It was then that the Phillies, led by their manager, Ben Chapman, repeatedly shouted racial slurs at Robinson when he stepped to the plate, an encounter that was vividly portrayed in “42.”
The City Council resolution states that Robinson was told to “go back to the cotton fields.” According to Jonathan Eig, whose 2008 book “Opening Day” chronicled Robinson’s rookie season, Chapman and several Phillies also made comments about Robinson’s physical features.
Robinson later said that it was the closest he came to cracking and retaliating.
“For one wild and rage-crazed minute, I thought, ‘To hell with Mr. Rickey’s noble experiment,’ ” Robinson once recalled, referring to Branch Rickey, the Dodgers executive who chose Robinson as the player he felt capable of integrating the game while having the discipline to not retaliate to the taunts and harassment he would face.
In those initial games against the Phillies, Robinson held in his anger.
“He knew this wasn’t just symbolism,” Eig said. “He knew if he could integrate Major League Baseball, it would affect lots of people’s lives. And he knew if he lashed out, he might lose the opportunity.”
For his part, Chapman would insist years later that the taunting was motivated less by racism than by a desire to gain a competitive advantage over a presumably fragile rookie. [...]
In any case, the initial taunting of Robinson by Chapman and his players created a backlash. In the second game of that series, according to “Opening Day,” the Dodgers’ Eddie Stanky, a scrappy infielder and Philadelphia native, confronted the Phillies, shouting at them and calling them cowards for verbally abusing someone who could not fight back.
Commentators weighed in, expressing sympathy for Robinson. “It was the first time a lot of white people and white reporters in particular noticed the abuse Robinson was taking,” Eig said, adding, “I interviewed a fan who had been a teenager who went to one of those games, heard the heckling, and was shocked.”Although the resolution refers to the racism Robinson encountered as a visiting player in Philadelphia, it is generally accepted that the worst behavior the Phillies displayed toward him actually occurred earlier that season, in Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, during one of the Dodgers’ early homestands.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Philadelphia Issues Apology To Jackie Robinson, 69 Years Later
Insatiable Former Giant Sandoval Needs To Be Fed By Others
We Sons of Steve Garvey have watched former San Francisco Giant Pablo Sandoval's career balloon right in front of our eyes, with a waistline that seems to defy physics (if not the integrity of belt buckles):
Now, according to ESPN, Sandoval needs a hand-holder for his eating issues (honestly, that's their headline, not ours):
"He needs to be smart enough to say there's a problem," said Ethan Banning, owner of Triple Threat Performance in Phoenix, in an interview with the Boston Herald. "It's like the alcoholic that won't admit he's an alcoholic: well, you can't address that you're an alcoholic if you don't ever admit there's a problem."
Sandoval, 29, showed up to spring training overweight, and subsequently lost his starting third-base job to Travis Shaw. He had played sparingly this season before being placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a shoulder issue. He was scheduled to get an MRI on Thursday.A former personal trainer for Pablo Sandoval says the Boston Red Sox third baseman needs "a babysitter" to watch over him and keep him from overeating, a temptation for Sandoval that the trainer likened to alcoholism.
A handholder to feed Sandoval? Maybe these guys are available for Sandoval's feeding?
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Game 10 Thread: April 14 vs. Snakes, 7p
Ross Stripling (0-0, 1.23) vs. Robbie Ray (0-0, 3.00).
One of the few pleasant surprises thus far in this decidedly mixed season has been the emergence of Stripling — if one impressive (and ultimately futile) effort is enough to judge on.
This time Stripling draws the Arizona bats. Without bothering to look it up, I'm going to say they're not as good as the San Francisco bats. Except that Goldschläger fucker. Don't pitch to him.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Post-Game 9 Thread: Dodgers 3-D Helmets End Losing Streak
Alex Wood led the Dodgers' 3-D batting helmets to their first career victory, earning a rare win of his own and lowering his ERA to 4.50 (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB and 3 Ks). Rubby De La Rosa lowered his ERA as well by over 33%, which was amazing given our pre-game predictions. But hey, we'll take it (so will Adrian Gonzalez, who had a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth).
