Coffee on 3rd

A Day at the Races

2009-11-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

Breeder's Cup @ Santa Anita

We may not have come out ahead, but I did learn how to bet, which seemed just as important as knowing how to order a cheesesteak at Pat's or Jim's. It goes something like this: Santa Anita (yes, you had to say the name of the track since some bettors would place money down on races all across the country); Race #, $ amount, and then the fun part. You could pick multiple horses to finish in multiple places. Pick the top 2. Pick 4, hoping 2 of them finish in the top 2. Pick a winner and the field. Pick the top 5. Exactas. Trifectas. Superfectas. Oh my! Pick anything you want and the odds just kept on multiplying. Despite the mathmagic of it all, I failed to find the right combination. I did have our My Town billboard cover boy - Garret Gomez - in a few races and GG rode Life is Sweet to victory in the biggest race of the day. All in all, a good day at the races.

The 'Bu

2009-11-07T21:55:00.001-08:00

Here We Go Again

2009-10-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

NLCS. Phillies. Dodgers. Again.

Don't get me wrong, don't take my phrasing to suggest that I consider such lofty heights routine. It's just that the Lukin's have worked for the Dodgers for two seasons and so far, we're two for two. We've not only won the Division (twice) and swept through the NLDS (twice) but now we advance to face the Phils for the right to go the World Series (again).

Of course there are differences between 2008 and 2009. In 2008 we started in Philadelphia. In 2009, Game 1 is in LA (tomorrow). In 2008 Clayton Kershaw was only 20. In 2009, CK is 21 and not only legally able to enjoy the champagne supernovas in the locker room, but apparently is ready to make the Game 1 start for the boys in blue. In 2008, the Dodgers lost the series in 5. In 2009....

...it remains to be seen. But hopes are high. This team is THE story in baseball. The comeback wins. The Mannywood drama. The near collapse. The emergence of Kemp. The sweep of St. Louis. And of course Joe Torre tempting fate with a date with the pinstripes looming (the only other team competing for the title of 'THE' this year is of course the Yankees with their own run of walk-offs, A-Rod, and a Jeter MVP run, not to mention CC & Tex).

So what happens now? Will history continue to repeat itself? Last year, a Red Sox/Dodgers World Series had Hollywood writing the script with Manny as the lead. This season. Ramirez and Rodriguez may take a back seat to Joe, but the plot would have more story lines to intertwine (not to mention an international - perhaps even intergalactic audience). All we can do is wait. It's time for the supporting cast to take center stage. Andre, Matt, Russ, James...ready? Casey, Raffy, Ronnie, O...ready? Clayton, V, Hiroki, Wolfy...ready? And yes, JP, Bills, Thome, Loretta! Are you ready? Ok. Go!

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Slash Shreds the National Anthem

2009-10-09T10:20:00.001-07:00

Using the Force

2009-10-04T23:01:00.000-07:00

What a difference a week makes.

On the night of September 26th, the Dodgers became the first team in the National League to clinch a spot in the 2009 Postseason. Spirits were high, and the following morning, the team took a 3-run lead into the bottom of the ninth to potentially seal the deal on their second straight Division Title. But a funny thing happened on the way to the champagne room as the Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves in a celebratory scrum on the pitchers mound that just moments earlier had been reserved for a Dodger party.

And then the wheels came off. With a magic number of one, the Dodgers woke up Monday for a breakfast with destiny, but before they could figure out what time it was or which pot was decaf, they found themselves trailing 5-0 en route to an 11-1 lopsided loss.

Back on the left coast, the mood amongst fans, and the front office, shifted slightly from an air of confidence to feeling, well, inconvenienced. There was no concern at this point, just frustration in the fact that we'd have to wait until the following night, when the team would play the Padres a few hours to the south, to celebrate. Tuesday night came, and despite dozens of the Dodgers faithful in attendance at Petco thanks to DODGERLIFE, the evening went, once again, without a win. Wednesday brought more of the same, including the pacing back and forth in the office just waiting for another chance, and as I watched Kevin Kouzmanoff's 3-run shot clear the right field fence while working out, I stepped off the elliptical and was out of the gym before Kouz crossed home. Now it was time for concern.

Those damn Rockies refused to lose all week long and Thursday morning found themselves not only with a chance to clinch a playoff spot of their own, but a win vs the Brewers would set-up a series in LA for the NL West Crown and no more scoreboard watching.

