Game 19 Thread: April 27 vs. Giants, 7p

Tonight's stadium giveaway.

Brett Anderson (1-1, 5.40) vs. Madison Bumgarner (1-1, 4.63).

After rolling over and playing dead in SF, the Dodgers traveled to "pitcher-friendly" confines of Petco Park and scored a total of 15 runs over three games. Okay, 11 of those runs were in that bizarre Game 2, but the point is that THEY'RE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TEAM NOW. And just in time, as the Giants come rolling into town having split two in Colorado (yesterday's game was rained out).

Who had Brandon McCarthy (probably) heading to the DL before Brett Anderson? With an injury epidemic hitting NL pitchers (McCarthy, Wainwright, Scherzer) and with Ryu already warming his haunches on the DL, the last thing the Dodgers need is for Anderson to live up to his injury history. Slow and steady wins the race, Brett. No need to be a hero.

What, No Ed Goodson?

Click here to vote in the Dodgers portion of MLB.com's "Franchise Four" vote.

Here's the ballot:

Of course, we're biased:

A Great Tommy Davis Story

From Bill Dwyre's interview with Tommy Davis at the LA Times:

Story No. 3: "I led the league in batting in '62 and '63, then broke my ankle in '65. Doctors say it'll take two years to heal fully, but I get traded in one. The Mets give me a great chance in '67. I play 154 games and get to the last game and I'm hovering around .300. We're playing the Dodgers, Don Drysdale pitching, Johnny Roseboro catching — my longtime friends. It's the last inning, two out and 0-2 count on me. I say to Johnny, 'I think I'm right at .299. I need to hit over .300.' He says, 'What do you want and where do you want it?' I tell him, it arrives, I hit a double, finish the year batting .302, and because of that, play 10 more years in the league."

Vin Scully, on the First Save Ever

Vin Scully, from Sunday's telecast:

So on this day in 1969, there we are on the bus with the team. Don Drysdale is going to pitch opening day in Cincinnati against the Reds. Walter Alston turns to Bill Singer, another right-hander on the ballclub, and Walter said, "Look, I'm going to have Drysdale pitch six innings, since it's early in the season. Can you give me three innings?"

And Bill said, "Yeah, sure."

So, Drysdale went six, led going out three to two. Bill Singer came in, pitched three innings, and the Dodgers won the game three to two.

It wasn't until years later that Bill Singer found out he got the first save in baseball history, under some rather strange circumstances.

And with that, let's go back to the game.

Vin Scully, on Villains

Vin Scully, from last night's telecast:

I was talking to Bill Shaikin, the fine writer at the LA Times, and he's going to write, I think, an article about the Giant-Dodger rivalry.

And we both agree something is missing.

The problem is, there are too many nice guys involved in the game.

No villain. Not yet, anyway, but no villain.

Oh and two.

You know, Barry Bonds was definitely a villain, Juan Marichal was a villain, Don Drysdale was a villain.

Leo Durocher was a villain, Tommy Lasorda was a villain, depending on where each name mentioned was as a visitor.

Jackie Robinson was a villain.

But it's different right now.

I can remember one day before a Giant-Dodger game in the old Polo Grounds in New York. I was in the clubhouse, which was about four hundred and eighty feet away from home plate. And as each Dodger came out of the clubhouse, the crowd would boo.

And all of a sudden it dwindled down, there were only two players, and me, in the clubhouse: Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson.

And Pee Wee said to Jackie, I'll bet you I get more boos than you do.

And Jackie said, you gotta be kidding.

So Reese opened up the door as he started down the wooden steps. I mean they booed him out of the ballpark.

And Robbie sat there in the dressing room laughing.

And finally he said to me, Now watch this. He said, I'm sure that the Giants fans check off the name of each Dodger player who has left the clubhouse. I'll guarantee you they know I'm the only player left in the clubhouse.

And I swear to you, the door didn't crack open six inches — you couldn't see who was coming out — but the crowd knew it was Robinson.

And they went wild.

Two and two.

So, right now we're missing it, but in a tough pennant race, there might be a knock-down pitch, there might be something where both benches empty, the guys running from the bullpen, but something will happen, I am sure — or, if not, I will be completely surprised — between now and the end of the season.

Three and two....

At-Game Recap: April 28 vs. Nationals

Is Matt Kemp carrying this team? Yes.

@TheRealMattKemp gives some love to his @dodger27mom.

Bryce Harper takes the field for the first time as a major leaguer.

Stephen Strasburg's first pitch of the night.

Alcohol may have been involved.

More photos after the jump!

