Good News: Matt Kemp Is Distraction-Free

Not having a Valentine sure is cheap!lol #SingleProblems instagr.am/p/VutOa5mzSC/

— Matt Kemp (@TheRealMattKemp) February 14, 2013

Excitement Abounds in Dodgerland...

Here's a message from our ticket partners at TiqIQ:

Excitement abounds in Dodgerland as ticket prices rise at historic rate

By Dan Groob, TiqIQ

It’s been three seasons since the Los Angeles Dodgers last made the playoffs. Mired in both bankruptcy court and divorce court during the final few years of Frank McCourt’s ownership, the team remained stagnant in perpetual mediocrity with little vision or regard for the future as well.

With Guggenheim Partners slated for their first full season of team control following their record $2.15 billion dollar purchase of the team, the future is now for the Dodgers. The roster has been quickly restocked with the type of high-profile high-salary players that you might expect from the baseball arm of a $170-billion dollar financial services firm, and fans are once again excited for Dodger baseball.

According to TiqIQ, the average price for Los Angeles Dodgers tickets at home this season is currently a staggering $182 dollars. This represents 237% percent increase from the 2012 average price of $54 dollars, one of the largest year-over-year increases that TiqIQ has encountered in their three-plus years of tracking secondary market ticket pricing data. Looking back to 2011, the team’s last season of McCourt ownership, the increase in average ticket price to this year has been an even more astronomical 323% percent.

The highest-priced series of the season is currently the August 23-25 series against the Boston Red Sox. Last season, new ownership made a trade deadline splash by acquiring an underperforming triumvirate of Red Sox mega-contracts composed of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett. While Boston was ecstatic to shed the payroll, John Henry’s trash became Peter Gruber’s treasure and is serving to help ignite what was previously a dormant and rather apathetic fan base for a number of years. The average ticket price for this rare matchup of storied franchises checks in at a whopping $250 dollars, and it currently costs $23 dollars for the cheapest seat in the house. This series also contains the single highest priced game of the year at Chavez Ravine, which is the series opener on August 23rd currently priced at an average of $252 dollars.

The next two highest priced series of the season are divisional matchups against the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both of these series take place down the September stretch, with the Diamondbacks coming to town on 9/9-9/11, and the Giants replacing them in the visitor’s locker room on 9/12 through 9/14. The Giants series out-prices the Diamondbacks series ever so slightly for the two-spot, at an average price of $236 versus $227 dollars.

Rounding out the top five most expensive series for Dodgers tickets of the season are the July 30-31 two game set against the New York Yankees, and the August 30-September 1 series against the San Diego Padres. When the Yankees come to town, it will mark just the third regular season series between these two teams that have met a record eleven times in the World Series. The average ticket for this series currently runs $226 dollars, but it is the cheap seats that have really skyrocketed for this matchup, with the cheapest seat in the house priced at $46 dollars. This is exactly double the price of the cheapest seat for the season’s most expensive game by average price, which is aforementioned $23 dollars for the 8/23 Boston game.

It is interesting to note the difference in ticket prices that a couple months can make. While the August 30-September 1 Padres series is the fifth most expensive series of the season at an average price of $222 dollars, the April 15-17 Padres series is actually the second cheapest at $103 dollars. The lowest priced series of the season pits the Dodgers against the Pittsburgh Pirates from April 5-7. Checking in $89 dollars, it is the only series all season with an average ticket price below the century mark. Rounding out the bottom three lowest priced series of the season, all of which take place in the season’s first month, will be the April 26-28 set against the Milwaukee Brewers at an average price of $123 dollars.

Remember, for the best deals on all MLB tickets throughout the season, visit TiqIQ.com.

Happy Valentine's Day to Our Readers

Every season we get to meet more of you, and more of you reach out to us. Keep it up, because we loves ya!

