The Cheatin' Astros Caused me to Rethink Myself as a Dodgers Fan

Aloha, everybody,

The Cheatin' Astros' scandal has caused me to step back and re-evaluate some of my opinions about the Dodgers

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Who is the Dodgers' Ace - Clayton Kershaw or Hyun-Jin Ryu?

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Clayton Kershaw has been the Dodgers' Ace for almost a decade. Hyun-Jin Ryu is a monster on the mound and at 31 scoreless innings. Is it time to proclaim a new Ace in LA? 

LA Dodger Report: The Monster Lives! Jeckyll-Hyde Dodgers Return

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For the third year in a row, the Dodgers have a maddening double-personality. They have two extremes - Sometimes they're the steamroller and sometimes they're the steamrolled. Which are they really?

First Dodgers Report Card 2019

Aloha, everybody, 

I've been quiet for a couple weeks - unfortunately, some personal things got in the way of mindless videos and fun. 

I've finally got some time, so after one homestand and one travel series, let's break down the Dodgers and give my first report card of the Dodgers for 2019. 

Enjoy and Aloha! 

Rich Hill Deserves to Pitch Opening Day. The Dodgers Owe Him

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With Clayton Kershaw out, the Dodgers have announced Hyun-Jin Ryu is the front-runner to pitch on Opening Day. They couldn't be more wrong. 

Dick Mountain deserves that ball - the Dodgers owe it to him. 

Aloha!

Dodgers Spring Training News: Kershaw and Pitching Rotation Update

Aloha, everybody, 

Here's the latest on Clayton Kershaw possibly headed to the disabled list, who the Dodgers are considering to take his place if that happens, and updates on the rest of the Dodgers' starting rotation.  

Bonus: Kenley Jansen news in my video report for LA Dodger Report. 

Aloha! 

Uh-Oh - Clayton Kershaw Put "On Hold" - Not Pitching

Aloha, everybody, 

In breaking news out of the Dodgers' Spring Training camp, Clayton Kershaw's pitching routine has been stopped "for a couple of days". 

Kershaw reported feeling discomfort after a bullpen session on Wednesday. Should Dodger fans worry? 

Breaking Down the Dodgers' Game 1 Loss & Some Positive Points

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Just spreading the news about my World Series Game 1 Youtube video. In it, I break down the moments that led up to the Dodgers' loss, weigh them, and also drop a couple of reasons to remain positive about the Dodgers' chances in the series.

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The Clutch Series: MY Take on the Dodgers NLCS Home Stand

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Whew! The Dodgers pulled off a very successful three-game home stand in the NLCS, taking a 3-2 lead in the series. 

This is my take on what took place, and what I saw as the keys to their success. Thanks for watching (in advance). 

Aloha! 

They Say Legends Never Die. I Hope Legendary Collectors Don't Really Retire

Aloha, everybody, 

Maybe you heard, the man who built a collecting and trading empire under the moniker of JBF has retired from the game. It's the end of an era. 

It's the flaming out of a torch the blogosphere thought would burn bright, like a thousand Willinghams, forever. 

Mi hermano is stepping down from brutal trading wars and year-long contests to savor the fruits of his many past victories and to complete some personal collecting chases that remain. 

Before stepping out of the spotlight, good ol' Wes dropped a few "Retirement Packages" into the mail. Of course he did, because that's the man's M.O. - generosity at all times. 

I mentioned this in the upcoming video, but in case you don't watch, I'll mention now that I'm the trader I am today because of Wes. He never knew it, but my Alabama brother was a cardboard mentor to me. He showed me that generosity is the life blood of trading FUN. 

My offerings are always humble, just what I can scrape together on a modest (and more often than not) nonexistent cardboard budget for trades. He never made me feel our trades were dependent on equal monetary values, and he never stopped sending things to me because my return packages didn't meet the heft of what he sent to me. 

Wes taught me that it was the act of sharing what someone else wanted, and not counting nickles, that mattered. My Cardboard Santa and Operation PWE campaigns can be directly traced to how Wes rolled. They are a cardboard legacy, if you will. 

Presentation speech completed, let's open the package Wes sent me, and review Azacca IPA, a beer from Founders Brewing, out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Aloah! 

Blog Bat Around - All Autograph Team Part 2: Pitchers and Assorted Cogs

Aloha, everybody, 

Let's conclude the All Autograph Team (Starting Nine with DH are here) with the pitching staff and a couple of others tossed in for fun. 

Starting Left-Handed Pitcher:

I happened to show this beauty off on Twitter the other day; mentioned that my good luck brought this baby right out of a pack. 

Starting Right-Handed Pitcher: 

Bullpen: Kershaw and Podres

Oh yeh, the ATBATT all-auto team's got some pretty decent pitching. 

Pinch Hitter: Manny Mota

Bench: The Toy Cannon, LoDuca and The Butter and Eggs Man

Finally, what team is complete without a manager...and whom else would I choose?

