Live at 5! Don Mattingly, new Dodger manager
Im sure by now youve heard the exciting news that Don Mattingly will take over for Joe Torre next season. Obvoiusly our office is slammed right now with logistics but be sure to tune into PRIME TICKET for the live news conference at 5 p.m. to hear it all for yourself. Im sure Ill post more later…
Inside the Dodgers 
Donnie Baseball was the plan all along. The ownership didn’t change, the GM didn’t change, so we can’t expect the plan to change. The only thing left to do is:
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SELL THE TEAM!
When the team is sold Ned and Donnie will be G O N E ! ! !
Wow, just read the news while on a work conference call and about screamed! While I do think Joe is a great guy and all, I just think it was time. I really hope, for the sake of our team, that Donnie can turn into a great manager once out of Joe’s shadow. I do understand and appreciate Peter O’Malley’s comments, and just hope that the issues with our team, with the divorce and financial issues, are finally resolved, resulting in a better team that can make a run at it next year. The drought has been too long!!!!
Josh, thanks for the invite. Next time I’m at the stadium, I’ll let you know.
On another note, I’ve been on internet silence the past 18-24 hours, having traveled back home for the weekend. My mom handed me the Blue Crew (not the Junior Gian… I mean Jr. Dodgers) newsletter from 1987. Steve Sax was the Blue Crew Dodgers representative.
Ah yes, the O’Malley era, when the address labels were typewritten in blue, and not one spot of black can be seen in the whole newsletter, as all type and pictures are rendered in what can be described as “bluescale” (as opposed to “grayscale”), with red accents, a perfect reproduction of those colors we all love.
Front page stories include Steve Sax talking about the Dodgers “planning another big year in 1988”, Don Sutton’s return to the Dodgers, and the article announcing Don Drysdale’s hiring to the Broadcast booth, with quotes from Don and Peter O’Malley.
Inside, it shows pics of Blue Crew Day, which my family won a drawing for that had us announced on the Stadium PA while standing in the infield (I”ve talked about it a few times on here over the years).
Then, I fire up the blog to see what has happened today.
Don Mattingly is the new manager. I wish him luck. There were other qualified people who could’ve taken the spot, I wonder if any of them were interviewed, or if any of the interviewees, if there were interviews, were in accordance with the new baseball rule that minority candidates must be considered. Even though everyone pretty much knew Mattingly was the heir apparent, gotta follow the rules.
Then I saw Kahli’s link to the O’Malley interview. Talk about waking a sleeping gi… uh… titan! If Peter O’Malley speaks, something must be amiss in Dodgerland. Mr. O’Malley espoused many words of wisdom on what this franchise should be, and what it has become.
I don’t blame him for selling the team. After the wringer the L.A. City Council put him through with that doomed NFL Stadium plan, not to mention the estate tax.
I just wish that any ownership since understood what made this franchise great, it’s practically a blueprint for success and canonization by generations of fanbase.
Sports fans are generally disposed to care most about the team on the field, unless any non-players, through their actions, give the fans something else to notice.
“Speak softly, and carry a big stick.” – President Theodore Roosevelt.
I’ll say it again: “I’d much rather have Wallach. He’s had some experience. Out with all of the current coaches!”
Agreed tru! I have liked Wallach since he was a player, and he does have managerial experience!
All I can say is, RIP Dodgers.
I’m done. I can take no more. It has been my honor and privilege conversing with you all the last few years, and I wish goodluck and much success to all of you in your lives and endeavors.
Evida, evida, evida, THAT’S ALL FOLKS!
Looks like i’ll be spending my season ticket money on a trip this year. Another in a string of poor decisions by the Dodgers. Not only does Mattingly have no experience, but he’s learned only from a VASTLY over rated manager.
Wallach will get a job in another organization and boom… it’s Mike Scioscia all over again.
This crummy ownership worships celebrity not skill. I’m sick of it. At least I wont have to listen to “Don’t Stop Believing” more than a couple times a year.
I would say I could care less but I was really hoping that in what will most likely be Vin Scully’s last season the Dodgers would put together a winning team. I’m not surprised that I’m wrong.
What I want to know is where Wallach is going to be next year. Coaching on the big club, if anyone has any brains.
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Where is Mountain Landis when we need him.
How about more exciting news that Frank sell the team?
Hello ITD!
I wish Joe Torre the best in his retirement and the best of luck and guidance to Mattingly.
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Even with the team doing bad, I can’t wait to be at the stadium and see my friends tonight. In a way is like coming here to the blog to talk about the team, in this case how bad they have been doing and everything going related to the team. My brother on the other hand is skipping the Colorado series because of how the team is doing so I am going solo.
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Tomorrow I am leaning to skipping the game (wish it was at night instead) to go to the event sponsored by the Baseball Reliquary at the Burbank library.
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CP!
Congratulations on getting your first client! Yeah!!!
Did you see the pics I posted from the ITD tour? I split them into two posts.
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The article on Vin Scully was great! thanks for posting that! it was a great read!
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
Congrats, cp!!!!!
Where has Mattingly managed before, anywhere? How about little league? I guess he did such a great job as hitting coach, he had to be made manager. Wallach has the expierence and got screwed because Ned doesn’t have a clue and Frank is a slimeball only intereted in what he can take out from this franchise. This team is in big trouble unless Frank is forced to sell to someone that actually has some class and cares about the Dodgers and their tradition, not seeing how much money he can get out of them, and paying his no show sons for nothing. I hope the IRS is looking into McCourt and his non payment of taxes.
A commenter over at Dodger Thoughts has an excellent explanation of today’s announcement:
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Jon-TAFKAJ (9/17/2010 at 2:49 PM) ….
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(earlier today at Dodger Stadium)
Frank: “Ned…Dennis. The media is killing me with this O’Malley story about how I should sell the team… What should we do?”
