RIP Tony Malinosky

Not only a Brooklyn Dodger, Tony Malinosky was also the oldest-living MLB player. From Jon Weisman:

Malinosky played 35 games at third base and shortstop for Brooklyn in 1937, batting .228 in 79 at-bats. According to Baseball-Reference.com, his career-best performance was a 3-for-5 day against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers purchased his contract from the Pittsburgh Pirates the previous winter.

Born Oct. 7, 1909 in Collinsville, Ill., Malinosky attended Whittier College in California with Pres. Richard Nixon, according to the Dodgers, and served in the U.S. Army in World War II.

The Dodgers honored him at Dodger Stadium in 2009 on the occasion of his 100th birthday. He was living in Oxnard, Calif. when he passed away.

"Tony lived an incredibly full life, both on and off the field," the Dodgers said in a statement. "He remained a Dodger fan his whole life and his visit to Dodger Stadium in 2009 gave the organization a great opportunity to celebrate not only his 100th birthday, but the Dodger chapter of his life that meant so much to him. He will be most certainly missed by all who knew him."

Hey, This Sounds Familiar

Russell Martin says, although his right knee and hip aren't 100% yet, he's in the best shape of his career":

Major league catcher Russell Martin isn't quite ready to test his healed right knee and hip against mixed martial arts competition.

However, the native of Chelsea, Que., is quick to sing the praises of the sport's training methods, declaring himself in the best shape of his professional baseball career.

Much of the credit goes to Jonathan Chaimberg, the former trainer for reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

"I feel like I've trained myself the right way this year. … It's just really high intensity, power endurance-type training," said Martin of MMA training, which he began in mid-October in Chaimberg's Montreal gym.

Martin, who joined the New York Yankees in December as a free agent on a one-year contract worth $4 million US, pointed to being in poor shape the past two seasons as one of the reasons for his declining performance at the plate.

Echoed ESPN.com's MLB Rumors page (no link):

Martin has yet to participate in most baseball activities, but says his hip is fine -- it's the knee that is holding him back at this stage -- but he expects to be cleared over the next few weeks.

If Martin suffers a setback or appears behind schedule, the Yankees could avoid the defensive problems with Posada and Montero by starting Cervelli and biding their time. But anything long term could prompt interest in free agent catcher Bengie Molina, who isn't sure whether he'll play or not this coming season, but a chance to win might convince to suit up again.

Good luck with that, Yankees!

Even Mark Cuban Isn't Interested In The Dodgers Anymore

There was a front-page article on the Dodgers and Mets in USA Today Tuesday, highlighting the embarrassing owners spats for both teams. But what was scary about the article was this final paragraph:

It's enough for Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to say he will no longer pursue buying a team. "It does reflect just how difficult it is to successfully operate a baseball franchise in a major market," said Cuban, who lost an auction in U.S. Bankruptcy Court over the summer to buy the Texas Rangers. "It can be difficult to keep your fans happy and your bankers happy."

Shit, if Cuban's out, to whom can we turn?

Missed Headline Opportunity Haunts AP

Someone explain to me how the Associated press neglected to title this piece "Return to Sendak". Booooooooo.

photo: AP/Matt Rourke

Darth Vader Kid Unmasked

Ever-sunny Nikki Boyer unmasked the Darth Vader Kid as Max Page, who among other things is a cute kid, was born with a congenital heart defect (he has a pacemaker), and has never seen Star Wars. Details here (you'll have to go to Monday's recap).

(And even if you're not interested in learning more about the Darth Vader Kid, at least you've gotta find Nikki Boyer compelling, right? No? Even if she's apparently no longer married to Roy from The Office? Still no? Man, tough crowd.)

The Must-Have Throwback T-Shirts for the 2011 Baseball Season

Via Big League Stew, bear witness to Nike's new "Cooperstown Heritage" line of 13 mustache-silhouetted shirts. Unbelievably sweet idea.

