Yazmani Grandal gets an MVP vote
Multiple Dodgers got MVP votes with Daniel Murphy barely nudging out Corey Seager for 2nd place. Seager got 3rd place because Murphy got six 4th place votes, while Seager got seven. They tied with 11 2nd place votes, and ten 3rd place votes.
Justin Turner got some recognition for his outstanding season by getting at least one vote from 5th to 10th finishing with 44 points, good for 9th place.
Yazmani Grandal got one vote for 7th place. Buster Posey and Wilson Ramos finished ahead of him in the MVP vote.
Oh yeah, Kris Bryant won the MVP.
Dodgers raise prices, cite supply and demand
Just like last winter the Dodgers have substantially raised prices once again leaving some fans wondering if the upfront cost of the tickets is worth the knowledge that you’ll have tickets for the World Series. Especially given the fact the Dodgers can’t seem to get into a World Series.
“I knew it was going to go up,” he said. “I had no idea it was going to go up in one fell swoop.”
He said he plans to keep his seats, but said he spoke Thursday with a friend that plans to drop two of his four top-deck season seats and another friend that plans to cancel her loge-level seats and buy tickets to individual games instead.
Snoberger said fans could find thousands of seats available on StubHub and other resale sites for many games last season.
I was in this position last winter. I ended up giving up my season seats because:
- I don’t attend as many games because of the pain in the ass travel from Woodland Hills
- I can’t give away the tickets anymore because I don’t work in an office anymore
- I felt I could get better seats at a better price on Stubhub for the games I wanted to attend.
The downside was not having the security of knowing I would have tickets to the World Series if they ever got there.
It worked out well. Especially after I started using Seatgeek instead of Stubhub. I could easily purchase Field or Loge seats will below the retail price. The freedom of buying individual tickets on an as needed basis worked well during the season. If even worked well during the NLDS because most season ticket holders couldn’t care less about the NLDS and sold their tickets at or below retail. The only hiccup came during the NLCS and I was lucky enough to go via David Young.
If the Dodgers had gone to the World Series I would have had a problem. The tickets would have been 350 plus for the worst seats and I still don’t know if I’d ponied up for it or not.
But even if I had kept my season seats, the World Series tickets would have cost me $350 per ticket anyway and I probably would have sold them.
So either way, I probably wasn’t going to the World Series. But Kershaw and company made that a moot decision.
Anyway, it looks like the Dodgers will keep raising prices until the demand says you’ve gone to far.
Not my slave
Danny Elfman hit my soul many years ago when he penned this brilliant song in 1987 with Oingo Boingo. The lyrics could have many different meanings, it really depends on how you want to interpret them to your particular case.
With sadness in my heart and joy in my mind
I thought about the ghost that we left behind.
With everyone around telling us what to do
With deafening sound whisper “I love you.”
The fire in your eyes– may it never go out.
The sweetness of your tears make it feel like night.
I see no escape from the roles we always play
What do we have to prove on this judgement dayYou’re missing the whole point– you’re not my little pet
Don’t throw away your life– The games not over yet
I do not own your soul–don’t want you in a cage
I only want your heart to find a special placeYou’re mine now But you’re not my sister
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
You’re mine But you’re not my child
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
You’re mine now But you’re not my slaveWith sadness in my heart and clounds in my head
I thought about us both and the lives we led.
The pages on a book and pictures on a screen
We shape ourselves like clay from someone else’s dream.
One second you are cast just like stones at my feet
But I am not a king please don’t worship me.
With everyone around telling us what to do
With deafening sound whisper “I love you.”You’re missing the whole point– you’re not my little pet
Don’t throw away your life– The games not over yet
I do not own your soul–don’t want you in a cage
I only want your heart to find a special placeYou’re mine now But you’re not my sister
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
You’re mine But you’re not my child
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
You’re mine But you’re not my sister
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
You’re mine But you’re not my child
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
You’re mine now But you’re not my slave
It held particular substance to me in my life at the time. Almost thirty years later, still one of my favorite songs to Boingo too.
