June 2010
Dem Bums. Damn Yankees!
Yankees took the series tonight after a disheartening Dodger loss, which should have been over at 8pm with the Dodgers winning 6-2 , but thanks to a 4-run 9th & extra innings, Yankees took the cake from our hands at 9pm.
First match-up gave us what looked to be an uneven match. CC Sabathia, Yankees’ Ace, was to take the mound against Vicente Padilla?? I’ll admit I was a bit iffy about Torre’s decision to put Padilla in, recently activated from the DL. Then, as the first inning started, it dawned on me that Padilla has the most experience dealing with the Yankees’ lineup. He pitched for Texas before Dodgers picked him up. He’s got the knowledge of how this stacked NY lineup works. Secondly, he has this sick, slow curve ball on his ammo. Now, some argue that it’s an Eephus pitch & others will say slow curve. Don’t think we’ll know unless we ask. Either way, this 55 mph pitch has the Yankee lineup swinging for the fences and missing each time. Torre, in that regard, I won’t doubt you again. There was a lot of tension in this game, especially when CC hit Padilla with a first pitch, what seemed to be retaliation for Padilla hitting Cano. Padilla said he pitches inside and that ball went way inside. Honestly, I believe him. I don’t think CC should have hit Padilla though. Very un-sportsman-like. Padilla and CC has a stare down as Padilla walked to first, bat still in hand. Posada had to walk next to Padilla in case anything was going to go down. Beside that, lots of good plays were made in this game. Unfortunately, Dodgers lost 2-1. However, I was very content with Padilla’s performance, holding the league-leading Yanks to just 2 runs.
Second match-up gave us Kuroda and AJ Burnett. AJ was struggling to say the least. Dodgers were able to capitalize on this & beat the Yankees 9-4, Broxton getting the save. Kuroda was a bit shaky on the defensive side, bobbling grounders and mishandling underhanded balls to first. Loney came alive, batting in 4 RBIs.
Rubber match: KKKKKKershaw against Pettite, the two southpaws. I was at this game and let me tell you, seemed like it was opening day. All these fake fans and bandwagoners among us who haven’t attended more than two games all season. LFP was packed with Yankees fans and annoying people who don’t know how to cheer for their own team. Kershaw pitched 7 brilliant innings and was sure to get the W having a 6-2 lead in the top of the 9th with Broxton jogging up to the mound. However, once again, Mr. Ch-ch-ch-choke! let his nerves get the best of him and gave up 4 runs! When he was finally able to record 3 outs, Mariano Rivera came out from the Yankees bullpen. I had commented to a friend earlier that I was excited to see Mo pitch in person, but knew that if we did, it’d be because the Dodgers were down, or they were tied. I would have given ANYTHING not to have seen Mo. Mo, this generation’s greatest closer, shoe-in for the HOF and a quite handsome man, Rivera. Much respect to him. I clapped when he came to the mound. I hope Big John was taking notes on how a closer is supposed to end the game. Not learning from his past mistakes, 10th inning comes up and Torre decides to pitch Sherrill. This is when I got heated at the game. Yes I did yell at the outfield even though I’m sure Torre couldn’t hear me. Even if I had been right next to him, he probably would have pitched Sherrill. 5.60 ERA. I CAN PITCH better than Sherrill! I’m sure my 25mph pitches would fair better than whatever Sherrill had to offer tonight. Cano hit a 2 run HR off GS. Mo comes in to close the 10th & Dodgers lose the series against the Bronx Bombers. McCourt, please settle your personal affairs outside of the media’s camera and work on getting us some pitching! As you can see, we desperately need it. If you’re so concerned with profit and making money, you’d think winning a WS title would be more of interest to you. It’d give LA the boost it needs.
All in all, despite tonight’s terrible upset, I was very happy with the Dodger’s performance in this series. Tomorrow, we’re back to SF to play our own division and battle our arch nemesis the Giants. It will be Bills against Zito. I’m hoping our Boys bring a series sweep or best of so we can get back to first place.