Piazza Pulls Dick Move, Vilifies Vin

Now we have a real reason to hate Mike Piazza. From "Dodgers: Mike Piazza calls out Vin Scully in book" by Bill Shaikin at the LA Times:

Piazza did himself no favors on that score in his new book, "Long Shot." In the book, he blames iconic Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully for turning fans against him during the contract stalemate that preceded his trade to the Florida Marlins in 1998.

Piazza, who was eligible for free agency after the 1998 season, said he hoped to stay with the Dodgers but set a deadline of Feb. 15 to reach a new contract. In the book, Piazza wrote that Scully asked him about the deadline in a spring interview.

"He wasn't happy about it," Piazza wrote. "And Scully's voice carried a great deal of authority in Los Angeles." [...]

"The way the whole contract drama looked to them -- many of whom were taking their cue from Scully -- was that, by setting a deadline and insisting on so much money, I was demonstrating a conspicuous lack of loyalty to the ball club," Piazza wrote. "I understood that."

Piazza ripped the Dodgers in a 1998 opening day interview with The Times. In the book, he said that interview did not play well with the L.A. fans, and neither did the fact that he failed to drive in a run as the Dodgers opened the season with a four-game losing streak.

"On top of that, Vin Scully was crushing me," Piazza wrote.

Scully flatly denied he maligned Piazza.

"That's not true at all," Scully told The Times in a telephone interview Wednesday.

Scully said he could not recall the interview in which Piazza said the contract deadline was discussed. However, Scully said, he never would criticize a player about contractual negotiations.

"As God is my judge, I don't get involved in these things," Scully said. "I can't imagine I would ever put my toe in the water as far as a player and his negotiations.

"I have no idea where he is coming from. I really have no idea. I can't imagine saying something about a player and his contract. I just don't do that, ever. I'm really flabbergasted by that reference."

Hope you sell a lot of copies of that book, Piazza, because you just burned the bridge back to Dodger Stadium.

AGon Looking At 25.5 HR in 2013?

So says David Schoenfield of ESPN, though I'm not sure how Gonzalez is going to eke out that half-HR:

One of the key players of 2013 is Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. After ranking 13th in the National League in runs in 2012, the Dodgers are looking for Gonzalez to provide that second big bat alongside Matt Kemp.

But who is Adrian Gonzalez right now? [...]

So what to expect from Gonzalez in 2013? He still hit .299 in 2012 with 47 doubles. If he gets his walks back up, his OBP will climb back closer to .375 instead of below .350. But what about his power? The projection systems are predicting a few more home runs, but not above 30.

Dodger Stadium is a touch place to hit homers, but even if AGon can grab some clutch run-scoring doubles off the wall, I'd be fine with that. (That, and Carl Crawford getting to 20 HR for the first time in his career, right?)

photo: Luis Sinco, LAT

ESPN Predicts Harang Will Edge Lilly, Capuano For Fifth Slot

So says Baseball Prospectus' Ben Lindbergh, in an insider-only link run on ESPN.com which predicts the winner of the Dodgers' fifth starter:

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: No. 5 starter

Battlers: Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly

Signing Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu gave Los Angeles a surplus of starters. With Chad Billingsley's health status uncertain, the Dodgers have thus far refrained from trading any of their extra arms, although they might still deal one during spring training.

Who should win? Harang. Capuano is the only one of the trio who's had an extended stay in the bullpen in the past decade, and with Scott Elbert unlikely to be back from offseason elbow surgery by Opening Day, the Dodgers could lessen the logjam by using him in long relief. In light of his age and shaky shoulder, Lilly too would be better deployed in short bursts, at least until he's proved that he's intact enough to attract interest from other teams.

Interesting that they didn't mention Clayton Kershaw. I hope he gets a chance to start, too.

