I have been writing for LADT for more than three years, but beginning tomorrow, May 1, I am undertaking a larger role. I have doubts about the eventual outcome, but not about my zeal in taking over this great site. To be clear, LA DodgerTalk is still owned by Mark, and that my role will be as the primary administrator. I think that I am up to the task, but you readers will ultimately decide. Most know who I am, but just in case…
- I have been a Dodger fan since they moved west, but my first true memories are from the 1959 World Series.
- I matriculated to USC and am an avowed Trojan.
- I grew up and spent my first 50 years in the San Fernando Valley.
- I have one son who played professional baseball from 1997 through spring training 2006. He was drafted in the 26th round by Philadelphia and was later traded to Boston where he made his MLB debut in 2004, and was rewarded with a WS ring. He also played for NYM, Toronto, and Seattle; (only Toronto during a regular season.)
- I moved to El Dorado Hills in 2002, a suburb 30 miles east of Sacramento.
- I am a CPA, ready to retire as a Real Estate Developer CFO at the end of June, which will give me more time to spend with the blog.
- I attended at least one World Series game in each of the 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, and 1988 World Series. My first was Game 3 of the 1963 WS where Big D pitched a brilliant 1-0 complete game shutout.
- I have too many favorite Dodgers to list, but my favorite non-Dodgers are topped by Brooks Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Nolan Ryan, and Cal Ripken Jr. I do have an affinity for all Trojan baseball alums.
I will be joined by a couple of writers that you may be familiar with…Harold Uhlman (AKA DC), and Rob Schelling (AKA 2D2). Evan Bladh has another commitment with SI.com, but was hoping he might be able to periodically contribute. If he cannot contribute with an article, I hope he will still come by and comment. As Mark has indicated, while stepping away he might contribute, if even very sparingly. Let’s wait for the baseball season to begin in earnest to see Mark’s interest piqued. A couple of other regular posters have indicated that they may contribute if they feel so inspired. I know you will like their takes.
I will not have a lot of rules to follow, but Jon Weisman has published his 12 Blog Rules, and we cannot go wrong if we adhere to them:
Thank You For Not …
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing “no-hitter” or “perfect game” to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn’t allowed when it’s just being disagreed with
I know I am guilty of many of those. Like Mark, I am not of fan of banning commenters. When it comes to baseball, I find that it works best to just ignore the comment when it appears to be outrageous. Eventually the children will find something else to amuse themselves with. While I hope we can all work toward following most of Jon’s Rules, the two I will be most fervently enforcing are #2 and #5. This pandemic has a major impact on this baseball season, and obviously has significant political ramifications. However, I hope that we can all stay away from bringing up names of specific politicians and or political parties, whether complimentary or derisively, and stick to how this pandemic impacts MLB and MiLB.
So tomorrow, the new era begins. With baseball on hiatus, I know that I cannot publish something new on a daily basis. But with Harold, Rob, and myself, we will try to provide you with continuous excellent coverage of LAD baseball. Go Blue!
I too have been a Dodger fan since they moved west, with my first true memories from the 1959 World Series, with a transistor radio in hand.
I too grew up and spent my first 50 years in the San Fernando Valley.
Welcome AC. Really looking forward to your articles. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. Well-deserved.
Any updates on how, when, and where games might be played?
Badger, nothing that can be accurately reported. Sheer conjecture at this point. Even if MLB can come up with a reasonable plan, the revenue sharing issue is far from settled. Both the MLBPA and the Major Leagues Umpire Association both need to be satisfied that games can go on with their safety covered.
I wish I had a crystal ball. But we are all in new territory, and have no history to learn from.
Jon Heyman, who is pretty connected to what’s happening in baseball, has said a target date to keep in mind is July 1 as a possible start being circulated most in MLB circles. He states about 100 games would be played with expanded playoffs involving as many as 14 teams instead of 10.
We’ll see if this happens, but I am optimistic we will see MLB this year.
I’ve heard different target dates, including one in June which I figured was nonsense. Everything is dependent on the … are we allowed to talk about the virus in here?
With projections from scientists as my base of predicting when, I’ll go out on a limb and say there is no way of knowing as each state appears to have its own way of doing things. The models I’ve seen say maybe… and that’s a big MAYBE… in mid July. The logistics are still mercurial as we remain all over the map with what will happen next. That 14 day Gate 1 is a pipe dream through summer, but I’m hoping.
I’ve got the Dodgers channel with Direct now so I’m ready when they are. I’ve found re-runs of games past unsatisfying. I still think Cactus League and Grapefruit League is the way to go. I wonder what the players think.
I am sure ready to get started again with baseball and the blog!
Welcome Jeff as our new Primary Administrator. Thank you DC, 2D2 and other writers for stepping up to the plate, so to speak, and help keeping this important blog alive. I think it will be in good hands and provide us with continuous excellent coverage of LAD baseball, as you say AC. Can not wait. Also, congratulations to Joc and wife on their awaited arrival of a son.
