What do I mean by true blue? Well, over the years I have seen my share of bandwagon and fair-weather fans. True blue fans stick with the team no matter what. Their allegiance to the team never waivers. Not when a favorite is traded or lost to free agency, not when the team suffers through bad years. They just remain true.
Since their arrival in LA, the Dodgers have had a lot more success on the field than the team ever did in Brooklyn. They have now spent close to an equal time in each city. If you count the years from 1890 when the NL was formed to 1957 when the team played their last season in Brooklyn, you have 67 years. Now they have been in LA since 1958, 68 years in LA. Brooklyn won one World Series and lost eight. LA has won eight and lost six. Brooklyn lost the only playoff they were ever in to the Cardinals in 1946.
The Brooklyn Dodgers lost 100 games or more twice, in 1905 and 08. LA has never lost 100, the closest they came was 99 in 1992. In Brooklyn, the players lived in the community in which they played. The everyday folks, the fans, lived next door to guys like Hodges, Reese, Snider. They lived and shopped in those communities. Of course, they were not making millions in those days. Most players had offseason jobs in their home states. Some, like Campanella, owned their own businesses.
It is so much different now. If a player lives in LA, it is usually in one of the higher end neighborhoods. Back in the 70’s, many Dodger stars lived in Calabasas’s or other places removed from the downtown area. Many also went back to their home states. Other than spring training, fans get very few real opportunities to interact with their favorites. And when they do, it is usually in a controlled environment.
Card shows, planned public appearances scheduled by the team. Things of that nature. Dodger Fest is a huge part of that now, and the fact that so many fans attend an event for which admission is charged, shows how powerful the teams’ connection with their fans now is.
I have told this story more than a few times, but when I was living in Highland Park at a home for kids, two Dodgers, Larry and Norm Sherry, moved into a new housing development that was built where there had been nothing but a dirt road and fields where we used to play capture the flag and stuff like that. We even had an archery range there.
They had used earth movers to fill in that area and then they extended 66th Avenue about 12 blocks and built houses on all of it. Larry lived 3 houses from the home on the same side of the street and Norm was 5 houses up. They were nice to all of the kids in the neighborhood, and I am sure made some Dodger fans for life. They also asked us kids to shag balls for them when they started working out before heading to Vero.
At that time, I was already hooked on the game and the team. It has never changed. Even all the time I spent not living in Los Angeles, or California, hasn’t changed my love of the team. When I first moved to Arizona, all of the people around me said, oh, you have to root for the D-Backs because you live here. My reply was not a chance. The Dodgers are my team and always will be.
It is funny to me because when I lived there, the biggest draw to their ballpark was the Cubs. There were so many transplanted Chicagoans there. It was amazing. During spring training, the Cubs games were packed.
If ever my fandom was tested, it was during McCourt’s era. I was not much of a fan of FOX’s ownership era either. Yep, the Piazza trade, and a couple of other moves they made. After the O’Malley era, it seemed like they got some guys who just did not fit the Dodger image. Maybe that was the problem. The image of the Dodgers was that they were like a family and therefore were part of yours. I know I brought up my girls to love the team!
That worked until they grew up and got married. My oldest is still a Dodger fan, but Carrie is a Giant fan like her hubby. A couple of my granddaughters like the Giants too. My grandson could care less. I try not to have favorite players nowadays. Too much chance they move on in free agency or a trade. That is why I thought it was so important that the Dodgers keep Kershaw. At least Kersh went out a winner. Koufax had to suffer the indignity of a sweep.
No matter what, I will never change my loyalty to the team. We have been through so much together. I am happy that I have been alive to witness every one of their championships. I have a really good friend who is a die-hard Cubs fan. He has only 2016 to brag about. I really caught it in the three seasons that the Giants won the series. My daughter and her hubby held that over me until for me payback arrived when the Dodgers beat the division winning Giants in 21.
I cannot get to games like I used to. But every night on MLB.TV, I watch the games. I also have the ability to go back two years and watch the last two playoff seasons. And I can still go and look at the game where Shohei hit his 50th homer and became the first ever 50/50 player. For me, having a Dodger do that first, well, that is a special moment for a true-blue fan!
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
It wasn’t a pretty night for the LAD MiLB teams, and the relievers seemed to take the night off all the way down the organization.
