2012

The End of the Road

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

End of the season, October 3, 2012Bang the drum slowly for another Dodger season. Now the long wait ’til next year. It was fun the first half, being at the top of the Major League food chain for, well, it seemed like forever. The southpaw, Clayton Kershaw, started out a little rocky, but he eventually found his way. Matt Kemp started the year like the MVP we all know he should be, then injuries plagued him. There were nice surprises in the infield, like Mark Ellis and Luis Cruuuuuuuz. But the boffo moves made mid-season seemed to put the kibosh on the chemistry, and no amount of bobbleheads could get some people to buy a ticket for a seamstitch, leaving the stadium eerily half-full much of the time. Anyway, we need to start looking forward, and not back. Something for the owners to keep in mind in their sophomore year: Dodger fans like likable players. Sure, they still have to hit, but they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Case in point, the awesome catcher A.J. Ellis. It took him a long time to be the Dodgers catcher, he did a great job, and he should still be here come April. Period. Same with second baseman Mark Ellis. Reliable and solid (that base-running blunder Tuesday was not the reason the team didn’t make the playoffs). And the aforementioned Cinderella story third baseman Luis Cruuuuuuuuz! (It can only be spelled with numerous U’s.) His ability, personality and attitude are the epitome of Dodger spirit. He is a joyous surprise, and we want him to stick around. See you next year, with new paintings and great expectations!

As Fate Would Have It

(Last game of 2012 season, Oct. 3, 2012)

As fate would have it
Cosmic autumn forces howl
Let’s close this blue book

From darkness and silence we explode.

(Image: Right fielder Andre Ethier)

We’re Not Dead Yet!

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

Boy, the Dodgers are proving that Yogi Berra was right: It ain’t over ’til it’s over! The team is like that corpse on “Castle” that suddenly sits up when they wheel it into the morgue. They are finally playing like it means something and like it’s fun, too. That’s what we’ve been waiting for as fans. And what can you say about a certain third-baseman, except: CRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZ! Love that guy. I hope they keep him around for next year. Go Dodgers!!!

Giants @ Dodgers, Oct. 1-3, 2012

Smack ‘Em With Our Brooms

Giants @ Dodgers, Oct. 1-3, 2012

Smack ’em with our brooms
Can the blue dead rise again!
I hear a heartbeat

(Leap into the fire! Be consumed.)

Image: Shortstop Dee Gordon

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)

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)

Special K’s

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

Tonight is the battle of the K’s. Kershaw vs. Kennedy will kick off a four-game series at the Ravine. Neither Clayton nor Ian is up to the K-K-K-Kaliber of their Cy Young (and near Cy Young) seasons last year, but our K is getting there. Speaking of K’s, Matt Kemp and that wall have to stop meeting like that. He was downright loopy after that last collision. It’s amazing he didn’t have a concussion. You could see stars circling around his head. But he has the resilience of Wile E. Coyote, so he’ll probably be back in the lineup up before it’s actually healthy. Let’s hope he remembers how to hit when he does get back. They all seemed to be doing it yesterday (I mean, Grand Slam A.J.!), and the only way we can win this thing is by keeping that up.

Diamondbacks @ Dodgers, Aug. 30-Sept. 2

I Spy Them Coiled

(Diamondbacks @ Dodgers, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2012)

I spy them coiled
A reptilian nightmare?
Make ’em slither off!

No do-over for life.

(Image: Randy Choate, relief pitcher)

Rocky Mountain Hi!

Posted on by L.A. Blue Bum

Just a quick pop-in to the mile-high city, three days in the Rockies then back to Vin Scully Bobblehead Night. Let’s make Vin proud while we’re up there, right? He’s staying another year, and he’s all excited about the new team. Everyone is. Even T.J. Simers has softened up. We have a dream lineup now, but that won’t mean much if our pitching doesn’t live up to its own potential. Sure, Kershaw’s great, and Billingsley had found the missing piece before his elbow kicked him in the ass again. But Blanton? I don’t know about him. Four starts and four dismal losses. Belisario doesn’t seem to care whether he strikes out the side or gives up four home runs. He’s getting paid either way. And don’t get me started on Brandon League. That’s just sad. Sure, it’s nice to have the fearsome foursome of Kemp, Ramirez, Gonzalez and Ethier, but if you ain’t got pitching, you ain’t got nothin’.

Dodgers @ Rockies, Aug. 27-29, 2012

Pulverize Mole Hills!

(Dodgers @ Rockies, Aug. 27-29, 2012)

Pulverize mole hills!
Dogs want some blue Denver dreams
Keep ’em in quarry

No reset button in life.

(Image: Luis Cruz, third baseman)