Well of course Colorado won, giving them at least a Wild Card entry into the next round. And now it was time for the national media to begin to take note of the potential collapse in SoCal. Friday night was meant to be a celebration of Tommy Lasorda for his 60 seasons in Dodger blue, and fate would seem to suggest that this would be the night all of LA had been waiting for. But before the echoes of Tommy's speech left the Ravine, the Dodgers found themselves in a 2-0 hole that would eventually result in a 4-3 defeat. BUT. There is a but. For the first time since the previous Sunday, the team showed signs of life. A 2-run rally in the 7th after the Rockies had taken a 4-1 lead ended with the potential tying run just 90-ft away.

On to Saturday night, a week since the Dodgers last win. A seven day stretch that threatened to squeeze out all of the great moments of the first 160 games of the season. From Ethier's walk-offs to Manny's bobbleslam, all signs seemed to be pointing towards another division title and another chance at the World Series. And now, with two games left to win just one, a new feeling swept through the night and throughout the sold-out crowd. An excitement, an exuberance, a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power commonly referred to as, The Force. That's because Saturday night was Star Wars Night at Dodger Stadium complete with Storm Troopers in Autograph Alley, a Clone Wars Bounty Hunter throwing out the first pitch and a visit to the press box by R2-D2.

With The Force in hand, the game began to go the Dodger way; from Clayton Kershaw's 5K start; to a mysterious injury sidelining the Rockies ace after just 3 innings; followed by a series of season saving hits, including a slump-busting single for a struggling Manny Ramirez; and finally culminating in a 1-2-3 9th for Broxton that was so dominant, mind tricks may have been involved, the Dodgers found a way to win and secured the crown that they had been fitted for a week earlier. Worth the wait it was.

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One

2009-09-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Magic - mag·ic (n.)

You can ask the Google or your fancy new decision engine, but its still hard to find a defined answer as to why the baseball pundits call the number of games a team must win or the number of games the second place team must lose (or a combination of both) a magic number. I understand the concept. When the number is achieved, the team at the top clinches a spot in the playoffs - or the division as the case may be. By that reasoning, the baseball gods could have called it a clinch number. Or perhaps a postseason number. But literal language is thrown out the door in the sports writing world. A world in which writers have created a theater of the mind for generations of fans to find themselves in. They must use words that not only describe the action on the field, but paints a picture that tells their audience everything from the break on the ball; the ballpark smell in the air; and the sound the crowd makes when cheering or chiding in unison.

So how to describe the possibility of playing in the playoffs. The chance to secure a spot in October to battle the best in the league for the right to be called World Champs. It's not just about extending the season. It's about the possibilities, the memories to be made, a time of year in which the intricacies of the national pastime are exposed to the nation in a way that makes even the most casual fan care about a sacrifice bunt, the concept of middle-relief or simply the actualization of a childhood fantasy for so many in backyards and driveways across the country. A situation that could be described in four short words: Bottom of the ninth. Bill Mazeroski, Joe Carter, Aaron Boone and of course, Kirk Gibson have all been there and turned their moment in the spotlight into something more. More than just a home run. More than just a victory. Because when those moments occur in October, they're not simply special - they are magic.

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Feverish

2009-09-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year.

Back to school specials. The end of summer. The start of the NFL season. Rosh Hashanna is only a few weeks away....but that's not what I'm talking about. No, its time for baseball games to matter. And not in an All-Star Game counts sort of way. No, for the first time all season, 9 innings feels like 4 quarters. Every game, every at-bat, every pitch is now to be scrutinized or savored because every game counts.

Of course I know a win in April is the same as a win in September in the standings, but how often do Sportscenter anchors quote the standings in the spring? Now is when the GB column is king. Now is when 20 cities get out their NFL paraphernalia, while the rest of the country's interest in the National Pastime grows each and every day. Every win or loss is now remembered somehow. Scoreboard watching becomes a popular hobby amongst fans, players and coaches alike. And as each day of September ticks away, the hunt for October looms. After 8 months of pop-flies and pitching changes, all baseball fans want now is a chance to play one more month.

With my rookie season behind me, the postseason push is now more than just a perk. After opening Camelback Ranch, hosting the World Baseball Classic, and enduring 72 home games thus far (including nearly a dozen walk-off wins) I consider myself all-in. The Dodgers are now my team and my emotions sway with each come-from-behind win (Tuesday) or coulda-woulda-shoulda losses (Wednesday).

