Moving Towards 10,000 Followers for Cody Bellinger - #FollowCody #CodyLove

(Bellinger, pic via Puig on twitter)

Spring Training isn't just about practice and preparation.  It's also about playing... And I don't mean the gameplay kind of thing.  What I mean is that sometimes a little bit of fun is needed in the clubhouse and there's no better time to play around than during spring training (Kirk Gibson notwithstanding).

So far, we've been treated to only an handful of photos and stories about the fun; such as the upcoming ping pong tournament.  But one event recently hit social media, and I thought it was worth pointing out this afternoon. 

This past Friday we found out that fast-rising prospect Cody Bellinger has been tasked with boosting his twitter follower-ship, and with the help of his teammates and the fans he will hopefully fulfill his goal.   

From what I can tell, Cody is trying to reach 10,0000 followers. He currently sits at 4,770.  So, if you haven't already done so please go here to join in on the fun: @Cody_Bellinger. 

To motivate you further, a hashtag meme was started by, I think, Justin Turner, via the following tweets:

I'll make you a deal @Cody_Bellinger I'll give you a follow on here if you change your Twitter handle to #CodyLove

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) February 26, 2016

Everyone make sure you go give @Cody_Bellinger #CodyLove a follow on Twitter! Great dude, big pop, bright future!!! #LA @Dodgers

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) February 26, 2016

#CodyLove is now a thing!


Best yet, AJ Ellis, during all the hubbub, was kind enough pass along a childhood photo of the kid on twitter, and I couldn't help but make a fantasy Baseball card using it.  Check it out below.  The main pic was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016. 

So get going Dodgers Fans!  Go to your twitter now and follow the kid.  And if you don't use twitter then what's wrong with you!  Join it now and help move his chart (as seen below) higher!

(Bellinger and Roberts, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

Pic at the very top via Jon SooHoo @Dodgers on twitter.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #5

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Kershaw, pic via Zachary P. Lucy on twitter)

AN EXTRA DAY: The Dodgers held their fifth full-squad workout of Spring Training today, celebrating Leap Day with team defense work (pop-up priorities) and live batting practice. In team history, the Dodgers have had only one player born on Leap Day, right-hander Ed Appleton, born Feb. 29, 1892. Appleton went 5-12 with a 3.25 ERA in 48 games (13 starts) in two big league seasons with Brooklyn in 1915-16.

FIRE-BALLERS: Kenta Maeda joined young guns Julio Urias, Chris Anderson and Jose De Leon in throwing live BP today, while Clayton Kershaw, Joe Blanton, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jansen, Alex Wood, Carlos Frias, Yimi Garcia, Matt West, Adam Liberatore, Josh Ravin and Ian Thomas all threw regular bullpens.

• Garcia, 25, enters his third big league campaign after an impressive 2015 campaign with the Dodgers, during which he went 3-5 with one save and a 3.34 ERA in 59 games (one start). He was dominant early in the year in the late innings, helping to fill the void while Kenley Jansen was on the DL, and finished the season ranked among the NL’s best relievers in WHIP (0.95, 5th), opponents’ batting average (.199, 16th), opponents’ on-base percentage (.242, 4th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.60, 3rd) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.87, 15th).

(Yimi and Dave, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

(Lasorda, pic via Camelback Ranch on twitter)

MAKING THE LEAP: Right-handed pitcher Yaisel Sierra took in the Dodgers’ workout today at Camelback Ranch and is expected to be in uniform shortly following the completion of the immigration process. Sierra, 24, was signed by the Dodgers to a six-year contract last Sunday and pitched five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional with Holguin (2010-14) and Sancti Spiritus (2012), going 16-21 with 25 saves and a 4.23 ERA in 131 games (25 starts). Sierra, who was ranked No. 13 on Baseball America’s Top 20 Cuban prospects list, pitched for the country’s gold-medal winning national team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games.