Charlotte Knights (CWS) 12 – OKC Comets 7
After 3 batters, OKC took a 3-0 lead. LF Zach Ehrhard led off the game with a double (15). CF Tommy Edman singled and Ehrhard moved to 3rd. With one out, RF Jack Suwinski hit a 3-run HR (16).
LHSP Charlie Barnes retired the side in order in the 1st. But that did not continue. In the 2nd inning he issued a BB to the leadoff batter, then struck out the next two. The next batter hit a run scoring double.
With Barnes still pitching in the 4th, he gave up a leadoff double, a sac bunt where the batter reached on a fielder’s choice and the runner moving up to 3rd. After an RBI single, Barnes served up a 3-run HR.
OKC went back in front in the 5th. C Eliézer Alfonzo singled to start the inning. 3B Taylor Young hit a 2-run HR, his first in AAA. Ehrhard singled and Edman drew a BB. 1B James Tibbs III flew into a double play 8-4-3 doubling Edman on 1B. The 1B made a throwing error on the play and Ehrhard scored.
RHRP Griff McGarry entered in the 5th. He got the first two outs, and then proceeded to walk the next four giving the Knights another run.
After a scoreless 6th for both teams, Charlotte put up 5 in the bottom of the 7th. LHRP Ronan Kopp was starting his 2nd inning and gave up a leadoff solo HR. That was followed by a single and 2 strikeouts. Kopp gave up a run scoring triple and was then lifted for RHRP Nick Frasso. Frasso unleased a WP allowing the runner on third to come home. He then gave up a single and 2-run HR.
In the 8th, Suwinski hit his 2nd HR (17) of the game.
RHRP Chayce McDermott relieved Frasso in the 8th. A BB and 2 singles and Charlotte scored another.
- Jack Suwinski – 3-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI, 2 HR (17)
- Zach Ehrhard – 2-3, 2 runs, double (15)
- Taylor Young – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (1)
Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 14 – Tulsa Drillers 0
There was two positive aspects to this game. Josue De Paula had 2 hits, and Mike Sirito drew a walk to reach base in his 51st consecutive game.
I was disappointed with RHRP Peter Heubeck who could not get out of the 1st inning.
C Frank Rodriguez was the most effective pitcher of the night and was the only pitcher to complete 2.0 innings, both innings scoreless.
Just move on.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5 – Great Lakes Loons 3 – Game 1, 7 Innings
LHSP Jakob Wright allowed 4 singles in the 1st inning. One was erased on a DP, but a run scored on the 4th single.
Great Lakes put up 3 in the 4th. With one out, 2B Eduardo Guerrero singled and went to 3rd on C Anson Aroz’s double (2).1B Cameron Decker drew a walk to load the bases. RF Samuel Munoz singled home a pair and sent Decker to 3rd where he scored on a 2B Jose Izarra SF.
In the bottom of the 4th, Wright allowed a BB and a 2-out 2-run HR to tie the game.
With LHP Jacob Frost in relief of Wright allowed a BB and another 2-run HR giving Wisconsin a 5-3 lead,
As it turns out, the three hits in the 4th inning by the Loons were their only hits on the night.
Great Lakes Loons 5 – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3 – Game 2, 7 Innings
RHSP Christian Zazueta got the first two outs in the 1st inning, then walked 2 and gave up a run scoring single.
In the 2nd inning, GL put up a pair after 2 outs. LF Samuel Munoz was HBP, and DH Cameron Decker hit a 2-run HR and a 2-1 lead.
Zazueta retired the side in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings. In the 4th, Zazueta gave up a single, but got the next two batters out, but for some reason, he was lifted for RHRP Nicolas Cruz. Zazueta only threw 53 pitches, 33 for strikes. Why was he lifted?
With Cruz still on the mound, he issued a 1 out BB, and threw a 2 out WP before giving up a run scoring single to tie the game.
In the bottom of the 5th, 2B Jose Izarra drew a BB and CF Chuck Davalan was HBP. SS Emil Morales walked to load the bases. After one out, C Victor Rodrigues hit a 2-run single with Morales moving to 3rd. Munoz singled to plate Morales for the 3rd run of the inning and 5th run of the game.
In the 6th, with Cruz still pitching, Wisconsin had 2 singles and then a GIDP. With a runner on 3rd, LHRP Justin Chambers relieved Cruz and issued a walk and single to score a run for Wisconsin for the final score.
