In the eighth part of my Dodger Blogger Profile series, I catch up with Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts. I posted a piece on Feb. 3 I wrote about him a couple years ago.
Weisman was the first Dodger blog (or any blog, for that matter) I ever started reading and it's been a treat. He's really the most rational Dodger blogger out there -- he doesn't get too high or too low on the Dodgers. I think that's what I like most about him and his blog.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- I have no conscious memory of becoming one. I just was. I actually have earlier memories of being a Lakers and Rams fan – we had Rams season tickets growing up, and the Lakers being on their 33-game winning streak in the 1971-72 season is my earliest sports memory. We just rooted for the local teams in those days and there was no reason for the Dodgers to be an exception. My earliest Dodger memory is watching Hank Aaron’s 715th home run in 1974 off Al Downing on TV – I was 6 1/2, and I know I was a fan of the team by then.
2. What got you into blogging?
- A combination of being bored at one point at work and having a friend who had started her own personal blog, back when blog was an almost completely unfamiliar term. One day it clicked for me that a blog would help with my boredom and provide an outlet for my thoughts about the Dodgers, even if at the time only my brother would be reading. I had no idea when I started that it would be a long-term thing.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- Originally, it was just to articulate some analysis and information about the Dodgers that the mainstream outlets weren’t providing. You have to understand that when I started this, you could hardly find any Dodger coverage that wasn’t more or less by the book. Nothing along the lines of what you see today. That being said, I still find angles that others don’t seem to see.
Then, over time, I have come to value Dodger Thoughts as an outlet to offer some more personal reflections. No matter how many people write about the Dodgers, I’m the only one who’s going to write about me.
But I also take pride in linking regularly to good work by others. There’s so much good stuff out there, and I always feel a strong itch to get people to read it. I could be wrong, but I’d venture that no one in the Dodger blogging world has been as dedicated to this as I am.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- I’d have to say the way the Dodger Thoughts commenting community came together a few years ago will always stick with me. There are some pieces I’ve written that I’m particularly proud of, but as far as experiences go, that community forming was once-in-a-lifetime. Even though it has mostly moved on to and grown in other places, I’ll always remember how it was.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- For games I actually attended, possibly Fernando’s no-hitter and Dennis Martinez’s perfect game. I’ve seen lots of dramatic moments – so many that if I tried I could list dozens - but those are the first that come to mind.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- I’ve been keeping count of this since 1991, and the tally is at 585 – all but probably about 10 of those at Dodger Stadium. My high for one season is 70. I’d guess that if you include the pre-1991 years, I’m approaching 1,000.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- Somehow I keep coming back to the two Pedros, Guerrero and Astacio. I just loved Guerrero as a hitter and was in awe of him, and, outside of Bill James calling him "the best hitter God has made in a long time” never felt he got enough credit. Astacio won me over for his childlike celebration when he pitched a shutout in his first major-league game. R.J. Reynolds is in similar company for me because of his squeeze bunt to win the 9/11/83 game that I always celebrate at Dodger Thoughts.
It’s not that there aren’t players from other eras that I don’t love, including Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw today, but I feel connected to Guerrero and Astacio the same way I feel connected to “Hill Street Blues” as my favorite TV show.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- At the risk of taking this too literally, the way you phrased the question (instead of asking which season is “most memorable”) rules out some more obvious choices. Not that I don’t have clear memories, but I wouldn’t necessarily say 1988 because I was away from Los Angeles most of that season, for college and summer jobs. And I kind of don’t want to say 1981, despite the World Series title, because the strike made a big chunk of that year vanish. I’m actually finding it hard not to say 2009, because it was a crazy year that came so close to a title – and because it was recent so I’m not struggling to remember as much…
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- Well, certainly Reynolds and Astacio didn’t inspire a ton of dedicated fans, but I don’t think anyone disliked them. Then there are guys like Hee Seop Choi and Jonathan Broxton, polarizing players who had plenty of diehard supporters. I wish I could think of someone that I was truly out on a limb for. Maybe Jose Offerman? I was defending him well past the point that anyone I knew was listening.
10. What do you the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- Well, it’s not rocket science – make intelligent decisions and get a little lucky. It’s hardly unachievable, which is what makes the current drought so frustrating. It’s much more likely to happen than not. But then again, my dad was raised a Cubs fan, so I know how it can go…
Showing posts with label Blogger Profile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogger Profile. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Dodger blogger profile: Ernest Reyes (Blue Heaven)
In the seventh part of my Dodger Blogger Profile series, I check in with Ernest Reyes of Blue Heaven.
If you're an L.A. sports fan, I'm sure you already know about the blog. It's one of the most comprehensive for all Los Angeles sports. It also has a card-collecting component, if you're into that stuff*.
*- I'm a recovering card-collecting junkie, so I'm certainly not judging.
Reyes was inspired by Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts and has been blogging since 2006.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- I’ve been a Dodger as long as I can remember. I was originally born in Inglewood and subsequently moved with my family at very young age to Orange County in the mid-to-late-'70s. I’m often asked why the Dodgers instead of the Angels since I was young enough to not have strong geographic ties? And to be frank, I don’t have a really good answer. For whatever reason, I always identified with the Dodgers. Whether it was the rise of Fernando Valenzuela, who I thought at my young age looked like my father, my nightly radio listening to Vin Scully in the summer or my understanding and respect for Dodger history. I just don’t know.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I became an active reader of blogs starting at about 2005. At the time it was mostly business and political blogs that struck my fancy, but soon I discovered sports blogs. Then, I ran into Jon Weisman’s Dodger Thoughts and immediately searched high and low for Dodger/Baseball blogs to read. Seeing that there were not many out there that really focused on my interest (around 2006), I figured I would give it a try. I wanted to do something a little different and decided to focus on two of my passions with the blog -- the Dodgers and collecting.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- My main goal when I started was to just fill up my time with something I enjoyed -- that is, talking about the team and my hobby. If you look back at my early post you’ll see that I was much more active in writing about specific games and the goings on with the team than collecting cards. I’ve now focused more on the hobby and collecting side of the Dodgers more so than talking about some of the happenings with the franchise. Who knows, maybe I go back to how I started and start doing game recaps again. I dunno, I guess you can say that I’m a little fickle like that.
