 Bowman Autographs #/20

#89-JU Julio Urias

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Blog Kiosk: 5/6/2014 - Dodger Links - Guerrero Superfractor has been Found

Hanley is hoping for the rain to go away.  He got his wish, as the Dodger resumed the game.  Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.

• Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, “Pawn Stars” Casting Crew Seeking Sports Items At June Long Beach Expo.
• Chad Moriyama at Dodgers Digest shares a gif of the Dodgers only highlight from last night's game - a Dodger fan reaction behind the plate to a Brian Wilson strike out.  Was that Troy from West Virginia?  Do you remember him?  He became viral famous a few years back for his love of Joe Beimel. 

(Pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

• Via Jeff Seidel at MLB.com, "Ryu gets OK to begin throwing program."

"With everything, doc felt good, didn't need anything, just let him start working there and moving forward," Mattingly said.

• I just thought I'd let you know that the Alexander Guerrero Superfractor has been found in 2014 Bowman, and it's currently for sale on eBay, here.  Check out pics below.  Superfractors are the most sought after modern issue rookie card in the hobby.  They are all "1 of 1's", and can sell for thousands of dollars.

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Is Ramirez contract extension now on back burner for Colletti?"
• RIP.  Via Helene Elliott at the LA Times, "Former King, Flyer Ross Lonsberry dies at 67."  He played for the Kings in the late-'60's and early '70's, and was an import cog to the Stanley Cup Champion Broad Street Bullies in Philadelphia.

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