In about 24 hours from now, our first Game Thread of the 2010 season will go up, ready for comments about the Dodgers' opening day at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. We've been doing Game Threads into our fourth year now, and I thought I'd take a moment to explain our rationale and general rules of engagement, both of which have evolved.
There are other Dodger blogs that also provide great Game Threads. True Blue LA does a solid job at giving you the complete skinny on the players and teams prior to gametime. And of course, the godfather of Dodger bloggers Jon Weisman, who started most of us anyway when he was back at the Baseball Toaster, will have an avid following no matter where he hangs his Game Thread hat.
We started our Game Threads back in 2007 with the primary purpose of finding a repository for the seven Sons' insipid, sarcastic comments made during Dodger games. In years prior, from the first pitch onward we would be shooting group emails all over the place riffing about the game, but also spiralling into random tangents about music, culture, entertainment, and humor.
So there we are, in April 2007, basically talking to ourselves. Which was fine, since the blog provided an alternative to the 3K+ emails we'd sent around the year before. At least all the comments were finally in one place, besides our email boxes.
Not all of us live(d) in the same city, or even time zone--so it was nice to have a place where we could come in, hang up our coats, and "watch" the game together irrespective of where we were or how long we wanted to stick around. No commitments, just a bunch of Sons throwing quip after quip around with reckless abandon. We started affectionately referring to SoSG GTs as "our local bar," where we would open up shop, pour a few drinks, and watch the trainwreck which was the 2007 season ensue.
But by the 2008 season, something strange had happened. Much to our surprise, other people started stopping by our neighborhood bar, too. We realized that we had to make sure we were opening the bar two hours before each gametime, as other people were counting on us as well. And we met a heck of a lot of great friends in 2008, both in the Game Threads and in person.
In 2009, the party blew up even more. Fueled by both a great community of witty, timely, and extremely funny commenters, we ended up piercing new heights in comment counts with complete regularity. It was common to have our faithful readers put up the starting lineups in the comments, even before we had goten to it. And when we even surpassed 1000 comments during a key game, the comment thread was hoppin'; there were more than a few of us knocking back a couple, enjoying the game...until the end that is. It was an awful, gut-wrenching playoff loss that evening, and more liquor was required to anesthetize the sorrow. But having the likes of SoSG regulars Dusty Baker, Mr. Customer, Mr. LA Sports Fan, Josh S., Neeebs, rbnlaw, Quadsevens, fanerman, Fred's Brim, Hong Like A Chih Kuo, Erin, karina, Paul, Nic j, Booger, Dusto_Magnifico, and others (**email me if I've inadvertently missed you; I'm drunk right now and it's awful tough to scan these comments with this sort of buzz going on**) helped diffuse the pain a bit.
(Well, maybe not all that much; I spent most of this off-season in a funk that the "off-season splash" signing of Russ Ortiz did little to remedy. But enough about me.)
SoSG became a home-away-from-home not only for a small group of crazy Sons, but also for a larger group of passionate, prolific, and excited Dodger fans (thanks Erin for articulating so well what the meat of SoSG GTs is). Which is an awesome metamorphosis, if you ask me, to something even better than we had imagined four years ago. And this place ended up being exactly the type of bar in which I'd like to hang out as a regular.
We know we've got a precious community here, of a great group of people who take the time to contribute their comments and insight and perspectives. And we want you to know that we sincerely appreciate your patronage--which is part of the reason why we're always giving random things away for insane contests and their ilk. We take "tending" this bar quite seriously, and love the group of friends we've developed. [And we'll be publishing more news soon about taking this community to the next level--stay tuned!]
For those who are new to SoSG, welcome to the bar, come on in, pull up a chair and open up a tab. You'll find Game Threads going up around two hours before each first pitch of each game, unless superstitions this season cause us to change tack. You'll find a solid community of regulars who are both interested and knowledgeable about the Dodgers, as well as well-versed in any number of other fields (just watch!). And you'll find plenty of ice-cold brews flowing from the SoSG tap.
The great thing about this bar is, there's plenty of room for new barstools, and we're open for every game. Jump on in, make a comment. Join the mayhem.
If you're passionate about the Dodgers and ready to comment with your passion, come on in and enjoy! We'll see you here in 24 hours (Dusty, please don't camp out again on the sidewalk in front; your seat is safe, no need to worry).
231 comments:
1 – 200 of 231 Newer› Newest»Can't wait for tomorrow. I 'll be here for sure.
