hiway29

a better description would have been " Lurch with a bald head"

It's not over yet. The Dodgers have proved many times that they're capable of going on a losing streak at the wrong time. I now have extra incentive, as I found I have an inside track for playoff tickets. The same seats I usually use during the season, loge, right between home and first. It looks like Manny got a haircut. Gotta admit he looks better with the dreads flying.

I have many 'scary' memories, but I just remembered this 'head scratcher'. I was helping set up for a limb meeting in the early 80's, and overheard some corps woman berating herself because of a rainstorm. She seemed genuinely perplexed why her 'believing' hadn't prevented the rain. Not long after an area of the state was hit with a major storm, that caused some flooding and damage. The branch leader there was publicly boiled in oil by the limb leader at a twig coord meeting . The limb leader went on about how the branch leader was 'responsible' for that part of the state, and if he couldn't take care of his area, then maybe it was time for a change. I just sat there in wonder. We're supposed to control the weather now? I realized again, that there was no way I was going in the corps if that's what they expect.

well, that's a dead giveaway for me, so I'll let someone else get it. Good clues, though, and simple once you know the answer.

yes it is-

Maybe I'm just older than everyone else here. Here's a hint-there were 2 stars who alternated episodes, though one is considered the 'real' star, and the other 'his brother'

it would probably help to know that each of the above quotes starts with "My Pappy always said..."

here's a new one- "work is fine for killing time, but it's a shaky way to make a living" "a man does what he has to do- if he can't get out of it " "if at first you don't succeed, try something else"

Fortunately, the old facade which was stupidly removed in the 70's renovation, is returning to the new stadium. That's about the only positive I've been able to find in all this.

As all the 'regulars' here know, I grew up with Yankee Stadium, before moving west. There really is no place like it. I was 10 before my parents took me down there from Connecticut, but my first time there is one of the treasured memories of my childhood. Seeing the field for the first time, the grandeur, the history-it's hard to define but it's there. ( It also didn't hurt that I was seeing Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, etc. play). It is amazing to me that it's going , going, gone. I'm glad you're boys are going, Kimberly-they'll be glad they did. I sometimes forget how deep Yankee hatred runs with Sox fans, even though I grew up on the Mason Dixon line in Connecticut. I never for a second thought I wouldn't love to go to Fenway.

I'll get to it as soon as I can. I'm just insanely busy at work right now. If anyone cares to jump in, it's ok with me.

Maybe I'm a rare Yankee fan, or maybe I'm too far removed geographically, but I don't expect the Yankees to win the world series EVERY year. No team can do that, though historically the Yankees have come closer than anyone. The most satisfying championships for me have come after periods of failure and 'retooling'. The '77 series was amazing to me, as I'd lived through the darkest period in Yankee history. '96 was another great year, after the awful '80's, and the maturing of my personal favorite Yankee team. By the fourth championship, everyone was 'sick' of seeing the Yankees every year, and I understand that. There's such a thing as too much success. If the Red Sox put together a 'dynasty', you'll see the backlash ( though that's a problem Sox fans would love to have-just as Yankee fans don't care about naysayers). The Yankees are clearly in need of direction (and pitching). We'll see if they give Girardi enough time to succeed.

That's an interesting comment from Rose. I kind of get what he means, but at the same time he's just saying 'look at ME'. From what I know of Jeter, he'd trade a lot of those hits for another championship. I would like to see the Yankees pull it together for another one before he retires, but if they don't, he'll have to live with 4 rings.

"Bewitched" I don't have a new one handy right now.

Meanwhile, congratulations to the Angels, who just won the division with 17 games to go. If it were the Dodgers, the local media would be tripping over themselves with excitement. I'm not sure if it's because it's 'only' the Angels, or if the Angels have been so good that it's expected, but the news hasn't exactly 'stopped the presses' here. I see the reality when I go to Angel Stadium. Every game is filled with rabid Angel fans enjoying the best team in LA. The only thing going against them is they're not the Dodgers, who have owned the city no matter how bad they've been ( and they've been bad). I get the attitude from every Dodger fan I know who grew up here. The Angels don't matter whatever they do, and I get some of that from the local papers and tv stations. Part of it is that they play in Orange County (same place the Rams played), and part of it is that the Angels were also rans for so long, it's a long haul changing that image. Anyway, we'll see if winning so early affects how they go into the playoffs. There's a legitimate opportunity for a 'freeway series' this year, though I'm sure that won't happen.

