Dodger Baseball

21st in franchise history, 11th no-hitter in Dodgers history (first since Hideo Nomo in 1996). Great day for baseball!

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Dodger Stadium is currently the third-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and the largest baseball-specific stadium in the United States. Dodger Stadium was one of the last baseball-only facilities built before the dawn of the multi-purpose stadium. ** All photos are massive and can clicked on to see the full size. ** ( This is a pic spam of my trip to Dodger Stadium from last week.Collapse )

I swear I've posted this before but I couldn't find it, so here it is "again". This is taken from this book:

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The most fortunate of baseball teams find that elusive ballpark nirvana once in their history, that one hallowed plot of ground that not only provides the team a place where it can win championships before the hometown crowd, but also a place that defines the spirit of the franchise and city. The Dodgers have had the good fortune of finding two such houses of baseball perfection, one on each coast. And each embodies the spirit of those different Dodger teams perfectly.

Dodger Stadium is as much a part of Los Angeles as the in-ground swimming pool and the movie studio. For in L.A., image is everything. And Dodger Stadium provides the local nine with that perfect image of baseball in paradise. Carved into Elysian Hills in an area known as Chavez Ravine, the stadium stands like a shining beacon on the gloried hill of baseball success. And while no other baseball park in the Majors is built on a hill, the Elysian Hills of L.A. bring to mind that dreamlike ideal of an ethereal ball field in the heavens.

A more ideal setting would be difficult to imagine. The weather is nearly flawless, having accounted for less than twenty rainouts in the forty-year history of the stadium. The San Gabriel Mountains loom beyond the hills-snowcapped in the spring and fall-purple under the setting sun-and ring the outfield in an ever-glorious backdrop for the game we so love. Meanwhile, out the back of the stadium a breathtaking view of the downtown L.A. skyline rises from the valley below.
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They go on to say that there is not a bad seat in the house, that Dodger Stadium is kept more immaculate than other stadiums, and that Dodger fans are practically excused for arriving late and leaving early due to traffic. They say that keeping the stadium's "sparkling image" is as important as winning games.

The rest of the chapter has a brief history of the stadium, including very trivial things, and is worth checking out, as is the rest of the book. The best part about this review is that one of the writers was born a Giants fan (now a Mariners fan, and the other is a Red Sox fan), so it's pretty unbiased, except for maybe their judgement of the Dodger Dog as the 15th overall best hot dog in the majors. But everything they say about the stadium itself is everything I'd try to say without sounding like a homer, and they do so for me, because they aren't.

OK, seriously, does anyone else think it's insanely funny that the DJ is playing "Why Can't We Be Friends?" while the Dodgers and Phillies have emptied their benches to start a near-fight?

And this game's so much more fun to watch while we're ahead by 5. Don't let up, boys!

YES!

Source: LA Times
By Dylan Hernandez, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

"Having grown up in Brooklyn, I have a great understanding of the history of the Dodger organization and I am committed to bringing a world championship back to Los Angeles," Torre said in a statement released by the team. "I consider it an honor to be a part of this organization, which is one of the most storied franchises in all of sports."

Said General Manager Ned Colletti: "Few managers in the history of the game have accomplished what Joe has delivered. Throughout his career he has demonstrated the ability to turn a vision for success into results on the field and we welcome his passion and leadership. We have tremendous fans and they deserve no less."

A news conference has been scheduled for Monday at Dodger Stadium.

Despite his 3rd blown save of the season yesterday against the Giants, there is an interesting article in the L.A. Times Sports section this morning on Saito. After reading it, I got a better understanding of where he came from and why he feels the way he does playing here and for the Dodgers.

Here's a tidbit of that article:

After becoming frustrated because of injuries and contemplating retirement in Japan, Dodgers closer has won over his teammates with his relief pitching on the field — and his karaoke singing off.
By Dylan Hernandez
LATimes Staff Writer

July 15, 2007

Every time Takashi Saito prepares to run out of the Dodgers' bullpen, he taps himself twice on the chest and asks himself aloud, "Takashi Saito, what did you come here to do?"

