Awesome, I've never bought a copy of Variety but I'll make sure to pick up this Friday's edition.

1 My Thoughts exactly.

fellow DT'ers. i work for mlb productions, more specifically the show, this week in baseball. next week's show is dodgers-themed, which i'm obviously excited about, especially the feature we are doing on vin scully. i have spent all day going through awesome footage we have gathered on vin broadcasting games during the past home series against the reds. my editor gave me the ok to solicit any memories any of you have about vin, any calls you remember, any great sayings he has had, etc. obviously i want to do whatever i can to make the show as good as it can be, so any specific games or even approximate ones that any of you remember would be greatly appreciated. please respond in this forum or email me at charlie.widdoes@mlb.com. and of course, i recommend everyone tune in on fox at 3 next saturday. go dodgers.

3 Very cool! I can remember some of the obvious ones, like the Gibson home run, and some of the no-hitters. But my love of Vin is what it is in part because of how he is every game, even, or especially, during the more routine ones. I'll think on it though.

Is that this coming Saturday, or the one after?

a week from this coming saturday. one of the cool things about this company is the vast amount of knowledge and footage we have, so im sure most of that big stuff will be covered, but im sure some people here can help with some "insider" info that will make the piece all the more special for such a special guy.

3 If you don't have a copy of Jon's book, The Best of Dodger Thoughts, well you should, I'll look up later the thread on Vin Scully that is probably in the archives though I don't know if the comments were saved.

Jon, I would love to get an autographed edition.

as would i, but i will definitely be ordering one

Many congratulations on shepherding through what must have been a challenging but very rewarding project. I hope you're treating yourself to something, because no doubt you deserve it.

6 ,8 If you need the comments for a old pre-Toaster thread, let me know, and I can dig it up for you. support2008 atsign baseballtoaster.com.

Finally, a show with a shot to usurp Becker's spot in Jon's heart.

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5197674

These Tampa Bay Rays are REALLY fun to watch. They have exploded in the 7th on Marmol and Eyre to score six runs before one out has been recorded. The big blast was a grand slam by Crawford off Eyre.

Marmol completely imploded and read for yourself what has happened so far in the seventh:

- C. Marmol relieved S. Gallagher
- W. Aybar walked
- D. Navarro walked, W. Aybar to second
- G. Gross hit by pitch, W. Aybar to third, D. Navarro to second
- A. Iwamura hit by pitch, W. Aybar scored, D. Navarro to third, G. Gross to second
- S. Eyre relieved C. Marmol
- C. Crawford homered to deep right, G. Gross, D. Navarro and A. Iwamura scored
- B.J. Upton tripled to deep center
- E. Hinske doubled to deep right, B.J. Upton scored
- E. Hinske stole third
- E. Longoria hit sacrifice fly to left, E. Hinske scored
- C. Floyd doubled to deep left

The Rays could win the AL East. The Sox are a better team, but their veterans might wear down if the Rays can keep it close til August.

Jumping the gun further, I'd love to see a Rays-Cubs World Series. Not only are they two cool teams as currently composed, but you've got a great contrast in managers, a huge contrast in ballparks, every game would be a Cubs home game, and if the Rays won, the Cubs fans would be even more depressed, on the order of when the Mets passed them in '69.

Jon, is this edition of Variety going to be available on the east coast? I'd love to own a copy.

I assume I can get this at my local Borders in Hawai'i?

Reading Alex's piece on the game as plot device, it occurred to me that it was a shame that "The Fortune Cookie" used football that way. Hmm. Underdog, can you do a script rewrite which we could pitch for a few million?

14
Not to mention the Lou Piniella factor.

Comments on Alex's baseball movie list.

1. Bad News Bears: I agree with Alex, it features all the things that bring back being that 8 year old kid standing in right field when all of sudden, the batter hits the ball to you.

2. Pride of the Yankees: Once of the first films I recall seeing. Two things, an often repeated comment that I want a gal just like Teresa Wright and two, it does capture even if just maybe 20% of what Babe Ruth was really like.

3. Major League, another phrase now heard at ballparks, maybe before and certainly after, "too high." If I go to that '70s luncheon, and if Steve Yeager is there, I am going ask him if he has seen a play like the last one in that film.

4. League of Their Own: a really good movie that I will watch if I catch it on TV.

5. Bang the Drum Slowly, a great movie if only for the manager's explanation of why he ends up playing a particular catcher.

Its unfortunate that there has not been a movie biography of Ruth, Cobb, Jackie Robinson or Christy Mathewson that has captured their personality and achievements.

Jon and Eric, ya done great. So did everybody else, but wonderful pieces on Vin and Jaime.

16 Hmm. Fortune Cookie remake with baseball, you mean? I'm already half way through my original spec baseball script, but the idea has merit. You buy the rights and I'm in! ;-)

--
Alex's baseball movie list reminded me that "Long Gone" is one of my top MIA DVDs. Why is that still not on disc, darnit!
--

And yes, I will be buying Variety tomorrow. That sounds like a keeper.

18 You didn't like John Goodman as the Babe? (No, I agree with you, even though there is a film per se, like the other people you mention no one has yet really captured him.)

The movie "Cobb" with Tommy Lee Jones was pretty good.

21 I think the thing about Ruth is that his life story so much truth wrapped in fiction but even the truth is fascinating.

I should have added Eight Men Out to my list, maybe if Buck Weaver could have acted like John Cusack, he could have won his reinstatement. And John Sayles and Studs Terkel did steal that movie.

So tonight my stepdaughter's daycare had an outing at the Dayton Dragon's game, which we attended of course. To my surprise, the Dragons were playing the Great Lake Loons. I was totally unaware that I was going to get to see some of our young players. I was pretty impressed by Andrew Lambo, he had a walk, a hard line single to right, and a deep opposite field double into the corner. Jamie Ortiz hit a three run shot in the first, but Mattingly was 0-3 with sac fly. Hopefully Lambo will continue to make some strides as he seemed like a really solid hitter.

If the Natural had made the list I would have bought up every copy and burned it.

25 - I'll alert the fire department.

14 - plus you have the historical fun of ex-Rays manager Sweet Lou Piniella going against his old club. What could be better?

<thinks>

Dodgers/Yankees?

15 - Definitely available in NY. Don't know about elsewhere.

Ack, it's on there. I should have read the article before making the boast. That is such a horrible movie.

18
At almost every game I attend, I hope against hope that I see the final play of Major League reenacted on an MLB diamond.

25 I loved the Natural. Robert Redford is my favorite actor of all time.

All I'll say is its one of my favorite books.

I wonder if anyone could/should ever adapt Jim Bouton's "Ball Four"? (Maybe with some of the context around the uproar about the book's publication added.) Maybe not... I just recently read that one after all these years.

32 -- Has anybody ever been happy with a movie based on their "favorite book?" I say no, and that is not the filmmakers' fault.

Looking over the GCL roster, there are some really young arms on that pitching staff and I have no clue about any of them.

And Lambo is absolutely raking, maybe a callup is in order. It would be a big boost to the system if Lambo and Gallagher continue to progress well.

