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Podcasts Off-Ramp
6 scenes from a laid-back Dodgers home opener
Off-Ramp with John Rabe Hero Image
(
Dan Carino
)
Apr 14, 2016
Listen • 16:03
6 scenes from a laid-back Dodgers home opener
The taste of a Dodger Dog, fans in the nosebleeds, the Dodgers on TV, singing the National Anthem, and a little Dodger Dixieland.
X Ambassadors lead singer Sam Harris doing a mike check for his performance of the National Anthem at Tuesday's Dodgers home opener.
X Ambassadors lead singer Sam Harris doing a mike check for his performance of the National Anthem at Tuesday's Dodgers home opener.
(
John Rabe
)
KPCC's John Rabe with Shanna (Santa Clarita) and her dad Mark (Lancaster), longtime Dodger fans who have seats in the nosebleed section and were checking them out at 11am Tuesday - two hours before the first pitch.
KPCC's John Rabe with Shanna (Santa Clarita) and her dad Mark (Lancaster), longtime Dodger fans who have seats in the nosebleed section and were checking them out at 11am Tuesday - two hours before the first pitch.
(
John Rabe
)
KPCC's John Rabe with Shanna (Santa Clarita) and her dad Mark (Lancaster), longtime Dodger fans who have seats in the nosebleed section.
KPCC's John Rabe with Shanna (Santa Clarita) and her dad Mark (Lancaster), longtime Dodger fans who have seats in the nosebleed section.
(
Gary Leonard
)
KPCC's John Rabe with the LA Times Chris Erskine, who believes the Dodgers will work out a TV deal in the next five years.
KPCC's John Rabe with the LA Times Chris Erskine, who believes the Dodgers will work out a TV deal in the next five years.
(
John Rabe
)
New Dodgers organist Dieter Ruehle, home opener 2016
New Dodgers organist Dieter Ruehle, home opener 2016
(
John Rabe
)
The Angel City Dixieland Band at Dodger Stadium for the 2016 home opener
The Angel City Dixieland Band at Dodger Stadium for the 2016 home opener
(
John Rabe
)

The taste of a Dodger Dog, fans in the nosebleeds, the Dodgers on TV, singing the National Anthem, and a little Dodger Dixieland.

Here are some scenes from Off-Ramp's trip to Dodger Stadium Tuesday for their home opener. They lost 4-2 to the Diamondbacks, but we had a blast anyway.

Listen to the audio for all of these segments and more ... including the ritual tasting of the Dodger Dog.

1. Ushering in a new usher

Listen to the audio to hear Andrea, a veteran fan services worker at the stadium, quizzing Andrew, who was working his first game as an usher. Andrew got "nearest bathrooms," "escalator," and "smoking area," but he didn't know where to go to find the "bacon stretcher."

2. The Dodgers' season and the mystery of micheladas

Matt "Money" Smith from the Petros and Money Show on AM570 gives us his take on the Dodgers chances this season, and wonders with me how people can drink micheladas, as in who ever thought, "Hey, let's pep up this bland light beer with clam juice!"

3. Up in the Nosebleeds

KPCC's John Rabe with Shanna (Santa Clarita) and her dad Mark (Lancaster), longtime Dodger fans who have seats in the nosebleed section.
KPCC's John Rabe with Shanna (Santa Clarita) and her dad Mark (Lancaster), longtime Dodger fans who have seats in the nosebleed section.
(
Gary Leonard
)

I went way up in the left field reserve section to talk with Mark and Shanna, father and daughter Dodgers fans who took their seats around 1030am ... even though first pitch wasn't until after 1pm. Turns out they were late last year and didn't want to risk it.

KPCC's John Rabe with Shanna (Santa Clarita) and her dad Mark (Lancaster), longtime Dodger fans who have seats in the nosebleed section and were checking them out at 11am Tuesday - two hours before the first pitch.
KPCC's John Rabe with Shanna (Santa Clarita) and her dad Mark (Lancaster), longtime Dodger fans who have seats in the nosebleed section and were checking them out at 11am Tuesday - two hours before the first pitch.
(
John Rabe
)

4. Dixieland Dodgers

The Angel City Dixieland Band has been doing the home opener for half a dozen years. They give us "Blue Skies" and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

5. Will the Dodgers ever be on TV?

LA Times columnist Chris Erskine says 60% of fans still can't watch the Dodgers on TV, but he optimistically thinks they'll nail down a deal in the next five years.

KPCC's John Rabe with the LA Times Chris Erskine, who believes the Dodgers will work out a TV deal in the next five years.
KPCC's John Rabe with the LA Times Chris Erskine, who believes the Dodgers will work out a TV deal in the next five years.
(
John Rabe
)

6. The The National National Anthem Anthem Anthem Anthem...

Sam Harris, lead singer for the Brooklyn-based X Ambassadors, nailed the National Anthem at the Dodgers Home Opener. He tells us how to beat the echo: good earphones.