And now the real fun begins. The Rockies are hot on our tail. We finish the year with 3 at home against the purple and black. Plus, six of our next 9 games are against the rival Giants, who lurk in 3rd place. The first three are by the Bay this weekend and the Lukin's will head north to catch all the action. More baseball you might question? What can we say...we've got pennant fever.

Check back for a full report on our San Francisco trip next week or follow us on twitter @coffeeon3rd.

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The Warrior

2009-08-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

Don't get greedy.

That's what I keep telling myself. These miracle moments are to be cherished, not expected. Walk-off wins are not commonplace. Walk-off wins are not normal. Walk-off wins are special, unique, rare even....or so I thought. Once again, for the 10th time in less than 100 games, the Dodgers won on a walk-off. Tonight, with 2 on and nobody out in the 9th, the walk-off warrior himself stepped to the plate to try to keep the rally alive, maybe knock in a run to bring Manny to the plate with the game on the line. What drama that would be! Vin Scully even made reference to the fact that the only way the Dodgers faithful would fail to see Ramirez again would be if the Braves could pull off a triple play...

...and then Andre Ethier reminded us all that there was another way out. Ethier has had his own concept of clutch all season and when his shot to right field started to sail towards the Pavilion, the crowd took a moment to grasp what was happening. Was the ball going to clear the fence? Does that mean no Manny? How many were on base? What was the score again? No way!! Are you kidding!!! Did Ethier just win this damn thing? Seriously?!!

It was a weird and wild moment as the crowd collectively realized that not only had Etheir hit his 23rd home run of the season, but the 3-run blast gave the Dodgers a 5-4 win on Andre's 5th walk-off of the season - the best in all of baseball. Manny would be coming to the plate, but only to join the scrum as the warrior crossed home. Just another night in Dodgertown.

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Year of the Manny

2009-08-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a year since Mr. Ramirez came into my life (officially at least, I considered him one of the hated idiots in the now infamous '03 & '04 ALCS). But on July 31, 2008, during a press conference announcing that the World Baseball Classic Finals would be played at Dodger Stadium, cell phones starting buzzing about the Boston slugger coming to LaLa Land. Who knew that the story of the day would dominate the headlines for the next year, from his debut weekend to his dominant postseason, Manny was and has been the lead story for Dodger writers, bloggers, fans and followers since the day he arrived. Even during a tumultous offseason in which not much actually happened, Manny's status was the story. And as winter turned to spring, at least according to the calendar, Spring Training started and a few days after day one at Camelback Ranch, Manny was officially ours once again.

A heroes welcome ensued with more press descending on the desert every day, just itching to know what Manny was thinking during his days away from the team, and what his thoughts were turning to now that the savior had signed. The spotlight stayed bright as Opening Day approached and #99's grand entrance through the fans of the Left Field Pavilion capped a comeback story for the ages. The man who had brought the Dodgers to the brink of the World Series just six months earlier, was ready to start the second journey with his newfound blue-clad bretheren.

BUT. There is always a but. Manny's magical story would take a dark, 50-day detour after testing positing for PEDs. This after the succesfull launch of Mannywood and a home winning streak unmatched by any other team in the modern era. Just when Manny was about to be eclipsed in the news by a team story, he was once again singled out and stayed at the top of most reporters minds throughout the nearly 2 month hiatus. But, yet another but, these Dodgers did not fold. And although the story about how the team would perform sans the big slugger was still the focus, the results were not as expected with the team winning 29 of 50 games, Juan Pierre becoming the most unlikely of fan favorites, Ethier & Kemp keeping fans in their seats until the very last pitch, and a pitching staff thought to be a weak spot, winning on a regular basis.

Then Manny returned - again. And all of SoCal celebrated. His first games in San Diego were sell outs with more Dodger Blue at Petco than Padre brown and gold (maybe the color scheme is where it all went wrong for San Diego?). In any case, ManRam was back and with his one year anniversary approaching, he had saved his best for most recent.

His pinch-hit, grand-slam on bobblehead night into Mannywood (the preverbial dream shot for us in the Marketing Department) reignited the fandom surrounding Ramirez. Just as he was a year ago, he is once again front and center on a team now poised for another playoff run. The storylines could fill a book, and definitly a blog, but its only been one year. All that we've endured and enjoyed, marveled at and were mystifed by, has all taken place in a 365 day chapter of Dodger history we won't soon forget. I feel privalged to have had a front row seat for the Year of the Manny. We may not know what's to come, but we do know who to watch to find out what happens next. No one should leave this one early, year two is just beginning.