De La Rosa wasn't helped by his infield, who let the Dodgers take the lead when Chase Utley hit a ball to Nick Ahmed at shortstop; Ahmed threw the ball into right field, allowing Howie Kendrick to score in the bottom of the fifth. The very next play, Corey Seager hit a double-play ball to second, but Paul Goldschmidt bobbled the throw to first, allowing Seager to reach and Joc Pederson to score.
Kenley Jansen needed to notch a five-out save when Wood, and then Pedro Baez, tired in the eighth inning. Jansen needed five outs because, unlike our matte-finish batting helmets, we don't have a lot of depth there.
Yasiel Puig went 2-for-4 and is now batting .394, a notch ahead of Gonzalez' .389.
Yasmani Grandal went 0-for-3 in his first start of the season.
Game 9 Thread: April 13 vs. Diamondbacks, 7p
Alex Wood (0-1, 9.00) vs. Rubby De La Rosa (0-1, 12.46).
Wow, I haven't seen ERAs that high since Jim Johnson last year! Alex Wood has not won a game through spring training and his first start. Rubster De La Rosa is 0-3 with a 11.21 ERA vs. the Dodgers. Tonight's going to be a race to see who can break through the 15.00 ERA ceiling faster. De La Rosa has a headstart, sure; but I wouldn't count out Wood by a longshot.
Let's see if those super-secret 3D batting helmets can earn their first win tonight.
Dodgers Unveil New 3-D Logo Helmets, Lose Anyway
Is a loss in three dimensions worse than in two dimensions? I'm not sure, but at least the Dodgers' unveiling of a new batting helmet distracted us from a disappointing Opening Day loss at home:
The Dodgers today unveiled new matte-finish batting helmets for their home opener. Several other MLB teams have recently changed their helmet finish from glossy to matte, including the Dodgers' opponents today, the Arizona Diamondbacks. But the Dodgers' new helmets have a unique feature: The team's familiar interlocking "LA" logo is raised from the helmet shell instead of being flat against it, creating a three-dimensional effect.
The "LA" lettering projects outward only about three millimeters from the helmet's surface, but that's enough to create a noticeable sense of depth unlike anything seen on a typical batting helmet. Of the other 29 MLB teams, 28 of them use flat decals for their helmet logos. The Chicago Cubs use an adhesive embroidered cloth patch that provides a greater sense of texture, but it doesn't create the same 3D effect as the Dodgers' new headwear mark.The Los Angeles Dodgers are making two changes to their batting helmets -- one of which is unprecedented in MLB history.
photo from ProHelmet Decals
Photos from Opening Day 2016
No, I wasn't there, unfortunately. But I had these shots sent in by a stringer, who captured the majesty of the Dodgers' home opener (and the last in the major leagues this year), honoring Vin Scully, before the Dodgers' bullpen threw the game away.
Looked like it was a great time! Until the final innings, that is.
photos from secret SoSG field reporter
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Game 8 Thread: April 12 vs. DBacks, 1p
After what seems like half a season already played before the Dodgers get a homestand, today is finally the day. The Yard is looking sexy as hell with the LA cut into the centerfield grass, the bunting hung, and the Opening Series logos painted along the baselines.
Loyal SoSGer Karen urged us to post the traditional quote from Field of Dreams, which we didn't on the season opener because it was an away game and didn't seem right. Now, it is definitely right.
Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.I will, most definitely, be out there. So if any readers are, too, find me and buy me an expensive beer.
-Terence Mann, Field of Dreams,
I've always maintained that every team deserved to win its home opener (except the Yankees), and hopefully the baseball gods will smile on us today as we look to pick up the pieces after a mostly disastrous series in San Francisco. Nothing like some home cookin' to get the team back on track, so let's enjoy one of the best days of the calendar year. Play ball!
image: @Dodgers
Monday, April 11, 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Post-Game 7 Thread: Kazmir Can't Hold Five-Run Lead
Top of the first inning, the Dodgers have ten batters come to the plate and score five runs, before Scott Kazmir can even take the mound. But Kazmir yields two runs in the bottom of the first, and then it was all:
If you want to destroy the lead, Scott Groove them balls they can knock away Watch lead unravel, we'll soon be losing Pitching like a punk, pitching like a punk we've come undone
Everybody now!
