Filipino Night to Another SUN-DAY, FUN-DREI… THIS IS HOWIE DO IT !!!

The themed nights the Dodgers throw are nothing new for the organization and it’s fans and throughout baseball. Since the MY TOWN theme night of 2009, the Dodgers have kept the theme nights simple. However, like the good old game of baseball, there we’re hits and misses.

The Hits…

 Of all the Filipino Night shirts the Dodgers have provided us over the years, this has to be the best . As a true blue blooded Dodgers fan, the shirts should be blue every year. I just love how the signature interlocking L.A. logo pays homage to The Philippine flag.  Good call by The Blue. Also of note, Filipino night since 2012 has been celebrated during the week of Philippine Independence, another good call by our Boys in Blue. Photo by Edel P

SWING AND A MISS… While I do applaud the Dodgers efforts for reaching out to the Philippine community of Los Angeles, their attempt at doing a Filipino themed Super Dodger Dog was quite a miss. Not a total miss, but for a brief moment, I’m going to go from Good Drei In L.A. to Ask A Filipino…

 Our resident Dodger Dog doing his best to honor The Blue’s efforts at this Filipino Dog…

 So here it is, The Filipino Dog, a Super Dodger Dog with diced spam, pineapple cubes, chicharrones and Sabrett’s sweet onion glaze. Sounds more like a Hawaiian theme to me even with the ties the Philippines and Hawaii may have with each other. As for the chicharrones, I guess you could say they could be a substitute for Crispy Pata. If I had been the one giving this Dodger Dog a Filipino theme, I would have used shredded pork adobo meat on top of the Dog. Not even difficult to prepare, as any Filipino can prepare pork or chicken adobo. ( If I really wanted to go full-on Filipino theme, I would actually use sisig, ( Leave a comment if you want to hear more on that…) Overall, Filipino Night was once again a success. As for the in-game highlights… That won’t be the only case of robbery by the Young Joc…   And THAT… IS HOWIE DO IT !!! As for ” HOWIE ” did it in the stands…

Let The Music Play

Last week, it was reported that our beloved organist Nancy Bea Hefley would not be returning next year because she no longer fit in with the organizations plans. Well, thanks to the loyal Dodger fans both young and old ( Including this old one here…), Nancy Bea Hefley has been offered a lifetime contract with the organization.  Now how about giving Nancy Bea some more playing time ? Hey, I’m not against in-game entertainment. I get the fact that the overall baseball experience must keep up with the times, but hey, Nancy Bea is just as much a treasure to Dodger fans of all ages as our Boys In Blue are on the field…

 With Nancy Bea, August 2014

Wanted For Robbery

If that earlier clip of Joc Pederson robbing the DBacks Yasmani Tomas of a potential tying 3 run home run had you buzzing for more, how ’bout this from PETCO on Sunday that saved the game for The Blue. It’s being talked of as perhaps the catch of the year so far. With The Blue eventually winning in extras and taking the series from the Friars, it’s even being talked of as The Catch that may have cost Bud Black his job as Padres skipper.

9th Inning… Another SUN-DAY FUN-DREI !!!… From Rancho…

As our Boys in Blue we’re taking 2 of 3 down south in Diego and Young Joc was committing robbery,  Drei here would pay a visit to Rancho to see some potential future Dodgers.

 With Rancho Cucamonga Quakes pitcher Joe Broussard, donning the Sunday Dodger Blue look

Every now and then a minor league player works his way up to the bigs from the Single A level and comes back for a rehab before heading back to the big show…

 Here I am kicking it with The Stache… Scott Van Slyke. It was nice to see him back where it all started, even if it was at Inland Empire when the 66ers were the Dodgers Single A affiliate at the time. I also had a chance to see him play at Albuquerque. Looking forward to seeing you back in The Big Blue, our offense could use your bat

Extra Innings… Fun N Games With Drei

 Drei and his Jurassic buddy… AFTERSHOCK !!! Stylin’ the shades no less…

Dodgers…Giants…1993, 103 Wins and Not a Wild Scene In The Bay

1993.  Not exactly a memorable season for the Blue.  The 1993 Dodgers would finish at .500 , 81-81, an 18 game improvement from 1992’s 63-99 showing, their worst in L.A. franchise history and the first ( and LAST ) time the Dodgers would finish in last place since 1905.  The 1993 season would mark Barry Bond’s first season with the hated ones after 7 seasons in Pittsburgh, with his final moment in a Bucs uniform coming in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS as he was unable to throw out the speedster Sid Bream .  As the Braves would continue their yearly post-season run that would last until 2005 ( In the process dulling their fan base ) , the Pirates would go into a 20 year tailspin .  

