Dodger Way

Three Bundles of Joy

2011-11-08T21:21:00.000-08:00

Three weeks ago, my beautiful wife brought our second child into this world, a son. One week later, Frank McCourt agreed to sell the Dodgers. To the casual observer, these were two completely unrelated events. But to me, this literal birth and symbolic rebirth served as monumental bookends to an uplifting week.

To paraphrase Dinah Washington's 1959 classic, What a difference a week makes!

Friends and family were thrilled for me. One after another, they'd come up to me and say, "Congratulations!"

I paused each time, confused as to which event they were referring.

They'd try to offer clarification: "On your baby, of course!"

The extra emphasis on your baby implied that it should be obvious to me. But it wasn't.

Which baby were they referring to?

My boy in blue?

Or my Boys in Blue?

* * *

Yesterday (almost as if to mark my son's three-week milestone), the Dodgers stunned the local fan base and rocked the baseball world by securing Matt Kemp for the next eight seasons with a hefty $160 million commitment. I wholeheartedly supported such a move and was just thrilled by the breaking story.

This combination of events once again led to ambiguity-laced moments such as this:

"Congratulations on your boy!"

Again, I wondered, which one?

My boy?

Or my boy -- Matt Kemp?

* * *

But that's as far as the ambiguity went. Because the future of the Dodger organization is now as clear as it has been in some time. After two years of stormy courtroom battles, the atmosphere surrounding the Dodger organization is refreshingly smog-free.

We can count on two absolutes that did not exist so much as a month ago: Frank McCourt is on his way out and Matt Kemp will be patrolling the outfield at Chavez Ravine for the balance of the decade. Either one of these developments alone is earth-shaking. Together, they represent a seismic shift in the direction of the franchise in the hearts of Dodger fans.

It might be premature to call this the dawn of a new golden era in Dodger history.

Then again, if the birth of a child isn't a time for hope, then when is?

A Cheat Sheet for the Future Dodger Owner

2011-11-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

With apologies to Jon Weisman, the following is my to-do list for the future owner of the Dodgers.

1. Field a competitive team year in and year out.
Recognize that a productive farm system is of critical importance here. Invest accordingly. Strategically supplement homegrown talent with free agent signings. But again -- and I can't state this often enough -- a thriving farm system is the key here and resource allocation should reflect that understanding. The Dodgers understood this once upon a time.

2. Renovate Dodger Stadium.
Give the Loge, Reserve, Top Deck and Pavilion sections the same face lift already afforded the Field Level. Dodger Stadium will forever have going for it stunning views of the mountains in one direction and the downtown skyline in the other. But restorative work needs to be done to preserve the original beauty of this mid-century ballpark.

3. Retain talented individuals in the front office and throughout the entire organization.
Just because someone was associated with the McCourts doesn't mean s/he shares the same level of incompetence. The Dodger brand is about success that's derived from continuity.

4. Lock down Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw with long-term contracts.
From the Koufax-Drysdale-Snider era to the Garvey-Lopes-Russell-Cey era to the Valenzuela-Guerrero-Hershiser era to the Piazza-Karros-Mondesi era, memorable Dodger teams were all anchored by homegrown talent. In Kemp and Kershaw, the Dodgers have their cornerstones for the next 5-8 years. Don't let free agency snatch them away.

5. Provide fans who come to the ballpark with an authentic, uniquely baseball experience.
Just as baseball is best played using leather gloves and wood bats, on grass fields under open skies -- nothing artificial, 100% pure -- a fan's experience at Dodger Stadium ought to be kept as organic as possible. That means eliminating between-inning commercials on the video screen and reducing the blaring pre-recorded music. If fans had wanted those elements competing with the baseball action, they'd have stayed home and watched the game on TV with iPod speakers cranked up. The one feature that actually enhances a fan's baseball viewing experience at the ballpark is live organ music -- rarely dominating, never generic -- the same way it has been at ballparks since 1941. One exception to this is allowed: Randy Newman's "I Love LA" must still be played after each and every Dodger victory.

6. Ease Dodger Stadium's access woes.
This includes both access to the stadium and access to concessions. To address the former, scrap the current restrictions to parking areas based on lot entry point and reduce the percentage of Preferred parking spaces. Just as importantly, fund -- rather than rely on continued sponsorship from environmental agencies -- the Dodger Express shuttle buses that make feasible for fans to use public transportation to get to and from games. To create shorter wait times at concession stands, they need to be restaffed with faster, more efficient workers. I've often wondered how much quicker lines would move were the concession stands operated the team at my local Subway sandwich.