I don’t think many Boingo fans thought that Danny Elfman would go on to be one of the most accomplished movie composers of the past 25 years back in 1987 when he was the headliner for Boingo. I was a big fan, saw them about five times and always enjoyed the show and I guess when you consider how large a band Oingo was, he was already one hell of a composer.
Elfman might be more known for composing the Simpsons theme which has to have been heard but just about everyone. His first real movie score was Pee Wee’s Big Adventure but since I never saw it, I had no idea he had scored it. I think the first time I realized that Elfman had gone to score movies was when I saw Nightmare Before Christmas. From that point on he seemed to have a hand in many of the movies, I would see.
A few years ago I met David Slonaker who was the husband of a teacher who worked with my wife. Turned out he had been collaborating with Elfman for many years on his movie soundtracks. We all went to a Dodger game and he told us how he composed while working with Elfman. I was a little surprised how it all worked out between Elfman and his collaborators as they just handled bits of each score and Elfman would put it all together. I also found it funny that David was fairly ignorant of what Elfman did with Oingo Boingo.
A few years later David was up for his own Grammy in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category. He didn’t win but he did get to go to the Grammy’s and walk the red carpet.
His album is called Intrada and here is a youtube link
I may have fallen in love with Kate Upton just a bit more
Cause this might be my favorite tweet of the year in the sports world.
Hey @MLB I thought I was the only person allowed to fuck @JustinVerlander ?! What 2 writers didn’t have him on their ballot?
— Kate Upton (@KateUpton) November 16, 2016
and this truism
That’s the most attention sports writers have ever gotten from a supermodel.
— Batting Stance Guy (@BattingStanceG) November 17, 2016
Anyway, have to agree with Kate, Porcello would not have been my choice.
Let us finish up with a tweet from Mike Petriello
Scherzer, Porcello, and Verlander? Man, imagine if they were all on the same team?
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) November 17, 2016
Charlie Steiner wonders where his Medal of Freedom is
Charley must have thought the Obama administration had called the wrong Dodger broadcaster when he heard the Vin Scully had received the Medal of Freedom. After all, it was Charlie who led the ESPN folks to freedom, what has Vin Scully ever done?
Based on the wiki of the Medal of Freedom and this quote from President Obama:
President Obama said, “The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation’s highest civilian honor – it’s a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better. From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way.”
That maybe it should have been called the Medal of Inspiration but I guess that doesn’t have the ring of Medal of Freedom that President Kennedy was going for.
Corey Seager picks up 3rd LAD unaminous ROY
Here are all the other Dodger bloggers weighing in on Cory Seager:
Seager is the third Dodgers unanimous Rookie of the Year, joining Mike Piazza (1993) and Raul Mondesi (1994).
Sarah Wexler weighs in at Dodger Digest:
Seager is the first Dodgers shortstop to win Rookie of the Year, and the 17th Dodger overall (a Major League record, and it’s not especially close — second is a tie between the Athletics and the Yankees, with eight). However, Seager is the first Dodger to win the award in two decades. From 1992 through 1996, a Dodger rookie took home the prize every year (Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi, Hideo Nomo, and Todd Hollandsworth).
Matthew Moreno from Dodger Blue
“Corey is a special talent that doesn’t come around too often. The Dodgers organization and fans are truly lucky to have him wear their uniform,” Utley said after Seager was unanimously named NL Rookie of the Year.
Ducking in with The Donald
For those unfamiliar with the Duck, you can check out the archived Duck Talk Section at TrueBlueLA or the newer Duck Talk here on Dodgers, Yesterday and Today. We ask the questions we want to ask and try to see through the clichéd responses we normally get. Don’t get confused, this is a complete fabrication based on interviews within my troubled mind.
The Duck decided to branch out today and was lucky enough to get an audience with Mr. Trump. The Duck had in his favor not being part of the mainstream media.
