Baseball

‘We all joke about race in here. But there are things said off the cuff that I don’t interpret as being funny. They are funny to him and [comedian] Jeff Foxworthy, but not to Milton Bradley.’ — Milton Bradley, speaking about the Dodger clubhouse and referring to Jeff Kent

It’s the last few weeks of minor league baseball season. Both the Stockton Ports and the Sacramento River Cats are in first place in their divisions! There are only a few more home games left in the season. I’d love to go to one or a couple of these games (I’ve never been to see either of these teams) — these are the only ones that I can attend. I’d be happy to drive if someone wanted to come along…

I had a dream that Luis Gonzalez was up to bat for the D’Backs against the Dodgers. The D’Backs were already winning 9-0. (When I fell asleep, in real life the D’Backs were winning 3-2 in the 7th. They won the game by the same score.) There was a man on second, and Luis Gonzalez hit a ground-rule double to straightaway center, scoring the other guy, making it 10-0. As he trotted around the bases he raises his arms and…

The Sox beat the Devil Rays 3-1 last Sunday. Fenway is easily the greatest ballpark that I’ve ever been to. They really don’t make ’em like this anymore. The atmosphere was, as Martin said, similar to that of a street fair. And it wasn’t even that big of a game (Tampa Bay’s not that good). But there was a sellout crowd of 33,000+ ! (It’s a tiny ballpark.) Enjoy the photos and the one silent movie clip here.

Fenway Park is officially the greatest baseball stadium ever. Pics and some short movie clips tomorrow. Back in NYC now. Must sleep. Off to DC tomorrow for a day to accompany Sarmad to get a new passport.

How beautiful.

Is there anything better than sitting at home on a lazy Sunday with Vin Scully’s voice live from Dodger Stadium filling up my empty room? (Ok, it’s an exhibition game, but still.) When I was a kid, it was over a clock radio from my bedroom in Santa Monica. Now, I pay $15 a season and can hear it anywhere I have an Internet connection. Amazing. Will be off watching the Boston Red Sox against the Yanks tonight, for baseball’s…

WashPost on former Dodgers and Senators slugger Frank “Hondo” Howard: Former Senators shortstop Eddie Brinkman, Howard’s best friend and roommate on road trips, recalls the 15 feet of bald space where Howard paced in left field. “We had a lot of pop-ups between us,” says Brinkman, recalling the time he ran back tracking a shallow fly, expecting Howard to call him off. He kept going and still heard nothing. Finally he caught the ball five feet in front of Howard’s…

LA Times: Exactly where in Anaheim is Los Angeles? In a quest for dollars, and at the edge of geographic absurdity, the Anaheim Angels Ñ formerly known as the California Angels and Los Angeles Angels Ñ said Monday they would now call themselves the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The move drew ridicule on national radio shows and scorn from the Dodgers, provoked outrage from Orange County fans opposed to the change and prompted a stern message from the city…

LA Times: Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta expressed disappointment, but he immediately moved on, closing in on a three-team trade that would send right fielder Shawn Green, starting pitcher Brad Penny and reliever Yhency Brazoban to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pitcher Randy Johnson, the five-time Cy Young Award winner, would go from Arizona to the New York Yankees, who would send starter Javier Vazquez and two highly regarded minor leaguers to the Dodgers. Bill Plaschke rips Frank McCourt a new one:…