A Taste of Dodger Stadium (3 of 3)

Thanks as always to Scott Killeen for the photos!

A Taste of Dodger Stadium (2 of 3)

Thanks as always to Scott Killeen for the photos!

A Taste of Dodger Stadium (1 of 3)

Thanks as always to Scott Killeen for the photos!

Puig's Speeding Made His Mom Cry

(Thanks to Scott Killeen for the P'shop!)

Driving 110 mph is pretty reckless. But driving 110 mph while your mom is in the car (let alone two other passengers)?

The Cuban defector was charged with reckless driving in a 70 mph zone in Naples. Puig, who lives in the Miami area during the offseason, told the trooper he wasn't speeding for most of the two-hour trip north until the officer clocked him. But the officer is unsympathetic.

"This is your mom? Oh, you're going to jail. You are putting your mom in danger, oh hell no," the trooper says in Spanish on Dec. 28 to Puig, 23. "Why were you driving that fast? You don't care about anyone's life in the car?"

Puig responds: "Yes, I do care. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

The video shows the trooper explaining to Puig's mother, a cousin and another passenger why he was being arrested.

"The reason why we are in this situation is because he didn't care about his mother's life or your lives, and he's going to jail," he said in Spanish. Puig's mother is heard sobbing.

While in the backseat, Puig tells himself: "Why do you have to drive so fast, Puig? You have to learn." He repeatedly asked the officer to let him go, at one point saying he would "do anything" and that he would never drive again, "but please don't take me to jail."

As for Puig talking to himself; hey, I'm hoping that works. Clearly Puig's handler isn't getting everything through to him, so I'm all for multiple personalities giving it a shot.

Donnie Gets His Extension

Mattingly finally gets his extensions while showing support for the Three Sisters

From "Don Mattingly to get extension" by Ramona Shelburne at ESPNLA.com:

The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached an agreement on a contract extension with manager Don Mattingly, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com on Tuesday.

The team is expected to announce the extension later this week.

Mattingly was already under contract for the 2014 season. Exact terms of the extension were unknown, although sources told ESPN that it covers the next three seasons.

Mattingly managed all of last season without assurances he would remain at the helm beyond this year. He revealed during a tense news conference after the season that his option for 2014 vested when the Dodgers made the NL Championship Series, and he displayed frustration at having been put in that position.

The Dodgers were surprised by the comments but quickly moved to assure Mattingly that he was viewed as part of their long-term future. The team initiated extension talks shortly thereafter.

While the process took several months, there was always a belief on both sides that an extension would be completed before spring training.

Mattingly is 260-225 in his three seasons as Dodgers manager. He finished second in NL Manager of the Year voting in 2013.

Congrats, Donnie! Your ballsy demand-an-extension-during-a-press-conference strategy worked! Now it's time to deliver.

Dodger Stadium 2014 Renovations Announced

From a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced plans for upgrades to 52-year-old Dodger Stadium for the 2014 season.

To continue on the program of improvements that began in 2012-13, the Dodgers have submitted plans to the City of Los Angeles for the following projects, expected to be completed in time for the 2014 season home opener April 4:

1. Expansion of the entries at the Field level, enabling all fans with Pavilion, Dugout, Field, Loge and Club tickets to enter the convenient entrances on the north side of the stadium. These new entries will also house new team stores and concessions and memorabilia to celebrate the team history, including its famous seasons in Brooklyn, NY, as well as its five-plus decades in Los Angeles.

2. Seating and lounging areas at bars and drink rails overlooking the bullpens in the outfield, giving focus to pitchers warming up as well as infield game views.

3. New food services with outdoor grills and specialty fare such as Tommy Lasorda's Italian and hot-off-the-grill BBQ, areas where the Hall of Fame manager and other former players will spend time with fans.

4. An expansion of the popular Reserve Level "La Taqueria" stand near the kids play area at the left field Reserve entry.

5. Relocating the visiting team clubhouse to an area near the visiting team dugout at field level so that all visiting team areas are in a single new area adjacent to the batting tunnel, conditioning room and training area built in newly created space in 2013.

6. Continuing work on the upgrade of the electrical infrastructure that supports the 1962 stadium. In 2013, significant new equipment and substations were installed in coordination with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Work will continue this offseason to connect to the new equipment to improve safety and provide the best technology available for fans.

7. Enhancement of the ballpark’s landscaping. All 33 trees in the outfield area have been replanted on site and the Dodgers, the only team in baseball with a full-time arborist, will have three times as many trees in the outfield by April as before. The display of the famed “Three Sisters” behind the left-field bullpen will remain.