THE OPENING ACT: The Dodgers’ Cactus League opener is just three days away (!) and yesterday, Dodger manager Dave Roberts named three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw the starting pitcher for Thursday’s game against the White Sox, as well as Opening Day 2016 in San Diego. The Opening Day nod will be Kershaw’s sixth consecutive Opening Day start, leaving him one shy of the Dodger franchise record (7), shared by Don Drysdale (1958-61, ’63, ’65, ‘69) and Don Sutton (1972-78). Fernando Valenzuela (1981, 1983-86, ’88) and William “Brickyard” Kennedy (1894-96, 1898-1900) are the only other members of the franchise to tally at least six Opening Day starts. 

• Kershaw has three Opening Day victories, trailing just Drysdale (5) and Sutton (4).

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Blog Kiosk: 2/29/2016 - Dodgers Links - Urias, AGon and Sandy Koufax

Kenta Maeda greets Tommy Lasorda in the photo taken above by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.

Below are more links to check out:

• There was a little bit of an kerfuffle over the weekend about the news that Koufax would no longer be a Special Assistant to the team.  Speculation ensued, and gossip spread that something happened.  Well, that's not the case at all.  He released a statement about the situation, via a tweet by Alanna Rizzo:

Statement from Sandy Koufax: pic.twitter.com/7FeOmwy8Sa

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) February 28, 2016

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Kershaw: Koufax 'cares for us as a team.'"

"Whether or not he's officially here, he's still around," Kershaw said of Koufax, who has ended his three-year stint in the front office but visited the club on Friday. "I don't think it will change much for me. Sandy cares about us as a team, and I think he will be around when he can, and he'll watch our games."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "MLB Draft 2016: Dodgers will have nearly $10 million in bonus pool money to spend."
• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "Mound visit: Getting to know Dodgers pitching prospect Julio Urias."

Earliest memory: "I always remember the first baseball glove I ever received, and the first pair of spikes. My grandfather visited the United States and he came back and gave me the glove with the pair of spikes. I still have the glove at home."

• This is just the case of the same problem, different day.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Gonzalez sits out workout with neck discomfort."

"It's the same thing I've been dealing with and we had it looked at over the offseason and we know exactly what it is," said Gonzalez, the most consistent bat in the Dodgers lineup since he arrived in 2012.

"There's not much we can do about it. It's a bulging disk and it's too risky to operate. Just pain management. I wasn't smart with the base-running drill. I have to stay away from things that irritate it."

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #4

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Kershaw and AGon head ping pong tourney draw, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

THE FORCE AWAKENS: The Dodgers held their fourth full-squad workout of Spring Training today, getting in some team defense work (cutoffs and relays), to go along with live batting practice. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play this Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

• Pitchers who faced live hitters today were Scott Kazmir, Mike Bolsinger, Jharel Cotton, Jacob Rhame, Pedro Baez and Louis Coleman. 
• Alex Wood, Brandon Beachy, and Jamey Wright all threw regular bullpens.

SPOTLIGHT: During his morning media session, Dodger manager Dave Roberts named three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw the starting pitcher for the Cactus League opener as well as Opening Day 2016 in San Diego. The Opening Day nod will be Kershaw’s sixth consecutive Opening Day start, leaving him one shy of the Dodger franchise record (7), shared by Don Drysdale (1958-61, ’63, ’65, ‘69) and Don Sutton (1972-78). Fernando Valenzuela (1981, 1983-86, ’88) and William “Brickyard” Kennedy (1894-96, 1898-1900) are the only other members of the franchise to tally at least six Opening Day starts. 

• Kershaw has three Opening Day victories, trailing just Drysdale (5) and Sutton (4).

(McCarthy and Kershaw, pic via Jon SooHoo at @Dodgers on twitter)

THE BIG SHORT: Standing just 5’9, the shortest player in Dodger camp is speedy outfielder Rico Noel, who was signed by the club to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training on Dec. 23, 2015. Noel made his Major League debut for the Yankees last September, going 1-for-2 with five runs scored and five stolen bases in just 15 games. In six minor league seasons with the Padres (2010-15) and Yankees (2015), the Oklahoma native has hit .254 while stealing 283 bases in 344 attempts (82.3%). Noel has swiped 50 or more bases in a season three times: 2011 (62), 2012 (90) and 2013 (59). The 27-year-old was originally selected by the Padres in the fifth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Coastal Carolina University.

• The tallest player in Dodger camp is Brandon McCarthy, who stands 6’7. 