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Manny Magic

2009-07-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

They were already standing. 56,000 of them. On their feet with their beloved bobbleheads held high. And that would make all the difference.

Wednesday night was Manny Ramirez bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium, a game that sold out more than a week before the first pitch was thrown. A game that was the second highest selling game, after Opening Day, since March. Unfortunately, for fans arriving expecting to cheer on the man immortalized in clay, #99 was not in the lineup. Manny had been hit by a pitch the previous night and although bobblehead night is a big deal, the game seemed like the perfect day to give the ManRam a break.

So Manny didn't start. The fans still cheered on their boys in blue and the game entered the 6th, tied at 2. The crowd was happy but hoping for more, and not just a win. They wanted him. So with the bases loaded, and Mark Loretta already on-deck, Joe Torre made a switch and sent Ramirez to the batters box.

Before Manny could even get his helmet on, the DodgerVision camera spotted him in the dugout and the crowd rose in unison. This was the moment they were hoping for, a chance to cheer on their dread-head-bobble-head. So they stood. All of them. With boxes of bobbles held high. A pitching change by the Reds only gave the Dodger faithful more time to collect themselves and collectively get ready to rock.

Photo: Jon SooHoo, Los Angeles Dodgers

And then it happened. One pitch. One swing. One screaming line drive into none other than Mannywood. Into F'in Mannywood! Are you kidding me? The roar was deafening. A casual bystandard would have assumed either the Dodgers had just won the pennant or the promotions department decided to hand out $100 bills to the first 50,000 fans in attendance.

But this was July. Heck, it was still just the 6th inning. But the perfect storm of circumstances led to one of the most unforgettable home runs in Dodger history. In the last twenty-five years, LA has seen Gibson, Finley and 4+1 but those games had playoff implications and one will be remembered as the greatest sports moment in LA history. Tough company to crack, but Manny's pinch-hit, Grand Slam, into Mannywood on bobblehead night with a sell-out crowd in mid-July on their feet may never be matched. I'll leave it to the legend to sum it up:

"That's even more Hollywood than Hollywood, yeah you're right it's Mannywood."
- Vin Scully, 7.22.09

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Road Trippin'

2009-07-10T23:01:00.000-07:00

Lauryn and I have spent nearly all of the last 6 weekends either on the road or at Dodger Stadium and in some cases, we've combined these two hobbies and watched the Dodgers on the road. These are our stories:

May 29-31: Chicago, IL
A three day stop in the Windy City included dinner with Jackie, a day in the park with Rob, Meghan and Ian, and our annual shopping spree at Banana Republic (went with lots of greens this year). But the most exciting part of the trip, at least for most blog followers, was our day at Wrigley Field. We hitched a ride on the DODGERLIFE trip and spent two hours ON THE FIELD watching the Dodgers take BP. Now I don't take this opportunity for granted at Dodger Stadium, we get to step out on to the field just about every day, but standing on the dirt at the friendly confines was a special experience any baseball fan would cherish. We watched Loney, Russell, Pierre and Kemp take swings, then take a swing along the rope line to meet and greet the Dodger faithful who made the trip to the Mid West. Joe Torre even stepped away from the dugout - it was only a few feet to our right - to say hello and sign a few, including an autograph for Jackie. The Dodgers would end up getting shut out, so I don't have much to say about the game, but luckily I get to watch 80 or more so a loss can be forgotten. A morning on the edge of the grass with the Ivy seemingly within reach, will not.

July 3-5: San Diego, CA
Manny's Back. Again. Manny Ramirez returned to the lineup after a 50 game suspension last week and luckily for all of Dodgertown, California, his first game was just a few hours south on the I-5 during a memorable July 4th weekend in San Diego. Although Lauryn and I didn't go to his very first game back on Friday night, we did stay at the hotel adjacent to the park and when Manny stepped to the plate for his first at bat, the roar of the crowd (reportedly a decided advantage of cheers over boos) could be heard cascading over the top of the bleachers and out into the city. It sent chills down our spine and through the Gaslamp District as thousands of Dodger fans could be found in the local bars and restaurants.

Our day in the sun- quite literally - was the following day, Independence Day as Devin, Kelly, Nick and Julia joined Lauryn and I for an afternoon of baseball under the blistering sun. The stadium was even more spectacular, and just as loud, from the inside and the biggest ovation once again was for #99. And what do you know, with the whole crowd standing (and most of the country watching as we later learned that FOX carried Manny's at-bats all across the country) Ramirez delivered with a shot into Mannywood South to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the first. Once again (not a good sign for the Lukin trip counter) the Dodgers came up short, but just like in Chicago, we were lucky enough to get an early memory to take home before the final score was settled.