That Demeter incident seems very consistent with Vin's personality and character. He is ever the Gentleman, A couple of weeks ago, when all of LA was up in arms over the remarks Jeff Kent made about him, Vin refused to even acknowledge it, and said nothing disparaging of Kent in return. He also continued to state the truth that whoever batted in front of Manny was likely to get better pitches to hit. After 56 years !!!!!!!! I'm sure Vin would not enjoy sitting out the season. The good news is that his physical and mental health is so good that it 's absurd to think of him not there. He never misses a beat, and seems to enjoy every game. I've talked about it before, but he's the only announcer I know of who still calls the game by himself, which allows him to craft the game at his own pace, instead of talking heads going back and forth. It seems to be a dieing art.

What a wonderful Baseball Sunday at Chavez Ravine. Of course, I'm happy the Blue Crew won, but it would have been great regardless of the score. Best moment was Nomar spearing a line drive at first for the final out, right after he'd been put there as a defensive replacement. I'm already feeling the end of the season blues. I may only get to one more game . The playoffs are maddeningly long, yet over much too soon-then we descend into darkness for 6 months. And thankfully Vin will be back for at least one more year. He has had amazingly good health, and hasn't lost a beat. Here's to another year.

The Dodgers are indeed in first place. 2 games over .500 but it's still first place. Lost in Manny mania is the emergence of Andre Ethier, who's hitting a ton. When asked about the sudden hot bat he said"2 words, Manny Ramirez". I'm starting to think my tongue in cheek promotion of Manny for mvp, isn't a joke. The Dbacks have never looked so bad. I have to wonder about one play though. Manny hit a fly to right, that should have been an easy out. The fielder lost it in the sun and it dropped 2 feet next to him and bounced in the stands , scoring 2 runs. It was ruled an ground rule double, instead of an error. That seemed mighty generous to me, since it clearly should have been caught. I guess if his glove had touched the ball it would have been different, but I don't get it. I'll be in my favorite seat in the loge today for the potential sweep. I was looking forward to Randy Johnson pitching, but he's been scratched with a sore shoulder.

I often sit at a coffee place that's right across the street from the scene of the star's crime. The infamous restaurant doesn't appeal to me much. The star was also one of the more annoying of the Our Gang kids. He did come along late in the game, when the series was a shell of it's former self, though.

I'm almost positive (without fact checking) that the Browns did move to Baltimore, and became the Orioles. There were Baltimore Orioles as far back as the 19th century. The Orioles way back when, moved to New York and became the Highlanders, who became the Yankees. If the Dodgers played all season like last night, well they don't, so every day is a new mystery. They're already talking 'sweep' here in LA, which may happen, but is mostly wishful thinking disguised as analysis. I'll be at the Stadium on Sunday, and look forward to a smashing good time. I thought it curious that the new Washington team wasn't named the Senators, and wonder why not ? The 'Nationals' haven't exactly captured anyone's imagination (of course, being awful doesn't help). Although when they're shortened to the Nat's, it's the same nickname they used to use for the Senators.

Maris also won back to back mvp's, by the way. He wasn't just good one year. I'm also stumped by Ron Santo not being in.

I know that Manny won't get an mvp for 2 months work- I only meant that in the purest definition of 'most valuable player', he qualifies in my book. It's like the argument whether Roger Maris belongs in the Hall of Fame. It's true he didn't put up the 'numbers', but people who don't know or care about 90% of the Hall, know Roger Maris and what he did. That's enough Fame-and for the right reasons-for me.

If mvp means most valuable player, there's no one more valuable to a team than Manny has been to the Dodgers, who were dieing a slow death before he came, and still play on life support most of the time. No news on whether he's staying yet. Ask any Dodger fan though. I say give him the money, and hope he has a few good years left ( and a good therapist)

Thanks, Mstar. I'm really looking forward to Manny's first 'injury'. Let's face it, without Manny, the Dodgers won't have to worry about the playoffs. If he stays focused, and they win the division, he should qualify for the NL mvp on just on 2 months work. Maybe he's enjoying LA life enough to keep him going for a few more weeks. I can only imagine where he's staying out here.

speaking of Trolley Dodgers, I sometimes refer to them as the 'Superbas', another early name for them. Especially when they're playing like they have lately. Manny is unbelievable. Whaddya know-Mstar was right. You would think some of it would rub off on the others. I do think the Superbas have a very good nucleus of players built from within. Martin, Loney, Ethier, Kemp,even DeWitt. They really should be playing better than this.