Major League Baseball

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Am I dreaming or are the Dodgers on a 3 game winning streak?

-- Peoplemover "Blue Crew can actually still make the playoffs! " Matt

[brerbear8]

Thanks again, Angels, for holding back those yanks. Unfortunately, we couldn't get it done against the clean sox, so our lead is still only 1.5 games. Go Angels! Go Sox! (the red kind)

[zosomouse]

I grew up in Southern California. I'm still a dyed in the wool Dodger fan. I've stuck with them through their ups and downs. I also got into the Angels. They were my American League team. I rooted for the Angels from 1971 until this year. And those were some lean years. But, let's face it. There is only one team in Los Angeles. What are the C.E.O.'s in Anaheim doing? Is this just a scheme to broaden the Angel's market, now that they're a winner? True, the Angels may have started in L.A., using Dodger stadium until they had their own. Then they were the California Angels, which I think makes for a great marketing base. But what's the deal? In the A.L. I'm an A's fan now. Sadly, the Angels just don't hold the appeal they once did for me, even with 1988 World Series Champion L.A. Dodgers Mike Sciosscia and Mickey Hatcher on staff. I mean, come on...the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim". That's almost as bad as when the Rams moved to Anaheim and still called themselves the Los Angeles Rams. At least they aren't calling themselves the "Saint Louis Rams of Los Angeles". I still root for them! Why can't Anaheim have the great team their city has fostered for nearly 40 years? Does Disney still have any ownership? What inflluence can they wield? Is a move in the works? What is the fans take on this? P.S. Here's my prediction. I think the Angels will win the A.L. West after Oakland makes a hard run at them. But I think they've peaked early and either Boston or New York will knock them out of a World Series berth. The Dodgers will hang onto third place hovering at about .500 in the N.L. West while San Diego implodes, the Giants continue to struggle, and Arizona climbs to a divisional title. I don't want either scenario to happen but I think it will go down that way. If it doesn't, the Dodgers will win the N.L. West, Cinderella into the World Series, and beat the imposters claiming to be from L.A.!

[zosomouse]

Originally Posted by PeoplemoverMatt

Am I dreaming or are the Dodgers on a 3 game winning streak?

-- Peoplemover "Blue Crew can actually still make the playoffs! " Matt

Yeah! I've been a Dodger fan all my life. And you know as well as I do that ain't bloody likely! They would have to win the division. I don't think they can make up 9 games in the wild card race. I was happy that they finally won a post-season game last year after an 0-6 playoff record since 1988. But they traded all their best players after those guys had gotten them halfway to the playoffs. What they did to LoDuca I think was an atrocity. He was as potential a true Blue Dodger as Tommy Lasorda! They lost a leader as well as a slugger. Then came all the injuries this year. It's still a team with a lot of spirit. But I'm not happy with the new owners. It's still early. They seem more genuine than FOX ever did but, the jury's still out. Yep. They won 3 in a row. They need 10! Let's hope Milton Bradley can get up to par quickly and stay healthy when he returns. I hope Gagne can be rehabilitated by next season and that they keep him! He can contribute a lot as a veteran to the younger pitchers in the rotation. I think he still has some good pitching left too but, I doubt he will be able to throw as much heat. Wouldn't it be cool if they won their division, Cinderellaed their way into the World Series, and beat that other "LA" team that isn't even in L.A.!? Then the guys in Blue could tell the media "We're going to Disneyland!"

[GreenLantern13]

I'm an Angels fan and I agree Paul Lo Duca's trade was horrible no matter what spin the owner wants to put on it. I've never hated the Dodgers and in fact I'm usually cheering for them even if they aren't my #1 team(this whole socal rivalry thing does not exist to me and I don't really like how it's been made into one...making fun of each other is one thing but it's never been a rivalry before and shouldn't be). But seriously...who are you supposed to cheer for? Who's supposed to be the little kid's hero on that team? You can't get attached to anyone there because no matter how special and talented they are(Lo Duca) or how well they perform(Beltre) you might as well save your money on that jersey until the player finds their next team shortly after.

The way the dodgers are going, they probably want Gagne to get rehabilitated not to be their closer but to trade him for some other patching up that needs to be done now.

[Baseball Fanatic]

Booyah! Go Angels! Kick the Yankees butts tonight!

[zosomouse]

Originally Posted by almandot

I'm an Angels fan and I agree Paul Lo Duca's trade was horrible no matter what spin the owner wants to put on it. I've never hated the Dodgers and in fact I'm usually cheering for them even if they aren't my #1 team(this whole socal rivalry thing does not exist to me and I don't really like how it's been made into one...making fun of each other is one thing but it's never been a rivalry before and shouldn't be). But seriously...who are you supposed to cheer for? Who's supposed to be the little kid's hero on that team? You can't get attached to anyone there because no matter how special and talented they are(Lo Duca) or how well they perform(Beltre) you might as well save your money on that jersey until the player finds their next team shortly after.

The way the dodgers are going, they probably want Gagne to get rehabilitated not to be their closer but to trade him for some other patching up that needs to be done now.