One Drop Photo Op

2009-06-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

Russell Martin announced today that he will donate $600,000 over the next 10 years to the ONE DROP Foundation, whose mission is to fight poverty by supporting access to clean water. The announcement was made behind home plate - fitting, Russ is the Dodgers' catcher - and the Front Office was invited down to take in the presser. Fortunately, only a few of us made our way to the field (I went to tweet) and we were rewarded with a photo op with Martin.

Arrival of the Widget

2009-06-10T13:05:00.001-07:00

So I've been WAY behind on my postings. Who would have thought a game every day would cut down on my blogging career. Since we last spoke, we've launched Mannywood, taken away Mannywood, launched Bleacher Beach and I've been tweeting - a lot. I've also been busy building a widget. And without further adieu, here it is:

Isn't she beautiful. Play around with it. News, games, photos and yes, tweets. You can grab yourself right from the ad (lower right-hand corner) or visit here. That's all for today but I promise to bring less techy conversation back to the blog soon. (i.e. Lauryn and I visited the set of Judge Judy yesterday, pictures to follow)

Open Season

2009-04-15T00:19:00.000-07:00

I’ve been to at least 100 baseball games in my life, 60 of which were witnessed at Dodger Stadium last season during my first year working for the Dodgers. In 2008 I saw the Dodgers win without getting a hit; saw Manny’s debut in Dodger blue; watched as Ethier traded walk-off shots in the span of a week; and Broxton closing the door on the Cubs for the 100th year in a row, while giving LA its first postseason series victory in 20. But all of those games finish a close second to the 9 innings I put in at the office on Monday during my first Opening Day as a Dodger.

We have a goal within the organization to try and encourage fans to arrive to the game early, in time to beat the traffic, and to be able to enjoy all of the pre-game fanfare. On this day, Opening Day, the extra hours would have been well worth the trip as the lead up to the first pitch of the 2009 season in LA was just as special as the action that would unfold later in the day.

First off, the open, and the introductions of the 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers. As is customary around the league, each player was introduced as they made their way on to the field to line up along the foul line. However, this was no ordinary introduction as each of the 25 men on the roster, save for Russell and Billingsley who were warming up in the bullpen, entered through the stands around the Stadium rather than from the dugout. Orlando Hudson ran in from the first base side of the Field Level. Matt Kemp made his way through the high-fiving fans on the third base side. And the Manny everyone was waiting for trotted down the stairs of the Left Field Pavilion to an ovation 6 months in the making.

The magic didn’t end there as the master of ceremonies was made the center of attention for one ceremonious moment as Vin Scully, the Dodgers broadcaster for the last 60 years who was recently named as the number one sportscaster of all time, was introduced to throw out the first pitch to honor his 60th season. The ball to be used for the CFP (Ceremonial First Pitch) was presented to Vin by a returning war veteran who deservedly received an ovation not only from the sell-out crowd, but from Scully himself as he walked up to his hero for an embrace felt by everyone in the stands.

Vin threw his pitch to none other than Joe Torre, and after the two exchanged smiles and congratulations, Vin did what he does best and approached the microphone. His poetic pen never far from his hand, his words to the crowd were apropos for a man who does not seek the limelight or acknowledge his status as anything bigger than the game he loves. He remarked, “All these years I have needed you a lot more than you needed me.” And then he uttered the words Dodger fans love to hear, "It's Time for Dodger Baseball." And it was.

It’s tough to follow a legend like that, but Manny and his merry men proved up to the task, setting team records in the process. Chad Billingsley struck out 11 Giants; Andre Ethier hit two home runs; and Manny sent chills down everyone’s spine when his first swing at home in 2009 nearly landed in the Right Field stands. But the true stars of the game were the fans, who totaled a Dodger Stadium record 57,099 (and yes, the 99 is a coincidence) and the newest Dodger, Orlando Hudson. The O-Dog recorded the first cycle by a Dodger ever at Dodger Stadium, just the second of any Los Angeles Dodger (Wes Parker, '70), and the first cycle in a 9-inning game by a Dodger since Gil Hodges more than 60 years ago.

In the end, the Dodgers came out ahead 11-1, but even a 10-run margin can't describe the victory that was achieved.

What a World

2009-03-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

The final game of the World Baseball Classic culminated last night with a ninth inning rally, tenth inning heroics by the face of the tournament, and a 4-hour festival of thunder sticks at Dodger Stadium.