Anyway, long story short, I ultimately want to just have fun with the blog. My earlier aspirations (dreams) that I might be able to make a living doing this have abated, so fun and recreation is my main motivation. That said, if someone wants to hire me to do this then I’m all ears.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- There are two that immediately come to mind. First, it was being invited to the Blogger Nights in a suite by the Dodger PR department. It truly has made this adventure worthwhile. The second reason is being able to spend an evening in the press box reporting on a game. Although I don’t know if I’d do it again (I had a very difficult time not cheering) I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- I think I kinda answered that above. Playing reporter for a game, being able to go to the press box, seeing Vin Scully (and being too scared to introduce myself), going into the clubhouse and standing on the field before the game. It was just awesome. Awesome!
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- I have no idea. While in college I went to quite a few. A college roommate my freshman year was more rabid than I was so we often went when time was available. As I’ve gotten older, being able to go has been more difficulty; especially considering I live in south OC.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- My all-time favorite Dodger is Jackie Robinson. I love the history of the franchise. When it comes to a favorite pitcher it would have to be Fernando Valenzuela.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 1988. That season, the playoffs and World Series still resonate vividly in my mind.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- This is a very good question and I don’t know if I have a good answer. Tom Niedenfuer, maybe? I’ve read the many complaints folks had about him, but I was fairly young when he was the closer and I always put a great amount of faith on him- even when things didn’t turn out the way we wanted. Still, I always liked the guy.
10. What do you the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- I think the Dodgers should focus on what has historically gotten them to the heights they have experienced. I always disliked Kevin Malone and the FOX takeover. It seemed like their focus was on long ball, free agent baseball, the big bang to satisfy the corporate honchos who wanted immediately results instead of focused attention to detail. I say go back to Dodger Baseball.
Draft well, nurture from within, focus on pitching and fundamentals on the field. Find a catcher whose main goal is handling the pitching staff while providing bonus at-bats. Run, bunt, move players along, small ball is what I think they should focus on. That to me is Dodger Baseball.
If you're an L.A. sports fan, I'm sure you already know about the blog. It's one of the most comprehensive for all Los Angeles sports. It also has a card-collecting component, if you're into that stuff*.
*- I'm a recovering card-collecting junkie, so I'm certainly not judging.
Reyes was inspired by Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts and has been blogging since 2006.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- I’ve been a Dodger as long as I can remember. I was originally born in Inglewood and subsequently moved with my family at very young age to Orange County in the mid-to-late-'70s. I’m often asked why the Dodgers instead of the Angels since I was young enough to not have strong geographic ties? And to be frank, I don’t have a really good answer. For whatever reason, I always identified with the Dodgers. Whether it was the rise of Fernando Valenzuela, who I thought at my young age looked like my father, my nightly radio listening to Vin Scully in the summer or my understanding and respect for Dodger history. I just don’t know.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I became an active reader of blogs starting at about 2005. At the time it was mostly business and political blogs that struck my fancy, but soon I discovered sports blogs. Then, I ran into Jon Weisman’s Dodger Thoughts and immediately searched high and low for Dodger/Baseball blogs to read. Seeing that there were not many out there that really focused on my interest (around 2006), I figured I would give it a try. I wanted to do something a little different and decided to focus on two of my passions with the blog -- the Dodgers and collecting.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- My main goal when I started was to just fill up my time with something I enjoyed -- that is, talking about the team and my hobby. If you look back at my early post you’ll see that I was much more active in writing about specific games and the goings on with the team than collecting cards. I’ve now focused more on the hobby and collecting side of the Dodgers more so than talking about some of the happenings with the franchise. Who knows, maybe I go back to how I started and start doing game recaps again. I dunno, I guess you can say that I’m a little fickle like that.
Anyway, long story short, I ultimately want to just have fun with the blog. My earlier aspirations (dreams) that I might be able to make a living doing this have abated, so fun and recreation is my main motivation. That said, if someone wants to hire me to do this then I’m all ears.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- There are two that immediately come to mind. First, it was being invited to the Blogger Nights in a suite by the Dodger PR department. It truly has made this adventure worthwhile. The second reason is being able to spend an evening in the press box reporting on a game. Although I don’t know if I’d do it again (I had a very difficult time not cheering) I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- I think I kinda answered that above. Playing reporter for a game, being able to go to the press box, seeing Vin Scully (and being too scared to introduce myself), going into the clubhouse and standing on the field before the game. It was just awesome. Awesome!
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- I have no idea. While in college I went to quite a few. A college roommate my freshman year was more rabid than I was so we often went when time was available. As I’ve gotten older, being able to go has been more difficulty; especially considering I live in south OC.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- My all-time favorite Dodger is Jackie Robinson. I love the history of the franchise. When it comes to a favorite pitcher it would have to be Fernando Valenzuela.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 1988. That season, the playoffs and World Series still resonate vividly in my mind.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- This is a very good question and I don’t know if I have a good answer. Tom Niedenfuer, maybe? I’ve read the many complaints folks had about him, but I was fairly young when he was the closer and I always put a great amount of faith on him- even when things didn’t turn out the way we wanted. Still, I always liked the guy.
10. What do you the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- I think the Dodgers should focus on what has historically gotten them to the heights they have experienced. I always disliked Kevin Malone and the FOX takeover. It seemed like their focus was on long ball, free agent baseball, the big bang to satisfy the corporate honchos who wanted immediately results instead of focused attention to detail. I say go back to Dodger Baseball.
Draft well, nurture from within, focus on pitching and fundamentals on the field. Find a catcher whose main goal is handling the pitching staff while providing bonus at-bats. Run, bunt, move players along, small ball is what I think they should focus on. That to me is Dodger Baseball.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Dodger blogger profile: Mike Petriello (Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness)
In the sixth part of my Dodger Blogger Profile series, I take a look at one of the best in the business -- Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness.
Petriello, one of the few Dodger bloggers I know of who isn't located anywhere near Los Angeles (New York, actually), does an excellent job breaking down everything Dodgers.
His blog is informative, analytical and gets tons of mentions all around the Internet. When looking for Dodger news and analysis, there's almost no better place.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- It's kind of a stupid story. Needless to say, 7-year-olds should not be allowed to make any life-altering decisions. Anyway, as you can tell from the linked story, I became a long-distance Dodger fan at 7, and was hugely invested in the Mike Piazza/Eric Karros/Hideo Nomo years (Piazza, particularly, as how could I not love a superstar Mike P from the East Coast?).
