LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
I’m sorry for being a bad Dodgerist. The interweb hiccup we experienced here at LAist on Sunday threw me off a little. I also had troubles writing this little piece.
I don’t like it when people get really gung ho about their home team, homerism if you will. These people tend to be quite myopic and not rooted in reality. So believe me when I say that this is hard to write.
I really like this Dodger’s team. By really like I mean one step below outright love.
First of all I have to give kudos to My Boyfriend. In his second season in the majors the expected decrease in productivity hasn’t happened. So far he’s hitting .356 and making terrific plays on defense.
Take Monday night’s game. With the Dodgers up 3-0 and Chad Tracy on first in the bottom of the fourth inning, Carlos Quentin hit a deep double to left field. DUI, knowing Viejito’s arm is like jelly, ran deep down the leftfield line. He caught the relay throw from Viejito and threw the ball home with the ferocity of a Mack truck. My Boyfriend used his left leg to block home plate and tagged Chad Tracy out preventing a score. So far My Boyfriend is hands down the MVP of the Dodgers if not the league.
However one man cannot make a team. The entire roster has bonded together to make up for their deficiencies. DUI running deep into the outfield to be the relayer is one example. The bullpen is also pitching lights out to make up for an occasional slippage by the starters. Let me rephrase that. The bullpen is making up for Jason Schmidt's nonexistent arm.
With all of these elements combined, I don't see how any team can completely shut down the Dodgers. The starting pitching can nullify the New York Met's power hitters while the batters can just grind out the Met's pitchers. The same holds true for the Atlanta Braves. The St. Louis Cardinals. The Houston Astros. And so on down the line.
So far I really like what I'm seeing from the Dodgers. If everyone stays healthy and the team plays the way they are now, I see them winning it all this season. However I am a realist and will reserve the right to bash them once they start tanking in June.
AP Photo by Matt York