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
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 5th, depending on who’s pitching. Pederson should never hit higher than 6th 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.
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Discussion (89)
Disagree, not disagreeable
All of these short starts are getting to the ‘pen. Here is Dodgers.com:
“Although the Dodgers have the best record in baseball, all of those short starts last month by their inexperienced rotation seem to have taken a toll this month on a bullpen that has allowed runs in each of the last nine games with a 4.89 ERA. In this series alone, the Dodgers’ bullpen allowed 10 runs in 11 innings.”
’nuff said
Have to agree with you Jeff. I think Doc is over thinking this. They had better find out soon if these kids are good enough to match up with the best. I have a lot of faith in Kersh, and I think Buehler will be there when they need him. But May and Gonsolin need to build up innings, and there are only 18 games left. I also think they need Turner back as soon as possible.
Production-wise, my list of starters:
Urias has a 3.86ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, not exactly what we want out of a starter even though he is 3-0. 3 decisions out of 8 starts. He is definitely the low man, #5 starter at this point.
Buehler has a 3.60ERA, 0.97WHIP, and 1 decision out of 6 starts, #4 starter.
May, who has only 2 decisions out of 8 starts, 1-1, is our #3 starter with a 2.88 ERA, 1.81WHIP.
Gonzo, #2 starter with a 0.76 ERA and 0.72 WHIP, no decisions in 5 starts.
CK is #1.
The lack of decisions in the bottom 4 starters is mostly on Doc and the way he uses them. Some will like it, some will not. When you don’t let your starters loose, you tax the BP. We have a very good BP, but we cannot expect them to hold every game, every day. We are talking about 4 starters with an average age of 24.5 yo. They can’t pitch more than 75 pitches? They are not allowed to face pressure? Buehler was supposed to be our ace. Wood is still a big disappointment. All those that think there is no weakness in our starters should wake up. We cannot live and die with the HR, yet this is what we’ve got.
They get beat on a homer by Matt Kemp, who now resembles the Goodyear Blimp. And Mookie sits on the bench with the game on the line and a chance to win. Hmm.
BP suddenly looks very pedestrian. Never thought I would say this, but without Joe Kelly and Baez it seems a lot harder to get 12-14 outs from a BP that now features a very hittable Caleb Ferguson, Jake McGee, and to a lesser extent Blake Trienen.
Ferguson give up another HR. 3 games in a row! I guess we’ll have to come back again!
Taylor and Pollock are making a case to be starters in the playoffs.
Betts just getting a blow. He will be back on Tuesday in Az. Julio may have great stuff, but his execution leaves a lot to be desired, and I have not much confidence in him going deep into games. Hitting leadoff has not helped Lux so far. Beaty is not hitting the ball like he did last year. Lack of playing time might be the reason. Smith with 2 hits so far. Bad base running by Seager. But stuff happens. They are still in this and close to getting to the Rockies pen. Why don’t the Dodgers use the bunt more. Hampson bunts, steals second and scores on a hit to left. Too much like old style ball I guess. Lakers bounced back for a big game 2 win. Julio out after 4.1. Pitiful,
I know we had some nice discussions after the trade deadline about the Padres new pitching staff, and how they had some nice young arms in Paddack and Lamet. And I think those guys are good. I just don’t think they’re any better than Urias May and Gonsolin. Cleavinger at this point might be better than our young trio, but as an ace he’s not better than Walker Buehler.
I think we’re just fine in the pitching staff dept. I like our staff. And I really like our staff over the next few years as the young trio gets more experience.
Smith bomb. Over 1000 0PS.
This is why I was complaining about a 50-50 playing time from the catchers that Doc had for a while.
According to Doc, Joc is not in the lineup tonight because he’s dealing with a family matter. He might be away from the team for multiple games.
If I’m not mistaken, his wife is pregnant. Hopefully it doesn’t have anything to do with that.
I think Doc is trying to boost Gavin Lux’s confidence! It may work!
Matt Beaty is playing his best defensive position tonight… which is part of the reason he does not play more.
Today’s lineup:
Lux
Seager
Muncy (3b)
Belly (1b)
Pollock (LF)
Smith
CT3 (CF)
Beaty (DH)
Kike (RF)
Urias
Tonights lineup.
1. Lux 2B
2. Seager SS
3. Muncy 3B
4. Bellinger 1B
5. Pollock LF
6. Smith C
7. Taylor CF
8. Beaty DH
9. Hernandez RF
Urias P.
Puerto Rican players will be allowed to wear # 21 on the 9th of September, Wednesday, in honor of Roberto Clemente Day in MLB. Might get confusing if Buehler is pitching that day. Castellani, the Rocks starter today has given up 6 homers so far this year.
Hall of famer Lou Brock passed away today. I saw him play many times. Great player and one of the smartest base runners I have ever seen. RIP Lou. You are missed already.
We need to see some consistent at bats for Rios, Beaty, Lux (Lux has for the most part gotten those at bats) and some consistent at bats against right handers for Pollock in determining playoff spots. I hope all 4 of them are starting today. The Dodgers are going to the playoffs no matter what Doc does with the starting lineup.
