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[Twolanerider]

At least it's not the general election or candidate discussions.  This is actually philosophically significant to the American landscape.

Prior disclosure:  I'm a Dodgers fan.  I was a kid in southern California.  First ball game I ever saw at the park was a pre-season game at the then new Angels stadium in I think 1966.  Dodgers were playing the Angels in a sort of regional bragging rights late preseason game.  Koufax threw.  Maury Wills stole a base and Willie Davis and Johnny Roseboro each homered.

The family lived in Orange County.  Less than a half hour from Angels Stadium.  But it's everything about The Dodgers that I remember.  An Angels fan too.  Those two are my teams.  But I'd bleed Dodger blue.

At beginning of play tonight they are tied for the division lead.  Tied for first place.  Two games under .500 at 48-50.  It's embarassing.

I've never been wild about the third division and wild card.  Though the extra layer of contention has been interesting some years.  But in years when a division is as weak as the NL West is now it's ugly.

A team that can't win more games than it loses shouldn't be allowed to progress to championship rounds.  Playoff bracketing should be best record versus worst. So 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3.  If the fourth place seed can't even break even over the season the #1 seed should get a bye.  It even adds incentive to teams that have their divisions locked up to keep playing hard until the end.

Sorry for the tangent.  Just bummed to see my guys doing do so badly well right now that they're actually tied for first place while still not being very good.

[Fired00d]

My Brotha you need another beer/drink and call a school teacher over to make you forget about baseball.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Twolanerider]

My Brotha you need another beer/drink and call a school teacher over to make you forget about baseball.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

It has been a weird few days....

[Lucky Rick]

Baseball.... baseball....there's no crying in baseball. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Reading your post brought up a memory from long ago.  1st ball game I remember attending, 1959.  (7 years young ) Cardinals against the Phillies at "old" Busch Statium.  1st inning Richie Ashburn hits one over the right field fence.  Phillies up 1 zip. Bottom of the 1st, Stan "the man' Musial hits one over the right field scoreboard and on to Grant Ave.  Tie game.  I don't know who won the game but my dad and brothers were happy, so I was happy too.  Been a Cardinal fan ever since. Cards got beat tonight on ESPN.  Thanks for jogging the gray matter.

[J-Carr]

Well Don, I'm sure I'd agree with you if I could muster up enough emotion to even care a little bit.  I'm tired of routing for a uniform.  Because there is no team anymore in any professional sports.  I grew up 7 miles from the Vet in Philly.  My dad had season tickets and we ent to many a game in the 70's as the Phills moved from perenial cellar dwellers to World Series Champs.  But it was the same guys year after year, building a team. And yes I remember that Pete Rose was a REd, but it was a trade, and it was rare to see high caliber players moving from one team to another, and certainly not every contract like these cheating whiners do today.  Free Agency, Steriods, Re-Alignment, Gambling, Drugs, Expansion, Media Circuses about who's cheating on who... You can keep the lot of it.  I'll spend the time I used to watch baseball, football, hockey and racing on my Nemo, in the wind.  Now everything's all better.

Ride Safe,
J-Carr

[naitram]

Don,

we live in an age where kids are taught that everyone is a winner. we dont keep score a youth soccer games, everyone gets a trophy. having a winning record is no longer required to be considered succesfull.

you think baseball is bad wait until this crop of kids is running the country....

[miker]

I enjoyed the last spring training game at Dodgertown in Vero Beach this year.  They will be missed and what a ball field. You could get a seat under a shade tree, the only place like.  The Dodgerdog gave me agita but it was tasty.

I take time off in the spring and ride to seveal team sites around Florida to catch a game.  We are lucky to have the Cards here, great fans and nice folks...Of course my 2 time woild Champeen Marlins are always a joy.  Prices are right.

Too bad the scent of a fine cigar can no longer be part of the popcorn and stale beer odors of my youth I recall from many wasted afternoons at Fenway.

[iski]

No major league teams where I am from until I was a little older.  Was a Ranger fan for a while but not so much now.  Not interested, basically since the game has changed so much from the way it seemed to be in years past.  Still enjoy going to the occasional game but usually not concerned about who wins/loses.


2LBR - never been a Dodgers fan myself.  But now you are blue on the board.  Dodgers are still blue unless I missed something?  So you should be relishing your new blue status here! Have known a few Dodger fans through the years. Wonder if they will ever move back to Brooklyn?  Getting less likely as years roll on.....   

[Twolanerider]

Don,

we live in an age where kids are taught that everyone is a winner. we dont keep score a youth soccer games, everyone gets a trophy. having a winning record is no longer required to be considered succesfull.

you think baseball is bad wait until this crop of kids is running the country....

I didn't know that.  Parker's junior soccer they kept score.  She's doing this competitive cheerleading thing and they sure as hell keep score.  Damn near cut throat for the girls a little older.

Competition with winners and losers need not be venal or demeaning to still be instructive and suggestive of the benefits of effort and performance.  I didn't have a clue that competition for its sake was now generationally belittled.  That's a little frightening.