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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

So... TarpGate Happened Last Night to the Giants

A strange thing happened at the Giants game in Chicago last night.

The Cubs took a 2 to 0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.  And, as quick as a snap of your fingers, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour began. 

Then, this happened.

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Oh, boy!

From what I understand, it was heavy, unexpected and lasted for all of 15 minutes.

The ground crews inability to correctly put the tarp on the infield in a timely fashion caused puddles to form all over.  Once the rains stopped, they worked for roughly 4.5 hours to get the infield into playing shape, but to no avail.  The umpires, seeing no end in sight, called the game.  Since they had played five innings (a legal game) the Cubs were given the victory.

The Giants television announcer, Jon Miller, was not happy; as you can see in the photo on the right.

As you can imagine, Giants fans were not happy either, and many of them took to Reddit to voice their anger.  I, in turn, have captured some of the best to share with you.  Take a look below, and promise me you won't laugh.  Someday the shoe may be on the other foot.


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Some good-natured funny Giants fans also chimed in.
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Hey now!  Don't be spreading some crazy conspiracy theory.
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JackMasterAndrew gets down to the nitty-gritty on why this loss really sucked for them.
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Yhea, this loss does hurt.

Oh, Well.

UPDATE:  Will wonders never cease.  The Giants had apparently protested the decision by the umpires to call the game for the Cubs, and just prevailed in a ruling by the MLB office, via Bob Nightengale on twitter:


* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Walter White, er... Heisenberg, er... Bryan Cranston Must be Stopped!


Walter White's alter-ego visited Dodger Stadium last night and I'm not talking about that Heisenberg fellow we all fear.  Instead, White now mask himself as a bigger-than-life Hollywood celebrity named Bryan Cranston, and he quickly enamored himself to the crowd with a comic-book-like shapeshifting skill the likes have not seen since the emergence of Mystique.

He was captivating and charming, gracious and humble... But, deep down you know that that evil monster is lurking in the shadows.  White must be on a scouting trip to set up a new base of operations on the West Coast, and if something isn't done soon to stop him we will all have to pay a steep price.  He even charmed the heck out of our vaunted saint Vin Scully; as evidenced in the photo above. And check out this video below of him running around the press room like he owns it... For shame, Walter White!

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I'm sure you're saying, "But Ernest, he's an upstanding member of the community now!"

I say to you, "I think not."

How do I know?

Let me show you.  I got proof.  See it below.
(pic via @MLB on twitter)

Walter White, the scourge of New Mexico, the master cook of the blue crystal, the drug dealer that even the mafia is afraid of, tried to recruit Dodger reliever Brian Wilson into his world of crime.

White wrote, "I can use a guy like you," and gave it to Brian Wilson.

Make no mistake folks, Heisenberg is not dead... Oh, No!  He's alive and well.

Photos at the top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Erisbel Arruebarrena's First Public Appearance (UPDATE: Ron Cey on Saturday)

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Dodgers minor league infielder Eerisbel Arruebarrena will be making his very first public apeparance this coming Saturday at Frank & Sons in the City of Industry.  Go here for more information.  Check out the flyer below.
Frank & Son Collectible Show
19649 San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, CA
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UPDATE:  Per Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy, Ron Cey will be signing autographs at Hamer Toyota in Mission Hills on Saturday the 23rd, starting at 10:00 AM.  Go here for information.
Hamer Toyota
11041 Sepulveda Blvd.
Mission Hills, Ca 91345
(855) 592-7001

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 8/20/2014 - Dodger Links - Dodgers Win, Grienke Questionable and Orel's Ice Bucket Challenge


The Dodgers eeked out a victory last night against the Padres.  After a miserable start that saw him give up three early runs, starter Kevin Correia settled down to give the Dodgers a chance.  All they had to do was score some runs.  As you know, of course, that's been easier said than done.  Fortunately, several Dodgers in the lineup where up to the task.

The middle of the Dodgers batting order woke up and got the job done.  Matt Kemp hit two doubles, Justin Turner whacked two doubles of his own and Carl Crawford blasted a home run to go along with two singles.  They punished Padres starter Ian Kennedy for six runs and eventually held on for an 8 to 6 victory. The above photo is of Crawford, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

Of note, the very last play of the game had to be reviewed by the umpires.  Jedd Gyorko singled to Puig, who subsequently threw home to get the advancing runner, Abraham Almonte.  Seeing this, Almonte rounded thirdbase and headed back, but was picked off.  Adrian Gonzalez had cutoff Puig's throw and nailed him.  After a umpire review he was called out to end the game.  Watch it here.

The Dodgers now have a four 4.5 4.0 (reduced since the Giants won their appeal) game lead over the Giants.  Here are some more links to check out below.
  • ICYMI: The Dodgers called up amateur pugilist Erisbel Arruebarrena from AAA and sent Carlos Triunfel back to Albuquerque.  Per a Dodgers press release:
Arruebarrena most recently played in three rehab games for the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers (right shoulder soreness), going 4-for-11 with two doubles, two homers and four RBI, and has batted .333 with three doubles, two triples, a homer and 11 RBI in 26 games with the Isotopes this season. The 24-year-old has gone 5-for-16 (.313) with two RBI in eight games in two previous call-ups with the Dodgers.

 
"If he holds up in that setting and everything's good with his foot, then we kind of move into getting him into a bullpen situation, where he's getting back into our routine," Mattingly said.
“It’s not your typical stuff coming from a kid who just turned 18,” said (Matt) Herges. “You see the numbers on the fastball. He touches upper 90′s. You see the spin on his breaking ball and you’re thinking this is an upper level guy or an older guy. You see the changeup that makes everybody look foolish.”
  • Greatest coach ever!  Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "Little League World Series coach delivers heartwarming speech after loss."
  • Watch Orel Hershiser accepts the Ice Bucket Challenge to help raise awareness for ALS, below.

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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *