Follow Your Heart
Having lived in other cities who have MLB teams, I know that sometimes the folks who live in those cities, or even states, feel you should be a fan of the team that plays there. I spent 12 years living in Phoenix and I have been here in Colorado for almost 13. When I was driving…
Having lived in other cities who have MLB teams, I know that sometimes the folks who live in those cities, or even states, feel you should be a fan of the team that plays there. I spent 12 years living in Phoenix and I have been here in Colorado for almost 13. When I was driving long haul and working out of Denver, I did that for almost 7. So, 32 years away from my home team, not counting the 9 I spent in the service, and never have I ever considered rooting for another team.
This of course applies mostly to baseball. I have always been a USC fan. Don’t know how that all started but, in my life, I have only been to two college football games, USC-UCLA about 1962, and a Sun Bowl game in El Paso while I was in the Army between LSU and Auburn. I was a Ram fan until they left. Never warmed to the invaders from up north, the Raiders. Not a huge hockey fan, and never really felt the Angels were an LA team.
Went to my first and only Lakers game in 1961. Loved Baylor and West from the first time I saw them play. Followed the Lakers on TV a lot and was a big fan of the Showtime teams. Loved Magic and Big Game James. Kareem was a trade piece, so I never really warmed up to him. I saw the Lakers lose so many times to the Celtics that I came to despise the color green. But they finally won, and it was great. The Kings won after I left, and the Rams did not win a championship until they were in St. Louis.
I did root for the Cardinals in Az while Warner was the QB, but that is the only team from another city I ever rooted for. I was a Dodger fan before they moved to LA. So, I have always followed my heart instead of the herd when it comes to baseball.
The only Rockies games I have ever been to at Coors have been games against the Dodgers. And my record is untarnished in those games. LA is 5-0. Including a come from behind 12-10 win in a game that Kazmir started.
I went to three games at Chase Field, it was the BOB then, and they went 2-0. The other game was against the Cubs. D-Backs lost that one too. The Dodgers have always been and will always be my favorite team. I may not agree with some, excuse me, many of their player moves, but usually when a player becomes a Dodger, I root for them. There have been two exceptions, Gary Sheffield, I never liked the guy, and Yasmani Grandal. Mark loved him. I could not stand him. I had my reasons, not the least of which was him being busted for using PED’s.
Although he had a lot of power and was the so-called best pitch framer in baseball, he was the least clutch player on the team and grounded into way too many rally-killing double-plays. I was totally happy when he left via free agency. With him gone, it opened the door for Will Smith.
We all have our reasons for being Dodger fans. I follow my heart. There are even a few fans here who were living in Brooklyn and got their love of the team from older relatives. Love to hear those stories.
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Discussion (75)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Muncy’s latest slump started when he banged his knee
When Outman was scuffling, Will Smith told him to “find the good in the bad” to keep his spirits up.
Will Smith was the good in the bad today. Nothing spectacular, but he had 3 more walks against zero Ks. He now has 21 walks against 12 Ks for the season. His BA is .311, his OBP is .414 and OPS is .980. Due to his concussion, he doesn’t have enough ABs to qualify for the stat titles, but he would be among the leaders behind guys like Judge and Acuna… and Dodger-killer Nolan Gorman.
Also good: Outman didn’t strike out in 4 plate appearances and collected an RBI on a sacrifice. The offense was anemic, the Dodgers struck out 11 times–but not Outman this time.
These are interesting times. Looks like we’ll see a lot more of Gavin Stone and at least a little of Bobby Miller. If Miller has figured out how to harness the talent, maybe he’ll stick around a while.
I already said I’m surprised at the Dodgers record in my post above so I know they are in first place. I was just pointing out that their team stats are bad and when that is the case they can easily be caught. And if not caught then they could easily be beaten in the playoffs if things don’t change.
But anyways.
A lot of good questions raised in this thread…
–What is to be done about Barnes and the extra outfielder? Trayce is obviously vulnerable, but Peralta may have more trade value.
–What is the solution at SS? The brass seems unwilling to go with Mookie full-time. Tim Anderson isn’t playing well but he may be the best option available.
–Will the Dodgers need more pitching? The ChiSox should be sellers, so deal for Anderson and Giolito seems doable. Dodgers might prefer the experience of Lance Lynn. (Dylan Cease would be pricy and I doubt the Sox would deal him.)
–What about a righty bat or two? Anderson would be an upgrade over Rojas, but that’s not enough. The A’s Brent Rooker is hot and maybe Beane would want to deal him at peak value. (A couple of prospects plus Peralta or Trayce?)
Waiting for next shoe to drop—Kershaw to IL On bereavement list but—Two unusual games in a row–that’s the sign