2. What got you into blogging?
- I was pretty disappointed when Piazza was traded -- see you in hell, Chase Carey -- and between that, the awful FOX sale and horrible Kevin Malone, I largely lost interest between 1999-2003 (not so coincidentally, my college years). My interest was once again piqued with the (Paul) Lo Duca trade and playoff run of 2004, and then even moreso in 2005 when I finally got Extra Innings and found a great place for Dodger discussion at dodgers.cc. After a year or two of posting long-winded opuses there, I figured I'd be better served putting them on a blog. Nearly five years later, it's still a thing.
3. What are some goals for your blog?
- The complete destruction of Bill Plaschke. I joke, but only partially. The line of thinking he perpetrates is just so wrong-headed that I almost feel an obligation to set the story straight. I enjoy having a place where I can put out analysis that's hopefully both informed and entertaining, and I'd do that even if absolutely no one read it.
4. What's the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Doing this blog has really opened up a lot of doors. In addition to writing for Baseball Prospectus and meeting some good real-life friends, I've been interviewed by the Boston Globe and on SNY, and been able to make baseball contacts I never would have otherwise.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- It wasn't technically a Dodger game -- by which I mean, it was in no way an actual Dodger game -- but I was lucky enough to attend the 1996 All-Star Game in Philadelphia, where Piazza bashed a homer right over my seats in left and won the MVP.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended?
- I've seen Dodgers games all over the country; aside from Dodger Stadium, I've seen them in Boston, both Philadelphia parks, both Mets parks, Pittsburgh, and at least four or five spring training games in Arizona and Florida.
7. Who is your favorite all-time Dodger player and pitcher?
- Piazza, for sure. It's kind of a cop-out to say (Matt) Kemp and (Clayton) Kershaw now, but somehow saying "A.J. Ellis and Scott Elbert" doesn't have the same cache.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- You'll laugh, but probably 2005. It was the first time I really committed to watching and discussing them on a full-time basis, and that team was so bad that it was kind of entertaining. I also played about a billion games of "MVP 2006" with that team, and that was the one with the lefty bug, so I think I bopped 46 homers with Cesar Izturis. Good times.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- I absolutely thought Hee-Seop Choi would have made it. Still think he might have, if Jim Tracy didn't insist on playing the awful Jason Phillips at first base. Oh, and Charlie Haeger. I wanted Haeger to work out so badly.
10. What do you think the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- Obviously, losing McCourt and Colletti are paramount. Then, signing Kershaw long-term. Really though, re-investing in scouting and the system is key. It's criminal that they're the lowest spending team in those areas, and as you can see, it's really hurting the big club.
Petriello, one of the few Dodger bloggers I know of who isn't located anywhere near Los Angeles (New York, actually), does an excellent job breaking down everything Dodgers.
His blog is informative, analytical and gets tons of mentions all around the Internet. When looking for Dodger news and analysis, there's almost no better place.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- It's kind of a stupid story. Needless to say, 7-year-olds should not be allowed to make any life-altering decisions. Anyway, as you can tell from the linked story, I became a long-distance Dodger fan at 7, and was hugely invested in the Mike Piazza/Eric Karros/Hideo Nomo years (Piazza, particularly, as how could I not love a superstar Mike P from the East Coast?).
2. What got you into blogging?
- I was pretty disappointed when Piazza was traded -- see you in hell, Chase Carey -- and between that, the awful FOX sale and horrible Kevin Malone, I largely lost interest between 1999-2003 (not so coincidentally, my college years). My interest was once again piqued with the (Paul) Lo Duca trade and playoff run of 2004, and then even moreso in 2005 when I finally got Extra Innings and found a great place for Dodger discussion at dodgers.cc. After a year or two of posting long-winded opuses there, I figured I'd be better served putting them on a blog. Nearly five years later, it's still a thing.
3. What are some goals for your blog?
- The complete destruction of Bill Plaschke. I joke, but only partially. The line of thinking he perpetrates is just so wrong-headed that I almost feel an obligation to set the story straight. I enjoy having a place where I can put out analysis that's hopefully both informed and entertaining, and I'd do that even if absolutely no one read it.
4. What's the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Doing this blog has really opened up a lot of doors. In addition to writing for Baseball Prospectus and meeting some good real-life friends, I've been interviewed by the Boston Globe and on SNY, and been able to make baseball contacts I never would have otherwise.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- It wasn't technically a Dodger game -- by which I mean, it was in no way an actual Dodger game -- but I was lucky enough to attend the 1996 All-Star Game in Philadelphia, where Piazza bashed a homer right over my seats in left and won the MVP.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended?
- I've seen Dodgers games all over the country; aside from Dodger Stadium, I've seen them in Boston, both Philadelphia parks, both Mets parks, Pittsburgh, and at least four or five spring training games in Arizona and Florida.
7. Who is your favorite all-time Dodger player and pitcher?
- Piazza, for sure. It's kind of a cop-out to say (Matt) Kemp and (Clayton) Kershaw now, but somehow saying "A.J. Ellis and Scott Elbert" doesn't have the same cache.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- You'll laugh, but probably 2005. It was the first time I really committed to watching and discussing them on a full-time basis, and that team was so bad that it was kind of entertaining. I also played about a billion games of "MVP 2006" with that team, and that was the one with the lefty bug, so I think I bopped 46 homers with Cesar Izturis. Good times.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- I absolutely thought Hee-Seop Choi would have made it. Still think he might have, if Jim Tracy didn't insist on playing the awful Jason Phillips at first base. Oh, and Charlie Haeger. I wanted Haeger to work out so badly.
10. What do you think the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- Obviously, losing McCourt and Colletti are paramount. Then, signing Kershaw long-term. Really though, re-investing in scouting and the system is key. It's criminal that they're the lowest spending team in those areas, and as you can see, it's really hurting the big club.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Dodger blogger profile: Chad Moriyama (Chad Moriyama, True Blue L.A.)
In the fifth part of my mini-profiles on fellow Dodger bloggers, I catch up with Chad Moriyama. He used to run the now defunct Memories of Kevin Malone. Now, he writes for True Blue L.A. on occasion and started a new blog, aptly named ChadMoriyama.com.
Chad lives in Hawaii -- the same place I was born -- and he kind of stumbled into not only his Dodger fandom, but also blogging.
