Dodger Stadium as an LA Kings Home Field

With the Dodger season at a close and the next few days absent of any games pertinent to the club, I thought I would delve into the LA Kings for a bit.  After all, the start of the NHL regular season begins this week, and the Kings play their first game of the year this coming Wednesday at the Staples Center.

Featured above is a promotional poster I received from the Kings several months back - I'm a longtime season ticket holder - that shows the Dodger home as a temporary ice hockey stadium.  As you'll recall, the Kings and the Anaheim Ducks played this historic game on January 25th last year, and I can attest to how splendid the field looked. 

It was a sight to behold.  Between 1st and 3rd bases was the ice, and everywhere in between was a sand volleyball court (wha???), concert stage (for KISS) and a mini floor hockey rink for the tykes. 

Unfortunately, the Kings got shut out by the hated Ducks, 3-0, but had the last laugh.  They went on to win their second Stanley Cup later that year.  I was fortunate enough to go to this game, and shared a bunch of pics from the evening.  Go here to check them all out.

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2015 Topps Five Star - The Rest of the Dodger Cards

Last week I shared pics of the base autograph Dodger cards found in packs of 2015 Topps Five Star.  Now I take a look at the rest of the Dodgers' cards. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any of the Dodgers "1 of 1" cards, so those pics are lacking.  Instead, I've included pics of an example when available.

Of note is the Legendary Lineups Cut Signature Book card featuring the lineup of the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers.  It includes the basic 8 player lineup - including Robinson, Snider and Campanella - of that team and promises to be awesome.  I can't wait until somebody finds it and shares it online.  If you happen to see it, please let me know.  And if you happen to be the lucky person to get it, please send along pics.

Autographed Jumbo Patch (#/35)

#FSAJ-AG Adrian Gonzalez             #FSAJ-CK Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 10/5/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke the Comedian, Seager the Starter and Rollins as Lasorda

The Dodgers finished off the season on a grand note.  They sweeped the Padres to record their best home record in LA Dodger history, going 55-26.  Clayton Kershaw threw seven strike outs to become the first pitcher in thirteen years to reach 300 - he finished with 301.  And, to top off the last game of the season Jimmy Rollins was named the surprise manager of the game - going so far as to wear Lasorda's #2 uniform and sporting a portly belly in his honor.  Check out the great photo above, tweeted out by the Dodgers, showing Rollins and the guest pitching coach Kenley Jansen - who wore #40 in honor of Rick Honeycutt.  Rollins talks about it here.  Go here to check out some great photos from Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo of the last game.

Below, Yasiel Puig takes on final moment to get a photograph with Nancy Bea Hefley and her husband.  Photo via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.

Below are more links to check out:

• I love Zach Greinke, via a tweet from Bill Plunkett:

Told Greinke I had NL Cy Young vote and asked who I should vote for. He said he lost all faith in process knowing I had a vote #offmyballot

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) October 4, 2015

• Via Adam Rubin at ESPN, "New York Mets set rotation for NLDS vs. Dodgers."

Jacob deGrom will start Friday's opener at Dodger Stadium, likely against Clayton Kershaw. Noah Syndergaard then gets Game 2 in Los Angeles, followed by Matt Harvey in Game 3 when the series shifts to Citi Field, manager Terry Collins said Sunday.

• No surprise here.  Via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times, "Dodgers give rookie Corey Seager short notice he's a starter." 

"They're going to play him," Rollins said. "We had a conversation and that's the way it was said: 'We're going to go with the kid. That's the lineup we feel is best.'"

• Via Matthew Moreno at Dodgers Nation, "A.J. Ellis Values Consistency Heading Into Postseason."
  

  “We got to pitch to our strengths, pitch to our game plan and at this stage in the game, it’s about execution.” While Mattingly has used various lineups throughout the season, the one in Friday’s game resembled what may take the field in the postseason.
  
  “It’s important. I think it shows the importance everybody is putting home-field advantage in the first round,” Ellis said of regular starters still playing throughout the weekend. “To play here, where we’ve played so well this season. To have Clayton and Zack here would be huge for us.”

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Turner’s power surge couldn’t come at a better time."
• Nick Diunte at Examiner.com writes a book review on "Clem Labine: Always a Dodger" Richard Ellott.
• This is terrible news.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "(Josh) Ravin's brother shot, in stable condition."  Amy Powell at ABC7 has a report, as well.  He had this to say on twitter, and I don't necessarily disagree:

My brother was shot 3× this morning by a mentally unstable person...We don't need gun control. We need Mental Health Control!

— Josh Ravin™ (@FreshSqueezed22) October 4, 2015

• Congrats to Dee Gordon for winning the NL Batting crown.  He also become the first person to lead the league in batting and stolen bases since Jackie Robinson in 1949.  Below is a tweet from the Marlins celebrating his achievement.

A curtain call from his teammates. #Respect pic.twitter.com/pE0IL5AsXI

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) October 4, 2015

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