STRAIGHT OUTTA FULLERTON:  The Dodgers would like to welcome Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda, who arrived for his first day of camp at Camelback Ranch this morning. Lasorda, 88, is entering his 67th season in the Dodger organization. The longtime skipper compiled a record of 1,599-1,439 (.526) in 20 seasons, including two world championships, four National League pennants and eight division titles. 

(Roberts and Lasorda, pic via Jon SooHoo at @Dodgers on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #3

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Puig and Maeda, pic via Jon SooHoo on the Dodgers twitter)

GOING LIVE: The Dodgers held their third full-squad workout of Spring Training today, with PFP and bullpen sessions, along with their first live batting practice of the spring in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

• Pitchers who faced live hitters today were Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Chris Hatcher, Yimi Garcia, Joe Blanton, J.P. Howell, Luis Avilan, Carlos Frias, Matt West and Adam Liberatore
• Brett Anderson, Zach Lee, Ross Stripling, Chase De Jong and Josh Ravin all threw regular bullpens.

(Kershaw on Photo Day, pic via Dodgers on twitter)

SAY CHEESE: The Dodgers held their annual Photo Day this morning, with players showing off their pearly whites for the Dodger team photographers, SNLA, MLB Photos, MLB.com, MLB International, ESPN the Magazine, Topps, USA Today, Getty Images, Baseball Magazine Sha, the LA Times, the Associated Press and ICON Sportswire.

ONE MORE TURNER: While plenty of the familiar faces of the Dodger players are back from last year’s division title, the coaching staff is almost entirely new, with the exception of 11-year pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. The new hitting coach in Los Angeles is Turner Ward, who spent the past eight seasons in the Arizona organization, including three years on the Diamondbacks’ Major League staff as hitting coach (2014-15) and assistant hitting coach (2013). Under Ward’s coaching, last season, Arizona produced two Silver Sluggers (first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and center fielder A.J. Pollock) and led the NL in hits (1,494), while ranking among the Major League best in runs (720, 2nd), extra-base hits (491, 2nd), batting average (.264, 3rd), on-base percentage (.324, 3rd) and slugging percentage (.414, 2nd). Ward began his coaching career with two seasons in the Pirates’ organization in 2006-07 and has compiled a 216-190 record (.532) during four seasons managing in the minors: 2006 (Rookie-level GCL Pirates), 2007 (Single-A State College) and 2011-12, when he led Double-A Mobile to back-to-back Southern League championships and was named the league’s 2011 Manager of the Year. Welcome Turner!

(Turner posing for Topps on photo day, pic via Topps on twitter)

AUTHOGRAPH SESH: During the past two days, Dodger players have signed hundreds of bats, balls, photos and jerseys, primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. The signed items will be used for fundraising purposes organized by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the money raised will be donated to over 200 non-profit organizations and schools in the greater Los Angeles area. For more information, please visit www.dodgers.com/ladf or www.dodgers.com/donations.

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Blog Kiosk: 2/27/2016 - Dodgers Links - Utley, AJ and Vin Scully

This is hilarious.  Featured above is a pic by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016 of Dodgers prospect Jose De Leon gleefully struggling over a team prescribed geography assignment during the clubs Friday morning team meeting.  No doubt he's searching for some tiny little island on the wrong part of the map.

I can't wait for them to force the rookies to do some sort of skit or routine 'cause you know there will be plenty of photos online to share. 

Below are more links to check out:

• Via AM570 LA Sports, "Vin Scully receives Lifetime Achievement Award." He received the award from the Los Angeles Sports Council  on Thursday evening.  This link shares some audio from his speech.  Via ABC7.com:

"We all can't be heroes. Most of us have to stand at the curb and cheer as they go by, and for 67 years, thank God, that's what I've been blessed to be. I've been that man on the curb applauding as the heroes went by," Scully said while accepting his award, which was presented by former Dodgers President Peter O'Malley.

• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "A.J. Ellis makes no secret of desire to catch Clayton Kershaw."

"To be a part of that is something that is a thrill for me, and I will relish and cherish every opportunity I can to be out there for him," Ellis said, as Kershaw stood within earshot. "I think we have a good relationship and we really work well together, although he probably doesn’t need me back there because he can probably throw to you behind the plate. But there are those games, those situations, where he’s told me that I make a difference and that’s what makes our partnership work so well."