The piece I remember him for most is his breakdown of Matt Kemp's swing from 2010 (which he mentions below). It's a fascinating read and it appears Kemp doesn't struggle with a lot of the things Chad mention's anymore.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- As I explain on my site, I didn't really have a choice in the matter. I'm not sure exactly when I seriously started following the every move of the Dodgers, but for as long as I can remember, my dad has had me brainwashed. He is a big Dodgers fan and he passed that down to me.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I got into blogging as a joke, actually. I was tired of complaining to friends and family about how stupid the Dodgers were and how terrible mainstream analysis was, so I started writing as a place to vent. Apparently people liked my writing, and so I continued on with it.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- I don't think I've ever had goals as a blogger. I guess the end goal would be writing for mainstream sites, but whether that happens or not is just gravy at this point. I'm just appreciative and surprised that as many people care about what I say as they do now.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Best experience is probably getting featured on ESPN MLB's main page, as well as having my analysis of Chad Billingsley and Matt Kemp spread all over the 'net.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- Memorable? Honestly, the first thing that pops into my head is being amped to see Kevin Brown start, only to have him lay this egg against the Pirates. Oh and getting a direct line of sight to Carlos Perez beating up the water cooler with the bat.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended?
- Geez...7? All at Dodger Stadium.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- Player is between Mike Piazza and Matt Kemp. Pitcher is between Orel Hershiser and Clayton Kershaw.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 2008 because it was the first time I had ever seen the Dodgers win a series in the playoffs.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- I remember really liking Antonio Osuna for some reason, but I can't remember how popular he was. I assume people liked him because he was good, but I was unusually intrigued by him. I think it was the baller gold chain and swagger.
10. What do you think the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- Would like to see them re-invest in the Dominican Republic and the international scene, in general.
Chad lives in Hawaii -- the same place I was born -- and he kind of stumbled into not only his Dodger fandom, but also blogging.
The piece I remember him for most is his breakdown of Matt Kemp's swing from 2010 (which he mentions below). It's a fascinating read and it appears Kemp doesn't struggle with a lot of the things Chad mention's anymore.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- As I explain on my site, I didn't really have a choice in the matter. I'm not sure exactly when I seriously started following the every move of the Dodgers, but for as long as I can remember, my dad has had me brainwashed. He is a big Dodgers fan and he passed that down to me.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I got into blogging as a joke, actually. I was tired of complaining to friends and family about how stupid the Dodgers were and how terrible mainstream analysis was, so I started writing as a place to vent. Apparently people liked my writing, and so I continued on with it.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- I don't think I've ever had goals as a blogger. I guess the end goal would be writing for mainstream sites, but whether that happens or not is just gravy at this point. I'm just appreciative and surprised that as many people care about what I say as they do now.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Best experience is probably getting featured on ESPN MLB's main page, as well as having my analysis of Chad Billingsley and Matt Kemp spread all over the 'net.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- Memorable? Honestly, the first thing that pops into my head is being amped to see Kevin Brown start, only to have him lay this egg against the Pirates. Oh and getting a direct line of sight to Carlos Perez beating up the water cooler with the bat.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended?
- Geez...7? All at Dodger Stadium.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- Player is between Mike Piazza and Matt Kemp. Pitcher is between Orel Hershiser and Clayton Kershaw.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 2008 because it was the first time I had ever seen the Dodgers win a series in the playoffs.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- I remember really liking Antonio Osuna for some reason, but I can't remember how popular he was. I assume people liked him because he was good, but I was unusually intrigued by him. I think it was the baller gold chain and swagger.
10. What do you think the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- Would like to see them re-invest in the Dominican Republic and the international scene, in general.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Dodger blogger profile: Kenny Shulsen (Lasorda's Lair)
In the fourth of my Dodger blogger profile series, I bring you Kenny Shulsen of Lasorda's Lair.
Lasorda's Lair is a part of the Fansided Network, which is similar to the YardBarker Network, the network this blog belongs to.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- My Grandpa lived in Santa Barbara and his company has suite level season tickets. I spent a month every summer going to games and listening to Vin Scully on a transistor radio he bought me. The tipping point was going to a game at Dodger Stadium during the 1977 World Series when I was 8. After that, I was hooked.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I spent a lot of time on various Dodger blogs and message boards. I have a master's degree in history, so I've always been a writer. I came across an ad on FanSided saying it was looking for writers for its Dodger site and the rest just kind of happened.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- To be an independent voice about the Dodgers. I strive to provide factual data always based on statistical analysis. I'd like to turn it into one of the sites that Dodger fans check in with everyday to get a unique perspective of what's going on with the franchise.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Going to Dodger Stadium as a member of the press and interviewing Don Mattingly one-on-one in the Dodger dugout. It was the day MLB took over the Dodgers. Reporters kept hammering Mattingly about the takeover, he kept giving them the same answer. When Ned Colletti appeared, they all flocked to him. Mattingly looked at me and said "So, do you have any baseball stuff you want to talk about?" We talked baseball for about 15 minutes. It was awesome.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- The same as above, having a spot in the press box, going into the clubhouse and stepping on the field at Dodger Stadium for the first time.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended?
- Approximately 75 overall and 50-plus at Dodger Stadium.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- My favorite player was Mike Piazza, I was literally devastated when they traded him. Orel Hershiser was my favorite pitcher, what he did in 1988 was remarkable and I don't think will ever be matched. Eric Gagne is a very close second. I loved watching him develop as a closer and to hear how excited Vin would get when "Game Over" would come into the game. And again, 84 saves in a row is a record that isn't going to be broken.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 1981. I was old enough to appreciate my team making it to the World Series and that was the year they finally beat the Yankees, especially after falling behind in the series 2-0. I remember sitting in the same chair for every game.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- Franklin Stubbs, I don't know why but I always really liked him and always thought he was going to be great. He did have a really good World Series in 1988.
10. What do you think the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- They need to reinvest in their player development system. Logan White is one of the best in the business. They have gotten away from spending money in the Dominican Republic and drafting and developing young players. For decades, that was the hallmark of the Dodgers system. Of course, they can't do that until they get rid of McCourt.