As far as the Doc discussion today, only blind people cannot see Doc’s weaknesses. I’ll leave it at that.
Does anyone know why today’s game starts at 7pm?
And I don’t know why they always blame Roberts, he is not on the field, he is not on the mound, he does not wear a glove, he is not the catcher, he is not the pitcher, and not to forget a very important thing : In front of them there is a team that also wants to win, or is it only the Dodgers who win and lose?
What the other team does, what the other team’s players do also counts. I mean, if it was Roberts fault, does that mean the other manager made the right call? And if Roberts made the right call, does it mean that the other manager failed?
Not everything is the fault of the manager, sometimes are the players who not execute.
Many people give too much importance to the order at bat, if the players did their job, it would not matter in what order they batted.
But hey, it’s just my humble opinion, you know more about baseball than me…
Dean Kremer 6 innings 1 hit in beating yanks today.
I am going to opine about joc. I’m sure it hurt him to be traded and not traded duh! So AF the great AF has to know that right? I mean if he doesn’t know it he is the only one who doesn’t that follows Dodger baseball. This has been going on the full season so why didn’t he do something about it at the deadline? I don’t have a clue but he must have had his reasons. Maybe no one wanted a guy hitting below the Mendoza line. Maybe AF felt at some point he would have his patented hot streak and maybe at this years playoffs.
On the other hand we have doc who keeps watching the same old lack of hustle. Why? I mean doc has been dubbed the great communicator. Can he not communicate that hustle is a requirement. Maybe joc has a hidden injury. Why doesn’t somebody in the press ask doc the question or have they? Mark, seems to have insider info at times please find out. I remember the staff making excuses for machado and his lack of hustle. But, he kept doing it and was not signed. The old school manager would have benched or fined him or both. Unless, there is something we don’t know but it should be addressed. If joc is just pouting he needs to grow up and put the team first. When you are making 8-9 mil u shouldn’t be whining. Joc should be trying to get the next contract. Doc doesn’t seem to be able to put the foot down when needed. He seems to be much better suited at trying to make everybody happy and wanting players to love him.
Several people have mentioned this… not just William, so here is my response:
In the playoffs last year, Kolerek had great results with Soto (a few times), but have you ever heard the term “went to the well too much?” I am certain that Doc and the Dodger brass had discussed it and I am equally certain that issue was brought up! Why am I certain? It makes logical sense to at least question the continuation of this mastery. Maybe it would have worked again, but Juan Soto has proven to be very adaptable at such a young age.
The fact is: we don’t know what would have happened. In baseball, it frequently happens that a player strikes out 3 times in a row, only to hit a bomb the next time. I know Dave Roberts is not perfect, but I also know that it is human nature to blame someone when things go South. If the same situation happened THIS year, I would still bring in Kershaw, but leaving Kelly in would have been mute. The whole dynamic would have been different. Kershaw did not execute – I will continue to trust him to do so NEXT time.
Even Barry Bonds choked in the playoffs… until he didn’t!
Justin Verlander has a 5.68 ERA in the World Series in 7 games. Does that mean he should never pitch then?
Sometimes things don’t work.
Sometimes we don’t know what is happening behind the scenes.
Sometimes other players outexecute your player.
Sometimes the manager makes a mistake, but not every time.
Baseball lends itself more than any other sport to criticism of the coach or manager. Pro football is full of its own nomenclature that allows ex-players with no particular broadcasting ability to carve out careers by talking about zone blitzes and Cover Two. Football coaches get criticized and fired, but not generally for game decisions, just for losing. NBA coaches’ main job seems to be handling the egos, and establishing substitution patterns. The franchise which gets a Jordan or Bryant or Curry or James usually is the one which wins the title, though there are obviously a few great coaches like Auerbach or Jackson or Larry Brown. Baseball is full of discernible strategical choices; and so fans, from the novices to those who have followed the game closely for years, are apt to chime in, and think that they would handle these decisions better than the manager. Lineup. Bunt, hit and run, vs. playing for the long ball. Starting staff. How long should you leave the pitcher in? Whom to use in relief, and in what order? Pinch hitting. Each of these decisions, accessible to the fan, can work out badly, and so the manager is very open to being criticized for them if they do.
Now, what is psychologically interesting is that there are some fans who decide that they do not like a manager (for very valid reasons or not), and constantly blame individual losses, or the failure to win a title, on him. Then there are others, and often people who broadcast the team’s games, or do postgame shows, who never will criticize him. Their infinitely repeated response is, “Hey, if Jones had struck the batter out; if Smith had come up with a hit there, would you still be complaining about the decision? Of course not. I think that the manager did the right thing, it just didn’t work out. That happens sometimes. All this second guessing is ridiculous.” People who have made a career out of such responses include Geoff Witcher, David Vasseigh, Rodney Peete, and plenty of others over the years. They do what the organization wants them to do; and they are also close to the manager and value the access, so they will always take his side. Another typical response is, “Did you play the game? Did you manage it? How do you know that the manager made the wrong decision?” Well, most people have never run for President or made a major motion picture, but that doesn’t mean they can’t perceptively criticize the actions of politicians and filmmakers, although those people don’t like hearing it.