Duck: I’m quacking today with President-elect Trump. Yes, I’m as shocked as most of you are. First off, congratulations have to be made. I’ll admit a year ago I thought your campaign was a joke, and since you treated it like a joke we seemed to be on the same page. You said you’d win and by-gum you did win. You did everything that any professional campaign manager would warn against, and yet you won the electoral college and are now about to become arguably the most powerful man in the world. How?
Donald Trump: People just love me. They love me. Have you ever seen my rallies? They love me. You know why they love me? Because I tell them what they want to hear? They want jobs. I tell them I’ll make jobs. They want to feel safe. I tell them I’ll remove what scares them. They want to feel important again. I tell them how great they are. It isn’t rocket science. It is just bullshit, but no one is better at it, then I am.
Duck: Your opponent had one huge issue over her head, you had about twenty-five but her one issue proved bigger than all of yours in the key states. Why?
Donald Trump: Because I told them it was a big issue and they believe everything I tell them. And then I told them none of my issues were a big deal, they were all fabrications, much like this interview and they believed that. American’s don’t like details, they like punditry, and baby, I’ve got punditry by the boatload. You know the best part?
Duck: No, what is the best part?
Donald Trump: I didn’t even have to point out she didn’t have any balls.
Duck: Do you think you’d have beaten Joe Biden or Larry David?
Donald Trump: I think I’d have beaten anyone but I was running against Hillary. So much baggage. Melania deleted my tweet about her but I thought it was great. “Hillary has so much baggage she’s already an old bag”. All those people were insiders so my message would have been the same. If they have so many solutions for our problems why haven’t you done anything in the past 30 years? In three months I’m going to do more than they did in all their collective years in public service. It is going to great. You just wait, it is going to be great.
Duck: How about Elizabeth Warren?
Donald Trump:(nervous laugh) heh, between you and me, she scares the hell out of me. I am glad she sat this one out and the Democrats gave me someone I could really campaign against. She’s got big balls.
Duck: A wise duck once told me not to mistake quantity with quality.
Donald Trump: Was that Scrooge McDuck? I’ve always liked him, my kind of guy. I’m thinking of him for the Secretary of the Treasury.
Duck: No, it was Daffy.
Donald Trump: What a loser he is.
Duck: You made so many promises, some seem to contradict with the party whose ticket you ran on and the current leadership in the house. Are you going to try to work with the GOP or use your electoral college mandate to push through your promises?
Donald Trump: Can’t tell you yet, but whatever I end up doing, it will be great.
Duck: The children of the illegal immigrants are called the Dreamers. It would seem you are about to turn their dreams into nightmares. Under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals act that President Obama signed into law four years ago many of these illegal immigrants have been working and paying taxes including Social Security. Do you have any empathy for them?
Donald Trump: I do. Many of them work hard but for me to realize the promise I made to my supporters I’ll have to end the DACA program. They won’t get deported immediately like their parents if they already have their work permits, but eventually they will have to leave our country. They will be the collateral damage of the immigration policy that we have to enact to make America Great again.
Duck: Why can’t they be part of making America Great again? Studies have shown over and over how productive these particular illegal immigrants are. Why does there have to be collateral damage?
Donald Trump: Hey, the liberals can’t complain about collateral damage. At least I’m not killing them just deporting them. I haven’t heard any cries from the Hillary supporters about the collateral damage the Drone program has accomplished. We all have to do things to make America Safe, and if that means killing non – combatants with drones, or deporting intelligent hard working illegals, it has to be done. Nothing is bigger than making America safe. Nothing. Our lives are way more important than anyone else’s.
Duck: Are you really going to build a wall? That seems so silly?
Donald Trump: Of course I’m going to build a wall. Of course, it is silly, but it was what got my base excited in the first place. It is pure gold. First off you have all your lazy white guys upset at all these hard working illegal immigrants doing work they’d never stop playing video games to do. And that made them feel bad about themselves. Even if they have never seen an illegal immigrant they can see they ain’t white, and if they ain’t white, they are a threat to their whiteness. The best way to make them feel good about themselves is to get rid of those who make you feel insecure. And the other big thing is how many jobs I can create building this wall. I just have to make sure it is built with non-union labor so I can keep the costs down. I wonder if I can use deported Mexican labor to build the wall?