7. Maintain the family friendly atmosphere that exists at Dodger Stadium.
Unfortunately, it wasn't until after the tragic Brian Stow incident occurred that a safe, family-friendly environment returned to Dodger Stadium. Maintaining a bumped up security presence would help maintain this atmosphere. The Dodgers also have the capacity to assert a positive fan environment with two more critical steps that I believe have been overlooked: 1) Hire and train a staff -- and this includes everyone from parking attendants to ushers to souvenir store workers -- that bleeds Dodger Blue and friendly, customer service. 2) More organ music from Nancy Bea. Everyone from movie directors to supermarket operators understands the importance of the underlying soundtrack in establishing a particular mood. What does organ music do to the psyche? Does anything else more effectively elicit innocent notions of peanuts and crackerjacks at an afternoon at the ballpark? If nothing else, it'd remind folks of being at church. What room would that leave for fans to contemplate instigating in-stand nonsense?

8. Know your Dodger history.
Even Frank and Jamie McCourt understood the wisdom of making public appearances whenever possible with Tommy Lasorda at their side. In the same way, the new owner must understand the following truths:

1) Dodgertown will forever refer to Vero Beach, FL no matter what the head of marketing might suggest.

2) There is no need to respond to any challenges (implicit or otherwise) by the Angels over which baseball team dominates the hearts and minds of the majority of baseball fans in the region. Remember, you are the Dodgers. Do your job right and you will always be recognized as the one and only storied baseball franchise in the region.

3) Vin Scully is untouchable.

4) Tommy Lasorda is untouchable.

5) Jaime Jarrin is untouchable.

6) Ex-Giants and ex-Yankees must only be hired under extenuating circumstances.

7) The Dodgers are the organization built upon the shoulders of Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela and the like. They are your resident mythological heroes. Pay homage to them accordingly. Offer sacrifices if necessary.

8) Dodger fans value a franchise that is operated with class, integrity, and innovation. We don't want the Dodgers to be like the New York Yankees or Miami Hurricane football. We do not value winning at all costs. Besides, there's more than just winning that's at stake. There always has been. Sometimes, color barriers must be broken. Other times, westward expansion must be spearheaded. We'd much rather our Dodgers continue to play a role in our nation's narrative, just as they once had.

9. Be responsive to the concerns of fans.
Read this blog. And keep prices reasonable. Were it not for $5 Reserve level seats in the early 80's, this son of working-class parents may never have had the opportunity to cultivate his lifelong love affair with the Dodgers.

Turning Over A New Dodger Leaf

2011-11-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

There was a lightness in my step today as news that the Dodgers would be sold sank in. I felt a combination of joy, relief, and hope. Like the Dodgers just winning the World Series and taking the field on Opening Day all rolled into one. The McCourt era had, mercifully, breathed its last... words, I still cannot quite believe, I am actually writing.

The future of the Dodgers is staring back at me -- at all of us -- like a blank screen, blinking cursor at the ready. All things seem once again possible, a prospect that is at once frightening as much as it is exhilarating.

Days don't always feel this way. I'm going to cherish this one.

Dodgers Lower 2012 Season Ticket Prices

2011-10-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

I received an email from the Los Angeles Dodgers this morning announcing their 2012 season ticket prices. Here's an excerpt from that message:

Dear Season Ticket Holder,

The Dodgers are lowering ticket prices and adding new benefits for season ticket holders in the Field, Loge, Club, Reserve, Left Field Pavilion, Right Field Pavilion, and Top Deck sections of the stadium for the 2012 season. From exclusive early entry to view Dodger batting practice to playing catch on the field after select games during the season, you will experience a season to remember!

Join us as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Dodger Stadium and enjoy unforgettable moments with your family and friends - all at a lower price.

Full season-ticket pricing details can be found on the Dodgers website.

With the well-documented ownership turmoil as a backdrop, it seemed to me that the Dodgers had little choice but to take the unusual step of lowering season ticket prices virtually across the board to reverse the dramatic decrease in attendance that occurred both last season as well as in recent years. Given how out of touch with reality ownership has appeared to me, however, I wasn't holding my breath for 2012 prices to decrease.

So this announcement today comes as a welcome surprise. It's a single, albeit significant, step in the right direction for the Dodgers towards repairing their relationship with their fan base.

October Baseball, The Dodger Way

2011-10-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

The Dodgers are relevant in October after all!

Who would've thunk?

Despite a regular season record of 82-79 and a "big league" roster consisting of the likes Eugenio Velez, the Boys in Blue are somehow managing to make a first-round playoff splash!

