Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Tommy Lasorda

On April 2nd, I posted information about several former Dodgers and a current Dodger making appearances this Spring & Summer at Frank and Son Collectible Show.  linked here

I mentioned that on June 18th the player and/or player was to be announced.  Well, it will be none other than legendary Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda. Courtesy of Hall of Fame Sports.

Here is the information that is available so far:

June 18, 2011

Tommy Lasorda

2 time World Series Champion

2 Time NL Manager of the Year

2000 Olympic Gold Medal Manager

Hall of Fame 1997

$99 - small flats up to 11x14 & balls

$119 - large flats, minis, caps & equipment

$139 - bats, jerseys & art

$20 personalizations & inscriptions

Appearance time to be announced

Wow, is all I can say at the moment. Pretty big chunk of change for Tommy's autograph.

True to the Blue!



Dodger Security - Opening Day Tragedy

The above picture was taken by the L.A. Times during Opening Day in 2010.  Is this what has become of our beloved Dodger Stadium?  A place where angry fans, drunken fights and arrests have become the norm?  DEFINITELY NOT! Most Dodger fans attend games to watch the Dodgers win or lose (preferrably win) and to enjoy the game of baseball.  Granted, fights break out at NBA games, NFL games and other stadiums throughout MLB but it does seem like Dodger Stadium has a reputation.  I don't claim to have all the answers. More security? Sure! Off-duty police officers? Sounds good! Cut beer sales off earlier than the end of the 7th inning? Ok!  The reality of the situation is that additional security and off-duty police cost alot of money.  McCourt financial problems or no financial problems it still costs alot of money.  No owner in MLB wants to cut beer sales off, it is too much revenue to lose out on.  That leaves the responsibility to us fans.  Now, i'm not suggesting that we break up fights ourselves or try to intervene when situations get out of control but I do think we can help prevent things from getting too crazy.  We don't have to join in or encourage the hooligan fans when they began harassing or yelling at fans from visiting teams.  I've seen our beloved Dodgers play at Wrigly Field in Chicago, Chase Field in Phoenix and twice at PetCo Park in San Diego. Each time I was decked out in Dodger gear and not once to someone through a peanut, a beer, popcorn, a bottle of water or a soda at me.  I've been booed but not cussed out.  I've been told the Dodgers stink but never threatened.  It's possible that a game can be enjoyed by visiting fans.  It's just up to us as fans.  That's my two cents.

A couple of other items of interest.  Our last three Opening Days haven't been the greatest when it comes to fans and safety.

Opening Day 2009, there was a stabbing in the parking lot after the game.  You can read about it here at the old  Dodger Thoughts blog from the L.A. Times.

Opening Day 2010 saw 132 arrests mostly involving alcohol.  You can read about it here at the L.A. NOW  blog from the L.A. Times.

Of course we all know about the 2011 Opening Day tragedy.  On a positive note, the reward is up to $100 thousand dollars according to the L.A. Times Dodger Blog.

L.A County Supervisor Mike Antonovich has offered $10 thousand dollars.

The San Francisco Giants have offered $10 thousand dollars.

American Medical Response has offered $5 thousand dollars.

The Dodgers have offered up $25 thousand dollars and the Los Angeles City Council as matched the total and offered an additional $50 thousand dollars.

True to the Blue!

Tonight's Lineup - April 3, 2011 5:00pm

Juan Uribe is back in the lineup tonight as Hiroki Kuroda makes his first start of the season against Barry Zito.  Here is tonight's lineup:

Furcal SS

Carroll 2B

Ethier RF

Kemp CF

Uribe 3B

Loney 1B

Barajas C

Thames LF

Kuroda P



True to the Blue!

Dodger Oakley Sunglasses - New Releases & 20% off Dodger merchandise

I've always been an big Oakley sunglasses guy.  I've gone through several pairs in my lifetime.  I have a pair of the Gascan style for everyday use and a pair of the Inmate style which are a little nicer.  Since my Gascans are a little beat up at the moment I thought I'd go on-line and see what the Oakley website had to offer.  When I clicked on the new releases tab they had a pair of the MLB Fuel Cell style that is pictured above.  You can see the iconic LA logo in the bottom left corner of the lense.  Also if you look closely, the Oakley logo is Dodger Blue and has stitches like on the stitches of a baseball.

