Blog Kiosk: 1/22/2015 - Dodger Links - Chris Anderson, Brett Anderson and Jeff Bridges

We are less than two weeks away from the release of Topps 2015 flagship Baseball card set, so news and information about it will be coming out like a flood.  For instance, one of the subsets being released is called "First Pitch," and it includes cards of notable folks throwing out first pitches.  There are 15 cards in the subset, and three of them are from Dodger Stadium.  The above pic, via Chris Olds at Beckett, is a preview pic of a Jeff Bridges card.  Below is a checklist of Dodger "First Pitch" cards.

• #FP-01 Jeff Bridges
• #FP-08 Jermaine Jones
• #FP-13 Suzy

Out of curiosity, who the heck is Suzy?  Other notables include McKayla Maroney, Eddie Vedder, Tom Morello and 50 Cent.  As you will recall, 50 Cent hilariously couldn't throw a Baseball right during his first pitch last season.  Watch it here.  There is also a card for 105-year old Agnes McKee.  You can check out a complete checklist of the upcoming set here.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Dodgers top prospects 2015: Chris Anderson, No. 8."

As a starter, Anderson has one of the livelier fastballs in the system. He typically sits at 92-94 with heavy armside run. Anderson doesn’t generate as many ground balls as you’d expect with this life, most likely because he tends to pitch up in the zone. Anderson has the potential to throw in the upper 90’s in relief stints and should maintain enough of the life on the pitch to miss plenty of bats.

• Via Jeff Bradley at Sports Illustrated, "Preston Mattingly finds post-baseball sporting life on hardwood."
• Via Wayne Cavadi at Gradin on the Curve, "Bedard Looking to Bounce Back in LA."
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Brett Anderson, Clayton Kershaw share 10-year history."  They were teammates on the Team USA 18-and-under squad.

Anderson called Kershaw one of “the nicest guys you could be around,” and that fondness remained long after their high school days were over. Anderson was with the opposing Colorado Rockies when Kershaw threw his no-hitter this past June 18, and couldn’t help praising the lefty.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers lefty Anderson on track for Spring Training."

"I feel good and hope, with no setback, I should be good to go for Spring Training," he said.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Are rehabbing pitchers the new market inefficiency?"
• Ben Badler at Baseball America takes a look at the, "2015 Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Prospects."

Baseball’s fattest payroll commands the most attention when it comes to the Dodgers, but the organization has built one of the game’s better farm systems, especially at the top. Aside from the Cubs, the Dodgers’ top three prospects are as strong as any other organization’s in baseball.

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