And What a Series It Was

They won two. We took the last one, and what a game it was. 

Casper The Friendly Outfielder led off the game with a homer. Cabrera, Ordonez, and Donnie Kelly also homered; Kelly's a pinch shot in the eighth that made it 7-5 Tigers.We scored. They scored. Ryan Strikeout struck out three times and popped out once. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the ninth, and only a leaping catch by Austin ... Jackson of Dioner Navarro's liner saved the game. In for defense, Austin Jackson, he's the man!

Throwback uniforms, half-price eats, perfect southern California weather -- for today's as well as the other two games --  two wins, one suspensful loss, an abundance of hot women to look at between innings, Vin Scully at the mike, who could ask for anything more?

Unless it was Frank McCourt's status as the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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.

Tigers Fans Anonymous / HAHA BRAVES !!!

Good  morning. Or afternoon, or evening. My name is Tom, and I'm a Tigers fan.

On the day after the ugliest Tigers game in recent memory -- and that includes 2003 (43-119) -- I watched most of last game of their western road trip (a 3-2 win at Seattle). 

I had come to believe that a Power greater than myself could restore my sanity. 

The Power, however, kept whispering in my ear: "Game time 3:40 PM ... game time 3:40 PM ..." 

Not good news for the kid I'm sponsoring, who thought 2008 would finally be the year. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On day two of the Selig Era at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers tied the score at three in the ninth and beat the Bravos in 12 on a Matt Kemp two-run walkoff homer.  

That's two wins in the two days since Commissioner Allen H. "In Bud We Trust" Selig announced that MLB will take control of day-to-day operation of the Dodgers. 

Recently, now former head man Frank McCourt offered to have lunch with any and all willing Dodgers season ticket holders. 

Some turned down the invitation, and returned their tix, promising to not attend another game as long as McCourt owns the team. (Looks like they can all come back now).  

There existed in my mind the possibility that lunch would end, like in he last panel of a MAD Magazine comic strip, with a group of startled fans being handed a paper with GUEST CHECK printed at the top. While, in a corner of the panel, a little man (the Boston Parking Lot Attendant) sneaks away.