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Dodger Thoughts

     

Thursday, August 08, 2002

 
As of 5:30 p.m. today, the Dodgers are 9-18 in their last 27 games (a easy-to-calculate .333 winning percentage), yet if the season ended this second, they would be playing in a postseason game. How this will play out remains to be seen, but it does give me an opportunity to talk about one of the most roller coaster regular seasons of my life.

In 1982, before the wild card era when you had to win the division, the Dodgers fell 10 games behind the Atlanta Braves at around this time of year: late July/early August. At that time, getting caught up in playoff fever, Braves owner Ted Turner removed the tepee of Chief Noc-a-homa, the Braves' mascot, from its home in the outfield stands to make room for more seats for paying customers. In the next 12 days, the Braves lost their entire 10-game lead. They went 1-11, and the Dodgers went 11-1.

Perhaps poetically, my Dad and I were visting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY as this was going on. It was just astonishing. The only problem was that it was happening in August and not late September. As the Dodgers continued to edge their new-found lead out to a few games, my 14 1/2-year-old self was slightly sad that it was going to end up being a runaway, instead of a dramatic finish.

And then Ted Turner put the tepee back.

The Braves started winning again, the Dodgers started losing. And on the last day of the season, Joe Morgan of the Giants homered off Terry Forster of the Dodgers in the bottom of the 8th inning, while the Braves were beating San Diego. Atlanta won the division on that final day.

You never have it lost, and you never have it won. And so, while I can look at the Dodgers, as I have earlier on this site, and alternately forecast doom or optimism, you simply never, ever, ever know. And I guess that's part of why I keep coming back. I am a cynical man who constantly hopes.

 
Brax Cutchin sent me my first fan letter! Sure, it may end up being my only fan letter, but it was nice all the same. Thanks, Brax! Consider my next entry dedicated to you...

This is no quid pro quo, but I feel an overwhelming urge to plug Brax's musical genius to the world via his own Web site.

Sunday, August 04, 2002

 
I know I haven't been too steady with this so far. The ups and downs are just wreaking havoc with me. From the ninth innings of Gagne's ejection to Green's home run...if I could just learn to roll with these things, it would probably leave me better suited for life in general. But it is hard to roll...

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers and baseball. To respond or contribute -- or if you are having technical problems with this site -- please e-mail ShiftyJ@aol.com.

Archives (indexed by headline/topic)

Dodger sites:
John's Dodger Blog (Not Jon)
Dodger Blues
DodgerKid
The Bench Coach
6-4-2

Dodger resources:
Latest Dodger news headlines (via Google)
Dodger News on MLB.com
Dodger OPS Stats (ESPN.com)
Las Vegas 51s (on BA)
Dodger Salaries (on Ahead-of-the-Curve)
Walter O'Malley - The Official Website
2004 Dodger Schedule
2003 Dodgers at Baseball-Reference.com (sponsored by Dodger Thoughts)

Mostly non-partisan baseball sites:
Baseball Prospectus.com
BaseballPrimer.com
Rob Neyer at ESPN.com
Baseball Musings
Will Carroll Weblog
The Futility Infielder
The Transaction Guy
Rich's Weekend Baseball BEAT
Doug's Business of Baseball Weblog
The Score Bard
Baseball News Blog
Wait 'Til Next Year
Thoughts from Diamond Mind
Universal Baseball Blog, Inc.
Julien's Baseball Blog
Ball Talk
Mike's Baseball Rants
Boy of Summer
For Rich or Sporer
The Spitter
Fun With Win Shares
BaseballInteractive.com
MLB Center

Slightly more partisan baseball sites:
Aaron's Baseball Blog
Bronx Banter
The Cub Reporter
Steven Goldman's Pinstriped Bible
View From the 700 Level
Gregg's Baseball, Etc.
Bambino's Curse
U.S.S. Mariner
SethSpeaks.Net
Some Calzone for Derek
The Raindrops
Ducksnorts
But It's a Dry Heat
No Pepper
The Southpaw
Replacement Level Yankees Weblog
Athletics Nation
Mariners Wheelhouse
Only Baseball Matters

Baseball, among other things:
Priorities & Frivolities
Shallow Center
Arrive In The Third, Leave After Seven
Cosmic Tribune

Invaluable resources:
Retrosheet
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseballgraphs.com (includes Win Shares)
MLB Contracts

Less Dodgers, More L.A.:
L.A. Observed
LABlogs.com
Blogging.LA

All in the family:
Ask Greg (about Gargoyles)
Robyn's latest tech articles

Other baseball writing by Jon on the web:
A Season in Savannah

2003 season:
Dodger home record: 46-35
When Jon attended: 11-11
When Jon didn't: 35-24

1991-2003:
Dodger home record: 563-455
(.553)
When Jon attended: 261-208
(.557)
When Jon didn't: 302-247
(.550)

About Jon

Los Angeles Times review of Dodger Thoughts


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