Big D and the Mouse

Tonight's bobblehead giveaway, via SoSG Dusty Baker:

Maury looks a tad angry.

Double Bobble

From tonight's Prime Ticket broadcast, another look at the Don Drysdale/Maury Wills 2-for-1 bobblehead, to be given away on April 28th. Seems a bit on the small side to me. Or Maury has GIGANTIC hands.

Death Of Longtime Umpire Harry Wendelstedt Announced

Sad news form the umpiring world:

Harry Wendelstedt, a National League umpire for 33 years who owned a school that developed dozens of Major League umpires, died Friday at the age of 73.

Wendelstedt, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor 10 years ago, according to his son, Major League umpire Hunter Wendelstedt, died in Ormond Beach, Fla., where he lived and where the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School is located.

Wendelstedt umpired in five World Series, seven National League Championship Series and four All-Star Games. He was the crew chief in the 1980 and '95 Fall Classics. His big league career began in '66 and ended in '98.

All of us who are longtime baseball fans remember Harry for his more than 30 years as an umpire. And those of us who are longtime Dodgers fans, whether we were alive then or if we know the lore, remember Harry for his controversial call that helped preserve Don Drysdale's scoreless inning streak.

Harry was a baseball man until the very end:

"He lived for baseball. He lived for umpiring. When we were getting him into the ambulance [this morning] he had MLB [Network] TV on. That's all he would watch."

That's the way I want to go out. RIP Harry. Now Drysdale can thank you again in person in baseball heaven.

AP File Photo

Bobbleheads to Anticipate in 2012

From a Dodgers press release:

Dodger Stadium Greats Bobblehead Series

Saturday, April 28 vs. Nationals
Maury Wills with Don Drysdale

Tuesday, May 15 vs. Diamondbacks
Orel Hershiser

Tuesday, May 29 vs. Brewers
The Infield: Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey

Tuesday, June 12 vs. Angels
Mike Scioscia

Thursday, June 28 vs. Mets
TBA

Saturday, July 14 vs. Padres
Tommy Lasorda with Walter Alston

Tuesday, July 31 vs. Diamondbacks
TBA

Tuesday, August 7 vs. Rockies
Sandy Koufax

Tuesday, August 21 vs. Giants
Fernando Valenzuela

Thursday, August 30 vs. Diamondbacks
TBA

Looking forward to seeing what those TBA bobbleheads will be. Can you say Chris Capuano Bobblehead Night?

Scenes from a Coronation

"These baseball cards are huge."

"We winners gotta stick together."

Cy Youngsters: Fernando, Newk and Kershaw.

From "Clayton Kershaw's Cy Young is a connection to Dodgers tradition" by Bill Plaschke at the LA Times:

Clayton Kershaw was preparing to walk across the diamond and into Dodgers history Thursday afternoon when he spotted a man standing alone, staring at him like a father would stare at a son.

It was Dodgers scouting boss Logan White, tossing his phone from hand to hand, rocking on his heels, trying to act composed, failing miserably.

"What are you doing over there?" Kershaw shouted. "You need to hug me!"

On the infield dirt they embraced, the new Cy Young Award winner and the man who was responsible for scouting, drafting and signing him.

"Thank you, thank you," whispered Kershaw.

"A great day, a great day," whispered White.

If you understand baseball scouts, you will understand why White views Kershaw as his child.

You will also understand why, after they hugged for a long minute, White's sunglasses could not hide a long trickle of tears.

"It's like watching somebody grow up," said White. "What a wonderful day."

1&2: AP; 3: @Dodgers

USA Today Conducting "Greatest Dodger Poll"

USA Today has a blog which is going through baseball teams to have fans vote for the team's greatest all-time player. The Dodgers' poll has a surprising result with over 800 votes in the books. First, the candidates:

Don Drysdale: Drysdale was an eight-time All-Star, the 1962 Cy Young Award winner and twice was in the top five in MVP voting. He won 209 games, had a 2.95 career ERA and pitched in five World Series.

Gil Hodges: An eight-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover, Hodges ranks second in franchise history in home runs (361) and RBI (1,254). He played in seven World Series.

Sandy Koufax: Koufax was a three-time Cy Young Award winner, the 1963 National League MVP and had a 165-87 career record. In 1963, he had 11 shutouts, 306 strikeouts, a 25-5 record and a 1.88 ERA. In 1965, he threw the first perfect game by a lefty since 1880, his fourth career no-hitter. Arm problems contributed to his retirement at age 30.