Tommy Lasorda, autograph obtained walking around Dodger Stadium, back in the days Tommy was more mobile. 

There you have it folks. I'll stack my ATBATT All Autograph team against any other. We'll bet a bag of peanuts on it. 

Aloha! 

Blog Bat Around - All Autograph Team

Aloha, everybody, 

My buddy Zippy Zappy started a Blog Bat Around that consists of a team lineup that's made from autographs. It doesn't matter if the auto is on cardboard or any other memorabilia (like a signed Penguin lamp, for example), the only caveat is: the auto has to be in our possession. 

While it sounds like a fun idea, I thought for sure I didn't have enough autos to put together a nine-man lineup, including relief pitchers and PH/DHs. Once I got into my binders, I was surprised that I had just enough to field an auto-team alongside those you all are putting up. However, I did have to place one player out of position, and you'll see how that played out soon enough. 

Without further ado, I give you the ATBATT All-Auto All-Stars:

Batting leadoff, and playing second base: Maury Wills

Maury is third on this triple-autographed card I received through trade - the other two are Manny Mota and pitcher Claude Osteen. 

Batting second, and playing right field: Tony Gwynn. 

I got this Gwynn auto TTM. I originally had two, but traded one away. 

Batting third, and playing center field: The Duke of Flatbush

The Duke came to me through trade with mi hermano, JBF. 

Batting cleanup, the DH: Paul Molitor 

Molitor is a TTM auto. 

Batting fifth, in left field: The Straw (He's out of position, but I don't have any left fielder autos, and I figure Daryl can handle LF better than Gwynn) 

My only Strawberry auto came to me in trade. 

Batting sixth, and at third base: The Penguin

While I don't have an autographed lamp, this traded Cey will do. 

Batting seventh, the backstop: The Boomer

I got this Yeager auto (and another) in person at a local pizza place. The second auto I sent off to the guy with the Penguin lamp.

Batting eighth, and at shortstop: Alan Trammell

I got two Trammells TTM. One is traded away. 

Batting ninth, and at first base: Big Mo

Mo Vaughn is a TTM auto. Isn't this a great one? I dig the way Big Mo wrote his name on that monster arm. 

We'll close the starting nine with that awesome auto and save the pitching staff, PH, and also-rans for Part Two. Stay tuned. 

Aloha! 

A New Youtube Video - This Dodgers-Padres Series is the Most Important Yet

Aloha, everybody, 

Just a quick Youtube video talking 'bout the upcoming Dodgers v Padres series that begins tonight. 

Inside I talk about what makes this the biggest and most critical series of the young season fr the Dodgers, and I deliver a beer review of a big coffee porter from Pizza Port Brewing outta Carlsbad, CA. 

Enjoy and Aloha! 

You Can't Have Too Many Good Trades

Aloha, everybody, 

Dennis from Too Many Verlanders sent a fistful of cards to me a few weeks ago, and boy, it was a doozy. Let's not waste any time with blah-blahs and instead, get right down to checkin' out some righteous cardboard.

Leading off is my favorite Dodgers catcher...

Note Piazza wearing the Tim Crews death patch on his sleeve...

I tell ya, this package from Dennis was chock-a-block stuffed with shiny goodness from the heyday of shiny cards. Awesome.


Chan Ho Park. Upper Deck Black Diamond Numbered 1500

These cards are so shiny n' glossy that they register the opposite on my scanner. 

Here's an early Joc Pederson card notching him as a future member of the 500 HR Club. While I doubt that, Joc is definitely heating up right now, and I hope heading for a 20 HR season.

This guy is mashing pretty good right now also...

Here's one of my favorite home run hitters from the day...

I've got the swatch version of this moonshots card. Now they can sit side by side in the ol' binder. 

Dennis also included this beauty. A new relic card for my Green PC. This one is extra cool because it identifies the day he wore this jersey. It was Opening Day 2002 vs the Giants. This was back when I never missed Opening Day, so I was most likely at this game. 

A quick search tells me Green went 1 for 4 that day, with a single. Awesome card. 

How about some Opening Day pitchers? Starting with Kershaw....

This ones a little weird. Looks like Kersh was pulling noodles, but they snapped on him...

I'm becoming a big believer in Diamond Kings...

Before Kershaw ruled the mound at Chavez Ravine, there was Fernando...

Fernando Gypsy Queen mini, numbered to 199. Sweet! 

Before there was Fernando, Dodger Stadium's mound was graced by this man...

Here's the third baseman who got away...

Todd Hollandsworth was one of those ROYs who only lived up to his potential on cardboard. This card is a beautiful diamond finish in hand. 

Finally, a tribute card to a member of the legendary Infield that GCRL Jim named a blog after...

 Check out this card back. You just don't see that time with one team anymore...

Whew! That was a whole lotta cards. And there's a whole bunch more I didn't show. What a package. 

THANKS for the awesome cards, Dennis. These are gonna be fun to fit into the binders. 

