Those who follow baseball are touched by his demeanor and tone on the radio. None is greater than the legendary announcer, Vin Scully. On this Veteran’s Day, it’s time to recognize a veteran sportscaster whose voice generations of baseball fans recognize all too well.
Eighty-two year old Scully said Tuesday he will continue in the broadcast booth for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010. Scully has been on the job since the day he began in 1950. His 59 year tenure with the Dodgers is the longest of any current sportscaster with the same team. Scully’s audiences have enjoyed his well-regarded mastery of the English language between balls and strikes for more than a half a century. Scully was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1995. His words and game calling remains as strong as ever. Vin was born in the Bronx. The young Giants fan began broadcasting games for Fordham University. He was hired by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950 and worked alongside Red Barber. Scully was transported with the team when the Dodgers made L.A. their new home. He was in the booth for five World Championship seasons and brought to life in thrilling theater Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965. Scully set the standard for sports radio announcing. When you think of quality baseball on the radio, Scully automatically comes to mind. He is so intertwined with the Dodgers it’s hard to imagine anybody else broadcasting each game in L.A. The red-headed Irish announcer has the most musical, poetic voice in baseball. His sentences flow impeccably and his distinct, articulate words are similar to verses of a poem. Scully is one of the rare natural speakers with smooth and rounded melody. There aren’t enough accolades to describe how his commentary recreates the game in the listener’s mind. Some announcers struggle to find the right word, but Scully’s verbiage always seems to be on the tip of his tongue. He expresses his words in a manner baseball fans can intimately feel and understand. Scully paints the picture on the field more beautifully than any announcer of his day.
One of the things I appreciate most about the veteran synchronizing Scully is how he works alone. It’s more personal that way. There aren’t any color commentators to chime in with their opinions. Although Scully has called more than just baseball games, the National pastime is his forte. He specializes in engulfing the listener into a game that was meant to be broadcast on the radio. I am probably one of the few fans left who consider radio baseball better than TV baseball. I would rather hear Scully portray what’s happening on the field than access the game with my own eyes. The Dodger announcer uses the crowd to feed off of and makes them a part of each broadcast. Vincent Edward Scully will celebrate a birthday on November 29th. Today, we celebrate THE voice of baseball for the commitment and commentaries carried out, and give thanks for at least one more season of enjoyment. Even if you don’t frequently listen to Dodger games, afford praise to one of the great veterans of the game.
Parting Points: One of baseball’s veteran players agreed to a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners. Ken Griffey Jr. will return for his 22 year in 2010.
Jam for Veteran’s Day- “Smooth” by Rob Thomas and Santana
Showing posts with label L.A. Dodgers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label L.A. Dodgers. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Phillies Phabulous
Citizens Bank Park was bouncing with bliss behind Jimmy Rollins Monday night. The City of Brotherly Love sent a sellout 46,157 crowd, furiously waving white towels, home happy. The All-Star Phillies shortstop served the ball up the alley with two down in the ninth inning against Jonathan Broxton and the L.A. Dodgers. The ball split the Dodger outfielders in the gap. The squirt up the middle was good for a double, and a Philadelphia victory. Broxton, susceptible to squandering leads, started to unravel when he walked 41 year old, pinch-hitter Matt Stairs on four pitches. The closer proceeded by hitting Carlos Ruiz to set up Rollins’ game-winner. The struggling slugger got off his 3-for-18 series snide by striking a 99 mph heater into the outfield. L.A. lost a heart-breaking game 5-4 and is now in a 3-1 series deficit. Wednesday night is all hands on deck for the Dodgers because there is no tomorrow if they lose again. In Philadelphia, Rollins is the toast of the town as the city is one win away from another Fall classic appearance.
The defending champion Phillies were an even-keeled crew, scoring immediately in their first at-bats. Joe Torre’s California club climbed into a hole in the bottom of the first. The Phillies scored a pair of runs off starter, Randy Wolf in the initial frame. Strongman Ryan Howard’s two-run shot in the first gave the first baseman eight straight post-season games with an RBI to tie the great Yankee, Lou Gehrig. The Dodgers notched the game at two with a three-hit fourth inning. James Loney singled to right field to synthesize the first L.A. RBI. Manny Ramirez scored later on a Russell Martin base hit.