Lasorda's Lair is a part of the Fansided Network, which is similar to the YardBarker Network, the network this blog belongs to.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- My Grandpa lived in Santa Barbara and his company has suite level season tickets. I spent a month every summer going to games and listening to Vin Scully on a transistor radio he bought me. The tipping point was going to a game at Dodger Stadium during the 1977 World Series when I was 8. After that, I was hooked.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I spent a lot of time on various Dodger blogs and message boards. I have a master's degree in history, so I've always been a writer. I came across an ad on FanSided saying it was looking for writers for its Dodger site and the rest just kind of happened.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- To be an independent voice about the Dodgers. I strive to provide factual data always based on statistical analysis. I'd like to turn it into one of the sites that Dodger fans check in with everyday to get a unique perspective of what's going on with the franchise.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Going to Dodger Stadium as a member of the press and interviewing Don Mattingly one-on-one in the Dodger dugout. It was the day MLB took over the Dodgers. Reporters kept hammering Mattingly about the takeover, he kept giving them the same answer. When Ned Colletti appeared, they all flocked to him. Mattingly looked at me and said "So, do you have any baseball stuff you want to talk about?" We talked baseball for about 15 minutes. It was awesome.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- The same as above, having a spot in the press box, going into the clubhouse and stepping on the field at Dodger Stadium for the first time.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended?
- Approximately 75 overall and 50-plus at Dodger Stadium.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- My favorite player was Mike Piazza, I was literally devastated when they traded him. Orel Hershiser was my favorite pitcher, what he did in 1988 was remarkable and I don't think will ever be matched. Eric Gagne is a very close second. I loved watching him develop as a closer and to hear how excited Vin would get when "Game Over" would come into the game. And again, 84 saves in a row is a record that isn't going to be broken.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 1981. I was old enough to appreciate my team making it to the World Series and that was the year they finally beat the Yankees, especially after falling behind in the series 2-0. I remember sitting in the same chair for every game.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- Franklin Stubbs, I don't know why but I always really liked him and always thought he was going to be great. He did have a really good World Series in 1988.
10. What do you think the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- They need to reinvest in their player development system. Logan White is one of the best in the business. They have gotten away from spending money in the Dominican Republic and drafting and developing young players. For decades, that was the hallmark of the Dodgers system. Of course, they can't do that until they get rid of McCourt.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Dodger blogger profile: Greg Zakwin (Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle)
This is a the third in a series of Dodger blogger profiles. This time we look at Greg Zakwin, who runs Plaschke Thy Sweater is Argyle and Memories of Kevin Malone.
Along with being into everything Dodgers, he's also an avid collector of sports cards and memorabilia. And, he just celebrated a birthday on Sunday.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- My parents were Dodgers' fans, so I grew up loving the Dodgers. Plus, Mike Piazza was a badass.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I had been reading Chad Moriyama's work at Memories of Kevin Malone (née Fire Ned Colletti Now), and I wanted an outlet to voice my opinions outside of simply commenting on Chad's posts. I had some free time before I started at UCLA and decided the time was right to give blogging a shot.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- Continue to improve in what I do both at my own blog and at Memories of Kevin Malone. Eventually, I'd love to earn a press pass and attend a Dodgers' Blogger Night and be able to recap my experience and what it’s like meeting other and much more successful Dodger bloggers. Long-term, I hope that my writing can eventually lead to a career in the sports industry in some fashion.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Meeting all of the wonderful people I’ve come into contact with, both fellow Dodger bloggers and others since I've begun posting more on cards. Also, on a few occasions I've had some of the bigger names in the Dodger blogging world – Jon Weisman, Mike Petriello – give me a shout-out, and it’s hard to describe how amazing it is when someone much better at what you do recognizes you in some fashion.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- As a kid, I was part of a group of little leaguers who had the opportunity to go on the field. I had my picture taken with Jose Vizcaino (whoopee!) and ended up with a batting practice home run ball that most likely came off of the bat of Mark McGwire.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- Oooh, I can’t give an exact number, but say, 25 or so. I can’t recall seeing the Dodgers play anywhere but at Dodger Stadium.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- Player: Piazza growing up, Matt Kemp now. So a tie there. Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw. Though, I'd be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I love Sandy Koufax.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 2004, primarily because of Steve Finley’s walk-off Grand Slam to send the Dodges to the playoffs. My best friend called me literally a second after it happened and we were both elated and screaming for joy.
2008 and 2009 deserve a mention as well, simply because of the potential that lay ahead after the runs the Dodgers made those seasons. But atrocious trades and signings, and the McCourt issues, have all but washed away all hope not named Kemp and Kershaw.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- Jonathan Broxton. Blake DeWitt. Though, he was initially very popular, toward the end of his Dodger career, Russ Martin began to be hated by many. I was not one of those people. And, of course, Carlos Santana.
10. What do you the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- Sign Kemp and Kershaw long-term, first and foremost. Get better management and player evaluators, and move away from constantly singing and trading for aging, mediocre at best veterans while in the process giving up on the young talent that can be placed around your core to work towards a championship.
Along with being into everything Dodgers, he's also an avid collector of sports cards and memorabilia. And, he just celebrated a birthday on Sunday.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- My parents were Dodgers' fans, so I grew up loving the Dodgers. Plus, Mike Piazza was a badass.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I had been reading Chad Moriyama's work at Memories of Kevin Malone (née Fire Ned Colletti Now), and I wanted an outlet to voice my opinions outside of simply commenting on Chad's posts. I had some free time before I started at UCLA and decided the time was right to give blogging a shot.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- Continue to improve in what I do both at my own blog and at Memories of Kevin Malone. Eventually, I'd love to earn a press pass and attend a Dodgers' Blogger Night and be able to recap my experience and what it’s like meeting other and much more successful Dodger bloggers. Long-term, I hope that my writing can eventually lead to a career in the sports industry in some fashion.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Meeting all of the wonderful people I’ve come into contact with, both fellow Dodger bloggers and others since I've begun posting more on cards. Also, on a few occasions I've had some of the bigger names in the Dodger blogging world – Jon Weisman, Mike Petriello – give me a shout-out, and it’s hard to describe how amazing it is when someone much better at what you do recognizes you in some fashion.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- As a kid, I was part of a group of little leaguers who had the opportunity to go on the field. I had my picture taken with Jose Vizcaino (whoopee!) and ended up with a batting practice home run ball that most likely came off of the bat of Mark McGwire.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- Oooh, I can’t give an exact number, but say, 25 or so. I can’t recall seeing the Dodgers play anywhere but at Dodger Stadium.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- Player: Piazza growing up, Matt Kemp now. So a tie there. Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw. Though, I'd be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I love Sandy Koufax.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 2004, primarily because of Steve Finley’s walk-off Grand Slam to send the Dodges to the playoffs. My best friend called me literally a second after it happened and we were both elated and screaming for joy.
