Dodger Fans Not the Most Aware Fans

Big thanks to Deadspin.com for bringing this lovely video to my attention.

There's one very important rule when you are in a baseball stadium and there is somebody at the plate looking to hit the ball, and this rule is even more important when it come to batting practice... because they actually ARE going to hit the ball.

Rule #1 If You Are In a Baseball Stadium And There is Somebody at the Plate: WATCH THE BALL!!!!

That guy's friends must hate him.

On This Date...

...in 1917, Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched complete games in both games of a doubleheader, defeating the Dodgers 5-0 and 9-3.

When asked about the recent news regarding Stephen Strasburg, "the Cleve" said, "What a sissy!  Back in my day, we just called that [a torn tendon] 'fatigue.'  If only Rob Dibble was around to show that kid the ropes."

On This Date...

On This Date... is going to be a sporadic segment here on BLB.  It will involve a little bit of history for fans of the greatest game on earth.  I cannot guarantee that all of the history will be accurate, but it sure will be fun!

For our first On This Date, how 'bout we turn the Way Back Machine to August 26, 2008.

The Washington Nationals got on the mascot racing bandwagon in a way that would only work in Washington, D.C..... and maybe North Dakota... with the giant head Presidential Race!

In the inaugural race, Teddy Roosevelt comes out ahead of the pack, but you may notice that he is wearing a do-rag a la Manny Ramirez (who was in the stadium that day as the Nationals hosted the Dodgers).  The rest is... well... Teddy being Teddy.

Vin Scully Announces....

.... that he will be keeping his talents in South Cali.  That's right, folks, Mr. Scully, the man who was confused by a mullet, will return for his 62nd season announcing Dodger games.  For the non-math majors out there, that means he has been announcing games for the Dodgers since 1950.  So, what has happened since Vin Scully started announcing Dodger games?

• 12 different men with 11 last names have been elected President of the United States
• Korean War... well, technically, that's still going on
• The Civil Rights Movement
• The Interstate system was built (and continues to be under construction wherever I need to go)
• Dirty Commies pointed rockets at the United States
• JFK, RFK, & MLK, Jr. were all assassinated
• Vietnam War
• US Space Program landed on the moon.
• Iraq I, Iraq II, Afghanistan & other various wars around the world
• Rise of fantasy baseball & football
• My parents were born

Oh, and what hasn't happened in that time?

The Cubs haven't made a World Series appearance!

Scully, Tulo, Fish & Hair

Vin Scully is hands down one of the best announcers in the game of baseball today.  In an era where people don't listen to games like they used to (with the proliferation of television and the internet... and other things to do), Vin Scully is a throwback to the days of Walter Johnson, Cy Young and Christy Mathewson... no, seriously, this dude's been around for a long time.

There are things about baseball the Scully could describe, and you'd feel like you were right there.  Unfortunately, he doesn't keep up on all the "latest" fashion trends, as you can hear from listening to this clip.  It's about 2 minutes long, but worth every second.

This is during a Dodgers-Rockies game.  The player he is talking about is Rockies' SS Troy Tulowitzki.  Listen to the clip here.

Dodgers Paying Rent to... the Dodgers?

Here's an interesting little tidbit that I learned by catching up on my blogs from Deadspin.com the other day.  The Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt actually owns the stadium where the Dodgers play.  If the owner owns the stadium, you would think that there would be no need to pay rent, right?  Wrong!  The Dodgers pay a reported $14 million in rent every year.  And the best part, here's the rental breakdown: $5M to McCourt, $4.5M to pay back loans and $4M to construction managers.  Oh, and the construction company, you guessed it, owned by McCourt.

So, the Dodgers, who have been hamstrung financially while Frank and Mrs. McCourt are going through their divorce, are paying $14M/year to rent out their own stadium.  Anybody want to start the list of players that the Dodgers could have signed for $14M/year?

Hopefully Frankie loses the team in the divorce, and somebody who is interested in something more than padding their personal bank accounts can take over the team for the sake of the fans.

Mattingly Shows Why Yanks Hired Girardi

The Dodgers, no strangers to odd finishes this season, added another unique way to lose to their growing list this season.  You may remember their Memorial Day game against the Diamondbacks that ended in a "balk-off."  You may even remember their unfortunate demise at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim when Russell Martin was thrown out at second seconds before the tying run would have scored.  Add to that list, Rule #8.06.  What is Rule #8.06, you ask?

A professional league shall adopt the following rule pertaining to the visit of the manager or coach to the pitcher: 

 (a) This rule limits the number of trips a manager or coach may make to any one pitcher in any one inning;

(b) A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher's automatic removal;

(c) The manager or coach is prohibited from making a second visit to the mound while the same batter is at bat, but

(d) if a pinch-hitter is substituted for this batter, the manager or coach may make a second visit to the mound, but must remove the pitcher.

A manager or coach is considered to have concluded his visit to the mound when he leaves the 18-foot circle surrounding the pitcher's rubber.

Now that you have diligently studied and memorized that rule, you won't make the same mistake as former major league baseball player, and current hitting coach for the Dodgers, Don Mattingly (who is apparently an @$$, based on accounts relayed to me by a former co-worker who played ball with Mattingly's son in high school).  Mattingly stepped off the mound, was asked a question by 1B James Loney, turned around and stepped back onto the dirt, constituting a second visit to the mound.  Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton had to be removed from the game, and George Sherrill came in without any time to do a proper warm-up in the bullpen.

Credit goes to Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who caught the amateur's blunder and brought it to the attention of the umpires.  Congratulations, Dodgers!  You suck!

Players Want to be Scouted Still

Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times tweeted that the Tokyo Giants had a scout at the Dodgers-Cardinals game at Busch Stadium on Friday.  When asked what he was doing there, the scout said a lot of things in Japanese that couldn't be translated, but probably was something like, "We like to look for new talent to improve our league.  We hear there are fantastic players in this series, so we wanted to come out and see what they can do.  We hear that Garrett Anderson may be looking for a new location because his talents haven't kept up with the professional baseball of the United States.  That is exactly the type of big name we are looking for."

When he heard that the Tokyo Giants had a scout in the stands, Dodger OF Manny Ramirez seemed quite interested.  "I never thought about playing in Japan.  That could be pretty cool.  I'm sure they'd give me another $20 million contract because I'm certainly not getting another one over here!"

Yesterday's Treasure is Today's Outrighted Player

MLB Trade Rumors (who is increasingly becoming a fantastic source for BLB) reported that the Dodgers have put George Sherrill on outright waivers this week.  For those with a bad memory, or who just don't care, Sherrill was the closer for the Orioles who was highly coveted about this time last year, and ended the 2009 campaign with the Dodgers.

To be blunt, Sherrill has lived up to his girly last name on the mound for the Dodgers, who now want nothing to do with him.  It reminds me of the time that I made lamb for dinner one night and it was fantastic.  I left it on the counter overnight and had it for lunch the next day.  Consequently, I spent the rest of the evening in the bathroom.  Yup, exactly like that time.

Dodgers Find a Cool New Way to Lose

The Los Angeles Dodgers managed to lose a game literally seconds before the tying run scored.  In the 9th inning of a 2-1 game against the most ridiculously named team, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Matt Kemp managed to get picked off of second by Brian Fuentes for the second out of the inning, but that is not where the fun starts.

Pinch hitter Jamey Carroll, already tagged with two girl names at his birth, was given another unfortunate life-strike.  He managed to bloop a single into left field right in front of Juan Rivera, which would have brought the tying run in, but Dodgers catcher Russell Martin overran second base and was thrown out by Rivera before the run could score.

When asked about the close of the game, Russell Martin squarely put the blame on Reed Johnson.  "He's always talking about how he's the fastest guy on the team, and how he once beat a giraffe in a foot race, and how he makes Juan Pierre look like a slug.  Then he pulls this stuff?  What a jerk!"

Johnson very quickly put the focus back where it should be - Martin's idiotic running.  "I did beat a giraffe in a foot race!  I can't believe nobody ever believes me when I tell them that!  And Russell?  I'm not surprised he overran second.  Are you kidding me?  Have you seen this guy try to throw out somebody trying to steal second?  I'm surprised he knows where the base is in the first place!"

Dodgers Break Out the Brooms

The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a rare sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.  It was the first time the Cardinals were swept in LA since 1988.  When asked about it, newly acquired Cardinal OF Randy Winn said, "It's not really that big of a deal.  After being with the Giants for so many years, I'm pretty used to getting swept by the Dodgers."