Dodgers Blue Heaven

Rainout! What a Bummer

2013-06-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

This was probably the most anticipated game of the entire season, so naturally the Baseball gods decide to rain on our parade.

It has just been announced that tonight's match-up between the Dodgers and Yankees has been postponed.

Tonight's @Dodgers-@Yankees game has been postponed. It will be made up tomorrow as a split DH (1 pm, 7 pm ET).
— MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2013

Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times provides more information regarding watching tomorrows split doubleheader on TV.

First game tomorrow will be on KCAL. Second game will be on Prime Ticket.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) June 18, 2013

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Blog Kiosk: 6/18/2013 - Dodger Links - Urias, Puig and a 5th Grade Dodger fan stuck in Giants Country Stands Tall

2013-06-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Check out Yasiel Puig in the MLB FanCave, pic via twitter @YasielpuigPuig.

Jason Parks at Baseball Prospectus provides a brief look at Dodgers 16-year old prospect Julio Urias.

Listed at 5’11’’, the southpaw is actually closer to 6’1’’, with a projectable frame and a present fastball that routinely touches 95 mph on the gun. From an easy, repeatable delivery, Urias works 91-93 with the heater and has two secondary pitches that he can drop for strikes in any situation. While it’s easy to get excited about a would-be high school sophomore pitching in a full-season league, the real excitement comes from the reality that Urias is a very legit talent on the fast track to prospect fame.

Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "Young Dodgers fan ‘stands tall’ against Giants-loving classmates in fifth-grade graduation speech". This is just awesome! You must watch the video!
Eric Rodriguez at The Sports Quotient writes, "Delving Into Yasiel Puig’s Unbelievable Debut Week".
Via Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated, "Yankees and Dodgers give rare spice back to interleague play".
Ben Reiter at Sports Illustrated writes, "A scout's take on game's big mystery: how to get Yasiel Puig out".

"You've got to go in on him, go in on those hands because big strong guys want to get their arms away from them," says the scout, who was granted anonymity by SI.com so that he could speak freely. "That's where you have to start. He's got to prove to me he can handle that ball. He kind of leans over the plate, maybe you can straighten him up a bit."

Gwen Knapp at Sports on Earth writes, "Puig: A Hollywood-style Rookie".

Look into the 22-year-old Puig's future, and you'll see hallucinations. You'll imagine a latter-day Willie Mays, maybe start constructing a Cooperstown plaque from just 13 games in a Dodgers uniform. You'll know it's absurd, but the brain just goes there, on autopilot at the sight of him. Until Puig arrived, it didn't seem possible that an outsider would pity L.A., with its pricey roster sundered by injuries. But the city's joy over him seemed hard-earned, a form of restitution.

Jon Weisman is back at Dodger Thoughts and shares a interview with Alex Belth of Bronx Banter.
Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Is an Andre Ethier trade inevitable?".
Holy Moly! Gellman at Sportscards Uncensored writes about the Puig effect on the rising prices of 2013 Bowman Baseball cards. Wow! Puig really is selling for some unbelievable prices.

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A Blue Heaven Chat with Riley Breckenridge of Puig Destroyer

2013-06-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

It sure seems like the past couple of weeks has been all about Yasiel Puig.

And, why not? The Dodgers have been in the dumps, so anything that can divert our attention, even for a little bit, would surely be welcomed. As it happened, Puig ended up being much more than a temporary departure from our losing ways. He has become the "next big thing".

Heck, Yasiel Puig's greatness even spawned a new band called Puig Destroyer, and last week the very first track from their first recording went live. Listen to it at the very bottom.

Well, being an aging metalhead myself, I decided to reach out to a band member for a fun interview. So, a big Blue Heaven thank you to Riley Breckenridge for taking the time to answer some questions, via email. As you'll notice, I tried to be funny, but that's just not my forte. Anyway, check out the chat below. BTW, bandmate Ian Miller also gave an interview to Decibel Magazine that you can check out right here. You can also get a Puig Destroyer T-shirt here, follow them on twitter here, and as proof of their Baseball fandom bona fides check out their Baseball blog called Productive Outs.

Now, on to the interview.

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions regarding your new band, Puig Destroyer.

Q: Obviously, as a die-hard Dodger fan the idea of a Puig inspired band makes so much sense. I wonder, though how did this entire concept come together?

A: It's silly, really. The name "Puig Destroyer" came up, in passing, during a discussion of Puig on an episode of the weekly Productive Outs podcast that I do with my good friend Ian Miller. There's an awesome grindcore band called Pig Destroyer that we're both fans of, and I said something along the lines of "There should be a grindcore band called Puig Destroyer". Nine days after that utterance, we are that band. I sent Ian the drum track for "One Man, Five Tools" the next day, he wrote a bass line for it immediately, I enlisted my good friend (and Giants fan) Mike Minnick from Curl Up and Die to do vocals, and Ian pulled Jon Howell (his bandmate in Kowloon Walled City) to play guitar. We'll have an EP done fairly soon.

Q: I saw that you just released the first track of your EP and noticed the lyrics. It's so concise and direct. A line stuck out to me. It was "F*** the Walk". So, what do you have against a high on-base percentage?

A: We love OBP, that line is just a playful nod toward Puig's tendency to swing at almost everything. The guy almost never walks. It's uncanny.

Q: Next thing you'll tell me is that you hate the bunt. Heck, one of your songs should be about the day Puig bunted and the universe collapsed on itself. (I guess this really isn't a question)

A: We do hate the bunt. Giving away outs is never a good thing ... even if said outs move runners into scoring position. You have a finite number of outs in a baseball game, giving them away doesn't help. I know there's a stat out there that proves that. I'm just too lazy to dig it up. Trust me on this one. The bunt is entirely overused and almost always unproductive.

Q: When will additional songs be available? Can you tell us a little bit about future recordings?

A: We'll have the EP done within a week or two. Who knows if this will be a one-off, or something we do for a while, but given the overwhelming support we've gotten and the amount of fun we've had making these songs, I'd guess that the latter is probably more likely.

Q: I understand that you are a Angels fan. Since the Dodgers and Angels are both in the cellar after spending big dollars this offseason, do you see any light in the tunnel for either teams?

