A Sunday Dodger Video - Coast to Coast: The Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles

Instead of the normal posting of a bunch of Dodgers related videos this Sunday, I thought I would put up just one.  Earlier today, I came across a great album, if you will.  It is a collection of 16 songs put together to celebrate the history of the Dodgers.  It includes a collage of Dodger photos.

From the video description:

From Flatbush to the Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers are a team of diversity and a melting pot of fans with unwavering support.

All songs and film scores written by Randy Newman.

Song List:
1) The Prologue 1915-1923 (snippet) from "The Natural"
2) Love Story, sung by Rick Nelson
3) Wait Till Next Year, sung by Rick Nelson
4) Opening Race (from "Cars") (1955 Brooklyn Dodgers)
5) Our Town, sung by James Taylor (from "Cars") (Dodgers leave Brooklyn)
6) Interlude: Dexter's Tune from "Awakenings"
7) Vine Street, sung by Van Dyke Parks from his 1968 Song Cycle LP
8) Dirt Is Different (from "Cars")
9) I Love LA (Beginning of the Los Angeles Dodgers)
10) The Big Race (from "Cars") (1959 Los Angeles Dodgers)
11) Pre-Race Pageantry (from "Cars") (Dodger Stadium opens)
12) Continuation of The Prologue 1915-1923 from "The Natural"
13) Mama Told Me Not To Come, sung by Three Dog Night (Fernando segment)
14) The End Title from "The Natural" (Spoiler Alert: Kirk Gibson HR)
15) The Piston Cup (from "Cars")
16) Encore: You've Got A Friend In Me from "Toy Story"

So, sit back to rest, relax and put your Blue on!

Video Link:

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Thank You, Dodgers!

What a season this has been.  It was like experiencing a classic movie with all the peaks and pitfalls you'd expect from a great film.  There was a wonderful cast that you could really believe in and a story arc that would put most dramas to shame.  We felt optimistic and disappointed, surprised and reborn, but most of all we couldn't take our eyes off the screen.  I was thoroughly enthralled, and I can't wait for the sequel.

I can't tell you that I wasn't disappointed in the ending.  I wished so much more for the story to end in the most positive note possible.  Still, the journey was well worth it, and I am certain this season will lead to many more wonderful moments over the coming years.

For now, I won't dwell on what could have been or how things could have gone if certain things had happened.  There's really no point in that.

Instead, I would rather bask in the moment and reflect on how the price of admission was well worth it.

Thanks you, Dodgers!  After many years of feeling like the ship had gone awry, I can rightly say that I'm proud of all of you.

As for the Cardinals and the rest of the league, "wait 'til next year!"

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Blog Kiosk: 10/19/2013 - Dodgers Links -

The game started out with big smiles.  Above, Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez sign a couple of signs created by a Cardinals fan before Game 6.  Pic via Dodgers on tumblr.  Check out more photos from yesterdays game here from Jon SooHoo.

• Rob Neyer at at Baseball Nation wonders what the Dodgers might look like if a certain event hadn't forced McCourt to sell the team.  This is fascinating, but I don't know if I would consider the unfortunate events surrounding Brian Stow to be the true tipping point that lead to the sale.  I think it was a nexus of events that accumulated over time; one of which was the security issues at Dodger Stadium.  I dunno.  Frankly, the McCourt era ended rather painfully for fans and I dare say that most would rather forget it ever happened.  So, wondering how it happened is something few would want to bother to explore.  

Now, whether the team would be different if McCourt was still around?  That's an entirely different question.  I have no doubt that this Dodger team would look nothing like it does today.  We wouldn't have AGon, Crawford, Greinke, Wilson or Nolasco.  Additionally, I am certain Puig and Ryu would be wearing a different uniform.

• "For the true-blue Dodgers faithful, years of ritualized fandom," via Nita Lelyveld at the LA Times.
• Via Bill Shakin at the LA Times, "Vin Scully on Cardinals mimicking Puig: 'It was like a chorus line'".

