I'm Going to Let You in on a Little Secret…

Thank you for all you do Mark on this blog and the community you have created.

I’ve been a Dodger fan since the early seventies. I still remember my mother and me spending the night waiting in line at The Broadway Department Store (which had a Ticketmaster) hoping to buy tickets for the 1974 World Series. Unfortunately, we decided to purchase tickets for games 6 and 7. I spent my youth attending games at Dodger Stadium (my parents had season tickets) and it was a blast! About 8 years ago I moved to Portland, OR. for a job opportunity and so I don’t get to see as many Dodger games in person as I would like. I’ve been reading this blog daily since the McCourt days and IMO the blog has never been better. I appreciate those who write and comment (I particularly enjoy Phil Jones’ comments). I’m impressed that with all you have going on with your business and family life that you still have time to knock out high-quality posts day in and day out. I might be in the minority but I don’t even mind the occasional political post, although I rarely agree! I hope you continue this blog as long as it is fun for you. There are plenty of us out here who don’t comment much but come here every day. You are appreciated!

To Mark, Bear, B&P, and all others.

I found this blog approximately 8-try’s ago and think it is AWESOME!

I think I have posted 3-times previously – mainly when people were personally attacking each other and asking for somebody to be the adult in the room, or to keep the politics out of our conversations.

I just turned 63, have an incredible wife who literally took my potential and focused me to become fairly successful professional with an engineering company with eight employees.

I have 3 incredible sons and 2 daughter-in-laws each all smarter then me.

I served 28-yrs in the military (10-active duty). I served in Panama, Somalia and both Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. 13-yrs as an enlisted person (Forward Observer -USA, and C-5 Flight Enginer – USAF), the 15-yrs as an officer in EOD.

I do think we are in a very dangerous and tumultuous time in our country as am very worried that the truth no longer matters, that the 70 to 80% solution is no longer acceptable to either party – now it must 100% or we do scorch earth.

I am neither with left or far-right!

My only political take that I will every state is that what Trump tried to do last year was a coup attempt – something I never thought could happen in this GREAT country. Because in all my travels in the military I know how special this country was, is and can still be.

Collectively we all deserve better from politician from both sides.

You need to look no further than the individuals who are on this blog. I have read about Mark’s issues with his first wife and congratulate and RESPECT him for not letting it destroy him.

Or, the fact that recently different members have been meeting up in bars, at games getting together to talk Dodger baseball, or offering tickets to others for games they can’t attend seriously how special is that!!

So for VERY selfish reason I would love for Mark and all others to continue with their posts as it reassuring to me that some people can have dialogue, opinions and still stay civil with each other.

In the EOD career field the standard joke was if you have 4- tech’s debating how best to proceed with a mission you would have 5-opinions – same holds true here.

Again, it is easy for me to ask that Mark and all of you to continue making time in your

day to keep this blog alive and well – but, again it is a special place that we need more of – not less.

TO ALL A HAPPY 4th – and know, live and breathe the fact that FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

Shawn Murphy

Continue on Mark. Only Dodger site I participate in. Great info and 99% of the time respectful banter.

Thanks Mark for all you’ve done and all you do with this blog. I truly enjoy it and the emphasis on baseball. I haven’t seen much political talk lately which is good with me. I adhere to what I call my “Bar Stool Rule” While sitting at a bar, I refuse to talk about religion or politics. I have no interest in trying to convince a perfect (or imperfect) stranger that I’m right and he’s wrong, about these topics. You do a great job creating conversations. I hope you continue for as long as you wish, which I hope is a long time. I look forward to reading everyday and posting from a position of an old player and coach. Again – thanks.

* Who would have predicted that Tyler Anderson would be 9-1 and Tony Gonsolin 10 and 0 and likely to start the All-Star Game? How fun has it been watching these 2? Anderson just performs surgery on hitters. It’s refreshing to see a pitcher in the mold of Jaime Moyer get guys out and dominate without throwing 98.

* Nice to beat the Padres as these are 2 for 1’s. And get on them early so we don’t have to watch Grisham, Profar and Machado hot dog it up. I know they haven’t had much of a chance to celebrate but is it possible that Bob Melvin has settled that act down? He’s a quality Manager and I really don’t see him liking that style all that much. But I can’t say for sure as I never watch them unless they are playing the Dodgers. We’ll see when Tatis returns.

* Yu Darvish offers up more hangers than I have in my closet. Maybe he needs a 12th pitch.

* We were sure close in the 1st to hitting 4 homers in a row. I thought Muncy may have hit one as well. Darvish had about 1600 feet on fly balls sandwiched between 2 strikeouts in the 1st.

