Sunday Morning Linkage

Some links on this gloomy Sunday Morning:

Milton Bradley's in mid-season form. Friday night he gave Ranger fans the one-finger salute.


Torii Hunter to take part in All-Star FanFest. Hunter will join Rod Carew as spokesperson for All-Star FanFest which will be held July 9-13 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Texas Stadium Imploded. After nearly 40 years, Texas Stadium is now nothing but a memory.

Italian Racing Sausage gets hit by police motorcycle. No, Randall Simon was not driving the motorcycle.

George Sherrill Blows

Great job Sherrill. Andre Ethier's two run pinch hit single and Matt Kemp's monster homerun were so damn exciting. All that excitement disappeared once George Sherrill came into the game in the 9th inning to relieve Ramon Troncoso. I had a bad feeling when I saw him enter. Sherrill only managed to get one of the five batters he faced out, before blowing the game. Sherrill's ERA is now a beautiful 22.50.

Notable 2010 AAA Giveaways and Promotions

John Anderson of the Minneapolis Baseball Card Examiner put out a list of 2010's Minor League Baseball (AAA) promotional list for collectors. He only lists promotional items of significance. There's no 50 cent hot dog nights or schedule magnets on this list. Some items that caught my eye were the Carrot Top bobblehead being given away by the Las Vegas 51's on June 22, the Tommy Lasorda Dukes Bobblehead given away by the Albuquerque Isotopes on July 17, and the Casey Blake bobblehead given by the Iowa Cubs on July 22. I wonder if the Casey Blake bobble will be sporting a beard or not.

Here's the list:

California

FRESNO GRIZZLIES

Sunday, April 18th – Autograph Session
Saturday, June 5th – “Grizzlies Greats” card set (3,000 Fans: All)
Sunday, June 6th – Autograph Session
Saturday, July 31st – Buster Posey Bobblehead (2,500 Fans: All)
Saturday, August 14th – Parker Bobblehead (2,500 Fans: All)

SACRAMENTO RIVERCATS

Colorado

COLORADO SKY SOX

Saturday, August 7th – Goose Gossage figurine (1,500 Fans: All) *Gossage will be available for autographs

Georgia

GWINNETT BRAVES

Saturday, May 1st – Jason Heyward Bobblehead
Saturday, May 15th – Tommy Hanson Bobblehead
Saturday, June 19th – Chopper Bobblehead

Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Saturday, May 8th – Autograph Session
Saturday, June 5th – Autograph Session
Sunday, June 27th – Baseball Card Set *Pedro Alverez, Neil Walker & Jose Tabata
Saturday, July 24th – Autograph Session

Iowa

IOWA CUBS

Tuesday, June 15th – Bobblehead: TBA (2,000 Fans: All)
Tuesday, June 22nd – Team Card Set *Ryne Sandberg,
Tuesday, July 6th – Bobblehead: TBA (2,000 Fans: All)
Wednesday, July 7th – Bat Giveaway (2,000 Fans: 13 & Under)
Tuesday, July 20th – Ryne Sandberg HOF Plaque (2000 Fans: All)
Thursday, July 22nd – Casey Blake Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)
Sunday, August 22nd – Autographed Baseball (3,000 Fans: All)

Kentucky

LOUISVILLE BATS

Friday, April 16th – Buddy Bat Bobblehead (1,500 Fans: 12 & Under)
Friday, August 20th – Baseball Card Set *Aroldis Chapman, Todd Fraizer & Drew Sutton

Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS

Nebraska

OMAHA ROYALS

Saturday, April 24th – George Brett Jersey (1,500 Fans: All)
Saturday, May 22nd – Johnny Rosenblatt Bobblehead (1,500 Fans: All)
Thursday, September 2nd – Replica Seat

Nevada

LAS VEGAS 51S

Tuesday, April 13th – Holly Madison Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)
Saturday, April 24th – Randy Ruiz Bobblehead (2,500 Fans: All)
Tuesday, April 27th – Gordie Brown Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)
Tuesday, May 11th – Ryne Sandberg Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)
Tuesday, June 1st – Terry Fator Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)
Tuesday, June 22nd – Carrot Top Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)
Tuesday, July 20th – Frank Caliendo Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)
Tuesday, August 10th – Rita Rudner Bobblehead (2,0000 Fans: All)

RENO ACES

Monday, June 7th – Aces Jersey (1,500 Fans: 18 & Older)

New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES

Saturday, May 8th – Isotopes Jersey (1,500 Fans: 18 & Older)
Thursday, May 20th – Baseball Card Night (3,000 Fans: All) *Scott Elbert, Chin-lung Hu
Saturday, June 26th – Isotopes Replica BP Jersey (1,500 Fans: 17 & Under)
Saturday, July 17th – Tommy Lasorda Dukes Bobblehead (3,000 Fans: All)
Sunday, July 25th – Orbit Bobblehead (3,000 Fans: All)

New York

BUFFALO BISON

Saturday, July 31st – Bisons Road Jersey (3,000 Fans: All)