Not a second too soon, if you ask me.
even though I don't post much anymore I still like it here the best
cantwaitcantwaitcantwait.
Two miserable loses to the Lost Angels must be avenged, I tell ye!
Avenged!
I come 'round here for the Dodger baseball. I stick 'round here for the Snark.
The site can be summed up like the old Venn Diagram puzzle: Dodgers, Star Wars, Simpsons, and Babes.
Let's go 2010.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." B. Giamatti
Now that being said...I don't care if I am still on probation in three different jurisdictions for the last night of the 2009 season.
Give it up for the 2010 Dodgers and the SOSG band!
I'm new here to SoSG and will be here tomorrow for opening day.
@Karen
Welcome! We hope you'll be both enlightened and amused by the witty repartee.
Oh, man, what do you mean there's no camping out? I have my Yoda costume and Kevin Brown jersey, a 12-pack of Colt 45 tall boys, and some silly string ready to go.
*shuffles off to find the Doo-Doh Parade*
To add a bit of a serious note to this post, and I think I've briefly remarked on it before, but it always strikes me (and those around me) how funny/sad/insane it is that there are many times I'll be at an actual game (remember those!) and think, "Man, I'd rather be at home on the sofa posting some snarky comment of the GT than sitting here along the third baseline; I've got a good thing to post about that last play." When you get to that point, you know it's bad...or, good.
Can't wait for Opening Day (today's game doesn't count in my book) and for the GT that will surely cause me to lose at least three hours of work.
Cheers to the Sons for running the best bar in (virtual) town!*
*Jason, you're a close second.
Thx for those links, too. I like looking back at old GTs to see what inane, drunken jibberish I (and others) uttered.
For example, re: the hated Cards:
"I want calling-my-cousin-Louie-who-knows-some-guys revenge." D. Baker
Classic. I reserve the right to use that again this season, too, if that's alright.
@Dusty
I can relate. During the NLDS game 2 insanity, I was so bummed out that I wasn't able to get reception in the loge.
@DB: solution is to buy a smart phone and post while at the game.
@Karen: brush up on your obscure references and you'll fit right in.
I've been following the blog for some time, finally decided to start commenting. Can't wait for opening day!
@Neeebs
Waaaaay ahead of ya. I specifically bought an iPhone in the offseason because SoSG site looks relatively normal on the browser, as opposed to how it looks on a BlackBerry. Sole reason for getting the new smart phone. Sons, hope Apple gives you its kickback.
Wary of ATT reception (or lack thereof) at the games, but we'll see.
Blogger: offer a mobile-optimized version of your sites, as Sons comes up magnified about 50 times every page hit, and one has to pinch down to get a normal-sized page to read. This was especially annoying during March Madness contest when I was driving and refreshing every 30 seconds.
I look forward to a full season of witty banter.
And because of that, I can no longer post on SoSG.
Just joking. I hate witty banter.
*slaps MLASF with silk glove*
How dare you, sir!
After all that witty banter has done for you.
You, sah, have challenged me to a duel. Pistols at dawn!
I'd say the regulars are already in mid-season form.
Which one of you is Mr. Burr?
Tough to say, Neeebs. Burr won, but his life was a disgrace as a result.
Furcal SS
Martin C
Ethier RF
Manny LF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
DeWitt 2B
Padilla P
Hey look at that I got billing over dusto.
LONEY SUCKS!!
@Neeebs, MLASF
Burr was a bit of a disgrace even before the duel. A tradition that subsequent vice-presidents were all too keen to continue.
But the duel just made him an outcast. Before people at least gave him a semblance of respect. Him killing Hamilton just alienated people, especially since many believed Hamilton intentionally missed.
What? Why is Martin batting second?
Probably the speed factor.
They would have to actually get on base for the speed to come into factor.
But it's against the pirates so who really cares.
Normally I'm happy to see a massive collapse by the celtics. Not so much when it's against the cavs though.
Celtics pull one out, which means ABC can finally start showing the Laker game.
Of course, as soon as they finally switch over to the Lakers game, we give up the mdoerate lead in a 7-0 Spurs run.
Damn, you guys are in mid-season form. And welcome to the new recruits!
I'm loving 33 comments and growing on a thread about commenting on a day we're not even playing.
Rock on, and go Lakers!
See Karen. This is an example of how you blend in Dodger baseball with historical references.
Game on.