Ned: “Beats me…”
Dennis: “I know… Let’s announce that Donny will take over for Joe in 2011. I mean, we were going to do it anyway…. Let’s just call the press conference now” (summoning secretary)
Beav – Say it ain’t so.
EnchantedSunset: The sky is always darkest before the dawn.
These aren’t the acts of someone who will have the team for generations.
These are the last gasps of a desperation, clutching tight before he’s dragged away kicking and screaming.
I have a feeling an increasingly ticked Selig won’t be happy with the managerial interview process. It wasn’t official until less than 24 hours ago that Torre wasn’t coming back. 24 hours is not enough time for an interview process.
I’ll eat crow if I’m wrong, but this is going to be the straw that breaks the camel(‘s)back. What ownership does in their private lives is one thing, but undermining rules set forth by the sitting Commissioner probably just lost the ownership’s remaining “cool points” with buddy Bud.
The O’Malley article will serve as a rallying wake-up call to a lot of fans who previously wanted to ignore the problem.
May “O’Malley’s Masses” rise up and take the team back. For the Fans. For the City. For the Dodgers.
These are exciting times. Terrible, but exciting. Books will be written, movies will be made, and I think we’re starting to bounce up from rock bottom.
If Mattingly were such a good choice, the how come his own Yanks picked Girardi over him?
SAD SAD DAY FOR DODGER FANS.FOR AN ORGNIZATION THAT WAS ONCE PROUD HAS NOT BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.FIRST OFF JOE TORRE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NAMED THE MANAGER OF THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS.MY GRANDMOTHER WHO HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 56 YEARS COULD HAVE MANAGED THE YANKEES.FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO HIRE THE FIRST BLACK PLAYER IN BASEBALL AND TO NEVER EVEN HAVE A BLACK THIRD BASE COACH IS SAD.WE DODGER FANS HAVE HAD TO WATCH BILL RUSSELL;GLEN HOFFMAN;DAVEY JOHNSON;JIM TRACY;GRADY LITTLE;JOE TORRE AND NOW DON MATTINGLY.BUD SELIEG AND MLB NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR THE SELL OF THE DODGERS TO THE MCCOURTS WHO DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS TEAM AND NOW DON MATTINGLY AS THE MANAGER WITH OUT INTERVIEWING ANY MINORS LIKE DUSTY BAKER WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MANAGER OF THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS YEARS AGO.JUST CHECK OUT HIS RECORD,AND WHO KNOWS THE HISTORY OF THE ONCE PROUD DODGER ORGANIZATION.LONG TIME FAN NO MORE.
Maybe because Girardi was the Yankees first choice after Torre rejected that 1st year deal and maybe Mattingly wanted to be back under Torre coaching staff.
Oh please yes they should had and we could had easy had Grady again.
All we can know that Dusty Baker would be the starting manager for the 2011 season.
Was it a Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express?
Hi everybody.
Looks like Don Mattingly will be our manager in ’11.
The good news right now is that we’ll have a new hitting coach, which we need badly.
So the Giants are out of our hands now and there’s really nothing we can do to stop them except…………….
We won’t get into that.
Josh, do me a favor and tell your boss, that I’d like to throw my hat into the ring for the next managers job. I have just as much managerial experience as Mattingly, and I’ll work for half the salary that he will, that should be attractive to McCourt. As for MLB experience, while it’s true I really don’t have any to speak of, I did stay at a Holiday inn once.
I think Furcal should be shut down for the season.
That should just about do it for the night. I mean we didn’t score more than 2 runs against the Giants in any of those games. The team has dialed it in.
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What burns me is that I go to the game and get yelled at and called names etc… the players could help me out by playing hard but they act as if they don’t care. I was at 2 of the last 3 games in SF & it looked like the team could care less. I don’t get payed & I don’t play and I care more than they do.
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It doesn’t look to me as if they have any pride or guts. If I was a Manager I would of called them out a couple of months ago, but Joe had already made up his mind that he didn’t care either.
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If it smells like a duck and quacks like a duck and acts like a duck then it’s a duck.
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I’m so p’d off on this ownership team and their STUPID MOVES!!!! It’s almost like they are Giants fans doing what they can to run the team into the ground from the inside.
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We need a posse… & some rope.
Atta boy Brox! I never have boo’d a player but if I was there I would of boo’d him. Brox needs a shrink and some better coaching. For 1 why did Bunnynuts wait for him to walk 3 guys and give up a hit before going out and talking to him. When he went 3-0 to the first guy I would of been out there telling him to throw a strike and stop nibbling.
Best to you, enchanted.
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I hope that one fine day this damaged institution that is now little more than a name and some colors will return to its former glory and that enchantedsunset will grace these pages with lyrics of celebration and glory.
TORRE IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!! (lny4lny leaps in joy with hands upstretched to heaven)
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Mattingly is in (lny4lny grabs crotch in extreme pain)
My feeling about the Torre/Mattingly announcement is not unlike the recent experience of my INSANE Dallas Cowboys fan friend at the end of Sunday’s Cowboys-Redskins game.
Shut Broxton down now.
Maybe because it a waste of time and he have to be hiding an injury and I don’t know why they haven’t shut him down yet.
Shad — I’m not thinking he’s injured because his velocity is back up. He never changes speeds. When he throws the ball over the plate it’s straight and he tries to nibble on the corners. He needs to get some confidence and another pitch such as a change up to work off of the fastball. Once in awhile he throws a slider.
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He comes in and walks the 1st guy way to often. Then never looks over and they usually steal off of him. He doesn’t seem to have much between the ears. It’s just “throw the ball as hard as I can.”
Anyone notice what Tulo did when their reliever walked Dre? He went to the pitcher and chatted it up with him. That’s what a leader does and that’s what players who care do. This team could care less.
Typical game of the 2010 Dodgers.