Jackie Robinson: The man who integrated the major leagues was also a Hall of Fame player, with a .311 lifetime average and a dynamic combination of power and speed for a second baseman. He was the major leagues' first rookie of the year honoree, in 1947; two years later he was the NL's MVP, with a stat line that would make a modern middle infielder proud: a .342 average, a .432 on-base percentage, 16 homers, 124 RBI, 37 stolen bases and a .960 OPS (on- base-plus-slugging percentage).

Duke Snider: The Los Angeles native played long enough to be beloved on Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue as well as Los Angeles' Chavez Ravine, hitting the final home run at Ebbets Field. He was an eight- time All-Star, Hall of Famer and worthy companion to fellow New York center fielders Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. Snider is the Dodgers' all-time leader in home runs (389) and RBI (1,271).

As of Wednesday evening, Koufax leads with a commanding 56% of the votes (889 votes recorded). Robinson is second with 24%, Snider at 14%, Drysdale 3% and Hodges 2%. [Eugenio Velez is at negative 936%.]

GUEST POST! - Dodger Beach Clean Up Day

From friend of SoSG "Beast Mode"

A good sign your day job sucks is when calling in sick to go pick up trash is a more appealing option. This is exactly what I did on Tuesday when I came down with food poisoning and took part in the Dodgers Caravan beach clean up at Santa Monica Beach with the help from the good folks at Heal the Bay.

Overall the Dodgers did a great job with the event. It ran very smoothly and I was very surprised at how much interaction there was with the players. They were in the mix among the crowd the whole time. While there were members of the Dodger security staff floating around, they were all but invisible. After the caravan rolled out Heal the Bay gave out so many Dodger related prizes that close to half the participants came away with something. I wasn’t one of the lucky ones but that’s OK. I won enough tickets playing Skeeball on the pier afterwards that I went home with a sweet switchblade comb.

About 200 fans came out despite the soggy conditions and were split into groups. Each group got paired up with two Dodgers. I was in group # 3 which based on the reaction of the other groups was the group to be in with Matt Kemp and Steve Garvey leading the charge across the sand.

• Matt Kemp was genuinely nice and really seemed to be enjoying himself. He was very engaging and definitely wasn’t shy. He posed for countless photos and happily signed as many autographs as he could despite the Dodgers’ security guy insisting on no autographs. A great highlight was him giving a birthday shout out to a girl’s 97th year old grandmother via her Flip camera.

• Papa Steve never stopped smiling. He had kind of a Mayor Quimby vibe minus the booze and hookers.

• 35 was the over/under for Shawn Green and Matt Kemp. Ladies over 35 screamed for Green like he was the 5th Beatle. The under flocked to Kemp.

• After being up close to Rafael Furcal, I will never complain about his durability again. The guy is tiny. Furcal vs. Eckstein is a cage match that needs to happen.

• Overheard Sweet Lou Johnson tell a story about getting plunked by Don Drysdale. Said it hurt so bad he didn’t cry until the next morning.

Charlie Steiner was in good spirits and looking fit and trim. While the Dodgers were being swarmed post trash pick up, he had no one to bug him so I took the opportunity to tell him I thought for sure he’d be fending off more ladies than Kemp. He got a good chuckle out of that and my suggestion that he dive into the scrum and be Kemp’s wingman.

• Adult autograph hounds are a little strange- especially when surrounded by autograph seeking children.

• Gabe Kapler has big hands.

Regarding the actual work component of the event, Santa Monica Beach was so clean you’d think Dark Helmet and Mega Maid had been there the night before.

There wasn’t much trash to pick up and I fear Heal the Bay may have created more trash by being very liberal with handing out plastic trash bags. However, my unrelenting optimism will go ahead and assume they have an in-house bag recycling/reuse program. (Please note: this is the same optimism that has a hunch James Loney will go deep 25+ times this season.)

These were my trash collecting highlights:

• A contact lens in its unopened package.

• A condom wrapper. Thankfully its contents were nowhere to be found.

• Several drink box straws. (C’mon parents. Get your head in the game.)

• A near miss with a dead body under a lifeguard stand. Turned out someone was just having a campout.

Thanks Mr. Beast Mode (aka BM - tee hee). Sounds like Heal the Bay was a great way to earn a sick day's pay. Now if someone can Heal Jason Bay, the Mets might have a chance!

Other Dodgers Pictures From My Uncle's Office

As I mentioned earlier, my uncle has a wonderful collection of Dodgers memorabilia adorning the walls of his office. He's a big Dodgers fan and I believe is goal is to get signed photographs of all the Dodgers legends.

Here's some shots from his office (apologies for the random angles but I was trying not to catch anyone in the reflections):

Roy Campanella, along with (what is believed to be) his glove.