The Dodgers registered a run in each of the top of the fifth and sixth innings to increase their lead by two. Matt Kemp hit an exhilarating solo homerun in the fifth after being ahead in the count 2-0 off Philadelphia hurler Joe Blanton. Casey Blake drove Ramirez home in the sixth after the controversial, quirky Manny reached on an error. The Dodgers had a chance to pack on the runs with runners on second and third, but Wolf flied out to Shane Victorino to end the inning. L.A. gave back a run in the bottom half of the sixth courtesy of Victorino. The flying-Hawaiian tripled to left-field and scored on Chase Utley’s single. The Dodger advantage was preserved on a shoe-tops catch by a notoriously-awful fielding Ramirez. Hong-Chin Kuo was summoned from the L.A. bullpen and worked through a small jam following reliever, Ronnie Bellasario. Kuo retired the only batter he faced in the sixth, Raul Ibanez, when Ramirez snagged the fly fantastically.
Both NL teams walked away from the seventh and eighth innings scoreless. The strength of the Dodgers is their bullpen, and L.A. backed it up until the final frame last night. Reliever, George Sherrill and closer Broxton combined to put down a one-out threat with two runners on in the eighth. Howard was fanned by Sherrill after Utley drew a walk. Broxton induced Jayson Werth into flying out to right field. L.A. looked less than lazy against the lights-out duo, Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge in the top of the ninth. However, their punch wasn’t enough to break a tie ball game on the road. Raphael Furcal fought off Eyre’s fire to muster out a one-out single. Furcal stole second and scampered to third on Lidge’s wild pitch. Lidge recovered in time and settled down to strike out Andre Ethier.
The bullpen that was supposed to save the Dodgers and give the offense a chance to win the game in extra innings did not come through Monday night. The pitching is under much scrutiny because things are not working out for them this post-season. Seasoned Dodger fans were probably sick after the skittish Broxton coughed up the game. Broxton was able to get the leadoff out, but walked Stairs and hit Ruiz to give Philadelphia the slight but significant edge they needed. Stairs, a veteran Canadian, was the hero of last October when he propelled his team past L.A. to send the Phillies to the World Series. Now the Dodgers are on the cusp of being eliminated. Broxton bears the brunt of this bitter defeat. The Dodgers need two victories in a row to have a shot at the NL pennant. They cannot afford to be anything but perfect against a team that has the will to put the hammer down. The uphill battle begins tomorrow when last year’s MVP Cole Hamels faces likely starter, Clayton Kershaw for L.A. The Dodgers are not as focused as they should be. Maybe they are too loose and need to find their intensity. Their patience at the plate is one positive to take from game four’s loss. The Dodgers have the lineup capable of deep blasts, but they need to manufacture earned runs. They cannot rely on a Phillies’ breakdown and need to shake things up if they want to win. Dodger relievers have to be especially careful with the powerhouse lineup that is the Phillies. The Phillies have the momentum and the home-field advantage to close this NLDS out in five games. I am down on the Dodgers, but believe, with the right attitude, this team can come back to win at least two games. It will take more than a shoestring catch by a clowny fielder. L.A. has to get the most out of their starters and then wear down and mow down the Phillies. Their only chance will be to keep the game close and avoid another disaster like game three. The Dodgers bounced back and showed some resiliency after the 11-0 Sunday night blowout. Now it’s time for the team that owned the NL West earlier this year to cause the champions to crumble with their sights set on a second crown.
Parting points: What’s this baloney about Mariano Rivera doctoring the baseball in last night’s game? Pleeease.
