RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT BEING A DODGER FAN:

I have been a baseball and Dodger fan for slightly more than 60 years.  My love for baseball was immediate, and with the Dodgers, it was love at first sight.   In that sixty years, I have listened to or watched roughly 7,500 Dodger games.   I have also watched and coached countless youth ball and high school baseball games.   I have also had the pleasure of watching my sons participate in college baseball, including 2 trips to the NAIA College World Series. 

In the average year of my adult life, I spend approximately 500 hours watching or listening to Dodger baseball. I will spend another 200 hours or more reading about the Dodgers or baseball.   Typically, I will attend 2 or 3 Dodger games in a year.   I also annually attend about 5 or 6 college games, and a similar amount of high school games.  I might also catch a minor league game or two.

I wonder if I might have a greater impact on society if I spent those 700 hours on cancer research, or other life improving . . . Heck, I could probably become proficient in a foreign language in under 350 hours.  Or, more practically, I could catch up with my case load at work.   Perhaps I could write a book, or even just exercise.   But then again, I’m probably not spending as much time watching the Dodgers as all the hours the typical person spends refreshing their social media feeds.  Also, when I’m watching a game(particularly on TV), my attention is on the game(although I may flip the channels during commercial breaks).  I simply do not have the capacity to multi-task during games, like I might be able to in other situations.   My focus is entirely on the game, and to this day, I still cannot comprehend how my lovely wife can ask me what I think about her broccoli casserole in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 1-1 game.  Chances are better than not, that my answer will be total gibberish. 

Moreover, while I’m not, by nature, a very demonstrative guy, I’m also not a completely passive game watcher.   While watching the Dodgers, I’ll routinely let Cody Bellinger or Max Muncy know just how they should attack the pitcher, when they should swing, and why they were unsuccessful.   Or, if I’m really on my game, I’ll let Clayton Kershaw know what pitch he should throw.  Yes siree, there I am, sitting on my recliner in the comfort of my family room, giving advice to the reigning MVP, who, according to Baseball America, is in the top 5 of current major league baseball players, and another who will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame, on the first ballot, and who train 6 -7 days a week, with the best coaches available, and who also watch many hours of video to become masters of their craft.  As I type this, I’m reminded of how silly that sounds, that I would presume to know more than these folks when it comes to playing baseball.   And yet, I still to this day pass along my advice like candy on Halloween.   Thankfully they can’t hear me.  If they did, I’m sure they would still be laughing.  And, if that isn’t enough, I also feel the absolute need(obligation?) to tell Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts how to do their jobs.  Seriously, despite the fact that they are among the best at what they do, and despite the fact that they are surrounded by incredible support staff and have more information at their disposable than I could ever contemplate, I’m convinced that if they would only have listened to me, the Dodgers would have won, at minimum, 3 of the last 7 World Series.   But alas, they don’t listen to me.  I’m sure they’ll regret that to their dying day.   

Because of my love for the Dodgers, you would think that watching a game would be 3-4 hours of romantic bliss.   Unfortunately, that’s not always, the case.   I will often find myself talking to the TV, questioning the umpire, questioning Doc’s decisions, questioning the players, and that responsibility can be somewhat  stressful.   In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine found, in a non-baseball study(though I believe the same would be true for baseball), that cardiac emergencies in Munich more than doubled when Germany played in World Cup matches compared to days when they were idle, and no matches were played.   But I’m a fan, and I will continue to put myself in these situations.  Fortunately, I haven’t had any heart attacks yet.

Despite the wins and losses, I can honestly say that I’ve never once wavered in my love for the Dodgers.   I have distressed over losses, rejoiced in victories, wondered why this or that player was traded, or why we didn’t pick up a particular player in a trade.   I would expect that each of us on this board can make similar statements.   Maybe you’ve been a fan for more years than I have, maybe less.   But what is it that makes us the fans that we are?   I can’t speak for you, and perhaps you would be willing to tell us a little bit about your journey of fandom, but these are some of my reasons:  

1.         I love the time it has given me with my sons, and family.    It seems to be a rite of passage, to pass along your love of the game to your children.   I was introduced to baseball by friends at Artesia Park and my neighbor Tony Silva, who took me to my first Dodger game.   My parents immigrated to the United States from the Holland, when I was 5 years old.   We moved to Dairy Valley, California.  Unbeknownst to me at the time, this was Dodger country.   I soon learned what that meant and became a die-hard fan.   Perhaps if my parents had moved to Wisconsin or Kansas, I might have been a fan of their teams.   Thankfully they didn’t and I don’t have to ponder that possibility.   When I became a father, it wasn’t long before my son had a ball in his hand and then a bat.  Before long we would play catch.   Then I would pitch to him, as he endeavored to hit the ball over the roof of the house.   It became an almost daily event, to play baseball with my son.   Two years later we added a second son, and it only doubled the pleasure.    Before long, I took them to their first Dodger game, and I will never forget the expressions on their faces as we entered the stadium and they first laid eyes on the grass and the players.   Getting to share that joy with my sons is a delight that continues to this day and has been passed along to their sons.   My sons have moved to Washington, yet my oldest remains a Dodger fan.  In August 2018, while visiting Washington, I took my sons and their family to a Dodger vs Mariner game.   Prior to the game, my oldest son, put his son on his shoulders as they stood by the railing watching Clayton Kershaw do his stretches in the outfield.   It was a truly magical moment for me, as I remembered having my son on my shoulders, standing by the railing of Dodger Stadium watching the players take batting practice.   Those moments are a huge part of the fan experience!! 

