Reds Series Starts Tomorrow - Scheduled Autograph Sessions, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts tomorrow evening against the Cincinnati Reds, and several former Dodgers are scheduled for an autograph session with fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

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Thursday, August 13th at 7:10 PM
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Thursday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM.  The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Sandy Koufax bobblehead.  See it on the left.

Dodger alum Derrel Thomas will sign autographs in the left-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class Bailey Whitlow of Midlothian, TX, and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Carlos Rivera of Oxnard.

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Friday, August 14th at 7:10 PM
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Friday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM. It is Friday Night Fireworks, so fans will be able to go down onto the field after the game to watch the spectacle. The theme will be set to songs chosen by Dodger players with a playlist put together by Scott Van Slyke.  Go here for information about future firework themes.

There will also be a balloon artist in the left-field plaza. DJ Adam will provide musical entertainment in the right-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. As part of ThinkCure! weekend, Jacob Lusk will perform the national anthem.

Dodger alum Matt Luke will sign autographs in the left-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Andy Smirnov of Los Angeles and U.S. Army Sergeant Blake Blaney of San Pedro.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the Club level. The items up for auction on Friday include a Zack Greinke autographed photo, Clayton Kershaw autographed baseball and Joc Pederson autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 8:45 p.m.
• The Dodgers will also celebrate NeedleArts at the 10th annual Stitch N’ Pitch Night at Dodger Stadium and part of their group outing, hundreds will be in attendance to knit, crochet, embroider, cross-stitch and needlepoint during the game. Tickets are still available for purchase by visiting www.dodgers.com/stitchnpitch.
• #ThinkCureWeekend 2015 will take place Friday and Saturday at Dodger Stadium and will raise both awareness and funds for ThinkCure!, an official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Throughout the weekend, courageous cancer patients and survivors will be recognized. A tribute will also be paid to the hard-working healthcare workers and researchers that are on the front lines of the fight against cancer.

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Saturday, August 15th at 6:10 PM
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Saturday's game starts at 6:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 3:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 4:10 PM.  It is Movie Night at Dodger Stadium.  The club will treat fans to “Back to the Future,” and it will be screened for fans following Saturday’s game. Screenings are free with a game-day ticket. Fans sitting in the right field pavilion and left field pavilion will be invited down to the field postgame for a better viewing experience.

It is also Girl Scout Night at Dodger Stadium.  Folks who ordered a special ticket package in the All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion or Infield Reserve will get an exclusive Girl Scout patch with your ticket.  See that on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information.

DJ Adam will provide entertainment in the right-field pavilion plaza, DJ Lady Sha will provide music in the left-field reserve plaza and classic rock band, The Trip, will play in the right-field reserve plaza from 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Fans can take photos with the DeLorean car from “Back to the Future” behind the right-field pavilion from 3:10 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

“Back to the Future” star Leah Thompson will throw the ceremonial first pitch. As part of ThinkCure! weekend, Terron Brooks will perform the national anthem.

Dodger alumnus Al Ferrara will sign autographs in the left-field plaza from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Tyler Richards of Temecula.

• #ThinkCureWeekend 2015 will take place Friday and Saturday at Dodger Stadium and will raise both awareness and funds for ThinkCure!, an official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Throughout the weekend, courageous cancer patients and survivors will be recognized. A tribute will also be paid to the hard-working healthcare workers and researchers that are on the front lines of the fight against cancer.

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Sunday, August 16th at 1:10 PM
SNLA/AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Sunday's game starts at 1:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 10:40 AM, and stadium gates open at 11:10 AM.  The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Dodgers spray bottle with fan.  See it on the left.

Viva Los Dodgers will take place in lot 6 starting at 11:10 a.m. Dodger alum Mickey Hatcher will sign autographs for fans from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by Mariachi Flor De Toloache and Quitapenas.

Stunt performer, comedian, actor, screenwriter and film producer best known as a co-creator and star of “Jackass” Johnny Knoxville will throw the ceremonial first pitch. The Katinas will perform the national anthem.

Dodger alum Al Downing will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Dodgers will present their annual Christian Faith Day on Sunday. All fans are invited to bring their gently used clothing and shoes to be donated to the Dream Center and stay after the game to celebrate family and fellowship with Dodgers A.J. Ellis, Adrian Gonzalez, Clayton Kershaw and Scott Van Slyke, who will share their personal testimonies on faith. A special postgame performance is scheduled by the Katinas. 