ROCHESTER RED WINGS

Friday, May 14th – Legends Card Strip *Frank Robinson, Cal Ripken, Curt Schilling & Earl Weaver (1,000 Fans: 21 & Older)
Sunday, June 6th – Legends Card Strip *Luke Easter, Stan Musial, Russ derry & Steve Bilko (1,000 Fans: 21 & Older)
Wednesday, June 23rd – Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd Appearance
Sunday, July 18th – Legends Card Strip *Bob Gibson, Eddie Murray, Mike Mussina & Mike Boddicker (1,000 Fans: 21 & Older)
Monday, July 26th – Rod Carew Appearance
*Every game has an autograph session before the game

SYRACUSE CHIEFS

North Carolina

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS

DURHAM BULLS

Sunday, May 23rd – Negro Leagues Night (Autograph Opportunities)

Ohio

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS

TOLEDO MUDHENS

Oaklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY REDHAWKS

Saturday, April 24th – Lou Brock Autograph Session
Friday, April 30th – Baseball Card Set (2,000 Fans: All)
Friday, June 11th – RedHawks Jersey (1500 Fans: All)

Oregon

PORTLAND BEAVERS

Saturday, May 22nd – Lewis & Clark Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)

Pennsylvania

LEHIGH VALLY IRONPIGS

SCRANTON/WILES-BARRE YANKEES

Rhode Island

PAWTUCKET PAWSOX

Friday, June 18th – Nokona Bat (4,000 Fans: 14 & Under)
Thursday, July 22nd – Pawtucket Jersey (5,000 Fans: All)
Saturday, July 31st – Jacoby Ellsbury Bobblehead (4,000 Fans: 14 & Under)
Thursday, August 14th – Poster/Autograph Session

Tennessee

MEMPHIS REDBIRDS

Friday, July 2nd – Team Set

NASHVILLE SOUNDS

Sunday, May 2nd – Autograph Session
Sunday, June 20th – Autograph Session
Thursday, July 15th – Prince Fielder Bobblehead (2,000 Fans: All)
Sunday, July 18th – Autograph Session
Friday, July 30th – Card Set (2,000 Fans: All)
Sunday, August 29th – Autograph Session *Chuck Lofgren & Angel Salome

Texas

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS

Saturday, May 22nd – Lance Berkman Bobblehead (2,500 Fans: All)
Saturday, June 5th – Express Team Card Set (2,500 Fans: All)
Saturday, June 19th – Nolan Ryan Bobblehead (2,500 Fans: All)
Wednesday, July 7th – Austin Celebrity Bobblehead (2,500 Fans: All)

Utah

SALT LAKE BEES

Virginia

NORFOLK TIDES

Saturday, May 8th – Bobblehead Sampler: 5 Different, All Stars (1,500 Fans: 18 & Over)
Saturday, July 17th – Tides Replica Jersey (2,000 Fans: 17 & Under)
Saturday, July 31st – Baseball Card Set (2,000 Fans: 17 & Under) *Jake Arrieta & Brandon Snyder
Saturday, August 14th – Baseball Card Set (2,000 Fans: 17 & Under) *Jake Arrieta & Brandon Snyder
Tuesday, August 31st – Baseball Card Set (2,000 Fans: 17 & Under) *Jake Arrieta & Brandon Snyder

Washington

TACOMA RAINIERS

Brad Ausmus To DL, AJ Ellis Called Up

The Dodgers announced today that they had placed 41 year old catcher Brad Ausmus on the disabled list. This is the first time Ausmus has ever been on the DL in his 17 year career. AJ Ellis has been recalled from AAA Albuquerque. The move is retroactive to Friday.

UPDATE:

Dylan Hernandez tweets that AJ Ellis will catch Charlie Haeger tomorrow.

Remembering Nick Adenhart

Today is the 1 year anninversary of Anaheim Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart's death. Adenhart pitched his first game of the season that day, shutting out the Athletics across six brilliant innings at Angel Stadium. Just three hours later, he was gone. A vehicle driven by a man, who would later be charged with triple-murder, had crashed into the one occupied by Adenhart and three of his friends. Courtney Stewart and Nick Pearson died alongside Adenhart. The fourth passenger in the car, Jon Wilhite, remarkably survived.

Adenhart was 22 years old.

Hundreds of flowers,pictures, signs, hats and other items were left at a fan-made memorial after his death. That stuff is all gone now, stored away for the Adenhart fanily. There was also a black and white banner of Adenhart in centerfield. That has been removed too. The team decided it would be best to move on this season without all those reminders, but Adenhart will remain in everyone's heart and minds.

Finally!

It took three games, but the Dodgers finally got their first win of the season today, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-2. Chad Billingsley went 5 1/3innings to get the W.

Ronnie Belliard was a single shy of the cycle.Belliard finished with four RBIs. Reed Johnson and Loney also had three hits, while James Loney, Matt Kemp and Garret Anderson drove in a pair of runs each.

The Dodgers are now off to Florida to take on the Marlins. Hiroki Kuroda vs Chris Volstad tommorrow at 4pm pt.

Dodger Game is Early - Wake Up Fans. Wake Up Dodgers!

Good morning. We've got an early game today. The Dodgers will be trying to salvage this series before heading to Florida to face the Marlins.

Chad Billingsley will be facing Paul Maholm this morning. The game starts at 9:35.

We need Chad to bounce back after his last Spring Training start versus the Angels.

Also, the bats need to wake up too. The Dodgers went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position yesterday. They're not gonna win any games like that.

Ramon Troncoso is back with the team after the birth of his daughter. The bullpen could use the help.