• Video: Go behind the scenes as Kenta Maeda joins the Dodgers and prepares for the 2016 MLB season. New episodes every Thursday on SportsNet LA. (Link Here)
• Boo!  Puig's helicopter dreams appear to be over.  Via a tweet from LA Times reporter Andy McCullough:

The Dodgers have told Yasiel Puig he can not, theoretically, fly a helicopter to Dodger Stadium. Federal law prohibits it, the FAA says.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) February 26, 2016

• Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register, "Baseball cracks down on hard slides such as the one by Dodgers' Chase Utley in playoffs vs. Mets."

“It’s kind of been all I’ve known for awhile so it’ll probably be a bit of an adjustment – not only for middle infielders but also the baserunners.” Utley said. “Probably umpires as well, trying to get on the same page, like with the home plate rule and the batter’s box rule. It kind of took a little time to get comfortable with it, but eventually we’ll get there.”

• Awesome!  Via Baseball History Comes Alive, they share a vintage 1903 photograph of the Negro League team the Cuban Giants playing a ballgame in the Catskills.
• This sounds fantastic.  Via Blowout Buzz, "California-based illustrator readies for ‘card show’ of his own in March."

So far, the Texas-born artist (Cuyler Smith) has produced limited-edition prints for Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from The Sandlot, George Constanza from Seinfeld and Jimmy Dugan from A League of Their Own. An Adam Banks from The Mighty Ducks is presently still available for $15 via the gallery that is hosting his upcoming “card show.” Only 100 copies of that one were made.

His show called “Trading Cards” will open with a reception on March 11 at 7 p.m. and run through March 26 at Gallery 1988 (East) in Los Angeles.

• Panini's 20165 Donruss Baseball card set comes out next week so they shared some preview pics on their blog yesterday.  Check them all out here.  Below are three different Seager cards and an Kershaw.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #2

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Dave Roberts, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

ROLL IT BACK: The Dodgers held their second full-squad workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice in preparation for Opening Day, April 4 at San Diego. Los Angeles, in its eighth season training in Arizona, kicks off Cactus League play on Thursday, March 3 against the White Sox.

• Brandon Beachy and Alex Wood threw their first live bullpen sessions of the spring today on the minor league side. Tomorrow, live BP will be fully incorporated into the workout with a plethora of Dodger pitchers throwing to big league hitters on Fields 1, 2 and 3.
• Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias, Ian Thomas, Chris Anderson, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Jamey Wright, Lisalverto Bonilla and Jose De Leon all threw regular bullpens.

  

  (Koufax and Kenta, pic via Jon SooHoo on Dodgers twitter)

ROSTER UPDATE: Today, the Dodgers released non-roster right-handed pitcher Brooks Brown.

DODGER ROYALTY: Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax stopped by Camelback Ranch today, greeting Dodger players and staff during a brief visit to camp. Koufax wasn’t the only Cy Young Award winner in camp today, joining Special Advisor Greg Maddux (four-time winner, 1992-95) and guest coach Eric Gagné (2003), who are both expected to be regulars in Glendale throughout the spring.

• 1956 Cy Young Award winner and Special Advisor to the Chairman Don Newcombe is expected in camp towards the end of March.
• In addition to Gagné, Shawn Green, Ron Cey and Eric Karros will spend time at Camelback Ranch as guest coaches this spring.

THE WORLDWIDE LEADERS: The Dodgers were featured throughout the day today on ESPN’s SportsCenter with Tim Kurkjian, Jessica Mendoza and Aaron Boone anchoring coverage from Camelback Ranch. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez kicked off the coverage with a live hit on SportsCenter this morning, while Dave Roberts invited Kurkjian inside his office for a chat and Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Justin Turner taped features for the network. Clayton Kershaw was featured on SportsCenter last night.

(Agon doing SportsCenter, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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A Rookie Checklist of Kenta Maeda Cards

With Kenta Maeda's recent arrival to the Dodgers spring camp in Glendale I thought it would be fun to take a look at some Baseball cards from the eight-year veteran of the Japanese Central League.  As you know, he began his professional career in 2008, after being drafted the year prior by the Hiroshima Carp.  Since that time collectors have been awash in cardboard gold.