Duck: Other groups who seem to be in big trouble with your election would be anti – abortionists, environmentalists, Muslims, transgender folk, possibly the LBGT community? You say you have the greatest respect for the LBGT community but your VP sure doesn’t. Can you interfere with the States who have approved same-sex marriages?
Donald Trump – I know what I can say I can do, I have little idea of what I can actually do. Remember I”m not about the details, just the punditry.
Duck: What do you think about the protests around the country?
Donald Trump – I wouldn’t say around the country. Just NY and Los Angeles the bastions of the elite left. I think it is unfair. They should wait to see how I screw them before protesting.
Duck: If Hillary Clinton had won, wouldn’t your supporters be protesting right now?
Donald Trump – hell yeah, but I don’t understand your point.
Duck: You have shown a vindictive streak in your life, I’d expect many people have made your get even with list. Who would be on the top, the first media/comic who made fun of your small hands? Your hair? Your orange hue? Your nondisclosure of your taxes?
Donald Trump: It really hurt my feeling when they made fun of my hands. I had to tell everyone I had a big dick because you know what they say about small hands.
Duck: I know, I didn’t quite understand the point of your small hands. You said so many things that was actual news but some felt the need to make fun of your small hands.
Donald Trump: And my taxes, it is like no one on the left ever worked in business. No one pays any tax unless they have to, and they made it sound like I should be paying taxes just to be paying taxes instead of using the loopholes that Congress has given business for years and years.
Duck: I know, it is like saying “I can grab a pussy” and not legally paying taxes are equal issues when one is the braggadocio of a man caught up in his celebrity, and saying things clearly disgusting whose actual action would be illegal, while the other is the work of a smart businessman doing what every single business owner in America does. That said, not paying taxes, and not disclosing your tax returns are two different beasts. Given how large your influence is, it would have been fitting for America to see just exactly what economic interests you have aligned with on your campaign, and if you would benefit from these policies personally.
Duck: Speaking of Taxes how soon do you expect to cut a deal with Apple and the other American conglomerates who have parked about 2 Trillion outside of the US. It seems strange to this duck that the last administration never addressed this.
Donald Trump: Details again. You know I don’t do details, but when I do act, it will be great, and part of making America Great again.
Duck : Since your election, some of the group that I’d classify as deplorable have felt emboldened to commit many hate crimes. Are you going to stand up to those supporters or simply let it ride?
Donald Trump: I may say I’m going to represent all Americans, but you know, I won’t. I’ll represent my best interests. If it is in my best interest to tell the thugs to stop thugging I will. If it isn’t. I won’t. We don’t know yet which is which, which is why I haven’t said anything yet. Unless of course, Ivanka tells me to say something.
Duck: You might be the first person to become President, where living at the White House will be a step down for you. Don’t you just wish you could be President but let Mike Pence live in the White House and run the country?
Donald Trump: You and I both know that Mike Pence is going to be running this country while I make grandiose comments about what a great job I’m doing to make America Great again. You think wagging the dog was fiction, wait until you see the propaganda department I’m going to set up to make sure everyone knows how great a job I’m doing at making America Great again.
Duck: My other animal friends are concerned that all of the safeguards that have been put in place of the past 40 years to protect the environment, endangered species, animals in general, will get dismantled. Can you give us any reason for optimism or advice?
Donald Trump: Fly away, fly away
Dodgers reacquire Darnell Sweeney
Once again the Dodger front office has engaged the Phillies in an effort to move an infielder. This time the Dodgers moved Howie Kendrick to the Phillies for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney.
Howie Kendrick had expressed dissatisfaction with his role in 2016 and it didn’t look like the Dodgers were considering him for the full-time 2nd baseman role in 2017. The trade nets them a right handed 1st/OF who until 2016 had killed left-hand pitching, something the Dodgers sorely needed. Ruf has a career OPS of .921 against left-hand pitching.
