Month: September 2012

Hanging On for Dear Life

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

The Dodgers’ post-season hopes have been declared dead time after time in the past few weeks. Here on this blog, on the radio, on TV, in the newspaper…pretty much everyone agrees, with a three-game deficit and six to play, it’s unlikely that the Blue Crew will go on to any playoffs or “tiebreaker-games.” But still the ghost of a chance haunts us Dodger fans’ dreams. I hope it happens. I really do. But I won’t hold my breath.

(Rockies @ Dodgers, Sept. 28-30, 2012)

Upon Reflection

(Rockies @ Dodgers, Sept. 28-30, 2012)

Upon reflection
Win or lose, they’re gettin’ paid!
Our millionaire boys

This is no time to hold back.

(Image: Pitcher Chris Capuano)

Nine Games Left

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

The Dodgers are 3½ games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the second wild card race with nine games left to play. Statistically, there’s still a chance. Realistically, it’s time to look forward to next year.

Dodgers @ Padres, Sept. 25-27

An Apparition?

(Dodgers @ Padres, Sept. 25-27, 2012)

An apparition?
Nine blue ghosts walk the diamond
Our team or our dream?

Play out the hand you’re dealt.

(Image: Pitcher Clayton Kershaw)

Agony and Ecstasy

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

It’s nearly over. Somehow, we only have five more wins than losses and we’re still barely in the hunt for that second wild card. But these last couple of wins have been tough ones. Barely hanging on, blowing a six-run lead before scraping out one more and winning in Washington. It’s almost hard to watch a game now. It hurts to see Hanley Ramirez strike out one more time. It’s agony to witness poor John Ely called in to a tight game and giving away homers like their hooker ads in Vegas. Walk-off wins are fun, but confident playing from the first inning and hitting with men in scoring position is what wins pennants.

Dodgers @ Reds, Sept. 21-23, 2012

Downward Facing Dogs

(Dodgers @ Reds, Sept. 21-23, 2012)

Downward facing dogs
Shadows of their former selves
Rise up, blue ashes

Roll the dice of life!

(Image: Baseball fan)

Where’s a Miracle When You Need One?

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

That might be all that can save the Dodgers’ chances this year. They are lifeless and uninspired. They must be very frustrated, and I feel for them, but c’mon! Since we went for the “big bats,” we’ve gotten nothing but bad baseball. There’s the occasional bright spot, usually sparked by the remarkable Luis Cruz. I think I’d rather watch Elian Herrera and Dee Gordon try really hard and fail than see Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez rest on their past laurels and let games get away.

Dodgers @ Nationals, Sept. 19-20, 2012

If We Pull This Off

(Dodgers @ Nationals, Sept. 19-20, 2012)

If we pull this off
It will be a miracle!
Doubleheader blues

Risk it all every time?

(Images: Left-fielder Shane Victorino and shortstop Hanley Ramirez)

Another Wet Blanket

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

At the fleece blanket giveaway game last night, a guard at the gate said to a die-hard fan, “Well, this is the series that will make us or break us.” The fan said, “Haven’t we said that about every series lately?” The guard replied, “Yeah, but this one is really it.” Then they lost, 2-1, with very little spark under their sneakers.

Cardinals @ Dodgers, Sept. 13-16, 2012

Our Hurlers Get Lit!

(Cardinals @ Dodgers, Sept. 13-16, 2012)

Our hurlers get lit!
The chemistry’s dead, to wit,
Blue sticks be splintered!

Might as well do as the fool says.

(Image: Juan Uribe, bench player)

Ce n’est pas un rêve de pipe! (This Is Not a Pipe Dream!)

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

True fans never give up. But, man, the Dodgers are making it tough on us! A pipe has light at the end of the darkness. It is real hard to detect that glimmer right now. Frustration isn’t a strong enough word for the emotion True Blue fans are feeling now.

Dodgers @ Diamondbacks, Sept. 11-12, 2012

Injured & Busted

(Dodgers @ Diamondbacks, Sept. 11-12, 2012)

Injured & busted
A blue train over the cliff
Wild card’s a pipe dream

And who knows when it all goes poof!

(Image: Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis)

I Hear the Fat Lady Now

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

It’s over. No need to worry about those expensive post-season ticket packages. They went one tweak too far, and somehow extinguished the spark the Dodgers had at the beginning. They went from the Little Engine That Could to the Big Machine That Breaks Down. Oh well, I guess we’ll have to wait ’til next year.

Dodgers @ Giants, Sept. 7-9, 2012

Is the GM Blind?

(Dodgers @ Giants, Sept. 7-9, 2012)

Is the GM blind?
It’s always pitching, numb nuts
Buy some freakin’ arms!

All we’ve got is this one shot.

(Image: Adrian Gonzalez, first baseman)

Better Playing Through Chemistry

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

We saw a spark of it in the last two games with the D’backs, something that makes us push on to win, or at least die trying. The walk-off huddle of joy is a lot of fun to watch … just ask owner Mark Walter, who not only hung out ’til the game was over, but rushed on the field like a kid when A-Gon knocked in Ellis and Victorino. (Speaking of the Flyin’ Hawaiian, I swear his legs were like the Road Runner’s when he zoomed around those bases: just a blur!) Some say, “You can’t win ’em all,” but that’s exactly what the Dodgers have to do to get the division title.

(Padres @ Dodgers, Sept. 3-5, 2012)

We Sink in Big Bucks!

(Padres @ Dodgers, Sept. 3-5, 2012)

We sink in big bucks!
We’ll flip on our heads to win.
Throw us a blue bone

In this existence, ain’t no rewind.

(Image: Shane Victorino, left fielder)