For my part, I have scarcely ever seen a Dodgers manager who I thought was particularly good at game strategy. This could mean that I am just inclined to be critical, or maybe that the Dodgers’ ownership has rarely hired an astute game managing type. Sometimes such people are admittedly not great at handling players. But there are a few whose games we might not get to watch each season, but who one can perceive are very smart tacticians, always thinking ahead, being able to sense which pitcher is right to put in for that situation, or how long to leave the starter in. It would be nice to have one of those, though they are fairly rare. Does anyone remember Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh? He was not notable for being articulate or intellectual, but I thought he had a great intuitive sense of the game, and very often made the right decision, even going “against the book.” His team beat the Yankees in 1960; that was the World Series where the Yankees outscored the Pirates by over twenty runs, but lost the four close games. The 1971 World Series between Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Clemente and Robinson, Murtaugh and Weaver, was superb, and Murtaugh matched the great Earl Weaver all the way, and the Pirates won another title.
Dave Roberts is by no means a great manager in my view. I certainly didn’t start with that perception; i did not know what kind of manager he would be, though I was of the opinion was that he was a rather politically correct choice. But he has certainly won a lot of games, or he has allowed his players to win them. But there is no doubt in my mind that his decisions in last year’s playoff series were almost inexplicable, other than out of loyalty or stubbornness. And twice in the World Series, he pulled Rich Hill when he was pitching with great skill and intensity, only to have his bullpen lose the game. Roberts does not show any great imagination or insight in his decisions, he makes the decision he seems to have decided on in advance.
I don’t think that he has lost many games this year, the Dodgers sure have not. I don’t think he has won many, either. Some people here insist that Turner tried to steal second base on his own, that it was not Roberts’ call. If that is the case, then it was foolish of Turner to do it, and it was very surprising to learn that Roberts gives Turner a green light to steal any time he feels he can make it, given that Turner clearly has a thick musculature in his legs, has injured the hamstring before, is always walking gingerly after running hard or sliding into a base. The reward of a Turner stolen base is much less than the risk of his trying it, as we see again. If indeed this was all Turner’s decision, then I would like to know why Roberts greenlights Turner to steal any time he wants to, like Wills or Lopes. If the Dodgers fall short again, it is going to be someone’s fault, unless like the broadcasters i named above, we feel that baseball is just a dice game, whoever wins and loses titles is just a matter of luck, I know that in baseball, like all sports, luck is a factor; but I have always thought that the better coaches or managers win more big games than they lose, and that it is not a circular thing, where those who win become known as great by virtue of the luck that allowed them to win.
Mark, I have agreed with you many times. I do not agree with you on Doc.
1. Until he proves he can manage in the play offs, the jury is out. Kelly pitching 2 innings when he never did it all season. Many other decisions that could be second guessed in the play offs.
2. Starting Muncy at lead off this year when he never batted lead off in his life. How long did it take Doc to start Mookie at lead off when that is what he did.
3. This team is so strong even you or I could manage this team to a winning record. Maybe you, but not me.
4. Doc falls in love with doing new things. Joc at first base. Muncy leading off. Kelly pitching two innings. All failures. During the season, you can get away with these decisions. In the play offs, not. I coached a State basketball championship team. I played the kids that got us there. If you lose with your best players doing what they do, you will not be second guessed.
2D2 – nothing random about those thoughts. Very enjoyable read and brought up some Dodger memories for me.
As mentioned before I became a Dodger fan on April 19, 1952 after the fifth inning. My loyalty did not waver when they broke my heart and headed west four time zones away for the 1958 season. I have not lost my passion for the game but my true passion really tends to be with the minor league teams as I feel closer to the players there. Each morning when I get up I do check the Dodger game and view the videos. No matter what happened the night before there is always something good in a box score. That infield squibbler looks like a line drive single in the box score.
I love the home uniform which is the best in all of sports, in my opinion, and also love it when they have “Dodgers” on the jersey on the away uniforms.
I have not formed the same attraction for players now as I did when the Boys of Summer played and even into the fab 4 days in the infield. Free agency has done that to me.
Because all west coast games are too late for me to watch I really don’t have opinions on who should have done what. I just know the manager is mostly at the mercy of how players perform. He is a genius if a player does what needs to be done and a dummy if the player does not. He surely will make mistakes and they become so magnified when compared to the many good moves he quietly makes and how he keeps a group of millionaires happy. I think one of the best things he can do is always support his players publicly and privately and be honest with the team and the press.
Awesome slo mo video on Twitter. It shows a Patrick Corbin pitch just missing a butterfly! Totally cool. Anyone want to bet that Joc won’t be in the lineup today? RHP starting again for the Rocks. Little scouting report for you. This kid did a pretty decent job his first start at Coors late last month. He lost his last start, but has some decent stuff. Oh. Cole actually lost his second game of the season to the Orioles no less. Angels swept the Asstro’s yesterday.