2008 and 2009 deserve a mention as well, simply because of the potential that lay ahead after the runs the Dodgers made those seasons. But atrocious trades and signings, and the McCourt issues, have all but washed away all hope not named Kemp and Kershaw.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- Jonathan Broxton. Blake DeWitt. Though, he was initially very popular, toward the end of his Dodger career, Russ Martin began to be hated by many. I was not one of those people. And, of course, Carlos Santana.
10. What do you the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- Sign Kemp and Kershaw long-term, first and foremost. Get better management and player evaluators, and move away from constantly singing and trading for aging, mediocre at best veterans while in the process giving up on the young talent that can be placed around your core to work towards a championship.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Dodger blogger profile: Evan Bladh (Opinion of Kingman's Performance)
In the second installment of my Dodger blogger profile series, Evan Bladh of Opinion of Kingman's Performance answers my questions.
His blog is chock full of current Dodger news/opinion and interesting, lesser-known past Dodger happenings, including a post on Sid Borgia and how he "changed the course of Dodger history."
Some of his posts have caught the eye of Dodger Thoughts' Jon Weisman on a few occasions.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- My father worked for a company that sponsored the Dodgers when they first came to Los Angeles. So, he was always bringing us home little Dodger trinkets from work. Balls, miniature bats, pennants, signed photos; things like that. So, my Dodger fanaticism was ingrained in me at an early age. That would have been in the mid-1960s.
My first Dodger memory was the day after my 4th birthday in 1965. My brothers were screaming at the TV because John Roseboro was getting clubbed over the head with Juan Marichal’s bat. I was too young to understand what was going on, but I vividly remember the emotion of the event. The first game that I ever attended was May 13, 1970. I looked it up through the magic of baseball-reference.com. It was a 6-5 Dodger loss to Houston. That was one of the most magical nights of my life. Dodger Stadium was astonishingly beautiful. Those home white unis were so bright. The colors, sounds, smells, everything... I was hooked. As a 9-year-old kid, walking into Dodger Stadium with my dad, it didn’t get better than that. I still can’t believe that there were only 11,612 fans at that game.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I kind of got into it by accident. Call it fate if you will. I intended on studying journalism when I entered college, but I got side-tracked and dual majored in political science and Spanish instead; and then got the MBA. Though sports and writing about baseball was a passion, I simply couldn’t see going after that type of work as a vocation, so my career path went in a completely different arena (law enforcement). I always have stayed in close touch with the Dodgers, no matter where I have lived, be it overseas, Phoenix, Washington D.C., San Diego and currently, San Francisco.
When Al Gore invented the Internet, I started participating in message boards and developed some friendships with fellow Dodger fans over the net. I met a few fellow posters at Vero Beach, Dodger Stadium and even in San Francisco at Phone Bill Park. Once I saw that some had created blogs of their own I thought, “Gee, I could do that too.” Finally, when I was on vacation during the Christmas holidays I decided to start it up. Now it has developed into a passion and I’m constantly thinking of material to present.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- My goal is to put out unique, good quality stuff. I know I fall short of that often. It’s tough to come up with fresh, interesting material daily. I try to inject a bit of humor sometimes. Opinion of Kingman’s Performance is not strictly a baseball blog. I try to throw little nuances of life events in there. I’ll voice my opinion definitely and if I see some breaking news, I’ll get it out there, but that isn’t the goal of my blog. My goal is to simply be another voice and opinion. A fan’s point of view. Additionally, I like to provide a Dodger fan’s perspective living amongst the enemy in Giant territory, though I fear that I sometimes become obsessed with that. I am amazed at the vitriol and hatred for all things L.A. related up here. It is the ultimate of inferiority complexes. I call it when I see it. I realize that I need to tone things back a bit in that area though.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- I wrote a piece on my father around his birthday in March. His health had been failing due to a stroke and dementia was really getting to be a serious issue. My mother read him my piece and he cried. It was the last real connection that we had. We spoke on the phone for the last times that day. He died 45 days later and by the time I got to him, he wasn’t able to communicate or recognize me. But I have the knowledge that what I wrote about him, touched his heart. If I hadn’t started writing the blog, I would have never expressed those feelings for my dad. He was a great man. I used much of what at wrote in the Eulogy at his funeral.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- My son and I were present to watch the Dodger clinch a playoff spot (the Wild Card) at San Francisco, AT&T Park. We just stood there in awe and took it in as the Giant faithful filed out. It was a great day because we had taken so much abuse from those fans since moving out to S.F. in 1996.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- It has to be more than 500. I attended many at Dodger Stadium during my youth where I was a regular in the Left Field Pavilion during the magical 1974 season. Now that I live up north, I see them when they come to town four or five times a season here.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- I seem to always root for the underdog. The guy that can’t quite crack into the lineup, but when he does, he’s a gem. Ken McMullen was a favorite pinch hitter in the 70s. I mentioned him once in a blog post. I’d have to say that my favorite everyday player in the 70s was Bill Buckner. I was crushed when he was traded. Many fail to remember how that guy hustled, that he once had great speed and he’d make diving catches crashing into those unpadded left field walls. I was too young to remember Koufax and Drysdale, but I was around for Sutton and he was a favorite. When he got in the fight with Garvey in the clubhouse, I even liked him more. Never was much of a fan of the Garv. On today's team Clayton Kershaw is my favorite player.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 1974 was my favorite because it was the first Pennant winning team that I experienced as a fan. We took down the Big Red Machine and the kids were starting to gel. Mike Marshall, the Cy Young Award winner was just an amazing closer and pitched in something like 106 games, often 3 or 4 innings to close things out.
My teenage brother would take me to games in the Left Field Pavilion. We’d get there early and ball hawk, chat with Francis Friedman, and cheer like mad. Jimmy Wynn had a great year. Garvey was an MVP, Sutton and Messersmith nearly un-hittable. It was a 104 win season. That’s what it took to beat the great Red teams because 95 games the year before left us behind in second place by 3.5 games.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- That was probably Bill Russell. He was given the shortstop position over fan favorite Maury Wills and it wasn’t his natural position. Russell was a fantastic defensive outfielder and here he was learning to play one of the toughest defensive positions while in the majors. I know he led the league in errors. Something like 40 in 1972. He was booed unmercifully, but Alston stuck with him. I liked Russell’s grit and determination.