In the meantime, the 1993 season would be the last season for baseball’s 2 division format.  That meant that even if you we’re baseball’s 2nd best team, if you we’re 2nd best in your division as well, that meant no October baseball.  Imagine a team winning 103 games and missing out on post-season play ?  Under today’s 2 team wild card format, that would be all but impossible today.

However, in 1993, one team that would win 103 games was on the outside looking in.  Yup, it was the San Francisco Giants.  Heading into the seasons final four games at Dodger Stadium, the NL West would come down between the Giants and the Atlanta Braves before divisional re-alignment took place . ( The baseball lords finally got their geography right.  When division play started in 1969, the Cubs and Cardinals we’re placed in the NL East, while the Reds and Braves we’re placed in the NL West ) .  The Giants, led by first year manager and former Dodger Dusty Baker, started the season hot behind the huge off-season acquisition of Barry Bonds.  The Giants had lead the NL West by as many as 9 games ( Sound familiar Dodger fans ? ) as late as July.  The Braves, coming off back to back NL pennants, we’re to good to fold and would eventually take over 1st place in the NL West.  The Giants would right themselves and after taking the first 3 games of the seasons final four at Chavez Ravine, the Braves and Giants would find themselves tied for the NL West lead heading into their final games of the season.  Some have called the 1993 NL West race the The Last Real Race .  In the context of today’s wild-card format, a true argument can be made of that.

So now, let Drei here take you back to that final game of the 1993 season .  October 3, 1993.  Earlier in the day, the Braves had defeated the first year expansion Colorado Rockies to ensure they would be playing at least one more game.  The Braves win would force the Giants into a win or go home situation, 103 wins and all.  Win, and the Braves and Giants play a one-game playoff the next evening at Candlestick Park to determine the NL West winner.  Lose, and the Giants, 103 wins and all, like the other 24 teams, start an early winter .  

As for Drei here, I was long aware of the fact this game meant nothing in the standings.  But for Drei and the many blue clad fans in the southland that day, this game WAS our World Series.  For the old-schoolers, this was to ease the pain of ’51 and ’62.  For us baby boomers of the early 90s, this was to ease the pain of  Joe Morgan’s home run in 1982 and Will Clark’s boastfulness in 1991 .  Would there be any dramatic finishes to this 1993 finale between The Blue and the Hated Ones ?  Hardly…

On this day, it would be the Dodgers who would do more than play the role of spoilers.  Backed by 2 home runs by Mike Piazza, who would win the 1993 NL Rookie of the Year honors, it would be the Dodgers driving a stake into the hearts of San Francisco, breaking many hearts in The City By The Bay.  Division re-alignment and the addition of the Central Division in both leagues would occur the following season in 1994, as well as the Wild Card format.  But on this day in 1993, the 103 win Giants squad would  spend the post-season like the other 24 teams, watching the post-season, much to the delight of this then 19 year old fan.  Many a Giants fans heart would be left broken… In San Francisco….  ( Is it too obvious a Dodgers fan is writing this ?) Of course our stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley would be proud to remind the folks of Northern California as she would serenade everyone with Tony Bennet’s classic tune after the game’s final out…

 Piazza being greeted at home by Tim Wallach after crushing his second home run of the game that would knock the 103 win Giants team out of the playoffs

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT

 A BIG HAPPY 30TH to The Bison !!!  Was it 2 months ago that many of you out there had a Love/Hate Relationship with Matt ?  Nothing like a great 2nd half run to quiet all doubters huh ?  As we head toward the post-season, I’ll say it once more.  This is STILL your team Matt !!!  Time for The Bison to take charge !  HAPPY 30TH Matt !!!

MAGIC NUMBER

 After last night’s gut-wrenching 5-2 loss in 13 to the Giants , the magic number to clinch the NL West remains at 3.  Zack Greinke takes his perfect 4-0 record against the Giants to the mound for The Blue as he matches up against Madison Bumgarner in The Blue’s attempt to cut the magic number down to one.

 Time to Turn L.A. BLUE !!!

 

 

Battle For The West

 What more needs to be said ? 

