Wednesday, November 11, 2015

UPDATED! Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Garvey, Leary, Grant and JT Snow in Anaheim

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

BTW, there is suppose to be a Dodger Nation Celebration at Iguana's Bar in Pico Rivera on Saturday, and am awaiting confirmation of the autograph guest scheduled to appear.  Go here for information.  At last report, Jay Johnstone, Mudcat Grant, Rudy Law and Tim Leary were scheduled to appear, and I have no reason to believe that has changed.  There may possibly be another guest showing up, as well.  Stay tuned!  As soon as I hear more I'll update this post.

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Former Angel first baseman JT Snow will be signing autographs this coming Saturday, November 14th at the new OC Dugout location near Anaheim Stadium from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.  Go here for more information
OC Dugout
1515 S. Sunkist St., Ste. G 
Anaheim, CA 92806
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Steve Garvey is scheduled to appear at the new Sports Authority store in Rolling Hills Estates.  An article about it was published in the Daily Breeze, here.
Shoppers will have a chance to win gift cards and meet former Los Angeles Dodgers player Steve Garvey at the grand opening next weekend of a new Sports Authority in the Peninsula Center in Rolling Hills Estates.

Beginning at 8 a.m. on Nov. 14, the first 50 shoppers in line will receive $20 Sports Authority cash cards and the next 50 will receive $10 cash cards, the store said. Garvey, an MLB great and motivational speaker, will make an appearance at the store from 3-4:30 p.m.
Sports Authority
51B Peninsula Ctr
Rolling Hills Estates , CA 90274
Phone: (310) 377-0418

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Both Tim Leary and Jim "Mudcat" Grant will be signing autographs at Bobblemania Saturday evening.  Go here for information.  This was the even originally scheduled at Iguana's Bar in Pico Rivera, but has moved.   
4pm to 6pm - JIM 'MUDCAT' GRANT
Autograph + Photo-Op = Only 15.00

5pm to 7pm - TIM LEARY - 88 Champion!
Autograph + Photo-Op = Only $10.00
Bobblemania
2334 S. Atlantic Blvd., Suite A
Monterey Park, CA 91754

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These Triplets' are the Boss of Ryu - His Adventures Continue on Korean Reality TV


Were a couple of tykes forcing their way onto Hyun-Jin Ryu's back during a segment of a Korean reality TV show last winter the cause of his injury this past season?

I, of course, say this in jest.  'Cause that would be rather silly.  Although, Ryu does struggle with having 60+ lbs. on his back, and visibly looks like he's in pain at one point.  Not only that, he's forced to change some diapers, and if you have any experience with that then you know that can be debilitating.

Featured in this post are a couple of videos from a Korean show called "Triplets' House" which features a noted Korean actor named Song Il-Gook with his triplets.  In the two videos below Hyun-Jin Ryu is a special guest, and as you can imagine hilarity ensues.  Watch them both for a good laugh.

I first came upon these videos due to a Reddit post by r/warriethelion, so thanks for pointing these out.

In the first episode, Ryu is goofing around with the kids in a padded playroom.  This is where he crawls around on his hands and knees.  He then gives the kids their very own Dodger jacket and cap.

Video Link:


The next video is where the good stuff happens.  And when I say good stuff, I mean the really good stuff. 

First, there's more roughhousing in the playroom.  Then, one of the kids has a bathroom emergency, so Ryu is tasked with changing his diaper.  Unfortunately, the kid isn't quite done with his old diaper.  Check out the video below to see what Ryu does.   

Video Link:


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Time to Plan for Spring - Dodgers Spring Training Schedule Announced


Now that it's winter, all I can think about is spring.

This morning the Dodgers unveiled their 2016 Spring Training schedule at Camelback Ranch.  Go here for more information.  Via their press release:
The Dodgers will play 17 of their 30 Cactus League games at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, including 15 home dates. The club has at least one home game during each of the four Cactus League weekends, providing fans ample opportunity to make the five-hour drive or one-hour flight to the desert. Camelback Ranch features a state-of-the-art ballpark, six practice fields on the Dodger side, including a replica Dodger Stadium field, fan photo elements commemorating Dodger history, walking trails, an orange grove and a five-acre lake.

