It Has Officially Started

Making the slow trek from the left and right-field bullpens, Dodger legends such as Carl Erskine, Ron Cey, Don Newcombe and Sweet Lou Johnson made their way to their original positions. Chavez Ravine was filled with cheers as more than three dozen Dodger greats stepped onto the field for the pre-Opening Day ceremony. Here's a video.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get better, fans were ecstatic when Fernando Valenzuela, Tommy Lasorda and Sandy Koufax emerged.

Delivering simultaneous ceremonial pitches, Erskine, Koufax and Newcombe threw the ball to catchers, Javier Herrera, Lasorda and Torre.

With the smooth voice of Vin Scully the game began…“And now, it’s time for Dodgers baseball!”

The one-hundred-twenty-six-million-dollar-pitcher, Barry Zito faced starting pitcher, Brad Penny. The stage was set and the game began.

After the first scoreless inning pitched by Penny, the Dodgers were up to bat. Furcal hits a double. Kemp is up and with a single, it allows Furcal to score.

Up next, is the first 40-year-old player the Dodgers have had in the Opening Day lineup, Jeff Kent. The old-man proves that experience counts in the major leagues. Kent hits a homerun, allowing two more runs. The score is 3-to-0!

The Dodgers’ defense, pitching and hitting made it a great game. By the seventh inning the score was 5-to-0. Closer Takashi Saito was brought in, in the ninth inning to seal the game.

Brad Penny threw almost seven scoreless innings. 

Bravo!

In a recent article, Penny discloses how he struggled in his first game of the season. 

What is he talking about? He pitched great.

On Tuesday April 1st, the Dodgers did it again. With a 3-to-2 victory over the Giants in the ninth inning.

But not all was as calm and easy as it seemed. Third-base coach, Larry Bowa was ejected in the sixth inning after a heated confrontation with one of the umpires. The argument began when ump, Ed Montague told Bowa to keep within the coaching box boundaries. Watch the video.

Bowa has been suspended for three games and fined by the commissioner’s office on Wednesday.

After the game Tuesday, Bowa said:

“I did it all Spring, nobody said a word. I did it yesterday, nobody said a word. It’s impossible to coach third and stay in the box with a runner at second.”

Through it all, the Dodgers were able to gain the lead in the ninth inning when pinch hitter Delwyn Young came up to bat. With two outs and Furcal on second, Young’s infield hit was just enough to send Furcal home.

It was a beautiful way to end a crazy night.

Tonight the Dodgers hope to sweep the Giants.

Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum will face Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley.

April 2, 2008 Lineup

Rafael Furcal-Short Stop
Russell Martin-Catcher
Andre Ethier- Left Field
Jeff Kent- Second Base
Andruw Jones- Center Field
James Loney- First Base
Matt Kemp- Right Field
Blake DeWitt- Third Base
Chad Billingsley- Pitcher

The Dodgers are off Thursday. They head to San Diego on Friday for a three game series against the Padres.

On Monday, the Dodgers jet off to Arizona to face the 2007 National League West Division Champions, Diamondbacks. Opening Day at Chase Field has been sold out and less than 450 standing room only tickets are available.

GO DODGERS!

Damn injuries!

Spring training has officially started. And with two games won out of seven, it is hardly something to be cheering about.  As the season begins to unravel, we are seeing where the Dodgers strengths and weaknesses lie.

On Wednesday March 5th, the Dodgers faced the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie.  Not their best game to say the least.

 
Before the game started, there were already some issues. Left-hand pitcher, Hong-Chih Kuo, was not allowed to play after complaining of an irritation in the back of the elbow. The same elbow where bone chips were removed last summer.  

“I just felt a little sore,” Kuo said. “I’m just taking a couple of days off and I’ll be ready to go.”

 
Any injury to Kuo must be taken seriously. Kuo has been through four elbow operations, including two Tommy John reconstructions.

