WTF - Trevor Cahill has a Baseball Card as a Dodger in the Heritage High Number Set

Why?

I'm scratching my head wondering what was Topps thinking?  The guy never put on Dodger Blue, and didn't look to be very high on the totem pole.

I get that there is a certain amount of lead-time required from when they start planning this set - to when they actually start printing it  - to its release.  Still, there had to be more worthy Dodgers' who should have been considered first.

Just off the top of my head, they should have made a regular issue card for Joc Pederson.  He had to share his card with a Phillies prospect in the March release of the set. For that matter, Carlos Frias and Yimi Garcia could have been considered for the same reason.

Or how about Mike Bolsinger?  He pitched very well for the Dodgers as the 5th starter during the early part of the season.

Chris Hatcher would have also been a good choice.  Although, I'm sure there were some doubts at the Topps offices in New York about whether he'd still be around considering his horrid start to the season.

Heck, I would have been ecstatic if they made a Chin-Hui Tsao card - just because it would have been oddly strange and cool at the same time.

I dunno.  Sometimes the card selection Topps makes just baffles me.

BTW, I'll have pics of the other Dodger cards in this set next week.  So stay tuned.

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Much Ado About Nothing - Kershaw and Mattingly are Fine

Move on... Nothing to See Here... Just go back to what you were doing.

It appears that the Baseball world is yapping about the public argument between Clayton Kershaw and Don Mattingly during yesterday's game, and I can't help but think... So what!

Kershaw is a competitor, and like all competitors he wants to finish every game he starts.  So, to see him question Mattingly's move to remove him after just 80 pitches was something to be expected.  Heck, if he didn't come out lashing I would have been worried.  Via Matthew Moreno at Dodgers Nation:

“I’ve seen him like that before. I’ve talked about it numerous times with different guys. It never bothers me,” Mattingly said. “Those guys are being competitive, wanting to stay in the game. That never bothers me, at all. I have to make that decision. He can not like it. We’ll be able to talk about it later, it’s no big deal. I don’t get offended by what went on today at all.”

Kershaw added, via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com:

"I'm not going to talk about that at all. If you guys want to talk about the game, I'm more than happy to talk about it," Kershaw said.

When asked about his emotions in regards to the argument, Kershaw responded simply: "Do you have a baseball question?"

When asked what people will infer from watching the situation and Kershaw refusing to elaborate, the ace held firm.

"Make it up then, that's fine," Kershaw said. "It's between Donnie and I. No one else needs to know."

This type of thing is just the nature of sports... And sure, Kershaw was less than open about the exchange... But, I wouldn't read too much into it.

This being said, though, if Mattingly were to get the boot at seasons end I would expect all the talking heads to point to this and incidents like this as a major factor - "noting" that there must have been dissension within the ranks.... That he didn't have the respect of the clubhouse... That his decisions, many of which have been criticized in ad nauseam throughout the web, had caused all this.

And all the while I'll be shaking my head.  I believe all of these excuses would be red herring arguments.  At the end of the day, any change in the staff by the front office will be based on their desire to place their final stamp on the team.  Like the recent firings within the minor league staffs (10 and counting), they will be wanting to do the same with the big club.  Considering the recent changes, I think it's inevitable and that the only thing that may save Donnie is a World Series victory.

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2015 Topps Triple Threads - The Dodger Deca Cards and Other Scarcities

Here is my final post on Topps 2015 Triple Threads set.  Featured below are pics and a checklist of all the Deca, All-Star and scarce relic cards.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

The Deca cards below feature ten game-used relic pieces in a large booklet card. The best of the bunch are clearly the multiple player cards that consist of five different panels attached together. 

10th Anniversary Deca Relics

#DR-AG Adrian Gonzalez

Blog Kiosk: 9/25/2015 - Dodger Links - Heisey, Hernandez and Ismael Valdez

WooHoo!

Chris Heisey sure did make the most of his opportunities yesterday afternoon.  With the Dodgers still down by a run in the 5th inning he came up to bat with the bases full, and unloaded to deep left for a grand slam.  His homer would give the club a four run cushion and more than enough runs to end the homestand with a victory.  You can watch his home run here.

Considering the roller coaster season he's had it's nice to see him contribute in a big way.  No doubt he's ecstatic that the front office decided to bring him back from Toronto after being released by the Dodgers in mid-August.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“I had a tough year, up and down, haven’t played like I wanted, but it’s nice to help the team get a win, especially when we need wins to clinch a playoff berth,” Heisey said. “I know Clayton didn’t want to come out of the game. He pitched well, gave up a few runs, but I felt he was in pretty good control. He was a little frustrated coming out, but it was great to get him the win, like I said, and get the team the win.”

Kershaw had this to say about Heisey, via Mark Saxon at ESPN:

“For those guys to step up like that. … Heisey, he’s such a gamer, I love Heis, for him to do that after the kind of year he’s had, it’s unbelievable. I’m thankful, honestly.”

Photo above of Chris Heisey being greeted at home plate by Tuner and Kendrick via @Dodgers on twitter.  Go here to check out a bunch of great pics from Jon SooHoo and Jill Weisleder from yesterday's game.  BTW, the "Magic Number is now at 3 games.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Hernandez progressing toward return to Dodgers."
  

  "Kiké for me, 100 percent, he's going to play this season. Unless he has a setback in these next few days," Mattingly said. "He's been running at full speed -- or really close to it -- three or four times and bounced back and recovered every time."

  Puig, on the other hand, is a work in progress.  He may not be back before the end of the season
  

  "Yasiel, the most I've seen on a report is 70 percent. He's still having problems running," Mattingly said.

• There will probably be a bunch of cards like this coming directly from Topps over the coming months.  Available now are limited edition tribute posters that use the vintage 1952 Baseball design of Corey Seager.  They measure 10"x14", are numbered to 99 copies and can be purchased for $29.99.  Check it out here, and a pic is on the right.  The "1 of 1" edition is already sold out.
• Former Dodger pitcher Ismael Valdez has been busy in his native Mexico working to promote and develop Baseball in the country, via Deporte.org, "Unidos CONADE e Ismael Valdez por el impulso del beisbol."  With CONADE (Mexico's National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport) Valdez spoke with over 50 kids and their parents on the importance of teamwork.

• I thought this was worth listening to if you hadn't already.  Below, Vin Scully talks a bit about the passing of Baseball legend Yogi Berra.

Video Link:

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