tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1906177506270662832..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Open letter from a Dodger fanBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45944770141416714562019-11-08T15:35:07.195-08:002019-11-08T15:35:07.195-08:00.
I went to my first (Brewers) game this season i...<br />.<br /><br />I went to my first (Brewers) game this season in over a decade.....and realize that there was a reason I hadn't been to a game in so long (and I had been a (relatively) regular visitor prior to this last 10 or 12 years).<br /><br />The game is WAY too slow (though why that didn't seem to bother me (too much) before is somewhat confusing.....could it be this 'shrinking attention span' thing I've been hearing about for so many years?).<br /><br />And the one thing I've been saying for YEARS that they could do to help speed the games up, is something I KNOW they will never, EVER do. Simply, make each and every batter STAY IN THE BATTER'S BOX BETWEEN PITCHES!!! I am SO sick and tired of watching EVERY single batter step out of the box between EVERY single pitch, and then prance, preen, swing their bat a few hundred times, before FINALLY stepping back in (seemingly) five minutes later!!<br /><br />Pair that with a STRICT pitch clock (15 seconds? 20 seconds? 30 seconds?), that resets after every pitch, which requires the pitcher to throw his next pitch before expiring (or, if he fails, the batter then gets first base.<br /><br />Yes, there would be a few exceptions, but only a FEW. Obviously, if the batter gets struck by a pitch, has a SIGNIFICANT wardrobe/equipment malfunction, or has something else happen (something in his eye, for instance) that can be VERIFIED, he then can step out, but only for a maximum of, say, 30 seconds. If he's not back in the box by that time, he's out (unless he's really hurt, but then that REQUIRES that he leave the game....and, obviously, cannot return).<br /><br />I know, I know......WAY too drastic. But if the "national pastime" doesn't start making some serious changes to speed the tempo of games up DRASTICALLY, their sport is going to fall even FURTHER behind in popularity than it already has (I think MOST would agree that (in this country, anyway) the NFL is now "king").<br /><br />.msdemoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01925950306739697218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51966952153756684052018-11-05T20:57:18.332-08:002018-11-05T20:57:18.332-08:00Barbara McCaskey
Salt Lake City (Home of the Bees-...Barbara McCaskey<br />Salt Lake City (Home of the Bees--where I got hit in the face with a baseball and spent 6 days in the hospital..Ah, memories.)<br /><br />Barbara McCaskeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89105332771401706982018-11-05T20:50:20.364-08:002018-11-05T20:50:20.364-08:00<br />Brinkman fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42528708167091233052018-11-05T20:44:53.465-08:002018-11-05T20:44:53.465-08:00I love baseball. My favorite memories are of my f...I love baseball. My favorite memories are of my family going to Griffith stadium in D.C. to watch Harmon Killebrew. I think tickets (good tickets) were about $2. Then the owner took MY team away and moved them to Minneapolis. BUT that was ok because we got a new team led by Frank Howard (rookie of the year and a former Dodger). When I get talking baseball, I tell people that my favorite player was Eddie Brinkman! Ever heard of him? He was the Senators outstanding shortstop and he came up to Frank Howard's shoulders. (I loved Frank Howard, too.) I grew up rooting for the Washington Senators. I was in tears when they left for Texas. At RFK I watched Fred Valentine bat for probably 15 or 20 minutes hitting foul balls, over and over again. He wasn't famous but I remember him. I moved west, but I have (and always will be) a Senators/Nationals fan. It was a happy day when baseball came back to D.C. My two dreams have been to see the Nationals play in their "new" stadium and to go to the baseball Hall of Fame. Two or three years ago, (Dodger fans will remember), I was back east visiting family when the Nationals and Dodgers played the 7th game of their series. We rearranged plans, got tickets to the game and went to my first game at Nationals stadium, which they lost to the Dodgers. I walked around the stadium in a dream. Baseball had come home! This past fall my son, cousin, and I went to D.C. and caught two games against the Cardinals. It was great! We then drove to the Hall of Fame, which celebrates all of baseball, not just the excellent players. The last game of this past season, Bryce Harper was in tears at the end of the game. I think that Washington means something to him. He might leave, after all a lot of money is a lot of money and their agents make a lot of money, too. I think some of your criticisms of baseball are legitimate. (I don't know about the Dodgers, etc. I have never been there.) But I have been to Griffith stadium, RFK, Nationals Park, Mariners stadium, Ranger stadium and the Houston Astro's stadium.