Hideo Nomo, HOF Candidate

Realistically, Hideo Nomo probably won't make the Hall of Fame. But, in addition to Jay Jaffe's SI.com piece on Nomo as a pioneer, there was a more tongue-in-cheek series on Deadspin last month that chronicled the impact of a number of MLB players up for HOF candidacy, and the post about our own Nomo was pretty sweet:

Nomomania wrapped you up in something that you didn't quite understand. It had nothing to do with winning or losing; it was excitement built on a foundation of excitement. In retrospect, the most fascinating thing about it was the relative absence of the man himself. You didn't find Hideo Nomo speaking at elementary schools or shilling breakfast cereals like Fernando Valenzuela did in 1981, or sitting courtside at Lakers games like Yasiel Puig in 2013. Other people talked about Nomo; the man himself didn't.

He went into his ritual windup, summoning pitches from a place no one else had access to. He walked back from the mound, keeping his eyes on the grass. He disappeared from the public eye between starts. They called him the Tornado, but he was quiet and still, even at the center of a storm of tchochkes and sellout crowds at Dodger Stadium and kids who were mesmerized by his windup, his forkball, and even his name. We said it a lot. Nomo, Nomo, Nomo.

Loving or not loving Nomo was never a consideration. He wasn't some hero like Mike Piazza or Ramon Martinez; he was a player you were awed by. In Los Angeles, a city that makes men into metaphors just by putting them on television, Nomo transcended his own performance immediately.

In 1995, the year the baseball strike ended, he exploited a loophole to get out of his Japanese contract, and signed in February, coming in essentially as a replacement for Dodgers legend Orel Hershiser. In his first start, he tossed five shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out seven. The Dodgers blew a 3-0 lead, then lost the game in the 15th, but no matter; Nomo was, immediately, the symbol of a Dodger franchise that felt ascendent in both moral and baseball terms, an antidote to strike-related cynicism. As the first player who'd come to the majors from the Japanese league since Masanori Murakami decades earlier, Nomo hearkened back to Valenzuela, to Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson, to the idea that the Dodgers were an innovative and upstanding franchise. [...]

The thing about phenomena like Nomomania or Fernandomania is that they're inherently unsustainable; even had Nomo maintained his early excellence, the hype surrounding him would have calmed. Instead of disappearing altogether, though, he pitched effectively into his mid-30s, bouncing from the Mets to the Tigers to the Red Sox, and back to the Dodgers. His last good season came in L.A. in 2003. He went 16-13 with a 3.09 ERA, even though his strikeout rate had dropped by a third.

The idea that Nomo was some sort of one-trick pitcher was clearly rooted in his foreignness, in his delivery, in the way he made established American ballplayers look like fools chasing pitches in the dirt. He was a big league pitcher who outgrew his own hype, and a harbinger of change. In Nomo's rookie season, he was the only Japanese player in the major leagues. By 2008, the year he attempted his final comeback with the Royals, he was one of 19.

More on Nomo here.

UPDATE: Nomo got 6 votes.

illustration swiped from Deadspin

MLB.com Dodgers Beat Writer Screws Greg Maddux

Wow, I knew Ken Gurnick, beat writer for the Dodgers over on MLB.com was a feisty guy. But screwing Greg Maddux because the non-power pitcher happened to pitch in the steroid era? That's some cold dish being served:

NEW YORK -- Greg Maddux won't be a unanimous selection for the Hall of Fame.

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, a former reporter for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, says the only player he voted for was pitcher Jack Morris. Morris is on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot for the 15th and final time after falling 42 votes shy last year.

Gurnick said Tuesday that he excluded "everybody from the steroid era."

"I just don't know who did and who didn't," Gurnick said, adding: "Some people quibble over when the era starts, but the bulk of [Morris'] career was in my opinion well before all of the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs."

As you can imagine, the internets are not happy. "Criminally lazy", said one pundit over at NBC.com.

The Los Angeles Herald Examiner closed its doors in 1989. I wonder if steroids can also be attributed to Gurnick's prolific publishing in the post-Examiner era? Gurnick certainly tweets a lot more now than he did in the 1980s. Maybe Gurnick is juicing, too?

(Look, there's never been a unanimous inductee to the Baseball HOF. It's unfortunate for Maddux, but you know--there's always someone, right?)

UPDATE 1/8: Looks like Gurnick wasn't the only one; 15 others agreed with him that Maddux wasn't HOF-worthy on his first ballot.

2014 Dodgers BP Jersey: XXXS Size Preview

Building on yesterday's post, here's a (small) look at the Dodgers' new 2014 BP jersey, if you squint really hard that is. (And unlike yesterday's post, this might actually be relevant to a 20-14 product this time! Whoo hoo!) From ESPN's Uni Watch:

As you can see, it's a fairly basic template without too many bells and whistles. As had been expected, it matches the template used for the 2013 All-Star Game BP jerseys. (As a side note, the jersey appears to have a new version of the Majestic Athletic sleeve logo. This new logo appears throughout the catalog and will presumably be showing up on game jerseys next season as well.)

