Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Matt Kemp - "I'm Going for 50-50 Next Year"

During a conference call today with Los Angeles media members, Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp made the bold prediction he was going for a 50-50 season in 2012.

"I'm going to go 50-50 next year. I'm telling you, y'all created a monster. I'm about to get back in the weight room super tough so I can be as strong as I was last year. … Forty-forty is tough, so 50-50 will be even tougher, but anything can happen. I have to set my limits high so I can try to get to them as much as I can. I'm going to try for 50-50, which has never been done."

"I'm serious. If I don't [get there], it means I let y'all down and lied to you, and I don't like being a liar. I know y'all are over there thinking I'm crazy, but hey, I'm trying to take it to another level."

To read Tony Jackson's entire article on ESPNLosAngeles.com click HERE
Watch  the video below:




Monday, November 21, 2011

Dodgers Release Promotional Schedule - Includes 10 Bobbleheads


Today the Dodgers released their 2012 Promotional Schedule.  The schedule includes 10 Bobbleheads, a replica stadium, fleece blankets, and a cooler bag.  As the off season progresses, i'm sure images of the promotional items will be released.  One date which jumped out at me was Wednesday April 11, 2012.  That night, the Dodgers will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates and Clayton Kershaw will be presented with his 2011 NL Cy Young Award in front of the home crowd.  Another date to circle on the calendar is Tuesday August 7, 2012.  The Dodgers will be giving out a Sandy Koufax bobblehead that night.

A tip of the cap to DodgerBobble for listing the 10 Bobblehead give-a-way nights.

Saturday, April 28 vs Washington

Tuesday, May 15 vs Arizona

Tuesday, May 29 vs Milwaukee

Tuesday, June 12 vs Anaheim

Thursday, June 28 vs NYM

Saturday, July 14 vs San Diego

Tuesday July 31 vs Arizona

Tuesday August 7 vs Colorado - Sandy Koufax Bobblehead

Tuesday August 21 vs San Francisco


Thursday August 30 vs Arizona

For the entire list click from Dodgers.com, click HERE

True to the Blue!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Clayton Kershaw Wins NL Cy Young Award - Video

Today, MLB announced Clayton Kershaw as the winner of the 2011 NL Cy Young Award.  He received 27 of a possible 32 first place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.  Kershaw became the 10th Dodger to win the Cy Young Award.  This was only Kershaw's 3rd full season in the big leagues and his future remains bright!  Congrats Clayton!

Check out the video below from Dodgers.com



True to the Blue!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

1981 World Series Reunion - pics & recap


On Saturday November 5, 2011, at Frank & Son Collectible Show, Hall of Fame Sports presented a signing involving several members of the 1981 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.  There were 23 Dodgers scheduled to appear throughout the day signing autographs.  Due to a family commitment, I promised my nephew/Godson, I would go to his football game on Saturday morning. He plays on the freshman team for Servite High School located in Anaheim, CA.  Anyhow, I was unable to make the signing but for the first time ever, arranged for the promoter, in this case Hall of Fame Sports to get my items signed.

While there were 23 Dodgers appearing, I wanted Dave Stewart, Bob Welch, Pedro Guerrero, and Dusty Baker.  I figured these were some of the tougher autos to get, I had several other autos from the other starters on the team and some of the others sign often in the area, sometimes for free.  So I paid for my autos in advance and picked out a sweet looking 16x20 photo of the 1981 World Series trophy.  I was able to make it out to the signing later in the day just to snap some photos.

 Pedro Guerrero

 Steve Garvey

Tommy Lasorda & Reliever Dave Goltz

Today, I stopped by Frank & Son to pick up my item but was given some bad news.  For some reason, they forgot to have Dusty Baker sign my photo!  Chris from Hall of Fame Sports was extremely apologetic and wanted to make it right. He offered me a refund, a Dusty Baker signed baseball, an autograph ticket to the upcoming Fernando Valenzuela signing or a Tommy Lasorda signed baseball.  I accepted his apology and chose the signed Lasorda ball.  While i'm still bummed out and a little upset, it was cool for Hall of Fame Sports to give me something of more value and it looks like a have a new project to finish!

Check out my Lasorda ball and my 16x20 signed by Dave Stewart, Bob Welch & Pedro Guerrero.  I also attached my purchase order/invoice that clearly states, Dusty Baker!




True to the Blue!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Fernando Valenzuela


Saturday December 3, 2011

Fernando Valenzuela
6X All Star - '81, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86
2X Silver Slugger - '81 & '83
Gold Glover Winner - 1986
ROY - 1981
Cy Young Award - 1981
World Series Champion - 1981
$109 - balls & flats up to and including 11x14
$129 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment
$149 - bats, jerseys & artwork
stage time: TBA

Click on the links for the info on the other Dodgers appearing on 12/3/11 @ Frank & Son Collectible Show



True to the Blue!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Dodger Blogger Softball Tourney


The Left Field Pavilion Blog is organizing a Softball Tournament for Dodger Bloggers.  Several blogs are participating including the True to the Blue blog.  So if you are interested in playing on the True to the Blue team head over to theLFPblog by clicking here and sign up for my team.  The tournament will be Saturday February 12, 2012 at Big League Dreams in West Covina.  For those of you that aren't familiar with Big League Dreams, they have fields that are replicas of major league stadiums including Dodgers Stadium.  The cost is $35 per player. The price includes 3 pizzas and 4 pitchers of soda per team and 1st and 2nd place trophies.

So again, click here. Once on the page, click on Individual Players. It will take you to another page where you can sign up.  There is a drop down menu where you can pick which blog you'd like to play for. So, click on True to the Blue and you can play on my team.  Let's do this True to the Blue fans!!

True to the Blue!

Peter O'Malley Wants to Buy the Dodgers!


Breaking news -- Bill Shaikin, who once again has the breaking Dodgers news, is reporting former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley want to run the team again.  According to Shaikin, O'Malley wants to lead an investment group that would buy the Dodgers and would be the teams chief executive.

O'Malley says:

"I want to reconnect the team and the community"

"The health of the organization has deteriorated in the last 12 months, the standing of the organization in the community has deteriorated.  I am confident I can restore it to respectability quicker, sooner and probably better than — or at least as well as — anyone else."
O'Malley declined to name his investors but has already shared his plans with Commissioner Bud Selig.
I would love to see the O'Malley family back running the team and bring the family atmosphere back to Dodgers Stadium.

True to the Blue! 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

McCourt & MLB Agree to Sale of Dodgers - Official Statement


Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times posted this official press release on the paper's Dodger Blog:


"The Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball announced that they have agreed today to a court supervised process to sell the team and its attendant media rights in a manner designed to realize maximum value for the Dodgers and their owner, Frank McCourt.  The Blackstone Group LP will manage the sale process."

Will Dodger fans have a new owner by Opening Day?
How will this affect the signing of free agents?
How will this affect offering long term deals to Kemp, Kershaw, and Ethier?
There are still lots of questions to be answered but there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel!

True to the Blue!