Game 7 Thread: April 10 @ Giants, 1p
Scott Kazmir (1-0, 0.00) vs. Johnny Cueto (1-0, 1.29).
The two NL West heavyweights go at it for a fourth and final time this series, with new #2s on the mound for each team. Kazmir signed with the Dodgers this offseason for $48M / 3 years. Cueto signed with the Giants this offseason for $130M / 6 years. Is Cueto worth twice the number of years, and roughly 3x the number of dollars? Let's see if today's start gives any indication on the relative worth of these disparate investments.
We know one guy who will come ready to play: Charlie Culberson. I'm still enjoying watching his highlights from Saturday's game, and he understood the importance of the rivalry in his post-game thoughts, especially given he started his major league career with San Francisco. Let's do it for Charlie and get a series split today, boys!
Saturday, April 09, 2016
Post-Game 6 Thread: Culberson Stars In Duel Draw
Clayton Kershaw struckout five over eight, yielding only four hits, but two of them were solo home runs. Madison Bumgarner lasted a puny six innings, striking out eight, and hitting one of those two said home runs. But neither factored into the final decision.
But you know who did (figuratively speaking, not technically speaking)? Charlie Culberson, a new Dodger who played only in the NL West (Giants and Rockies), in a smattering of games across three seasons prior to Los Angeles this year. Culberson went 2-for-5 with an RBI, but also made sweet defensive plays in the bottom of the fifth (a spin move on a shot up the middle to get Denard Span), as well as in the bottom of the eighth (after Culberson had just switched from short to left field), robbing Angel Pagan on a diving grab. Culberson then followed a Corey Seager double in the top of the tenth with a double to right, scoring Seager and allowing the Dodgers to take the 3-2 lead.
Charlie Culberson, man. I'll take it.
Adrian Gonzalez (2-for-5 also had a RBI, his fifth on the season, when he tied the game at 2-2 in the ninth inning. Adrian is so clutch.
Scott Van Slyke had an RBI but had to leave the game in the third inning. with back tightness. Carl Crawford has already tried to beat Van Slyke to the punch, going on the 15-day DL with back pain of his own. We've got 74 outfielders, and so few of them are healthy.
Not that any Giants fans were there to see it. The Giants' crowd upheld its reputation of being fair-weather fans who leave games early--even in close games; look at how few people were behind the plate in the top of the tenth:
Those fans are a disgrace to baseball.
Game 6 Thread: April 9 @ Giants, 1p
It's an early-season duel between two of the league's best pitchers, with the Dodgers looking to rebound from the ass pounding they received on Thursday and the gut-wrenching walk-off loss they suffered last night. Personally I'm sick of the texts and messages I'm getting from friends who are Giants fans rubbing it in after both of those games. Let's not let this season turn into a repeat of last season when we could hardly win a damn game up in SF no matter what we threw at them. Speaking of that, we should throw at them. Or at least challenge Hunter Pence to a duel.
This one's an early one, folks, so get those Bloody Marys whipped up and start to feel the hateHateHATE!
[Editor's Note: SoSG does not in any way condone gun violence.]
[Supplemental Editor's Note: SoSG does in fact condone day drinking.]
Friday, April 08, 2016
Game 5 Thread: April 8 @ Giants, 7:15p
Ross Stripling (0-0, -.--) vs, Matt Cain (0-0, -.--).
If you haven't been paying attention, Ross Stripling is this spring's Cinderella story. Stripling beat out the likes of Carlos Frias, Brandon Beachy and Zach Lee for the coveted fifth-starter spot — two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
After dominating the triple-A Padres, the Dodgers were cooled off by the pesky Giants yesterday (even year, remember). Stripling goes against SF stalwart Matt Cain, who may have been diminished by injuries lately, but hey, even year, remember.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Trailer
Look, we'd be remiss as proper Sons if we didn't post this (albeit late):
As one of the Sons said earlier, "Damn you John Williams!"