On the surface, Darin Ruf appears to be much like SVS but without the friendly defensive metrics that Scott Van Slyke has. Is this the end of SVS? Looks like it to me with Ruf and Trayce Thompson on the team.
The Dodgers have made quite a few trades with the Phillies over the past few years. None of them major. No ring bearers will be coming to the Dodgers this time. In the past, the ring bearers included Ruiz, Chase, Rollins, Victorino, and Blanton.
Seven trades since 2012 between the Dodgers and Phillies.
Per Baseball Reference Transaction Page:
August 25, 2016 (Standings)
Traded a player to be named later, Tommy Bergjans (minors) and A.J. Ellis to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Carlos Ruiz and cash. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Joey Curletta (minors) (September 15, 2016) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
August 19, 2015 (Standings)
Traded John Richy (minors) and Darnell Sweeney to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Chase Utley and cash.
December 19, 2014
Traded Zach Eflin (minors) and Tom Windle (minors) to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Jimmy Rollins and cash.
August 7, 2014 (Standings)
Traded players to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Roberto Hernandez. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Victor Arano (minors) (August 28, 2014) and Jesmuel Valentin (minors) (August 16, 2014) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
August 31, 2013 (Standings)
Traded Rob Rasmussen to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Michael Young and cash.
July 31, 2012 (Standings)
Traded a player to be named later, Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Shane Victorino. The Los Angeles Dodgerssent Stefan Jarrin (minors) (September 28, 2012) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
August 3, 2012 (Standings)
Traded a player to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Joe Blanton. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Ryan O’Sullivan (minors) (August 16, 2012) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade
Roy Gleason a Career lost in the sun
His is not a name most Dodgers fans can identify when discussing the Dodger heroes of the 60’s but make no mistake Roy Gleason was every bit the hero that Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Frank Howard, Jim Gilliam, Claude Osteen, Johnny Podres, and Lou Johnson were. Except Roy Gleason did his best work for his country, not for the Dodgers.
In 2003, Bill Plaschke wrote about Roy Gleason for the LA Times. ESPN followed that up with this story:
Records indicate, Plaschke wrote in the Times, that Gleason was the only major league player to fight in Vietnam, and the only member of the Dodgers organization to earn a Purple Heart in Vietnam. During his eight-month Vietnam tour, Gleason also earned his sergeant stripes and, once, was named soldier of the month. Then on July 24, 1968, after a shell exploded that left gaping wounds in his left calf and left wrist, Roy Gleason earned his ticket home.
An Army chopper airlifted his broken body out of the jungle, leaving behind Gleason’s foot locker and one essential piece of his dream — that 1963 championship ring.
We often talk about our sport heroes in combat terms. He’s a warrior, the game is a battlefield. It is all nonsense. Roy Gleason was a real warrior who fought real battles, he has the scars, physical and mental that accompany many who served.
It was not until 2003 that his story became prominent, but thanks to Plaschke, Gleason’s story became front page material. If you Google his name now, you will see that every Memorial Day or Veterans Day someone is writing a story about him. Why not? It is a great story.
So just in case you hadn’t heard of Roy Gleason, I thought today would be a good day to introduce you to him. I’d suggest clicking on some of the links I’ve provided. He lost his career for his country, we could all stand to lose a few minutes of our time to read about his story.
MLB Network does a video tribute:
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 19, 2003: “At Ease, at Last”. It is Plaschke at his best, he always does his best when he has a real story to work with:
Then, slowly, amazingly, walking from the clubhouse to the upper press dining room, Gleason realized something about this team he had tried to forget.
They had never forgotten him.
Tom Lasorda spotted him in a hallway and reminded him of his big signing bonus. Bruce Froemming, an umpire, recognized him immediately and remembered a minor league rhubarb. Aging scouts stood up from their dinners to pat his back and tell him stories.
Their visit eventually ended up in the tunnel behind the Dugout Club, next to a wall bearing most of the names from the Dodgers’ all-time roster.