27 I like Joe Maddon. If the thorny path of life brought him to the Dodgers as their manager some day in the future, I would cheer.

If this fantasy were to occur, would it be the first time a team went the World Series the same year it had the #1 draft pick?

PS I'm not looking at the articles unless I just can't find Variety. I want to savor it.

I'm ok with many adaptions of books I like even if they take liberties. L.A. Confidential is an example. But when they do a complete 180 degree turn on the ending, I have problems.

But I'm a bit of a broken record on this.

Is Stults going to be around long enough for it to be worth giving him a DT nickname? Doubt it, but there is a nick-name for him if people want one. Stults was drafted six years ago, and I read a story nearly that long ago on how it came about. Logan White remembered the Dodger scout who scouted the area where Stults played college ball telling him that Stults was a "real fun guy." Then on draft day, when it came time for the Dodgers to make their 15th round pick, White looked around the Dodgers' war room and said "Hey, let's draft 'the fun guy' here." I remembered all this reading Stults quoted today TWICE using the word "fun" to describe his experience today against the Reds. So, for me at least, Stults is The Fun Guy.

34 Atonement was very faithful to the book, which I loved. And yet, it managed to diminish it.

I liked "LA Confidential" even though it carved out much of the book.

39 I think "that guy from Pulp Fiction" is more like to stick.

And actually, LA Confidential pretty much does a complete 180 on the ending, so there goes that argument. I'm so conflicted.

39 That sort of reminds me of that joke about the crazy mushroom at the bar, who is a "real fungi to be around."

I guess calling him "Mr Jealousy" or "Danny Boy" or "Rocky" (er, referencing Eric Stoltz movies) is out.

41 Or that.

39
I like the nickname, but it could be misheard as "fungi".

45 -- "Fungi" could be good too, to give it a DT twist. Much like Don Sutton calling Kemp a "buffalo" and then buffalo turned into "Bison."

39 With apologies to David Letterman's writers . . .

The strong guy, the fun guy, the genius
God gave them each a special gift at birth
One is strong and one is fun and one's a genius
That's the reason they were put upon this earth

What is the nickname count at? Roll call:

Iron Clad Nicknames
C - Golden God
3B - The Solution
CF - The Bison (is this just "Bison"?)
RF - Three Point Five
SP - The Minotaur
RP - The Bull (I almost abbreviated "closer in training" for his position until I realized what it spelled)
SS - Lucille II

Still Up For Debate
1B - Crazy Eyes
3B/1B/2B? - The Catalyst
SP - Fungi
SS - Snipes, Sr.
LF - The Player, Slappy McPopup, Juan For Five
CF - Smiley McManboobs (I can't remember if this is correct or if it's "McWiff")

48 You missed one:

2B - The Rose Bush

Although I would like to put forth these totally unauthorized nicknames:

2B - Buck (as in Buck Naked, due to the porn stache)
CL - Cocoon (dude does not look 38)
PVL PH - Enron Stock (since he's worthless)

The switch pitcher came in to face a switch hitter tonight in the minors, and hilarity ensued. It was shown on Baseball Tonight. Both sides switched sides a couple of times before figuring it out.

48.

I've been reading dodgerthoughts for a while now, the one nickname that i dont know the origin to is "robot made of nails." where did that one come from? i know it refers to matt kemp, i've even seen kemp refered to RMON on a giants blog!

I think it can be both "Bison" or "The Bison." I called him "M. Bison" once, but I guess nobody here played Street Fighter II.

51
You, sir, are in for a treat!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kH4KP6uqtMg

48 I thought James Loney was pretty much cemented as Crazy Eyes. It's so old-timey and awesome.

53.
Wow! LOL!!!

thank you.

I'm still trying to pin "The Monsignor" on someone, but I'm not sure whom. Maybe Chad.

54 I call him "James The Terrible"

56 I'm going to start calling him "Chadwick Billingsby"

58 lol! His Thighness Chadwick Billingsby.

48
I egregiously left off Pee Wee. My bad.

Billingsley is the "Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio"

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with Mr. Belth on this one. For Love of the Game should've been in the top 3, but to not even crack the top ten??? I haven't been around so long, but Vin made that movie something special. Vintage Scully should crack a top 10 list! Major League should have placed higher in my book, along with Bull Durham. Overall, not a bad list, but if it were me deciding the list, I would've included Summer Game over some of his selections.

62 My old CEO loved For Love of the Game. Once he rented the local movie theater under the auspices of holding a company meeting, and then just said forget the meeting, let's just watch this movie.

So I got paid to watch that movie, and I'd give it a thumbs up, but just barely. I don't think it would make my Top 10, either. I'd have liked it more if the ending wasn't a fully happy one.

63. I agreed with most of his list, however, if he has Bang the Drum Slowly and A League of their Own on the list, For Love of the Game should be on there, if for no other reason than the absolutely brilliant commentary by Vin. Not to mention the fact that it was a good watch, much more enjoyable the the other 2 mentioned.

No love for Bad News Bears in Breaking Training? Or Ed? (Matt LeBlanc and a monkey and no one can tell them apart) or Hardball? (Keanu!)

59 "His Thighness" that's perfect. We could also call Chad "The Dumptruck" or "Thickness".

Another honorable mention that I think belongs on the list as well is The Rookie starring Dennis Quaid, another very enjoyable watch as well.

Crawford swings...high fly ball...deep right...gone...grand slam homerun!

And, JoeyP, you here? Sorry, friend, but you are simply mistaken as "old school" OBP and SLG are good enough to put the "nay" on one Juan Pierre.

Lastly, as always, Go Rays!

Does Beimel have a nickname?....He should.

69. How about "scruffy"?

59 His Thighness is great.

Congrats Jon, a great and deserving accomplishment.

My wife's boss gave her two very good seats to the Dodgers game friday night. My dad and I will be in attendance. I was happy to see that Kershaw and not Park was starting.
vr, Xei

24 I remember Lambo in high school. He was easilly the best hitter and was also the second best pitcher (to Agoura's Stoffel) in the Marmonte League. The guy's slugging percentage would drop on singles!

69 Comebacker Kid after the dispropotionatley large number of comebackers he induces? Or how about Blackout describing why he missed the 2006 playoffs.

Dylan Hernandez confirms the Troncoso call-up.

I told ya so. :)

On second thought, Chad should be upgraded to His Royal Thighness.

More from Dylan Hernandez:

>>Because of the lack of pop in the lineup, Torre said that he was seriously considering playing corner infielder Andy LaRoche at second base over the more defensively capable Luis Maza on days Jeff Kent rests.

"You don't want to drop off the offense," Torre said.<<

Seriously considering...?

34 "Has anybody ever been happy with a movie based on their "favorite book?" I say no, and that is not the filmmakers' fault."

"Into the Wild" is one of the books I most treasure, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was happy with the movie. They followed the book faithfully, but more importantly, they got the tone pitch-perfect, which with that book is a very hard thing to do.

But generally, I tend to hate movies based on books I love. As was mentioned above, L.A. Confidential is a tremendous film, but I saw the movie before I read the book. Had it been vice versa, I may well have disliked the film for chucking half the book out the window.