AC, glad to see you rise to this occasion! You have my vote of confidence, not that you need it. I’m sure you’ll do fine as you’ve always contributed good information.
Not being a resident in the USA, I can only look at the news and what others say to get a feel about there being a baseball season, but I cannot see one in place by July 1. If there is one, the fear of being next to other fans will have a huge impact, I fear. Maybe I’m wrong and people will throw caution to the wind, but all the medical services and agencies don’t see an end to this by July. Then there is the financial impact on the average citizen. Not every fan will be able to put their $1200 towards baseball tickets. Maybe the Dodgers won’t charge anything to see the games. That would be a beautiful gift to the fans.
No matter when the start date is, I just wonder how in the world they’re going to handle it when the first player tests positive for the virus. I suppose it’s possible that they play 80-100 games for each team and that never happens, but I would think the odds are that it would. So Player X tests positive, do they quarantine the entire team for two weeks? What happens to the schedule in that case? Are teams going to wind up playing uneven amounts of games? All I know is I’m glad I’m not Rob Manfred today (or any other day for that matter, but especially with this task ahead of him).
With regard to political comments AC, I will certainly agree not to mention the Dems or Republicans, but I’m going to have to try real hard to hold my tongue on the Whig Party.
Dang!!! You mean I’m not allowed to #$%^&* or &^%$#!!!!!!!! What else is more important????
Am I banned?
Can I post once in a while?
You can say whatever you want Mark. That always been the case. Me on the other hand, I’ll piss somebody off before the week is up. May I ask for a warning first?
No politics. I get that. Nation divided, no love between ideologies. What about talking health? I mean, the reason we have no baseball is because baseball games are a clear and present danger to our health. Can we talk about that?
I heard July 2nd as a start date. I’ll take the over.
Badger,
I am glad you are here. I have no say so on banning or not. Ask Jeff what we can talk about.
Everything is so polarizing to some people. I just come here for Dodger baseball.
Health is important. I do take a lot of supplements and feel great. Here’s the list:
https://www.lifevantage.com/us-en/shop/protandim-tri (I buy on Amazon)
CBD
https://besynchro.com/products/synchro-gold
https://gundrymd.com/supplements/energy-renew/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T94979Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (I try and get the Elderberry one, but it’s not always available)
https://waterandwellness.com/products/active-h2-ultra-blue-raspberry – Molecular Hydrogen is the BOMB!
OK, that’s my daily regimen.
Oh… and Makers 46!
That’s an interesting manifest of supplements Mark. I take a few of those myself, plus some other things my functional medicine doctor sister-in-law suggested. I got two books she gave me, Power Up Your Brain and Why Isn’t My Brain Working. The second one was written for doctors, not an easy read, especially when the brain isn’t working.
Not familiar with molecular hydrogen. Guess I’ll have to read up on it.
Thanks for the info.
How do the Colts on Paper look?
I think the Colts will be a Super Bowl contender if Old Man Rivers can play up to his potential.
Play up to his potential? He did already. Years ago. QB rating of 88.5 last year. Colts will be a .500 team. Unfortunately, the Rams could be too. Do you think there will be a football season?
Badger, I have no intent on banning anyone. It is not my style. There are a number of more appropriate sites to discuss politics. Politics as it relates to the game of baseball is appropriate. MLB Anti Trust Exemption, Congress being asked to intervene on MiLB contraction, and yes even Covid-19 as it relates to the delay of the season and to how the games may be played with or without fans. I just do not want the discussion to get into name calling. If people do not like the President or the California Governor or the NY Governor or the Florida Governor so be it. If you agree with any Governor for keeping stadiums closed, or oppose it, that is appropriate. Just keep it baseball related.
Thanks Jeff. I appreciate the direct feedback. I don’t consider myself a name caller, though I admit I don’t pull punches on politicians. I think all of them are bought, and only a few of them are all that bright. I also believe it is because of the pandemic we don’t have baseball, and though I believe we as a nation aren’t handling it particularly well, especially at the top, I don’t think that is the driving factor on this season being cancelled. If I eliminate altogether what the politicians are saying and doing (seldom do those two things align) and only listen to what the leading epidemiologists are saying, it’s my belief we won’t throw a rope around this thing until we have proper testing and a safe vaccine. We are WAY behind in testing and a safe vaccine is months out. I have to ask, why would players agree to play under these conditions? I know I wouldn’t.
Obviously this situation is unpredictable, though as fans what else do we have to do?
Thanks for the opportunity to express myself. I believe this to be one of the more knowledgeable group of posters in the Dodger blog circle. I do hope we have Dodger baseball this year as it would be good to have something other than a pandemic and feckless politicians to talk about.
I think they will start playing baseball June 13th… I did not say which year!
😉
I come in for information on baseball too. But it’s also interesting to read others opinions on why there is no baseball and when there might be baseball. Not much to talk about is there. The date being thrown out there is the first week of July. I’ll be as brief as I can with my opinion on that. Nope.
Singing The Blue centered the dart. What happens when someone in baseball tests positive?