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Bad D by Ferk allows 2 runs in the 1st. Numerous RISP without getting the clutch hit. Very little power. LAME relief pitching.
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All the above = LOSS…
Did he get his velocity back up this game?
Bear — Great point. That is also on Conte. I wish he would be gone as well. Just for the Schmidt signing alone he & Ned should be gone. I’m starting to think the Giants are paying them in some dark alley here in SF.
Shad it’s been better for awhile. It was down in the Yankees game and afterwards. But has been better for a month or so now. At least when I look at game day on my phone. But pretty much every pitch is the same speed.
Total fishing soap!!! Could be alot of dark days, months, and possibly years ahead for our beloved Dodgers!!! The ownership and management is disgusting and the coaching and play is pathetic!!! Broxenfuerer is a total waste. Furcal is a bum. Theriot sucks!!! The list goes on and on. Goodnight!!!
I hate when Broxton come in and walk the first person and no other than Eric Young Jr.
What happen to that bottom of the 7th? One of those innings again when we have bases loaded and no out and we don’t score.
lol sound like a broken record. I see Wolf shut the Giants out. I guess the Giants was all wore out from last night game.
Helton was like 4/41 and was batting .098 and we let him break up his slump by going 4/5. He was 6/33 this month to.
Bad news — Dodgers loose…
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Good news — Giants loose ground to the Rox…
Actually I shouldn’t say this game but the games back in Astros since he didn’t pitch since that game back on the 10th.
Stadium Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Attendance 38,449 (68.7% full) – % is based on regular season capacity
I don’t post much but felt compelled to do so today. I read the O’Malley article. It was important to me because it was a validation of what I had been feeling for most of this season. In my gut I knew the McCourt’s were taking advantage of the team we love so much. It was obvious. The players are unhappy, fans are unhappy, what a waste of what we held so dear. Who ever dreamed that this organization would be where it is today. The Dodgers should be owned by people who love the game, not by those who treat it like a trophy on a mantle for looks only. I can not tell you the sadness I feel. I can’t even watch a game anymore. Last season I couldn’t wait to go to a game. I was looking forward to taking my new grand baby to her first game, all dressed in her Dodger blues. Not now. The heart and sole of this team is gone. You can hear it in the players comments and see it on their faces. You see it in the empty seats. Yes the McCourt’s have “used” the Dodgers. Shame on them. I can only hope for a “rebirth” of the team I love so much under new ownership.
I’m bone tired. I only want Mattingly to succeed. What other choice do I have? Dodgers forever.
I think I’ll copyright “Los Doormats.” Somebody ought to get something out of this mess.
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Looking ahead to next year, Mattingley says the game needs to be played “right”. So far so good. But indications are we only have a hand full (if that many) left who put forth the effort. So now what? I’d say several of the players need to go, but the owner needs to go first. I’ve got some ideas on how to get rid of Frank, but you go to prison for such things. Shaking up the team would be easier, but it’s doubtful you would accomplish much. All in all, this whole thing rather sucks right now. What will this look like in the spring?
I was hoping Wallach, but if I had to bet knew Donnie was the pick, I am hoping Hough for pitching coach and Johnny Moses as Hitting coach, but don’t ask me to bet.
Im not blaming any of he players for the bad field play this year, especially when I saw the poor managerial moves on the field, and early season ridicule from the GM. I have to believe the Dodgers are just throwing the games.
I can only hope the ownership is banished soon from the Dodgers, but don’t ask me to bet, and I know Selig is a wus.
My Picture of Koufax’s No hitter vs the Giants comes off the wall.
The Inspiration is gone for me. All I can say is “maybe next year”, but don’t ask me to bet.
I have been a Dodger fan since my childhood days. I suffered through their many heart-breaking defeats to the Yankees in the World Series and reviled when they finally succeeded in 1955. Then they moved to California and I used to organize bus trips from work to Candlestick Park when the Dodgers played the Giants. I was practically the only Dodger fan on the bus and had to endure the comments of Giant fans, but it was worth it. There were many lean years, but hope was always there. 1988 was a glorious year with Oral and Kirk, but that is only a faded memory now as the dark days of Frank and Ned and Joe have taken one of baseball’s most storied and respected franchises and flushed it down the toilet. I doubt that any GM in baseball history has made so many bad decisions, wasted so much money, and given away the farm like Ned has done. Failure after failure, and still he is here to continue the devastation he has wrought on the Dodgers. The wonderful chemistry that the young players had together has been destroyed by Ned and Joe. It is no wonder that their performance hasn’t lived up to expectations this year. So much of winning is directly related to team chemistry. Ned and Joe have showed that they don’t have a clue in that regard. This season is a clear indication and tribute to their ineptitude. Given the chance, the young players that held so much promise for a team dynasty will leave as soon as they can. And who can blame them? They have been demoralized and treated unfairly by management consistently over the past few years. The best thing that can happen to any of them, including the talent in the minor leagues, is to be traded. It’s sad to say that, but it’s the truth. For me, I have finally been released from my devotion and fascination with the Dodgers for over fifty years. Actually, this current organization is Dodgers in name only. There is absolutely no resemblance to the Dodgers of the past. So I say, Go Rox. And Go, Padres, and yes, even Go, Giants. The Dodgers are no longer worthy of my support and I’m moving on.
Wow Tulowitz is underbelieveable his 14th HR this month.
Well that was a freaking waste of a trade and now Dotel is now with the Rockies for a PTBNL.
Hi Everybody
The good news is the Padres have just scored 4 runs in the 7th against the Cards. They’re still batting.
I hope they can hold that lead.
The Cards are just another team I hate.
I’m losing count here that was only 3 runs.
Dotel’s tenure as a Dodger is a perfect illustration of Ned’s bulk of work.
I don’t understand why Mitchell would ruin a perfect effort by driving in a couple of runs.
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I was going to try to be witty and say something about time to wake up from this bad dream, but you know, this has gone beyond pathetic. We’ve had teams that lost in the past, and that was bad enough, but we’ve never had any that tanked it like these jerks. I’d keep the starters, Kuo, and Carroll and the rest of these a** h**** can take a flier as far as I’m concerned. Bunch of quitters.
What is the Dodger record since the beginning of the disgusting divorce case in open court?
I’ve been a Dodger fan since before Vin Scully was hired. Scully in the spring begins the best part of the year. When he leaves I will probably leave as well. They have absolutely no broadcasting talent available. Maybe Bob Costas would take the job? Karros tries to hard, the other guys are just boring, not an original thought among them in years. Monday has some kind of weird speech impediment that results in a growl at the end of a sentence. Therapy? Boring, boring, boring. No history to speak of, no grace like Scully. The Dodgers may end up moving back to Brooklyn when the dust settles. We don’t like losers in LA.
lol wonder if we can do that to Blake and Sherrill now.
You know something is wrong when Ellis has been your best hitter the past 2 games.
I wish Vin Scully could narrate my life. He would celebrate my triumphs with poetry and describe my failures and flaws with the utmost generosity.
It’s sad to see so many LONG-TIME Dodgers fans losing faith. The sadder thing is that I can’t blame anyone for it.
Call me crazy, but this might be playing right into Frank’s hands to pull a Georgia (Frontiere) and move the team to a place where he’ll be worshipped like a golden god for bringing a storied team into town.
I’d hope if that was the case, Brooklyn would be the destination. Likely, though, he’d probably move them to Boston.
I’d rather they stay in L.A. with new ownership, but with so many longtime fans tuning out, the day Vin Scully stops broadcasting the Dodgers could be the day that many fans lose interest, and why on earth would Frank McCourt stick around a place that hates him when he could sell 300 acres of Downtown L.A. to fund any moving plans.
Just like the Rams and Raiders all over again… an owner pocketing money and letting the team rot so she could be loved in her hometown for bringing a team (and a quick, gut-punch groin-kick of a championship) to St. Louis.
I still hold the torch for the team, always will. But it’s hard to ignore that all the fan dissention could be playing right into Frank’s hands. All he has to do is appeal any negative trial outcome, and by the time CA would be able to hear the appeal, Frank will be getting the TV billions from the broadcasting rights.
And to tell the truth, I think the Dodgers have a better chance of winning the World Series this season than Jamie has of winning the case. Don’t think the Judge will buy that a person with law degrees from prestigious universities doesn’t know how to read a post-nup agreement.
The disinterest of the fans towards the Dodgers only mirrors the disinterest that the owner feels towards the Dodgers.
northstates, I will always be a Dodger fan, come hell or high water or bad ownership. Fear not; I don’t believe MLB would EVER allow the team to leave L.A. Unless the city failed to support the team ($$$), they’re here to stay. I believe the judge will find our two trolls to be co-owners; that’s how they’re listed in loan documents, which I think will supercede any of Frank’s personal-property documents. But that means possible years of appeals. At that point, I feel the commissioner invokes “in the best interest of baseball,” and forces a sale. That’s what we ALL want, I’m sure. As for the team lying down, I don’t think that’s the case…it just looks that way. When you’ve got Ely and Monasterios starting games and sluggers like Theriot, Ellis, Johnson, the call-ups, and the completely lost “core” group, you’re not going to win games. The best team is winning these games, and has been since the All-Star break.
nsb,
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McCheap might eventually get away with turning Chavez Ravine into a housing project, as loathsome a thought as that is.
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But the percentage chance of the Dodgers leaving L.A. in any foreseeable future so low that the number of zeros I would have to put after a decimal to show it would take up more space than this post.
nsb,
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McCheap might eventually get away with turning Chavez Ravine into a housing project, as loathsome a thought as that is.
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But the percentage chance of the Dodgers leaving L.A. in any foreseeable future so low that the number of zeros I would have to put after a decimal to show it would take up more space than this post.
I am kind of glad I traded watching the Dodgers for being the scorekeeper for our first of many Wiffle Ball Tournaments. I was the official scorekeeper that kept track of the records, runs scored, total bases and runs allowed for all the teams and then eventually bracketed the top teams into the playoffs. All my ITD stat taking skills paid off today. I never realized that this game with a plastic ball and bat actually had “real” rules. If you have never played and get the opportunity to play in something like that, I strongly suggest it. It was a blast just watching them play.
As for the Dodgers, I would think that once you bleed Dodger blue, it would be awfully hard to change colors no matter how hard it gets for our team. However, I respect all of you so much, and I honestly do agree with all the things you are saying. I just don’t think I can turn away from it. Even today, there was a wiffle ball team named the “Giants” (no, my son was not on this team) and I had the distinct pleasure of saying, “Sorry Giants, but you didn’t make it, to the playoffs that is!” Of course they all know I am a Dodger fan, and they know I took great joy in saying it. Let’s just hope we are able to say it to the real Giants very soon :))
Going to the stadium since i was seven years old. I listened to Dodger talk with a transistor under my pillow. I’ve bled Dodger blue my whole life. i cant take any more.
I’ve become a succesfull business man spent thousands of dollars on tickets and Dodgers stuff. I’m forty six now.
I’m done until mccourt sells the team. goodbye Dodgers.
I love you Vin Scully may God keep you.
I’m in tears…this is really it.
Good morning ITD!
Saturday I skipped the Dodger game and went to the “Ball Four Turns Forty” event presented by the Baseball Reliquary at the Burbank library. What a wonderful event that was! Jim is so funny! We broke for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30. Roberto (VinScullyismyhomeboy), Jeanine (Dodger season ticket holder) and I walked to a Mexican restaurant and had a very nice lunch.