* The Dodgers D used a unique variation on the tired old cut-off alignment on throws from the outfield in the 2nd, keeping that big donkey, Luke Voit at 3rd with 2 outs. Having Anderson catch Bellinger’s throw from center up the line instead of Smith is new. It offers the potential for Anderson to tag Voit on his helmet if he passed by, I guess. The downside – had Voit been barreling home, with his chest hair flowing, he could have fixed up Andy with a new zip code. Fortunately he stayed at 3rd.

I’m not a fan of this new alignment and would prefer the traditional method with Smith covering home and have Anderson actually hustle and get his ass backing up home, before he gets killed.

* Mark Prior was quite a pitcher in his day. I love his game face. He looks like he wants to eat your liver. I’ve never seen him smile.

* Joe Davis is certainly a rising star on FOX. It was easy for him to provide facts on the Dodgers but he had the book on all things Padre as well. He really does his homework and is neutral and unbiased, as he should be, when he does a regional of national broadcast on FOX. He’s a rising star. He did drop a little extra promo very subtlally for Smith being an All-Star late in the game.

Let’s hope CK can bring his A game today and sweep.

I seem to be the newest or least old Dodgers fan, only since 1980, maybe because I’m 50 years old. But the important thing is that this blog remains active, since I have the night shift and it is the first thing I read in the morning. Also because here I can give my opinion and curse that shitty team full of stupid clowns, without hurting someone’s feelings, so that no one feels offended

Hi Mark,

I’m in my late 50s and have been a fan since I was a kid. I was in a classroom watching on TV when Monday hit the HR against the Expos. I was at Dodger stadium in 1988 for Wold Series game 1 for Gibson’s HR and game 2 for Hershiser’s gem. I really appreciate your style, the content you provide, and all your takes. Huge respect for all you do. Thank you.

I’ve been a Dodger fan since the 78 world series when I was 6 years old and was at my grandpa’s house who was a Dodger fan when we watched that world series. He lived a block over from where my parents and I lived.

This is the only baseball blog I read consistently. Probably the main reason is because for the most part it stays on Dodgers baseball. But there are other reasons too. I appreciate Mark doing this blog and hope he keeps doing this.

I’ve had my eye on Tony Gonsolin since he put up a .580 OPS against in 2019. Then a .518 OPS against in 2020. Then he pitched injured last year and still was able to put up a little better than average .686 OPS against. At the end of 2019 I figured that he could become a very good pitcher and here he is now again with a .514 OPS against so far this year. What’s even better is that he is doing it against both sides of the plate. He is putting up Clayton Kershaw numbers when Kershaw was in his prime years.

Dodger fan since 1955.

I appreciate what Mark puts out on a daily basis. Box scores and game recaps I can find anywhere. Good give and take discussions are what draws me to the blog.

Appreciate the no political ranting from either side that Mark seems to enforce. Nothing more boring than an uniformed Democrat or over informed Republican.

I don’t miss Frank McCourt or Milton Bradley

I do miss Roy Campanella, Don Drysdale, Ron Cey, and Andre Ethier

Alright, back to our regularly scheduled programming…

There’s a game that starts in just under 3 hours and I’m just waiting for AFV to post the lineup before we go for a sweet 4 game sweep against our red-headed step children to the south. This is as good a time as any for CK to reach back a pitch a gem to help bury the rest of the competition in the division. The best pitcher of his generation will face the most hyped pitcher of his generation in MacKenzie Gore, a fellow lefty.

As with any lefty on the hill while opposing us, I’ll anticipate a lineup that just doesn’t look quite right with blatant disregard to any reverse splits or current trends.

What a glorious weekend so far. It’s series like these that keep me pinned to my TV screen and shuffle outstanding commitments that has a potential to get in the way.

I’ll keep this post short, not for Bums’ sake, but because I have to get my pup some stimulation before game time or I’ll have to pay the price later in the day. Not to mention, I have to polish my brooms to get them ready for today’s result.

C’mon Kershaw, keep this ball rolling…

Been a Dodger fan all my life, they won the WS the year I was born. Grew up in NorCal, so took a lot of flak from my buddies. Followed their daily box scores since 4th grade. I remember the ‘65 series beating the Twins, and ‘66 with Earl Weaver’s O’s winning in 4 straights. Wes Parker was my favorite Dodger then, as I played 1st as a kid. I too, read this blog every morning. The baseball acumen on here is the best. I enjoy the daily updates on the farm teams. Great to see the emotional meaning our favorite team has with all of you…Mark, your efforts are certainly appreciated.

