Archives for posts with tag: Baseball
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow tries to rid his cleats of muck during the team’s second loss to the Phillies over the weekend.

I was really hoping to go 162-0, but alas, it was not to be. Of course not! Just a pipe dream. But the two losses the Dodgers suffered in Philadelphia over the weekend were absolutely avoidable, and both were ascribable to misguided moves by my boys in blue.

On Friday, both Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages were caught trying to steal second, but not just caught, stupidly caught. They were clumsy and should not have been trying to steal with two outs in the respective situations they were in. Then, to cap it off, Chris Taylor stole second only to have it stolen back for the game-ending out after a review that overturned the call. He looked safe to me, my husband and Eric Karros, but the call went against the Dodgers. (I expect that may happen a lot now that everyone that’s not a Dodger fan absolutely hates the Dodgers!)

Then on Sunday, manager Dave Roberts should have insisted that the mound be dried out lest pitcher Tyler Glasnow hurt himself in the rain that made the pitcher’s mound a pile of sloppy goo. Instead, Doc let it go, and Glasnow gave up the game. What a shame.

But we are now 9-2, and that’s nothing to sneeze at. We started out 8-0, breaking the record for wins to start the season by a defending World Series champ.

Tom Hanks (right) with his family on Opening Day.

Every game so far has been spine-tingling! I’ve been to two games, both of which ended in walk-off homers! Plus I found out that Tom Hanks, on whom I’ve had a crush since “Bosom Buddies,” takes score in his Stadium Club suite! (I’ve suspected since 1980 that he and I were soul mates destined never to meet.)

Tom Hanks (above) doesn’t go into as much detail as yours truly (below).

My sweetie and I revel in victory at the World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Nov. 1.

I will always be grateful for the unbelievable joy and pride that the Dodgers of 2024 — the World Champion Dodgers — gave me in my final year as a Season Ticket Holder.

“What a fucking ride!” as Kiké Hernández might say!

My husband and I have watched Game 5 at least 4 times, and I’d watch it again in a second. It was heart-stopping and thrilling and so satisfying, with heroics from unexpected players and unadulterated joy in the end. What more could you want from baseball?

However, I did not renew my season tickets for 2025. The price hike of nearly 25% seemed extreme to me. But more than that, having to schedule my whole life around the Dodgers’ home games for 8 months out of the year started to feel like a job. I didn’t want to start resenting the claim on my time. I have a lot of editing to do, movies to make, books to write, friends to visit, grandsons to spoil. Going to the games has been awesome, especially this year, but it took precedence over all those things, and I needed to make a break to be able to focus and prioritize. Let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger.

Now, that doesn’t mean I’m done with the Dodgers. I will never be done with the Dodgers. I will watch games on TV and even get tickets from time to time. I will know the standings by heart, blog about games, and take score as often as possible. But it will be on my timetable, not one I feel obligated to follow.

I love the Dodgers. I love baseball. I hope my grandkids learn to love baseball and the Dodgers, too. Finally, I can’t wait until Spring.

Freddie Freeman made history with a walkoff Grand Slam, the first in World Series history!

The most unbelievable Game 1 of a World Series ever! Hear that, Kirk Gibson?

First baseman Freddie Freeman — who this season battled a broken finger, a sprained ankle and the life-threatening illness of his little son — hadn’t played in most of the postseason games so far this year. When he did, he practically had to be carried off the field by Mookie Betts! So what does he do? With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, he hits it out of the park on the first pitch!

I literally started crying, it was so beautiful!

The roar of the crowd was deafening. The feeling of triumph was overwhelming. It was a moment that will live forever in the minds and hearts of Dodger fans everywhere.

I didn’t take score for most of the games this postseason. Too crowded, plus I wanted to roam and see folks around the stadium. But yesterday, right before we left to walk up the Ravine, I decided, “It’s the freaking World Series, Dodgers vs. Yankees! Of course I have to keep score!”

I’m so glad I did.

We go again tonight, but it will be difficult to top Game 1 — for intensity, exhilaration and satisfaction! History isn’t made every day.

MY SCORECARDS
WORLD SERIES Game 1: Dodgers 6-Yankees 3

Side note: Very sad about Fernando Valenzuela. He was so young, just 63. The Dodgers are honoring him and his contribution to baseball at the World Series and next season with a patch on their uniforms. Simply “34.”

Sure, he’s happy now, but you should have heard him complaining about the Dodgers all through the game. “The pitching sucks!” “They can’t bring guys home!” “They’ve got Ohtani’s number!” OMG! It’s hard to take. But then again, maybe his negativity was the right energy to engender tonight’s miracle? Who knows? (I still think it’s my earrings.)