After All That Offseason Noise, The Dodgers Only Get A B+ From ESPN Pundit

Clearly, David Schoenfield isn't awarding partial credit on the word problem answers, as the Dodgers' offseason spending spree only resulted in a B+ grade from the pundit:

Few teams have as much upside as the Dodgers if everything goes their way. With the depth of their rotation, they should be a lock to win 85 games. It's also necessary to point out that they won 86 games last year without Greinke and without full seasons from Gonzalez, Beckett, Crawford, Ramirez and Kemp (who played 106 games) and thus they should easily win 90-plus games.

I'm not so sure; just take the example of Greinke joining the rotation. Say the Dodgers eventually trade Capuano, so Greinke is essentially filling his spot. Well, Capuano was pretty good last year. The upgrade to Greinke would actually be relatively minor, unless he has a monster season.

I see a team that can win 90, but I don't see a powerhouse that you may otherwise expect from a team with the highest payroll in baseball.

I see a guy who isn't grading on a curve! But I guess that's beside the point.

Schoenfield cites the Dodgers' defense, age, injury concerns, inability to hit lefties, and Luis Cruz as the main achilles. Which is brutal, since Carl Crawford factors into three of the four non-Luis-Cruz detracting factors. It's all up to you, Carl!

Over/under on how many times we see "team with the highest payroll in baseball" in a Dodgers article: 264,361

Memorializing the 2012 SoSG Record: 24-18

With 2013 spring training around the corner, I suppose it's finally time to take the 2012 SoSG results and memorialize our record, in 2012 games attended, for all time.

Here's the scoop:

SoSG 2012 Record: 24-18
4/10 vs. PIT, W (2-1), Dusty, Orel, Sax
4/12 vs. PIT, W (3-2), Stubbs
4/14 vs. SD, W (6-1), Dusty, Nomo
4/23 vs. ATL, W (7-2), Orel
4/27 vs. WSH, W (3-2), Dusty, Stubbs
4/28 vs. WSH, W (4-3 (10)), Dusty, Orel, Sax
4/29 vs. WSH, W (2-0), Nomo
5/7 vs. SF, W (9-1), Dusty, Nomo
5/11 vs. COL, W (7-3), AC
5/12 vs. COL, W (2-1), Dusty
5/14 vs. ARI, W (3-1), Orel, Stubbs
5/15 vs. ARI, L (5-1), AC, Dusty, Nomo, Orel
5/18 vs. STL, W (6-5), AC
5/20 vs. STL, W (6-5), Dusty
5/25 vs. HOU, L (3-1), Sax
5/27 vs. HOU, W (5-1), DelinO
5/29 vs. MIL, L (2-1), DelinO, Dusty
5/31 vs. MIL, L (6-2), Stubbs
6/11 vs. ANA, L (3-2), Sax
6/13 vs. ANA, L (2-1), Nomo, Sax
6/16 vs. CWS, L (5-4), Dusty
6/24 @ ANA, L (5-3), Nomo
6/28 vs. NYM, L (3-2), Dusty
6/30 vs. NYM, L (5-0), DelinO, Dusty, Sax
7/1 vs. NYM, W (8-3), DelinO
7/3 vs. CIN, W (3-1), Dusty, Nomo
7/13 vs. SD, W (2-1), Dusty, Nomo, Stubbs
7/14 vs. SD, L (7-6), Dusty
7/18 vs. PHI, W (5-3 (12)), Nomo, Sax
7/29 @ SF, W (4-0), Sax
7/30 vs. ARI, L (7-2), Nomo, Stubbs
7/31 vs. ARI, L (8-2), Dusty
8/3 vs. CHC, W (6-1), Sax
8/4 vs. CHC, W (3-1), Orel
8/7 vs. COL, L (3-1), AC, DelinO, Dusty, Sax
8/21 vs. SF, L (4-1), Dusty
8/30 vs. AZ, L (2-0), AC, Dusty, Nomo, Orel
9/2 vs. AZ, W (5-4), Orel, Sax
9/13 vs. STL, L (2-1), Nomo
9/14 vs. STL, W (8-5), Dusty
9/16 vs. STL, L ((5-2 (12)), Sax, Stubbs
9/29 vs. COL, W (3-0), Nomo