@Damon 9.20a: welcome back, one of our first readers (or at least, commenters). You're always welcome; you can find the chair with your plaque on the back.
@Neeebs 10:30a: the Venn diagram reference is right on. We promise a cavalcade of more obscure references this year.
@Karen 10:43a: Welcome to the circus!
@Neeebs / Mr LASF 11:58ish: Love the Aaron Burr reference. Reminds me of that early got milk commercial. To think that guy got a role in Twister and Batman Returns out of that commercial! At least he's a Bruin.
@NicJ 12:18p: Agreed. Great move, letting the guy recovering from a goin injury bat second for speed on the basepaths. This augurs poorly.
And for everyone: Thanks to all of you for coming back for this season, we hope to not let you down. As for me, I CAN'T FRICKIN' WAIT FOR THIS SEASON TO START!!! ENOUGH WAITING ALREADY!!!
Nice post Sax. Its title also begs the question: are there any nouns we can't verb?
Oh yeah, and @Dusty Baker 11:25a: That's exactly why I got an iPhone too. Though I agree the full-screen refresh sort of sucks.
I confess that I come to games packing two separate smartphone devices, just to make sure I've got coverage. And at Chavez Ravine, even that strategy doesn't always work...
Good question EK. I don't know if there are many verbs we can't noun, either.
I also think there's some debate about whether "GameThread" is one, PlayStation-like word, or two distinct words. I tend to be in the former camp; Orel in the latter.
DB - I wonder how many comments a "Why We Post About Why We GameThread" post would get?
(also, the headline sounded better than "why do we thread games?")
@Sax
Thx for the tip. I'll come armed w my iFizzle (ATT) and work-issues BlackBerry (Verizon) just for backup. Because the world would end if I weren't able to impart my masterful insight.
I like the headline for this thread as it is reminded me of a fine, fine episode from "Band of Brothers," called "Why We Fight." I read this thread's post with the seriousness that I would watch a gritty, World War II ten-part retrospective.
T minus three hours 'til an over-hyped, trite rivalry renews.
EK sez
...also begs the question: are there any nouns we can't verb?
You did NOT just go there. Can I get a usage ruling, here?
You do realize you used the word "verb," a noun, as a verb?
My sox fan roomate was trying to tell me Beltre was gonna hit 20 hr's and have a .350 obp
a cozy bar full of articulate, witty people is exactly the vibe i got when i finally stumbled onto this blog last season. again, glad i found it. as a dodger fan for all of my 32 years, i'd have to say this blog is now probably in my top 10 reasons (out of about 10 million) why it's better to be a dodger fan.
well, that laker game sucked. Now i get to wash it down with sox v yanks. yay.
el montanero wrote:
"a cozy bar full of articulate, witty people"
Exactly. Lasorda is here, too.
EARTHQUAKE! EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!
Thought you all might appreciate this entry in today's post of the photography micro-blog thingy I have:
http://span.posterous.com/opening-day-65
mother earth is quaking in anticipation for opening day.
Mother Earth knows we are considering Russ Ortiz. She is angry.
Mic J, Dusty: are you sure that shaking isn't just Russ Ortiz walking to the plane to Pittsburgh?
well that gave me something to do for a while 45 mins till baseball
Nice, Nic.
It's 4:20. Now I have something to do before baseball.
Orel (the ESPN commentator, not the Son) has more product in his hair than that teacher on GLEE.
Damn, Dusty, you're just full of surprises. You get some nice contrasty goodness out of that teeny tiny little lens.
So it took the red sox getting swept out of the playoffs to finally get them to put some brothers on the team? No longer the whitest team in baseball.
@Mr. C-
Post-processing apps help.
Surprising how they decided to play the game in Fenway and not the Bronx.
whats the chance of an asteroid hitting fenway right now?
Looks like Sabathia trained with Bobby Abreu in the offseason.
#IHOPallucaneatbreakfast
still making manny jokes.
@dusty
post-processing be damned, it still takes a nice image. As any honest photographer will tell, there's nothing you can do digitally that makes in any more dishonest than the things you can do in the darkroom.
That just reinforces the idea that the Green Monster gives Boston an unfair advantage. Visiting clubs have no way of adjusting to the tricky hops and angles.
Well-said, Mr. C.
the phillies nomar? you break my heart.
Kruk picks the phillies, alert the media.
Awesome take on the Green Monster by ESPN. Rich.
Now let's PLAY BALL!