Featured below is a checklist of his rookie cards from 2007 - the year he was drafted.  I have also included American issued cards of the Japanese ace.  Before doing so, though, I want to do a shout out to Japanese Baseball Cards, Beckett and the Trading Card DB for their previous work on this matter.

Kenta Maeda Rookie Cards

This is Maeda's very first professional Baseball card, and as you can see it features him celebrating having been drafted by the Carp.  A "Gold Signature" autographed card exist and is numbered to only 200 copies.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find a pic of one.

2007 BBM Rookie Edition #76

Blog Kiosk: 2/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Helicopters and Vin Scully Avenue

Rise and shine, Dodger Fans!

It's Friday!

Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• WTF!  Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Why “Vin Scully Avenue” might not be official in time for the Dodgers’ home opener."

The spokesperson for Cedillo’s office, Arturo Chavez, said in an e-mail that the process is moving on schedule. He described the first week of April as a “best case scenario.” Realistically, however, the name change will take place “most likely the first week of May.” The Dodgers’ home opener is April 12 against the San Francisco Giants.

Chavez added that the BOE has received “mixed pro and con” responses so far from residents. We’ll find out what the exact objections are soon enough, once the BOE prepares its report.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "MLB rule revisions tweak slides, neighborhood play."  The changes seem reasonable enough.  Of course, the devil is going to be in its use going forward. 
• Video: Alanna Rizzo catches up with Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, who became part of the Dodgers front office this season as an adviser. (Link Here)
• Video: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw discusses his performance in last year’s postseason, this year’s changes in the rotation and more. (Link Here)
• So what's the deal with Dodger players and helicopters?  If you'll recall, a couple of years ago Zack Greinke considered getting a helicopter to get to games (link here), and now Puig is on the verge of getting one (link here).  Via TMZ, "Yasiel Puig: Yes, He's Buying A Helicopter ... Says Car Customizing Guru."
• Uh-Oh!  Yasiel Puig missed the teams first full-squad workout.  No worries, though.  He had oral surgery to have his wisdom teeth removed, so he's expected to return on Friday (today), via an AP report at Yahoo Sports.
• Via Michael Rothstein at ESPN, "Clayton Kershaw says Lions QB Matthew Stafford has a better arm than him."

“I think Matthew’s probably got the better arm,” Kershaw said on SportsCenter. “Put it this way, he can definitely throw a baseball better than I can throw a football. I’ll probably give him the edge.”

• This is definitely off-topic, but well worth your time.  Check out some vintage photographs of Native Americans from 1904 to 1924 via Alex Q. Arbuckle at Mashable,
• If you are heading to Arizona then you should check this out.  Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "D-Backs Owner Ken Kendrick’s Collection on Exhibit."

Phoenix Art Museum will showcase 41 cards, including some of the rarest and most important cards ever made beginning March 9 through April 24.

Kendrick, a loBabe Ruth 1916 Sporting News 101-5 rookie card PSA 8ngtime collector, is managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and owns one of the hobby’s most valuable collections of important baseball cards.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #1

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Roberts addressing clubs first full-squad workout, pic via Jon SooHoo on twitter)

NOW WE’RE HERE: The Dodgers held their first full-squad workout this morning, primarily focused on conditioning and team defense.

• New Dodger skipper Dave Roberts addressed the entire team for the first time today and stressed the importance of getting better every day while keeping focused on the goal and what it’s going to take to get there.

BACK IN BLUE: With the first full squad workout, Dodger fans were able to see the newest-old Dodger, second baseman Howie Kendrick. Kendrick was acquired from the Angels in a three-team trade prior to the 2015 season and went on to hit .295 with nine homers and 54 RBI in 117 games. Following the season, the 32-year-old elected free agency, but remained unsigned into February when the Dodgers pounced and signed him to a two-year deal through 2017. Kendrick has a .293 career batting average with 271 doubles, 87 home runs and 555 RBI in 1,198 games in 10 MLB seasons with the Angels (2006-14) and Dodgers (2015). The 2011 All-Star has a .986 career fielding percentage, appearing primarily at second base, and has hit well in the clutch during the course of his career, posting a .298 batting average with runners in scoring position and a .299 mark with runners on base. The Florida native was originally selected by the Angels in the 10th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.