Every time he asks himself that question, Saito says, he wants to feel the answer. Because when he no longer feels it, it will mean he no longer belongs here, an ocean away from his wife and two daughters in Japan.

Saito was seriously pondering retirement when his contract with the Yokohama BayStars expired in 2005. Only the frustration of playing hurt most of the previous three seasons had prevented him from quitting. He didn't want his career to end like that, with baseball no longer being fun.

The day he learned he had been chosen for the All-Star team, Saito faintly smiled, sighed and shook his head.

"I'm glad I didn't quit," he said.

Because baseball is fun again.

"For me, every day is like an All-Star game," said Saito, 37. "Every day, I feel like I'm surrounded by All-Stars and facing All-Stars. I might've been called into the All-Star game, but I've felt like an All-Star every day."

In Japan, he felt like a failure.

He was paid nearly $7 million over his last three seasons to be the BayStars' ace, but his body betrayed him. Slowed because of back problems and a hernia, he failed to win 10 games in any one of those seasons.

"I could barely throw 90 miles per hour," he said. "It was pitch and get hit, pitch and get hit. I thought the end was near."

He thought of being a television analyst or coaching kids.

But he wanted one more chance, one more season. He wanted a clean start and a shot at playing the game at its highest level.

So he asked his wife. They had two daughters, and he would be taking a huge pay cut without a guarantee of employment.

She let him go.

Though Saito had agreed to the terms of a minor league deal with the Dodgers, he left Japan in January 2006 without a signed contract. When he flew out of Narita Airport, only his family and agent knew.

Saito said he was aware of how his move would be perceived in Japan: that he was headed to the U.S. to make one last memory and retire.

The way he was perceived here — in particular, how little was expected of him — was made clear to him the day he was introduced to reporters at Dodger Stadium. He had faced a room full of reporters and cameras when he was a first-round draft pick from college in Japan, but here, there were maybe 10 Japanese reporters and a few television cameras.

And when Saito reported to spring training, he initially had trouble finding his place.....

Some things you may know, and some you may not. This is how my mind works when I'm bored and feel like browsing baseball-reference.com (some of these are taken from there, some are not).

• Currently the Park Factor for Dodger Stadium is 102/102:

The value indicate a number above 100 is a park good for hitters and below 100 is a park good for pitchers.

So basically Dodger Stadium is now slightly considered a hitters park with the newly added seats taking out some of the foul territory.

• Excluding Loney, who's only played in 24 games, our player with the highest OPS right now is Russell Martin, with .866. Which is great, for Martin, but I personally think our team needs at least one person with an OPS that's .950 or higher.

• The Dodgers have had 2,131,856 people attend their games this year, averaging 46,345 every home game. That's projected to 3,753,945 million fans who will attend Dodger Stadium this year (btw, a sell out is 56,000), which will most likely land them 1st in attendance this year for the National League for the 5th year in a row.

• This season the Dodgers have also reached a cummulative attendance over 175,000,000 million, more than any other franchize in sports history. The day they passed this mark, the players threw out 175 autographed baseballs to fans (my friends caught one by Mariano Duncan and one by Juan Pierre).

• When he was in Japan, Takashi's last name was Saitoh.

• In this year's All Star game neither Dodger pitcher gave up a hit or a walk and faced the minimum three batters for their holds.

• The Dodgers started out as the Brooklyn Atlantics (1884). Then went through the following names: Brooklyn Grays (1885-1887), Brooklyn Grooms (1891-1895), Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888-1890, 1896-1898: 2 Pennants and 2 Playoff Appearances), Brooklyn Superbas (1899-1910, 1913: 2 Pennants and 0 Playoff Appearance), Brooklyn Robins (1914-1931: 2 Pennants and 2 Playoff Appearances), Brooklyn Dodgers (1911, 1912, 1932-1957: 1 World Championship, 7 Pennants, and 7 Playoff Appearances), Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-2007: 5 World Championships, 9 Pennants, and 15 Playoff Appearances). Yes, that part was almost copied word-for-word cause like I'd know it offhand.