This afternoon is also Carnita Asada Sunday after the game at Dodger Stadium.  Go here for information.  Fans can enjoy an authentic Mexican Carne Asada cookout hosted by Justin Turner and presented by Chef Merito.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Kyle Potter of Newbury Park.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the Club level. The items up for auction on Sunday include a Kenley Jansen autographed photo, Yasiel Puig autographed baseball and Adrian Gonzalez autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 2:45 p.m.

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2015 Topps Chrome - The Joc Pederson Base Variation Card

Information continues to trickle in slowly about Topps 2015 Chrome Baseball card set.  As you may know, this set has not officially been released by Topps yet, but folks have gotten a hold of boxes and are selling individual singles online.  So far, we know what the Dodger base cards look like (go here to check out pics of the five cards in the set), and now we know there is at least one base variation card to chase after.  Check that out above.

Featured is card #129 of Joc Pederson.  It is a short-printed variation to his base card, and appears to show a brief convergence of Dodger defenders during a game.  From the looks of it, the photo was taken at Wrigley Field in Chicago (based on what looks like ivy on the outfield walls in the background).  Clearly, Yasiel Puig is at the center and running back towards his position, but I'm not quite sure who the fellow is on the left.  Is that Alberto Callaspo?  Or, maybe it's Roger Bernardina - who came along for a short stint at the end of last season?

Below is the reverse of the card.  As you can see, the back memorializes the afternoon he was tasked with getting coffee at Starbucks for the clubhouse in Chicago last season.

Among Joc's initiation duties with the Dodgers as a 2014 rookie; fetching coffee for the team (in full uniform) on the streets of Chicago.  He handled the assignment with good humor.  After all, delivering a jolt of energy has never been a problem for he 22-year-old, who has combined power hitting with a 28-steal average the past four seasons on the farms.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/12/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Peralta and the 2016 Topps Baseball Card Design

After no doubt hearing the recent talk about his playing time being cut and news of his placement on waivers, Yasiel Puig decided to put his bat to work by slugging a home run and recording five RBI's.  That's not to say that this all lead to a greater effort by him, but clearly he wants to make the statement that he's here to play.  Hopefully, this single day explosion leads to an avalanche.  Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com:

"The swing is good right now, which helps him as much as anything to handle all pitches," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Momentum comes from having success. So when you put some success down, you have to start from somewhere."

Puig adds further:

"I have the same swing, I've just been having trouble connecting," Puig said. "What I've been working on is being able to pick better pitches. Changing that, hopefully I'll be able to connect better based on my stance."

Of note, returning Dodger Yimi Garcia, who joined the club yesterday when Peralta was sent to the DL, pitched two scoreless innings. 

Photo above via @SportsNEtLA on twitter.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Yasiel Puig claimed on waivers, pulled back by Dodgers, per report."

This is also a time to remind people that almost literally every player in baseball - the ones on the 40-man roster, at least - are placed on revocable waivers at some point in August. Scores and scores of then are claimed and pulled back, like Puig, and cannot be traded until after the season.

• Eric Stephen also tells us that, "Andrew Sopko, Scott De Jong, Ariel Sandoval win minor league awards."
• Via JP Hoornstra at the Daily News, "Dodgers find a place for struggling Joel Peralta: The disabled list."

Tuesday, Peralta said he’d been hurting since the Dodgers played the Phillies — a series that began eight days earlier.

“The neck is a little bit irritated,” he said.

• This is very cool.  Via Chris Cwik at Big League Stew, "For the first time in MLB history, all 15 home teams won."
• With the 2015 season far from over Topps unveils next years design for their flagship Baseball card set.  Check it out on the right.  The design will be border-less.  Unfortunately, it features a giant player - Buster Posey.  Per their blog:

“We have had a white border for so many years and it was sort of a staple of the Topps design,” said Topps senior art director John Doldan. “I think we are trying to move forward and make the cards a little more modern and current. I think gradually we have been going in that direction and break from the past a little bit.”

• Where was I when this happened?  ESPN once aired the national rock, paper, scissors championship, and you can watch it below.  It's epic.  (Hat Tip: r/JKCompany on reddit)

Video Link:

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