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Afterwards we watched the premier documentation of the Seattle Pilots. It is a great documentation that alot of us bought it. By 1:30, all the (hard) copies of Ball Four, the final pitch were sold out.
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After the documentary they had another panel with Jim Bouton, Tommy Davis and Greg Grosssen. They had some wonderful stories to tell us about their playing days with the Seattle Pilots. I knew very little about the Seattle Pilots so I found it all facinating.
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At one point Jeanine checked the Dodger score and relayed it to me. We both made a face.
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Brian,
It was great seeing you and talking to you.
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CP,
Sorry I missed you Friday! I spent the first three innings in the field level, then a reporter from Univision asked me if she could interviewed me then I was helping her get fans that spoke Spanish. After that I was hungry and starving so I settled down to eat, watch the game and catch up on scoring the game. Then my friend Linda from San Diego caught up with me there. She wanted to go meet the Lolly, the lady that Chris Erskine wrote about here http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/08/sports/la-sp-erskine-20100909. We forgot it wa a Jewish Holiday so she was not there but I introduced them (Jeanine & Linda) to Nadine, the usher referenced in the article.
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Do let me know next time you are there Carol.
Thanks
Emma
James McDonald stats with the Pirates and I don’t want to here about him having no pressure with the Pirates than us.
2010 PIT 9 9 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 54.0 49 21 21 2 22 50 3.50 1.31 .247
Nelly-When I was a kid in El Segundo, we spent a lot of the summer playing wiffle ball. After I was grown and moved away, we’d still get up some games when I visited the old neighborhood.
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I thought I might sign off until time for the Hot Stove, but no, nothing to do but grin and bear it. Jumping ship is not an option.
I can’t and won’t jump ship either, Knouff. Been a fan way to many years to change now. I will just look forward to ST and hope for the best. I always will bleed Dodger Blue.
Not that I don’t understand how many of you are fed up. I am too, with the owner and even Ned. It is sad what our franchise has become but, I still have hope that one day, and sooner, rather than later, we will return to the tradition of the Dodgers.
For us fans, Dodger baseball is a way of life, a continuation of great tradition and rich history. We love this team. For the current ownership/management, Dodger baseball is only a business and is not considered with the passion it deserves. It’s only a vehicle to an over-the-top lifestyle. There is no regard for that history except to be used as a potential marketing tool. That’s what saddens and sickens me the most about the current situation.
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My hope right now is that Mattingly will surround himself with coaches who come from the Dodger organization and get rid of what’s there now – if only because it doesn’t work. It’s obvious that ex-Giants and ex-Yankees don’t belong.
Good morning ITD,
I still bleed Dodger blue so soon I’ll head to the stadium to watch KKKKershaw!
Oh they may be bums but they’re my bums.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
My bums is right.
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Plaschke’s column this morning makes about as much sense as anything else at this point. Also seen on this web sight are Colletti’s remarks about the coming off season. When I’m done being po’d, I guess you really can’t get rid of ALL the starting position players. But I’m not done yet. Yet it does all begin at the top. We can only hope McCourt is forced to sell.
I share everyone’s frustrations with the Dodgers this season and with the ownership issue but I am not going to let all of this change anything about supporting and rooting for the Dodgers. We have all been through good and bad with this organization and I am proud that all of you expect so much more. I agree with Kahli, this team is not going to leave Los Angeles and sometime down the road MLB is going to have to do something, even if it is way late. I do believe that attendence will suffer next season which will make things even more difficult for current ownership. I also hope the judge does decide joint ownership even if it means a prolonged series of appeals. I truly believe McCourt’s sons will never own or run this franchise. I also hope that the players will play better next season. After all, Brooklyn Dodger fans ended many a season with a “wait until next year” mentality and we just might have to do the same. Keep the faith. Please don’t let Frank and Jamie drive you away from following your favorite baseball team. Don’t buy tickets or any other stuff if you want. Write nasty letters and blog comments. Continue to share your frustration with your fellow fans. But please don’t give up completely.
Good afternoon ITD boys and girls!
Well, I really have nothing more to say than what?s already been written here. I am getting REALLY TIRED putting up with the McCourts and their shenanigans. I?m to the point where I feel numb. I know I should care what?s going with the Dodgers? ownership situation, and deep down, I probably do. But I?m just so disgusted by everything I hear here and read in the papers that I just feel numb. I know I do care, I know that I roll my eyes whenever any new tidbit comes from the trial and I say something like, ?I?m not surprised?? Nothing that has to do with the Dodgers? ownership surprises me anymore. All I can hope and pray for is that all of this ?stuff? blows over ASAP. But I know that?s not going to happen either; this will drag out for years. And I don?t see these two (insert whatever word you want to put here) ever settling on anything. I just know that the Dodgers will be collateral damage in the end. I do NOT look forward to that at all.
I know that since Donny-boy will be our manager in 2011, things on the field won?t change. I see Bowa coming back, Schaefer coming back, Honeycutt coming back, and Duncan coming back. Well, Duncan coming back wouldn?t be a bad thing and Honeycutt, well, I just don?t want him as our pitching coach anymore. But Bowa and Schaefer are cancers in the clubhouse, but you know Donny-boy will want familiar coaching faces around the clubhouse. I hear they want to ask Wallach to accept a coaching position, but I KNOW that Wallach will turn into another Mike Scioscia and, thus, will be wearing a uniform other than the Dodgers next year as someone else?s manager. Oh, and let?s not forget our buddy, our pal Bud Selig and the ?exception? he granted to the Dodgers so that they don?t have to interview anyone else for the job contrary to the MLB?s rules that are in place. I sure hope that someone (like the players association) charge that MLB can?t grant this ?exception? because the rules are in place that they HAVE to interview others. Not that I see anything changing; Donny will be our manager, but MAKE them interview others.
They?ll probably try to trade Andre and Matty and James and anyone else we love in the off season. You know, trade any players of value. And I wouldn?t blame any of them with anything they would have to say about what life as a Dodger is these days.
But nevertheless, I continue to go to games. Yes, I know there are many of you reading this that are saying, ?CP, why still support the team?? Well, I still like to go see games, and I like to see Dodger games in particular (no matter how badly their playing). Besides, my mom wanted to go to a game; she couldn?t stay away from seeing her Boys in Blue play in person. We were there Friday night. I know everyone has their opinion (here on ITD, you think people have opinions?) But hey, I still enjoy going.
And sorry for the long post…
Carol-you do not have to make excuses for going. I’d go myself if I were closer, although I’d have to be a lot closer this year. My mom (d-backs fan) liked to go too, until her hip got too bad. Now that she has a new one we’ll have to drag ourselves down to Phx to see a game.
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congrats again.
Thx knoff. Actually, I might have been a bit premature with my earlier declaration that I got my first client. I will know more tomorrow.
I know I?ve said many times that I don?t have to make excuses for going. But I?m not blind; it?s getting harder and harder to go this season. But it was a great night with my mom. And the Dodgers actually got a little offense Friday, but the pitching let us down. Same old, same old. Either pitching is great and no hitting, or enough hitting but no pitching. But I have one more game to go this season.
So are you going to a game next weekend in AZ? How long does it take for you to get to Phoenix?
Gosh damn it Broxton what the hell wrong with you?
Good afternoon everyone! I have been super busy and not on much, plus not a whole lot of positive to talk about. I am going out to the stadium Tuesday for Ethier blanket night, as I couldn’t pass up an Ethier memento to go with his bobblehead. I hope you all are doing great!!! Let’s hope our boys can pull it out today!
Hey, Mr. Pianoman!!!
Maybe I should be just calling you Mike; that is your name isn?t it! But I still love that nickname for you.
Wasn?t it nice a couple of weeks ago on the tour? It was nice to have some time to listen and pick Manny Mota?s brain for a while, huh? In many respects, it was the same tour as last year, but this year?s did have a few differences! It was nice that the clubhouse door was open. We couldn?t go in, but at least I got a picture!
Last I heard, Nelly will be going to the game on Tuesday too! I?d love to go, but it?s getting more and more difficult for me to go to a Dodger night game during the week. I?d love to go, but I don?t think I?ll be able to. Have fun on Tuesday!
I have been watching the game on TV today just spending a lazy day at home. Gibbons has been a piece of work in left field although he did make a nice play late in the game. The crowd looks a bit sparse as might be expected and the Dodgers fell behind early. The remarkable thing about this game is not the comeback to tie the game but listening to Vinny call a mid September game that he acknowledges has no real meaning for the Dodgers but must still have meaning to him. Vinny never shows any disappointment or boredom or lack of interest. Not sure how he does it but it is just another of his gifts.
Hi Carol (cpompe)! Piano Man and Mike are both good! And yes, the tour was great. I need to get my pics on Facebook, and I owe Emma a pic too! It was fun, especially hanging with Manny, and good to see Josh. While I dislike many of the events surrounding our ownership and team, it’s still my team. I could never be an Angels, Pads, or Gnats fan!
Perumike – I was planning to go, and then my son decided to get himself nominated for Homecoming King so all that is happening next week, both Wednesday and Friday functions that we, as parents, can’t miss. My mom and I were going to do the crazy turnaround thing, but I can’t do lesson plans for that many days. Plus, I have teaching training on Thursday. Three days (four days if I had done the game) of lesson plans is just too much at my grade level because it has to be so detailed. Have a great time and send Andre some much needed ITD love!!!
This Ethieraholic is still very proud of him. I think many have forgotten that Andre’s season last year was among the best in the league and the chances of him repeating it, injury or not, would have been hard. He just happened to bust out of the beginning of the season like gang busters, and once he got hurt and was brought back down to Earth, we forgot how much he had done at the beginning of the season. He season numbers aren’t what they were last year, but who really thought he would have had those numbers last year.
As far as being Mr. Clutch, I knew it would be harder for him to repeat that drama just because pitchers aren’t going to pitch to him anymore……………and today was an example with the intential walk. Even though his last half of the season hasn’t been what we (or even Andre) expected (which Charlie Steiner clearly lets us know every time he comes up to bat), there is a certain amount of respect he has earned around the league that still keeps pitchers from pitching to him in key situations.
I just hope when all the craziness of this organization has calmed down (I know…………wishful thinking at this point), Andre, Matt, James, Billz and Kersh are still in Dodger Blue and leading this team through which will probably be one of the toughest season they will have to endure. A season of definite uncertainty. I think this season we just got a small taste of what is going to unfold next season if the mlb refuses to step in and take matters into their own hands.
Again with Brox…
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Comes in and throws 23 pitches and 22 were fastballs 93-96 mph. 1 slider at 88 mph. No visit to the mound except to pull him. Nice coaching & amazing pitching errr should I say throwing.
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Yes – sarcasm.
It’s Collie!!!! I turned it off while he was pitching. I like Brox too much to watch him suffer like this. Somebody has to do something. It just can’t be all him, can it?
As Jhall…………….ummmm Wally……………….ummmm Fishsoap would say…………”Win Streak!”
Ellis is on fire vs the Rockies. I think this was his 6th hits in this series but his 2nd walks off.
I love how Sherrill clean up Broxton mess. I wonder what Sherrill stats look like in the 2nd half? lol probably way better than Broxton performance.
Knouffbrock – I saw your post this morning about the wiffle ball and seeing your post to CP, reminded me. I grew up playing wiffle ball in front of my house as a kid, but nothing like I saw yesterday. I never knew it was an actual game with rules about scoring and how the field is set up. Other than chalk lines, it makes it easy to do with students that way too. It was so much fun just to watch all those people (from kids to dads and moms). I think there will be a lot more participants next time. I think many had to see how it worked, and now they know running isn’t a requirment (you just have to be able to throw and bat), many more will try it. The funniest part was when they first started, they would hit the ball and actually try and run to first – hilarioius!!!! It’s the only time some will ever say they hit a homerun – lol!!!!