 2 games is all that separates the 2 longtime rivals, who will meet 6 times during the Dodgers remaining 16 games.  If the good lords of baseball have their way, we will see more from these 2 come October.  The Giants hold a slight edge over the Dodgers 7 games to 6 heading into this weekends series, however, in games that Ryu, Greinke, and Kershaw have pitched, the Dodgers hold a commanding 6-2 edge over the hated ones, including their more recent 3 game sweep at AT&T park in late July , when Mattingly set up the rotation as he has for this weekend with the big 3.  The Giants are a different team this time around than they we’re in late July, a fact not lost among the Bay Area locals .  Here’s a recap of how the two have fared against each other leading up to this weekends Battle By The Bay…

April , Giants Take Two of Three in Both Series

In the series opener at Dodger Stadium, the Giants we’re clearly the dominant team in taking  2 of 3 here in L.A. before Zack Greinke and company would take the 3rd game.  In the previous 2 games, the Giants had outscored the Dodgers 15-6.  In the 2nd meeting between these 2 up north, pitching would dominate the series as each game was decided by 1 run, with neither team scoring more than 3 in any of the 3 games .

May, Giants Continue Their Roll at Dodger Stadium 

In taking 3 of 4 from the Dodgers , the Giants would send notice that if the Dodgers are going to win the NL West, it would not be a runaway.  It should be noted, however, that 2 of the 3 wins came in extra innings .   Just in case anyone thought the rivalry was dead …

July, A Blue Fog Sweeps Through The Bay

With Don Mattingly setting up his rotation of Greinke, Kershaw and Ryu much like he has for this weekend, only this time around it will be Ryu, Greinke and Kershaw, the Dodgers would be the ones doing the heavy lifting, sweeping the 3 game series at AT&T Park by a combined score of 17-4 .  The Dodgers would leave AT&T Park with a 1.5 game lead, a lead that was as big as 5.5 games.  However, as we all know, baseball is a marathon, and at any point in the season, any team can go into a slump.  Right now, both teams carry a bit of momentum into this huge 3 game series.

Down Memory Lane With Dre…

1982

Trailing the Atlanta Braves by one game going into the final game of the season, the Dodgers would not only have to beat the Giants at Candlestick Park, but would need for the Braves to lose their season finale to the Padres down south.  Well, one of the two would happen.  Unfortunately, Joe Morgan would foil any plans for a Dodger repeat of their 1981 glory, as he would belt a Terry Forster 1-2 fastball over the right field fence, setting off a frenzy at Candlestick as the Dodgers would lose to the hated ones 5-3, finishing one game behind the Braves for the NL West title. 

 Joe Morgan being greeted by Jack Clark after derailing any hopes of a Dodger repeat as a dejected Terry Forster stares out toward right field.  3 years after this moment, it would be Jack Clarks turn to break this writers heart. 

 To my fellow Boys of Summer, Kid Marly Marlz ( Yup, he’s baaaaack again as usual folks…) and Jose.  Yeah, I see how it goes since you two either we’re not around or still in the crib as Viejo Dre here was going through 2 of his more traumatic moment’s in his childhood day’s as a Dodger fan ( Pleas excuse Dre’s do-rag folks…)  The dude behind us probably I’m sure has experienced more heartbreak…

1991

Once again, heading into the final weekend at Candlestick, with the Dodgers tied for first in the NL West with the Braves, this time it would be Will Clark who would get in the way of the Dodgers playing October baseball as the Dodgers would once again finish one game behind the Braves for the NL West crown .  Of course Will Clark would take great joy in this .

1993

In the final division race before the wild-card, the Giants, having already won 103 games, would need to beat the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium to set up a one game playoff with the Braves at Candlestick Park for the NL West crown.  This time, it would be The Boys in Blue who would knock the hated one’s out of October baseball as Mike Piazza would crush 2 home runs en route to his 1993 ROY Award , sending the hated one’s packing after a 11-1 shellacking.

 Mike Piazza being greeted at home plate by  Tim Wallach after smashing his 2nd home run of the final game of 1993, in which the Dodgers would knock the 103 win Giants out of the playoffs 

Oh yeah,  Dre here would enjoy every moment of this .  Another memory from that final game of 1993, among other memorable Dodgers/Giants moments , is of Nancy Bea serenating the hated ones during the 6th inning, with Georgia on My Mind ( In reference to the Braves ), Do You Know the Way to San Jose in the 8th, and finally , after the game, I Left My Heart, In San Francisco .