For the Love of the Game would be awesome if it were 35 minutes long and concerned only baseball.

78 I said this in the other thread but I think Torre is sick and tired of losing all of our getaway day games. We have been atrocious in almost all of them for the past couple seasons.

My favorite nickname is easily "Juan for Five"

Is Variety sold at my local supermarket?

78 Ummmm Joe?.....you know you've had a guy who is a marginal defensive plyer, and an above average hitter from noth sides of the plate. He could have played a game or two at second.

81 He makes it sound like a grand revelation.

It's very likely that I'm reading too much into it, though.

83- "both" sides of the plate. Not Noth.

Well done, Jon, Bob, and Alex. I haven't read the rest of the pieces yet, but you three done good. And I never knew Sgt Bilko was named after Steve Bilko.

I found Alex's sidebar more fascinating than his main bar, actually. It's great stumbling upon those moments in non-baseball movies where baseball is used as a plot device. That's my favorite scene in Cuckoo's Nest, and Buster's baseball scene in The Cameraman is one of my favorite movie scenes ever, period. And I loved the way baseball was used constantly, and subtlely, throughout "In the Bedroom" to set the mood. (And I may just be remembering this wrong, but isn't the Sox game heard in the background being pitched by Ramon Martinez?)

Anyway, another tremendous baseball scene in a non-baseball movie comes in Kurosawa's "Stray Dog." The cops are chasing a murderer and they attempt to corner him in the stands at a Yomiuri Giants game. It's a long 20- or 30-minute sequence, tension-filled. Kurosawa filmed the whole thing during an actual Giants game, and sent his actors amongst the real crowd to be filmed, Medium Cool-style.

For some reason this comes to mind... in one of the Raymond Chandler novels, "The High Window," Philip Marlowe is listening to a Dodger game on the radio to pass the time. The catch is, he's in L.A. listening to the Dodger game several years BEFORE the Dodgers left Brooklyn. (The book was published in 1942.) I always wondered whether the Dodgers were actually on the radio in L.A. before they moved, or whether Chandler was just taking some poetic license. But it's a weird coincidence.

70 He's busy being the janitor for Planet Express.

Torre signals Kemp for a return to power approach on the Dodgers site.

I wonder if people will still have these conversations in the future, when all movies are adapted from Powerpoint presentations.

Happy 100th birthday to Billy Werber! The last surviving teammate of former Dodger 1st base coach Babe Ruth. Werber was also a all-american basketball player at Duke at about the same time as John Wooden was an all-american at Purdue.

78
Torre said that he was seriously considering playing corner infielder Andy LaRoche at second base over the more defensively capable Luis Maza on days Jeff Kent rests

I will believe that when I see it (hopefully tomorrow), but that's great news.

69 I thought Beimel was known as "Caveman". That's how I always think of him.

Alex's list is in alphabetical order. And without the overbearing influence of myself and my boss, he would have made a couple different and probaboy more interesting picks.

My Vin story isn't what I would have written for a DT audience, but I hope it's okay. I do cherish my piece on Vin for SI.com last year.

80. Exactly. The subplot with the woman (was it Kelly Preston?) took that movie from pretty good to mediocre.

Fun reading this morning, thanks to all. In 1940s war movies, there often was the stereotypical kid from Brooklyn pining for the Dodgers. I remember one even had a cap--Wake Island maybe? Can't remember.

Rosenthal has decided that the Dodger offense misses...Jones. Plus CC speculation.

http://tinyurl.com/3refkt

0 Kudos to Jon & Co. for their exemplary work.

39 Eric "Some Kind of Wonderful" Stults?

96 I refuse to discuss Rosenthal's nonsense anymore, but I will suggest what it might cost to aquire Sabathia:

1. James McDonald
2. Andy LaRoche
3. HCKuo
4. DeJesus
5. May

Our untouchables remain exactly that, but I could see some combination of the above names tempting Shapiro.

[Shapiro vs. Ned is a no-contest]

98 It would be nice to win this year, but I'm already thinking about 2009. I don't get CC unless I know I have him beyond October, and I don't trade LaRoche or McDonald if I'm GM. I assume the AL East will grab him up anyway.

97 I apologize for my recent typos. My [wife's] computer is dying and the keyboard is going fast. Plus, the sun was in my eyes :)

82 - Is Variety sold at my local supermarket?

Only if your local supermarket happens to be in Culver City next to Sony Pictures.

96 Of all the inane things written by Rosenthal, this is close to the worst.

"Ethier's OPS before Jones went down was .804; since then it's .776. Kemp's OPS was .793 before Jones' injury; since then it's .767.
The decreases might not be dramatic, but they're enough to suggest that both Ethier and Kemp benefited from the competition for playing time that existed when Jones was healthy. Then again, they also could reflect the typical inconsistency of young players."
So the mere presence of Andruw Jones, he of the .543 OPS, contributed to the Dodgers scoring more runs per game? And somehow "motivated" Ethier and Kemp when he was there?

Anyone else notice that our current DL payroll (approx. 73 mil) is higher than 12 teams entire payroll?

I don't know about supermarkets, but Variety is usually at 7-Eleven.

The last time the Dodgers played the Indians was 2003 in Cleveland. The middle game of that series featured the last official 4-inning save in Dodger history, by Wilson Alvarez.

That game also featured Thom Brennaman jumping on his high horse, outraged that future Dodger Milton Bradley would pose and undo his batting gloves after hitting a HR (his 17th major league HR to that point). Paul LoDuca was miked for Fox that day, and while playing first base, mentioned that if (Kevin) "Brownie" was pitching Bradley would take one in the ear.

http://tinyurl.com/2qau2k

The last real 4-inning save was by Jae Weong Seo in his final game as a Dodger in 2006.

102
I think Rosenthal's observation loses some if its significance when stated as "Since Jones went down, both Ethier and Kemp have seen their OPS go down by about 3%."

I know Pierre has been bad, but haven't we seen more production from the outfield collectively since Jones went down (Kemp and Ethier's "decline" notwithstanding)?

Don't know if this was mentioned earlier, but interesting to note that there were 9 series sweeps completed yesterday in baseball, one short of a MLB record. The entire NL Central was swept, except for the Brewers who swept their own series and thus gained 3 (!) games on the entire division.

I expect there to be some talk of Bill Wambsganss this weekend, and not just for his amazingly high consonant concentration in his last name.

I wish someone had the authority to ban Ken Rosenthal from writing or speaking of the Dodgers ever again.

why does it annoy everyone so much what ken writes? if it is so bad, just don't read it.

110
That's too logical to actually work. I have sworn many times never to read Plaschke or Simers, yet every once in a while I get sucked in, and hate myself for it.

110 - Though I don't read Rosenthal, it's bothersome knowing how many others do. That's the issue.

i just don't get it, no one here gives him credibility, yet we continue to discuss what he writes.

113- The issue is that he is published by one of the largest, if not the largest media outlet. This gives his (frankly) idiotic material huge exposure, and by default, mainstream credibility.