More recently I liked both Jayson Werth and Cody Ross. If you were to check my postings on Dodger message boards a few years back, I was livid we let those guys go in favor of players like Jose Cruz, Jr., Kenny Lofton, Luis Gonzalez and Ricky Ledee.
10. What do you the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- We were close just a few years ago and now that goal seems so distant. We need another impact bat akin to what Manny Ramirez was. Who that is? A perfect fit would be Albert Pujols, maybe Prince Fielder, but in order for that to happen, the ownership has to change to someone with deep pockets. If that were to occur, things could be real fun. A lot of things would need to fall into place. Some of the young pitching would have to turn into something special. If Billingsley, Kershaw and De La Rosa continue to progress, that’s a strong young pitching core. Add Zach Lee and Chris Withrow to the rotation and we may be in good shape. Kemp, and to a lesser extent, Ethier need to be included in the future, though I wouldn’t be opposed to dealing Ethier for some future young talent.
I really believe in some of the young kids and I think that they will will pan out. I’m talking about Dee Gordon (very exciting player with so much upside), Jerry Sands, Trayvon Robinson and possibly Ivan De Jesus, Jr.
His blog is chock full of current Dodger news/opinion and interesting, lesser-known past Dodger happenings, including a post on Sid Borgia and how he "changed the course of Dodger history."
Some of his posts have caught the eye of Dodger Thoughts' Jon Weisman on a few occasions.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- My father worked for a company that sponsored the Dodgers when they first came to Los Angeles. So, he was always bringing us home little Dodger trinkets from work. Balls, miniature bats, pennants, signed photos; things like that. So, my Dodger fanaticism was ingrained in me at an early age. That would have been in the mid-1960s.
My first Dodger memory was the day after my 4th birthday in 1965. My brothers were screaming at the TV because John Roseboro was getting clubbed over the head with Juan Marichal’s bat. I was too young to understand what was going on, but I vividly remember the emotion of the event. The first game that I ever attended was May 13, 1970. I looked it up through the magic of baseball-reference.com. It was a 6-5 Dodger loss to Houston. That was one of the most magical nights of my life. Dodger Stadium was astonishingly beautiful. Those home white unis were so bright. The colors, sounds, smells, everything... I was hooked. As a 9-year-old kid, walking into Dodger Stadium with my dad, it didn’t get better than that. I still can’t believe that there were only 11,612 fans at that game.
2. What got you into blogging?
- I kind of got into it by accident. Call it fate if you will. I intended on studying journalism when I entered college, but I got side-tracked and dual majored in political science and Spanish instead; and then got the MBA. Though sports and writing about baseball was a passion, I simply couldn’t see going after that type of work as a vocation, so my career path went in a completely different arena (law enforcement). I always have stayed in close touch with the Dodgers, no matter where I have lived, be it overseas, Phoenix, Washington D.C., San Diego and currently, San Francisco.
When Al Gore invented the Internet, I started participating in message boards and developed some friendships with fellow Dodger fans over the net. I met a few fellow posters at Vero Beach, Dodger Stadium and even in San Francisco at Phone Bill Park. Once I saw that some had created blogs of their own I thought, “Gee, I could do that too.” Finally, when I was on vacation during the Christmas holidays I decided to start it up. Now it has developed into a passion and I’m constantly thinking of material to present.
3. What are some of goals for your blog?
- My goal is to put out unique, good quality stuff. I know I fall short of that often. It’s tough to come up with fresh, interesting material daily. I try to inject a bit of humor sometimes. Opinion of Kingman’s Performance is not strictly a baseball blog. I try to throw little nuances of life events in there. I’ll voice my opinion definitely and if I see some breaking news, I’ll get it out there, but that isn’t the goal of my blog. My goal is to simply be another voice and opinion. A fan’s point of view. Additionally, I like to provide a Dodger fan’s perspective living amongst the enemy in Giant territory, though I fear that I sometimes become obsessed with that. I am amazed at the vitriol and hatred for all things L.A. related up here. It is the ultimate of inferiority complexes. I call it when I see it. I realize that I need to tone things back a bit in that area though.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- I wrote a piece on my father around his birthday in March. His health had been failing due to a stroke and dementia was really getting to be a serious issue. My mother read him my piece and he cried. It was the last real connection that we had. We spoke on the phone for the last times that day. He died 45 days later and by the time I got to him, he wasn’t able to communicate or recognize me. But I have the knowledge that what I wrote about him, touched his heart. If I hadn’t started writing the blog, I would have never expressed those feelings for my dad. He was a great man. I used much of what at wrote in the Eulogy at his funeral.
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodgers' experience?
- My son and I were present to watch the Dodger clinch a playoff spot (the Wild Card) at San Francisco, AT&T Park. We just stood there in awe and took it in as the Giant faithful filed out. It was a great day because we had taken so much abuse from those fans since moving out to S.F. in 1996.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- It has to be more than 500. I attended many at Dodger Stadium during my youth where I was a regular in the Left Field Pavilion during the magical 1974 season. Now that I live up north, I see them when they come to town four or five times a season here.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- I seem to always root for the underdog. The guy that can’t quite crack into the lineup, but when he does, he’s a gem. Ken McMullen was a favorite pinch hitter in the 70s. I mentioned him once in a blog post. I’d have to say that my favorite everyday player in the 70s was Bill Buckner. I was crushed when he was traded. Many fail to remember how that guy hustled, that he once had great speed and he’d make diving catches crashing into those unpadded left field walls. I was too young to remember Koufax and Drysdale, but I was around for Sutton and he was a favorite. When he got in the fight with Garvey in the clubhouse, I even liked him more. Never was much of a fan of the Garv. On today's team Clayton Kershaw is my favorite player.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- 1974 was my favorite because it was the first Pennant winning team that I experienced as a fan. We took down the Big Red Machine and the kids were starting to gel. Mike Marshall, the Cy Young Award winner was just an amazing closer and pitched in something like 106 games, often 3 or 4 innings to close things out.