(and many minor league parks.) It is expensive. In Seattle, there used to be a very nice bus system that you could take directly to Safeco field and not have to worry about parking, but then unions or the city or whatever took it away. If you take the city bus, you still have to walk several blocks, which is hard on the elderly, or the handicapped. Whatever MLB does or does not do in the future is out of our hands, but they can never take my memories away.Brinkman fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923105627950039653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8547249412766193142018-11-03T19:15:13.919-07:002018-11-03T19:15:13.919-07:00Ken,
I was at a Dodgers game back in April and I ...Ken,<br /><br />I was at a Dodgers game back in April and I actually emailed you a link to an article about the possibility of the Dodgers building a new stadium. You replied, "No! NEVER!"<br /><br />It's obvious that you saw the same things that I saw that night. The parking situation is an absolute nightmare! The stadium feels old and worn down. It's now the third oldest stadium in Major League Baseball but it's well behind Wrigley and Fenway in terms of history so I don't see that as being an obstacle.<br /><br />The stadium holds a special place in the hearts of many fans but so did many other stadiums that have been replaced with much better more fan friendly parks. Dodger fans deserve to be treated better than this!Bill Kellihernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3548317940869453622018-11-01T15:38:52.027-07:002018-11-01T15:38:52.027-07:00Don't be misled by the attendance numbers Ken....Don't be misled by the attendance numbers Ken. The explosion of the entertainment industry as well as the sports entertainment industry had led to the diminished fan base for MLB. The NFL, NBA and NHL were all in their growing years and have exploded onto the scene since the early 1980's. There are an infinite number of ways to find entertainment these days. Back in the 60' and 70's baseball was really all there was for the crowds to gather. The movie industry hadn't yet exploded onto the scene either.<br /><br />Secondly, baseball has done a very poor job of marketing itself. And, baseball simply does not have the excitement that other sports have to offer. Face it...even a grand slam in the World Series is not that exciting. <br /><br />Once the NFL and NBA began to surface as fast paced and high scoring sports, baseball began to fade quickly. Moreover, the attendance numbers are misleading from the get go. Baseball teams have huge stadiums, and play 162 games each season. Way too many games for the common fan. It's fan base should be declining. <br /><br />Don't blame the players or management. The stadiums are better than ever, the players far more skilled than ever before. Parking, traffic jams, and the cost of a Coke are not the reasons for its steady decline. There is no proof high salaries has caused the decline. The average fan can afford to go to games.<br /><br />Bottom line is that baseball is not as attractive to those who seek sports entertainment as the many other options available. So, take it for what it is. That will never change.<br /><br />The clock keeps spinning. The times, they are a changin'. You are living in the past...<br /><br />Scott Wagner<br />Punta del Este UruguayScott Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898354377077734392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90311967937943748722018-11-01T14:00:34.336-07:002018-11-01T14:00:34.336-07:00And mork's got it right--just too many damned ...And mork's got it right--just too many damned ads! It's really not necessary to have an advert in between pitches. Bad enough that taxpayers pay billions for malls that incidentally have a diamond somewhere around, but the constant bombardment is too much. What, they don't get enough dough from a $17 cup of beer? Heck, for $9 you can get a couple of cases of Coke!mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24431651127526254902018-11-01T13:40:31.252-07:002018-11-01T13:40:31.252-07:00Precisely that--it's the numbers to the exclus...Precisely that--it's the numbers to the exclusion of