Song of the day- The Wallflowers’ “6th Avenue Heartache”
The defending champion Phillies were an even-keeled crew, scoring immediately in their first at-bats. Joe Torre’s California club climbed into a hole in the bottom of the first. The Phillies scored a pair of runs off starter, Randy Wolf in the initial frame. Strongman Ryan Howard’s two-run shot in the first gave the first baseman eight straight post-season games with an RBI to tie the great Yankee, Lou Gehrig. The Dodgers notched the game at two with a three-hit fourth inning. James Loney singled to right field to synthesize the first L.A. RBI. Manny Ramirez scored later on a Russell Martin base hit.
The Dodgers registered a run in each of the top of the fifth and sixth innings to increase their lead by two. Matt Kemp hit an exhilarating solo homerun in the fifth after being ahead in the count 2-0 off Philadelphia hurler Joe Blanton. Casey Blake drove Ramirez home in the sixth after the controversial, quirky Manny reached on an error. The Dodgers had a chance to pack on the runs with runners on second and third, but Wolf flied out to Shane Victorino to end the inning. L.A. gave back a run in the bottom half of the sixth courtesy of Victorino. The flying-Hawaiian tripled to left-field and scored on Chase Utley’s single. The Dodger advantage was preserved on a shoe-tops catch by a notoriously-awful fielding Ramirez. Hong-Chin Kuo was summoned from the L.A. bullpen and worked through a small jam following reliever, Ronnie Bellasario. Kuo retired the only batter he faced in the sixth, Raul Ibanez, when Ramirez snagged the fly fantastically.
Both NL teams walked away from the seventh and eighth innings scoreless. The strength of the Dodgers is their bullpen, and L.A. backed it up until the final frame last night. Reliever, George Sherrill and closer Broxton combined to put down a one-out threat with two runners on in the eighth. Howard was fanned by Sherrill after Utley drew a walk. Broxton induced Jayson Werth into flying out to right field. L.A. looked less than lazy against the lights-out duo, Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge in the top of the ninth. However, their punch wasn’t enough to break a tie ball game on the road. Raphael Furcal fought off Eyre’s fire to muster out a one-out single. Furcal stole second and scampered to third on Lidge’s wild pitch. Lidge recovered in time and settled down to strike out Andre Ethier.
The bullpen that was supposed to save the Dodgers and give the offense a chance to win the game in extra innings did not come through Monday night. The pitching is under much scrutiny because things are not working out for them this post-season. Seasoned Dodger fans were probably sick after the skittish Broxton coughed up the game. Broxton was able to get the leadoff out, but walked Stairs and hit Ruiz to give Philadelphia the slight but significant edge they needed. Stairs, a veteran Canadian, was the hero of last October when he propelled his team past L.A. to send the Phillies to the World Series. Now the Dodgers are on the cusp of being eliminated. Broxton bears the brunt of this bitter defeat. The Dodgers need two victories in a row to have a shot at the NL pennant. They cannot afford to be anything but perfect against a team that has the will to put the hammer down. The uphill battle begins tomorrow when last year’s MVP Cole Hamels faces likely starter, Clayton Kershaw for L.A. The Dodgers are not as focused as they should be. Maybe they are too loose and need to find their intensity. Their patience at the plate is one positive to take from game four’s loss. The Dodgers have the lineup capable of deep blasts, but they need to manufacture earned runs. They cannot rely on a Phillies’ breakdown and need to shake things up if they want to win. Dodger relievers have to be especially careful with the powerhouse lineup that is the Phillies. The Phillies have the momentum and the home-field advantage to close this NLDS out in five games. I am down on the Dodgers, but believe, with the right attitude, this team can come back to win at least two games. It will take more than a shoestring catch by a clowny fielder. L.A. has to get the most out of their starters and then wear down and mow down the Phillies. Their only chance will be to keep the game close and avoid another disaster like game three. The Dodgers bounced back and showed some resiliency after the 11-0 Sunday night blowout. Now it’s time for the team that owned the NL West earlier this year to cause the champions to crumble with their sights set on a second crown.
Parting points: What’s this baloney about Mariano Rivera doctoring the baseball in last night’s game? Pleeease.