(AGon batting, pic via Jon SooHoo on twitter)

HE HAS NO MORE ROOM: Tonight, Dodger Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will be receiving the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Sports Council at the LA Sports Awards in Los Angeles. Scully will be presented the award by former Dodger owner Peter O’Malley and the two will engage in a 10-minute conversation on stage at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The LA Sports Awards are presented annually by the Sports Council to celebrate the greatest Southern California moments of the year in sports.

THE WORLD IS WATCHING: The Dodgers are set to be featured on SportsCenter tomorrow with Tim Kurkjian, Jessica Mendoza and Aaron Boone anchoring the coverage. As a warm-up, Dodger All-Star Clayton Kershaw sat down for an interview on the 6 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter this afternoon. In addition to Kershaw, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will join the show live at 8:15 MT tomorrow morning and the gang is scheduled to tape features with Joc Pederson and Corey Seager as well.

(Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

SAY CHEESE: The Dodgers will hold their annual Photo Day Saturday morning, with players showing off their pearly whites for the Dodger team photographers, SNLA, MLB Photos, MLB.com, MLB International, ESPN the Magazine, Topps, USA Today, Getty Images, Baseball Digest, the LA Times and the Associated Press.

(Roberts signs for fans, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016)

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Welcome to the Dodgers, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Tim Cates!

The Dodgers made a couple announcement this afternoon, but it's not news from the player-side.  Instead, they let us know of a couple new additions to their broadcast staff - one of whom you should already know. I'd like to extend a warm Dodgers Blue Heaven welcome to former Dodgers outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. (twitter: @tonygwynnjr) and longtime sports broadcaster Tim Cates (twitter: @timcates). 

Tony Gwynn Jr. will join David Vassegh on the postgame Dodger Talk radio show.  This will be Vassegh's fifth season.  Gwynn, son of Hall of Famer Tony, had played two season for the Dodgers starting in 2011, and recorded career numbers in Blue.  In 239 games for the Dodgers he slashed .245/.294/.326/.619.  Check out his stats via Baseball-Reference here.  From a Dodgers press release:

The 33-year-old Gwynn Jr. played eight seasons in the Major Leagues for the Brewers (2006-08), Padres (2009-10), Dodgers (2011-12) and Phillies (2014). In 685 career games, the San Diego native stole 80 bases, including a career-high 22 with Los Angeles in 2011. He had his best year in 2009, hitting .270 with a career-high 106 hits for the Padres.

...
DodgerTalk can be heard Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. during spring training and following each game beginning with the “Freeway Series” exhibition games with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starting Friday, March 31 and through the 2016 season.

Tim Cates will host the teams pregame show, Dodgers on Deck, on AM570 LA Sports Radio.  He is an born and raised Angeleno and graduated from UCLA.  Check out a great story about him at MyBurbank.com here.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

A UCLA graduate, Cates has worked in sports talk radio for almost 20 years, covering the NBA Finals, World Series, Super Bowl and NCAA Final Fours, and serving as a producer, reporter and host on Fox Sports Radio Network and AM 570 LA Sports. Most recently, Cates has hosted UCLA football and basketball pregame and postgame shows, and can also be heard as the studio host for Compass Media Networks coverage of the Oakland Raiders and NCAA football and basketball.

In celebration of them joining the Dodgers I made the above two fantasy Baseball cards.  For the Gwynn Jr. card on the left I using a photo taken by Jon SooHoo during Spring Training in 2013 and the 1964 Topps Baseball card design.  For the Cates card I grabbed a photo taken by Ross A. Benson for a MyBurbank.com story and the 1968 Topps Baseball card design.

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Some Vintage Dodgers Pins at Hake's Auction

The only collectible better than Baseball cards are Baseball pins, so when I perused Hake's Americana's current auction I was ecstatic to find several buttons I had never seen before.  For instance, check out the above Brooklyn Dodgers pinback.  It features the recognizable Dodgers "Bum" standing on Ebbets Field.  According to the auction listing this pin was only made a year or two before they left town, so it's rather scarce.  Check out the listing here.  It is already priced at $330.00.