These two aces (shaking hands with Walter Alston) each ended up having a good career. Wait, don't we have a pair of aces now?

Pee Wee Reese, in a quiet moment.

Don Sutton, in action.

Vin Scully, on the Country Sinker

Vin Scully, from last night's Dodgers-Giants telecast:

I remember one game, Johnny Roseboro was the catcher for the Dodgers, and Don Drysdale was the pitcher, and Willie McCovey was the batter, at Dodger Stadium.

Fouled away.

And Roseboro called a pitch, which, with a smirk, he referred to as a "country sinker." Which meant it was a spitter.

Drysdale threw the spitter, and McCovey hit it so far, you couldn't believe it, for a home run. Took your breath away.

Spitter! He dried it up in a hurry.

The Dodgers Through the Lens of Sports Illustrated

Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax, 1962.

Mike Piazza at a commercial shoot, 1996.

Shawn Green at Canter's Deli, 1996.

Check out this excellent gallery of 24 classic Dodger photos: Iconic Dodgers Photos (SI.com)

Drysdale/Koufax photo by John G. Zimmerman/SI; Piazza and Green photos by V.J. Lovero/SI

Off-Day Television Schedule for Dodger Couch Potatoes

So you've finished Off-Day Puzzle #7, the Dodgers (obviously) aren't playing tonight, and you're wondering what to do before screaming over to Chavez Ravine for three nights of free parking? Well, there's a lot of Dodgers-related stuff to watch on television tonight:

• Sometime this evening (they're telling me 6pm ET, but I don't know if that translates to PT with just a three-hour time shift, as it's not on this schedule), the MLB Network will air a special feature narrated by Bob Costas about Don Drysdale’s sixth straight shutout game, pitched in 1968. From the press release: "The game, held on June 4, 1968 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates, coincided with Robert F. Kennedy’s victory in the 1968 California primary. In the first words of his acceptance speech, Kennedy congratulated Drysdale; moments after the speech, Kennedy was assassinated. Four days later, on June 8, Drysdale broke a 55-year old record for consecutive scoreless innings and wore a black arm band to honor Kennedy’s memory."
• At 8pm, How I Met Your Mother airs a re-run of "Woooo!", in which Robin is feeling a little lost because of her unemployment, and becomes a "Woooo!" party girl. Lily tries to fit in with Robin's new friends, and hijinks ensue. This has nothing to do with the Dodgers, but we at SoSG like this show.
• At 11:35 pm, Joe Torre will be a featured guest on Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show. Joe will try to teach Conan how to lift his sagging ratings with only 10 shows in the books. (Don't worry, it's a long season, Conan. Take each show one day at a time.)

Plenty of stuff to do, kiddies!

A Girl of Summer—Almost

After reading Mrs. Orel's At-Game Recap, our friend Linda Bergman kindly contributes this story of an encounter with Vin Scully.

(It's a busy time for Vin: He's getting ready to appear onstage with John Wooden and he's receiving honors left and right. And head on over to Dodger Thoughts to see a priceless photo of Vin from his Fordham University yearbook: Vincent Scully '49.)

Brava Orel's wife!!!! Her story of the oppressive heat Dodger fans willingly endure reminded me of another story that took place many years ago.

As kids and Dodger fans in the 60's, my older brother Dick and I would listen to the games on his little Zenith portable radio for hours on end to take us out of the oppressive heat of the San Fernando Valley and the torture of Mom's sticky, yellow vinyl sofa. Dick, unbeknownst to his friends (who would destroy him for hanging out with his kid sister), taught me how to score games listening to Vin Scully. He patiently showed me how to draw the baseball diamond and record the balls and strikes and errors. I was a compulsive learner and caught on fast. Mostly, I loved being close to him without getting punched or teased and I attributed his benevolence to the calm that Vinny's voice always seemed to restore to our chaotic household. In my mind, Vinny bonded us as secret friends. I can never, to this day, hear his voice and not think of brother Dick and me head-to-head in our house on Hart Street.

Fast forward to some thirty years later. It was the 90's and I had arranged with the Dodgers organization to sit with Vinny to research a script I was writing. "Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye," based on Ron Powers' book of the same name, was about a legendary baseball announcer nearing the end of his career.

My heart raced with excitement as I took the elevator up high above the crowds to the broadcast booth and I just about melted when I sat down in front of the console and saw the vista of the park spread out before me. Vinny's Vista. The way he saw it. The view that inspired him to draw the voice pictures that transported us—the radio fans—to the park and beyond.