Cleveland's offense has struggled just about as much as the Dodgers this year:

Travis Hafner--.217/.326/.350---> he's on the DL.

Victor Martinez--.278/.332/.333

They've also given ABs to these players:
Adrubal Cabrera (158Abs) .184/.282/.247
Franklin Gutierrez (181Abs) .243/.294/.359
Ryan Garko (1st base/225Abs) .258/.346/.378

Kershaw should have no problems tonight.

115 ummm, way to ensure he'll give up at least 5 runs now

115
Martinez is on the DL too.

112/114 - Exactly. I stopped reading him awhile ago. But some others here do, and probably a million other more vulnerable readers outside of DT likely do as well. It's the worry that someone on the Dodgers give his nonsense merit, or that it affects beliefs somehow. He's definitely on my Plaschke list of those I won't read anymore, but then he pops up in the middle of a darned Fox baseball telecast and I'm confronted with him again.

DENSITY! DENSITY! There's no escaping that for me! {toss} {turn}

What happened to Josh Barfield? He's got him self a .678 OPS in AAA right now.

It is interesting that as much as Shapiro is lauded, every time he tries to bring a position player to the organization in the last few years, the guy flames out spectacularly.

Cleveland's likely lineup tonight, and their career numbers vs. LHP:

C - Shoppach - .248/.331/.543
1B - Garko - .316/.406/.511
2B - Carroll - .291/.363/.378 (has started the last 8 games)
3B - Blake - .242/.342/.474
SS - Peralta - .271/.346/.466
LF - Francisco - .308/.333/.462 (only 42 PA)
CF - Sizemore - .242/.329/.398 (the only lefty in their lineup)
RF - Gutierrez - .280/.325/.487

Cleveland's offense has been pretty bad this year, sure, but 7 of their 8 hitters bat righty. If anything, tonight will be their night to score.

117--I didnt realize that. I did read on ESPN that Cleveland traded for nate's favorite player--Sal Fasano.

The Indians look to be done this year.

Hafner, I hate to say it--but you look at how puffy his face looks, and the first thing that comes to my mind is steroid abuser. His drop in power has been incredible, and really at a time when he should be still in his prime. Currently he has a shoulder injury, but even last year was a down year for him.

The Indians have played quite a few really crappy position players this year. If Cliff Lee wasnt having a career season, they may be in dead last in the Central.

If you're bored during the day today, you could always play "Name the Dodger" in this infamous rookie hazing photo (thanks to SoSG):

http://tinyurl.com/52h2d5

There are a few players I don't recognize, and Bison's get-up still disturbs me, but I always get a laugh out of it all.

121
One of the biggest crimes ever was pairing Sal Fasano with the Yankees, so one of the world's great goatees had to go away. Hopefully he will be unfettered in Cleveland.

115 Yeah... if we lose it's your fault.

122 who is batman in that?

Twerp, thanks for the condolences, it is clearly a thing that everyone in the family will forever ask what if. It's especially disconcerting that my own 6 year old has started the pouting behavior and running off to his room. I know it's normal, but you can't help but think about it.

Jon, the Variety deal is really great.

I was looking up splits for Cleveland batters, and David Dellucci (an awful .199/.265/.302 career against LHP btw) somehow has 1 AB facing a 4-2 count. That had to be an umpire error or something, but wouldn't whatever the umpire recognized be the "official count"?

125 - I believe Batman was later ID'd as DJ Houlton.

Not sure who Robin is. I think the Pirate on the right is Jon Meloan.

The Variety things sounds awesome. I'll see if the nearby 7-Eleven has one on my way home from work.

Oh, that's right. I'm done.

Ha ha!
/Phil Ken Sebben

Er, Barbarian on the right that is. The Pirate was Eric Stults. The devil was Eric Hull. Snow White was (I think) Delwyn. Not sure who the Indian chief is.

127
I thought the Pirate was Stults and Robin could be Meloan, but I'm unsure of the hair. Meloan could also be the 2nd Obi Wan (behind Kemp, next to Batman).

129
Indian chief is Abreu.

124--Well, Kershaw could still have a good game and the Dodgers may well lose since Cliff Lee is going. Could be a 3-2 game.

129
I think you're right, the Barbarian is Meloan. Who the hell is Robin then?

LaRoche is the disturbing clown, correct?

134
Aren't all clowns disturbing? But yes, LaRoche is said clown.

130.
The second Obi Wan, kinda looks like Chad.

Indian chief is Abreu I think.

I don't know when the photo was taken, but coudl Robin be Maza?

The Obi Wans look like Broxton and Chad.

The two Obi-Wans are Broxton (L) and Billingsley (R). Meloan's the barbarian, Stults is the pirate, Hull's the devil, which still leaves us wondering who the heck Robin is.

Actually, looking at the roster of the '07 Dodgers, we've identified all the young players on the roster except for Kuo (injured, not on the road trip) and Wilson Valdez. And Robin ain't Valdez. Which means he's probably a non-player.

That is such a disturbing picture. Is there a complete list of everybody?

One bright side for the Dodgers tonight is that in Cliff Lee's last six starts, he has a 5.45 ERA (although his FIP over that time is only 3.61), and opponents are hitting .331/.373/.503.

Who's the sailor?

Robin looks like a shorter Matt Leinart.

143 Crazy Eyes.

I kind of like "Meloan the Barbarian" as a nickname, but Mayday seems so much better.

At least they gave Old Man Saito the most dignified costume.

You think we have trouble at SS. The Indians started the season with A Cabrera the promising young 2nd baseman who impressed so much last Aug/Sept. However he did a Hu impersonation and they were forced to send him to AAA and promote Barefield. Barefield who was once considered the 2nd baseman of the future for the Padres was doing lousy in AAA but they gave him a shot anyway. He quickly got hurt and went on the DL. Now Carrol is their starting 2nd baseman. That would be like starting Ramon Martinez.
On the plus for them it looks like A Cabrera has gotten his swing back at AAA and he should be back in to no time to help.

Not having a healthy or productive Hafner and Martinez are killing this team.

This is a team that could really use LaRoche as Marte failed miserably as their 3rd baseman of the future.

131 "Indian chief is Abreu."

Who? :-/

Funny, SoSG ID'd Chad as one of the "Obi-Wans" but maybe it's hard to tell from the costume whether he's a Jedi or a Robin Hood. I couldn't find a full caption ID'ing everyone directly there; the pic originally came from Chad Billingsley himself.

149
Chad ID'd himself as Robin Hood, but without tights on his own blog last year.

148 Yah, SS problems seems to have infected both Ohio teams.

Still, since our SS was arguably our team's most valuable player in many ways, I still think Furcal's absence was the most devastating. But yeah, the Indians have had major troubles there.

With 16 guys, that has to be one of the largest rookie hazing groups any team's ever had.

148 Good call on the Cabrera/Hu comparison. They are really similar players actually. Future Gold Glove winners who have also shown the ability in the minors to hit fairly decently. And both were awful in the majors this year, awful enough to get sent down even when their team didn't have a viable option to replace them.

