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Monday, June 20, 2011

The Dodger Stadium Fan Experience



1000 Elysian Park Avenue has been a gloomy place this season. On opening day, a Giants fan, wearing Giants black and orange, was attacked --  by presumably Dodgers fans -- and remains unconscious. Owners Frank and Jamie McCourt have, since they bought the team in 2004, been redirecting revenue to their personal bank accounts. The Dodgers are thus broke, and may not be able to pay their players at the end of this month. Frank and Jamie are in the middle of a complicated divorce that provides yet another distraction from the game on the field. 

Dodger fans, in a show of solidarity unusual for the normally sheeplike lot that attends ball games, prove on each home date that, if people don't want to go to the ball park, no one's going to stop them. "Crowd" shots on TV show more empty seats than crowd. 

Dodger underling Steve Sobiroff, McCourt's last remaining friend within the organization, has appointed himself Vice President In Charge Of The Dodger Stadium Fan Experience.

It doesn't get much better than tonight.

Clayton Kershaw's line:  two hits, one walk 11 strikeouts, complete game shutout. One of the hits got picked off third to end the second inning. (To his credit, Ryan Pickoff wasn't one of the 11 strkeouts.) And he went 1 for 2 and batted in one of the runs. Trouble with the pitcher again; the automatic out batting ninth. Even though Kershaw, at .294, is out-hitting five Pretenders' regulars. 

All this, and no lines at the parking lot gates, bathrooms, or concession stands. No waiting for Dodger Dogs. What a fan experience.

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