Also under the new releases tab is the MLB Fives Squared style.  They are a different shape & style than the Fuel Cell but still have the LA logo and the baseball stitching in the Oakley logo.  Take a look:

This isn't the first time MLB and Oakley have offered sunglasses with the logos of MLB teams.  This Flak Jacket model has been available for a few years.  Take a look:

All three styles are available on oakley.com and on the Dodgers on-line store linked here

Here are the prices:

Flak Jacket $160

Fuel Cell $120

Fives Squared $100

Also, the on-line store on the MLB website and the Dodgers website is currently running a 20% off promotion.  There is no promo code needed.  The 20% off sale ends April 4th @ 11:59 p.m.

True to the Blue!

Today's Lineup - Saturday April 2, 2011 1:10 pm

Opening Weekend continues with today's 1:10 pm start.  Ted Lilly gets the start against Matt Cain.

Here is today's Dodger lineup:

Miles 3B

De Jesus 2B

Etheir RF

Kemp CF

Loney 1B

Gimenez C

Paul LF

Carroll SS

Lilly P

Interesting that Xavier Paul gets the start in LF.  The third left fielder Mattingly has used in as many games.

Definitely not the strongest lineup Mattingly can field but hopefully we'll finish the day 3-0!

True to the Blue!

Upcoming Dodger Appearances - Frank and Son

It looks like Frank and Son Collectible Show is shaping up to be the place to be this Spring & Summer for Dodger autographs.  Granted most of these appearances are not free, it is still cool to see Dodgers from previous eras available for autographs.  Hall of Fame Sports is putting together Dodger Days at Frank & Son.  March 12th was the first Dodger Day and Sweet Lou Johnson was the special guest.  You can read my post about his appearance here

Here are the next four Dodger Days scheduled:

April 23, 2011

Maury Wills

7x All-Star

3x World Series Champion

2x Gold Glove Winner

1962 National League MVP

Free Signing

Time: 9:30am - 11:00am w/invitation from Hall of Fame Sports

10:30-11:00 w/out invitation from Hall of Fame Sports

Rudy Law

Dodger in 1978 & 1980

Free Signing

Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm

Claude Osteen

3x All-Star

1965 World Series Champion

$25 - flats, minis & balls

$35 - equipment, bats & jerseys

Jim Lefebvre

1966 All-Star

1965 World Series Champion

1965 National League Rookie of the Year

$29 - flats, minis & balls

$39 - equipment, bats & jerseys

May 14, 2011

Don Newcombe

4x All-Star

1949 Rookie of the Year

1955 World Series Champion

1956 Cy Young Award Winner

1956 National League MVP

$29 - flats, minis & balls

$39 - equipment, bats & jerseys

$10 - inscriptions

Roger Craig

1955 World Series Champion

$25 - flats, minis & balls

$35 - equipment, bats & jerseys

Ed Roebuck

1955 World Series Champion

$25 - flats, minis & balls

$35 - equipment, bats & jerseys

June 18, 2011

Players to be announced

July 9, 2011

Frank Howard

4x All-Star

1960 National League Rookie of the Year

1963 World Series Champion

$25 - flats, minis & balls

$35 - equipment, bats & jerseys

Bill Singer

2x All-Star

No Hitter on July 20, 1970

$25 - flats, minis & balls

$35 - equipment, bats & jerseys

Also at Frank & Son but through Honabach & Sons there will be a Dodger Day on July 30,2011.  So far the only player appearance announced is Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp.

Appearance times, unless noted, are to be announced.  More details & information to follow as the dates get closer.

True to the Blue!

Final Notes on Dodger Opening Day & Tonight's Linuep

Clayton Kershaw's performance on Opening Day was awesome!  Nine strikeouts, no runs & only on walk through seven innings was just what the team needed going against the Giants & Tim Lincecum.  The team won and that is what counts but there was one statistic that jumped out at me after the game.  The Dodgers were 1-11 with runners in scoring position stranding nine runners.  They definitely had plenty of chances to break the game open but just couldn't come up with the clutch hit.  Hopefully, this doesn't become the norm.

Juan Uribe was scratched from tonight's game due to still being sore from getting hit by a Tim Lincecum pitch in yesterday's opener.  Aaron Miles will get the start at 3rd base in his place.

Tonight's lineup:

Furcal
De Jesus
Ethier
Kemp
Thames
Loney 
Barajas
Miles
Billingsley

True to the Blue!