In other sports news, USA was eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday by Ghana who advanced to the quarter finals, the only team from the host country still in the World Cup. They will go up against Uruguay, who placed first in Group A. Mexico was eliminated from the World Cup today by Argentina, who played absolutely magnificent. Much respect because Argentina is a soccer powerhouse. Mexico has amazing young talent who I’m sure will get us further in 2014. Arriba El Tri. I have faith in you. Argentina will go up against Germany.
So, needless to say, it was quite a disappointing sports day for me. Both my teams let me down. I’m in a very bad mood, but you knew that already 
Until next time,
Arriba Los Doyers!
Lil
Yankees Are In Town!
& Furballz has blessed my readers with a vlog about the Yankees. Currently, the score is 1-1 going into the 5th. Pitcher’s duel for sure!
Here’s the link to her video: Furballz Video Blog
Here’s the link to my good friend Manny’s blog of which I just found out he is doing: Dodger Fever
Yours truly will return at the close of this series with my thoughts & comments & previews. I’ll be at the Ravine Sunday night! LFP catch me there =)
Dodgers Shut the Lights Out in Their Anaheim Farewell
Last night, Dodgers avoided the season sweep by the Halos in a 10-6 victory in what was quite an odd game, to say the least.
In fact, this series in Anaheim gave us everything from base running errors to fake throws to 3rd-2nd-1st-3rd-Cat-3rd to pick off an Angel & lights even went out toward the end of the game. I later found out that the outage was caused by Disneyland’s World of Colors show. On top of that, Martin turned in two pick-offs, Furcal turned an excellent play, Matt Kemp showed some of his gold glove off with an amazing catch in short center field & Dodgers took the last of the 3-game series before heading back home to the Ravine.
Let’s talking about Kemp. He’s struggling (well, if that isn’t the understatement of the year!). On the Dodgers website, they wrote “Every Dodger not named Matt Kemp had an RBI tonight.” That’s quite depressing. Matt Kemp needs to find his groove & just put some wood on that ball. He’s got to make contact. I’m tired of seeing him 0-for-how many ever at bats he has. K looking. K swinging. K walking away and giving up. Was it Coletti? Was it Rihanna? Honestly, at this point, I could argue about both of them. Fact is, Matt Kemp needs to move on from whatever got in his head & work on getting back to ’09 form. The Dodgers as a team are struggling, what with all the injuries (blisters!), deaths (RIP Raffy’s papa), & countless other incidents, they’re just not in the game right now. Fact of the matter is that the Dodgers need to get back on the ball because the Bronx Bombers are coming to visit LA & that will not be a walk in the park.
Yankees come in leading the AL East (probably the toughest division in the majors) riding a record of 6-4 in their last 10. Although they play slightly less than amazing on the Road, the Yankees come in with Jeter (.279), Cano (.362), Swisher (.299), Rodriguez (.280), to name a few! I won’t get into the Yankee line-up because I’ll leave that to our Yankee Expert Jessica.
Jess, tell us how this series has been over on the East. Here in LA, it has been hyped up beyond imagination (two storied franchises….rivalry renewed blah blah). I’m sure the Dodger fans will want your perspective on this =) oh & thank you for doing this! You’re pretty damn awesome!!!
Here’s a link to Yankees @ Dodger Stadium win-loss. Dodgers are 10-4 in this match-up =)
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/6/25/1536840/a-history-of-the-yankees-at-dodger
From @truebluela on Twitter
Until next time,
Lil
Arriba Los Doyers! Spank the Yanks!
To Err is Human.
That’s why I love this team. They’re all human. Yes, sometimes they do seem
super-human, making impossible plays & sending a ball flying 400+ feet away
from home plate. However, they’re not baseball-playing machines. They’re humans
with amazing talent who get hurt, sad, mad, angry, frustrated, happy,
disappointed. This is what makes the game so beautiful. You feel the pain or joy
that the players feel because they love the game just as much or more than we
do.