Manager Joe Torre said he wasn’t sure when Kuo would pitch again. But Kuo is optimistic saying, that he expects to throw a bullpen session today and possibly pitch in Saturday’s game against St. Louis. 

The injury could keep Kuo from making the trip to China next week and worse, possibly affect his chance at the fifth spot in the pitching rotation.

“It felt better after surgery, and this is just part of rehab I have to go through,” said Kuo. “I’ll be alright.”

 I hope so.

In related news, two days just before his 40^th birthday, Jeff Kent is showing signs of his antiquity.

During warm-ups before the game against the Mets, Kent strained his right hamstring.  Five sprints into his warm up, Torre said,  “he felt something grab.” 

Although we are still unclear of the extent of the injury, it seems medical staff and Torre are trying to down play it, saying that it isn’t more than minor pains and that Kent should be back in a week.

The soon to be 40-year-old second baseman said he didn’t think it was too bad.

Let’s keep in mind that last season, Kent led the Dodgers with 20 home runs. Not bad for his age. 

Come on Kent! Let's show these young players how's it done! 

So where do the Dodgers go from here?

Torre isn’t taking any chances. He knows what needs to be done to keep his squad healthy, and if sideling them until they get better is what he needs to do, he will.

On a side Dodger Blue note: The Dodgers will face the Boston Red Sox today at 10:05 a.m. (PT) on ESPN.  

GO DODGERS!

Black History Month: Dodgertown

Just before Black History Month ends, watch the video on the history of Dodgertown, that ESPN created. It includes interviews with some former Dodger players, such as Duke Snider, Johnny Roseboro, Lou Johnson and Ralph Branca. Watch it now!

Go Dodgers!

A San Francisco-raised, LA Dodgers Fan

At a Dodger game at AT&T Park

Dodger fans in the Bay Area are not unusual, but what might be unusual is a “raised in San Francisco- Los Angeles Dodger fan”.

People always ask me, “So, you’re a Dodgers fan? That must mean you’re from Los Angeles?”

“No”, I respond. “I’m from San Francisco”.

And here is where my story begins…
I was born in beautiful San Salvador, El Salvador in 1982 and then moved to the U.S. (specifically San Francisco- in the Mission District) on January 1st 1983. I grew up with mostly football and basketball, and a bit of baseball. Growing up in San Francisco I went to several Giants games but never really got into the sport.

During my teen years, I followed basketball (Sacramento Kings) and football (S.F. Niners). I continued to play no particular attention to baseball.
On Saturday August 7th 2004 I headed down south for a vacation trip to Disneyland. My boyfriend, a Dodger fan since he can remember, decides he wants to take me to a baseball game.

HOOORRAYYY!!! (Sarcasm) I’m not even a little excited but I go. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. against the Phillies. All I knew about this game was that the Dodgers were wearing blue and the Phillies were in red.

Look I still have my ticket stub from my first Dodger game.

After a Dodger Dog, garlic fries and three margaritas, I found myself cheering and yelling my lungs out for the Dodgers. I was even yelling obscenities to the Philly fans. Oh my gosh! This is so much fun! The energy in Dodger Stadium was nothing like I ever experienced at a Giants game. AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” was playing in the background.

I’m having a great time. Who would’ve known?

By the end of the seventh inning, the Dodgers have six runs, the Phillies have none. In an effort to tie up the game or take a win, the Phillies score a single run in the eight and two more runs in the ninth.

Somebody stop them already. STRIKE HIM OUT! STRIKE HIM OUT!

After one more margarita the game has ended and the Dodgers win with a score of 6 to 3. Hoorrrayyy!!!! The Dodgers won! I’m cheering, jumping up and down, and giving high-fives to complete strangers. This is great.

This was the day I fell in love with baseball. The day I fell in love with the Dodgers.

Below is a slideshow of some of my Dodger escapades.