Song of the day- The Wallflowers’ “6th Avenue Heartache”
Friday, October 16, 2009
Phillies Pound 'Pen
The Philadelphia Phillies drew first blood in the National League Division Series. Although the best of seven series is lengthy, history dictates the winner of Game One goes on to win 60% of the time. Last year’s World Series champions beat Joe Torre’s Dodgers8-6 at Dodger Stadium Thursday night. The bullpens determined the outcome of the game, and it was Philadelphia’s who was up for the task. Phillies’ closer, Brad Lidge, secured his third consecutive save this post-season to preserve the promising win. Charlie Manuel’s bullpen allowed one less run than Torre’s in the slugfest affair. The Phillies closer, who was so effective in the playoffs last season, worked around a ninth inning walk and a single. Lidge appeared healthier and in control on the mound, and the results rewarded his team with the crucial first game of the NLDS.
Dodger-tormentor, Carlos Ruiz, clocked a three-run homerun off L.A. starter, youngster Clayton Kershaw. Ruiz also drew a walk earlier in the game off the hurler. He was one of two batters to reach base before the fourth inning when Kershaw’s command and approach went haywire. Shane Victorino was the other Philly to reach safely, but was picked off attempting to steal. Cole Hamels and his talented club found themselves in an early 1-0 hole after James Loney rocketed a rare shot off the Phillies starter. Hamels was mediocre throughout the contest, and Dodger fans had every reason to believe their bullpen had the upper-hand in a close game. The home team was well-positioned to complete a comeback, even after Kershaw imploded and exited the game. In the top of the fifth, Kershaw was victim to Raul Ibanez’ two-run left field homerun. He also issued a pass to second baseman, Chase Utley, on a full count. First base power hitter, Ryan Howard, followed Utley’s base-on-balls with a hot shot to right. Two runs scored on the double. Howard passed Philadelphia legend, Hall-of-Fame third baseman, Mike Schmidt in the post-season RBI department (17).
The Dodgers showed how excellent and sanguine they could be in the bottom half of the frame. The comeback ability was augmented as L.A.’s offense unloaded. The Dodgers scored three runs on three hits and an Utley error. Manny Ramirez hit a tater to left on a 2-0 count. The Dodgers trailed by just one run headed into the sixth. Ronnie Bellasario retired the Phillies in order in the top of the sixth. Loney and Ronnie Belliard clubbed one-out singles in the L.A. half to knock Hamels out of the game. Pinch-hitter and one of the Dodgers’ dangerous weapons, Jim Thome, drew a walk off starting pitcher, J.A. Happ appearing in a relief role. The Dodgers had the bases loaded for veteran Raphael Furcal. Furcal grounded out to Utley to end the threat, stranding three runners on base.
Southpaw Philadelphia relief specialist, Alberto Bastardo gave up a double to Andre Ethier in the bottom of the seventh. The Dodgers could not capitalize as Manuel brought in former L.A. starter, Chan Ho Park. The Phillies didn’t come up empty in the top of the eighth. They scored three more runs to pad the lead in the deadly frame for the Dodgers. George Sherrill could not overcome two five-pitch walks to Howard and Jayson Werth. The Philadelphia offense picked apart and devastated Sherrill, highlighted by Ibanez’ second long ball of the night. Ibanez has to be one of the best off-season acquisitions by any ballclub this year. Down by four runs in the bottom of the eighth, the Dodgers drove deep balls and accumulated 4 hits. Los Angeles found the Phillies best reliever as of late, Ryan Madson, quite hittable last night. The effort produced two runs for the home team, but still two shy of tying the score.
Park’s pitching probably occurred at the most crucial moment in the game. The Phillies lead 5-4 when Park entered the game in the seventh. He preserved the lead and the momentum from shifting back to the Dodgers when he sent Ramirez and Casey Blake back to the dugout groundout sufferers. Park struck out Matt Kemp with inside fastballs, jamming the Dodger centerfielder inside. The Dodgers are down a game, but it wasn’t for lack of offense. L.A. got on base and scattered fourteen hits to the Phillies’ eight. It was all about the bullpens in the Golden State last night. The Phillies’ executed concisely and consistently. The niggling Dodgers’ bothersome bullpen blew blue’s chances. They couldn’t contain the Phillies, who prove they thrive under pressure. The Phillies tempered the dreams the Dodgers harbored. Torre’s Dodgers are going to have to implement a different strategy if he doesn’t want an early exit again this year.