A: Sadly, no. The Dodgers seem to be harangued by injuries and poor managing, while the Angels spent a boatload of cash to "improve" their offense, when their starting pitching and bullpen were actually the problem. And the Halos' minor-league system is widely regarded as the worst in baseball, so not only are they lacking in depth, but they have virtually nothing left to trade for MLB-caliber help.

Q: I also understand that two of your bandmates are Giants fans. Is there any chance you can do a Ian Kennedy and throw at their heads for us?

A: I can't do that. I actually enjoy watching the Giants. They're a fascinating group of characters/players and as a baseball fan first and a single-team fanatic second, I just like watching compelling baseball. The Giants are compelling to me.

Q: BTW, how are Dodger fans supposed to know if their participation isn't some sort of mocking gesture on their part? As you can tell I'm a little distrustful of the boys in Halloween colors.

A: I can assure you that it's not mocking. We're all enormous baseball and music fans at our core. This project is the perfect marriage of the two, and more fun than anything we've ever done musically. This is all coming from a happy place, regardless of allegiances.

Q: Will there be any live performances in the future?

A: It hasn't been discussed. Logistically, it might be tough (because two of us are in the Bay Area, one of us is in Chicago, and I am in SoCal and we all have jobs and responsibilities and such), but I wouldn't say that it's entirely out of the question ... just ... uh ... mostly unlikely.

Q: Finally, As I'm sure you've noticed Puig recently heard the first track at the MLB FanCave today and said, "That's Very Good". Any initial reactions? Do you think Puig's a metalhead? What instrument do you think he'd play? How do you think Puig would do if a slam pit started up?

A: We were blown away. That this thing went from a joke on a podcast, to recorded music, to available to the public, to Yasiel Puig's eardrums in less than two weeks is a testament to how amazing (and horrifying) the Internet is. When that Vine clip hit the Internet on Monday, I about crapped myself. And the internal dialogue between band members today (Monday) has been more of the same. We're beyond thankful for the support we've gotten. We're so grateful for all of the links and retweets and coverage we've gotten from music and baseball media outlets. It's been overwhelming. I mean, obviously we hoped people would like it, but we figured it'd be a pretty niche project. You know, posted, appreciated by a few diehard Dodgers fans, Productive Outs fans, fans of our respective bands, etc. That it's gotten as much attention as it has is just crazy. It's so surreal.

Again, a big THANK YOU to Riley for taking the time to respond to my silly questions. I definately look forward to hearing more from Puig Destroyer and will let you all know when new songs come about.

In the meantime, if you haven't heard the first track from them yet then listen to it below:

PUIG DESTROYER by Puig Destroyer

Pic Credit at Top: Earn it Yourself:

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Blog Kiosk: 6/17/2013 - Dodgers Links - Puig in the FanCave

2013-06-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Yasiel Puig visited the MLB FanCave today. Check him out above trying out a new bat, pic via twitter @MLBFanCave. Check out his reaction to the new band Puig Destoyer, here.

Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers are nearing a new contract, per Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports.

The Dodgers have made progress on a seven-year extension for Kershaw, and the dollar amount will be above the $180 million the Tigers awarded Verlander, according to major-league sources. The contract would be the largest for a pitcher in baseball history.

Kershaw is not happy that the above negotiations have gone public. Per Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Clayton Kershaw upset about report on contract talks with Dodgers".
It sounds like Puig is here for good. Via a tweet from Dylan Hernandez.

Even if/when Kemp and Crawford return, Puig will probably remain in major leagues, according to Mattingly.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) June 16, 2013

The Dodgers organization was involved in another bench-clearing brawl. This time it was in Albuquerque against the Cardinals AAA club from Memphis. Via Mark Townsend at Big League Stew.
Joel Sherman at the NY Post writes, "Dodgers gambled big on phenom Puig based on just one BP session".

“I wanted the player,” White remembered during a phone conversation. “And I will tell you how badly I wanted him: I would rather he come to us with the talent I saw and fail to turn those tools into anything than go someplace else and succeed. I couldn’t have lived with that.”

"Fifty years later, Downing recalls '63 season fondly: Southpaw was key factor in Yanks' pennant, had front-row seat for historic Series," Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/15/2013 - Dodgers Links

2013-06-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Puig's bat. Pic via twitter Patrick O'Neal.

"Dodgers have mixed reactions to suspensions," via Steven Petrella at MLB.com.

"You can't really predict how it's going to end," said Greinke, who was fined for his role in the melee. "It could be an accidental thing that starts it over again. If something is done on accident, it could be misinterpreted. Emotions are going to be a little higher. You hope nothing happens, but people make mistakes. And people might make mistakes on purpose."

Diamondback also comment on suspensions, via Jack Magruder at Fox Sports Arizona.

"The last thing I wanted to do was get suspended. I know he’s a little chicken(expletive). I didn’t want to fight,” Montero said of Greinke.

Via Howard Cole at LA Weekly, "It's Official: Don Mattingly is the Losingest Manager in L.A. Dodgers History".
"Dodgers claim catcher John Baker from Padres, option him to Triple-A," via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will be at Vallarta Supermarkets with family-friendly activities, prizes and Dodger alumni who will meet and sign autographs for fans. This Sunday, Al “The Bull” Ferrara will be on hand in Baldwin Park to meet and sign autographs for fans from 12:00 pm. to 2:00 p.m., 13940 Ramona Ave., Baldwin Park, 91706.
Democrats soundly defeated Republicans 22 to 0 in the annual Congressional Basball game on Thursday. Louisiana Democrat Cedric Richman threw a complete, 3-hit shutout. BTW, he wore a Dodger Blue Jackie Robinson jersey. See pics at Talking Points Media.

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Now You Can Hear Puig Destroyer

2013-06-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week I had briefly mentioned in a Blog Kiosk a new music project underway that includes Riley Breckenridge of Thrice. This new band would be called Puig Destroyer and it includes other grindcore musicians such as Mike Minnick (Curl Up & Die) on vocals, Ian Miller and Jon Howell (Kowloon Walled City).