For me, Vinny WAS the character in the film, L.C. Fanning. Like Fanning, Vinny was a master storyteller able to give us nuanced verbal histories on every player. With a brilliant turn of phrase, he could take us to the players' hometowns, to where their mothers and grannies made homemade apple pie, to where they first threw that slider and how, with hard work and spit, they became true boys of summer. When Vinny called a game, you could smell that pie.

He was such a gentleman and made me so comfortable. I told him the story I just told you. "My brother would never believe this," I whispered. Vinny grinned and leaned back in his chair.

"Well, let's get him on the phone."

My hands shook as I dialed, praying Dick was sitting in the stands with the radio to his ear or at home listening to it. Eureka! I could barely contain myself when I heard his familiar " 'Lo" and blurted out, "You'll never guess where I am sitting!"

He guessed the usual haunts. A movie theatre? A bar? Getting your toes done? No. NO. NO.

"Where, then?"

When I told him I was at Dodger Stadium in Vinny's booth, there was a long silence. Finally, with his usual command of the English language, he snorted.

"Horseshit."

Oh boy, I had him now, I thought and handed the phone to Vinny sitting so close I could smell the remnant of dry cleaning fluid in his sports jacket.

"Hi there, Richard!" Scully chirped in that unmistakable baritone.

And so, history for this Valley Girl was made.

Sealed in the sanctity of the announcer's booth and the magic of Nancy Bea Hefley, the organ lady, not fifteen feet away, I was Queen of the May and Queen for a Day at the same time.

To top it off, Don Drysdale was also doing color that night. Resplendent in his Hawaiian shirt and bloodshot baby blues, he too got in on the act, talking game to Dick and flattering me for writing a movie about baseball.

And so I became more than a little sister.

Finally, in my older brother's eyes, I was someone to be reckoned with. An authentic girl of summer, almost, on a night that ended far too soon.

Thanks, Linda!

Everybody Who's Anybody in Dodger Universe Associated with Bobby Kennedy

The recent movie Bobby has brought Bobby Kennedy's assassination back into the headlines, and with it a connection with the Dodgers. Ben Platt's article at Dodgers.com sets the stage:

LOS ANGELES -- On June 4, 1968, just a few miles apart, Dodger Stadium and the Ambassador Hotel were both celebrating historical victories.

At Chavez Ravine, Don Drysdale, the popular right-hander who was the franchise's last tie to its Brooklyn roots, hurled his sixth consecutive shutout, a 5-0 gem against the Pittsburgh Pirates, setting a new Major League record. The Ambassador, a venerable hotel that had become a Southern California institution for decades, was the scene for Sen. Robert Kennedy's California presidential primary victory party.

The 42-year-old senator from New York, bounded on to the stage of the hotel's ballroom at 11:30 p.m. to declare victory over Eugene McCarthy, and in his opening remarks, Kennedy paid tribute to the Dodger hurler.

"I want to express my high regard to Don Drysdale for his six great shutouts," said the senator to a jubilant ballroom.

Kennedy, who had been a late entrant to the 1968 presidential campaign, had been quickly gaining the momentum needed to get the Democratic Party nomination. Moments after completing his victory speech, it would all end at the hands of assassin Sirhan Sirhan, who would shoot Kennedy in the head as he exited through the Ambassador Hotel's kitchen.

A recent screening of the movie for the Dodgers gave an opportunity for everyone to break out their Kennedy stories:

"The [McCourt and Kennedy] families are good friends with one another, going back several generations."

—Frank McCourt

"Don did talk about [that night] a few times and he was close to the Kennedys."

—Anne Meyers Drysdale, Don's widow

"I can actually remember living through this. It was the night of my mother's birthday and also one of Bobby's closest friends practiced law at the law firm I ultimately went to."

—Jamie McCourt

"My wife, Jo, and I, ate lunch at the Ambassador that afternoon. My good friend, Zach Manasian, who was the food and beverage manager, told me that Kennedy wanted to meet me and talk to me, which was an invitation I was honored to accept....

"We decided to skip the dinner at the Ambassador. When we got home, we turned on the TV and saw that Kennedy had been shot. There was a possibility I could have been with him."

—Tommy Lasorda

Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts also has a Kennedy story from that night:

It was a Tuesday night, the night of the California presidential primary. The game ended in two hours and 20 minutes, and so my father and his friend made the short drive to the Ambassador Hotel, where Robert F. Kennedy was being crowned the winner of the Democratic primary, to take in the scene there. My dad recalls seeing Kennedy at the hotel, which was torn down this year, though he didn't stay long enough to hear him speak.