150 Right-o. I was looking for that on his blog but couldn't find it. Btw, it's too bad that he stopped posting there after end of last season...

A commenter on one of the Reds' blogs said that Loney, in his gameday picture, looked like a muppet.

154
Since Loney had a base on balls in each of the three games in Cincinnati, the commenter must have thought he was Fozzie Bear. Walka walka walka!

Breaking news out of Toronto: Blue Jays are firing manager Gibbons.

156
Gibbons must not like baseball very much. At least not as much as he likes fighting.

155 ...

156 Buster Olney's prediction last night was spot-on then. Not that he's Nostradamus on that one, mind you. Tough division but they're underachieving.

155 Tee hee.
Bear left.
Right, frog.

Toronto announced they were replacing Gibbons with a Macaque.

Apparently thinking any monkey can do a better job managing that team.

Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all weekend. Tip your wait staff.

160 actually cito gaston

I think it's clear what the Blue Jays should do: acquire Adam Dunn and make him player/manager!

Seriously, there has to be tampering charges filed against Ricciardi, right? Or at least a fine from MLB.

What a great article on Vinny, Jon.

I've played guitar for some 35 years(garage band level), and while I would jump at the chance to meet Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Duane Allman(well...), nothing would give me more pleasure than a chance to shake Vinny's hand.

161 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_World

162 Ricciardi at least apologized today.

I'll be shocked if Ricciardi is still with Toronto by October. Of course, I'm really surprised he's held the job this long, so who knows?

I really should get my brother's copy of 'The Curse of Monkey Island.'

I am willing to call Ned on the postgame show tonight so I am taking suggestions for a question to ask him.

You must read Ken Arneson's piece on Wily Wolff and the Ballpark Factory. The idea of Kempa Loompas are either funny or horrifying.

162 - saying you DON'T want a player on your team is fine, if stupid. It's saying you do that can get you into trouble for contractual interference.

165 - Ricciardi seems to be a mediocrity. He could have probably pulled off a division win by now if he were running a team in the NL Central, say.

167 have yo figuered out juan pierre isn't very good yet?

So far this season has seen 2 GMs fired and 3 managers let go.

Looking at the standings, I don't know if I see any other candidates for in-season moves.

Speaking of primates, did you guys know that some of them are working for Lucasfilm's THX Sound now?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt20TETO-9M

167 Who is Robin?

167 How about something like, are you feeling like being buyers before the trade deadline? And if so what do you think the team needs to make a playoff run (if anything)? Or will the team be patient and wait it, see if Furcal and Jones can come back from their injuries and help...? Something like that if less convoluted.

174 Hah hah.

Or could ask him which player in the minors is considered next in line to be of help to the big club, either as a pitcher or position player.

And: (How) will the team find more playing time for Andy LaRoche?

So long as Hank Steinbrenner runs the Yankees, Cashman and Girardi will always be candidates for in-season firing.

Others would probably include Cecil Cooper, Ned Yost, Jon Daniels, Ron Washington, and Ricciardi.

177 Yeah, I thought about those, Texas and Toronto could be in line for that type of move. But they just hired Cooper and what has Yost done wrong to be canned in Milwaukee?

bh, I'd love to know something about their 2009 plans for second base.

176
I think the LaRoche playing time question is more a Torre question.

178
The commenter "Harvey's Wallbangers" on BTF has been hoping for Yost's ouster for quite some time.

I doubt this would get answered, but "has Tony Abreu played his last game as a Dodger?"

I think Milwaukee is frustrated by having all these great young players and not having won anything yet. They're in third place now. Also, whether it's true or not I don't know, but Yost is seen as the type of manager who's good at shepherding young guys into major league regulars, but not the type of guy who can lead an established team to the playoffs.

180 But Yost's team is hot and in good shape. Whether he's a good mgr or not, or whether some fans want him out or not, is different than the question of his job security. And I'd say it's pretty secure during the season. If they don't make the playoffs then he could be gone though.

184
The Del Harris of baseball?

That should have linked to 182 .

BH & Eric, you guys still on for Kershaw tonight right?

161
I thought you were joking when you brought up Cito Gaston. He really is coming back! Wow. Only seven current managers have a better winning percentage than Cito.

186
Yep. Are you going as well? Awesome.

184 That was my thought too, but I think that could be more Doug Collins or Hubie Brown.

Since tonight is Kershaw's 6th start, we have a few options for the game thread title:

1) Kershaw VI: Clayton Lives
2) Kershaw VI: Cleveland Under Siege
3) On His Majesty's Secret Service

(3) Is clearly the winner here.

190 If it were Milwaukee coming to town:
Clayton Kershaw and the Half-Blood Prince

190 Depending on your point of view.

A) Return of the Minotaur
B) Revenge of the Minotaur

192 - slick.

192 How about The Minotaur and the Lettuce Swilling Prince.

193 - and whether you start counting at four.

196 That's where I start counting

188 we scored some really really good tix for the game bro, I'll stop by.

MVP / VIP

193
Return of the Minotaur definitely works, especially since the club is coming home from a long road trip.

Besides the Dodgers and Indians providing a rematch of the 1920 World Series, here are the other WS rematches this weekend:

1906 - White Sox at Cubs
1939, 1961, 1976 - Reds at Yankees
1946, 1967, 2004 - Cardinals at Red Sox
1984 - Tigers at Padres

190 Minotaur 6: The Curse of Clayton Kershaw.

--

It's a good thing he doesn't have Leonard as part of his name or we'd have to reference a terrible Bill Cosby movie.

Congrats Jon! I really look forward to reading this issue...

201
Quelish!!!

How could I have forgotten one of the greatest bad movies ever???

Probably just repressing all memory of it. Understandable.

204
In Palm Springs, one of the local theaters in would have all-day rates during the week. It was like $6 or something and you could see as many movies as you wanted all day long. Leonard VI was seen under such conditions.

That is a pretty good top ten list. Sorry Marty, I love "The Natural", but I do understand you're frustration. The book was better.

I agree that "For the Love of the Game" is great and maybe should appear in the top ten as well. I don't know if it belongs in the top ten, but "61*", the HBO film that Billy Crystal directed about Maris and Mantle in 1961 is really a great movie if you haven't seen it. I'm not a Yankees fan, of course, but I loved this movie.

I've never seen "Eight Men Out" but what a cast! I gotta see that movie.

GREAT article on Vin Jon. I can't wait to leave work so I can go pick up the magazine....

201 203 I will have to greencine this movie.

You can't have a top ten best list without having a top ten worst list. Fortunately it's rather simple:

1. `Babe' with John Goodman

2. `Babe' with John Goodman

And so on, and so forth...

208
Summer Catch might have to be on there.

What about "Little Big League", "Rookie of the Year", and "Angels in the Outfield"? All classics.

207 Heh. Um, I think our buyer literally refused to get Leonard Part 6. I can ask us to get it though if you think it's worth it.* It's basically in the So Bad It's Good category. Would make a good double feature with Pluto Nash, which I am ashamed to admit I saw in theaters, too. Ugh.

*We do have the I Spy series, though, for good Bill Cosby...