Led by Ichiro Suzuki, Japan successfully defended their 2006 WBC title with a championship victory over South Korea in the final game of the 2009 Tournament on Monday. The game was extended in the 9th when Korea knocked in the tying run with two outs to send the blue sticks into a frenzy. The thunderous applause wasn't anything new - the noise seemed to echo off the Ravine from Saturday straight through the final pitch last night, and the excitement in the air during the final seemed to validate the very reason Bud Selig and the MLB believe in the WBC.

The games just felt different, equal parts postseason and party, making me feel like I stepped out of my office and accidentally ended up at a World Cup match. An out-of-stadium experience if you will that showed just how far this American game has traveled around the world. The Korean and Japanese fans were not just wild about their countrymen, but they were knowledgeable about the game and displayed genuine enthusiasm for the finer points of the 'National Pastime'. So much so that when the Korean team led off their Saturday night Semi-Final against Venezuela with a hard fought walk, light blue confetti rained down from the Top Deck.

The event brought fans from all corners of the world to the ballpark, including my cousin Dave and my friend Ben from New Jersey, as we opted for a WBC-Weekend rather than our traditional trip to Cooperstown, NY for the Baseball Hall of Fame inductions. A tradition that spanned 7 years, the change of venues is a sign of the times. Not just that we're growing up and ready for new things, but so is this game we love. It's not just about men who adorn the walls of the hall. They will always be baseball's pioneers, but their efforts have evoked a love of the game beyond those walls and beyond our borders. Baseball is a global game now, not just spoken on the streets of Brooklyn or backyards near the Bay, but a sport that spans the globe, from Seoul to Santo Domingo giving true meaning to the tournament's tagline:

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You Can Quote Her On It

2009-03-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Dodgers announced a new addition to their 2009 broadcast team last week with Eric Collins set to join Steve Lyons for 40 road games this season. The search was co-spearheaded (that can't be right) by Lauryn and the other Josh who blogs, and she not only got her name in the paper, but a quote too:

"Eric's network television experience and curiosity about all facets of the game, combined with his years of calling baseball at every level, make him a great addition to our talented team of broadcasters," said Lukin. "We truly feel that we have a shared vision with our partners at KCAL and PRIME TICKET, who played an integral role throughout this process."

Read the full release here and be sure to look out, or should I say listen out, for Collins and Lyons this April.

Only in America

2009-03-17T21:31:00.001-07:00

Picture this: A Phillie, a Met, a Yankee, and a Red Sock celebrating....together! As this snapshot on the front of ESPN.com shows, the World Baseball Classic is all about country and after David Wright's walk-off propelled the US to the semi-finals in LA (fly tickets, fly!) Jeter, Victorino and Youk jumped all over the new American Hero to celebrate the come-from-behind victory over Puerto Rico Tuesday night.

The WBC may be seeing higher ratings and stronger ticket sales than the inaugural event in 2006, but the event hasn't caught fire like we all hoped, just look at some of the crowds this round, but there is the possibility that a highlight reel worthy play to send the home team into the semi-finals, followed by one of the Asian powerhouse teams advancing - Korea or Japan who are playing right now - could give the tournament the spark its been looking for. For those of us waiting for this Final Four to take shape, the madness began tonight. Thankfully it will now continue in Los Angeles.

Orange Interruption

2009-03-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

Apologies to the majority of Dodger fans out there who could care less about college basketball, sports played indoors, Syracuse University, and the tradition of Orange Hoops buried under the snow in Upstate New York. But for one moment, the Cuse are a National story and I have to imagine that most of you at least took notice of the 6OT Thriller last night as Syracuse beat UCONN in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.

It may not have been Kobe or Koufax, but the 'Marathon Men' on the court put on show after show after show last night. Even the ESPN announcers stood up and cheered both teams with the final final whistle blew. It was a game that almost ended in a miracle shot at the end of regulation, the day before, when Eric Devendorf tried to pull his best Gerry Mcnamara impression with a last-second game winning three at the Garden. Unfortunately technology got in the way and the replay crews declared that the ball left his hand 0.01 seconds too late. That was it, 0.01 turned into 6 OT's.

But fate wasn't so cruel on this night. Despite not leading in any of the first 5 overtimes, the Orange kept tying the score when it mattered, forcing a 6th and deciding frame that started with an Andy Rautins 3 and the Cuse never looked back. The Syracuse smarts showed as soon as the epic ended and by morning, two unique pieces of marketing/memorabilia caught my eye.