• After the Dodgers and Giants left New York, a team was formed that took a color from each of them (the Mets, for those who need it spelled out for them). I know, when I first found out it was like: mind = blown.

• Lifetime, the Dodgers are a .523 ballclub. They are most successful versus the Indians, whom they played one series against and swept, and least successful versus the White Sox, whom they have a 1-5 record against. As for the NL, the Dodgers are the worst versus the Cardinals, with a .493 win %. They are .657 versus the Brewers. In terms of our own division, we have the best record versus the Rockies, with .583 and the worst versus the Giants with .495. Grrr. In the past five years, the Dodgers have a . 453 record versus the Padres.

• Holy crap, this really is the best website ever. On that note, I think I'm done for tonight.

- Willie Harris was born in Cairo, GA, the hometown of Jackie Robinson.
- When Brian McCann found out he was an All Star, he said he felt sorry for Renteria (who was signed by the Marlins at age 15).
- Chipper and Andruw both have Taurus tattoos, for their zodiac sign. They are 5 years and one day apart, Chipper being the elder.
- John Smoltz and Derek Lowe love playing golf. Smoltz wants to be a pro golfer, he once was beating Tiger Woods after 14 rounds and then Smoltz says Tiger "threw it into 6th gear".
- Smoltz has a putting green inside his house and a driving range in his basement (?). Him and some teammates once asked if the Braves won the World Series if he could have a putting green in the clubhouse and they allowed it.
- Chipper Jones is the only switch hitter with a career batting average and homeruns both over 300.
- Chipper Jones uses a black bat when batting right-handed and a white one when batting left because of the weight difference.
- Smoltz once pitched a 152-pitch game.
- Bobby Cox needs one more ejection for the record.
- Willie Harris has the number 12 tattooed on his back because he never gets his favorite number.
- "Willie Harris just stole Derek Lowe's wallet and anything else he might have had out there."
- Smoltz looks like Donald Sutherland, oh no wait, it's unanimous that it's just Vinny that thinks so.
- Under the management of Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones has hit 370 homeruns and Andruw has hit 355.
- In baseball you're allowed to travel from east coast to west coast without the day off because you're turning back the clock.
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia has the longest surname in the history of baseball.
- "I just hope he doesn't get caught in a rundown. With him on base, and Garciaparra in the field, that would be way too many syllables for me to try to get out in a hurry!"
- John Smoltz once took a helicopter ride to a doctor's appointment.
- Smoltz was chewing on 12 pieces of Bazooka Bubble Gum when Mazzone called him up from the bullpen for the first time.
- In 73 straight appearances, Smoltz never lost a game.
- Warren Spahn's 350th win was caught by Joe Torre.
- Tyler Yates' parents met in Hawaii while they were both visiting there and they never moved back. Tyler's a surfer and his wife is from the Phillipines.
- Peter Moylan is from Australia and still lives there. He used to throw overhand when he was with the Twins but now throws sidearm. He used to be a pharmaceutical salesman.
- Matt Diaz's dad is a non-denominational minister. His family used to take trips across the country that combined baseball and religion.
- Pete Orr has the same middle name as Candian hockey great Bobby Orr.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Barry Bonds plans to file for free agency the first day he can, and no negotiations have taken place with the Giants about keeping the slugger in San Francisco.

The first time Bonds would be eligible to file is the day after the World Series ends.
"The only thing that would stop Barry from filing for free agency would be if a deal was in place from the Giants," Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, said Friday in a phone interview. "Since there has been no dialogue up to this point, I have no reason to believe he would do anything but file for free agency."

Under baseball's new collective bargaining agreement, a five-year deal reached Tuesday night, there is less of a time constraint on the Giants and Bonds to get something done on a new contract.

The previous labor agreement mandated that if the Giants had not offered Bonds arbitration by Dec. 7, they would be unable to sign him until May 1. Now, the club can still negotiate with the 42-year-old Bonds even if it doesn't offer him arbitration by the new Dec. 1 deadline.

"I don't think it helps, but it doesn't hurt either," Borris said.

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