The Importance of a Mexican Star

October 13, 2022

Dave Robert’s selection to start Julio Urias in Game one of the NLDS was a landmark decision that essentially told the world that he had supplanted Clayton Kershaw as the ace of the staff.  This was no slight to Kershaw, who continues to thrive as a Dodger starter and will undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer after retiring. Urias’ durability is primarily the reason for the decision, as he…

Read More >>

Player Profile: Mike Scioscia

August 10, 2022

Mike Scioscia. Many images come to mind, and moments also. Like when he took Dwight Gooden deep late in game 4 to tie the Mets. Gibby would eventually win the contest with a homer of his own in the 8th. The other would be the number of bone-jarring collisions at home plate he was involved with. To this day, I still think he was the best they had at blocking…

Read More >>

Maury

October 11, 2021

I was 11 when the Dodgers won their first World Series in L.A.  Living in Highland Park at a home for kids. I had gone to my first games at the coliseum in 1958. We went to about 5 games during the 1959 season.  The Dodgers had replaced long-time retiring SS Pee Wee Reese with Don Zimmer. Zim had some success in previous seasons with the Dodgers and it was…

Read More >>

How Age Changed How I Look At Baseball

January 1, 2021

I just started thinking about this the other day. And it is so true. As a kid, you are in awe of the players. The speed of the game and how it seems like they make the plays so easily. The first time in a major league ballpark is magical. The first time you come through the tunnel as I did at the Coliseum and see the colors and have…

Read More >>

Biggest LA Dodger Trades 1958-1979.

December 18, 2020

I am limiting this to L.A. Dodgers history simply to keep it from being more than a post long. We shall travel in our way back machine to 1958 when they traded Gino Cimoli to the Cardinals for Wally Moon. Cimoli had a nice career without being a big star. He ended up playing for 6 more teams over the last 8 seasons of his career. Moon, who became so…

Read More >>

The O’Malley’s Part 2 – Peter

December 2, 2020

Peter O’Malley was born on the 12th of December 1937 in Brooklyn, New York. We all know who his parents were. He spent his childhood as a child of privilege. His dad’s success allowing the family comforts many of the citizens did not enjoy due to the depression. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. And then from the Wharton School of Business in 1960. Peter’s first job with the…

Read More >>

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…

Read More >>

THE PLAYER WHO REPLACED DAVEY LOPES – STEVE SAX

May 12, 2020

On June 23, 1973, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, the Dodgers had a lineup that included Steve Garvey at 1st base, Davey Lopes at 2nd, Ron Cey at 3rd and Bill Russell at shortstop.   They stayed together for 9 consecutive years, until August 18, 1981.   It was the year of Fernandomania when, Lopes was placed laced on the disabled list with a groin injury.  …

Read More >>

Tommy Davis – The Man Could Flat Out Hit

December 1, 2019

For two seasons, you could argue that Tommy Davis was the best young player in the National League. In 1962, at age 23, he finished third in MVP voting (behind teammate Maury Wills and Willie Mays of the Giants).  What did he do that year?  Nothing much, but lead the NL with a .346 batting average, 240 hits, and 153 RBI. The RBI are still a team record.  The 240…

Read More >>

I Loved Frank McCourt

January 8, 2018

Yes, I did… when it was announced that he was buying the Dodgers from a Fortune 500 Company who ran them like a drunken sailor runs on the deck of a ship in a hurricane.  See, FOX had no clue – they even traded away Mike Piazza… among many other blunders too numerous and painful to count. I was excited to see the Dodger bought by a “little guy” who…

Read More >>