all else that is hurting. And the greed, greed, greed. You notice how everything now has to be 'the best ever?' So many teams have the computers tell the front office geeks what to do, then they tell the young manager what to do and they do it. That's the way the leaves are shakin these days, but it sure ain't as much fun.mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25205687274202410652018-11-01T11:52:22.765-07:002018-11-01T11:52:22.765-07:00Well, I see a lot of hurt and angry Dodger fans re...Well, I see a lot of hurt and angry Dodger fans responding to your hurt and anger. I'll agree that your language was a bit 'salty'- more than necessary, in my not-very-humble opinion. But I saw very little in the comments about what I see as the basic problem, and something you hit on. Basically, who are these guys playing the game? <br />Yes, we've always had trades, but everyone seems to be hired guns. I'm a Milwaukee Brewer fan, for two main reasons- I live in Wisconsin, and Bob Uecker. The Brewers know what they have- every year there's a great promo date with a free giveaway. How about a Bob Uecker Talking Alarm Clock" Or a Magic 8 ball? Or nesting dolls? It's great, fun stuff and it keeps us involved... <br />On the radio, at least. Because I'm not interested in paying exorbitant prices to park a mile away from the ballpark, and fight for an hour to get out of the parking lot after the game. <br />And the game itself? Who's pitching and who cares? The Brewers young manager was extremely successful, and while I understand that's the way the game is played today, I don't feel any personal identification with what seems to be seventeen pitchers and eight position players, all of whom come and go all season long, mostly to the minors and back. <br />To me, a pitcher is like a quarterback- your football team has one quarterback who shoulders the load, week in and week out. So DID your number one pitcher, week in and week out. Now? Well, our opening day starter didn't even make the playoff list. Sure, we also follow the teams major sluggers, and the Brewers may have the league MVP player- who came out of the blue. No solid, ;ong time guy like Kirk Gibson who suddenly excelled and who had a fine career. I wonder where this years' MVP will be in three years. Will people remember him like we remember Gibson?<br />The game is still exciting for me- I love baseball and always will- but I really don't care much at all about the players- and, the way the game is run, I don't see that coming back for me. When Uecker retires, I wonder how much love for the game will keep my listening. Sad.<br />Jimcomicsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50239695512009222642018-10-31T22:12:15.999-07:002018-10-31T22:12:15.999-07:00For the record,
I did not apply for the job Charl...For the record,<br /><br />I did not apply for the job Charley got.<br /><br />I do not hate analytics -- just the over-reliance on them.<br /><br />And I know baseball from the 60's and 70's are over. World Series games in those eras drew 45,000,000 people. Now they draw 17,000,000. The product has really improved.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39789667719319362642018-10-31T20:03:29.526-07:002018-10-31T20:03:29.526-07:00If you all loved Vin as a Dodgers broadcaster, you...If you all loved Vin as a Dodgers broadcaster, you will love him doing the Catholic Rosary! Vin's meditations from the Bible are legendary!!! Visit www.catholicathletesforchrist.org/rosary.Kevin O'Malleyhttp://www.catholicathletesforchrist.org/rosarynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58886958350436786382018-10-31T18:44:35.994-07:002018-10-31T18:44:35.994-07:00The Dodgers are not #1 in analytics. They are big...The Dodgers are not #1 in analytics. They are big budget wannabes.<br /><br />Every team does analytic to some extent. Cubs, Yankees, Athletics, Red Sox are considered near the top, but all of them do it.<br /><br />The Dodgers are mostly about being Red Sox fanboys, taking everyone who's played for them.<br />Manny Ramirez<br />Grady Little<br />Dave Roberts<br />They bailed out the Red Sox by taking on ALL of their big contracts at once- Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, and Carl Crawford.