Going Back To Philly... I Don't Think So.

Going Back To Philly... I Don't Think So.

Actually, yeah. We're not going to Philly. They're coming here. At least for two games. Then the Dodgers will head to the city of brotherly love in a hopeful 2-0 series lead. If it seems like we've been here before, we have. Not only last year, but in the history of Dodger baseball, the Phillies are a team we've seen a lot. So much so that Tommy has some beef with their god awful mascot.



Yes, that's Tommy Lasorda going after and kicking the Philly Phanatic's ass. What does he have to say for himself?

I hate the Philly Phanatic.

In fact, I am not very happy about mascots in general. I think they take away from the game on the field.

One of the worst incidents was perpetrated by the Phillie Phanatic. The Dodgers were in town to play the Phillies and somehow, it got ahold of one of my jerseys. It took the jersey, put it on a dummy and ran over the dummy again and again.

That type of a display should not be shown in ballparks, especially in front of children. It exhibits violence and disrespect.

I pulled the Phanatic aside and said, “Why don’t you run over a dummy with a Phillies jersey?”

I called the front office of the Phillies and told them how I felt. They can play with kids in the stands, but running over the dummy was simply wrong, and that kids would get the wrong impression. Apparently, they didn’t care.

The next time we were in Philadelphia, I confronted the Phanatic. I told it not to use my jersey anymore, and so the next time he did, I was forced to act. I went right up to it and body slammed it to the turf.

I often wondered how it got my jersey, and then I found out how. Steve Sax would give it the jerseys because my players thought it was a funny thing to do.

I never really thought about it before but I guess the Dodgers do have the best mascot in baseball. Tommy is really up there when I think about Dodger baseball along with Vin Scully. And realy, if you're not a Dodgers fan, you have to root for them simply so you can listen to Vin Scully call either the all L.A. World Series, or an amazing Dodgers/Yankees 1950's throwback World Series. Win or Lose, I'll be amazed to hear something like that.



But first the boys in blue need to beat Philly. I have to say, I'm a little worried. I really wish it was the Rockies we were facing, but it's just a matter of getting it over with. At least this time there's some respect in the experts picks. For the Cardinals series everyone was siding that it would be St. Luis that swept the Dodgers in 3 games. That didn't turn out to be very accurate after all. It's going to be a very tough series so you gotta route pretty loud.. Go Dodger Blue!

Going Back To Philly... I Don't Think So.

Going Back To Philly... I Don't Think So.



So it's been a couple of days since the Dodgers lost game 5 and the series to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS issuing an end of the Dodgers season and the final time of the year we'll hear Vin Scully paint a masterpiece as he calls the game. That's when I know summer has officially ended. After 35+ baseball games I went to this year baseball for the year is finally coming to a close.

It was a good season. Well, a good one for the Dodgers given all the injuries, a lot of downs and some amazing ups mixed into the twist and turns of the past nine months. Third base was constantly being filled by someone new. From Nomar to Dewitt. A team that won a game without a single hit. Yes, that's correct. The dodgers won against the Angels with them pitching a shut out (close enough with no bottom of the ninth). We then got Manny and our hitting was out of the park. A Dodgers team that lost eight straight in August and still managed to beat the rest of the NL Worst. To come in and sweep the cubs and make it all the way to the NLCS. Three wins away from a World Series, the first successful post season run since 1988. Dodgers might not have made it all the way, but they gave us nothing short of a great season.



So thanks, Dodger stadium. In your newly renovated and constantly upgraded halls lies my summer of love. My enjoyment over the warm days and cool nights. The taste of Dodger dogs still lingers in my mouth and the exploits of my drunken (illegal)tailgating will remain between my hazy memory and the fine officers who wrecked that enjoyment every so often.


My summer home.

It's a bit sad to see Baseball almost come to an end. But then I realize that unlike Football and Basketball, Baseball is one of those extremely long sports that last a good 9 out of the 12 months. So it wont be too long before I'm over in Arizona for spring training.

Baseball is a fickle mistress. She comes to you in the spring time and the both of you train together. Warming up with all of springs blooming life. You spend your evenings together all summer during the day and through the night. Drinking, eating and enjoying a couple of hours together. Then as fall comes new and the colors of the leafs start to change the amount of teams around start dwindling down and she leaves you to tough out the cold winter alone.



Each year you return to her dressed in your team colors and with a positive cheer along with it. Well, not you Cubs fans. You might as well just assume it's going to be year 101. She's there waiting for the Baseball fans. Any true blue American who will embrace her year after year. Well, except for 1994. That was one of those years she was just acting like a total bitch and you were just not having any of that.



So I come before you once both AL and NL championship division teams finished off with a top dog. It'll be the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. It's not the match up the media wanted, Dodgers/Red Sox, due to the potential drama of the Manny trade, the many Red Sox transplants and Joe Torre. But that was not to be. Congrats Tampa Bay. You're a young team with nothing to lose and everything to gain with an amazing record. Going from worse to first was amazing. Being the AL team, you'll be ripe for picking this World Series win from the Phillies with ease.

Till Spring Training, I'll be crying Dodger blue. Wait.. there's no crying in baseball! We got close Joe, let's do it next year!