Now you know what to get me for my birthday (Thanks DRapp for finding).

Manny Brings the Boom...

2009-03-05T23:37:00.000-08:00

...or should I say Lauryn brings the boom to Manny.

Readers of the LA Times are about to meet the Dodgers VP of Broadcasting and audio engineer for a day.

A big thank you to Kevork Djansezian of Getty Images for capturing the perfect "Lukins Being Lukins" photo from Manny Day at Camelback Ranch. I couldn't have asked for a better blog shot.

Manny on Third

2009-03-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

Finally.

It has been a long off-season with the Ramirez Coaster taking the entire Dodgers Front Office on a ride well worth the price of admission. So now, after nearly five months of waiting til next year, this year is officially here now that Manny is Back.

To commemorate and celebrate the "Return of the Swing" as the LA Times dubbed it this morning, my team went in to overdrive on Wednesday to get billboards posted around the city within hours of Manny's physical. And as luck would have it, once such board happens to be perched at the end of my block, above a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, practically embodying the essence of the blog. Most days I'll go with Coffee on 3rd, but I'm happy to offer up the headline to a certain left fielder. So for one day at least, the penultimate baseball question has an answer: Manny's on Third.

On a Midnight Flight to Dodgertown

2009-03-04T00:43:00.000-08:00

Manny is headed to LA. Literally. And for the moment, literally isn't the ideal as Manny Ramirez is reportedly flying to Los Angeles as I blog. The signs point to a resolution between the Dodgers and Ramirez on a deal to bring the dreadlocks back to Dodgertown. However, contrary to ESPN reports earlier this evening (which got the whole office buzzing) there is no ink on a contract as far as we know and now we wait to see what happens next. However, before taking off, Manny did have a few words for TJ Simers, including the best quotes from Manny since his evaluation of the gas crisis. And I quote: "No, gas isn't up any more, but the price of milk is the same." and "Tell everyone Mannywood is coming."

The good news is that there is news, just a few days after talks had seemingly stopped to make way for Day One at Camelback Ranch. But Spring Training is now underway and the focus has shifted back to the roster that will take the field on Opening Day.

In the words of the Gorillaz, "Tomorrow Comes Today". Let's see what the morning brings.

The Inaugural

2009-03-03T23:38:00.000-08:00

I didn't make it to Washington, D.C. this January to see Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Friends from Baltimore made the short trip down 95 to bear witness to the historic event, and posted plenty of Facebook photos to prove it. However, I too can now claim to be part of history with an inaugural event of my own about 3,000 miles to the west of the White House.

This past Sunday, under a blistering sun, the Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox christened the field at thier new Spring Training facility, Camelback Ranch-Glendale. With only slightly less pomp and under very different circumstances, the first ever Cactus League game for the Dodgers began with first pitches from Joe Torre and Tommy Lasorda (as well as White Sox Manager, Ozzie Guillen) and a National Anthem performed by Glendale's own American Idol, Jordin Sparks. The real first pitch, shown above, was thrown by Los Angeles' likely Opening Day starter, Hiroki Kuroda. Worth mentionining that this photo is courtesy of the iPhone and fortunately for me, my phone was handy for pitch No. 1 as the camera we brought to the game bowed out after the Anthem.

The outcome game itself was not what was important on this day, although as far as Spring baseball goes, a 3-2 come from behind victory in the 9th isn't too bad (Editors Note: the White Sox were the victors so the game recap isnt going to make it into this blogger's story). The real story was the atmosphere and excitement surrounding the Dodgers first game in Arizona after more than 60 back East in Vero Beach. Amazingly, Tommy spent just about every one of those springs wth the Boys of Summer and it was fitting that he helped pass the torch to Camelback.

The grounds were just as impressive as the Opening Day spectacle with rolling rivers, a state-of-the-art work out center, cafeteria complete with cereal dispensers (I saw James Loney filling up on Frosted Flakes on more than one occasion), plans for an Orange Grove and plenty more in store in the future. The office quarters were still being configured as Lauryn shared a desk with not one but two others team members and I fought for desk space in the what was supposed to be the radio broadcast room. Fortunately for me, the prime positining allowed me to help welcome all of the media who made their way to Glendale for the first game, including Charlie Steiner, Vin Scully, Fernando Valenzuela and the LA Times' TJ Simers.