Who's the moron that took Cubs/Rays?
Pedro to throw out the first pitch.
lets go pulled hamstrings, lets go.
Clap Clap
Jon Miller said, "Presented by Dick's..." and I was thinking, "yeah, I already know this game's on ESPN."
bobby valentine, he is going to need his dugout disguise after that prediction.
I have no idea what Joe Morgan just said. Straws? Drinks? Fuel? Engine?
even in the dicks sporting goods commercial Odog gets benched.
Joe Morgan mixing metaphors like a bartender mixes drinks.
Eager Jeter.
Interesting new graphic by ESPN.
Joe Morgan is already annoying me and we are only two out in first inning on Opening Day.
I love how we've turned this into a GameThread (or Game Thread, depending on what camp one is in) for a game we're not even playing in, thus underscoring the point of the post in the first place.
I wonder how Red Sox fans sleep at night knowing they are just as spend-happy as the Yankees.
We're starved for real baseball, Dusty.
^ I was saying that out of respect, BTW.
Here's an awesome pic of tomorrow's lineup as expressed by bats of each Dodger player:
http://tinyurl.com/yhxq68d
Ken Levine is on KABC: http://bit.ly/9YizqY
@Orel
Why did they put that show on at same time as the game, I wonder? I'd love to be hearing Levine but am going to have to opt for the first game of the season.
OOOohhhh...I got it! I could turn the game down and listen to Levine. Done.
im listening to KABC, got the tv on mute
Same as Nic
haha, raiders lose again!!!!
Jorge? He's the guy with the first homer? Jorge?
its fenway, i could hit one out.
Curtis Granderson!
well theres the second
BP at Fenway
@Dusty: I think it's not DodgerTalk, but Sunday Night Sports Talk. Not like there's much of a difference.
It's Dodger Talk with a candy-ass name to bring in people.
Then I guess I'm a sucker for candy-ass names.
Jeff Francis and Huston Street on the DL.
Candy-Ass would be a great name for a chocolate company.
Theo's the youngest GM I've ever seen, yet he's the most austere looking of the bunch.
Or a strip club.
BELTRE
She said "Jeff Francis and Huston Street on the DL"?
Yes. Yes she did.
Is Jon Miller ever going to learn how to say Beltre?
@MLASF
That's my kind of lady!
Hey, it's old friend J.D. Drew! What a gamer!
that's it. derek jeter is 2010 MVP.
Miller might actually be right. Didn't Karina say it should be Fur-CAL instead of Fur-COLL?
Derek Jeter: Life MVP
Paul Revere didn't alert his countrymen of anything. It wasn't a country yet, Jon.
hey everyone joe morgan said a homerun to start off your career with a team is better than going 0-10
the more you know...
@Orel
My expertise is limited, but I believe it should be about halfway between CALifornia and COLlie. More like CAULdron.
Now I'm bored.
FurCAULiflower?
dr dre is a red sox fan?!?!
this is worse than when i found out easy e had aids
@Nic
Could be worse, it could be SFG.
Anxious to get to work tomorrow to make sure my bobbleheads didn't fall off the shelf in the earthquake.
Dre isn't a BoSox fan. He's just peddling his line of headphones. He was on pre-game show. Lame/awkward product placement.
ah ok.
RIP Eazy E.
Nice RBI by Jeter. And I mean that non-sarcastically.
Jeter's barely containing his Jeterness right now.
Cancel rest of the season already. Jeter MVP.
Or is Beckett, is a reverse way?
2nd/home steal? what is this little league?
Oozing Jeterosity.
@ Nic-
It is Little League, being played by Red Sox.
Girardi is wearing braces? It IS Little League.
pedroia with a jeteresque gritty dive into 1st
They touched first at exactly the same time. Joe Morgan, hos is that "clearly out"?
That whole tie goes to the runner thing...long gone.
I can tell I'm going to want to limit my consumption of AL baseball this year. I have only so much time to hear about all this creamy Yankee goodness.
"Creamy Yankee Goodness"
Sounds like candy from the Bronx.
Also sounds like the blood on a British soldier's bayonet.
Hey, when did Scott Show-en-weis catch on with the Sox?
he was released from the brewers earlier this spring
@MLASF-
I was just wondering the same thing. Missed that move this offseason.
Nice barehanded catch off the carom by Drew. See? I can be impartial.
Drew broke his hand on that catch and will be out the rest of the season.
Felt a little aftershock there.