Jon, great stuff in Variety....my brother's 50th birthday is coming up and what a great extra item to add (if I can find a print edition in NC). I really hope your interview with Vin is just a prelude to a bona fide bio or an autobiography in the "as told to" vein.

Also, it bears repeating: Rich Lederer's tribute to his dad at baseballanalysts.com is wonderful, with great links to some Dodger related archival photos.

208 "The Slugger's Wife," "Ed," "Bad News Bears Go to Japan" (and "Breaking Training"), and "Major League II and III" would also have to be on that list.

Unfortunately, John Goodman's "Babe" is not only not the worst baseball movie ever made, it's not even close to being the worst movie about Babe Ruth. The William Bendix disaster goes on the short list of worst movies ever made. (Not worst baseball movies -- worst movies, period.)

Over the years I'm gradually coming around to the notion of accepting Eight Men Out as the greatest baseball movie ever made. It's tremendously entertaining, intelligent, well-directed and acted, historically accurate almost to a fault. Really a fine piece of work.

It's either Eight Men Out or Bull Durham. I'm torn. The only thing I can say with great certainty is that the best baseball movie of all time was made in 1988.

61* is also really good, and oddly underrated. When was the last time anything associated with the Yankees could be said to be underrated?

Pride of the Yankees just doesn't hold up as well as it once did. Except for the Teresa Wright parts, of course.

When I was a little kid I really used to like "Tiger Town" with Roy Scheider. You don't hear about that movie very much anymore.

I agree with Eric, my top list starts with: Bull Durham and Eight Men Out.
I really liked 61* as well.

And Pride of the Yankees is, alas, pretty dated, though it still has a certain charm and can make a man tear up.

I'm still partial to Major League. I don't know about the cinematography, but it's so rewatchable.

Eight Men Out and Bull Durham are great as well.

And I liked Field of Dreams even though it had Joe Jackson batting right handed. Ray having a catch with his dad makes me tear up every time.

I like the Natural too because I saw it when I was young and knew nothing of the book, so I was oblivious to the different ending.

213
Also, please don't lump together Major League II & III. Two is alright, if only for the implausible "I want Parkman!" moment.

Here's a non-baseball movie with a baseball scene that I've always enjoyed:

"Better Off Dead" with John Cusack

This is the best baseball scene ever;)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=x-S-eeInJVk

216 i actually liked 2 more that 1, but 3 is easily the worst baseball movie made, i liked little big league too, maybe becuase they used real players. However, there is a scene we're paul o neill makes the last out of an inning and ends up hitting 3rd in the next inning.

Almost every Spike Lee movie has some good baseball reference points in it. The prison yard ballgame in Malcolm X, Spike wearing Jackie's jersey in "Do the Right Thing," the bathroom mirror scene in "25th Hour." But probably the best one was in "Summer of Sam" where one of the characters becomes convinced that Reggie Jackson is the Son of Sam.

Rookie Of the Year and Little Big league were both fun movies. Major League is a classic. Part II was ok, part III never happened.

8 Men out is really great, except for the actor who played Rothstien. He was way to cartoony, which is John Sales letting his contempt of fat capitalists become too literal.

220 Or the racially charged Willie Mays v. Micky Mantle argument.

I can't believe non of you guys liked "Cobb" I dont know maybe I'm biased cause I read Stump's book or something.

The Natural is rock 'n roll all the way I'm scratching my head on why Marty dose not like.

221 That was Michael Lerner of Barton Fink fame. I didn't have a problem with his performance in Eight Men Out.

Mariners outfield hopeful makes splash in Triple A

>> • NOTES -- 51s reliever Ramon Troncoso will be called up today by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander is 4-0 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 appearances for the 51s this season. ... Las Vegas third baseman Terry Tiffee continued his hot hitting, going 4-for-5 to raise his Pacific Coast League-leading average to .412. <<

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/20595924.html

I figured we were long overdue for a movie chat day. :)
vr, Xei

223 I'm biased against "Cobb" in part because Al Stump's book is essentially a work of fiction. The movie was OK, but it would have been much more interesting if it had focused on the young Ty Cobb, with all his rage and intelligence and contradictions, instead of the neurotic, drunken maniac he became in old age.

Xei's world must be spinning. It's movie chat day and he can't even complain that it's not baseball-related. ;)

224 Rothstien was far from the sloppy, fat oaf that Lerner portrayed. I would have preferred something different, but it is a great film. D.B Sweeney as Shoe less Joe was fantastic.

227 hell yeah that would have been better... I dig it.

Is Troncoso's future in the bullpen? I think he could be a great starter. Another Fausto Carmona, only with more heat.

Sometimes, I'm convinced that what binds this community together, even more than love of Dodger baseball, is a devotion to Theresa Wright that is non-existent any in other slice of the human population, and that includes any Theresa Wright fanclubs.

214 In my defense, I haven't seen the Bendix version since I was a little kid.

Agree completely about Bull Durham and Eight Men Out. The book of EMO was pretty great, also.

Was Soul of the Game on the top ten list?

Have you guys seen the Radio Days scene? Must see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhEVv4TvHdM

232 One of the great things about Teresa Wright was the way she refused to be buttonholed into the eye-candy persona the studios wanted to create for her. According to Wikipedia, she had the following clause inserted into her contract:

"The aforementioned Teresa Wright shall not be required to pose for photographs in a bathing suit unless she is in the water. Neither may she be photographed running on the beach with her hair flying in the wind. Nor may she pose in any of the following situations: In shorts, playing with a cocker spaniel; digging in a garden; whipping up a meal; attired in firecrackers and holding skyrockets for the Fourth of July; looking insinuatingly at a turkey for Thanksgiving; wearing a bunny cap with long ears for Easter; twinkling on prop snow in a skiing outfit while a fan blows her scarf; assuming an athletic stance while pretending to hit something with a bow and arrow."

235. My favorite clause is the no photographs while playing with cocker spaniels.

235 "looking insinuatingly at a turkey for Thanksgiving" !

234 Speaking of Woody Allen, there's also this classic sequence from "Play It Again, Sam":

Diane: What were you thinking about while we were doing it?
Woody: Willie Mays.
Diane: I wondered why you kept yelling, "Slide!"

218

That was Dodger Stadium, right?

Speaking of Eight Men Out, I just took a lunch break and happened to notice this while reading the copy of SI that I received yesterday via snail mail:

For The Record

>> Died
At age 88 of complications of pneumonia, Eliot Asinof (below, front row middle), the author of Eight Men Out and several other sports books. Asinof, who played first base in the Phillies' minor league system before serving in World War II, published his account of the 1919 Black Sox scandal in '63. In '88 Eight Men Out was made into a movie starring John Cusack and Charlie Sheen, and in 2002 SI ranked it as one of the top 50 sports books of all time. <<

http://tinyurl.com/6ddvsh

209-I agree.

Summer Catch was dreadful.

Its too bad Mel Allen wasted his time on a bad flick, bc he was the only thing good about the movie. That, and Jessica Beil in the swimming pool.