Well, the first track of the 5-song EP has just been released on bandcamp.com and it's everything I expected. BTW, the song is called "One Man, Five Tools", and the voice of Vin Scully makes a brief appearance at the end.

If you don't already know, grindcore isn't for the faint of heart. It is the an extreme hardcore sound. From a wikipedia description:

It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive-sounding music genres – including extreme metal, industrial music, noise music and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk. Grindcore is characterized by a noise-filled sound that uses heavily distorted, down-tuned guitars, grinding overdriven bass, high speed tempo, blast beats, and vocals which consist of incomprehensible growls, or high-pitched shrieks.

Yeah... So, it's definitely an acquired taste. The 18-year old version of myself would have loved this stuff. 20+ years later, I'm not so sure. Nevertheless, it had my head bobbing, banging and throbbing like I was the long-haired Hessian of my youth.

Man-O-Live... To be young again.

Go to this link to hear it. Be sure to turn up the volume to get the full effects. Really!... You won't regret it! Oh, and here are the lyrics:

One Man, Five Tools
speed power, fielding contact
a cannon for an arm

one man, five tools

speed power, fielding contact
a cannon for an arm

one man, five tools

fuck the walk, destroy the ball
crush smash kill... annihilate

one man, five tools

Awesome!

Here is the song below:
PUIG DESTROYER by Puig Destroyer

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Tommy Lasorda to Visit American Restoration

2013-06-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

This sound like a fun episode to watch. This coming Tuesday, June 18th at 10:30 PM on the History Channel will be the 100th episode of American Restoration, and it will feature Dodger Blue.

Rick Dale will take a vintage 4-door Coca Cola cooler and transform it into a hot dog vendor machine. It will be refurbished in a Dodger Blue theme and serve Dodger Dogs. So, you know it's gonna be done with class.

Our very own Tommy Lasorda will be on the show to check out the new Dodger Dog machine at the very end. He had this to say about it:

“It was masterfully done and I think it’s going to be a big hit. I was very, very surprised, to see the word Dodgers and how beautifully that hot dog stand was made.”

Below are a couple of "before" pics. Unfortunately, I don't have any "after" pics at the moment. I guess you'll just have to check in and watch the show to see yourself.

Photo credit: Leftfield Pictures/HISTORY

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Here are the Suspensions - Diamondbacks Get the Brunt of it

2013-06-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

Joe Garagiola, Jr. just meted out some Baseball justice and decided that the Diamondbacks deserved to get whacked good. Overall, it appears fair (of course, I'm a little biased). See a quick rundown below. Here is the MLB press release:

Dodgers:

J.P. Howell - 2 games for aggressive actions during the incidents;
Skip Schumaker - 2 games for aggressive actions during the incidents;
Mark McGwire - 2 games for his conduct during the incidents;
Ronald Belisario - 1 game for his aggressive actions during the incidents;
Don Mattingly - 1 game suspension for the actions of his Club and for his conduct during the incident; and
Zack Greinke and Yasiel Puig have been fined for unspecified amounts.

Diamondbacks:

Ian Kennedy - 10 games for intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of Zack Greinke of the Dodgers in the bottom of the seventh inning, after a warning had already been issued to both Clubs earlier in the game;
Eric Hinske - 5 game for leaving the dugout and for his aggressive actions during the incidents;
Kirk Gibson - 1 game suspension for the intentional actions of Kennedy after a warning had been issued; and
Miguel Montero and Gerardo Parra have been fined for unspecified amounts.

Additionally, any player can appeal their suspension, but coaches cannot (they must be served immediately). Furthermore, the Dodgers received a fine for allowing DL'd players to enter the field during the bench-clearing fight, and current players on the DL cannot sit on the bench with their teammates this weekend.

As you can see, the Dodgers have more players suspended, but the Diamondbacks got the stiffer penalties.

I'm surprised about the Hinske suspension. I had read that Hinske was the player who had provoked Puig into the madman we all witnessed. From what I understand, Hinske threw a punch at Puig and hit him squarely in the face. Puig obviously responded angrily, but apparently never threw an actual punch. I assume the magic of replay from different vantage points (not available to us) showed proof of this.

As for the Dodger suspensions. I would bet that the relievers will appeal; such that they are staggered to not be at the same time. Maybe they should have Belisario take his suspension tonight and have JP appeal so that he is available to play today. Then, they can have JP drop his appeal and serve his suspension starting on Saturday. Schumaker should just serve his suspension now. After all, I don't think any of these guys want to miss the series against the Yankees starting next week.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/14/2013 - Dodgers Links - Scully Will Tweet, a Bryan Stow Update and the College World Series

2013-06-14T10:00:00.001-07:00

Be sure you don't miss this next week. Vin Scully will be taking over the Dodgers tweet account this coming Wednesday, June 19th for their game against the Yankees in New York. Dodgers twitter here.

Don Newcombe is 87-years old today. Happy Birthday, big guy!
Via Lori Preuitt at NBC4, "Bryan Stow Out of Rehab, Home With Parents: Stow family says insurance company stopped paying for Bakersfield rehab, so they brought Bryan home to Santa Cruz County".

"At first look and during conversations, Bryan appears to be doing better, cognitively," the post read. "But to be with him as much as we are, we see what others don’t. The memory problems, the use of words that do not belong, the pain he is in and the stiffness in his body that prevents him from being able to do things on his own. Due to a huge cut in therapy coverage, Bryan has physically experienced a big setback."

Via Chosun Ilbo : "Park Chan-ho Reflects on Three Decades of Baseball in Book ". No word yet if there will be an English translation.
Jason Stark at ESPN writes a bit about the unwritten rules of Baseball, in relation to the most recent brawl.
Chad Moriyama has the rundown on the potential availability of Andre Ethier in a trade. He also writes a bit about the Dodgers interest in Cuban Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.
The Japanese Baseball league has admitted to juicing their Baseballs this season, via Eleanor Warnock at the Wall Street Journal.
Hey! The College World Series begins on Saturday. Check out Aaron Fitt's preview at Baseball America. Unfortunately, my alma mater, Cal State Fullerton, barely missed the cut. BTW, if you happen to be in Omaha an impressive cadre of former players will be signing autographs in the fan zone:

Friday, June 14, Edgar Martinez, Q&A, 4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.; autographs,
5 p.m. – 6-p.m.