There are no Dodgers in this throwback t-shirt lineup (in fact, there are no NL Westers and only one AL West representative (Randy Johnson circa Seattle Mariners era). Which of course, is a huge slight to both Casey Blake and his beard, among others (Ron Cey's 'stache would have gotten a vote from me; Jeff Kent's pornstache would have also made the cut but probably as a Giant; and what about Frank McCourt's toupee?).

But if you wanted to stretch the Dodger affiliation, you could always go with Don Mattingly:

Or what about Kirk Gibson:

Nice job, Nike!

Tuesday Tidbits

• Jon Weisman scored a big interview with Ned Colletti, and wrote a killer piece on Colletti's philosophy on assembling the 2011 Dodgers. My favorite part? "While the on-base percentage isn’t Moneyball-ish or whatever." The Dodgers according to Ned Colletti (Dodger Thoughts)
• Miles from nowhere. Dodgers Sign Aaron Miles (MLBTR)
• Michael Young's list of eight teams to which he will accept a trade includes the Dodgers... Michael Young Requests Trade (MLBTR)
• ...but don't hold your breath. In Which I’m Obligated To Talk About Michael Young (MSTI)
• Did I mention not to hold your breath? Young and Restless: Texas 3B Puts Dodgers on Short List (Mr. LA Sports Fan, So Cal Sports Hub)
• Also... Dodgers inquire on Young; trade a 'long shot' (Ken Gurnick, Dodgers.com)
• Warning! Should the 1940s Road Alternate Uniform win in the Dodgers' Throwback Days voting, the replica uniforms will not be made of satin. Boo! Q & A Throwback Uniforms (VSIMH)

The Summer of the Nerd (UPDATE: NOW WITH MORE ROAD AND HOUSE)

The Super Bowl reminded me that 2011 will be the GEEKIEST. SUMMER. EVER. Featuring...

Then there's JJ Abrams, who can do no wrong.

And Michael Bay, who can do no right. Transformers 2 was AS BAD A MOVIE AS I'VE EVER SEEN! (A list which includes over a dozen screenings of The Room and the sequel to RoadHouse.) Then why - like a goldfish with a head trauma - am I so excited to see this?

Transformers 'Dark of The Moon' Super Bowl Trailer (720p) from Michael Bay Dot Com on Vimeo.

UPDATE - Yes, there was a second Road House.

It was real. And it was spectacular.

Spring Training Tickets @ Half-Price

Just got this email this morning, offering half-price tickets in selected seating areas for some upcoming Spring Training games:

Spring Training Ticket Offer

The big game is over and all eyes are focused on the start of the 2011 season. As a loyal fan of the Dodgers, a special offer is now available exclusively to you!

For the next 48 hours only, Spring Training tickets are available for half price in selected seating areas for games on March 9th (vs. SEA) and 10th (vs. SD). To save 50% on your spring tickets, click the link below starting at 9:00 a.m. PST today through Wednesday, February 9th and use Promo Code: FEVER

• March 9 vs. Seattle
• March 10 vs. San Diego

Wilpon Lawsuit Could Make McCourt Divorce Seem Like Cakewalk

The New York Mets have long benefited from the Dodgers' idiocy, from landing Mike Piazza and Pedro Martinez to former Dodger Paul "F*** the Dodgers" Lo Duca being hand-fed both Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew at home plate during the 2006 NLDS.

But since that ill-fated double dip, the Metropolitans' fortunes have taken a decided turn. They've returned the favor to Dodger fans, with bloated payrolls and poor contract decisions (Oliver Perez? Jason Bay?) helping take the sting off our own shortcomings.

And like a hemophiliac blood donor, the Mets aren't done giving. The more I read about this bombshell lawsuit filed against against Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz by Madoff trustee Irving Picard, the more it smacks of phrases Dodger fans have become used to.

"Could drag on for years." "Might have to sell the team." "Fans have reason to worry." Somewhere, Padres fans are sipping their post-divorce cocktails and looking forward to rebuilding their team. Dodger fans are in limbo, and Mets fans are just entering lawsuit hell. Enjoy!