As someone once said, in a year that has been so improbable...

Here's to you Frank McCourt! Turns out, we were the ones who didn't get it.

We called you cheap. Turns out, you can't be bought. Not at any price.

We accused you of fleecing the organization for personal gain. Instead, you continue to "invest" millions of dollars into the organization to do battle against -- while not exactly the Yankees -- an Evil Empire nonetheless!

All Dodger fans really ever wanted was for their team to battle deep into October and now, they've gotten their wish! The Dodgers will be the last team competing this year, in a critical four-game series beginning October 31st!

Thanks Frank!

Kemp and Kershaw: A Double Dose of Relief In An Otherwise Ulcer-Inducing Season for Dodger Baseball

2011-09-25T02:13:00.000-07:00

With a pedestrian 79-78 won-loss record and having been out of playoff contention for months, the Dodgers wouldn't figure to be garnering local, much less national attention for their handful of remaining games. But they are.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock you know the two reasons for this: Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw.

Kemp, with his season-long, three-pronged assault of major league baseball record books, has at long last translated in 2011 his extraordinary physical gifts into elite baseball performance. He is chasing the rare batting Triple Crown (leading the league in three offensive statistical categories: batting average, home runs and runs batted in) and along with it baseball immortality. Only 13 men in the 100-plus year history of professional baseball have accomplished the feat, none since 1967.

Kershaw, a leading contender for the National League Cy Young Award, has continued in 2011 his meteoric rise to superstardom. At the tender age of 23, he has somehow already met head on the unrealistically lofty expectations that were bestowed upon him as early as age 19 when the hard-throwing southpaw drew comparisons from many to former Dodger Sandy Koufax, a fellow southpaw whose reincarnation they hoped for and whose greatness was encapsulated by the nickname, "The Left Arm of God".

Together, Kemp and Kershaw have been two brilliant shining points of light in a season mired by the dark clouds of ownership turmoil. They've been the short term pain relief for legions of Dodger fans hemorrhaging from the deep wounds current ownership continues to inflict upon the storied franchise.

I count myself grateful for the privilege of watching Kemp and Kershaw during what has otherwise been a nightmare of a year for Dodger baseball. With the future of my beloved team languishing indefinitely in courtroom limbo, Kemp and Kershaw have given me a point of focus on the baseball field.

They've taught me that it helps, sometimes, to focus on just the trees and ignore the forest.

Frankly Speaking, McCourts Have to Go

2011-06-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

I feel compelled to crawl out of the woodwork and find my way back to this Dodger blog, if just for one more post.

I wish I was here to revel in a turn of phrase by our resident poet laureate, Vin Scully.

I wish I was here to exhult in another brilliant performance by our very own virtuoso in the making, Clayton Kershaw.

I wish I was here trying to capture with words the thrill of witnessing Matt Kemp blossom into the franchise player we all knew he could become, but didn't know whether he would become.

Heck, I even wish I was here just to vent about Juan Uribe's lack of productivity.

I might return yet to do all of that.

But right now that day feels very far away.

Because today, my focus is on anything but these things. Somehow the boys of summer are being overshadowed by off-field news and for that, we have to thank Frank and Jamie McCourt, the embattled owner(s?) of our beloved Dodgers.

It's ironic that the McCourts might really have gotten what they've wished for all along as owners of the Dodgers. The Dodgers, to them, have always been a means to an end. Rather than team ownership being about the players on the field, or the loyal fans that show up every year by the millions, or the pride, tradition and continuity of an iconic sports franchise, the McCourts have always wanted it to be about themselves.

Now they've got it. Headlines about their ugly divorce, gross mismanagement of the Dodgers, and recent filing for bankruptcy have all but relegated the team's day to day performance to footnote status as the media focus on the long-term ramifications of these off-field developments.

From Jamie naively referring to herself as the "face of the Dodger franchise" to Frank's mischaracterization of the McCourt era as one in which things "turned around" for the better, the McCourts have never demonstrated that they get it.

Get that the Dodgers are a civic treasure belonging to all Los Angelenos, never to any one or two individuals.

Get that Dodger fans value a winning product on the field, but not at the expense of long-term organizational continuity.

Get that there once was such a thing as the Dodger Way, built over many generations and modeled by sports franchises around the country, most notably by a team just south of the Dodgers along the 57.

Get that recognition and respect as owners result not from standing in front of the mic and cameras telling everyone how terrific you are, but by conducting business affairs behind the scenes with integrity and guided by sound principles.

No, the McCourts have never gotten it.