  Me with Nancy Bea .  Tothis day you sure know how to pick a tune…

So what memories lie ahead of us as these two longtime rivals go at it in The Wild Wild West.  It’s time to paint the bay…BLUE !!!!

 LETS GO DODGERS !!!

 

 

 

 

Sunday Fun-Dre With The Mini Bison in Photos

Pregame . The Mini Bison roaming around the outfield . He looks so life-sized…

Caution . Bison Crossing…

Time to Take The Mini Bison for a Spin…

The Mini Bison doing some spinning with our resident DJ who you can follow on Instagram @admoneson

The Mini Bison sure knows how to attract the fans…

Even this young fan couldn’t help but stop by and say hi to our Mini Bison …

Other happening on Sunday Fun-Dre …

On the way to The Ravine through DTLA , Blue here takes time to learn of our sister cities of the world . The landmark can be viewed on the norhteast corner of 1st and Main Streets .

Only at a ballgame can you pass time and read a book, especially if the game is getting out of hand as it was yesterday. Though I can only imagine that if you’re going to read a book at a ballgame, the only way you can get away with it is if you’re doing this solo, as Dre tends to do every so often. ( This may be another sign that Dre here has reached the 40 mark if he’s ACTUALLY reading a book at a ballgame !!! LOL . )

Baseball Haiku. A fine read anywhere especially in the ballpark on a lazy Sunday afternoon when your team is getting clobbered on the field by 8 runs. It’s a collection of short form poetry as all haiku’s are, that center’s its focus on baseball, the nature surrounding the game and it’s lifelong impact and memories on the various writers . Of course there are plenty of other baseball books to read at the ballpark or anywhere as suggested by these MLB.com writers …

Well look who had time for a picture before serenading the over 47,000 plus en masse. It’s our very own Dodger Stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley . Nancy Bea has been our resident organist since 1988 and even with a lot of pop music being played today, the beats of Nancy Bea still resonate strong inside the walls of Chavez Ravine…

Back to The Mini Bison

Not long after the game has ended does Mini Bison run through the Retired Numbers Plaza up at the top deck

Of course The Mini Bison is proud to salute his all time favorite Dodger, Jackie Robinson. Determined and animated, the Mini Bison is getting ready for the stretch drive toward October !!! Dre has said it countless times even through the harshest of times and Dre here will say it again…. This is your team Matt !!! It’s up to you to lead us deep into October !!!

Lead the way Matt !!!

Dre’s Baseball Themed Filled Birthday

Yesterday was a special day for me as Dre here has turned the Big 4-0 ! To celebrate, of course my big day would have to have a Dodger Blue theme, right ? To start off the day, the lil’ bro and I did the Dodger Stadium tour , which starts off in the Top Deck. View from the Top Deck before the tour. Gotta love that view !

The tour would take us through the Vin Scully Press Box, a luxury suite, the Lexus dugout club, where the World Series trophy’s as well as other individual Dodger awards are on display.

Press Box Views .

Where our stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley tickle’s the ivory’s. Every now and then she can come up with something clever, especially if a San Francisco Giant pitcher is being taken out and she serenades him with Do You Know The Way to San Jose …

Inside the former visiting teams clubhouse.

View from the visiting team dugout on the 1st base side

The little bro Daniel haming it up in the Dodger dugout…

Making a call to the bullpen…
A fourth straight Cy Young should be here at season’s end for Clayton Kershaw…

Gold Gloves for Dre and The Bison

Posing next to the 1988 World Series trophy. 26 years. Is this the year we end the drought ?

Me and the lil’ bro

Overall this was a very informative and thorough tour from our tour guide Ralph, who did a great job sharing not only information about Dodger Stadium, he also shared with us numerous historical moments and well and was very much involved with the fan experience. So if you should have a significant other ,a loved one or another dear friend or relative who is a huge baseball fan, this is a highly recommended gift. ( It is not often I use the words Highly Recommeneded )

Also…

If you get a chance, Dodgers: Brotherhood of the Game is on display at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo on 100 Central Avenue, across the street from the Little Tokyo Gold Line Station .

Other exhibits from the Japanese American National Museum …

Oh Yeah, you all know the day would not be complete without taking in the game…

Chilling with the sibs and a future brother in law. With the Dodgers and Angels battling it out last night and both teams in playoff contention, the crowd certainly was electric, with our Boys In Blue coming out on top . Every baseball fan should have at least one baseball themed day of celebration for their birthday at least once in their lifetime, right ?

