Marlins Series Starts Tonight - Scheduled Autograph Signings, a Puig Bobblehead and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts this evening with the Miami Marlins, and several old-time Dodgers will be in the house to sign free autographs for fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The extreme loaded dog concession stands on the Field, Loge and Reserve levels will feature the Cuban Dog.  It's an all-beef hot dog with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard.

(pic of the Cuban Dog, via drindels21 on Instagram)

---------------

Monday, May 12th, 7:10 PM

RHP Tom Koehler vs. RHP Dan Haren

Tonight's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM.

Former Dodgers Billy Ashley (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Tommy Davis (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:00 PM to 7:10 PM.

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant Daryl Tippens of Glendale. Tippens enlisted in 2009 and is currently serving with the 368th Military Intelligence Battalion. He also trains soldiers to become Non-Commissioned Officers. Tippens has been deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, and will be leaving on another deployment location in a few months. His accolades include the Army Commendation Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

---------------

Tuesday, May 13th, 7:10 PM

RHP Jacob Turner vs. RHP Josh Beckett

Tuesday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM. The 50,000 fans in attendance will get an Yasiel Puig bobblehead.  See it on the right.  Dodgers Radio AM 570 Fox Sports LA will broadcast “The Petros and Money Show” from the left-field pavilion plaza from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Former Dodgers Mickey Hatcher (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Derrel Thomas (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:00 PM to 7:10 PM. 

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Air Force Captain Ruben Carrillo of Rowland Heights. Carrillo enlisted in 1996 and was commissioned as an officer in 2008. He has served throughout the continental United States and currently serves with the Air National Guard’s 216th Space Control Squadron. Carrillo’s accolades include the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak Leaf Clusters.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will hold a silent auction on the Club level by the Vin Scully Press Box. The auction ends at 8:45 p.m. with more than 25 items up for bid, including an Adrian Gonzalez autographed baseball, Yasiel Puig autographed LA Dodgers jersey and a Hyun-Jin Ryu autographed photo. All proceeds will benefit LADF and its programs in sports and recreation, education and literacy and health and wellness which help children and families throughout the greater Los Angeles region.

---------------

Wednesday, May 14th, 7:10 PM

RHP Jose Fernandez vs. LHP Paul Maholm

Wednesday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM. It is LA Sparks Night at Dodger Stadium.  Sparks Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Sparks Candice Wiggins, Kristi Toliver, Armintie Herrington, Jantel Lavender, Alyssia Brewer and Farhiya Abdi will officially start the game with “It’s Time for Dodger baseball!” Sparks Alana Beard, celebrating a birthday, will read the Dodgers’ starting lineup.

Former Dodgers Tim Leary (in right-field pavilion plaza) and “Sweet” Lou Johnson (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:00 PM to 7:10 PM. 

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Greg Wistain of Rialto. Wistain enlisted in 1996 and is currently stationed at the Naval Medical Training Support Center at Fort Sam Houston serving as a Senior Instructor for the Radiography program. Wistain’s accolades include the Armed Forces Service Medal and both the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 5/12/2014 - Dodger Links - Some Dodger Odds and Ends

Check out all the great Dodgers in attendance for this past Saturday's Old-Timers Game, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Check more pics from Jon here.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Mattingly calls for cooler heads to prevail."

"Guys play with emotion, and that can get on your nerves," said Mattingly. "Gomez plays with a lot of fire, and it rubs people the wrong way. Every team has guys that bug you. It's just the way it is. Puig is a guy on our team, he draws as much attention as anybody. But it's a little silly. You can still be respectful of your opponent and carry yourself with class.

"I do think we have to loosen up a bit or there will be more and more times that guys take offense. I'm not talking about the Giants. It's all around baseball."

• Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider has a nice rundown on this past weekends Old-Timers Game.  Jon Weisman also shared some video highlights.
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Scott Van Slyke – The Dodgers Jack-of-all-trades."

“He’s here really to punish left-handers,” said Mattingly prior to Friday night’s game against the Giants. “Right now, that’s what he’s doing. That’s his job really, to hit left-handed pitching.”

• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com writes, "Dodgers fete Honorary Bat Girl on Mother's Day."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Don Mattingly confident in Matt Kemp's defense."

"I don't think there are any areas [that he's limited]. His speed is coming, his burst is back with stolen bases. For us it's just continuing to stay out there. We're seeing him get better and better at the plate," Mattingly said. "Obviously we want him to continue to work on his jumps and breaks in center field."

• Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Dodgers aren't panicking about NL West race."

"It's a long season," (Kenley) Jansen said. "We're going to be successful, no matter what it looks like now. We just haven't put it all together yet. We're all confident we will."

• Via Daniel Brim at Dodgers Digest, "Dan Haren’s Strikeout Problem."

(D)espite Haren’s good numbers, there are some things to be worried about. His velocity is significantly down from last season and he might be dealing with back problems. As a result of the reduced velocity, perhaps, Haren’s swinging strike rate is down by a significant amount.

• David Golebiewski at the Daily Gammons then makes note that Haren has given up fewer home runs this season, as well.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *