Take Me Out To The Ballgame!!

At today's game I recorded the singing of "Take me out to the ballgame." I love this song! It's like an opera breaks out during a sporting event. Nowhere in sports does the entire crowd stand up and sing a song in unison. It's marvelous and incredible. It's why baseball is the greatest game in the world!



Link

Downloan here

Oh Yeah Baby!! Sweep!!

What a Team! What a team!

The Dodgers complete their first sweep of the year by blanking the hapless Angels, 7-0. Overwhelmed and understaffed, the Angels where out of it from the start. It was all but over by the first as the Dodgers score 5 runs because of timely hitting by Nomar and Ethier. Awesome, just awesome.

I was sitting in section 127LG in the back row under the reserve section overhang. These where great seats between home and third base- right next to foul ball alley. The crowd was enthusiastic and loud even on this overcast sullen day. Beachballs where everywhere. The scent of Dodger dogs and beer waffled in the air. Brief interludes of "Angels Sucks" chants could be heard as one guy up in front heckled unsuspecting players and rival fans. A game here is always a good time.

This was my first game of the year and I feel fortunate to be there. Thanks Craig! He's my friend of over 15 years who happened to get 4 tickets from his work. Perks baby! Perks!

I took a bunch of photos and posted them in my photoalbum. Go and check them out.

Weaver vs. Sele: Old Dodger vs. New Dodger: New Angel vs. Old Angel

Today we get to enjoy a match-up between regional rivals. A battle between cross-town teams. A rumble in SoCal. The real Los Angeles Dodgers square-off with the wanna-be Los Angeles Angels of anaheim. This face-off features former Dodger Jeff Weaver with current journeyman Aaron Sele. One man has been better than the other so far this season. Fortunately, it's Sele who has impressed the league. Albeit, he has just pitched in 2 games since being brought up from AAA Las Vegas. Nevertheless, he appears to have a new lease on life (career) and is able to come to the table without any worries or baggage. Weaver, on the otherhand, is trying to prove to himself and the league that he deserves a long term multi-million dollar contract. Unfortunately, Weaver has a sordid past. Does he have the moxie to shrug off those demons and prove to the Dodgers they should have signed him? So far, Weaver has been unimpressive. But as all us Dodger fans know, Weaver has an inexplicable way of turning on the jets and making us think he is the next Koufax. I know, that's a bit of a stretch, but, ya know, he can be very good. Almost God like out there. He just needs to be able to keep his head on straight. Can he do it, or will Sele prove that there is a second wind in baseball.

This is THE series to be at. The best sporting event in the area to watch. I'll be there on Sunday. And I promise to have pictures. I had previously promised pictures from the Dodgers vs. Giants match-up last week, but my friend, in his drunken fury, forgot to bring his camera to the game. No worries though. He tells me he spent the whole evening heckling the Giant crowd. He can be quite a obnoxious drunk when he wants to be. I'm surprised I didn't hear stories about a beat-down in the parking lot. Of course, the great Dodger in the sky would never let a Dodger faithful lose in the face of a Pumpkin riot.

Even the Ninjas Love Nomar!

Man - O - Live!! I'm starting to love this guy. No wonder Boston loved him. He's a gamer who lives to play baseball. He can pick up positions like a little league kid eager to learn the game. I'm amazed by his tag outs on errant throws. His ability to scoop up throws in the dirt is like watching Will Clark make a game saving play. Now... I'm not say'n Nomar's gold glove material. He still has much to learn as he still lacks the ease and grace of a Will Clark, but he sure has the skills. I'm happily surprised about his play and am thankful he calls LA home.

This afternoon Nomar Garciaparra had just one hit in four at bats. Fortunately, that one hit was at the most important point in the game. Its the 7th inning with the bases loaded. Nomar wrangles up to the plate performing his customary wrist dance and toe tap. Fastball. He slaps it to the left side. A smooth ground ball single between 3rd and SS. That's all it took. Two runs score and the Dodgers take a 2 run lead.

Broxton does his job and takes down the Rockies one by one in one inning of work. He gets two strike outs in his effort. Biemel is shaky, but Baez is able to just get by. It ended up being a 3-2 squeker.

A meaningful win, won in uncertain times. Can the Dodgers bullpen keep from blowing up? Will the Dodgers starting pitching continue its brilliant performance? Can the offense be more consistant? Can we get better than .500? Are we better than a .500 team?

An Ode to Olmedo: The Killer Tomato

A Hochevar Sighting

Luke is on a roll. He pitched for the second time this year, yesterday, for the Fort Worth Cats. On 50 pitches Hochevar went 5 innings with 9 strike outs, on 4 hits, two run and 3 walks. Although he did not display the lightning 97+ mph speed from last week, Luke had more control as he

"mix(ed) in his slider and changeup while he used his curveball only sparingly."

His pitching coach Dan Smith added:

"Tonight I thought he was more composed," he said. "He had a game plan instead of just going out there and trying to throw 98. He pitched tonight, tried to locate his fastball and rely on movement. He showed a great breaking ball tonight. The poise that he had was great."

Hochevar also shows he understands what he needs to do.

"I executed my fastball a lot better,"

he said.

"My off-speed was also quite a bit better. Today I had quite a bit more command of it. I was in more control and had a better plan with these hitters. I knew how to pitch them, stuck with my plan and it worked out well."

I was just thinking about the Inside Dodgers comment from Roy Smith about Like Hochevar. His admission that negotiations did not end well, their continued belief that they made a fair offer and a comment about the recent signing of Jared Weaver (by the Angels) signals that the Dodgers want to re-start discussions. Not only that, I think the Dodgers made an new opening bid at the same number as the previous offer put on the table. So, considering his recent performance, I think the Dodger may be willing to come up if Luke willing to come down.

Boras... are you listening? Lets get the two together- Dodgers and Luke Hochevar.