Aloha! 

Surprise Kershaws and Assorted Dodgers Walk the Plank to LA

Aloha, everybody, 

It's late on the east coast now, but not so much here in Los Angeles, so I'll take advantage of me-time and drop a few lines about some wonderful surprise Dodgers that arrived on my doorstep, courtesy of my good friend and trading partner Matt, from Bob Walk the Plank fame. 

Our trade partnership recently established a new "plank" when we traded some beers. Matt, being the kind of guy he is, wouldn't just settle for a beer for beer swap...he dropped some cardboard on me to hold me over until his side of the beer trade arrives here in California. 

Boy, did he drop some primo cardboard on me! 

Let's start off with the guy any Dodgers fan wants to see pop out of his cards package, Mr. Clayton Kershaw...

It's an immaculate hunk of Kershaw's home whites from 2016 Allen and Ginter. 

That would have held me just fine, but Matt included a bombardment of 1981 Fleer Dodgers that just obliterated my wantlist for that year's team set. 

Matt didn't just send over some chewy leftovers from the bottom of a dimebox. These are pristine cards that look like they came right out of the pack - only it's been more than 35 years since that happened. 

There's Bobby Castillo, the unsung Dodgers pitcher who taught Fernando Valenzuela the pitch that became his signature knock out punch - the screwball. 

If only Vin Scully had a buck for every time he said, "Screwball! Got him looking!" 

Here's one for Gavin and the other Padre fans out there (ZZ perhaps?) ...

Dig those throwback Padres uniforms. Get-ups only their madres could love. 

Here's the rest of the Fleer bunch...

Matt really whittled down that checklist. I only need Tommy Lasorda and Rick Monday to complete the set. 

Finally, the beauty of this bunch...

From 2016 Panini National Treasures, numbered 49/99, one more magnificent Kershaw. This time he's pictured with the home whites scuffed and dirtied. Wow! 

What a fantastic surprise these were, Matt. THANKS! (I picked up a couple of treats for yoou at the card show on Saturday.) 

Aloha! 

Yes Virginia, There is a Customs Cardboard Santa

Aloha, everybody, 

Most of you know that Gavin from Baseball Card Breakdown creates awesome custom cards, and it was my pleasure to receive a Christmas blast of his cardboard art. 

If you don't know Gavin's site, make sure to bookmark it and visit often because he's one of the coolest guys in our community. He's a straight up guy who isn't afraid to speak his mind, and he loves the right bands. Sometimes he confuses the order between the Stones and the Beatles, but nobody's perfect. I'm happy to say, although we haven't met in real life yet, I consider him to be a true friend.  

I hear you out there. Enough with the Brotherhood of Cardboard sappiness. Let's get to the cards!! C'mon, yo! Gimme a break. It's Christmas - and besides, Gavin definitely rocked the part of Custom Cardboard Santa this year. 

These cards are so righteous, I don't even know which is my favorite yet, so in no particular order (but leading off with a snow flurry of cold blooded baseball rivalry)...

How awesome is this card immortalizing this infamous face off between LA and SF? 

"Bring it!", said Yasiel. Gavin brung it. 

Bumgarner says, "Don't look at me." Sorry, bum. I can't stop looking at this awesome Rowdy Rivals card. 

Next up is the greatest baseball announcer of all time...

G sent me a mini Scully custom before like the one above, but that one was masterfully aged to give the impression it was truly an old card. Now I have a gem mint 10 version (maybe 9.8). Either way, it's Merry Christmas to me! 

You want more Scully? How about Vinny in the style of Upper Deck?

Heya, Red! 

On the rear, a great shot of the master in his office...

The caption quotes Vinny's farewell speech to the fans. Priceless art, folks. 

The following cards were almost a letdown because they were "just" normal cards. 

Of course, they're not really letdowns, because ya gotta love DOdgers on playing cards, and they're new to my collection. 

Back to the snowstorm of Dodgers greatness...

What's a cardboard stocking stuffer without an autograph? 

Pena was a light hitting backup catcher who double-dipped with the Dodgers. I suppose he was a nice enough guy, but that and a bat with holes in it won't get you very far in the bigs. 

At least the kid's got an autograph I can read. I'll take it! 

Finally... the big, secret gift that I wanna shake to see what's inside...

A Tony Gwynn Holiday Blast Rip Card! Holy red-nosed reinderrs, Batman! That shite is cool! 

I messaged Gavin today on Twitter and told him I wasn't sure if I should open it. Part of me wanted to keep the card in pristine condition. 

Gavin's response? "Rip it" 

And so I will. As Devo advised us, I'm gonna rip it good. But not yet. 

It's a Holiday Blast card. It's numbered to 25, for the 25th. So I'm going to keep this baby on ice until Christmas day. 

Tune in after Christmas to see what was waiting inside. 

*Shake, shake,shake* 

THANKS for the holiday cards, Gavin. They are truly a blast. 

Aloha!