I no longer hold out hope that they will.

My only hope now is that the McCourts are replaced. It doesn't matter by whom -- I'm willing to accept the risk of the unknown at this point -- because anyone -- anyone -- figures to be a better fit to lead this once-proud franchise out of the woodwork.

Opening Day 2011...

2010-11-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

... just got a whole lot more interesting.

The Dodgers will be hosting their division rivals and newly-minted World Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants, at Dodger Stadium on April 1 to open their 2011 campaign.

Visions of a Clayton Kershaw-Tim Lincecum matchup are already dancing in my mind.

A Fond Farewell to 2010

2010-10-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

We've reached the end of the season for the Dodgers and although it's been a year filled with frustration, I do enter the offseason with a tinge of sadness. You see for me, this day -- not Labor Day, not the first day of school, not the start of college football season -- every year marks the unofficial end to summer.

It's one reason I've never attended a season finale at Dodger Stadium. Well, there was one time in the mid-80s. I was just a kid at a baseball game but I remember dour thoughts popping into my head throughout such as: how I was watching the last batting practice of the year, the last national anthem of the year, the last seventh-inning stretch of the year, and then the last out of the year. The finality of a season finale, I discovered that day, was just too much for me to bear.

Add to it the fact that when you are younger, your perception of time is different. Months and years seem to fly by now, but when you are 12, the prospect of waiting out a baseball offseason can be overwhelming.

It's not so bad now. Family, work, and other interests (gasp!) all serve as vital water stations in the marathon I call offseason. So I pace myself and settle into a rhythm. The finish line will get here soon enough.

And so I wax nostalgic today.

Goodbye to the 2010 Dodger baseball season, to the brilliance of Clayton Kershaw and Hong-Chih Kuo, to the volatility of Matt Kemp, to the disaster that was the Dodger bullpen. Farewell to Vin Scully (for now) and to Joe Torre (for good).

This blog, however, isn't going anywhere during the offseason.

So stick around, will ya?

Together, we'll survive the 179 days between now and Opening Day 2011.

As I Was Saying Before I Was So Rudely Interrupted...

2010-10-02T02:06:00.000-07:00

I've been under the weather the past several days, out of commission and out of sight, prompting a few colleagues of mine to wonder aloud upon my return to work today whether in reality I had taken time off to exchange my Herman Miller cubicle chair for a front-row seat at the McCourt trial.

Sadly, that wasn't the case.

Instead, I've been sidelined with a malady that's been as ellusive for my doctor to pin down as the cause of Dodger hitting woes has been for Don Mattingly. In times like these, it seems rest is the best remedy -- one week's worth for me and an offseason's worth for the Dodgers.

On the bright side, my bedrest has afforded me the opportunity to read, if not write, about the goings on related to the Dodgers and I'd like to pass along to you a few pieces I particularly enjoyed.

Joe Posnanski captures in a fine article for si.com how radios broadcasting Vin Scully's play by play call have served as virtual gathering points over the years for people living in a city that's often characterized as lacking a center.

The New York Times published an interesting piece on Josh Fisher, the 24-year-old Dodger fan and current law student whose blog, DodgerDivorce.com has become the go-to source for legal analysis of the McCourt divorce trial.

Finally, the Los Angeles Times explores the heady possibility of me and you -- or anyone else willing to pony up $500 to $1,000 per share -- being among the next future owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Handling the Truth About This Dodger Fan

2010-09-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

Reading about Jamie McCourt facing off today against superstar attorney Stephen Susman made me wonder. It made me wonder how I might handle the pressure of being alone on the witness stand, being grilled by Susman.

With inspiration credited to A Few Good Men, here's how I think it might go...

Dodger fan (me): You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances. I eat my Dodger Dogs 300 yards from 25 Dodgers who are trained to crush my morale, so don't think for one second that you can come down here, flash your badge, and make me nervous!

Susman: Did you order the ROAD RED (Angels jersey and wear it to a game at Dodger Stadium)?

Judge Gordon: You don't have to answer that question!

Dodger fan: I'll answer the question!

[to Susman]

Dodger fan: You want answers?

Susman: I think I'm entitled to them.

Dodger fan: You want answers?!

Susman: I WANT THE TRUTH!

Dodger fan: YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!

Son, we live in a town that has two McCourts. And their team has to be supported by fans with deep pockets. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Larry King?!

I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Joe Torre and you curse Don Mattingly. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Manny's defection, while tragic, probably saved the team money. And my Dodger season ticket plan, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, helped save the team from bankruptcy.