217 The scene with the kid flying off the mountain on his bike(?) while yelling `I want my two dollars...!'.

8 men out was very good.
I think the best role in that movie was played by the lead reporter--I think it was John Sayles who actually directed the movie.

Okay, I cheated. I had to look at Alex's piece on baseball in non-baseball movies, because I'm fascinated when that happens. He missed two huge examples from the glorious 1960s:

That Touch of Mink with Doris Day and Cary Grant has a scene where Cary, who is wealthy and powerful, takes Doris to a game at Yankee Stadium, their seats in the dugout. Doris has a fit over a bad umpire call, which results in both Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris getting tossed out. Mantle and Maris and I believe one other Yankee player, play themselves. It's from 1962, when the M&M boys dominated baseball.

Also from 1962, Experiment in Terror, directed by Blake Edwards but not a comedy, features Lee Remick and Stephanie Powers as the victim of a really creepy stalker/bank robber portrayed by Ross Martin of subsequent "Wild, Wild West" fame. The climatic scene takes place during a Giants game in what must have been the brand-new Candlestick Park. Glenn Ford plays an FBI agent. It's beautifully shot in B&W and Lee Remick is at her most beautiful.

Also, less memorably, I believe the Miracle Mets' '69 season was a major plot device in the Dennis Quaid supernatural/time travel murder mystery, Frequency. You don't see any games as I recall, but you hear radio broadcasts.

1. Eight Men Out - Hands down. There are many reasons, but the biggest is that scene where John Cusack talks to the kids about hitting. "Damn if you don't feel like you're going to live forever"

2. Bull Durham

3. Long Gone Loved it as a teenager and sorely need it for my DVD collection. I can't see Dermott Mulroney without thinking "Jamie Don Weeks" and I can't watch CSI without thinking of Stud Cantrell's rules.

Y'all are right, I shouldn't have lumped Major League II in with III. Three is the atrocious one. II is much better, or at least halfway decent, though I still prefer the first.

--

I always liked Woody's stand up comedy bit about the therapy softball league he was in, the neurotics vs. the bedwetters. "I used to steal second base, and then feel guilty and go back."

244 Yeah, the casting of that movie was pretty phenomenal. There is probably nobody in Hollywood who looks as much like Ring Lardner as John Sayles. So that was a nice coincidence. And Studs Terkel as Hugh Fullerton was ingenious.

The only thing is, Richard Edson, who played Billy Maharg in the film, looks exactly like the real Abe Attell, while the actor who played Attell looks exactly like Maharg. I always wondered if they accidentally mixed those two up in the casting.

244 Indeed it was Sayles. (Alongside Studs Terkel.)

246 I was so irritated that one wasn't on DVD I wrote to HBO and asked them why, and never got a response.

Does anyone know how Fever Pitch was supposed to end?

I heard that the writers had one ending already written---> and they were shooting, only to happen that the Red Sox ended up winning the real World Series and it messed things up.

You can really tell from the film how the ending is thrown together at the last minute. I would have liked to see how the real ending went:

Probably the Red Sox losing, and Jimmy Fallon realizing he's not that disappointed bc he now has another interest in his life--Drew Barrymore.

Would I be subjected to rule 1 violations if I asked why Theresa Wright is a favorite here?
I just don't get it.

Was `Alibi Ike' the Joe E. Brown movie where Brown did the Pete Townsend-like windmill windup? I loved that as a kid!

251 Spunk.

223 - The most common charges against The Natural are

1) its lugubrious sentimentality
2) its emotional manipulation
3) its ham-fisted writing.

Roger Ebert wrote a pretty good review of this film and its manifold flaws:

http://tinyurl.com/63d9hs

I saw it once. That was enough.

Fair enough.
Personally, I've never been a big fan of spunk.
You guys(and gals)are cool though.

Does anyone remember the use of Natural interspliced with Gibby's home run prior to Game 2 of the 1988 World Series?

I have never seen it again but I remember it down to arm pumps.

255 - It wasn't just spunk. She was kind of easy on the eyes.

242 if freedie prinze's charecter was played by jessica alba, than we'd have a good movie.

If I can somehow avoid attending the estimable Strawberry Days carnival tonight, it will be family movie night and I think it's time to pull the plastic off Pride of the Yankees. I try to throw a baseball movie into the mix every few weeks. My kids, especially my 7 year old daughters actually really enjoyed A League of Their Own a few weeks ago.

256 Fortunately I still have my old VHS recording of that. Although I guess I can finally get rid of it once I plunk down the bucks for the 88 WS DVD set. I assume it's on there.

Also, confession time. I admit to not only enjoying, but watching repeatedly, the video of Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" accompanied by the Dodgers World Series highlights. (It was shown at the end of the NBC Game 5 telecast.)

250 - Fever Pitch was based on a British novel of the same name (and a 1997 film also of the same name); the original had his team losing. As the 2004 Red Sox storyline unfolded, though, they decided to run with it.

256 I think that might be on the official 1988 World Series video. I'll have to find and dust off the tape and see if our VCR still works. I might just watch my old tape of game 5 while I'm at it!

239 Yes, Los Angeles Angels of Dodger Stadium.

244 John Sayles. I spelled it Sales. Woops. Anyway, he tends to direct his bad guys in an over the top fashion, which was my only problem with 8 Men Out. Does anyone remember the scene with the ad on the wall for "Harry kurkjian" something or other? I always wondered if there was a connection to Tim Kurjian, but I don't think there was. Anyone know?

254 Redford has a kind of Kobe Bryant affect on people. Some think he is the greatest. Others see him as well, a lot of what you just pointed out.

260 I have that and I didn't see it on the DVD.

257 I was hoping for a MTM quote, no question very easy on the eyes.

IMDB: "In the final scene, Joe Jackson is playing for a minor league team in New Jersey in 1925. On the outfield wall there is an ad for Harry Kurkjian confections. He was a real merchant that worked in nearby Queens NY during the '20s and '30s."

Here's another vote for Eight Men Out.

Not only is it a great story, but the baseball scenes don't suck. The actors look like they might actually play baseball. It's a streetwise movie, a little bit radical, funny in parts, but also a kind of muted tearjerker.

263 I'm always amused when people complain about in-stadium advertising. As if nobody in the good old days was ever offered a free suit for hitting a sign on the outfield wall.

I think whats amazing about old time baseball players is that many had regular jobs in the off-season.

257 Aha, so the truth comes out.

"The Natural" strikes me as what you'd get if a Frenchman wrote a baseball movie. It's just off. I have no problem with Redford or (especially not) Kim Basinger. It's just so weird in its view of baseball, I can't get past that to enjoy the drama, which also seems hokey anyway.

OT ;)--Today in baseball history notes that in 1994 the Detroit Tigers string of 25 straight games in which a player hit a HR ended. Their streak tied the '41 Yankees.

Will the Dodgers ever approach a record like that? Seems like that apart from some of the 70s teams, ever since coming to LA pitching traditionally has been the overall strength with the offense not doing so well.