Saturday, June 15, John Smoltz, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m . (At Beverly Plaza, 7820 Dodge, noon to 1 p.m.)

Sunday, June 16, Ivan Rodriguez, noon – 1 p.m.

Monday, June 17, Todd Walker, Q&A, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.; autographs, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Get more information here.

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Check Out How Hockey at Dodger Stadium Came to Be

2013-06-13T19:34:00.000-07:00

The Stanley Cup Playoffs isn't even over with and I'm already aching for the next season to begin. I think one of the principal reason for this is the upcoming Stadium Series game slated for January of 2014. As you know, the LA Kings are scheduled to play an outdoor game against the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium.

This afternoon, Jon Rosen at the LA Kings Insider blog (the Kings official blogger) shared some background about how the whole thing came about. It's a fun read. Check it out here.

“There’s always the ‘Yes, we’d like to do this’, but then there’s ‘How do you do it?’ and ‘When do you do it?’”

That “when” is next January 25 – a malleable date that allows some wiggle room in the event of rain – a forecast that isn’t uncommon in Southern California in early winter. It also falls within the Dodgers’ schedule of being able to replace and maintain the field prior to the start of the 2014 Major League Baseball season.

Representatives of the league, the Kings and Dodgers toured Dodger Stadium one month ago for a sightlines tour and to gain a better perspective of the layout of the event and various logistical concerns – those refrigeration trucks have to be parked somewhere – while shoring up the blueprint of how to make the Dodger Stadium event a unique experience that pays tribute to its local and regional surroundings.

Last week I shared a pic of a artist rendering that was on display at Staples Center in the outdoor patio during Game 3 of the Conference Final against the Chicago Blackhawks. See it below. Based upon this story, it appears that having a California feel to the game may reign supreme.

“A lot of the planning right now is about making sure that this game brings L.A.,” Cheeseman said. “We are different than any other city in the league, and we can do some unique things that a lot of teams and organizations can’t do, so we want to make sure that we reflect Southern California in all of these events, so that’s important to us.”

Of course, the ethos of Southern California living may be at its most accurate when sitting under a darkening, palm tree-silhouetted, post-sunset sky at a baseball stadium that practically requires a car to access.

“I think you could have a lot of fun with the fun with the event in terms of the way you stage it and the way fans kind of celebrate the game,” Collins said. “I like the idea of tailgating in shorts.”

So, regardless of my concerns that sand so near the ice could make for a screwed up game, it's seems likely that this may be a theme they will be going for.

On the other hand, if they actually allow fans to tailgate at Dodger Stadium, then I don't think I would care about the look of the field. Give me some BBQ, a cold beer from my cooler and hockey in the evening, and I'll be a happy camper.

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Check This Out - A Yasiel Puig Custom MacFarlane Figurine

2013-06-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I came across a post on the r/Dodgers reddit that featured a little bit of Dodgers themed folk art. The Original Poster, Tonedog14, shared some photos of a MacFarlane figurine that was repurposed - that is, custom painted to look like our Cuban sensation. So, I immediately contacted the poster and he was kind enough to allow me to share the pics here.

Wow! This thing is great. It almost looks a little like Puig.

I had asked a couple of follow up questions. Unfortunately, I hadn't heard back. Oh, well.

I was curious about who the figurine was originally. Based on some preliminary research, I think it may have been a 2006 Andruw Jones figurine, which is a little nerve-racking.

From my understanding, Tonedog14's father painted this figurine and regularly sells similar creations at a Frank & Sons booth in the City of Industry. So, if you're interested in this piece or anything like it I suggest stopping by.

According to Tonedog14 they sell these folk art pieces at $50 to $75 a piece, depending upon the amount of detail. Their booth is located in aisle 100 at booth 127, and if you want to get in contact with them feel free to email his father here. If you get lost look for the north east corner of the warehouse.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/13/2013 - Dodgers Links - Draft Picks Signed, Puig and No National in California (for a long time)

2013-06-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Both our first and second round picks from the 2013 amateur draft have just signed contracts with the Dodgers. They were both at the stadium last night, as evidenced by the photo above. Pic via twitter @Dodgers. The Dodgers press release is here.

Jason Parks at Baseball Prospectus introduces us to the Yasiel Puig drinking game.
Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Time to ease on Puig expectations".
Austin Laymance at MLB.com, "Dodgers prospects making impact; more on the way".

Lee, 21, was the Dodgers' first round pick (28th overall) in the 2010 Draft and has been rising quickly through the system ever since. The right-hander has four pitches that he can throw for strikes and has good movement on a fastball that sits at 92-93 mph. Still, Lee is not expected to arrive in the Majors until next season.

Via Craig Calcaterra at Hardball Talk, he tells us what physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says about a Baseball to the head. This man is one of my personal heroes.

Not that anybody asked, but a baseball thrown 90 mph has about the same energy as a 0.22 caliber bullet fired from a handgun.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) June 12, 2013

Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, McCourt would be a principle landlord if a football stadium was built in the Dodger Stadium parking lot. Because of this, I believe there should never be football at Chavez Ravine. NO! NEVER! I absolutely despise McCourt and knowing that he will have some role so close to our second home makes me sick! I propose designating Dodger Stadium and its surrounding land a National Historic Landmark, so that they can never develop the land. Screw them!
This is just awesome. "New Origami Street Art in Angers, France by Mademoiselle Maurice," via This is Colossal.com. Definately a must see.

In some brief card show news. You should not expect the National Sports Collectors Convention to make it to the West Coast til 2020, at the earliest. Via Susan Lulgjuraj at Beckett, "National Sports Collectors Convention planned for next six years, headed back to Atlantic City". Sports Collectors Daily shares a quote from the promoter explaining why the West Coast gets shut out.