Spring Training isn't all about the lavish, however, rather, it is a time for fans to feel like they can get up close to their heroes. And just as they did in Vero, the only thing seperating the players from the public is a thin yellow rope, more of a suggestion of space than a barrier. An autograph seeker's safe haven as the rituals of Spring almost mandate signature sessions, and not just from the Major Leaguers, but the younger guys, and even Frank McCourt and Ned Colletti who made their way threw the throngs of fans, but made sure to stop and sign a few balls and magazine covers before getting too far.

Walking from field to field, former Dodger greats roam, and not just their spirits, but actually themselves - in full uniform! As I headed out one morning to catch some "B" game action, Maury Willis passed me in the hall, fully clothed in his #30 threads. Of course the focus of Spring is not on the past, but on the future, both near and far, with young talent taking their games to the next level, and top propsects auditioning for a chance to make it to the show. One such rising star, Ivan DeJesus Jr., was among those trying to make his mark this March in hopes of getting a call-up this Fall, however, as I made my way once again to the practice fields, I saw IDJ being carted back into the facility as he had broken his leg on a play earlier that day.

The news wasn't all bad, however, as Lauryn and I were able to enjoy the sweet smell of Spring together and an inaugural weekend for the record books. Sixty years from now, when Spring Training moves to Beijing (don't laugh) we'll remember day one in Camelback and remind ourselves of what it meant to see those first moments of the 2009 season - just as those on the Mall in D.C. were left with - a message of hope.

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Fantasy Land

2009-02-24T00:07:00.000-08:00

Long before fantasy football swept the nation, Rotisserie baseball was argued about over coffee tables, pool tables and my parents kitchen table as me and seven of my friends fought over a kid named Jeter, fell in love with a husky Red Sox slugger not named Papi, and laughed at the guy who picked Brady Anderson for his starting outfield (the year was 1996 and sideburns bombed 50!).

Back to the present and fantasy baseball, although not as mass marketed as its football bretheren, is back for 2009 and now that I have somewhat of a vest interested in a few of the draftees, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at where this years Dodgers lined up against the field.

The most notable name on the list, for fans in LA at least, was also the highest ranking player to have worn a Dodger uniform in the last 6 months. That would be Manny Ramirez who despite being listed as playing for FA (that's not short for a British soccer team, but stands for Free Agent) ranked higher (#26) than any current Dodger playing pepper at Camelback Ranch. Matt Kemp did come in at #29, followed by Furcal at #58 and Russell at #65. Ethier and Bills also made the top 100 but the fact remains the same, the biggest star in Dodgertown is still sun tanning in Costa Rica.

Back to not-reality, some interesting points to ponder from the projections include the fact that A-Rod was still picked 2nd in both the USA Today and ESPN lists, 4 of the top 10 players play in New York City and at least according to the USA Today list, there's only one NL West player ranked ahead of a Dodger and that's Tim Lincecum of the Giants. What does it all mean? Not much, remember we laughed at the guy who took Brady.

Working Hard

2009-02-20T23:03:00.001-08:00

So as many readers may know, Lauryn is off in Arizona this week for the opening of the Dodgers new Spring Training home - Camelback Ranch. Reports have filtered back from the The Grand Canyon State that although the core of the facility is up and running, construction is still underway.

I guess the rumors are true and the entire staff is pitching in to complete the job before the first pitch next Sunday. And I bet you thought the only hazards in broadcasting were showing the wrong stat or an unintended remark on-camera.

I can only hope the job is finished by next weekend, not just because the inaugural game is set for Sunday, but I arrive in Glendale on Friday, and although I have an affinity for Orange, its just not my color.

Manny Being Mankad

2009-02-14T01:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'll explain. I needed a cricket term that flowed with "Manny Being M...." and Mankad was the best fit. To satisfy your curiosities:

Mankad (n) - the running out of a non-striking batsman who leaves his crease before the bowler has released the ball. It is named after Vinoo Mankad, an Indian bowler, who controversially used this method in a Test match. This is relatively common in indoor cricket and is noted separately from run outs, though almost unheard of in first-class cricket.

Okay, I didn't understand that either, and now, neither will Manny. That's because Manny canceled a DirecTV appearance scheduled for Monday in which he would learn how to play cricket to promote the satellite provider's newly expanded cricket coverage. Why the change in plans?

The statement issued by DirecTV indicated the cause was: "...the realistic possibility of impromptu developments that would require immediate travel or contract-related obligations..." I won't try to read any more into it than that, but I'd much rather Manny practicing his swing rather than learning how to.

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