Series Shifts Down I-5

After splitting the first two at Chavez Ravine, the series shifts down to Angel Stadium. Dan Haren, who has been struggling, will take the mound for The Blue. With Kershaw and Greinke having gone 7 innings the last two nights, the bullpen should be well rested and could be needed for another long stretch. The Dodgers currently hold a 2.5 game lead on the Giants in the NL West while the Halos are currently 2 back of the A’s for the AL West.

Throwback Thursday

Heading into this weekend with a big 3 game series against the Giants up north, on this Throwback Thursday before our big series, I share with you a couple of old programs from past Dodgers/Giants games.

August 2006

Greg Maddux, having been acquired from the Cubs to bolster the Dodger pitching staff for the stretch run, is featured on the front cover of this months program. Greg Maddux, who will be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame this Sunday, would come back one last time with the Dodgers in 2008, his final season in baseball. Also in this August issue of the Dodger Magazine …

Two of the Dodgers 1st round draft picks of 2006, Preston Mattingly, Donnie’s kid, and some 18 year old , Clayton Kershaw. What ever became of him ?

Looking back on the 40th anniversary of The Beatles performance at Dodger Stadium on August 28, 1966. This would be the 2nd to final ever live performance for The Fab Four. The following evening would be their last live gig, at Candlestick Park, home of the Giants from 1960-1999.

The song list from that evening’s concert. I’m guessing Sir Paul McCartney, who will be making his first return to Dodger Stadium since performing there in 1966, will entertain the crowd with his present day version of Yesterday…

The scorecard from Sunday evening, August 13. Maddux and the Giants Jason Schmidt would get the start that evening. Both the Giants and Dodgers would put up goose eggs up until the 10th inning, when a rookie catcher, Russel Martin, would end things in one swing, capping off a 3 game sweep of the hated ones.

September/October 1993

On the front cover of the final Dodger Magazine for 1993, the past and the present are celebrated with Orel Hershiser and Don Drysdale gracing the cover. 5 years prior in 1988, Orel Hershiser had broken Don Drysdale’s major league mark from 1968 of 58 consecutive scoreless innings pitched. Drysdale would also be part of the Dodgers broadcast team from 1988 until his untimely death on July 3, 1993 . Rick Monday would replace Don Drysdale for the remainder of the 1993 season and has been with the Dodgers broadcast team since.

What’s this ? A pager ? It’s a digital book that keeps track of all the up to date baseball facts and numbers. I wonder if I can stream live games on this device…

The scorecard from the final game of the season against the hated ones. Heading into the final game of the season, the Giants, having won 103 games, we’re in a first place tie with the Atlanta Braves for the NL West. The Braves, in their final season in the NL West, would beat the 1st year expansion Colorado Rockies earlier in the day so for the Giants, it was win or go home. ( 1993 was the final season without the current wild-card format ) . The Boys in Blue would only be so glad to spoil the party, as Rookie of the Year catcher Mike Piazza would belt 2 home runs and the Dodgers, who would have their hearts broken by the Giants 4 times prior, in 1951, 1962, 1982, and 1991, would demolish any hope the Giants had of playing deep into October, thrashing the hated ones 12-1. In spite of winning 103 games, first year manager and former Dodger Dusty Baker and the Giants would be left out of post-season play. ( From 1969-1993, the Reds and Braves we’re in the NL West, while the Cubs and Cardinals we’re in the NL East. During that time, only division winners qualified for the playoffs, making the Giants the last team to win over 100 games and miss out on post-season play , a feat that is virtually impossible to achieve today under today’s wild card format.

As for me, that final game of the 1993 season would ease the pain of Joe Morgan’s home run in 1982 on the season’s final game, or the smugness of Will Clark in 1991. I can still hear Nancy Bea Hefley serenading our visitors from The Bay after the game’s final out, to Tony Bennet’s classic tune, I Left My Heart In San Francisco , to the joy of the 55,000 plus Dodger fans, including this 19 year old kid, or to the dismay of the loyal ones from The Bay, who made the 400 plus mile drive south to have their broken hearts turned away, toward , San Francisco…

Is it obvious a Dodger fan is writing this post ?

What moment will this weekend’s Dodgers/Giants series bring us, as Zack Greinke takes the mound against Tim Lincecum as the first of 3 kicks off tomorrow night. What are some of your favorite Dodgers/Giants memories ?