- C Victor Rodrigues – 2-3, 2 RBI
- Jose Izarra – 2-2, 1 BB, 1 run
- Cameron Decker – 1-2, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (2)
Ontario Tower Buzzers 9 – Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 8
RHSP Brady Smith allowed 3 unearned runs in the 1st. After the first two batters were retired, the next batter reached on E5. A walk, HBP, and 3 run double gave the Storm the early lead.
RHRP Brock Stewart made a rehab appearance and surrendered a pair of doubles for a run in the 4th.
RHRP Luis Carias entered in the 5th. Back to back singles and a BB loaded the bases with nobody out. He walked the next batter to force in a run. He struck out the next two batters and got a flyout to get out of the inning.
Down 5-0 in the 6th, Ontario came to life. LF Brendon Tunink walked and moved to 2nd on a WP. 3B Mairo Martinus doubled (14) to score Tunink. Martinus moved to 3rd on a fly out. DH Chase Harlan was HBP, and Martinus scored on a ground out. With 2 outs, 1B Easton Shelton slugged his 19th HR cutting the lead to 5-4.
In the bottom of the 6th, Carias walked a pair and erased one on a GIDP. A WP scored the Storm’s 6th run.
In the top of the 7th, C Conner O’Neal doubled (6) and scored on a one out Tunink single. Tunink moved to 2nd on the throw home, and scored on Martinus’ triple (4). Martinus scored on a fielder’s choice to take a brief 7-6 lead.
Inland Empire tied the score in the 8th after a BB and run scoring double off Carias in his 4th inning.
In the 9th, 2B Javier Herrera and Tunink walked with one out. Both runners scored on a throwing error by the 1B after a ground out.
RHRP Angel Cruz entered in the 9th to attempt to close out the victory. It wasn’t pretty, but Cruz held on, allowing just 1 run, leaving the tying run in scoring position.
- Mairo Martinus – 2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (14), triple (4)
- Easton Shelton – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (19)
- Doubles – AJ Soldra (9), Chase Harlan (14), Conner O’Neal (6)
ACL Dodgers 11 – ACL Reds 9
The Dodgers jumped out to a 6-0 lead. After the Reds came all the way back to tie the game at 8-8, the Dodgers scored 3 in the 9th. The Reds got one back, but the Dodgers held on for the win.
- 3B Logan Wagner (rehab assignment) – 3-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
- CF Jhon Gil – 2-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (2)
- C Eduardo Rojas – 3-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (2)
- RF Abel Lorenzo – 1-2, 2 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (6)
DSL Red Sox Blue 7 – DSL Lad Bautista 6
The score was 0-0 thru 5. Each team scored 3 in the 6th, and each team scored 2 in the 7th. The Dodgers scored 1 in the 8th, and the Red Sox Blue scored 2 to walk it off.
The Dodgers managed 3 hits with catcher Haram Hernandez the only Dodger with an XBH, a double (2).
16 year old (turns 17 on June 22) RHP Anderson Carias pitched 4.0 scoreless innings. He gave up 1 single and walked 1 batter while striking out 2.
DSL LAD Mega 4 – DSL Tampa Bay – Called after 5.2 innings due to lightning.
Mega had 2 hits on the game, including a double by LF Willy Bergolla. LAD Mega scored the go-ahead run without the benefit of a hit.
I want to thank the old and slow LAD offense to take the night off so I could turn on the World Cup. I mean Eric Karros was making excuses for them and the long trip from Pittsburgh all through the game. 4 hits for LAD, 2 for Miggy Ro, 1 by Santiago Espinal, and 1 by Alex Call. I got to watch the extra minutes in the 1st half and the entire 2nd half of a great USA victory. And yes, I love to watch World Cup futbol.
Disappointing game all around with the exception of some great defensive plays by Rojas, FF and Call. Other thant that : A real clunker.
Roki took a step backwards in his development and the offense was just pathetic.
Nice piece, Bear. I used to live down the Arroyo Seco a bit off Ave 43 in Mt. Washington, so I’m familiar with Highland Park. Must have been fun knowing the Sherry brothers when you were a kid….
I have my hopes up for Easton Shelton. He was passed over in the draft coming out of high school before the Dodgers offered him a contract.
Of course he’s a project but the power sure seems real. We tend to get caught up in the prospect rankings. But sometimes the first-rounders and touted prospects get surpassed by unheralded guys who become stars.
Right now, there are about 29 front offices thinking, “Maybe we should have drafted his Shelton kid…”