The Dodgers will be at home the entire weekend of March 25-27, taking on the Giants Friday night (7:05 p.m.), before battling the White Sox on Saturday night (7:05 p.m.) and the Reds on Sunday afternoon (1:05 p.m.). Los Angeles will also be at home on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, when they square off against the defending World Champion Royals at 1:05 p.m.

After returning from Arizona, the club will conclude its exhibition schedule with three games against the Angels March 31-April 2, including 7:10 p.m. games at Dodger Stadium on Thursday March 31 and Friday April 1.
Tickets for games at Camelback Ranch – Glendale start as low as $9. Season tickets, mini-plans, group tickets and suites are all available now at www.dodgers.com/spring or by calling (623) 302-5000. Single-game Spring Training tickets go on sale on Monday, January 11, 2016 and a full schedule of promotions is available at www.camelbackranchbaseball.com. For more details, including special ticket and mini-plans for 2016, please visit dodgers.com/spring. 

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Blog Kiosk: 11/11/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke, Greinke and More Greinke


Congratulations to Tommy Lasorda on receiving an honorary doctoral degree from Loyola Marymount last night.  Photo above tweeted by LMU.

below are more links to check out:
“I’m hopeful that there are dynamics in play beyond baseball, in terms of corporate activity, that may create some flexibility and, hopefully, we will get a resolution in time for the 2016 season,” he said.
  • Eric Stephen at True Blue LA tells us of the, "Dodgers 2015 minor league free agents."
  • Check out the November digital issue of Baseball Magazine here.  It includes an article written by former Dodger GM Fred Claire on the return of Baseball Magazine and Part 2 of Christine Sisto's piece titled, "Brooklyn's Secular Cathedral: Brooklyn's Effect on the Mythology of the Dodgers."  An excerpt is below:
In general, the Brooklyn team of the 1920's and 30's was not a great team, especially compared to the Dodgers of the late 1940's and early 50's, but the borough loved them anyway.  They took pride in the fact that their team fumbled so beautifully.  Brooklynites saw an event like the 26-inning game, as a symbol of the persistence of the residents of the borough.
They saw other high jinks on the field as the personification of Brooklynites' hard work ethic; no matter how badly one failed, one picked up and tried again.  Even though Brooklyn's team elevated mistakes into an art form, those mistakes gave the team character and made Brooklyn love them even more.
  • Joshua Harty at Shake's Shake compares, "MLB Player Choice Awards Outstanding Pitcher vs. Cy Young Voting."  Does one necessarily lead to the other?  Joshua tries to answer that question.
  • Jerry Crasnick at ESPN asked the Baseball GM's, "Which staff ace would you be more comfortable giving a nine-figure deal -- David Price or Zack Greinke?"
"Greinke is an easy one here,'' said an AL scout. "His delivery is too good, his control and command too spot on, his pitchability too high. He's got athleticism and he's intelligent -- all the characteristics you need to age gracefully. I am not saying Price does not possess these same characteristics. I just don't think he has them at the advanced levels that Greinke has them.''
  • On the Cy Young front, both Greinke and Clayton Kershaw are finalist for the award in 2015, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.  As Eric Stephen notes at True Blue LA, Kershaw is the first pitcher EVER to have five-straight top-three Cy Young Award finishes.  Wow!  Check out the rest of the top-three candidates for the MVP, the Cy Young Award, the Rookie of the Year Award and the Manager of the Year Awards here.
  • Oh... And BTW, Zack Greinke also won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.  Zack sure had a busy Tuesday.  Via a Dodger press release:
Zack Greinke was honored with his second-career Gold Glove Award after also winning the award in 2014. He committed just two errors in 62 total chances (.968 fielding percentage) in 2015 and led National League pitchers with nine defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.com. The 32-year-old became the first Dodger to win Gold Glove Awards in consecutive seasons since first baseman Steve Garvey took home the award four years in a row from 1974-77 and the 10th pitcher in National League history to win multiple Gold Glove Awards, a list which includes two other Dodgers: Andy Messersmith (1974-75) and Greg Maddux (2006, 2008).

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