The next two pins below feature a couple of eventual Brooklyn Dodgers in Montreal Royals uniforms.  As you know this was the clubs main farmclub in the 1950's. 

These particular pins are only about 1 1/4" in diameter, and it is thought that only nine different players are available.  Below are Don Newcombe and future Hollywood star Chuck Connors.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk 2/25/2016 - Dodgers Links - Turner, Maddux and Vin Scully to Call Opening Day

The legacy of great Dodgers catchers continues unabated.  Featured above is the fearless crew of Dodger backstop currently manning the plate at Camelback Ranch.  Photo via AJ Ellis on twitter and originally taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Top Row: L to R - Steve Yeager, Kyle Farmer, Jack Murphy, AJ Ellis and Bob Geren.  Bottom Row: L to R - Austin Barnes, Shawn Zarraga and Yasmani Grandal.

Below are more links to check out:

• This is great news.  Via Bill Shaikin of the LA Times on twitter:

He won't travel much this year, but Vin Scully says he'll call #Dodgers' opener in San Diego: https://t.co/b9AG26qtuQ

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) February 24, 2016

• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "Dodgers set to lock in Justin Turner at third base."

“We're going to keep [Turner] over at third base,” (Dave) Roberts said. “Things can change, but I don't see us deviating from that.”

• Padilla also wrote a great piece about Greg Maddux; "Greg Maddux eager to share knowledge with Dodgers pitchers."  Link Here.

"I think the main thing is to try to help the players," Maddux said. "Obviously, I have to get to know them first, and they have to get to know you. I’ll just watch the players and get to know them. If there’s something I can say or do that might make them better, that’s the goal -- to try to make the players better."

• Via Shawn Anderson at the Hall of Very Good, "Hyun-Jin Ryu Throws Party for Fellow Korean Players."
• Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe suggest that the Dodgers might consider parting ways with Carl Crawford (link here).

Don’t be shocked if the Dodgers part ways with Carl Crawford and eat the remaining $42 million on his contract. There comes a point of diminishing returns — and a time to fill his roster spot with a younger, more productive player — and it seems the Dodgers are getting closer to that point.

• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest shares his list of "2016 Dodgers Top 100 Prospects: No. 20-11."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Brandon Beachy’s time has come … finally."

“We’re excited to have him back, second year removed from Tommy John he said that he feels great, the ball’s coming out,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “He’s got a great look in his eye, he really does, and I don’t think he’s too concerned about the mechanics of the 40 or not, he just wants to stay healthy and compete and pitch well. And so I think that things always have a way of working themselves out so that’s our number one concern.”

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Cards in the Media - Better Call Saul

I guess I should be happy that Baseball card collecting got any publicity at all.  Still, when a collector gets typecast on a popular national television show as an socially inept geek it does make me cringe.

I dunno.  Maybe I'm just sick of that tired old trope... You know what I mean?

Can't we just get past the idea that card collecting is the domain of pimple-faced dorks?

Some of us, I'll have you know, are quite well-adjusted.  Heck, many of us have jobs, even.  And some of us have good enough jobs that they can steal a bunch of pharmaceutical drugs from our employer to sell on the black market - just like Pryce in the recent episodes of "Better Call Saul."

For those who don't know the reference, Baseball card collecting was featured, front and center, during the past two recent episodes of the popular AMC show.  Pryce, who you can see in the screen grab below, had been illicitly selling drugs to a local dealer, and stupidly allowed said dealer to know more about him then he should have.  Soon, his home got ransacked, and along with his money his "Major Collection" of Baseball cards was stolen. 

Below is the state of his living room as the police came in to investigate. 

Frankly, I didn't mind so much that this character was such a dweeb.  After all, he had to be in order to show what a naive moron he is.  What did irk me was how he described his collection and what it eventually looked like when we saw it.

Pryce provided really good details.  The kind of detail that showed that the writers understood the subject matter.