Parting Points: I can’t wait for the ALDS Game One tonight.
Song of the day- “The World I Know” by Collective Soul
Dodger-tormentor, Carlos Ruiz, clocked a three-run homerun off L.A. starter, youngster Clayton Kershaw. Ruiz also drew a walk earlier in the game off the hurler. He was one of two batters to reach base before the fourth inning when Kershaw’s command and approach went haywire. Shane Victorino was the other Philly to reach safely, but was picked off attempting to steal. Cole Hamels and his talented club found themselves in an early 1-0 hole after James Loney rocketed a rare shot off the Phillies starter. Hamels was mediocre throughout the contest, and Dodger fans had every reason to believe their bullpen had the upper-hand in a close game. The home team was well-positioned to complete a comeback, even after Kershaw imploded and exited the game. In the top of the fifth, Kershaw was victim to Raul Ibanez’ two-run left field homerun. He also issued a pass to second baseman, Chase Utley, on a full count. First base power hitter, Ryan Howard, followed Utley’s base-on-balls with a hot shot to right. Two runs scored on the double. Howard passed Philadelphia legend, Hall-of-Fame third baseman, Mike Schmidt in the post-season RBI department (17).
The Dodgers showed how excellent and sanguine they could be in the bottom half of the frame. The comeback ability was augmented as L.A.’s offense unloaded. The Dodgers scored three runs on three hits and an Utley error. Manny Ramirez hit a tater to left on a 2-0 count. The Dodgers trailed by just one run headed into the sixth. Ronnie Bellasario retired the Phillies in order in the top of the sixth. Loney and Ronnie Belliard clubbed one-out singles in the L.A. half to knock Hamels out of the game. Pinch-hitter and one of the Dodgers’ dangerous weapons, Jim Thome, drew a walk off starting pitcher, J.A. Happ appearing in a relief role. The Dodgers had the bases loaded for veteran Raphael Furcal. Furcal grounded out to Utley to end the threat, stranding three runners on base.
Southpaw Philadelphia relief specialist, Alberto Bastardo gave up a double to Andre Ethier in the bottom of the seventh. The Dodgers could not capitalize as Manuel brought in former L.A. starter, Chan Ho Park. The Phillies didn’t come up empty in the top of the eighth. They scored three more runs to pad the lead in the deadly frame for the Dodgers. George Sherrill could not overcome two five-pitch walks to Howard and Jayson Werth. The Philadelphia offense picked apart and devastated Sherrill, highlighted by Ibanez’ second long ball of the night. Ibanez has to be one of the best off-season acquisitions by any ballclub this year. Down by four runs in the bottom of the eighth, the Dodgers drove deep balls and accumulated 4 hits. Los Angeles found the Phillies best reliever as of late, Ryan Madson, quite hittable last night. The effort produced two runs for the home team, but still two shy of tying the score.
Park’s pitching probably occurred at the most crucial moment in the game. The Phillies lead 5-4 when Park entered the game in the seventh. He preserved the lead and the momentum from shifting back to the Dodgers when he sent Ramirez and Casey Blake back to the dugout groundout sufferers. Park struck out Matt Kemp with inside fastballs, jamming the Dodger centerfielder inside. The Dodgers are down a game, but it wasn’t for lack of offense. L.A. got on base and scattered fourteen hits to the Phillies’ eight. It was all about the bullpens in the Golden State last night. The Phillies’ executed concisely and consistently. The niggling Dodgers’ bothersome bullpen blew blue’s chances. They couldn’t contain the Phillies, who prove they thrive under pressure. The Phillies tempered the dreams the Dodgers harbored. Torre’s Dodgers are going to have to implement a different strategy if he doesn’t want an early exit again this year.
Parting Points: I can’t wait for the ALDS Game One tonight.
Song of the day- “The World I Know” by Collective Soul
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