But Scully thought back to Joe DiMaggio, one of the most talented players he has ever seen. The way Scully told the story, DiMaggio played with no emotion.

“As much as I loved Joe DiMaggio,” Scully said, “I would hate to see 18 Joe DiMaggios on the field.”

• "National Anthem standoff: Dodgers’ Scott Van Slyke and Cardinals’ Joe Kelly refuse to leave field before Game 6," via Mark Townsend at Big League Stew.
• "Garvey's chance encounter leads to lifelong friendship," via Alyson Footer at MLB.com.
• "NLCS umpiring crew not pleased with Puig," via Ken Gurnick and Lyle Spencer at MLB.com.
• Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts asks, "Three top questions for the 2014 Dodgers".

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Wait... What? Hanley's in the Lineup!

David Vassegh of AM570 Radio just reported that Hanley Ramirez is back int he lineup.  He even tweeted out a lineup card with his name on it.

Wow.

Were we being punked?

New Dodger lineup with @HanleyRamirez pic.twitter.com/CNhLfx15Bo
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) October 18, 2013

Bill Shaikin shares the new starting lineup.

Ramirez back in #Dodgers lineup: Crawford 7, MEllis 4, Gonzalez 3, Ramirez 6, Ethier 8, Puig 9, Uribe 5, AJEllis 2, Kershaw 1.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 19, 2013

UPDATE: There is some question whether Hanley will play.  He was warming up on the field then headed to the training room.  This looks like it'll literally be a game-time decision.

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No Hanley Tonight - Here's the Starting Lineup

In pregame news that likely shocks, if not worries already nervous Dodger fans, the team reveals that Hanley Ramirez will not be on tonight's starting lineup.  In his place will be Nick Punto; who will hit in the #8 spot. 

This definitely is bad news for the Blue Crew.  Hopefully, Hanley is healthy enough to come off the bench, if needed.  At this time there is no news regarding his general health.

UPDATE: Dylan Hernandez provides some news about Hanley, and it's not good.

Mattingly: Hanley worse today than yesterday, can't swing, unsure if he can pinch hit.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) October 18, 2013

UPDATE II:  OK... Ignore everything above.  Hanley is in the lineup.  See my update post here.

UPDATE II:  Hold your horses... Hanley is still questionable.

Also, Yasiel Puig moves to the clean-up spot in the batting order.  This creates a Dodger lineup that's balanced "left-right-left-right-left-right" at the top.

In Cardinals news, they replace their centerfielder with Shane Robinson.  John Jay had a terrible time in the field in Game 5, so this is likely to help out the Red Birds defensively.  As for Robinson's bat, he is hitting just .250 with a .664 OPS for the season.  In other words, he's a step down.  On the other hand, Jay was hitting just .182 in the postseason.

Take a look at the Dodger lineup below.

(pic credits: @Dodgers on twitter)

Below is the Cardinals starting lineup:

#Cardinals lineup: Carpenter 2B Beltran RF Holliday LF Molina C Freese 3B Adams 1B Robinson CF Kozma SS Wacha P
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) October 18, 2013

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World Series Tickets Go on Sale on Saturday - Tomorrow

This might be a bit like pulling the cart before the horse, but I guess you gotta make these available before time runs out. 

The Dodger will be making available for sale 2013 World Series tickets on Saturday at 10:00 AM.  From a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers will have an online public sale of World Series tickets for games 3, 4 and 5 on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. on www.Dodgers.com.

Twitter followers of @Dodgers will have an exclusive on-sale period of 9:45 a.m. until 9:59 a.m. to purchase their World Series tickets before the general public sale begins online.

Fans will be limited to four tickets for each game played at Dodger Stadium. The Dodger Stadium box office WILL NOT be open on Saturday.

As you will recall, the American League defeated the National League during the All-Star Game, so if the Dodgers go to the Fall Classic they will host games 3,4 and 5.  Below is a schedule of those potential games.  Times to be determined later.

Game 3 on Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 4 on Sunday, Oct. 27
Game 5 (if necessary) on Monday, Oct. 28

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