So now we've got gray collar highlighting, plus gray armpits. I can deal with this.

Since when did we sign Gary Player, however?

Dodgers' 2014 "New" BP Hat: Less Piping, More Bland

Truth be told, I was never a fan of the "old" Dodgers BP hat with the little gray areas at the temples. I always felt like Reed Richards when I wore that cap (in all of my batting practice sessions, of course). I also didn't like the white piping running all over the Dodger blue.

Now, it looks like the Dodgers are losing the piping and gray temples, but gaining a gray that ESPN.com's Uni-watch understandably is panning:

Every three or four years, all 30 MLB teams get new batting practice cap designs. The upcoming season is one of those years, so you'll soon see teams unveiling their new BP caps (which will also be worn throughout spring training, natch). But thanks to an inside source, Uni Watch is now prepared to provide you with an exclusive sneak peek at the new headwear -- 36 new caps in all, because some teams have separate designs for home and away.

The longstanding BP cap trend has been that each design cycle is worse than the previous one. But Uni Watch is happy to report that this streak has finally been broken. The new caps have no silly stretch panels and no extraneous design. So most of the new caps are better than the old ones.

Guess the Dodgers' cap didn't make the "improved" list.

Setting 2014 Expectations High

Hey SoSGers. Things have been a little hectic here this holiday season, but I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things, starting with a little housecleaning.

Here's ESPN's Buster Olney from 12/31/2013, with his pronouncement that the Dodgers are the second best team in MLB, behind only the Tigers (link insider only):

They haven't really made a big move yet this winter, re-signing Juan Uribe, Brian Wilson and J.P. Howell, and pinning down Dan Haren on a one-year deal. But even if they don't land another pitcher -- Masahiro Tanaka, Matt Garza or David Price -- they'll have an excellent pitching staff, and of course, the money and the motivation to get better and address holes during the regular season. One GM said that when you consider building a championship team, you have to factor in an additional 5 to 10 percent: The amount of money you can take on to fill needs that develop through injury and unexpected performance lapses. The Dodgers certainly have that.

If the Dodgers play the Tigers in the World Series, it'll be a match of the two teams currently placing the highest value on winning a championship.

They have Yasiel Puig, too, whose talent is as scary as his driving – which is why the Dodgers talked to him after his latest incident. The Dodgers are holding their breath over Puig, writes Bill Plaschke.

Olney had the Cardinals third and the Red Sox fourth. No other NL West team made the top ten.

Speaking of that Plaschke article (from 12/29/2013), it includes this ending quip:

Colletti said he wasn't inclined to give Puig another babysitter, saying, "At some point, everyone is responsible for their own actions. He's not some 16-year-old kid, we can't have someone on his arm all the time. It's up to him to figure it out like we all have to figure it out."

So breaths will remain held, the Dodgers silently rooting that in the 110-mph race of his life, Yasiel Puig will grow up before he blows up.

Too bad Puig probably doesn't read Plaschke.

Dodger Stadium Update: Three Sisters in Jeopardy?

Thanks to BJ Killeen (words) and Scott Killeen (pictures) for the latest from Dodger Stadium:

AMBER ALERT: Three Sister Missing

On a recent picnic outing to Dodgers Stadium (the top deck is always open), we noticed the temporary tent located at the entrance to the third-base field level that housed a Dodger gear store was missing. We heard they were going to make a new entrance that included a viewing area for the bullpen as well as a walkover to the outfield Pavillions. Seconds later, we were heartbroken when we realized the famous three sisters palm trees were MIA!

No one we spoke to seemed to know their fate. The landscapers are planting a lot of new palm trees on the top deck by the main Dodgers store, but the familiar bent lady was not among them. Driving around to get a closer look, we found two of the three missing girls, unceremoniously lying atop a trailer in the parking lot. What will happen to this famous Dodgers stadium landmark? Where is the third sister? How will we know they will be okay and returned to their place of prominence? Someone help us find the answers!

WiFi and In-Seat Service for the Masses

While the Dodgers organization has not confirmed this, rumors from a stadium tour guide related to stadium changes/upgrades include a robust WiFi system, along with Dodgers stadium-specific apps that will welcome you as you walk in, guide you to your seat via a smartphone GPS map! and allow you order food and have it delivered to your seat. The AT&T-supplied WiFi was less than impressive in its Beta test last season, so it was disabled until they could really make it work. The other apps and the food-ordering system will be Beta tests for the rest of the league, but don't look for it to happen before the 2016/2017 seasons.

BJ also passes along this gem from the official website of Walter O'Malley:

"When the sun sets at Dodger Stadium, I am impressed first of all with the mountains because, at this time of year, they are fully defined. It makes me think of some of the great artists who did Western paintings — Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Frank McCarthy, to name a few — because they must have been inspired by that.

"And then the cloud formations. At sunset, they turn pink. And as it continues, the closer you are to sunset, the clouds are still kind of gold. Farther away in center field and right field, you’re away from the sunset and the clouds are turning purple. So you think of an artist’s palette with various colors, and it just takes your breath away.

"Down on the field, a ballgame is just beginning. But the sunset becomes a major distraction because it’s so overwhelming it’s hard to take your eyes off it. And then the palm trees — there’s a group of palm trees on the hill behind left field — they are defined against the sky, and they are turning colors with the sunset. You can’t see that anywhere else in a ballpark."

—Vin Scully (Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2003)

Don't Go Messin' with a Dodger Blogger

And 2014 begins with a battle for the ages. Alyssa Milano (the second hottest Dodger blogger behind SoSG's own late Lasorda) vs Jay Mohr?!?!? Killer Chris Walken imitation or not

I expected more from anyone who appeared in Pluto Nash. Not surprisingly, Alyssa Milano showed Jay Who's the CHARMED! From the LA TIMES:

It looks as if the Jay Mohr-Alyssa Milano feud is really over, as the comedian on Friday apologized again for his "hurtful" comments about her weight and she graciously (and humorously) accepted. In a segment that Mohr said he has since removed from the podcast where it originated, the "Mohr Stories" host said that the "Mistresses" actress seemed "like she had a baby," made a crude comment about her "gut" and said that she looked like "was not wearing Spanx," according to reports. All this after the two attended NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series at Wynn Las Vegas on Dec. 6. Mohr hosted the event and Milano served as a presenter.

Milano, 41, who has 10 times the Twitter following that Mohr does, graciously yet pointedly called out the comedian on Twitter on Christmas Day.".@jaymohr37 So sorry you felt the need to publicly fat-shame me," she wrote. "Be well and God Bless. Please send my love to your beautiful wife."On Thursday, Mohr addressed the feud, which had taken on a life of its own online, tweeting a self-deprecating apology. "@perezhilton @alyssa_milano She's stunning," Mohr tweeted. "I mistakenly thought the absurdity of what I was saying would have ben taken as a joke. #fail" Then, on Friday, he posted a more formal and thoughtful message that he sent directly to Milano and posted on his blog and Facebook page.

"I am VERY sorry. Comedians have a hole on their insides that can only be filled by generating constant content that is, many times, improvised in the moment. Unfortunately, in rare instances, it causes irreparable harm," he wrote. "I had thought in that improvisational moment (incorrectly), that the incongruousness of my statements, when held up to the light of how beautiful [Alyssa Milano] is, would have been funny. IT WASN'T. Knowing that Alyssa (her family, friends, fans, and especially her husband) heard things that were hurtful, from my mouth, crushed me. She has always been one of the kindest, most caring and beautiful people this town has ever seen.

"I will not make excuses for what I said -- it lacked class and dignity -- and I regret that I ever said it. Although I immediately removed that segment from my podcast, it still doesn't change the results. I know full well how much words can hurt people, having seen my wife ["Las Vegas" actress Nikki Cox] get destroyed by the tabloids, and I am embarrassed that I didn't think before I spoke. Alyssa is an extraordinarily beautiful person -- both inside and out -- and I'm truly ashamed of the words I used. I didn't reply to her comments via Twitter because I didn't want to draw more attention to something as serious as this. Alyssa is a mother, a wife, an actress, and a class act that should always be celebrated. I am SO sorry. Sometimes comedians go to far. I went to far. I cannot change what I said, but I can assure you that my heart is broken that I hurt her. With the utmost sincerity, Jay Mohr."Soon after the post went live, the "Charmed" actress tweeted her response with a touch of light-heartedness.".@jaymohr37 Thank you. Apology accepted. (She grunts while aggressively yet cautiously prying off her head-to-toe Spanx). #PassTheCookies," Milano wrote.

And there you have it, the beginning and end of 2014's first celebrity feud.

In other news, Embrace of the Vampire got remade and is now available on all platforms.

Everything Is Coming Up Roses with Vin

Just returned from the Rose Parade. I had a first row seat along the route and was able to see our Vinny from a few feet away as he passed by. The Dustettes and I were of course wearing all Dodger gear, and as Viny passed the crowd yelled their love for him. I doffed my cap, and it seemed as though he looked right at me and acknowledged me. I couldn't help but get a bit weepy. Here are a couple pics I was able to snap.

UPDATE:

To my point, here's Vin on his experience, courtesy LA Times:

And the one thing I tried to do, and I did it until, really, my shoulders were sore, I wasn't just waving — I was applauding a lot. I kept applauding and gesturing to the people, 'I'm applauding you. I'm thanking you for all the years,' and they've been so good and kind and generous to me.

UPDATE II:

Happy New Year!

Grand Marshal of the 125th Rose Parade, Vin Scully, and his wife Sandra.
photo from this year's Rose Parade program