Andrew Baggarly just did a great Jim Tracy impersonation. Even though he covers the Giants now, my respect for him just went up.
"Drew broke his hand on that catch and will be out the rest of the season."
Bravo, Dusty!
ESPN needs to move its inning indicator away from the game score.
Scotty's rocking a wicked beard.
"Scotty's rocking a wicked beard."
with the year he has had im sure he doesnt even know he has one.
poor guy
Question: Why is ESPN not using the center camera?
Joe Morgan finds David Ortiz's remarks obvious? IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD!!!
Are they still talking about the steal of home?
Should have cut off the runner at second there.
I know, MLASF, it's like, just friggin let it go. It happened.
Now another semi-blown play happened so maybe they'll talk about that another 2 hours.
I just remembered what happened to Scott Schoenweis. Looked it up — apparently his wife ODed on cocaine.
I love how not once when criticizing Red Sox for the steal of home did Morgan suggest that it just may be early in the season and not everyone is in sync yet. But as soon as Yankees had their own poor fielding choice, that was his almost immediate explanation, that it was early in the season.
#Yankeegasm
yeah those toxicology reports came out a month or two ago. what a shame.
"Should have cut off the runner at second there."
I'm watching with the sound off so what's blatantly obvious sounds smart when you think of it.
well look like the rox take the predictions sweep for NL west beat writers.
Guess who just transferred the old DVR'd copy he had of the BobbleSlam game to his computer, whereby he can now burn a copy to DVD for posterity?
I'm sure that Jeff Francis will be nails this year *cough*
Just noted your avatar, Nic. Nice.
Although I do miss the nerdy white boy riding the Segway or whatever that was.
haha that was GOB bluth on his segway.
ill need a new one for the start of the season. i dont think natural disaster avi's are good for the start of the season. Ill see where we are at in july and maybe ill go back to it.
Would you say you've made a huge mistake, Nic?
When did George Sherrill start playing first for Boston?
Yeah right, like the guy with the $143,000 avatar would make a mistake.
OH COME ON!
Make like '04, AB.
Bel-TREY with the game-tying single.
I think Joe Morgan's trying to say that it's a long throw.
Yankees winning again = interest waning again
Is that really Steven Tyler?
Chan Ho Park's with the Yankees, eh?
Welcome to the AL East, Park.
no more evil chan ho park beard this year i guess.
@Nic
These are the Yankees. Their evil is fully internal.
@MC (from awhile back)
Creamy Yankee Goodness brought to you from Candy Ass Confections.
Mmm...ass confections.
Both teams have crappy pitching today. Obviously much harder to get back into the swing of things for a pitcher than a hitter.
Now thats a opening day Avi
Stamp of approval for Nic's battletoad.
so these are the two teams with the highest pitching payrolls and its 7-8 in the 7th, money well spent.
When did they make that Richard's sporting goods commercial with O dog? It looks like he is wearing Dodger blue.
@paul, considering he was sitting on the bench im guessing it was filmed during last years playoffs.
Holy crap, you guys are cracking me up. 175 comments for a non-GT-turned-GT?
Beers on the house! And I'm not even (physically able to be) watching the game (where I am)!
I hoping Randy Winn will bring some of his Giants FAIL to the yanks this year
Sax - Try ESPN3.com.
*approve nic's avi*
Neil Diamonds There!?!?!
Why not? Neil Diamond and Steven Tyler make it a party!
Everyone sing your favorite Pedophile's Anthem
SWEET CAROLINE
BAH BAH BAH!!!!
They should make a remake of that commercial with the Panda and Molina. It would be an hour long commercial though.
Neil!!!!!!!!
Somewhere out there, Vinny is watching this game and, after seeing Winn in the dugout, mumbling the story to himself about Winn hitting a halfcourt shot to win a car during a Clippers game.
well its no dont stop believin'
Stanford sneaks by Oklahoma to earn a date with UConn...forget the mens bracket, this is the true David and Goliath.
Go Cardinal!
Neil you buzzed killed me. Dodgers in LA por vida.
Someone's already updated Neil Diamond's Wikipedia page with his performance.
In that Dick's commercial, could they have picked two older, slower guys to run around seemingly fast and jump around all over the place than Hunter and Junior? Nothing says speedy cleats like those dudes.
WTF with Diamond's jacket re Brooklyn?
DAMMIT
Did Orel just say Jabba licks his fingers intensely?
*Beach ball*
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