With that said, my thoughts and prayers go out to Rafael Furcal and his
family during this time. He has been put on bereavement leave. Torre has given
Furcal as much time as he needs. Being placed on bereavement allows Furcal up to
7 games off to be with family, however, he has to take a minimum of three games
off. He could return to us for the close of the Boston series, but on my behalf,
7 games without him is nothing to complain about after what he has done for us
since 06. Espero que tu familia este bien y que regreses pronto, Raffy.
After the disappointing sweep by the Angels that left most Dodger fans
bewildered (coming off a sweep of the Cards), we came back to take the series
2/3 from the Reds. 12-0 on Tuesday & 6-2 on Wednesday. Reds took the last
game 7-1. I’m positive the offensive slump has something to do with losing
Rafael less than 12 hours before first pitch. Jamey Carroll (whom I adoringly
call Jumba) will surely take his place tonight in Bean Town. Hu recalled from
AAA for the roster position. Remember, to forgive is divine. Take each game as
it is; ONE game out of 162 played & don’t forget that even the best teams
lose half of their games! Lnget’s shake off the loss & get ready for Boston! Safe trip to all those Dodger fans who saved up enough money to root for our boys in person. Our blue hearts are rooting along with you!
I’m very excited to share some great news with my fans. I know I have a
couple of readers that have said they love reading my blog and what I have to
say about the game and the Dodgers. I appreciate you taking the read the time to
and also to give feedback. I am also a fan of a female baseball-blogger whom I believe has great insight to the game and her team. I wanted to give you a different perspective on one of the most hyped
series this season. The Yankees come to visit the Dodgers one week from today
(The BIGGEST rivalry in sports renewed! lol). So, who better to give us their
thoughts on this series than a Yankee fan in the flesh (over the Internet!)? My very cool
twitter friend Jessica (@TheRealFurballz) from Florida has honored us by
presenting the Yankee perspective of the match-up. I’m so excited to see what
she has to say as well. She will be posting next weekend. She also has her own blog. You can read her entries at
Today’s game: Battle of the Venezuelans as Dodgers
send the Monster to the mound against Felix Doubront, who is making his ML
debut. Last we saw the BoSox was in 2008 for an exhibition game at the Coliseum.
I was there! here you??
Mexico: The Mexican National Selection defeated France today 2-0. They are currently leading their group with 4 points. Arriba Mexico!
Lakers: Defeated the Boston Celtics 83-79 to win the 2010 NBA Championship, making it the 3rd time they’ve won back-to-back titles. Congrats to the Lakers organization for another winning seasons & to the fans out there, respect the city & celebrate the win as the Lakers have respected and celebrated you by bringing home another ring.
Until next time,
-Lil
Arriba Los Doyers!
Mood Swings
I’ll let you in on one little, but very important fact about me: my mood is a direct reflection of the results of the last Dodgers’ game. If Dodgers win it, I’m ecstatic and nothing can bring me down. The Dodgers lost? Don’t you step one inch over the line or I’ll go off on you.
Okay, I just read over that and I know it sounds crazy. You’re thinking, “I know what it’s like to be a fan, but this woman is going overboard!” Hear me out before you finalize your judgment! Your definition of a fan varies from each and every other fan. We’re like snowflakes. There are no two fans alike. To me, winning and losing with my team as literal as it could get.
When the Dodgers swept the Cardinals, I was elated! I swear I was like a kid on Christmas morning with presents galore. Dodgers being swept by the Angels? Tazmanian Devil has got nothing on me. I’m on a path of destruction and everyone should get out of the way or just should steer clear.
So, if you happen to wonder why I’m being either too friendly or too cranky, I would suggest you look at the Dodgers’ score. If you choose to initiate contact with me in any way, I would preface it by (depending on the outcome of the game) saying, “Dodgers fought hard,” “Dodgers had it,” “They were robbed,” and then go on to discuss what went wrong and what could be improved from the players. If they won, preface your communication with, “DODGERS BABY!”