“We have size requirements now,” NSCC Director and Co-Founder Mike Berkus told Sports Collectors Daily in 2012. “Operating under 325,000 square feet would mean that many exhibitors would be shut out. Vegas and Atlantic City pose challenges on diversion of attention and attendance. Philly, New York, and Boston have financial and union issues that require exhibitors to have large increases in booth fees. Anaheim, San Francisco, and Boston will not host us without a cancellation policy that would kill advance travel and planning for all concerned. They want trade shows that require 8000 to 10,000 room night guarantees or they can cancel us without recourse. We are constantly researching and negotiating as many locations as possible.”

This is the greatest Baseball call-up news I've ever read. Via Sean Kernan at the Daytona Beach News-Journal, "Daytona Cubs vendor with famous pitches gets big-league call".

Near the end of spring training in March, Vince received a hand-written note on personalized stationery from Mark Lerner, principal owner of the Washington Nationals. It was an invitation to come work for the National League team in Washington, D.C.

After more than a decade hawking such ballpark delights as frozen lemonade, cotton candy, peanuts and, most famously, ice-cold beer, in the minors, Vince had received his call up to the majors.

"I'm ecstatic," Vince said as he proudly held the note he carries in his wallet. "My entire life, I've been waiting for something to happen because everything I do – every beer that I sell – I put 100 percent into it. Every sale – peanuts, cotton candy, whatever."

BTW, he's not just a vendor. He's a recent UCF Grad with a degree in Communications. The Nationals plan to train him in the marketing department and have him hawk goods during games.

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Well... That Figures... Puig Scratched Due to Sore Shoulder...

2013-06-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

Likely as a result of last nights little melee, Yasiel Puig has now been scratched from the starting lineup.

No announcement yet, but Puig is likely to be scratched with a sore right shoulder.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) June 12, 2013

According to various reports, he took a few swings during pregame batting practice, stopped, and went to the clubhouse in a huff.

I'll cross my fingers and hope this is just the Dodgers be cautious. After all, According to Tim Brown he's available to the Dodgers later in the game. So, the Dodgers aren't rushing him to get an MRI.

Puig has shoulder soreness. Mattingly sd he won't be in lineup. Available to run, maybe PH.
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) June 13, 2013

Pic at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013

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Mailbag: A Podres Autograph and Some Bonus Dodger Cards

2013-06-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

I recently picked up some Dodger Baseball cards off of eBay, and thought I would share my bounty here. As a part of a multiple card lot, I received the above 2013 Topps Series 1 Chasing History autographed card of 1955 World Series hero Johnny Podres. I've got multiple different Podres autographed cards in my collection, but I just can't help but add more to my collection. Below is the reverse of the card.

Included with the Podres was a whole bunch of other Dodgers, most of which I didn't already have. Check out some of the more modern issues below. All of these cards came home with me for about $6 bucks, delivered.

The best of the bunch are the below 1978-1979 TCMA Baseball History Series cards featuring some old-timers. I've seen these cards a number of times throughout my hobby life, but have never actually added a card to my collection. So, I was ecstatic that they were included.

Can you name them all?

Here is a key to help you with identifying who they are:

Top Photo (from top row, left to right):

Carmen Mauro, Jim Gilliam, Johnny Roseboro, Rube Walker, Bob Wilson, Don Hoak, Chico Fernandez, George Shuba, and Chuck Templeton.
Bottom Photo:

Preacher Roe, Carl Erskine, Don Newcombe, Karl Spooner, Preacher Roe and Johnny Podres, Gil Hodges, and Wayne Belardi.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Jay Johnstone and Former Raiders Coach Tom Flores

2013-06-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

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.

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Jay Johnstone will be at Manuel's El Tepeyac in the City of Industry on Sunday, June 16, 2013 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM. One FREE autograph per person (Additional FREE autograph tickets w/ purchase of Sports Items).

Manuel's El Tepeyac
13131 Crossroads Pkwy South
City of Industry, CA 91746
(626) 488-9432

Hat Tip: Vin Scully is My Homeboy

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Prices are $25.00 for a small item and $30.00 for a large item.

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Blog Kiosk: 6/12/2013 - Dodgers Links - Gaines Caused the Bench Clearing Brawl

2013-06-12T09:48:00.001-07:00

Davis Gaines is one of my favorite regular National Anthem singers at LA Kings games of all-time. His operatic voice just resonates throughout the arena. That being said, is it any wonder a hockey-style bench-clearing brawl broke out on the evening he came out to sing? I think not. Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

This is getting out of hand. Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Yasiel Puig making noise in NL Rookie of the Year odds".
Via Chad Moriyama, "It’s not a positive that Yasiel Puig has accounted for over 40% of the team’s offense".
AJ Ellis played his first rehab game in Lake Elsinore yesterday, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.
It has now been confirmed by the Daily Telegraph in Australia that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks will start the 2014 season in Sydney Australia.

The games have been described as the biggest internationally recognised event in this country since the 2003 Rugby World Cup final and come exactly 100 years after the Chicago White Sox played against NSW at the SCG.

"Sydney will host the first two games for the opening series of 2014 Major League Baseball at the Sydney Cricket Ground," Premier Barry O'Farrell said.

"The opening series will feature the LA Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks playing the first two games of the season.

"This is a significant win for Sydney and again delivers on my election commitment to bring major events to NSW. It's estimated the matches will deliver a $13 million benefit for the local economy, as well as attract visitors from interstate and overseas."

Via Rob Neyer at Baseball Nation, "The increasingly poor decisions of Donnie Baseball".
Kristi Dosh at ESPN, ranks the highest paying professional sports team by average pay per player. The Dodgers are ranked second highest in the world.
Take a look below of the Dodgers beach towel being given out on June 25th. Pic via twitter @Dodgers.

Matthew Kory at Sports on Earth writes about Baseball players under pressure. (Hat Tip: JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers)

I'm usually skeptical of the impact of pressure on professional athletes. Often times I see it as the media inserting themselves into the story. The pressure (…from the media) was so great that the players just couldn't play properly! Oh, that powerful media! That said, it strikes me that just this year alone, we have three separate cases of this kind of thing, as the Dodgers and, to a slightly lesser extent, the Angels both fall into a similar category.

Sir Patrick Stewart is hilarious. Pic via twitter @SirPatStew.