CP – I didn’t see your post until just now. I wish we were going, but it is just too busy of a week. I think I have everything I can possibly have that has to do with our dear Andre. Hopefully they will have them on e-bay someday. I will hope for the best tomorrow 🙂
Carol-My mom is still in a physical therapy facility, so I was thinking of next season. We’re in SE Utah so it takes eight hrs to get to Phx. You’ll get good news tomorrow.
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So there is a little fight left in these guys. I’d like nothing better than to admit I was wrong about that.
Time warped 😦
………..and now back. This crazy blog doesn’t know whether it’s coming or going either. It is just like this season in baseball too……………totally screwed up!!!
let’s go with mattingly, make bowa a bench coach ,and put wallach on third base coaching box.keep duncan at first.
Hot off of twitterland………..
Did you see Jaime’s driver run over that lady?
I thought this was a joke when I read it earlier, but I guess this really happened on the way to the courthouse today. Jamie’s driver hit a pedestrian. Now, if this doesn’t play right into the ITD’s demented minds – LOL!!!!
Had a lot of fun playing wiffle ball as a kid. It would be fun to try it again although I am sure it would not be easy.
Well folks, here it is, a series against the Padres who are fighting for the playoffs. Dodger wins could help the Giants. I don’t care, when the Dodgers play I want them to win, no matter what. If the Padres had taken care of business when they had the big lead, they would not be in this position now.
Interesting article in today’s Times about the potential liability of the attorney who drafted the disputed documents that Frank claims gives him exclusive ownership. No matter which side prevails, the losing side may have a case against the attorney and his firm. How would you like to be that guy?
I’m with you, lbirken. I want to win, too. And, you are right, the Padres choked away their 6 game lead. I think the Giants will fold too and, therefore, the division will go to the Rockies. Of all those three, I think the Rockies are the best.
Nothing like hearing the chatter of buying playoff tickets from all these gnat fans that all of a sudden came out of nowhere. At least we stand by our team through the good, the bad, the ugly and the just truly gutwrenching seasons.
And, won’t they be disappointed when they don’t make it, Nellyjune 🙂
Nelly, let those Gint fans have their fun. As much as I hate to say it, that crappy team has found a way to stay in the hunt even if the Padres made it easier. Of course, this is easy for me to say since I don’t live with any Gint fans.
lbirken – my family is one thing, but it is all these other fans who all of a sudden decide to flaunt their orange and black like they have been devoted fans the whole time – blah!!!!!
I’ve been a Dodger fan since 1988 and i never thought I would have to say this but i beleive it’s time for the brown paper bags. Couple of my buddies will get together and express our frustration with McCourt..Bring out the brown paper bags and spray can white ***** that read “SELL TEAM”. We have to make a stand ..McCourt will only drag us threw the dirt..
spray can white shirts..lol don’t know why “shirt” got blurred out
Wonder how 2011 Season Ticket sales are going? Horrible, I hope. Memo to Frank: We don’t want YOU to own this team for a very, very long time, and we sure don’t want your four sons running it, either, based simply on the fact that two of them are already on the payroll for ZERO services rendered. Nice bit of business ethics you’re teaching them, dad. They seem to be fast learners. Can’t the family from hell just go away…forever?
Can’t wait to get out to the stadium tonight! While I am not happy with our ownership, I love my team and LOVE this weather! Let’s go Billz!
kahli, it will be interesting to see about season tickets. I am in a partnership with 9 other people. I already know of one partner who might be wavering about next season. The partnership used to have 8 partners but the ticket owner brought in two more to lessen the cost per partner. I will sign up again for next season because I like the seats and don’t want to give them up.
lbirken, I don’t blame you. I used to share in a GREAT field box seat (third row)…until McCourt put in lots of rows in front and jacked prices. I miss those good old days when I had a fine seat. Been to two games in two years…both ITD tour dates.
We have improved these seats quite a bit over the past three seasons, which tells me that season ticket holders have been giving up tickets. I save my ticket stubs and I have a good collection dating way back to the Colisseum. During the O’Malley days ticket prices remained fairly stable but no question they have gone up considerably since the McCourts have owned the team.
Enjoy the game and go Dodgers all the way to the end of the season, no matter what.
Howzit Going Everybody.
We seem to be the only team that the Pods can beat lately,
but this is a good chance to try add on some wins.
It would be good to finish at the .500 mark but we’d really have to pick up the pace.
Although I’d hate to see the Giants just ease into the postseason.
Anyone else having these kinds of problems?
GO CUBS!!! GO ROCKIES!!!
At My Blue Heaven! Parked a few cars behind Emma out on the street! No 15 bucks for parking! It’s chilly up here in the reserve level (29 – JJ – 19 and 20)
At My Blue Heaven! Parked just a few cars behind Emma outside the stadium! It’s chilly up here in Reserve (29 JJ 19-20)
I’m calling Bud Selig tomorrow and asking him or his secretary to please intervene in the Dodger ownership situation for the good of the team and the good of baseball. These owners have made the Dodgers the laughing stock of the game, and it just stinks. Here is the info needed to contact Bud Selig. I think that anyone interested in the good of the Dodgers might join me by either calling or writing a letter. We can’t complain if we don;t try to help or change the situation. This is my attempt. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
Address: 245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
City: New York, State: NY Zip Code: 10167
Phone: 212) 931-7800
Fax: 212-485-3546
Good job, dodger 32. I might just do it! As for the game, I have equal disdain for both the Pods and the Gnats. Can’t stand either of them. Dodgers, I’m begging you. Fire up and break these guys’ hearts down south. Don’t roll over like a lapdog.
thanks alot Dodger 32 i will definitely make a phone call to Mr. Selig tomorrow and voice my displeasure. Enough is enough already. I will pass this info to all my buddies , in fact ill post it on my facebook wall. Please stop making MCourt richer and take a stand for the sake of our beloved franchise
Never mind…nothing like running through a brick wall for the beloved retiring icon. What a sorry bunch.