You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me in those stands! You need me in the stands!

We purchase items like $15 parking, $12 beers, and $28 Los Doyers t-shirts. We purchase these items as the backbone to a life spent supporting something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps to the poetry of Vin Scully, announcer for the very Dodger team I help support, then questions the manner in which I support it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way.

Otherwise, I suggest you buy a ticket and sit through a Dodger game yourself. Either way, I don't give a (darn) what you think you're entitled to!

Susman: Did you order the ROAD RED (Angels jersey)?!

Dodger fan: I did the job you sent me to do!

[Susman approaches the stand.]

Susman: DID YOU ORDER THE ROAD RED (Angels jersey)?!?!

Dodger fan: YOU'RE (GOSHDARN) RIGHT I DID!!!

Action Moves From Field Back into Court

2010-09-19T22:42:00.000-07:00

With today's improbable, comeback, walk off, 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies in the books, attention on Monday shifts from the playing field back into court.

Josh Fisher gives a detailed preview as to what we can expect this upcoming week in the McCourt trial. Among other things, Frank's attorney, Stephen Susman, gets his frist crack at cross-examining Jamie.

According to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, Larry Silverstein, the attorney responsible for drafting the six copies of the agreement under dispute, is tentatively scheduled to testify Tuesday. His testimony not only will help determine which McCourt wins the trial, but also how much of a liability claim -- current estimates are as high as nine figures -- he might face from the losing McCourt.

On the field, Monday's a day off for boys in blue. The Dodgers are back in action Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres.

***

The eighth-inning Dodger Stadium rendition of "Don't Stop Believin" just isn't the same without Jameson Moss. He wasn't there for at least the second game in a row, by my count. Without him, is the song really worth playing anymore?

Getting Away From it All ... at Dodger Stadium

2010-09-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

After a disappointing summer in which Dodger playoff hopes faded with each day, after one week's worth of mind-numbing court proceedings in which the Dodger owner was pitted against his wife, after the respected former Dodger owner issued some scathing remarks towards the current owner, after the venerable manager announced he would step aside and be replaced by someone whom we know little about, after the Dodgers traded away two of their brightest young talents for a 36-year-old pitcher whom they later traded away for a player to be named later, after all this, I desperately needed an escape.

So, I did what I often do in times like this:

I turned to baseball.

That's right. I went to Dodger Stadium to take in a game.

And guess what? It worked.

Sure, the Dodgers were crushed 12-2 by Colorado. But really, it was a meaningless game for Los Angeles. In fact, it might have been the unexpected spring-training feel of the entire day that made it feel like a getaway. Consider:

1) The Dodger starting lineup featured just three players who were projected to be starters at the beginning of the season. The rest of the guys were supposed to be reserves, in the minor leagues, or on other teams: Jamey Carroll, Ryan Theriot, Jay Gibbons, Russ Mitchell, A.J. Ellis, and John Ely.

2) The announced attendance was 40,191, but only a fraction of these ticket purchasers bothered even to show up. This meant getting in and out of the parking lot was a breeze and it meant short concession lines (!), despite the fact that not all concession stands were even open. The freedom to move around unimpeded made me feel like I was in a much smaller, more relaxed venue.

All of which somehow helped to rejuvenate me. Sure, none of the angst-inducing larger issues surrounding the Dodger franchise were resolved Saturday afternoon. In fact, Ely's ineffectiveness as starting pitcher only underscored just one more of the Dodger offseason concerns -- the shallow starting rotation. But that and other issues can wait until at least the offseason.

Because today, Clayton Kershaw pitches.

And today, I choose simply to enjoy the moment.

Two Things You Need to Know About Tomorrow's Dodger Game

2010-09-18T22:14:00.000-07:00

1. Clayton Kershaw is pitching.
2. Literally hundreds of tickets can still be had on Stubhub for $3 apiece or less (plus applicable fees).

In other news, the Dodgers today traded Octavio Dotel for a player to be named later and on the field, they were squashed by the Colorado Rockies, 12-2. More on that later.

Plenty of Off-Field Dodger News, and the McCourt Trial is Still on Recess!

2010-09-17T23:55:00.000-07:00

What a remarkable 24-hour period this has been.

First, we had Peter O'Malley's scathing words for Frank McCourt.
Not to be outdone, the Dodgers followed up within a day by announcing that Joe Torre would not return to manage the team next season and that Don Mattingly would be successor.

Times blogger Steve Dilbeck found it more than a little coincidental that the timing of the Dodgers' announcement effectively took media attention away from O'Malley's comments and minimized their damaging effects.

