Bill Buckner: Gamer or Goat

November 1, 2020

NOTE: I told you Rob Schelling aka/2demter2 would be back – little did I know how soon!— Mark Timmons Gamer:   A player who approaches the game with a tenacious, spirited attack and continues to play even when hurt; a competitor; a player who doesn’t make excuses. The term is a compliment, most especially when it comes from another player. Goat: one blamed for causing a failure or defeat, esp. in…

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GAME THREE RECAP AND SOME RANDOM PLAYOFF THOUGHTS:

October 24, 2020

 Showdown between the Rays top pitcher, Charlie Morton (Joe Buck will tell you over and over again that he’s absolutely great!) and Walker Buehler.   As in most games, the Dodgers had several objectives:              1.         get off to a good start;             2.         run up Morton’s pitch count;             3.         Keep Buehler’s pitch count down;             4.         Keep the Rays off the bases; and             5.         Score more…

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GAME SIX RECAP AND SOME RANDOM PLAYOFF THOUGHTS:

October 18, 2020

Elimination game, facing the Braves top pitcher, Max Fried, and the Dodgers, besides the obvious need to win, had several objectives:               1.         get off to a good start;             2.         run up Fried’s pitch count;             3.         Keep Buehler’s pitch count down;             4.         Keep the Braves off the bases; and             5.         Score more runs than the Braves.   The Dodgers were successful on four of the…

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GAME ONE RECAP AND SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS:

October 7, 2020

Well that was an interesting and very long game.   Dodgers won 5-1, and despite appearances (it could be called an ugly win) they, nevertheless, won in dominating fashion.   There were lots of walks.   Padres pitchers, threw 165 pitches in 8 innings, as they walked 10 Dodgers batters, and added a hit by pitch for good measure.       Walker Buehler started for the Dodgers and almost immediately started to make Dodgers fans…

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JIM LEFEBVRE

September 28, 2020

A week or two back, Jeff asked if I would be willing to write an article about Jim Lefebrve, the 1965 Rookie of the year 2nd baseman.   I jumped on the idea right away, as “Frenchy” was one of my favorite players when he was with the Dodgers.  I thought to myself that this should fairly easy, as there was sure to be much written about Lefebvre.  Surprisingly, however, despite…

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Who’s On First

September 26, 2020

I got to thinking about this the other day when I was discussing Steve Garvey and why I did not think he belonged in the hall with a friend of mine. He is a Dodger fan who lives in San Diego and Garv was one of his favorite Dodgers ever. I thought it would be interesting to go back in time and check out all of the players who have…

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Meet Chet Brewer

September 21, 2020

While writing the article on Reggie Smith, I was introduced to Chet Brewer, a player from the Negro Leagues that I, quite frankly, had not been familiar with before that article. After becoming acquainted with him through my research, I wish that I had knew more about him earlier on, as I’ve discovered that he was a remarkable man. Brewer has a strong connection to the Dodgers, not only that…

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WINNING UGLY, LOSING UGLY – WHO CARES?

September 15, 2020

Who the heck were those players wearing Dodger uniforms in the Rockies’ and D-backs’ series?   Whoever they were, they certainly did not perform like a playoff caliber team.   They struggled with pitching, struggled with hitting, and couldn’t play defense.  My, my, my, that’s typically a recipe for baseball disaster!!   Heaven forbid that team should have to play the mighty Padres in the playoffs.   The Dodgers may as well go home…

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Reggie Smith

September 10, 2020

One of the better mid-season trades that the Dodgers ever made was acquiring Reggie Smith from the Cardinals for Freddie Tisdale, Bob Detherage and Joe Ferguson in June 1976.   While many Dodger fans were heartbroken to see Tisdale leave the Dodger family, getting Smith more than made up for that loss. After joining the Dodgers, Smith hit .280 with 10 homers and 26 RBI in the 65 games following the…

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RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT BEING A DODGER FAN:

September 6, 2020

I have been a baseball and Dodger fan for slightly more than 60 years.  My love for baseball was immediate, and with the Dodgers, it was love at first sight.   In that sixty years, I have listened to or watched roughly 7,500 Dodger games.   I have also watched and coached countless youth ball and high school baseball games.   I have also had the pleasure of watching my sons participate in…

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