More scandalous Mets reading:

• The Know-Nothing Mets? There’s a Pattern Here (George Vecsey, New York Times — includes dirt on recent Mets embarrassments, including Steve Phillips, Charlie Samuels and Tony Bernazard. 3:15 a.m. firing of Willie Randolph not mentioned)
• Wilpon’s Ownership of Mets Is Threatened (New York Times)
• Wilpons are in trouble, no matter what (Ian O'Connor, ESPNNewYork.com)

NFL: Highlight of the Millennium?

I always get a little melancholy when football season's over. (Though with the Giants and Trojans ripping out my heart through my butt, it's been long overdue). No more weekend excuses to keep me from cleaning up our Halloween decorations. And worst of all, baseball is still so many weeks away.

Luckily, I have a Flyers team playing like champs, and a Sixers squad who doesn't realize how untalented they are. And we'll always have "The Run." (aka The Play of the Year. Bar None)

Is it the best run ever, outside of these Tecmo classics?

Well, can you name a better one?

Don't Worry, Christina

Messing up the National Anthem happens to the best of us.

Things could have gone much worse.

Super Bowl XLV Thread

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers, 3:30 p.m. PT

The winning team will be dipped in silver!

♦

Five burning questions about today's big game:

	1. Will Maurkice Pouncey play today? Sources say no, but we'll be ready with the cat puns regardless. Also, how do you say "Maurkice"? (I haven't been watching the NFL Network lately.) My guess is it sounds like "Marquis."
	2. How is Super Bowl XLV not sponsored by XboX LiVe? You blew it, Microsoft. Now you'll only be known as the company that invented MS-DOS. 10 PRINT "HA HA!" 20 GOTO 10
	3. Is this picture awesome or what? Click to enlarge. Insert sexy pun here. Heyo!
	4. How bad did you feel when you read about David Akers' problems at home? He had a lot on his plate. But athletes are supposed to be superhuman and feel no emotions!
	5. Could this be the last pro football game for the next two years? If there's a football lockout, will baseball be ready to meet America's need for organized violence? Will MLB tweak its rules to encourage brushback pitches and home-plate collisions? Will they add bars to the front of helmets? Will I learn when to drop an already unfunny joke?

♦

What's your favorite material today?
	Cheese!
	Metal!
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♦

JoePo on Aaron Rodgers! The Next Great Quarterback (SI.com)

Update from Sax: Usually, our Superbowl tradition here at SoSG is to liveblog the ads. Unfortunately Orel is out of pocket (and scrambling for a first down), so I will try and post wisecracks in the thread itself. I'll say now, though: that Darth Vader kid in the VW ad is the horse to beat at this stage. Good luck.

Pitching Distaff

Via Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports comes note of the blog Justine's Baseball Journey by Justine Siegal, described thusly:

On February 23rd, I will throw batting practice to the Oakland A's. This blog chronicles my journey to becoming the first woman to throw batting practice to a Major League team.

This sounds like a great story, and a welcome dose of baseball to tide us over until spring training. Go Justine!

Dodgers Throw It Back to Fans

From Dodgers.com:

THROWBACK DAYS

INTRODUCING ALL-NEW HALF-PRICE FOOD & DRINK AFTERNOONS!

SAVE 50% OFF ALL FOOD & DRINKS!*
Plus watch the Dodgers in throwback Brooklyn uniforms that YOU get to choose during these weekday afternoon games starting at 12:10pm:

• Thursday, April 21 vs. Atlanta
• Wednesday, May 4 vs. Chicago Cubs
• Wednesday, June 15 vs. Cincinnati
• Wednesday, June 22 vs. Detroit
• Wednesday, August 10 vs. Philadelphia
• Wednesday, August 31 vs. San Diego

*Including alcoholic beverages

Individual Tickets for these games will be available online starting February 26th at 10AM PST.

The uniform choices (sadly, the White Sox-esque collared shirts-and-shorts option is not available):

1911 Road Uniform

1931 Road Uniform

1940s Road Alternate Uniform

That third uniform is made of a satin fabric, undoubtedly giving it the edge. The site says voting begins Monday, February 7 at 12:01 a.m. PT.

Friday Notes, Brought to You by Professor Frink

"Ron MaHAY may join the Dodgers, goodness gracious me and the hey hey hey!"

