A New Era for LADT

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 26^th 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!