All jokes aside, my fandom is a huge part of my life. Even on today’s off-day, I was still pretty cranky. A sweep by the Angels is just hard to endure, especially when we have to deal with these people on a daily basis. Let’s just be thankful that no one in my immediate family is an Angels’ fan. My boss has 6 members total in her family. Three are Dodger fans and three are Angels fans. I could just imagine what she had to go through on Sunday!
Today’s game: Kuroda looks to end our 3 game losing streak against the Reds on the road. His first two starts in June have given him 2 wins and a 2.08 ERA. Let’s get a W for the Boys in Blue!
@$%?!
I cannot even begin to discuss tonight’s game. Angels, you took game 1. We will come back and fight tomorrow. That’s all I can promise. Instead, I will talk about this thing known as team rivalry.
I’m sure all Dodger fans have had their share of encounters with countless Angels “fans” & had some sort of argument to whatever degree or extent. These are the fans that have either hopped ship because they lost hope in the Dodgers not having a WS since ’88, those that hopped ship back when the Angels were from “California,” or the those who were unfortunate enough to grow up in an Angel fan family (then the rare few that actually love the team lol jk).
They speak of Dodger players going to the better team or of loving a good team, blah, blah, blah. Now, don’t get me wrong, the Angels organization is an excellent one, with amazing roster acquisitions & countless playoff appearances. However, I can still argue that my team is better. Statistically speaking, Angels have won more games against the Dodgers than the Dodgers have the Angels. SO WHAT! My team is better =) The rivalry that happens between certain teams are sometimes what makes a season, too! Take a series, bragging rights! Lose one and you shake your head & say your team will get them next time. Being a fan is about being loyal to your team, no matter how they play. Sure, get angry. Give them the Bronx Cheer (boooooooooooo), but love them no matter what. Win, celebrate with them. Lose? Cry, shake your fist, throw something or punch someone (I suggest an Angel fan). Regardless of stats or win/losses, or averages, or a lucky game, your loyalty lies in your team, whether haven’t won in 22 years or whether they’ve only been around for 40.
Take for example, the country selections for the World Cup. These teams have the most loyal fan-base you could ask for. People have cried for team losses & cried for team wins. For a championship that comes around every four years and that has been dominated by Brazil & Italy since it’s conception in 1930, these fans have a lot of heart.
So whether your team hasn’t won a WS in 100+ years (Cubs) or you’ve dominated the WS since the beginning of time (think Yankees), cheer & boo with all your heart because one day, you may be part of history!
Today’s game: Elymania goes up against Kazmir & the Halos to try & take game 2. I will be at the Ravine in Reserve 25. Catch me there =)
Arriba Los Doyers!
-Lil
FIFA World Cup 2010:
Group A
South Africa 1-1 Mexico
Uruguay 0-0 France
All teams have 1 point.
Arriba Mexico! Arriba Chicharito! Arriba Vela!
♥Nomar
Nomar, Nomar, Nomar! What can I say about him?? I will begin this entry
with my story of his bobblehead SGA day:
4/26/2007: I had purchased my most expensive tickets to date: $80 a piece
in 38 FD. I wanted to be as close to Nomar that day so he’d hear me yell
his name & proclaim my love for him lol. Of course, I had to invite
Chris. He of course accepted. Since I bought both tickets, he drove.
Let me preface the next part by saying there are many ways to get to
Dodger Stadium. I didn’t know it then, but I can make my way around
Elysian Park quite expertly now. Freeways, side streets, shortcuts,
traffic. You must calculate all this into your route and time schedule.
My dear friend Chris decides to take the following: 710 N, off on Cesar
Chavez all the way to Dodger Stadium….at 5:30pm on a giveaway day.