This is the first thing I read every morning

I love this blog.

I never comment just read it all.

i live and die with the dodgers. Your blog is the Best of all of them

I appreciate it.

Please keep it going.

Hey Mark. Kudos on the best Dodger blog on the internet. I hope you keep it going as it is my first stop for Dodger news and banter. It is the second entry on my bookmark list.

I became a Dodger fan in 1965 when I started playing Little League Baseball. Mainly because of Koufax and Drysdale. Also, back then we only got one baseball game per week on Saturday and a lot of times it was the Dodgers. Plus they were winning and I liked their uniforms.

I read this blog every day and post once in a while. Please keep it going.

Good morning everyone!!

Mr. Timmons been here reading since 2007, stay up , stay strong

Keep it going .

Dodgers 4 life!!!

Dodger fan since ‘72

You better not quit!

4:10 PM ET

Padres (46-34)

Dodgers (49-28)

SPClayton Kershaw L

5-2 2.94 ERA 49IP 511k

Confirmed Lineup

RF Mookie Betts R

SS Trea Turner R

1B F. Freeman L

DH Will Smith R

2B Max Muncy L

3B J. Turner R

CF T. Thompson R

C A. Barnes R

LF Gavin Lux L

Clear-day

0% Rain

76° Wind 9 mph Out

The Los Angeles Dodgers activated outfielder Mookie Betts, reinstated left-handed pitcher David Price, designated right-handed pitcher Ian Gibaut for assignment and optioned infielder Eddy Alvarez to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday afternoon.

Mark, I read this every day and your takes are interestingly challenging Your takes on the Dodgers will be missed by me and your other site users.

Oh I’m pretty sure ( and I think he’d confirm ) Mark has told it like it isn’t a time or two just to stir the bullshit. Mark is my friend and in case you don’t know, he’s your friend too. I’m also pretty certain whatever I post isn’t to be taken so seriously as it’s intent is mostly for chuckles ( which I often fail at ). But I’m pretty thick skinned so Dump it right here at me because I can take it! Unless you talk bad about my heroes. I don’t bother much with other blogs and other than watching games and sometimes MLBN This is my go to place and has been for over 10 years. 10 years ago it didn’t look like that much time was on the menu. Excuse me for now, my discomfort is telling me to eat some prunes. I really need to exclude cheese from my diet.

First of all I would like to thank Mark especially, and all the great contributors to this site. This is the only blog that I read completely every day

I’ll soon be 70 years old and I’ve been a dodger fan since I was seven years old. I never got a chance to see a game at the Colosseum . My uncle who would come to visit us five or six times during the year started taking me to dodger games in the early 1960s, we used to sit in the left-field pavilion. He would also try to take me to camera day once a year. If I remember correctly box seats were only 3.50

And the LA Times would have a coupon for Camera day buy one get one free.

THANKS AGAIN MARK FOR ALL YOU DO!! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL!!

This is Cassidy’s wife. Please stay. You will be saving a marriage. He’s retired now and driving me crazy. The only peace that I get during the day is when he’s on your blog!

A Dodger fan since 1946,

keep up the good work Mark

Been hardcore dodger fan for over fifty years. Born in Ventura now live in Louisiana. Only discovered this sight about a year ago and love it. Keep it up

Turned 76 a couple of weeks ago, been a Dodger guy since little league back in the ’50’s. Used to love laying in the back yard under the stars listening to Vinny. The wife and I have family all over the country … every one of them bleeds Dodger blue. Mark, I don’t post much, but I look in everyday. With the time it takes to breathe life into this blog, I would totally understand … but the absence of “ladodgertalk” would leave a big hole in my day!

Big time dodger fan for over fifty years born and raised in Ventura now live in Louisiana. Been checking out this site almost daily and love it

Mark –

It appears to me that you and LADT play an important role in the daily lives of many of us. The reason is because of the way you frame the topics for discussion and the insights of so many knowledgeable posters. I follow other boards in college football and basketball; but LADT is where I spend most of my time. I do so because the topics and comments have real value for me! As a 76 year-old, spending my time wisely is a priority. Thanks for all you do to keep me engaged in a lifelong love of mine – Dodger Baseball!!

I’ve been a Dodger fan since the early 70s. I’m the same age as you Mark and live in Utah now. I understand the pull to slow down and do other things but for me I’ve found that having nothing to do is much worse than having a lot to do. LADT is the only blog that I read everyday. I enjoy all the posters – even those that I don’t agree with. Thanks Mark for creating a national treasure.