Dodgers web musings: The Manny fallout and more
Friday night’s suspended game is scheduled to resume tonight at 5:30, and after a break of 20 minutes the regularly scheduled game will take place.
The Dodgers did not call up an additional pitcher for Saturday, even though they are going to have to send someone down Sunday to call up a starting pitcher, presumably John Ely. They could have just sent someone down Saturday (catcher A.J. Ellis?), and then sent that pitcher down Sunday to call up Ely.
As Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness’ Mike Petriello noted, the end result is the same. Only you’re sending Ellis down one game earlier (although I would prefer sending down catcher Hector Gimenez and take the risk he’s claimed).
And Rafael Furcal is already hurt. Hey, he made it an entire week. Manager Don Mattingly told reporters in San Diego that Furcal injured his wrist on a check swing in Colorado and won’t play in Saturday’s second game. Mattingly called him possible for Sunday.
Meanwhile, as you would expect, plenty of reaction to Manny Ramirez getting busted a second time for a drug violation and then retiring:
-- ESPN’s Jayson Stark said Manny takes a sullied legacy into retirement.
-- Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi said since his first drug suspension, Manny had been a combo of caricature, footnote and has-been.
-- CBS Sports’ Scott Miller has a final word for Manny: shame.
-- MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince finds Manny’s exit somehow fitting, and says it ends whatever slim chance he still had for the Hall of Fame. Note: He already had no chance.
-- The Times’ Joel Rubin and Bill Shaikin write the LAPD plans to bring some of its anti-gang skills to Dodger Stadium, and notes they are looking at limiting alcohol sales.
-- Times columnist Steve Lopez takes a harsh view of Frank McCourt, saying "We’ve got a minor league businessman running a major league team."
-- In a video, Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal reports that scouts are also unimpressed with the Dodgers offense and are concerned about James Loney (4 for 26).
-- ESPN/LA’s Jon Weisman takes a look at the first start of Fernando Valenzuela on its 30th anniversary.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Some great humorist observed, "Nostalgia isn't what it used to be."
The Dodgers, without a standout team, have relied on nostalgia, with throwback uniforms and various gimmicks. Now, Manny nostalgia is dead, and rhapsodizing about the bucolic vibe at Chavez Ravine is a grim joke.
Vinny is really all that's left.
The imminent lock-down at Dodger Stadium could snuff whatever alpha-waves one could float.
Gosh, I really hate the fact that I've succumbed to such negativity, but you know what they say about nostalgia.
Boycott.
Posted by: Striker | 04/09/2011 at 06:37 PM
I now fully expect the Dodgers to airbrush Manny out of every photograph he appeared in a Dodger uni
Posted by: Manny_wouldn't | 04/09/2011 at 06:58 PM
It seems to be the "in" thing now to say there's nothing left to the Dodger besides Vin Scully. It's like there's some kind of contest around LA to see who can be most disgusted with all things Dodger (besides Vin Scully). Well don't look now, but Matt Kemp is hitting .484, has twice as many walks as strikeouts, and is leading the league in stolen bases. So there's that. But hey, if everyone else wants to be cool and say how awful the Dodgers are now like they've been doing for who-knows-how-long and then come back in October like they've been behind this team all along, that's fine, too, I guess. Whatever suits you best.
Posted by: Scott from Marina Del Rey | 04/09/2011 at 11:16 PM
Complete agreement with the folks who say there is not much left of the Dodgers other than Vin Scully. And disgusted right along with them. It has little to do with batting averages and won loss records. It has to do with "Dodger Baseball" and if you don't understand what that means...you don't understand.
Posted by: Skyharbor | 04/10/2011 at 08:31 AM
skyharbor on target again
Posted by: alanw19 | 04/10/2011 at 12:40 PM
well, the main thing is that Martin is happy now.
Posted by: These Dodgers Suck! | 04/10/2011 at 09:23 PM
OK, Dodger fans, time to prove you're not just haters and have principals you live by...Where are the fans that believe your trip(s) to the NLCS should have an asterisk behind it? Hello, are you there? Where are the people who will now decry the Gagne, Beltre & Ramirez steroid trifecta? Where are the shouts of "Manny sucks!"?
Posted by: john | 04/11/2011 at 10:23 AM