Meanwhile, Mark Hamill had this to say about Thursday's Dodgers-Giants game:
Thursday, April 07, 2016
Post-Game 4 Thread: So Much For That Scoreless Inning Streak
Dave Roberts had already seen Alex Wood's shakiness bring an end to the Dodgers' scoreless inning streak, at 31 innings of play, after Wood let three runs score in the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the sixth, Roberts let Wood bat for the final out. And Wood rewarded his faith by coming back out in the bottom of the sixth, and giving up the lead.
A two-run Joc Pederson HR in the top of the eighth showed the Dodgers weren't done yet, having watched their early 4-0 lead go up in smoke. However Pedro Baez let Hunter Pence hit a grand slam in the bottom of that inning, and it was done.
The Dodgers are now tied with the Giants atop the NL West with only 158 games left to play. Tough loss, but let's get Justin Turner (and maybe even Carl Crawford) back in the lineup tomorrow, and go at it with...Ross Stripling? Hoo boy.
Game 4 Thread: April 7 @ Giants, 1.30p
(get it, "wood and peavy")
Alex Wood (0-0, -.--) vs. Jake Peavy (0-0, -.--).
The Dodgers have not allowed a run all year. This streak will undoubtedly change in today's game, the Giants' home opener and a house of horrors for the Dodgers last year (where we went 2-8). Oh yeah, and we're pitching Alex Wood, who posted a 7.13 ERA in spring training.
Oh yeah, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will likely rest Carl Crawford and Justin Turner for this game. Turner is coming off of microfracture surgery, and Crawford is as fragile as a champagne flute. Did I mention leadoff batter Chase Utley is pushing 40?
All eyes will be on Yasiel Puig, who has been torrid this season and is tied for the team lead in HR...oh wait, he's 0-for-7 lifetime against Peavy. Hmm, maybe Kenta Maeda can pinch hit?
About Those 1963 Cardinals
Much ado has been made about the Dodgers' historic three-shoutout start, tied with the 1963 Cardinals, who also opened with three straight shutouts and went 32 innings without allowing a run.
But wait a second, the Padres are also being called out as being the only team to have been shutout in its first three games of the season. But how can this be?
Thanks to SoSG's intrepid analytics department, we've researched it to discover the 1963 Cardinals opened the season with a strange two-game series against the Mets, before a two-day rest followed by Game 3, a Saturday game at home against Philadelphia, for the Cards' third shutout. The Cardinals then played a Sunday doubleheader, where the Phillies ended up scoring in the first game's sixth inning, to break the scoreless streak.
A two-game series to open the season, followed by two off-days and a Sunday doubleheader, just sounds absolutely bizarre given today's scheduling standards. Given the Dodgers' many injuries, I'm glad we don't have a schedule like the 1963 Cardinals had.
Wednesday, April 06, 2016
Post-Game 3 Thread: In Sweep, Maeda Impression
The Dodgers are 3-0 and have scored 25 runs in 27 innings played. Plus they've allowed ZERO runs against, with scoreless efforts across 10 different pitchers (Yimi Garcia has had two appearances, in games 1 and 3).
And if that's not enough to absolutely astound one, starting pitcher Kenta Maeda hit a home run in today's winning effort, to momentarily lead the team in home runs (Yasiel Puig hit one as well, in the eighth inning, to tie Maeda for the team lead.
Okay, deep breaths. Yes, it's only the second time in MLB history that a team has started a season with three shutouts (1963 Cardinals--who ended up missing out on the NL pennant by six games to the Dodgers, who won the World Series over the Yankees). It's a Dodgers club record for scoreless innings to begin a season (obviously).
And Maeda: wow. He was all smiles when he returned to the dugout after his fourth-inning shot, and the Dodgers' silent treatment didn't last very long before erupting in joy. But Maeda's line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 Ks and 0 BB, wasn't too shabby either.
Justin Turner and Joc Pederson each had two RBI; Puig, Maeda, and Carl Crawford each had one RBI. Puig is now batting .600 with a 1.992 OPS. A.J. Ellis went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .125 on the season, but he did get a contested tag in at the plate to get Cory Spangenberg on a grounder to first, thereby maintaining the scoreless streak.
But before we start going nuts here, let's remind ourselves it's the Padres we've just swept. Onward to San Francisco for three.
photo: Denis Poroy, Getty Images