Some thoughts on this year's overall record:

• We broke out of the blocks with an amazing 11-0 start, sort of like how the Dodgers started their 2012 season, with a lot of fire.
• After trading off some wins and losses, we then broke off an eight-game losing streak, with the wheels falling off the wagon...again, sort of like how the Dodgers continued their 2012 season, exploding in a fiery mass of destruction.
• Amazingly, all but one of the Sons of Steve Garvey fared about even. Nomo went 7-6 and Stubbs went 4-3, so both of them ended a game above .500. Dusty (10-10) and Sax (6-6) were perfectly mediocre. And AC and DelinO each went 2-3, one game below .500. Orel was the lucky Son, going 6-2.
• Just to point out once more, Dusty went to 20 Dodger games last year. Nice.
• The Sons of Steve Garvey ended up going to 42 games last year in total, 40 of which were home games--so almost half of all Dodgers home games. Assuming this holds up next year, you've got an even chance at meeting a Son at a baseball game--which should either keep you from attending altogether, or should have you start commenting more on the gamethreads, so we can consider buying you a beer sometime.
• The Sons went 1-1 on the road last year, which included this awesome 4-0, series-sweeping win against the hated Giants which also featured an appearance from one of our blog's good friends (and fanerman, as well).
• The Sons' .571 winning percentage exceeded the Dodgers' .531 winning percentage (86-76); and the Sons' .575 home winning percentage exceeded the Dodgers' home winning percentage of .556 (45-36). With that in mind, let me remind you that the Sons are available to attend Dodger games for a fee (we also do barmitzvahs and weddings). Don't take the Sons to away games, however, where our .500 winning percentage was edged by the Dodgers' .506 percentage.

Earlier: SoSG's 2011 record; SoSG's 2010 record; SoSG's 2009 record; SoSG's 2008 record. Still looking for the 2007 record....

You Keep Downton Abbey; I'll Take Upton, Girl

Behold, the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue: "Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls"

I love the fact that the cover is in 3D.

Not Exactly The Most Flattering Picture of Hyun-Jin Ryu

Okay, dodgers.com, methinks you can do better than this:

Ouch, that is a brutal picture of Ryu. I mean, couldn't you have used this one?

"This collar is really, really tight."

Brutal.

(Though I do like the "A Whole New Blue" banner...)

photos: (1) screenshot from Dodgers.com; (2) Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Pitchers & Catchers Report Today!

photo by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers

Why The Hell Not: Dodgers Sign 4.95 ERA Guy Kevin Gregg To Bullpen

As per Yahoo News):

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed right-handed reliever Kevin Gregg to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, the team announced Sunday.

Gregg, 34, was 3-2 with a 4.95 ERA last year with the Baltimore Orioles. He was a closer for five seasons between 2006-10 with 144 saves. His best year was in 2010 when he saved 37 games with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Echoes Dodgers.com:

Gregg's signing comes two days after the club signed Mark Lowe, also to a Minor League contract with a Spring invite. But unless there is a new injury, the Dodgers already have a loaded bullpen with closer Brandon League, setup men Kenley Jansen and Ronald Belisario, situational lefty J.P. Howell, Matt Guerrier, Javy Guerra, Shawn Tolleson, Paco Rodriguez, Stephen Fife and Josh Wall.

I'm not tagging this one until Gregg makes the team...

Memo to Stan Kasten

Brandon Belt, asked about the free-spending #Dodgers: "All I can say is, you can't buy team chemistry."

— Andrew Baggarly (@CSNBaggs) February 9, 2013

Luis Cruz Weighs In

"Have you seen my friend Juan Uribe?"