Mattingley's promotion ahead of the seemingly more qualified Tim Wallach, manager of the Dodgers triple-A affiliate Albuquerqee Isotopes, raised a bit of an uproar amongst some. But as Times' Dylan Hernandez reminded all of his Twitter followers earlier this evening, Mattingly had signed a contract with Dodgers prior to the start of this season in which he would essentially be guaranteed the Dodger managerial job should Torre should step down.

The Dodgers will miss the presence of Torre at the helm. He guided the Dodgers to consecutive National League Championship Series and along with his on-field success, Torre will be remembered for the dignity and class with which he represented himself and the Dodger organization.

To its credit, the Dodger organization paid top dollar to lure Torre to Los Angeles three offseasons ago, and despite his tactical shortcomings (bullpen mismanagement, for one), it was money very well spent.

Wow, what a stroke of genius indeed for the Dodger PR team. I haven't mentioned the name "O'Malley" for four paragraphs.

In other news, the Dodgers fell to Colorado tonight at Dodger Stadium, 7-5.

Hello Old Friend, It's Bittersweet to See You Again

2010-09-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

Peter O'Malley probably prefers not to have had to say anything.

Certainly not after maintaining virtual silence in the 12 years since selling the Dodgers to NewsCorp in 1998.

Certainly not after his family ran the Dodgers with such professionalism, dignity and class -- the "Dodger Way" -- for 47 years.

No, to comment on current Dodger ownership after relinquishing control so long ago would be as unseeming as a former President weighing in on the current administration. Every leader deserves supportive silence from his predecessor.

So when O'Malley decided to speak with Times reporter Bill Shaikin Thursday -- calling on Frank McCourt to sell the Dodgers -- his words came with the kind of gravitas that probably neither Frank nor Jamie McCourt could ever command.

Unlike the hours of in-court testimony from either McCourt over a week ago, O'Malley's words were motivated not by greed nor personal gain, but from a profound understanding of the fractured relationship between the Dodgers and the city of Los Angeles and a desire to help repair it.

"The Dodgers need to be owned by a small but diverse group of Los Angeles people who understand the culture of the organization and the importance of the Dodgers in this city," he said.

With the O'Malley family, Dodger ownership was always more than just about success on the field or profit on the balance sheets.

"The Dodgers are a jewel and earned that reputation not just based on winning games," O'Malley said, "but on how the franchise was managed."

It is the disastrous state in which the organization his family loved and nurtured now finds itself in that compelled O'Malley to break this code of silence. In his mind, it was the right thing to do.

It was the right thing to do, to publicly chastise the McCourts for abusing the public's trust and using the Los Angeles Dodgers -- our civic treasure -- for personal gain.

It was the right thing to do, to offer to play a "short-term" role in smoothing the potential transition of the Dodgers to new owners.

It was the right thing to do, Mr. O'Malley, what you did Thursday, what your family did for 47 years. And it's so good, as a lifeling baseball fan, to see you associated with the Los Angeles Dodgers once again.

I just wished it could be under happier circumstances.

Peter O'Malley: McCourt Should Sell Dodgers

2010-09-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

Longtime Dodger owner Peter O'Malley, whose family had owned the Dodgers for 47 years, broke his silence by suggesting that Frank McCourt should sell the Dodgers because "the current Dodger ownership has lost all credibility throughout the city," writes Bill Shaikin in the Los Angeles Times.

***

Update: Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times explains why Peter O'Malley's decision to speak out against Frank McCourt is so damaging to the current Dodger owner. In short, McCourt has now officially lost in the court of public opinion with O'Malley's comments serving as the final knockout blow.

Dodgers Waste Billingsley's Solid Outing, Losing 2-1 to Giants

2010-09-15T22:41:00.000-07:00

The extended all-star break continued for the Dodger offense Wednesday night, as Dodger batters managed just one lonely run against the Giants in a 2-1 loss at AT&T Park.

Since the all-star break, the Dodger "attack" has mustered two or fewer runs in 29 of 57 games. In the first two games of this series against San Francisco, Los Angeles has just five hits in 57 at bats for a .089 team batting average.

It was Chad Billingsley's turn on this particular night to play the part of hard-luck Dodger pitcher. Despite pitching seven innings and giving up only one run on six hits to go along with seven strikeouts and two walks, Billingsley was pinned with his 10th loss of the year to go with his 11 victories.

Billingsley's fine effort added yet another chapter to one of the more feel-good stories of the year for the Dodgers. The 26-year-old righty lowered his ERA to 3.55 and more importantly, seems to have regained the confidence that eluded him second half of 2009.

