RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TRADE DEADLINE AND WEIRD THINGS IN BASEBALL:

August 30, 2020

●          The Trade deadline is upon us, and as always, the question is, should the Dodgers make a move or stand pat? ●          Obviously, the primary argument for making a trade is simply that no matter how good the team is, you can always get better. ●          First question is always, what do the Dodgers need to finish out this year?   Another ace pitcher wouldn’t hurt (do they ever hurt?) …

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THE MID-SEASON REPORT CARD ON THE DODGERS

August 23, 2020

Here we are(this is being written Saturday morning), almost half-way through the season.   Where has the time gone?   It seems like the season just started.  In any event, I thought I would take a shot at handing out some mid-season grades for the Dodgers.   Some of the grades might seem a little harsh, but I didn’t grade on a curve.  Nor did I hand out participation awards.  TEAM – B…

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FRANK “HONDO” HOWARD – THE GENTLE GIANT (Friday)

August 21, 2020

In 1999 Nike came out with a clever commercial featuring Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Mark McGwire and Heather Locklear.  Rather than pay attention to the Cy Young award winning pitchers, Glavine and Maddux, Heather swooned over Mark McGuire and his ability to hit the ball over the fence.  After a stringent work out regiment, Glavine and Maddux hit some out in batting practice and, for the first time, Heather Locklear…

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RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM THE RECLINER

August 15, 2020

I’m writing this on Friday morning, basking in the joy of the Dodgers 11-2 thumping of the Padres and thought I would share some random thoughts from my recliner:  ●          Until last night’s game, this year’s Dodgers just haven’t been as fun for me to watch as teams in the past.   In “summer camp” it looked as if though they would be invincible.   Once the season started though, and even…

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CHUCK ESSEGIAN – HE OF THE PINCH HIT HOME RUNS

August 11, 2020

One of my most memorable moments as a young Dodger fan was when Chuck Essegian hit a pinch -hit homerun in game two of the 1959 World Series, to tie the game.   I was only eight years old at the time, but I could tell from the excitement in Vin Scully’s voice that this home run was a very dramatic and important moment for the Dodgers.   I can also remember…

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MEET BULLET JOE ROGAN

August 6, 2020

There’s a pretty good chance, unless you are an ardent student of “old-time” baseball and you are a scholarly student of the Negro Leagues, that you have never heard of Bullet Rogan. I have to confess that I knew very little of Bullet Joe Rogan until my recent article on the Negro Leagues.  Frankly, even with the information we have, there is far too little known about him.   From those…

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RANDOM THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING SEASON

August 2, 2020

I have an article pending on Bullet Joe Rogan, one of the all-time great players in the Negro Leagues.  Because of Bear’s wonderful articles on Zack Wheat and his journey with baseball, I thought I would put that off a few days, and just share some random thoughts on an already weird season: ●          You know that we’re in the full swing baseball, when the Doc criticisms start in earnest. …

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My Love Affair With the Game of Baseball.

August 1, 2020

 Most of us can remember where we were when important events occur in our lives. On Nov 22, 1963, I was at choir practice in our auditorium when I heard about JFK’s assassination. 9-11-2001, I was in South Gate at the JB Hunt terminal when the planes hit the twin towers. But the day I fell in love with the game… That actual date escapes me. And since my love…

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RANDOM THOUGHTS AFTER THE FIRST 3 GAMES OF THE SEASON

July 27, 2020

We have the first series under our belt and here’s a few observations:     ●          I thought they might, but alas, it doesn’t appear that the Dodgers will go 60 – 0.   That’s a shame, as it would have eliminated all worry about making the playoffs.   I guess 59-1 will have to do.   ●          If we win all our games 8-1, 9-1 or lose 5- 4, then it doesn’t appear…

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RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT THE START OF THE SEASON

July 24, 2020

So I wrote and submitted this article to Jeff on July 22nd in the a.m.  He then let me know he had a couple of other articles lined up and that it might be posted later this week.   Then, the Dodgers go and sign Mookie Betts.   Wow!   I decided to leave the article intact with a few adjustments.    ●          I’m glad that I was proven wrong.  I did not…

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