(twitter link)

This seems like the worst idea ever. Via John Ourand at Sports Business Journal, he tells us about "Mandalay developing TV show based on life of Times writer (TJ Simers)". Here is the video Mandalay produced to create interest featuring Simers, his daughter and Dwight Howard.
All I gotta say is, EPIC! Listen to Hank Azaria reading the Dodgers lineup from this weekend as Moe, Apu and Chief Wiggam.

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What a Wild Game - Some Game Videos

2013-06-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

I really don't want to spend too much time with words, so instead I'll put up a couple of videos.

Below is Ian Kennedy hitting Yaiel Puig on the head in the 6th inning. It was a dangerous pitch.
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As you can see, Ian Kennedy looked disappointed in himself for throwing that pitch. So, I doubt it was a purpose pitch.

On the other hand, Greinke's pitch the following inning that hit Miguel Montero on the numbers was clearly done in retaliation. Both benches were warned, and you would figure that would be the end of it. Below is a video.
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But no, this is the 2013 Dodger season. So, naturally Ian Kennedy felt it necessary to bean Greinke. Not on the numbers, mind you, but Kennedy purposefully tried to hit Greinke in the head. The benches clear and punches were thrown. Watch the video below. (~~check that, click the video below to watch it at MLB.com~~)
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As it happens, the Dodgers pulled out a victory with some timely hitting in their bottom half of the 8th inning.

Wow! This has been some crazy season.

At last count, Puig, Ian Kennedy, Mark McGwire and Kirk Gibson were sent to the showers.

UPDATE: I just thought I'd add that considering Ian Kennedy's (retaliation) pitch was aimed at an opposing players head, I believe he should receive the brunt of any penalties involved. It's one thing to purposefully hit a guy from the numbers down, but when you go for the noggin' then the penalty must be severe.

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Welcome Up to the Blue, Chris Withrow & Alex Castellanos - Some Fantasy Baseball Cards for Them

2013-06-11T16:58:00.001-07:00

Don't look now, but a parade of prospects are showing up at Dodger Stadium.

One day after Justin Seller's call up from AAA, he is being sent back down. Furthermore, Scott Van Slyke, who is suffering from left shoulder bursitis, is being placed on the 15-day DL. In their place is minor league outfield prospect Alex Castellanos and pitcher Chris Withrow.

Castellanos came up briefly several times last season, and eventually got into 16 games. Overall, he batted just .174 in 23 at-bats, but did slug 1 home run. We originally attained Castellanos via a trade with the Cardinals involving Rafael Furcal in 2011. Chris Withrow is coming up to the Major Leagues for the second time in his career, although he has yet to actually pitch. He was originally a 1st Round draft pick for the Dodgers in 2007 (20th overall), and was thought to be a potential middle of the order starting pitcher. At one time he was ranked the 48th best prospect in Baseball. Unfortunately, after several years of trying it just didn't pan out. Soon, he was converted into a reliever and spent most of 2012 to today honing that craft. Heck, his numbers in Albuquerque look quite good, considering that place is a pitchers nightmare.

In their honor, I decided to make a fantasy Blue Heaven Baseball card for both of them. See them below. I used photographs available from Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers.

Click any pic to embiggen.

Via the Dodgers press release:

Withrow, who will wear No. 44, will be making his Major League debut and has gone 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 22 relief appearances with the Isotopes. The 24-year-old last pitched on Friday, striking out three of the four batters he faced, and has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances (7.2 IP). Withrow, who was selected by the Dodgers in the first round (20th overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, has only allowed earned runs in two of his 22 appearances this year.

Castellanos, 26, has a .270 batting average with eight steals, nine home runs and 28 RBI in 43 games with Albuquerque this season. Castellanos went 4-for-23 (.174) with a triple, a homer and three RBI in 16 big league games with the Dodgers last year and tied for the Dodger team lead with both four home runs and 11 RBI in 29 Cactus League games this spring.

Van Slyke is batting .221 with six home runs, five doubles and 11 RBI in 24 games with the Dodgers, while Sellers posted a .188 batting average with a home run, a double and two RBI in 27 contests for the club.

Below are their career stats:

Alex Castellanos

Report Created on Baseball-Reference.com

Chris Withrow

Report Created on Baseball-Reference.com

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Blog Kiosk: 6/11/2013 - Dodgers Links - Puig Mania Just Won't Stop

2013-06-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

"Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack's, I don't care if I never get back..." Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

I cannot talk about Brandon League and I refuse to link to any stories about last nights game, lest I be reminded of it.
Via Danny Knobler at CBS Sports, "Stock Watch: Everyone's talking Puig; one says he's Adrian Peterson".

"I always preface this by saying I don't know how his career is going to turn out," said (Matt) Martin, who has since left the Dodgers and taken a job with the Orioles. "But on God-given ability going in, it's like nothing I've ever seen."

Martin kept thinking, and finally he hit on it.

"I said, 'He's Adrian Peterson.' That's how much God-given ability this guy has," Martin said. "That's the comparison I had to give. He's Adrian Peterson."

Ted Berg at For the Win highlights, "Five young MLB stars that could end up the greatest of all time". His list includes Yasiel Puig.
Via Property of Zach, "Riley Breckenridge (Thrice) Starts Baseball-Themed Grindcore Band: Puig Destroyer". Riley's website is here.
Bob Timmerman, briefly taking over for Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts, sums up last nights game rather nicely. Woops! I guess I lied.
This is too awesome not to link. At Sons of Steve Garvey they try to talk about something other than Puig. So, Nomo puts up some great Star Wars/Japanese League commercials.
I found this both unfortunate and hilarious at the same time. Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars films was stopped by the TSA in Denver due to a giant cane (he's 7'3" tall) that he needs to use in order to get around. The cane is shaped like a light saber - I kid you not. Fortunately, TSA came to it's senses. Story and pics via John Aravosis at AmericaBlog.
This is just awesome. The Boston Globe shares pics of the past 50 years of Stanley Cup Championship rings. Wow!

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There Will be a Puig Sighting at Frank & Son's for a Signing

2013-06-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a week for our rookie outfielder. Yasiel Puig has lit the league on fire with his spectacular play on the field and his phenomenal batting at the plate. At this point, he's like the goose that laid the golden egg, and hopefully we don't squander our good fortune.