Gleason scanned the montage and said, “I’m sure I’m not up here.”
Langill stood behind him thinking, “Please be up there. Please be up there.”
After a few minutes, they found it, above Roy Campanella, below Delino DeShields.
Roy Gleason
“I didn’t really feel like I played enough to warrant being called a major leaguer,” he said.
He touched the wall gently, with a finger that has been numb since he took shrapnel in Vietnam. His eyes glazed. The truth hit.
Once a Dodger, always a Dodger, even if only momentarily a Dodger.
He had never left second base after all.
Sgt. Gleason looked at Langill and shook his head.
“I’m glad I’m on this wall, instead of the other wall,” he said.
Amen, brother.
Best team in the NBA – Your Los Angeles Clippers
Most of the preseason hoopla focused on Durant and the Warriors or LeBron and the Cavaliers with everyone else just playing out the season.
Yet, the team with the best record at 7 – 1 is the Los Angeles Clippers. They aren’t doing it the easy way either.
Game by Game:
Opening night in Portland – they beat the team who knocked them out of the postseason 114 – 106. Lillard goes for 29, but he’s more than matched by 27 from both Griffin and Paul. Newly acquired Marreese Speights chips in 15 off the bench. The second unit was the story of the game manhandling the second unit of the Trailblazers.
Clipper home opener they beat Utah 88 – 75. Austin Rivers leads off scorers with 19 points off the bench in 28 minutes of play. Utah shoots 39%.
Clippers go 3 – 0 by beating the Suns at Staples 116 – 98. JJ Reddick still searching for his three point shot. Chris Paul leads all scorers with 24, Jordan puts in 19 by going 8 for 10 from the field. Dunks galore.
Battle of unbeaten teams, the Thunder hand the Clippers their only loss of 2016/2017 in a close 85 – 83 game. Westbrook doing his best MVP imitation puts in 35, no other Thunder scored in double digits. Giffin and JJ can’t find the hoop. Griffin goes 7 for 21, and JJ 3 for 12. The Clippers second unit kept them in the game but the starters couldn’t close the deal.
Clippers go on the road and beat their rivals the Grizzlies 99 – 88. A 53 – 35 lead let the Clippers coast to this one. It was all about defense as Memphis shot 37 percent. Chris Paul led the Clippers scoring with 27 but was 1 for 8 from three-point land. Mike Conley put in 30 going 7 for 11 from 3 point land for the Grizzlies.
Now it gets fun
Clippers move to 5 – 1 by beating the Spurs in San Antonio 116 – 92. The game wasn’t even a contest with the Clippers leading 73 – 55 at half time. Yup, the Clippers scored 73 first half points which resulted in no starter playing even 30 minutes. Griffin put in 28 points in 29 minutes on 13 of 19 shooting. At one time I think he was 10 of 12. Marreese Speights showed up again scoring 15 in 18 minutes. More importantly, JJ Reddick’s 3 point shot showed up as he went 2 of 3 from distance.
Clippers come home after a 2- 0 road trip and improve to 6 – 1 by decimating the Detroit Pistons 114 – 82. The Clippers had a 30 point lead at half time 62 – 32 and once again no starter played more than 30 minutes. The Clipper starting backcourt went 8 for 9 from three-point range with Paul being perfect at 5 for 5.
In their second matchup with the Blazers, the Clippers literally run them off the court to go 7 – 1 and give them the best record in the NBA. At one point the Clippers had a 50 point lead and a 93 – 50 lead at the end of the 3rd quarter. For the 3rd game in a row, no Clipper starter played more than 30 minutes. The best scoring duo in the league coming into the game was Lillard and CJ McCollum and they went a combined 5 for 21.
Over the past five games, only one team has managed to score over 90 points. The Clippers starting five is the best defensive unit in the NBA. The Clippers second unit is the second best defensive unit in the NBA. According to the Clipper announcers anyway.
Watching them right now is like watching Magic Showtime. I know it won’t last but wow, they are something else right now.
Dodgers, Yesterday and Today 