Needless to say, we didn’t arrive before the first pitch. We didn’t
arrive for the first inning. We didn’t arrive until the 3rd & of
course, bobbleheads were gone by then. I was sooo upset. I listen to
games on the radio all the time, but never when I’m on my way. I always
have to get there to watch the first pitch or be in the stadium by the
first pitch. I didn’t get my bobblehead. It was a good game and seats
were awesome. I still never let Chris forget it!
The next month, a year after introducing me to the Dodgers, Chris
invites me to his yearly family Dodger game. His entire family (20+ at
least) all attend a game in one of the pavilions. It was my first time
in AYCE RF Pav. While waiting in line for food, he disappears randomly.
Being that so many people were there, I couldn’t see him. He comes back
with a bag. In the bag is my very own Nomar bobblehead & a Cinco de Mayo Nomar pin
(the day of my first game). He definitely made it up, but I wish we both
would’ve gotten that bobblehead for free =(
I most likely will be seeing Chris and his family this Saturday during
their pre-game bbq. He wanted me to mention our bet. If Nomar hit a
homer while we both were at a game, I would give Chris a kiss. Nomar never hit one
when we were there LOL.
And this is Chris & I (wow, blonde hair. Kind of miss it =/) in RF Pavilion when he bought me my Nomar Bobblehead
Tomorrow’s Game: Looking for the big money, Dodgers send Bills (6-3, 3.80) to open the Freeway Series at home against Pineiro (4-6, 5.23) & the Halos. We last saw Bills on the 5th of June where he gave up 3 ER in the win to the Braves. His ERA is slightly higher at home. Let’s hope he gives us a good game.
Bye Bye Birdie
22 years: the length of time that Dodgers last swept the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium.
22 years: the last time the Dodgers won a World Series
22 years: the age of the winning pitcher in last night’s game.
22 years: how long we’ve waited for the all time celebration.
Okay, I know I haven’t been a fan as long as some of you have, but I still feel the same longing for a WS title as the rest. Every single time I’m at a game, I reminisce whenever they play the Gibson shot in Game 1 of the ’88 World Series. Since 2008, Dodgers fans have had their glimpse of hope & I hope you continue to have it this year and those coming until we finally have our sweet victory!
KKKKKKershaw pitched 7 brilliant innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 10! Ludwick with yet another homerun against our starting pitchers. It was a 3-run jack that recorded the only RBI’s the Cards would have. That guy is just something else. Relief pitching of Belisario & Broxton kept the Cards at bay with Broxton recording his 16th save.
Two-man show: Manny & DeWitt recorded 2 RBI’s each for our total score. DeWitt, where did you come from?! Don’t leave, please? =) Manny had a 2-run homerun, second in two games. I have a love/hate relationship with him. I love that he’s producing because he’s an excellent hitter & will go down in history, but I hate, hate, hate his cockyness! That’s a fact & here’s the proof: OBP, SLG, AVG, HR have dropped significantly from when he was first signed in 2008 & his SO is way too high & for some reason, you’re the only guy on the team you can’t handle a day game after a night game (or a routine fly ball when it really counts). POINT PROVEN! [Added Note: I completely forgot to mention his base running! Ugh.]
And on the 11th day, they rested: Finding yourself with nothing to do? I have the 9-18-06 game on DVR ready to watch whenever there’s an off day! I also recommend buying or renting Bluetopia, a Dodgers documentary about all the different kind of True Blue fans we have. Books: Alyssa Milano’s Safe At Home and/or Jon Weisman’s 100 Things a Dodgers fan should know or do before they die. Both great reads =)
I will be back later tonight with my story from 2007 on Nomar’s bobblehead night that my friend Chris reminded me of just today. Lucky him, I never let him forget it!
Arriba Los Doyers!
The Top Is So Lonely!
The top is where we belong! After today’s W in the books, Dodgers have claimed 1st in the NL West from the Padres (trailing 0.5 games)!
