Padres Series Starts Tonight - Scheduled Autograph Signings, Game Give Aways and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts this evening against the San Diego Padres, and several olde-tyme 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.

BTW, the Extreme Loaded Dog concession stands will be making the Surf and Turf Dog, an all-beef hot dog with bay shrimp salad, shredded green cabbage and Kewpie mayonnaise slaw .  It will be available Monday through Wednesday at extreme loaded dog concession stands on the Field, Loge and Reserve levels.  Check out a pic on the right. 

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Monday, September 8th at 7:10 PM
RHP Odrisamer Despaigne vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw

Tonight'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 Kings Night at the stadium.  Kings mascot Bailey will be making an appearance. Also, 2014 Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings, Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson, Martin Jones and Alec Martinez, are scheduled to be on hand for pregame ceremonies, including the ceremonial first pitch. Fan who have come out as a part of a special ticket package will be getting the t-shirt on the right.  This is sold out. 

Former Dodgers Matt Luke (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Lee Lacy (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  Dodgers Radio KLAC AM 570’s Petros and Money show will broadcast live from the left-field pavilion plaza.

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Jeremy Redfern. Redfern joined the Air Force in 2008 and was sent to school to become an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician. He is responsible for rendering conventional, chemical, biological, improvised and nuclear weapons that would pose a threat. Redfern is now an EOD Instructor at Elgin Air Force Base. He has served two deployments in Afghanistan and escorted a fallen Air Force EOD warrior home to Dover Air Force Base and to his family. His accolades include the Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor and two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.  
• The Dodgers will celebrate 75 employees with 25 or more years of service prior to tomorrow’s game. Heading the list of those to be recognized during pregame ceremonies are Hall of Famers Tommy Lasorda and Vin Scully, as well as long-time traveling secretary Billy DeLury, all with 65 seasons of service. Pitching great Don Newcombe (57 seasons), Spanish language Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin (56 seasons), pinch-hitting wizard Manny Mota (45 years), 1965 World Series hero Lou Johnson (33 years), All-Star third baseman Ron Cey (30 seasons), All-Star  outfielder and broadcaster Rick Monday (29 seasons) and organist Nancy Bea Hefley (27 seasons) are also among the honorees.

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Tuesday, September 9th at 7:10 PM
RHP Andrew Cashner vs. RHP Roberto Hernandez

Tuesday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM.  This is the last Dodger bobblehead day of the season, and they leave the most exotic one for last. The first 50,000 fans will receive a Babe Ruth Bobblehead.  See the bobblehead on the right.

Kelley Jakle, singer and actress of “Pitch Perfect,” “42” and the upcoming “Pitch Perfect 2” will perform the national anthem. Jakle is the great granddaughter of Branch Rickey.

Former Dodgers Derrel Thomas (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Al “The Bull” Ferrara (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. 

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Luis Bardales. Bardales enlisted in 1995 and served as an Indirect Fire Infantryman and a personal security detail for the Company Commander while deployed in Iraq. Following his active duty service, Bardales enlisted in the National Guard after the attacks on Sept. 11, where he volunteered for security missions throughout California and Oregon. His last mission with the National Guard was during the Escondido fire where he provided security to protect homes. He was honorably discharged from the National Guard in 2008. Bardales’ accolades include the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained while in Iraq and the Army Commendation Medal.
• 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 a Carl Crawford autographed baseball, Juan Uribe autographed photo and Clayton Kershaw autographed Dodger jersey. 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.

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Wednesday, September 9th at 7:10 PM
RHP Ian Kennedy vs. RHP Dan Haren

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

The Dodgers will play host to the first annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night. This special event ticket package includes a ticket to Wednesday’s game and a commemorative Law Enforcement Appreciation Dodger mug (see it on the right). Pregame ceremonies will honor First Responders from throughout Southern California and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Limited tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting www.dodgers.com/lawenforcement.

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

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is Lieutenant Colonel George Gallagher. Gallagher enlisted in 1956. During the Vietnam War, he flew more than 57 combat sorties including 29 medical evacuation flights involving 60 causalities during a three-day period. Lieutenant Colonel Gallagher’s accolades include the Vietnam Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Bank of America Assistant Vice President Mortgage Servicing Manager Home Loans Rowena McCann will present an authenticated flag and display case to Gallagher. The flag has flown over Dodger Stadium.

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Blog Kiosk: 9/8/2014 - Dodger Links - Dodgers Expand Lead in West to Three Games

Adrian Gonzalez was a lightening rod yesterday afternoon.  He rocketed two three-run home runs to power the Dodgers over the Diamondbacks.  Above is a photo of AGon's first home run swing from yesterday, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here for more pics from the day; including a sampling of the breakfast created by Chef Joyce Simonds that the Boys in Blue enjoy in the clubhouse.

Of note, in the seventh inning both Don Mattingly and Clayton Kershaw got thrown out of the game.  Mattingly got thrown out for arguing with an umpire's warning on a hit-by-pitch, and Kershaw was tossed for being unruly from the dugout during the ensuing argument.  Eric Stephen at True Blue LA has a good rundown of the events (go here). 

"It was a slider, man," said Kemp. "They were just jumping the gun a little too much. It's a pitch that doesn't really hurt too much."

"Dre got hit with a slider, they weren't trying to hit him," said Gonzalez.

BTW, AGon now has 100 RBI's; his fifth straight season.  The Dodgers expanded their lead over the Giants to 3.0 games.  Now, below are some more links to check out:

• Via the Dodgers on tumblr, check out this bubble celebration in the stands.
• Via Michael Lananna at MLB.com, "Mattingly: Unfair to hold Kemp to 2011 standard."

"I don't think we should be trying to compare and go back three years," Mattingly said Sunday. "I think it's better off staying right where we're at. Matt's been swinging the bat good, been driving the ball, been driving in runs. As much as anything, he's doing the job now. ... Hopefully this is glimpses of things to come."

• Via Mike Petriello at Dodgers Digest, "Juan Uribe Leading Some Fabulous Dodger Third Base Defense."
• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA writes, "The intangibles."

It is commonly referred to in a variety of ways: getting into their head, rattling their cage or simply psyching them out. It is the affect that an individual or a specific incident has on an opposing player, usually a pitcher, in high stress situations and it is a game-changer – and Dee Gordon is the Jedi Master at it.

• Via Mike Petriello at FanGraphs, "Matt Kemp’s Great and Terrible Year."
• Via Scott Lindholm at Beyond the Boxscore, "Clayton Kershaw's stunning year."
• Dodger Penguin shares his day getting Joc Pederson's autograph at Frank & Sons on Saturday.

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