Dodgers Web musings: Getting all positive on the 2011 Dodgers

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T.J. Simers, The Times’ resident optimist, takes a look at the new Dodgers and comes away overflowing with optimism.

At least in his inimitable way.

Wrote Simers on the coming season: ‘Some fans might be so excited they are even thinking about buying tickets or loaning Frank McCourt money.’

Can’t you just smell the fresh-cut grass?

Also on the Web:

-- There are numerous heartfelt tributes to Duke Snider, including at The Times, the New York Times, Newsday, the New York Daily News, MLB.com and ESPN.com.

-- The Canadian Press has the story of the U.S. Ambassador’s plans to place a plaque at the Montreal apartment of Jackie and Rachel Robinson in their honor as part of Black History Month.

-- Dodgers.com’s Ken Gurnick talks to left-hander Scott Elbert and the pressures that apparently led to his leaving the organization last season, for personal reasons that were never explained.

-- The New York Times’ Karen Crouse has a feature on Clayton Kershaw’s life-changing trip to Africa in the off-season with his wife, Ellen.

-- CBS Sports’ Ray Ratto thinks Charlie Sheen would be the ideal new Dodgers owner, because in the troubled actor they would have ‘someone who would at least make the Dodgers more stable than they already are, because the only thing less stable than the Dodgers ownership in its current state is a solar flare.’

-- ESPN L.A.’s Tony Jackson has the details on the Dodgers’ plans for a benefit game March 25 against the Arizona Diamondbacks to benefit the Christina Taylor Green Memorial Fund.

-- Yahoo Sports’ Steve Henson thinks Joe Torre’s cool will work well as commissioner Bud Selig’s new vice president.

-- Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi talks to outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. about his Hall of Fame father’s battle with cancer, getting cut by the Padres and joining the Dodgers.

-- Baseball Savvy’s Howard Cole gets an insightful interview with Dodgers’ super fan Roberto Baly of Vin Scully is My Homeboy.

-- TrueBlueLA’s Eric Stephen looks at which Dodgers pitchers excelled at getting the called strikeout last season.

Stephen also picks up on Dodgers.com dropping the obnoxious ‘This Is My Town’ slogan and opting for the classic Vin Scully phrase, ‘It’s Time for Dodger Baseball.’ That’s called progress.

-- Steve Dilbeck