Leading Off…
Some House Trance beats to start your week off, from Mid City L.A.’s resident DJ Reno Sparkz
It Never Rains in Southern California ?
With a rare rainout for the SoCal locals, both of Sunday’s games in the southland, the Rockies vs. Padres as well as the Sunday Night matchup between the Angels vs. Red Sox have been postponed. So rare are postponed games in the southland, for the Padres, this is their first ever postponement in the month of July due to inclement weather. Their game will be made up September 10th, a mutual day off for both clubs.
For the Angels, this is their first home postponement since June 16, 1995, when they we’re still the California Angels. A day-night doubleheader has been scheduled for both clubs for Monday. With the Red Sox scheduled to travel to Houston, they should only hope neither game goes deep into extras unlike their previous visit in 2014.
California Angels logo, 1993-96
So rare are rainouts here in the Southland the Angels decided to have some fun with the Red Sox during the delay…
The Rockies, just down I-5, even chimed in on the action…
Hey Colorado ! You guys seem to have a thing for bringing wet weather here. You guys think you could bring some of that wet weather back here to the southland come winter ? Our drought stricken state could use all that winter moisture…
A rare site from the LF Pavillion, 5/14…
Dodging The Chop…
From 1969-1993, the Atlanta Braves resided in the NL West. (The folks at the MLB office at that time either flunked geography or something of the period messed with their minds…). During that stretch, 12 NL West Titles we’re won between the Dodgers and Braves as these two clubs have had some pretty intense battles.
The Screaming Head logo, used through 1989. Don’t expect to see a revival of this anytime soon…
In 1982, the Braves, managed by Joe Torre, would start off hot, winning their first 13 games of the season and at one point would lead the Dodgers by 10.5 games. The Dodgers, coming off a Championship season, would go on a hot streak of their own, taking over first place in less than a two week span, twice sweeping a four game series against the folks from Georgia. To this day, Braves fans still believe the removal of Chief Noc a Homa’s teepee in the bleachers to make room for additional seats for the stretch drive played a major role in the Braves summer swoon, in which they would lose 19 of 21. (Could you just imagine the backlash if Chief Noc-a-Homa was around today ? )
The Dodgers would find themselves 3 games in front of the Braves in late September however after an 8 game losing streak The Boys In Blue would find themselves in a second place tie with the Giants, trailing the Braves by one game heading into the final weekend at Candlestick Park. The Dodgers would take the first 2 of 3 against the Giants, keeping pace with the Braves heading into the final game of the regular season. The Dodgers would have to win game against the Giants and hope for some help in San Diego. The help would come, however, the Giants, who had been knocked out of the race by the Dodgers the previous day, would return the favor as Joe Morgan would smack a 3 run home run in the home 7th that would knock the Dodgers out of the division race, allowing the Braves to win the west by one game. 1982 would be the final season Steve Garvey and Ron Cey would don the Dodger Blue, as both would flee via free agency. Three quarters of that famous infield was now gone, leaving Bill Russell as the last one standing.
The two teams would go back and forth with each other again in 1983. One of the more memorable games of that season took place on a Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. With the Braves leading 6-3 heading into the home 9th, the Dodgers would mount a furious rally, capped off by a successful squeeze bunt by R.J Reynolds as Pedro Guerrero would score the winning run. The Dodgers would win the NL West over Atlanta by 3 games
Chief Noc a Homa. This name and image would be so wrong today if it wasn’t then…
The teepee where Chief Noc a Homa made his summer home in the stands at old Fulton County Stadium. Each time a Brave would… Noc a Homa… Noc a Homa would do a dance
It would be eight years until the Braves returned to relevance, during that time, the Dodgers would win 2 more division titles as well as the World Title in 1988. The Braves had some quality players during the early 80s such as Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, Glenn Hubbard and Brett Butler. The Dodgers had some exciting players as well, among them Steve Sax and Pedro Guerrero. If you recall the 1983 season, you may very well remember the added excitement both Sax and Pete brought to our infield…
The Braves and Dodgers would stage another epic battle for the NL West in 1991, and like 1982 and 83, it would once again come down to the final weekend. The upstart Braves would win the West by one game. It would be the first of 14 consecutive division titles won by the Braves.
1993 would be the final season the Braves would reside in the NL West, and they would once again find themselves in a heated battle for the division that would come down to the final weekend. This time, they would find themselves battling the Giants for the division crown. Both the Braves and Giants would head into the final game of the season tied for first with 103 wins. The Braves would win their season finale against the expansion Colorado Rockies, leaving the hated ones in a win or go home scenario at Chavez Ravine. This time around, it would be our Boys in Blue who would help the Braves out, knocking the Giants out in grand fashion, 12-1. The Giants, in spite winning 103 games, would be left out of post-season play. 1993 was also the final season without the Wild Card.
During their 14 year run as division champs in both the NL West and East, the Braves featured many high caliber players, among them, David Justice, Terry Pendleton, Fred McGriff, Tommy Glavine, and of course Greg Maddux.
The Dodgers and Braves would twice cross paths in the playoffs, in 1996 and most recently, when Juan Uribe provided one of the more exciting moments in the 2013 season with this…
Ironically, Uribe now calls Atlanta home. That’s sports for you. One day, you’re the enemy, the next day, you’re the good guy. Uribe will always hold a place in many a Dodger fans heart.
The Braves and Dodgers may not have as intense a rivalry as they once before division re-alignment. Not that it will ever stop these two clubs from being such thorns on each others sides. The Braves, expected to go through a rebuilding phase, surprisingly sit only 7.5 games behind the NL East leading Washington Nationals. The Braves are expected to find themselves in a new ballpark, SunTrust Park,by 2017. By then or before, the intensity between these two clubs should be back in full form.
A Good Drei With Kid N Drei 