The Dodgers would appear to have in Billingsley -- along with phenom Clayton Kershaw -- a solid one-two punch atop the rotation heading into 2011, a realization which serves, in the waning days of this disappointing 2010 season, as a much needed source of optimism.

***

In the 24 hours since Kershaw's first career shutout Tuesday night, the Dodger blogosphere remained abuzz over what transpired. Phil Gurnee of True Blue LA has a fine piece on why Kershaw's performance was less revelation than it was confirmation of what the Dodger faithful have known all along.

Dramas Playing Out at Chavez Ravine

2010-09-15T03:29:00.000-07:00

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports that commissionar Bud Selig would like to see the Dodger ownership dispute resolved well prior to his 2012 retirement. But baseball's intervention may be necessary.

***

Filming at Dodger Stadium has begun for 'Moneyball,' a big-screen adaptation of Michael Lewis' 2003 bestselling book by the same title. The movie stars Brad Pitt who portrays Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane.

Kershaw Continues to Come of Age in Dominating Performance

2010-09-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

Does anybody out there still think the Dodgers don't have an ace?

If there are any of you left, we present to you one Clayton Kershaw, a precocious 22-year-old southpaw armed with a blistering fastball and a knee-buckling curve. Both weapons were on brilliant display in San Francisco Tuesday, as Kershaw threw a complete game, 1-0 shutout win against the Giants.

It was a performance reminiscent of vintage Sandy Koufax, the great Dodger pitcher with whom Kershaw has often been compared. In his heyday, Koufax -- who hurled a perfect game forty-five years and five days ago -- often carried the Dodgers on his broad back, the dominating pitcher making just one or two runs of support from his teammates an insurmountable deficit for opposing teams to overcome.

Tonight, Kershaw displayed the same type of grit and dominance.

Before 36,076 hostile fans and against a Giants team that desperately needed a win, Kershaw exerted his will throughout the contest to complete his first game, in this, the 80th start of his young big league career. He struck out four, walked none, and was never seriously threatened the entire game. Kershaw needed just 111 pitches in all. He was magnificent from start to finish, retiring the first 10 batters to start the game and ending the night with a three-pitch strikeout of Aubrey Huff.

In a year littered with unfulfilled promise for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kershaw has seen his star continue to rise. With the shutout, he lowered his ERA on the year to 2.85, to go along with a 12-10 record. He has struck out 201 in 192 1/3 innings of work, becoming the first Dodger left-hander to strike out at least 200 since Fernando Valenzuela punched out 242 in 269 innings of work in 1986.

Kershaw's lone run of support came in the top of the sixth. With one out, Reed Johnson reached first after being hit by pitch. Kershaw sacrificed Reed to second. With first base open, Zito intentionally walked the Dodgers' most dangerous offensive threat, Rafael Furcal. Andre Ethier followed with another walk to load the bases. Casey Blake then grounded a 1-1 pitch up the middle. But Giants shortstop Juan Uribe bobbled, then shuffled the ball late to second base, missing a chance for the force that would have ended the inning.

Uribe was charged with the error and the unearned run would be all the offensive support that the Dodger starter -- correction, Dodger ace -- would need tonight.

Dodgers Announce Preliminary 2011 Schedule

2010-09-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced their preliminary 2011 regular season schedule. The Dodgers open the season Friday, April 1 at 1:10 p.m. against the San Francisco Giants.

The opener occurs mid-week and ealier in the year, both of which were recommendations made by The Commissioner's Special Committee for On-Field Matters. This permits postseason play to wrap up in October.

The Dodgers will play interleague opponents from the American League Central in addition to their cross-town rivals, the Angels. The Dodgers travel to Chicago to face the White Sox from May 20-22. The Detroit Tigers come to Dodger Stadium from June 20-22, followed by the Angels from June 24-26. From June 28-30, the Dodgers visit the Minnesota Twins in their first-ever visit to Target Field. The Dodgers then visit Angel Stadium from July 1-3.

What's in a Name?

2010-09-14T00:49:00.000-07:00

The blinking cursor in the blank white box stared back at me like Don Drysdale in his prime, eyes piercing the narrow space between the bill of his cap and the tip of his glove. I felt exposed and utterly vulnerable. What was I going to name this blog? Time to step out of the batter's box.

"Ump, time please!"

