A 2015 Dodger FanFest Roundup - Links and Photos

What a magnificent day for a Dodger FanFest.  The sun was out with hardly a cloud in the sky.  A sea of Blue had quickly enveloped Chavez Ravine like a fog during an early morn.  Everywhere you looked there were happy faces.  Children were dancing, fans were cheering and some fathers even had a catch with their kids on the outfield grass before the crowd overtook the field by early afternoon.  This Saturday's FanFest was a pilgrimage and it certainly provided a renewed sense of hope that this could be the year. 

Before I show you all of my pics from FanFest, I thought I would provide links to some other sites that include some great photos and recaps.  Check them out below:

• Part 1: Photos of Fanfest from Jon SooHoo, here
• Part 2: Even more photos of FanFest from Jon SooHoo, here
• Video -- Think Blue Review:  Caravan and FanFest Edition
• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Yasiel Puig steals the show at FanFest."

“You guys better support me more this year than last year after that display,” Puig said. “We better surpass 3 million here at home.”

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers faithful get up-close experience at FanFest."
• Blue Skinny Fan's Recap of FanFest, "2015 Dodgers Fan Fest Recap - More Autographs, Less Waiting (Sort Of)."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Record crowd attends Dodgers FanFest 2015."
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy autograph recap from FanFest, "Autographs: Joc Pederson."
• Via Dodger Penguin, "2015 Dodgers Fan Fest Recap."
• David's Autograph Signings provides a full recap of his day at the Dodgers FanFest, here.
• Video: The always great Bobby Crosby of Dodger Films shares his video recap of FanFest, here.
• Video: Dodgers-LowDown Presents FanFest 2015, here.

For a look back at my past post of this event check out the links below.  There are plenty of photos to look through.

• 2014 Fan Fest
• 2013 Fan Fest

I got to the Stadium before the scheduled opening of the gates, and found that they had already let the early risers into the lot.  Quickly, I parked and headed to the stadium gates.  I was greeted with a long line, but realized that it was hardly a wait.  (Click on any pic to embiggen)

Blog Kiosk: 2/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Rocky Bridges, Joe Wieland and Yasmani Grandal

To conclude the Dodgers Community Caravan last week the Dodgers visited City Hall on Friday and met with a group of combat-injured service members and the Wounded Warriors Project for lunch.  Photo above via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos from the event.

Below are some more links to check out:

• RIP, Rocky Bridges.  Mark Langill at Dodger Insider passes along the sad news that former Brooklyn Dodger Rocky Bridges has died.  Check out his story about him here.
• ICYMI: The two assailants who attacked Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium in 2011 have just plead guilty to additional federal gun possession charges, via an AP report at ESPN.  They were already in state prison for attacking Stow and now face time in federal prison.  In other words, they are doing everything possible to make sure they never get released.
• Via Miles Wray at FanGraphs, "Which MLB Teams are Blazing New Trails in Scouting?"  As you would expect, the Dodgers are at the top of the list.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "A healthy Joe Wieland is eager to move forward with the Dodgers."

“I’m gonna go into camp and just show ‘em what I have, and I’ll let them make the decision,” he said. “I’m 100 percent ready to go, and I’m gonna do all I can to make it a hard decision on them.”

• BTW, the Dodgers new marketing slogan for the 2015 season is "We Love LA."

“Since 1958, the fans of Southern California have had a love affair with the Dodgers, our broadcasters and Dodger Stadium, and the feeling has been mutual,” said Dodgers’ Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lon Rosen.  “What better way to express our admiration to our fans for their overwhelming support than with this year’s slogan, `We Love LA’” 

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Gabe Kapler's favorite player: A.J. Ellis."

"That's why he stands out to me. He does a great job providing a platform for his teammates to be heard and appreciated. A.J. checks all of those boxes, and that's why he's my favorite player."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Yasmani Grandal ready to make his mark with Dodgers."

“No pressure at all,” Grandal said. “I want to keep doing the same thing I was doing in San Diego and try to help this team win. They say they needed a catcher. Hopefully, me and A.J. [Ellis] can take this team to a World Series. I think both teams got what they wanted.” 

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