<br /><br />The Dodgers made up for this by being willing to outspend every team. The Yankees don't care about the luxury tax, but they care about the repeater penalty, and actually went under the tax this year to lower their bills for future years. The Red Sox went all in on this year, acquiring Price and Sale. If the later years of Price's contract prove too high, no doubt they will trade him to the Dodgers.MikeNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8954665157513811462018-10-31T14:37:24.236-07:002018-10-31T14:37:24.236-07:00For too many years now how many games have I watch...For too many years now how many games have I watched where a sacrifice bunt could have (possibly) changed the outcome of a game? So that's it, till baseball starts bunting again, I ain't watching! Besides, the older I get the more I really enjoy watching Cricket.Astroboynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34183584753322121612018-10-31T12:26:22.676-07:002018-10-31T12:26:22.676-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76119958231462200722018-10-31T12:02:53.981-07:002018-10-31T12:02:53.981-07:00GET OVER IT-PART TWO
...We have the best ownershi...GET OVER IT-PART TWO<br /><br />...We have the best ownership in baseball. The fans love and adore Earvin Johnson. No one wants to win more than Magic. He has brought winning back to L.A. baseball, just as he did with the L.A. Lakers basketball. He is all about winning. The L.A Dodgers had back to back dream seasons---and fell a little bit short. There are 30 teams. The Dodgers haven't won in 31 years...maybe next year will be the one? Every fan base desires and deserves a World Series title. Some never attain that goal. It took the Cubs 100 years to get their first trophy.<br /><br />Lighten up Kenny boy. You fired off your steam one day after the Dodgers loss. Give it some time and mellow out. Perspective comes with time---and ill conceived shotgun blasts an hour after the team goes down is not done with level headed insight. It is anger inspired spewing.<br /><br />My advice is to shelve baseball for the present time, and jump right over into the Rams fan base and pull up a seat---and enjoy THAT ride. You now have a local football team who will likely march through the NFL season undefeated.<br /><br />A suggestion---kick back and enjoy a Dodger dog...still $1.50 at the stadium---and half that in the stores... <br /><br />Scott Wagner<br />Elysian Park, CA<br />Scott Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898354377077734392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45012672818171143572018-10-31T12:01:43.455-07:002018-10-31T12:01:43.455-07:00GET OVER IT---PART ONE
Some of the issues discuss...GET OVER IT---PART ONE<br /><br />Some of the issues discussed in your anti-Dodger essay ring true Ken Levine. You are clearly upset, and it shows throughout your narrative. Why the anger? You are peeved about BASEBALL for crying out loud. Professional little league. It's not that important. Why take it so seriously? There are tons of Dodger fans who wanted to see a World Series title...it didn't happen...so get over it. I am just as big a fan you sir, and I enjoyed both this season and last season immensely. <br /><br />We had two really great teams who were beaten by two even better teams---Houston and Boston. L.A. did all they could to get the title...and simply fell a little bit short. 28 other teams failed to make it that far. Give the Dodgers credit Ken. Stop whining about days gone by. Times change. Management changes, players change, paychecks rise, and the whole game slowly turns on its axis. And, it will continue to do so. Heck, you can still pay $2.50 to see a Dodger game---the cheapest ticket in MLB. Every team has the very same issues the Dodgers have. This includes the Boston Red Sox. In fact, they have two starting pitchers, each earning well over 300 million dollars. Gulp that one down!<br /><br />Take MLB for what it is, or get into something else. like square dancing. You cannot turn back the hands of time. Let the game evolve. We aren't in the 60's or 70's anymore. I don't care for rap music but, I don't get angry about it---I simply roll with it. Vin Scully and Jerry Dogget are no longer calling the games. There is only one Scully every century---so replacing him with an equal simply will not happen. Charlie Steiner is a long time polished broadcasting pro. A top level play by play guy. One of the best of the handful available.<br /><br />Look at the positives. The Stadium remains beautiful. The fans love their team, and that only grows bigger and better. The team is highly competitive. The parking, traffic, and other peripheral stuff is unimportant. It is you, Mr. Levine who has leaped into the world of using analytics. You are negative and likely bearing the weight of a chip on each shoulder---probably from being exhumed from your previous stint of employment with the team. No need to drop F bombs and four letter words throughout your diatribe. Your rambling letter was hugely degraded because of the vulgar language. Guess what--there are grade school children who may just read your sultry words. Why be so nasty?