Mind Your P's & Q's

Over the weekend I picked up from FedEx my long awaited package with my winnings
from the recently concluded Robert Edwards Auction. Initially I was worried that I may have over-paid, but as I opened the box I became instantly relieved. Just some incredible stuff. I won a large lot of 19th Century Basbeall related items. The photo above comes from a 1885 childrens ABC book by McLoughlin Bros. of New York. It is complete with all the letters of the alphabet and has some incredibly bright and gorgeous lithograph style pictures. This is much nicer than I expected. A bit beat-up, but a nice find. Also, there was a group of 15 scorecards from the time period; including a complete mint condition set of 1880's Wright & Ditson scorecards. There was so much here I will pass on listing them all, but I will periodically highlight various items from this buy over the next coming months. You can see photos of most of the items in my photoalbum.

Game 3 for Hochevar.

The LA Times lets us know that Luke Hochevar

"struck out 10 and gave up four hits and four walks in his second regular-season start for the independent Fort Worth Cats. His fastball was consistently in the low 90-mph range and he showed an above-average curveball."

Considering that this years draft class will probably be one of the weakest in the last decade it would make alot of sense to sign him now. I see a very productive future for this pitcher. Let's make sure he wears BLUE.

Why Wasn't I Invited?

Well.. Of course I know the answer. I don't personally know Rob McMillin, but I feel like I do. I'm a daily lurker on his blog which is often filled with a lot of data and information, great insight and descriptions of behind the scenes machinations. His blog 6-4-2--an Angles/Dodgers Double Play Blog is one of the better Dodger fan sites.

At this Sundays game he splurged and rented a Dodger suite. He had the Weisman's of DodgerThoughts, Rich Lederer of Baseball Analyst and Rev of HalosHeaven there along with many other friends. He has pictures that are worth a look.

Luxe Life Pictures

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.