That being said, Puig has been an absolute monster in the collecting world. His cards are selling for "stupid" money, and as long as he continues to perform at inhuman levels it just might stay there. Of course, the law of averages tell you that that isn't possible. Still, one can dream.

Well, it has just been announced that Yasiel Puig will be making his first paid public signing appearance on Saturday, June 29th for the Dodger Days event at Frank & Sons in the City of Industry. BTW, there will be a whole bunch of Dodgers on hand, so I certainly suggest checking the entire event out.

Usually, I refrain from make this kind of announcement this far in advance of a public signing. I prefer to make once a week post focused on just events happening the immediate weekend, but I figured this was worth breaking that rule.

Puig will only be signing 250 items so there is a bit of urgency if you want to pay to play. On the other hand, the asking price is way beyond most fans pocketbooks. According to their flyer, tickets for small items will be $149.00, large items at $199.00, and premium items at $299.00.

Yeah, you read that right. The current asking prices are at the levels usually reserved for popular Hall of Famers or superstar future Hall of Famers. For comparison, at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago in early August there are only five Baseball players who are priced at or above these levels: Randy Johnson, Chipper Jones, Mike Piazza, Cal Ripken Jr. and Roger Clemens. Another 22 current Hall of Famers are below Puig's prices - some well below.

As you can imagine, there were a couple of complaints on Frank & Sons facebook page, and they responded by noting that it is Puig's management that effectively set the price by asking a huge amount of money for the limited signing. Furthermore, via Sports Collectors Daily, his agents claim that it will be his only autograph show during the season.

Regardless, considering his current hot hand and the current selling prices of his certified autographed cards on eBay, I suspect they will sell out anyway. After all, as some scouts have said, Puig is a once in a generation type of player, and that means he is pure gold in the collecting world.

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Dodger Correspondence: Ralph Branca Plays Contract Hardball Against Branch Rickey

2013-06-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here is another edition of Dodger Correspondence.

This time I share another letter that I found on eBay that was written by former Brooklyn Dodger Ralph Branca to then GM Branch Rickey. As you can see, Branca is seeking more money.

Dear Mr. Rickey,
Enclosed you will find my returned contract. You will also note that it is unsigned. This is to let you know that I am not in accord with you on salary terms for 1945.
Sincerely Yours,
Ralph T. Branca

I have no idea what Rickey offered Branca, but I do know that at the time Branca wrote this letter he had yet to win a Major League game. He had just finished up his rookie season in Brooklyn, going 0-2 with a 7.05 ERA in 21 games (20 as a reliever). Clearly, Branca wasn't very effective in the games he pitched. On the other hand, a quick look at his gamelog that season shows that he mostly came in for mop-up duty.

Branca and Rickey eventually came to terms for a reported $3,300 (according to Baseball-Reference). Frankly, I'm not sure if that's right. It seems way too low, or was this the kind of salary a young player would expect to get back then? If so, no wonder he balked at the first offer.

BTW, Ralph Branca pitched much better in 1945. He primarily started for the Dodgers going 5-6 with 15 starts and 1 save. Branca had a ERA of 3.04 and completed 7 games. That's a much better showing for the kid known as Hawk.

(Auction Link)

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Here are May's Dodger Pride Award Winners - Minor League Players of the Month for May

2013-06-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

With Yasiel Puig already in the show, I guess we won't be hearing any more news about his exploits in the Dodgers' minor league farm system. On the other hand, he did play most of the last month in Chattanooga, so I guess he gets one last hurrah.

Just announced today are the Dodgers Pride Award Winners for May - given to their minor league players of the month.

Per a Dodgers press release:

Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes

Pitcher - RHP Blake Johnson posted a 3-2 record with a 1.96 ERA (8 ER/36.2 IP), striking out 32 batters against eight walks in six May starts. Johnson had quality starts in five out of six games in the month and is currently on a run of five straight quality starts. The 27-year-old was among the Pacific Coast League leaders in ERA (1.96, 5^th) and wins (3, T-9^th) in May. Johnson was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

Player - IF/OF Elian Herrera posted a .363 (33-for-91) batting average, which tied for eighth-best in the Pacific Coast League during May, with 33 hits, three home runs and 10 RBI in the month. On the season, Herrera has come through consistently in big moments, batting .348 (16-for-46) with a homer and 20 RBI with runners in scoring position. The switch-hitter was signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on May 14, 2003.

Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts

Pitcher - LHP Rob Rasmussen posted a 2-1 record with a 1.97 ERA (7 ER/32.0 IP), fanning 29 batters against seven walks in six May games (five starts). The Pasadena native recorded quality starts in four of his five starts in the month and struck out at least five batters in each start, holding the opposition to a .200 batting average. Rasmussen went 13 consecutive innings without surrendering an earned run from May 15-31 and is 3-3 with a 2.42 ERA through 12 games (11 starts) this year. The Dodgers acquired Rasmussen in a trade with the Astros on Dec. 20, 2012 and was originally selected by Houston in the second round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of UCLA.

(pic credit: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)

Player - OF Yasiel Puig posted a .301 batting average with 28 hits, nine doubles, four home runs, 26 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 26 May games to take home the May Dodger Pride Award for Chattanooga. The outfielder ranked among the league's best in RBI (26, T-2^nd), stolen bases (11, T-3^rd) and doubles (9, T-8^th). Puig recorded an RBI in five games in a row from May 25-30, totaling 12 RBI during that stretch. Puig, who was signed as a free agent on June 29, 2012 out of Cuba, was recalled by the Dodgers and made his Major League debut on June 3 and finished his first week in the Majors with a .464 batting average (13-for-28), four home runs and 10 RBI in seven games (including five multi-hit efforts) to earn NL Player of the Week honors.

Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

Player - LHP Jarret Martin went 3-1 in May with a 2.41 ERA (9 ER/33.2 IP) in six starts. In the month, the 24-year-old collected 37 strikeouts against 16 walks while limiting the opposition to a .236 batting average. Martin was originally selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 18^th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft and was acquired in a trade with the Orioles on Dec. 8, 2011.