• Prof. Frink said it all. Lefty Mahay signs Minors deal with Dodgers (Dodgers.com)
• Need your baseball fix? Why not check out the Serie del Caribe here and here?
• Howard Cole of Baseball Savvy attended the eighth annual Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation Awards Dinner. Read about it here.

The VW Star Wars Kid

Not baseball related, but an awesome commercial. Nice job VW.

Thurs. Bull. Pts.

• Hong-Chih Kuo avoids being Ng-ified. Dodgers avoid arbitration with reliever Kuo (Ken Gurnick, Dodgers.com)
• The Dodgers are touring with a Caravaggio? Oh wait, it's the Dodgers Caravan. My bad! 2011 Dodgers Caravan (Dodgers.com)
• Ned's boner for former Giants is truly embarrassing. Merkin 9 to 5: Valdez to toil in Dodger minor leagues (Dodger Thoughts)
• JoePo goes literary on us. I've read only one of his seventeen book recommendations, making me the Garret Anderson of readers. Books on a Snowy Day (Joe Blogs)
• If misery loves company, then the Dodgers and Mets could form their own division. Let's call it the NL Mess. Hey, I just made that up! How can Selig deal with owner chaos? (Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports.com)

Pentamiscellany

	1. Matt Kemp has no excuses. Criticized by Larry Bowa? He's gone! Bumped heads with Bob Schaefer? He's gone! Distracted by a high-profile romance with Rihanna? She's gone! If Kemp felt like he was under the microscope last season, then 2011 is his chance to prove how he can perform at his most focused.
	2. Scott Podsednik has better taste in women than in baseball contracts. MSTI already covered this, but Pods doesn't look likely to best the $2 million he gave up when opting out of his Dodgers contract. Sorry, Scotty!
	3. Could it get any worse than Frank & Ned? Terrifyingly, the answer is YES. Exhibit A: The Mets and the Wilpons. Even Arte Moreno is catching flak for Tony Reagins' head-scratching $86 million commitment to Vernon Wells. Ned's hands may be tied, but at least it made him stay away from those megacontracts that never work out.
	4. Take it easy during BP, Andre. If you recall, Andre Ethier broke his pinkie finger in a freak BP accident last year. He was never the same after that. May we suggest some pre-game oven mitts?
	5. New York is where Dodger catchers go to die. Russell Martin. Paul Lo Duca before him. Mike Piazza before him. But we got Gary Carter, and now Rod Barajas. So it's even!

Tuesday Notes, 'Happy February' Edition

• Armando Galarraga is moving on. Can Jim Joyce? Contrite Joyce seeks new beginning after haunted winter (Scott Miller, CBSSports.com)
• First they tried to appropriate Jackie Robinson's legacy. Now the Mets are trying to bogart Frank McCourt's financial issues! Could Mets saga offer hint of Dodgers' future? (Steve Dilbeck, Dodgers Blog)
• Speaking of which, thanks to Mets Grrl for dropping by to comment on the Robinson thing. Her take:

  If you've only noticed it the last few years, you haven't been paying attention. And be careful when you say "The Mets" because it's "The Wilpons" who have the fixation with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

  Their party line is "Jackie Robinson played for the National League in New York, and we are the National League team in New York, so we honor his legacy" - which of course is bullshit. The Jackie Robinson Rotunda was in place for Citi Field Opening Day, long before the Mets Hall of Fame or the championship banners or a whole host of other things, the first thing you saw when you got to the top of the escalators after coming through the rotunda was the "Ebbetts Club" (now renamed the Champions Club).

  But this is all Fred Wilpon. All of it.

  I think they host Rachel Robinson for reasons of proximity - she is a woman of advancing years - but I don't think you can get on someone for commemorating the day with pomp and circumstance. You really can't. You can, however, excoriate Fred Wilpon on the rest of it.

  What, fans of other teams get annoyed with their owners?

• Ah, the Dodgertown Classic. A tradition stretching back all the way to 2010. Dodgers to host USC, UCLA in Classic (Tony Jackson, ESPNLosAngeles.com)