Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Plaschke Quick To Criticize Bobblehead Choices, But Remained Quiet Four Months Ago

Oh sure, LA Times blowhard Bill Plaschke wants to get you all riled up over the Dodgers' 10 bobbleheads available in 2012, and how it's a mortal sin to have not included Dodgers broadcasting legend Jaime Jarrin:

Even when it comes to bobbleheads, the Dodgers can be knuckleheads.

In what probably will be Frank McCourt's final farewell to Dodgers fans, his team is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium this summer by handing out 10 bobblehead dolls featuring celebrated Dodgers heroes.

Vin Scully will be one. Sandy Koufax will be another. Tom Lasorda and Walter Alston will be bobbling together. Mike Scioscia and Kirk Gibson will be all dolled up. Don Drysdale and Maury Wills will share a tiny sculpture. Orel Hershiser, Eric Karros, Fernando Valenzuela and the legendary infield of the 1970s will also be honored.

The list is officially called the "2012 Dodger Stadium Greats Bobblehead Series" and the group is pretty cool, except for one pequeno problema.

A Hall of Fame broadcaster who has spent 53 years connecting with Dodgers fans in Spanish is not included.

His name is Jaime Jarrin, he has been with the organization longer than all but Scully and Lasorda, and although you may have never heard him, there are large segments of this city who listen to only him, forming the foundation of today's loyal Latino Dodgers fan base.

He's not Scully, but there are many people who believe in him just as religiously. He's not even as famous as his broadcasting partner Valenzuela, but his contributions to baseball have been just as compelling, as he is considered baseball's greatest Spanish-language broadcaster ever .

Yet when McCourt's top staff drew up a list of 10 Dodger Stadium legends to be immortalized in what has become a bobbling badge of honor, Jaime Jarrin didn't make the cut?

Look, I'm not saying that Jaime Jarrin doesn't deserve to be included in the ten; even I had a puzzled grin when reading that Big Wave Eric Karros made the anniversary season bobblehead cut (June 28; mark your calendars!). Jarrin would have been an inspired choice, especially as a bookend to Vin Scully, who is getting a Dodgers bobblehead SGA for the first time.

But if Plaschke really cared about Jarrin's bobblehead candidacy, he would have said something back in late November 2011, when the ten bobbleheads were announced, but the identities not revealed. That would have been an appropriate time to start the Jarrin campaign; not after the lineup was announced, Monday morning quarterback.

You want to talk about bobbling the ball, Bill? Go look behind the orange curtain. That seems like a much more unpardonable sin to fans, no?

7 comments:

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Easy up on Bill! He was too distracted by the NBA lockout and NFL action to pay attention to bobbleheads.

Hideo Nomo said...

Because I'm sure he called Jaime and asked if he even wanted a bobblehead or feels slighted that he didn't get one. Remember, Vin fought having one for the longest time.

Franklin Stubbs said...

Bill Plaschke, Outrage Flavor Pez Dispenser.

Cliff Beefpile said...

Bill Plaschke is a weenie.

Alex Cora said...

Plaschke wants his own bobblehead.

Fred's Brim said...

"Bill Plaschke, Outrage Flavor Pez Dispenser"

*applauds*

Franklin Stubbs said...

I'm here all week! Try the veal!