Kuroda gave a much better performance than what we could have asked for against a pitcher like Carpenter. He pitched 7 SOLID innings, allowing only 4 hits, walking just one batter & striking out 6! By the way, don’t you love his face in the picture?!
It was a pitching duel as the game was scoreless until the bottom of the 8th inning with a Manny RBI-double?! We all know that’s a miracle with his mule-like base-running =/. Fact: I’m not the biggest ManRam fan there is. I tolerate him because he is part of my team, but I think his time in LA has overstayed its welcome. Amazing players like Xavier Paul & Reed Johnson are just itching at the chance to play & they won’t cost us $45 million! (Another story for another time)
Deuces Wild: Ethier, DeWitt & Manny go for extra bases!
Robbed: Matt Kemp steals 2nd (9 steals this years)
6-4-3 DP: Need I say more?!
Larry Bowa, what were you thinking?: DeWitt wasn’t even off of 3rd when the throw was made & you sent him off running for dear life!
In non-Dodger news, Strasburg made his MLB debut tonight after much hype for about what seemed like eternity. Thankfully, last year’s #1 draft pick proved himself deserving of all the hype & earned his first W by fanning a career-high (doi!) 14 batters! Nats won it 5-2. Strasburg got creamed in another sense ha!
#1 2010 MLB Draft Pick: Bryce Harper, you must tell me the name of your platform artist! That Salvador Dali-inspired look you have is just all the rage now. Despite this, he is still a very handsome fellow. Now, where’s my war paint?
Lil’ Big John: To all those who attended tonight’s Dodgers game, hope you got your Broxton bobblehead. I know I sure got mine!
As always, Arriba Los Doyers!
DeWitt Did It!
A standing O for Monster, DeWitt & the rest of the Dodgers for an amazing game tonight! Pitching was stellar, offense was unstoppable & so you can understand why I would get so angry when my team doesn’t perform like this every night!
Monasterios pitched 6 solid innings, although he did not strike out any of the batters he faced. He gave up 4 hits, 3 runs & 2 walks. He was pulled after facing two batters in the 7th. Relief pitching of Miller, Ju & John Link closed out the game with just one more run scored, for the 12-4 victory over the Cards! It was an excellent welcome back for the Cardinals who we last faced in the NLDS when Holliday famously couldn’t make a catch in OF & blamed it on the rally towels!
DeWitt: Off to a slow start earlier this year, he has shown to us all that he deserves the starting 2B spot! With stellar defense (think: over-the-shoulder, basket catches in the 9th) & erupting offensive power (think: 3-run homerun in the 5th), DeWitt has easily become one of my favorites this year. Hoping to see more from him!
Furcal: Did I not just post that I was wanting to see more power from Furcal? He answered my prayers with a 2-RBI double! Good job, Raffie! Glad to see you’re back =) You’ve always been my favorite!
Kemp, Anderson: Each contributed a single. Let’s hear it for our outfielders!
Ellis: With a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt that Hawksworth was unable to field, scored in Belliard. Ellis! You’re on fire, baby!
Defensive plays: Ronnie B. turned an excellent 6-6-3 double play to get Winn out on 3rd and LaRue on 1st. DeWitt’s leaping grab in the top of the 9th. Ethier’s beautiful catch in RF.
Tonight’s game: Dodgers will send Kuroda (3.63, 5-4) to the mound against Chris Carpenter (2.76, 7-1 EEK) who only allowed 1 run on 4 hits in his last outing against the Brewers. Last we saw Hiroki, he gave Braves the W, giving up yet another 1st inning run & walking 4 in 6IP. He claimed he was trying to locate his pitches & missing. Let’s hope he just lets his natural flow speak for itself because I would love to see a W in person tonight when I sit in LFP! Row K 
Broxton’s bobblehead is the SGA tonight. Tickets are probably found online so make sure if you don’t have tickets, you get some ASAP! See you all there!
Arriba Los Doyers!
turtledip
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