My teenage brother would take me to games in the Left Field Pavilion. We’d get there early and ball hawk, chat with Francis Friedman, and cheer like mad. Jimmy Wynn had a great year. Garvey was an MVP, Sutton and Messersmith nearly un-hittable. It was a 104 win season. That’s what it took to beat the great Red teams because 95 games the year before left us behind in second place by 3.5 games.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- That was probably Bill Russell. He was given the shortstop position over fan favorite Maury Wills and it wasn’t his natural position. Russell was a fantastic defensive outfielder and here he was learning to play one of the toughest defensive positions while in the majors. I know he led the league in errors. Something like 40 in 1972. He was booed unmercifully, but Alston stuck with him. I liked Russell’s grit and determination.
More recently I liked both Jayson Werth and Cody Ross. If you were to check my postings on Dodger message boards a few years back, I was livid we let those guys go in favor of players like Jose Cruz, Jr., Kenny Lofton, Luis Gonzalez and Ricky Ledee.
10. What do you the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- We were close just a few years ago and now that goal seems so distant. We need another impact bat akin to what Manny Ramirez was. Who that is? A perfect fit would be Albert Pujols, maybe Prince Fielder, but in order for that to happen, the ownership has to change to someone with deep pockets. If that were to occur, things could be real fun. A lot of things would need to fall into place. Some of the young pitching would have to turn into something special. If Billingsley, Kershaw and De La Rosa continue to progress, that’s a strong young pitching core. Add Zach Lee and Chris Withrow to the rotation and we may be in good shape. Kemp, and to a lesser extent, Ethier need to be included in the future, though I wouldn’t be opposed to dealing Ethier for some future young talent.
I really believe in some of the young kids and I think that they will will pan out. I’m talking about Dee Gordon (very exciting player with so much upside), Jerry Sands, Trayvon Robinson and possibly Ivan De Jesus, Jr.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Dodger blogger profile: Jared Massey (L.A. Dodger Talk)
This is the first in a series of profiles on those who blog the Dodgers. It's always interesting to hear the reasons for Dodger fandom and blogging.
This profile is on Jared Massey. He writes for L.A. Dodger Talk and is an expert in all things Dodger prospects. I have known him on Dodger message boards for a good 7-8 years.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- I was born a Dodger fan. Went to my first game in the womb.
2. What got you into blogging?
- In 2004 I started following the Dodgers' minor leagues and would post nightly recaps on the Scout.com message board. After I cluttered a few threads, I created my own blog. Last year, Mark Timmons asked me to join LAdodgertalk.com and the rest is history.
3. What are some goals for your blog?
- I'd like to continue providing fans with a place to congregate and share ideas/celebration/misery. I'd also like to continue providing exclusive content, including analysis, interviews and in-depth minor league coverage.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Interviewing Logan White this spring was a great experience. I'd wanted to meet him since 2004 and spent an hour talking Dodgers with him and Mark. That was a lot of fun and very informative. White interviews: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, most recent interview
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodger experience?
- Game 3 of the 2008 NLCS. It was the Dodgers' first NLCS win since '88. The crowd was amazing. There was electricity in the air.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- Dozens. I used to go to several a year with my mom growing up.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- My favorite all time Dodger player is Jackie Robinson and my favorite all time Dodger pitcher is Clayton Kershaw.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- Probably 2004. It was the first year where I considered myself a hardcore fan and Finley's walk off grand slam against the Giants to clinch the division was a great moment in Dodger history. Plus, they won their first postseason game since '88 behind a complete game performance from the late Jose Lima.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- I was in the minority as a Hee Seop Choi supporter. I still remember his 7 homers in 4 games. Too bad Tracy never really gave him a chance.
10. What do the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- The Dodgers need to continue developing players from within and retain their homegrown stars. Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw are two of the best players in baseball and should be retained at (nearly) any cost. Building around them is key, as recent contracts like the ones given to Ted Lilly and Juan Uribe hinder the club's ability to address immediate needs and fill holes going forward. Hopefully the organization will hang on to these elite talents and do a better job of surrounding them with talent in the future.
This profile is on Jared Massey. He writes for L.A. Dodger Talk and is an expert in all things Dodger prospects. I have known him on Dodger message boards for a good 7-8 years.
1. How did you become a Dodgers' fan?
- I was born a Dodger fan. Went to my first game in the womb.
2. What got you into blogging?
- In 2004 I started following the Dodgers' minor leagues and would post nightly recaps on the Scout.com message board. After I cluttered a few threads, I created my own blog. Last year, Mark Timmons asked me to join LAdodgertalk.com and the rest is history.
3. What are some goals for your blog?
- I'd like to continue providing fans with a place to congregate and share ideas/celebration/misery. I'd also like to continue providing exclusive content, including analysis, interviews and in-depth minor league coverage.
4. What is the best experience you've had since blogging?
- Interviewing Logan White this spring was a great experience. I'd wanted to meet him since 2004 and spent an hour talking Dodgers with him and Mark. That was a lot of fun and very informative. White interviews: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, most recent interview
5. What is your most memorable in-person Dodger experience?
- Game 3 of the 2008 NLCS. It was the Dodgers' first NLCS win since '88. The crowd was amazing. There was electricity in the air.
6. How many Dodger games have you attended? At Dodger Stadium?
- Dozens. I used to go to several a year with my mom growing up.
7. Who is your all-time favorite Dodger player and pitcher?
- My favorite all time Dodger player is Jackie Robinson and my favorite all time Dodger pitcher is Clayton Kershaw.
8. What season of Dodgers' baseball do you remember most? Why?
- Probably 2004. It was the first year where I considered myself a hardcore fan and Finley's walk off grand slam against the Giants to clinch the division was a great moment in Dodger history. Plus, they won their first postseason game since '88 behind a complete game performance from the late Jose Lima.
9. Who is the Dodger you liked that no one else seemed to like?
- I was in the minority as a Hee Seop Choi supporter. I still remember his 7 homers in 4 games. Too bad Tracy never really gave him a chance.
10. What do the Dodgers need to do to win another World Series in your lifetime (save axing McCourt and Colletti)?
- The Dodgers need to continue developing players from within and retain their homegrown stars. Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw are two of the best players in baseball and should be retained at (nearly) any cost. Building around them is key, as recent contracts like the ones given to Ted Lilly and Juan Uribe hinder the club's ability to address immediate needs and fill holes going forward. Hopefully the organization will hang on to these elite talents and do a better job of surrounding them with talent in the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)