Jeff Kent comes to mind so far as the kids hero is concerned. When I was a kid, at least before 11 years old, I loved the Dodgers and never had any idea who was in first place. I went to games, got to know the game through my Dad and Grandfather, and had fun! Gagne has only been a one or two inning pitcher for a while now as good as he is. I think it's too late to use him for a patchwork trade. It's fairly certain he won't be ready until at least Spring training anyway. So far as the social rivalry is concerned, the Angel's ownership has attatched the name "Los Angeles" to the team. Parallels are being drawn. We now have intereleague play. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Like it or not a rivalry is brewing. There has been talk for as long as I can remember about the possibility of a "Freeway Series". That is now closer to a reality than it ever has been. And when it happens, the lid is going to come off the pressure cooker. Of course, if one really wants to understand a rivalry they should try dressing in Dodger blue and going to a game at PacBell Park; or whatever they call it now. I did that twice when the Giants played at "the Stick". And I lived to tell about it. I always found it funny that wearing Dodger Blue at Giants stadium was almost suicidal. The times I've seen Giants fans at Chavez ravine people usually ignore them, behave like they're afraid of them, or are downright friendly to them. Every rivalry has its quirks. Of course, if you want social rivalry, wear any team's garb to an Oakland Raider game if you can afford the ticket and a body guard.

[brerbear8]

You want rivalry? Try being a Sox fan! (the red type)

Speaking of Sox, we pulled out another win, with another scary performance by Schilling. That was a good birthday present, along with Lance Armstrong's stage win. Anyone know how the yankees did? I hope they lost- that would complete my totally awesome birthday!

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Originally Posted by almandot

But seriously...who are you supposed to cheer for? Who's supposed to be the little kid's hero on that team? You can't get attached to anyone there because no matter how special and talented they are(Lo Duca) or how well they perform(Beltre) you might as well save your money on that jersey until the player finds their next team shortly after.

The way the dodgers are going, they probably want Gagne to get rehabilitated not to be their closer but to trade him for some other patching up that needs to be done now.

Well every fan's really supposed to be a fan of the team and not really any individual player on that team. That way trades or free agency or whatever was never meant to matter because fans were supposed to only care about if the team is doing better or worse. That's how I was raised to look at sports & that's the way I look at trades/free agency. Be sad if a player you liked leaves, but be furious if a trade went down that was never meant to help the club win.

As far as the LoDuca/Mota/Encarnacion trade last year goes, remember the plan was to then trade Penny & Murphy in a deal for Randy Johnson and get Finley with prospects. Well the Finley side worked out, but the RJ side fizzled and we were stuck with a lopsided trade for basically Brad Penny. I didn't really mind it seeing as Brad Penny did beat the Yankees twice in the '03 World Series. LoDuca always started off well with the bat and went into the tank in the latter part of the season. No matter how badly you're attached to a guy, what matters is winning & you should always do what would help your team win. The trade last year was meant to help us win, unfortunately we had a rookie GM & we got the short end of the stick.

Now with Beltre, first of all you must remember Beltre's agent was Scott Boras. Remember he was the one responsible for getting A-Rod $25.2M per year & is widley known for getting top dollar for his players. The guy wanted the Dodgers to pay $21M in Beltre's first year of a 7-yr deal! No way was a new owner going to do that, Seattle did, so off Beltre went. If anything Beltre should be spat on for having no loyalty at all to the team that developed him & Seattle looks really stupid now for paying him all that cash to basically be a dud for them. That's all I have to say about Beltre except these 2 words: good riddance.

Gagne will never be traded. Even a rookie GM knows that a relief pitcher that can win a Cy Young Award (Gagne won the 2003 NL Cy Young) and rattle off a record 84 consecutive saves is a 1 in a 1,000,000 player. Gagne was simply 1 of the few thousand injuries we've suffered through this year. The Giants & Pads had some injuries but nothing like we've had. To this day only be approx 6 games back is remarkable. Bradley just came back, Valentin is coming back, so I still have hope. Dodgers for back to back NL West champs!

-- Peoplemover "Families have 91% more fun when surrounded by blue! " Matt

[zosomouse]

Does anyone remember when Angels caps and batting helmets had a halo design on them? I never could figure out what that monkey thing was about? Perhaps they are thinking of "evolving" to Los Angeles! Is anyone out there in Orange County worried? Great team! But I wouldn't want to give 'em up if I were a fan, even in name! And I was an Angels fan during the Gene Autry years! I always rooted for them in the American League. I'll always be true to my Dodgers, even when they are "bums". Since moving north I've taken a liking to the Athletics (I just can't find a way to like the Giants because... I'm a Dodger fan!). I still like the Angels, but THEY AREN'T EVEN IN L.A.! The A's started the season like the Dodgers are playing now. How roles do reverse! Look out Angels! You just may get your wings clipped! Although they've slid a bit recently, how about the job the Washington Nationals are doing in their first year! (Yeah. I know. They were the Montreal Expos. Does that count?)

[Baseball Fanatic]

Hey everyone Baseball Fanatic here. I just got back with my family from Michagan. What's up?

[WelcomeFoolishMortals999]

Originally Posted by Baseball Fanatic

Hey everyone Baseball Fanatic here. I just got back with my family form Michagan. What's up?

Hey. Where did u visit and what did u do in Michigan? (My StaTE)

(POST # 800!!!!!!!!! )

[brerbear8]

I'm just now recovering from the Manny Ramirez trade rumor, but I'm back in full force. Go sox!

[Baseball Fanatic]

Well, we went to vist relatives from my dad's side of the family and we went up north to Alpena and stayed in a cabin at a place called Long Lake. Back to baseball. When we were in you know where, the Padres had lost 10 straight games. But, when we got back today they romped the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-3. The Angels I hope can end their losing skid like the Friar's did soon.

[zosomouse]

Wow! The Dodger's are stinking it up and still only 5 games back in the sludgy NL West. And it seems those A's are indeed making a run at that other L.A. team that plays in Orange County! Anything can happen!