Adrian Gonzalez has been working out with former boxer Chris Byrd, and Luis Cruz has joined him. It's yet to be seen if Cruz is packing more muscle, but at least he's aware of not packing on fat. From "Dodger Adrian Gonzalez's fitness regimen gives him fighting chance" by Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times:

"We're not dieting, but we're careful with what we eat," Cruz says. "Nothing bad. That's helped. When you're in Mexico, you eat everything. You go out and eat tacos. I had to get out of there. I would have looked like Mo Vaughn."

Interesting Vaughn is the first fat ballplayer that came to Cruz's mind. Or maybe he was just being tactful.

Nemo Does Fenway

Due to the pending Nor’easter, we are all canceling all Fenway Park Tours today (Friday 2/8/13) and Saturday 2/9/13. #SoxTours

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) February 8, 2013

1: MassWebcams; 2: via BJ Killeen — thanks!

One-Sheet Does Jackie Proud

Cut Yer Hair, Timmeh!

Timmeh

I can only assume Timmeh got a wash when he got this new cut. Still going to taunt him at the first opportunity, though.

MLB Fan Caveman Q&A: Jeremy Dorn

Earlier you met MLB Fan Cave candidate Thomas Roberts. Today we're delighted to bring you some hard-hitting answers from another candidate, Jeremy "Don't Call Me Roger" Dorn (@jamblinman):

SoSG: Tell us a story that best illustrates your love for the Dodgers.

Jeremy: Most recently, I made the last-minute decision to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles to go to the Dodgers Fan Fest. It's a long drive, but we got in late Friday night and rose early to get to the Stadium on Saturday. We waited in line for hours and still came up short for autographs, but I persisted and asked around and talked my way into meeting and recording a quick interview with none other than Dodger legend Tommy Lasorda that day!

Even though we spent a ton of time waiting in lines and we had just driven six hours straight to get to L.A., it was totally worth going to meet one of my personal Dodger heroes. I ended up driving about 12 hours in a 30 hour period, all to be immersed in that beautiful sea of blue for half a day.

SoSG: You mention your girlfriend is also a Fan Cave candidate. What is your contingency plan for when the Dodgers meet her team in the playoffs or World Series?

Jeremy: She is! Kelsey Shea Weinrich is a finalist for the Cardinals in this year's competition and we actually met in the Top 50 last year. We are so grateful for the Fan Cave for making our relationship a possibility, but things are going to get real if the Cardinals and Dodgers meet in the playoffs.

Last year was bad enough, considering they were competing for the final Wild Card spot down the stretch. To avoid confrontation, we watched in different rooms and tried to limit the discussion about the games when we were together. I expect something similar to happen this year since both teams will be good. Only this time, it will be the Dodgers making the playoffs and me getting the last laugh!

If we're in the Fan Cave when this happens, I'm calling dibs on the home run slide, so that I'm in position when Matt Kemp takes Jason Motte deep on a game-winner.

SoSG: You were born and raised in San Francisco. Was it difficult crossing over to the Light Side of the Force? Was it fun throwing Emperor Palpatine down that reactor shaft in Return of the Jedi?

Jeremy: It was very easy! My dad grew up as a huge Dodgers fan in L.A. and when I was born, he wasn't going to have his firstborn rooting for anyone else -- especially the Giants. I have a really unique perspective on the rivalry from my time living here, but it's so much fun to be in the middle of enemy territory during baseball season.

Even in these last few, wretched years, I enjoy the back and forth with Giants fans and going at it with all my friends. Plus, I feel like I'm holding down the fort for Dodger Nation's NorCal division. That's why I'm a great fit for the Fan Cave. Anyone can represent the Dodgers as a die hard fan, but not many can claim they've done so while buried deep in the heart of Giants country for 24 years.

As for your last question, well...when I left I was but the learner...now I am the master.

There you have it, voting public! Like what he had to say? Vote Jeremy Dorn into the 2013 MLB Fan Cave here!