Player - OF Noel Cuevas batted .336 (34-for-93) in May, driving in 24 runs and clubbing three homers. On the year, the native of Puerto Rico has a .314 batting average, the fifth-best overall mark in the California League, including a .333 (17-for-51) batting average with runners in scoring position. The 21-year-old was selected by the Dodgers in 21^st round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

Single-A Great Lakes Loons

Player - RHP Jharel Cotton posted a 3.67 ERA (14 ER/34.1 IP) in six May starts. Cotton limited opposing hitters to a .206 average with 31 strikeouts, while limiting left-handed hitters to a .160 batting average. Cotton was recently named to represent the Loons in the Midwest League All-Star team alongside teammates Carlos Frias and Tyler Ogle before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga. The right-hander was selected by the Dodgers in the 20^th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of East Carolina University.

Player - INF Kevin Taylor posted a .263 (20-for-76) batting average with a homer and seven RBI in 21 May games. On the season, the 21-year-old is batting .321 (9-for-28) with runners in scoring position and .309 (25-for-81) against right-handed pitchers. A native of Portland, Oregon, Taylor was drafted by the Dodgers in the 26^th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft from Western Nevada Community College.

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Puig Wins His First Award

2013-06-10T13:17:00.002-07:00

This isn't a surprise, is it?

It has just been announced that Yasiel Puig won this past week in the National League. He has been named the NL Player of the Week, from June 3rd to 9th.

May there be more weeks like this in the future.

From the Dodgers press release:

In his first week in the Major Leagues, Puig led baseball with 27 total bases and was tied for the Major League lead with four home runs. His .964 slugging percentage was second-best in the Majors and was the top mark among National Leaguers. The 22-year-old native of Cienfuegos, Cuba also ranked among league leaders with a .464 (13-for-28) batting average (2nd), 10 RBI (3rd), 13 hits (3rd), and a .483 on-base percentage (7th). Puig had multi-hit efforts in five of his seven games during the week.

Some key notes:

Puig became the first Dodger to record a multi-hit performance in his first big league game since Russell Martin went 2-for-4 in his debut on May 5, 2006.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Puig joined Dino Restelli as the only players in Major League history to have recorded a two-homer, five-RBI game within the first two games of his career. Restelli accomplished the feat on June 15, 1949 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Puig became just the second player since 1900 to hit four home runs in his first five games, joining Mike Jacobs of the 2005 New York Mets (Elias Sports Bureau).
On Friday, his solo shot gave Puig 10 RBI through his first five career games, tying a Major League record (also: Washington’s Danny Espinosa in 2010 and Pittsburgh’s Jack Merson in 1951).
With his first Player of the Week honor, Puig becomes the first rookie to win for his debut week since Baltimore’s Manny Machado (A.L.) (August 6-12, 2012).
Puig is the first Dodger rookie to win the award since Andre Ethier (July 3-9, 2006).

Pic Credit Above: Dodgers on Tumblr

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Blog Kiosk: 6/10/2013 - Dodger Links - More Puig, Hanley and Kemp Look to be Down and Out, and Hank Azaria

2013-06-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hank Azaria was at the game yesterday and read the Dodgers lineup. In the pic above he is posing with Peter Moylan. Photo via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

The news just keeps getting worse. Via Austin Laymance at MLB.com, "Hanley to have MRI on hamstring; Kemp has setback".
Adam Nodiff at The Baseball Professor writes about Puig, a survey on him and his thoughts about his potential.
"The growing legend of Yasiel Puig," via Dave Cameron at FanGraphs.
Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, Don Mattingly: 'We can't continue to play short'

"We can't continue to play short. I played with two extras today and a backup catcher. You can't play in a National League game like that," Mattingly said after the game. "You can get away with it in the American League, but we can't continue to do this. If you can't play you've got to go on the DL."

Ethier was unavailable Sunday after fouling ball off the arch of his foot on Saturday.

"He tried to swing early in the day and wasn't able to do it," Mattingly said. "I don't know where we'll be tomorrow with that."

Funny stuff. Via Outside the Boxscore, "Hank Azaria reads Dodgers line-up like "Apu" from The Simpsons".
All Trade Bait, All the Time shares his day at Dodger Stadium yesterday and has a bunch of pics to prove it.
Ron Cervenka at True Blue LA shares a bunch of pics from the Old Timers Game.

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The Puig T-Shirt Craze is Just Beginning

2013-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I made note of a post on my Blog Kiosk of a Big League Stew story focused on the fine work of an enterprising Dodger fan seeking to express his love of Puig on a T-shirt.

The Big League Stew story made note of a graphic put up by Dave Pomerantz on twitter. See it below. I am unsure if this shirt actually exist, but if it does I might have to get one. For those who don't understand the reference check out this story by Dayn Perry at CBS Sports.

Well, after spending some time on Reddit over the weekend I dicovered that Man Bear Puig has a little bit of a following already. It appears it was first initially proposed by a redditor named mongo1834, using the below graphic.

Awesome, right? After all, Man Bear Puig is the greatest threat to Major League pitching the world has ever seen. At least, that's what I like to think.

Then, I discovered that there are several other T-shirt designs worthy of a look. See what I discovered below.

The above T-shirt was made by redditor PRguy1789 and can be purchased here. It's simple and clean, and I don't think you'd have to worry about the South Park boys screaming copyright in your face.

The next one is just as simple. It says what we are all thinking and hoping for. Can his exploits this year translate into a MVP-type season his first year in the league? The below shirt was made by redditor lookitskelvin.

This next T-shirt is a play on that old Nike/Bo Jackson marketing campaign. It was made by Dodgers Beat and can be purchased here.

This next one might be considered a bit controversial since I'm not sure if many Cubans would appreciate the connection. Regardless, it creatively melds Baseball and a pop cultural reference. It was created by redditor ese51, and can be purchased here.

BTW, the design at the very top was made by the Dodgers and those T-shirts are available for sale at Dodgers Stadium. That shirt has sold like gangbusters.

The Dodgers have sold almost 1,900 Puig T-shirts ($28) in two days.
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) June 9, 2013

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