I glanced down to my third-base coach in search for help. What I saw only compounded the pressure I was already feeling, as countless catchy monikers already dotting the Dodger blogging landscape flashed like signs before me: Sons of Steve Garvey, Vin Scully is My Homeboy, Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, Dodger Blues, Memories of Kevin Malone, Juan Pierre's Oversized Hat.

Still without a clue, I stepped back into the batter's box. The Big D's next delivery sent me crashing down like a house of baseball cards. Fastball, high and tight. There's nothing subtle about Drysdale, nor with some of the other blog names already out there: Dodger Thoughts, Blue Heaven, Dodger Divorce.

Then it came to me like the gentle waft of grilled Dodger Dogs. A strategy. I picked myself up, dusted myself off and dug back in. As the next pitch was delivered, I dropped the barrel of my bat, squared my body, and laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line. It was more than just a base hit. It was Maury Wills small ball. It was the Dodger Way to play baseball.

***

When I was about 8, I received as a gift a paperback copy of The Dodger Way to Play Baseball, by Al Campanis. How much of it was arrogance versus reality, I'm still not entirely sure. Was there really a Dodger Way to play baseball as opposed to Other Teams' Ways? Regardless, I sensed even as a child that there was a certain mystique about the Dodger organization. A certain pride. A certain tradition.

The title of my blog is an attempt to recall those days when there was no question as to who would be the Dodger manager the following year. Or the following 10. No question who would play third base next season. Or shortstop. Or second base. Or first base. Or who would do the play-by-play for...ever.

A time when there was no need to explicitly lay claim to the city's allegiance. Los Angeles belonged to the Dodgers and the Dodgers to Los Angeles. The Lakers were still a sideshow, the Angels a pesky younger sibling.

But it's not that simple. My blog name is an allusion to the current era of Dodger baseball as well, a period chockful of unfulfilled promises. There was the unfulfilled promise of Mike Piazza's Dodger career. There is the unfulfilled promise of the no-longer youthful Dodger core. And of course, there are the unfulfilled promises of current Dodger ownership.

The McCourts had boldly announced - promised - to renovate and expand Dodger Stadium. Their plans foretold of a state-of-the-art center field promenade that would include restaurants, shops, and a stunning, tree-lined walkway entrance into Dodger Stadium that would be named, appropriately enough, Dodger Way.

And so it goes with the name of this blog, the old inseparable from the new. Because no conversation about today's Dodgers would be complete without referencing their storied past. And no part of the Dodger past can be fully appreciated without using today as comparison.

Mixed Feelings About 'Los Doyers' Going Corporate

2010-09-12T00:35:00.000-07:00

Last week, Roberto Baly of vinscullyismyhomeboy.com fame, broke the story that the Los Angeles Dodgers had trademarked "Los Doyers" and had begun selling officially licensed merchandise at Dodger Stadium bearing the insignia.

Other local and national media outlets soon caught on to the story, as recapped by Baly here, here, and here.

I've had mixed feelings this week about the news. On the one hand, the fact that 'Los Doyers' is now trademarked gives further recognition to the importance of the Spanish-speaking populations of both Dodger fans and players, which commonly pronounce the word 'Dodger' as 'Doyer'. That is good.

On the other hand, it also means that t-shirts with 'Los Doyers' printed across the chest now can cost $25 to $30 apiece, a price point beyond what many are able to afford (myself included). I'd also imagine there might be some for whom the endearing term 'Los Doyers' feels less their own today than it did before, now that there are legal agreements and more dollars attached to it.

Twenty-Seven Years Ago Today...

2010-09-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Jon Weisman recounts one of the greatest games in Dodger Stadium history, which took place 27 years ago today, in a Dodger Thoughts repost entitled a happier 9/11.

Jeez, has it really been that long?

Can We Have 80s Night ... Every Night?

2010-09-08T23:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, I’ll admit it.

The McCourt trial has me hooked.

No, I don’t care about the affair, the luxury homes, nor which version of the MPA Jamie and Frank reviewed or signed.

I just want to know the state of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Who will be running my team? Is the generated revenue being reinvested to meet the organization’s immediate and long-term needs?

So far, many of the answers we've received are not encouraging. We've learned that the McCourts are essentially living paycheck to paycheck, servicing their outsized debt load with signficant portions of team revenue that could otherwise be reinvested within the organization. We've learned that the McCourts have not been entirely honest with us fans, telling us they intended to maintain a team payroll in the top quarter of major league teams -- and then failing consistently to do so.

All of which leads me to my biggest question of all: When will things get back to normal? Or is this the new normal? Are the halcyon days of stable family ownership of the Dodgers forever gone?

Maybe I'm better off not knowing all of the answers.