Generations of Garveys

Big Granpa-Joe Garvey @dodgers spring training bus driver and @stevegarvey6 VeroBeach spring '71#TBT twitter.com/RyanGarvey32/s…

— Ryan Garvey (@RyanGarvey32) February 8, 2013

What is Ryan Garvey talking about? Goodbye, Grampa (SoSG)

MLB Fan Caveman Q&A: Thomas Roberts

Bar, left. Not Thomas, right.

Earlier this week we introduced you to Thomas Roberts (@BertsBall), who is in the running to become a finalist at the MLB Fan Cave.

But what of the man himself? you may be asking. Well, we dug deeper and got the scoop for this exclusive interview:

SoSG: Tell us a story that best illustrates your love for the Dodgers.

Thomas: Here’s a perfect story that illustrates how I love the Dodgers and stick with them through thick and thin. I was at the Hall of Fame 2 summers ago. This is the Mecca for any Baseball fan. It is holy ground. A pilgrimage that every fan of the game should make. Anyway, as I browsed the countless artifacts and exhibits, I was riding the ultimate high. Visiting the Hall of Fame was on my bucket list and I had just crossed it off.

Well near the end of the Hall, they have computer monitors that display the latest Baseball stories. After spending the entire afternoon immersed in the past of the game, I figured I’d glance at the huge screens and see what was going on in the present. It was then and there in the Hall of Fame that I read the most depressing news of my life. Plastered huge across the screen for all to see was “Dodgers file for Bankruptcy protection” with a picture of Frank and Jamie McCourt. I found out that the Dodgers were Frankrupt while I was in the Hall of Fame. The ultimate low.

It hit me hard. After such an incredible day drifting through the legends of the game, I found out that my beloved organization was in shambles. So did I take off my Dodger hat and throw it in the trash? No! I gritted my teeth and wore it proudly the next day in Philadelphia at the Phillies game and then in Baltimore at the Orioles game. Sure I got a ton of crap and heckling from other fans but none of that mattered. I had my colors on and I was going to wear them proudly, even if my colors were flat broke.

SoSG: You can star opposite Bar Refaeli in this commercial (above). Or you can get two tickets to Magic Johnson's luxury suite for any game at Dodger Stadium. Which do you choose and why?

Thomas: I take the two tickets and invite the Nerdy kid from that commercial to come to the game with me. Then I have him tell the tale of how he made out with Bar Refaeli and live vicariously through his story. It’s a win win situation where I get both options for the price of one. Check. Mate.

SoSG: Let's say, theoretically, that you are chosen to be in the MLB Fan Cave, and that it turns out one of your cohabitants happens be a Giants fan. Much like your lawnmowing neighbor, this person actually turns out to be pretty cool, and you guys end up forging a strong friendship rooted in a love of the game of baseball. Do you add arsenic or hemlock to his/her breakfast cereal?

Thomas: Absolutely Not! What’s wrong with you!? Arsenic and Hemlock would be too quick of a death. I want him to suffer. First I would lure him into a false sense of security where he thinks that our friendship is bigger than my hatred of the Giants (big mistake on his part) then I quietly slip Nyquil in his diet coke and invite him to watch “For Love of the Game” with me (the most boring Baseball movie ever made.)

After he drifts off into a deep slumber, I cover his entire body in Industrial strength Dodger Blue paint. That way his pores clog and he is unable to sweat. Slowly but surely the paint will suffocate him (like in Goldfinger) and not allow him to cool down when it’s really hot outside.

The last part of my plan involves taking him to a game at Wrigley field in July and sitting in the outfield bleachers where the temperatures can kill a small child. Not being able to sweat will cause him to suffer from heat stroke and it was all due to the paint that he couldn’t get off. He will have literally been killed by the Dodger Blue.

There you go! Three painfully honest answers from your MLB Fan Cave candidate.

Like what he had to say? Vote Thomas Roberts into the 2013 MLB Fan Cave here!

Want to hear in-depth answers from another candidate? Stay tuned!