<br /><br />As for me---I loved each of the last two seasons---even with the second place finishes. The Dodgers had two fantastic teams, and gave their hearts. We have very exciting players. Dave Roberts did a really great job. No one complained about his managing style in 2017. So what if he manages differently! He did great. I agree that he might have utilized his players in a more effective manner but, Monday morning quarterbacking under zero pressure is easy to do. Every fan does it. The 2017 World Series was considered the most exciting in the history of MLB. What more do you want? Your L.A. Dodger team was right there Ken. Bathe in it for awhile.<br /><br />Ever wonder how the New York Yankees, with the two biggest home run sluggers in all of baseball feel about bowing out in the first round this year? Or, how about the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays and countless other teams---do you ever wonder what they feel about their seasonal basement dwelling clubs? <br /><br />Scott Wagner<br />Elysian Park, CAScott Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898354377077734392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20409586486957180412018-10-31T11:17:43.153-07:002018-10-31T11:17:43.153-07:00Also very disappointed that they are rich Union Me...Also very disappointed that they are rich Union Members and decided to ceoss an active bonafide picket line.<br />Scabs are the worst.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04203887987427827353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40277048354800271472018-10-30T16:48:14.348-07:002018-10-30T16:48:14.348-07:00Ry,
Thanks for the comment but I beg to differ. ...Ry,<br /><br />Thanks for the comment but I beg to differ. Josh Suchon and I not only welcomed criticism of the team, we ourselves dished it out. And we always made a point to be in the clubhouse the next day so if a player or coach had a problem with anything we said we were there to be held accountable. Sorry but I take great pride in that. When I took the job my one stipulation was that I be allowed to forthright. The Dodgers said fine and to their credit they adhered to that. Josh will tell you the same thing. <br /><br />Criticize us for how we conducted the show -- if you didn't like our more irreverent approach, fine -- but the one thing we felt we needed to do was preserve our credibility. Which we did. And believe me, it wasn't easy. I was there during the McCourt era.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90785273365715446202018-10-30T15:05:16.145-07:002018-10-30T15:05:16.145-07:00...Ken Levine makes *some* good points. Having sai......Ken Levine makes *some* good points. Having said that, I also have a good memory. When Levine was host of 'Dodger Talk' one of my biggest gripes was the fact that anyone who called in- if they didn't care for the manner in which the team was run or the decisions were made or any bad mouth of management, ownership or direction- they were given a 'company man' answer and quickly moved on. I used to really despise that any criticism was dismissed like some kinda policy. ...You might wanna remember that, Ken Levine. You do, as I said, make *some* good points, though. ...Another glaring 'forgetfulness' is on the radio broadcasters. *They are the same guys when you were on the radio*, Ken. Sure, Vin is gone. But, even in your days Vin had already cut his broadcast time to the first 3 innings and then Rick & Charlie took over. ...Sounds like maybe some personal emotion at play. ...But, there is some well observed criticism from Ken that garners attention and substance. ...Glad you are a 'Homer', Ken, and, hope you can see that being a 'company Homer' can rub others wrong and leave a bad taste, too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16596967730718469763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31729414609360680242018-10-30T13:35:08.155-07:002018-10-30T13:35:08.155-07:00I've followed the Dodgers since they played at...I've followed the Dodgers since they played at the Coliseum. The charm of baseball has been slowly leaking away over the years because of money. A game that used to be the most affordable to attend is now beyond the reach of most people. Taking a family of 4 to a game will easily cost $200. Not only is the expense to see a game live become too expensive, the game itself is poorly played. There's little planned opposite field hitting, sacrifice bunting, hit and running. There's too many pitching changes. Trade deadline