Ahhhh...Love is in the air

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and the Dodgers, one of my greatest loves will begin spring training soon. Pitchers and catchers will report to training on February 14th. This will be the last year the Dodgers will train in Vero Beach, Florida. Better known as Dodgertown. The Dodgers' spring training has taken place in Vero Beach since 1948 and after six decades, spring training 2009 will be held in Arizona. The facilities in Arizona are still under construction and will be shared with the Chicago White Sox.

The 2008 season marks the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers move to Los Angeles. The logo was designed by Los Angeles graphic designer Ross Yoshida with attention to every detail. From the 5 lights of beams that represent the five championships in Los Angeles, to the gold star that represents the star the Dodgers will receive on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this month.

This will definetly be an exciting year for the Dodgers. With a young, strong squad and the return of hopeful veterans, the Dodgers are sure to have a great season.

The signing of closer Takashi Saito was officially announced today. Saito who had 39 saves in 43 opportunites last season will receive $2 million for a one year contract, plus possible bonuses. Much deserved because he's worth every penny.

This is Saito's third year in the major leagues. He began his career in Japan and in his second season with the Dodgers he had an ERA of 1.40.

A key player for the Dodgers from the Dominican Republic is Rafael Furcal. The short stop who had an okay season (despite the injuries) last year with a .270 batting average and 47 RBIs, will return this year to help out the team. Furcal who plays for the Dominican Republic team the Aguilas (it means Eagles), was close to a Caribbean World Series early this month. Luckily, Furcal is still able to hit homeruns.

The Dodgers undoubtedly have had a few bad seasons, but with the return of their oldest player Jeff Kent, he will surely be a mentor and tremendous help to the younger players. The second baseman who will turn 40 years-old during spring training, had a .302 average last season. The outspoken baseball player has a true love for the game and I am are sure he'll put all of his effort and heart into the game to possibly end his career with a World Series. Even for his age, Mike Harmon of Fox Sports positions Kent as the 11th best major league second baseman. Not bad for an old man.

The Dodgers are facing another tough season but with the likes of Joe Torre (manager), Russell Martin (catcher), and Andruw Jones (center-fielder), the Dodgers are sure to have a better season than last year.

Go Dodgers!

Welcome to Think Blue!

Trying to decide what I wanted my blog to be about was frustrating. I found that I had a lot of ideas but was not sure if I could keep up a blog on a particular subject for the whole semester. So I've decided to create this blog on the Los Angeles Dodgers. I'm sure I'll have plenty to say about this upcoming season.

So as the new 2008 baseball season begins to close in on us, I can't help but to think what a great asset Joe Torre will be to the Dodgers. After 11 years with the New York Yankees, Torre comes to the West Coast to make a much needed difference. With younger players such as Kemp, Either and Martin, Joe hopes that this year the Dodgers will make it to the World Series.

The Dodgers home opener is on March 31st and you guessed it...I will be there. The weather should be about 15 to 20 degrees warmer than San Francisco. Perfect weather to catch a baseball game, eat a Dodger dog and have three or four margaritas. This will be my third home opener and it never gets old. I drive up to Chavez Ravine two hours before the game, hang out in the parking lot enjoying the atmosphere of the die-hard Dodger fans.

I met many Dodger fans from L.A. through an online messageboard. Many of these fans enjoy traveling to see one of the largest rivalries in baseball history. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants rilvary extends back to the 1950s when both teams were based in New York. Before the big move the New York Giants had won five World Series titles, the Brooklyn Dodgers had only one.

When the Dodgers decided to move to California, the Giants followed. The big move to the west coast happened in 1958 and the very first game played in L.A. was on April 18th against

the now San Francisco Giants. The animosity between both teams grew greater that night when the Dodgers won 6-5. Dodgers-Giants Rilvary is a great site for more info if you are a Dodgers fan or Giants fan.

This blog will focus on the Dodgers, but will cover baseball in all aspects. With huge deals and signings during the off season and the ongoing steroids investigation, I am sure there will be more than enough to cover. Remember for all your baseball info and rumors make sure to check out this blog often.

Go Dodgers!