2.         I love the fact that you can watch a baseball game most every day.   From February to October, there is a game to be watched.   Unlike football, where they only play 16 games, and one a week, in baseball, the anticipation of waiting for the next game is never a painful process.

3.         I love the incredible history of baseball.   As we’ve seen on this post, as recently as this past week, with the article on Pee Wee Reese, baseball history is so rich and provides a virtual goldmine of nuggets to discover.  Whether talking about Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Babe Ruth, or any of the many players that have played this game, there are a myriad of stories to uncover and great people to meet.  

4.         Visiting Dodger Stadium.   In my opinion, Dodger Stadium is the most beautiful in baseball.   Getting to share that experience stadium with 40,000 or more people is awesome.   The sights, sounds, smells and crack of the bat gets me excited each and every time I go there.  

5.         The sound of a home run.   There is an absolute sweetness to the sound of a ball hit on the screws.   Sometimes the sound is very subtle, but it is sweet nevertheless.   That sound begins to grow on you at a very young age, when you give it your best swing and it connects with the ball on the sweet spot.   You smile to yourself, and think, “I got all of that one!”   Even though I no longer play, that sound still resonates in my ears.  

6.         The sound of a 100 mph fastball hitting the catcher’s glove.  That’s a pop that you can’t duplicate anywhere else.   I can honestly say that I have never experienced throwing a ball that fast.  When I pitched in high school, speed guns had not become a tool used in baseball.  Good thing they hadn’t, because they probably couldn’t measure my 45 mph “heater.”   It doesn’t have to be a 100 mph pitch, though they are a special breed, just hearing the sound of a pitcher warming up between innings, is enough to get me excited.  

7.         The difficulty of hitting a baseball.   I’m sure there will be some argument, but I think hitting a baseball is one of the, if not the, hardest things to do in sports.  Ted Williams thought it was, and he was the best at hitting a baseball that the game has seen.   You have a round ball, that’s moving that you’re trying to hit with a round piece of wood.   When you do hit the ball, ironically, it’s called “squaring it up,”  

8.         Yogi Berra:     “Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical.” “No one goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” “It’s déjà vu all over again.” “I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.”   Not a Dodger, but enough said!

9.         There is no time Limit.   Speaking of it “it ain’t over til’ it’s over”, I love the fact that the game has no time limit.  You play until the final out.  

10.       Vin Scully’s voice.   Once again, enough said.   As Dodger fans, we were spoiled for 67 years, as Vinny brought the game and players to life in ways we had never seen before(or since).  

11.       Having your top hitter come to the plate, in a crucial situation in the game.   

12.       Hearing the crowd chant, “Let’s go Dodgers!”  

13.       Dodger uniforms.   The uniform is simple and classic.  Pantone 294 blue, against a white background with red numbers.   It looked good on Sandy Koufax 60 years ago, and it looks good on Clayton Kershaw today. 

14.       The Dodger Community: Dodger fans can be found everywhere.  When you’re at the grocery store, and you see some one in Dodger cap or T-shirt, there is an automatic bond.   He or she is one of the family.   The conference room in my office is filled with mostly Dodger related pictures.   They never fail to illicit conversation about the Dodgers or how a family member loves the Dodgers.   That sense of community is heightened on a blog such as this.   Scientists have found that being a sports fan can be good for your emotional, psychological and social health.

Fans who identify with a local team have higher self-esteem, are less lonely and are no more aggressive as a group than nonsports fans.   Thus, the more you identify with the Dodgers, the more psychologically healthy you tend to be.   The more psychologically healthy you tend to be, the easier it is to get along with like minded fans.  There aren’t too many times in life you can celebrate something with complete strangers and feel an emotional connection with your community as a whole.  I love this feeling.

15.       Dodgers vs Giants.  The rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants is something special.   My dislike for the Giants began when I was very young.   The only games I could watch on TV back then, were Dodger away games to Candlestick Park.   While I liked some of their players individually(Mays, McCovey, Cepeda), collectively, I had no love for them.   Beating them was sweeter than beating an other team(except for playoffs and the Series), and losing to them was more painful.         

16.       An Escape.  Though not too often, there are times that the Dodgers provide an escape from the issues of life that I don’t want to think about at the time. 

Baseball is a beautiful game that I’ve played and loved for the majority of my life.  There are many more reasons, that I could spell out, but I’ll stop for now.   The Dodgers are the only baseball team that I have loved, and they will be my team for the rest of my days. 

Some Random Thoughts

●          Whether it be Driveline, a new work out regimen, Mark Prior or just adaptation, I like this version of Clayton Kershaw a lot.  

●          Ross Stripling was one of my favorite Dodgers over the past 5 years.   Whether he won or lost, he always gave a meaningful interview.   He was more than willing to face the music when he didn’t do well.   I wish him nothing but the best with the Blue Jays.  

●          This is being written Friday morning.   I’m looking for big things from Dustin May tonight.  I hope the heat, doesn’t cause the balls to fly out of Dodger Stadium.  

●          Mookie and Corey at the top of the line-up is a winning combination.   When JT returns, plug him into the 3 hole, Belli clean-up, Pollock or Muncy hitting 5^th, depending on who’s pitching.  Pederson should never hit higher than 6^th in the line-up.   Definitely not lead-off.  

No parody today.   I ran out of time.   Thought I would share a Jim Croce song for those of you that get to thinking you might have been better in your “glory days” than you really were.