deals in July and August only add to the feeling that the crowd is rooting for laundry and not the hometown boys. Hitting coaches used to stress plate coverage, keeping your hands above the ball, putting the ball in play, hitting to all fields. The two worst terms introduced to the game are launch angle and exit velocity. Who would you rather see hitting third for the Dodgers in the World Series, a Kike Hernandez overswinging at anything near the strike zone, or an Adrian Gonzalez in his prime, looking to hit the ball hard with a controlled swing? Look, a guy like Cody Bellinger seems to have a lot of athletic ability and should be a great player, but he has a horrible swing that limits him to only hitting pitchers' mistakes. That's the kind of hitter people not only come out to see, but play winning baseball.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03060727172211662247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5801972681312129192018-10-30T13:24:05.185-07:002018-10-30T13:24:05.185-07:00I agree wholeheartedly but don't look back wit...I agree wholeheartedly but don't look back with completely rose-colored glasses. The stadium on the surface always looked pretty but the restrooms were always disgusting with impossibly long lines, paint peeling, cracks in the concrete, etc. Parking was always a chore and still bad. There were many problems back then (70s-80s-90s) too but they do seem magnified and different now, not giving the fans the best experience for the inflated dollars paid. <br /><br />Today, parking problems persist and the thought of monies being paid to McCourt are appalling. The stadium experience is horribly loud with piped in music. The days of the Dodger Hammond Organ throughout the night are over. Thank God for Dieter Ruhle between the dance music turned up to 11. All the food choices in the world, and you still can't find anything good to eat.<br /><br />TV/Radio teams have gotten beyond complicated with all the various outlets. Not having Spectrum, radio is my only option which makes me long for Ross Porter. His continued banishment is disgraceful. New blood is needed on radio.<br /><br />But...almost four million tickets sold and a team that wins more than it loses means not much will change except the price of everything. For the life of me, I do not understand how an average family can afford to attend a game for any sport but Dodger baseball was once the "most affordable ticket in town." Having that $8 billion dollar TV contract helps too.<br /><br />The days of hanging out with players in Vero Beach or along the rails at Dodger Stadium are long gone sadly. Do they even have autograph days anymore?<br /><br />Get off my genetically enhanced lawn!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14852480028745477297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17792605393330667682018-10-30T12:28:28.871-07:002018-10-30T12:28:28.871-07:00A Series that ends after 3 a.m. Eastern time is to...A Series that ends after 3 a.m. Eastern time is tough. I ended up recording games for 4.5 hours, get up at 5 a.m. and watch the games on fast forward for balls and strikes, slowing down only for when the ball was hit in fair territory. It's savage but there it is Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7953568644411077642018-10-30T10:02:16.154-07:002018-10-30T10:02:16.154-07:00Personal note regarding the Kirk Gibson Home Run W...Personal note regarding the Kirk Gibson Home Run World Series game. That was they day my wife and I were married just 30 short years ago.Rich Shealerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06349316644704593604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90018399538128546252018-10-29T22:21:06.614-07:002018-10-29T22:21:06.614-07:00@ Cap'n Bob:
Was David Price pitching?@ Cap'n Bob:<br /><br />Was David Price pitching?Blair Iveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428917942590969429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6680268837985328362018-10-29T21:24:35.803-07:002018-10-29T21:24:35.803-07:00Ken, I, like you, loved The Dodgers and I think t...Ken, I, like you, loved The Dodgers and I think the loss of Vin would have been hard to overcome no matter what. But I agree that something has changed here. I can't tell you that's its only the Dodgers. I think its ALL of baseball. But I don't care about ALL of baseball. I care about my Dodgers. I want to root for the team I grew up with. I was at the game on Friday night and I saw most of the fans stay and cheer their team on. We were all "thinking blue." So it can be done. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com