The robbery victim explains that he lost a Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card; which we all know is the 1952 Topps #311 card that often sells in the thousands.  Heck, Pryce even says it's in mint condition - explaining its 60/40 on the front and 90/10 on the reverse (this has to do with centering for those who don't know).  So, this card alone could be six figures in value. 

Clearly, this is the kind of collection that a collector like myself would be proud of.  In fact, it's reasonable to believe that 100% of collectors out there would be sure to protect them behind some sort of plastic case, and if you listened carefully that's exactly what he said he kept them in.  Pryce said he kept them all in "top-loaders."

So, when we do actually get to see his collection guess what they show us?

Yeah, that's right.

They showed us several 2500 count boxes of modern day commons.

WTF!

Come on, now. 

They just threw me for a loop.  For the remainder of the show, all I could think of was how bogus that scene was.  I just couldn't get over the fact that those card are clearly not what was described.  Heck, where are the top-loaders?

Ugh!

And then I realized... Ya know, I am kind of a dork.  Without the pimples.  Dorky, nerdy and proud!  I guess I am now one step closer to embracing my true self.

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Pitchers & Catchers Workout #5

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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(Kasten and Roberts, pic via Jon SooHoo on twitter)

WIND UP WEDNESDAY: Dodger pitchers and catchers held their fifth and final official workout of Spring Training today, with PFPs, bullpen sessions and batting practice as the club prepares to start their first full-squad workout of 2016 tomorrow.

• A couple of special guests arrived at Camelback Ranch-Glendale today, including Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten and Dodger Executive Vice President and CMO Lon Rosen.

(Jamey Wright clubhouse intro, pic via Jon SooHoo on the Dodgers twitter)

WRIGHT BACK AT YA: Today, the Dodgers announced the signing of free-agent right-handed pitcher Jamey Wright to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training and he pitched his first official bullpen of the spring. The 19-year Major League veteran returns to Los Angeles after appearing in 127 games (one start) in two stints with the club in 2012 and 2014. Wright ranks first all-time among right-handed pitchers with 64 career pickoffs, while ranking ninth overall. He transitioned to a full-time role in the bullpen in 2008 and has compiled a 3.96 ERA in 494.1 IP since then, which is the seventh most relief innings in the majors in that span. He has posted a 97-130 career record with a 4.81 ERA in 719 games (248 starts) with Colorado (1996-99, 2004-05), Milwaukee (2000-02), St. Louis (2002), Kansas City (2003, 2009), San Francisco (2006), Texas (2007-08), Cleveland (2010), Seattle (2010-11), Tampa Bay (2013) and Los Angeles (2012, 2014).

• Joining Wright and throwing their third official bullpens of the spring today were Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jansen, Joe Blanton, Ian Thomas, Chris Hatcher, Luis Avilan, Yimi Garcia, Carlos Frias, Adam Liberatore, Ross Stripling, Matt West, Zach Lee and Chase De Jong.

(Maddux with Anderson, pic via Jake Seiner on twitter)

BRINGING IN THE ARMS: The Dodgers would like to welcome back four-time National League Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux and 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne who were working with the pitchers today during the bullpen sessions. Maddux, who spent two seasons with the Dodgers (2006, 2008) and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, was hired on February 2 as the special assistant to Dodgers’ President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, along with Raul Ibañez. Gagne, who spent eight years with the Dodgers and currently holds the all-time Dodgers’ saves record with 161 saves, will work with pitchers as a special instructor during Spring Training.

GOING TO BAT AGAINST CANCER: Yesterday, Major League Baseball launched the 2016 Honorary Bat Girl Contest, which will recognize one fan per MLB Club who has been affected by breast cancer and has demonstrated a commitment to battling the disease.  Dodger fans, ages 18 and older, can share stories about themselves or loved ones who are “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” by visiting HonoraryBatGirl.com for a chance to be recognized on-field by the Dodgers on Monday, May 9 against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium. Entries can be submitted by breast cancer survivors, friends and family, advocates and/or supporters of the cause through April 14 at 1:59 p.m. PT. A panel of guest-judges, including Dodger pitcher Scott Kazmir, will help select the winning submissions based on the following criteria: originality, quality of writing, demonstration of commitment to breast cancer awareness and online fan votes.

(Pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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