In other recent today in baseball mentions (I couldn't comment on June 10, when these appeared)--in 1994, at 15 years 10 months, Joe Nuxhall became the youngest player ever in the majors when he pitched 2/3 of an inning for the Reds in an 18-0 loss to the Cardinals. Is it even possible for something like that to happen now? The player age, that is. I'd think the current Reds are capable of losing by just about any score. :)

And on June 10, 1997, old friend Kevin Brown tossed a no-no for the Marlins, keeping himself from a perfecto by hitting a batter in the 8th. Not putting Brown down at all, but if you had to think of a pitcher to have that outcome, somehow it kinda makes sense it'd be him.

264 - I'm neutral on Redford as an actor. After The Sting he started to believe his own press clippings.

272--I get the same vibe. Its difficult IMO to make baseball movie "majestic".

Some of Robert Redford's stuff works: A River Runs Through It is a tremendous movie.

But I dont think his style is really cut out to make a baseball movie.

269 I really liked the rather ghostly player's images on the DS walls back in, what, '00? The next year they were whiter, and more distracting. The ads on the wall now are really annoying in contrast.

One thing about Teresa Wright is that she knew absolutely nothing about baseball when Pride of the Yankees was made. She couldn't have even told you which guy on the field the pitcher was. It continued thusly for 50 years. But then the Yankees invited her to a special ceremony at Yankee Stadium (I believe it was marking the 50th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's death). She was in her eighties, it was the first ballgame she'd ever attended, and she found that she enjoyed it very much, even though she couldn't follow what was going on very well.

By the time I met her a few years later, she had become a really passionate baseball fan -- the type who never misses a game. But as a new fan, she was still catching up on some of the subtler aspects of the game. She would pepper me with questions like why is 2-1 a good count to pull a hit-and-run play, or how do the second baseman and shortstop decide which of them will cover the base on a steal attempt.

Here's hoping Redford doesn't screw up the Jackie Robinson biopic. Although I'm guessing he will.

256
I don't remember seeing that on TV, mostly because I was at the game (thrusts arms in air, looking around office to see if anyone says anything).

278 Ug. Such an interesting story, I wish it was in the hands of someone else.

278 I'm thinking he knows better.

277 - You'll write that up for our next issue.

273 One of the reasons the 70s and early 80s teams have such rabid fans is their power. The Dodgers did "have a record like" the Tigers in 1977, when they were the first team with four players who hit 30 or more home runs: Cey, Garvey, Smith and Baker. Seemed like that team buried the memory of the "Koufax pitched a no-hitter...did we win?" era. Not for long.

My wife just e-mailed me with a reminder that we're watching Disney's Camp Rock tonight. (I love my kids. I love my kids. I love my kids. Serenity now. Serenity now. It's all worth it).

There, I'm okay now.

272 - It would be interesting if Joris Bert were to write a blog.

278 - I really doubt, Redford's involvement aside, that picture gets made anymore. And mainly because of Redford's involvement. He's just getting too old to make movies.

286 Tell it to Sidney Lumet.

I see what you mean, though. Like George Lucas, Redford seems to have lost whatever passion he once had for his work, and now he's just going through the motions.

273 in 1994, at 15 years 10 months, Joe Nuxhall became the youngest player ever in the majors when he pitched 2/3 of an inning for the Reds in an 18-0 loss to the Cardinals. Is it even possible for something like that to happen now? The player age, that is.

You, of course, meant 1944. And we would probably need to be involved in a war. And there would need to be a draft.

61 You must have been the only one who listened to my request! I doubt it'll catch on, but I still like it.

287 Redford became a narcissist. He couldn't be in a movie unless he looked like a Superman of Virtue in it. Even in that horrible movie he made with Demi Moore, when he offers Woody Harrelson $1 million to let him sleep with her, he ends up being, deep down, a heckuva guy.

288--I doubt something like that could happen because dont players have to be at least 16 to even sign?

Its not out of the realm of possibility there could be a 15yr old capable of pitchign in the major leagues, but I doubt they'll ever be allowed.

Freddy Adu was pretty young when started playing Pro Soccer.

Lebron could have played in the NBA at 15 maybe.

290 An alleged re-write that many people felt ruined the film.

Amusing stuff over at ITD.

"I was just over at the Dodger thoughts blog that Josh keeps talking about, I would say it is pretty tame and nobody really bashing on the real problem with the Dodgers management, but then again I was only spot reading the posts. No wonder Josh pushes it.... Not much controversy over there."

276

I think I counted over 70 ads in Dodger Stadium from the Top Deck

Some of them were double placement

293 Lord. "Spot reading" indeed.

Btw, Redford was not planning on directing the Jackie Robinson film. Although I think he was going to play Branch Rickey, at least at one point. Last I'd heard Thomas Howard was the director. IF it gets made at all.

291 >> 288--I doubt something like that could happen because dont players have to be at least 16 to even sign? <<

That's true, but the point was that so many of our young men were in the military during WW2 that even if such a rule existed it would likely have been waived. So we would need to find ourselves in that predicament again, which is highly unlikely.

The rule also didn't stop Adrian Beltre and Wilson Betemit from playing pro ball at 15.

293 - It has been over a week since I wrote about Ned Colletti, after all.

It's funny how they used the word "bashing" there - which aptly describes what grows tiresome of some of the comments over there.

293 Problem with the Dodgers management? What problem? C'mon!

290 Go ahead and slam me, but I thought he was pretty good in An Unfinished Life'. Co-starring alongside Morgan Freeman never hurts.

I had forgotten he is playing Bill Bryson in `A Walk in th Woods'. Now that is weird casting!

NPUT

What a day! I was scheduled to go to the Cine Expo on the back lot of Universal Studios when I found out about the Dodgers star ceremony in front of the Kodak Theater. So I parked at the Carl Laemmle building at the studio then walked out of the lot and down the street to hop on a Red Line train to Hollywood and Highland. Got to shake hands with Frank McCourt and see lots of old timers including Don Newcombe, Maury Wills, Lou Johnson, Manny Mota, Jerry Reuss, Ron Cey, Tom Lasorda, Vin Scully, Eric Karros, Fernando Valenzuela, Mariano Duncan and a few others. The current Dodgers were represented by Blake DeWitt and Andre Eithier. Of course Joe Torre was there too.
After Vinny gave the initial speech of the ceremony, he said something about being fair skinned and did not want to turn into cinders so he left. Lasorda, Torre, and the McCourts also spoke.
After it ended, I walked a couple doors down the street and jumped back on the subway to Universal.
The Cine Expo, which continues on Saturday, is a trade show that features just about everything needed to make a movie or television production. I'm not in the industry but enjoy seeing what is going on and always end up with a bag full of goodies including lots of magazines and brochures plus some free hats and other stuff.
There was a huge pile of the Friday edition of Variety so of course I grabbed one. Until reading this blog, I had no idea that it was a special Dodger edition. Thanks for the heads up. After I post this, I am going to kick back and read your story and all the others.
By the way, it was very cool to stroll along the back lot where so many great movies were filmed while learning new things, drinking free beers and waters, and meeting new people. A few photos of my day can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/8534246@N03/sets/72157605726434538/