Well at least the Pods are hanging on. This prevents the Giants from going up too high.
The Dodgers are making it tough for the Giants.
I don’t know what is more depressing. Mattingly named manager, mccourt saying he was going to be the owner for a long, long, long time or guys like enchanted saying that he’s done. I hope all of you are still reading, if not posting. Although it gets frustrating and nauseating and seems as if we’re tilting at windmills, people like us are the conscious of the team. I know I’ve been “off the air” for a while, but I still read ITD. And I have no intention of giving mccourt any respite.
Good luck on those phone calls. The letter I wrote to Selig more than a month ago was never acknowledged (not that I ever expected it to be). Not even with a polite “Thanks for your interest” postcard. I’m not telling you NOT to call or write. It was fairly therapeutic for me. Go for it.
Whoa, we’re getting close. We are now tied for 2nd all-time. First place is not impossible, but Mattingly has got to try harder for it to happen. The Shutout Update:
1968…..23…..76-86
1989…..17…..77-83
1966…..17…..95-67
1933…..17…..65-88
2010…..17…..?
Go Dodgers.
Go to hell, mccourt.
Well, I love my Dodgers, but I think there are times I hate the gnats worse. I was telling my brother-in-law, who is a Padres fan, that maybe our two teams met in some secret room before tonight’s game and just said, “We all hate the gnats so why don’t we do everything in our power to make them miserable”. Well, the Padres could have done us all a favor and just kept themselves from going on a 10-game losing streak is my thinking, but now that the damage is done, all we can do is hope they are close enough where it comes down to the last series of the season for the Padres and gnats since they play each other.
So, it sounds like court was very interesting today, and it just might lead to some ownership changes.
Eric – losing enchanted kind of sucks!!!
…………..and speaking of brown paper bags, I am not sure if you are new around here McCheap, but if you are, welcome!!!!!
Happy 83rd Bday Tommy
Happy Birthday Tommy.
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I would also like to welcome you to ITD, McCheap.
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No matter what, I will always love the Dodgers.
“At times,” he (Loney) said, “teams played harder than us.”
Asked whether the Dodgers’ postseason teams of the last two seasons had more of an edge, Loney replied, “Yeah, I think just as a whole.”
These millionaires today…..such fragile, delicate psyches??!?!?!?!
In May, Judge Gordon ordered mccourts to sell their 6.4M cabo estate to pay for attorney fees, that during the spousal payment hearing. The fees could only be getting higher, my hope is that The Dodgers will also be ordered to be sold, if not, then either declared ownership will lead to years of appeals, with no money going back in to the team to support a championship, and what profits are made will go to lawyers, that have no interest in ending the appeals.
The Dodgers will be a continuous Cash Cow, profitable, yet unsaleable and certainly not championship worthy.
I can’t hope that selig and MLB will do anything rightous.
Good morning ITD!
Happy birhtday to Tommy and Swee Lou Johnson! I was able to wish both happy birthday yesterday just in case I won’t see them tonight but I’ll be there! Sweet Lou will have the honor of saying “IS TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL!” tonight!
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haha Perumike! So you were parked a few cars after me? I know a few people that park there so I recognize their cars. I’ve been going to the game by myself since brother Vic does not want to see them anymore. I did invite a friend last Sunday.
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The pre-game ceremony last night was wonderful honoring all the employees with lengh of service of 25 years or more. There are quite a lot. One of them invited my friends Robyn and Chuck who also have season tix in the Top deck to the dugout. Another one (Howie Levine) sang the National Anthem and God Bless America. If you have a chance go see Howie perform at a lounge bar. I usually get emails where he will perform next. Google him to hear him.
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The game…well….at least I got to spend time with friends at the stadium… My friends to the left and the right left early but I stayed till the last out just like my friend Gilbert stays with his daughter and other fans like us. A glutton for punishment, ha?
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I noted Selig’s address. Thanks Dodger32! I was going to ask Eric for it. I want to keep sending some letters, besides I got a lot of stamps. I ended up with two sets of the Negro League baseball stamps so I will use one set. Anyone knows if there is an email address for him?
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Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
Here’s my comment… can’t find the right place to post this, and so I’ll do it here…
WHOEVER is the manager – the FIRST problem has to be team attitude – starting with Matt kemp.
I understand he’s still ‘young’ and so what, we have to tolerate these childlike temper tantrums?? I’m tired of seeing bats and helmets winged across the diamond, arguing every strike – (dude… do you watch the replays??? Most of them ARE strikes… stop whining!!!!)
Love the player, accept the occasional mishaps / misplays etc…. that’s going to happen… but do you have to be such a crybaby whiner (I have another name that can’t be posted here… ‘here kitty kitty)
Being a DODGER requires character. Study the past greats. Emotions are understandable… but KEEP IT TO YOURSELF…. if you wanna be GREAT. GREATNESS requires a slightly different tact.
Or don’t… and then you can be remembered as another Milton…. what was that guy’s name? Raul….. who? (I used to buy seats in right field just to watch those throws…. until, and then – what was his name??? And how has he done since….
Exactly.
Nothing wrong with being an emotional player, the game is built around emotions. I would like to see Kemp, work on hitting the ball to the opposite field, Manny was alway’s working on this. Matt will continue to grow and continue to learn…………..Chaulk this season up as both, come out in the spring with a better arsenal on both sides of the field, and the same emotional aspect of the game, I say.
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!