The Beard Retires...A Dodger that Bonded the Team Together

Today Casey Blake officially retired and I think it is appropriate to acknowledge what a great influence he was to the Dodgers.  He was a true teammate.  I dare say that Blake is partially responsible for making Matt Kemp the player that he is today.

Casey Blake showed Matt Kemp the ropes.  Though there was a noticeable age difference, the two struck up a wonderful friendship.  Maybe it was because they were two boys from the midwest.  Perhaps because they understood each other.  Probably because Blake was the type of veteran that unlike players like Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzales, made it his mission to help groom some of the talented youngsters into true major leaguers.

When Matt Kemp responded that his offseason was great during 2010 Spring Training, Blake interrupted and said "Are you kidding, did you see the magazines?" while holding up a tabloid with Kemp and Rihanna romping at a beach resort in Cabo.  It was stuff like that where Casey would break up the clubhouse.

Matt Kemp summed up Casey Blake in 2009, a few months after he came over in a trade.  “How can he not be making me a better player when he’s always telling me how great I am?  I know a great dude when I see one,” said Kemp who spoke of Blake who he noted as a great husband and father of four young girls.  

Casey Blake came in to a new clubhouse in 2009 and immediately made an impact.  He joked with the Latin players and danced to their music.  He tried to speak spanish with them.  He would sing hip hop tunes with Orlando Hudson.  Then he’d give hunting tips to Jonathan Broxton.

Blake was a clubhouse guy.  The most unselfish of players.  Some referred to him as a “Glue guy.”  The type of player that bonded a team.  I can’t recall a player arriving at mid-season and in such a short period of time having such a positive influence in unifying a ball club.  

Many of us fans dubbed him “The Most Interesting Man in the World,” and “Thirtsy” for his resemblance to the iconic Dos Equis Beer pitchman.  His beard became a fan favorite and soon “In Beard We Trust” t-shirts could be found around Dodger Stadium.  Casey's teammates in Cleveland called him “Chin” in reference to his Jay Lenoesque feature.   His Dodger teammates called him “Gamer” because that was a perfect description of what he was to them.  Simply a clutch performer those first two years with the ball club before injuries cut him down and cost him his career.

Whatever he was called, Casey was the consummate professional and an unselfish player.  A humble player that didn’t become a regular until age 29 and a Dodger until age 35.  Remember game 2 of the NLDS against St. Louis in the 9th inning, how he worked that key walk after starting off the at bat 0-2 by fouling off pitches?  It was pure clutch.  How many guys rattled a pitcher to commit a walk-off balk?  Casey did.

Bowa and Blake celebrate the "Balk off" on May 31, 2010

He was a player with integrity.  His college coach at Wichita State claims that his team approach was the best he ever saw in all his players.  He backed his team and would fight for them to the end.  As a Dodger, Blake was the kind of player you wanted besides you.  He respected the game and expected opponents to do the same.  When he called out Giant closer Brian Wilson for his showboating gestures, he made no excuses.  “I don’t like when players make gestures or do stuff like that on the field,” he said the day after mocking Wilson’s gestures following a clutch homer that he hit off Wilson.  “The only guys I’m going to have a problem with are guys where it’s very obvious that they only care about themselves and their own performance.”

Blake will make a good manager one day and I would hope that the Dodgers would consider putting him in their organization.  When he arrived to the Dodgers, he immediately assessed the situation and glued the team together.  The players weren’t communicating.  The old guard wasn’t talking with the new guard.  There were cliques.  Joe Torre had a divisive clubhouse and did little to correct it.

“It was awful - that was sort of their downfall,” said Blake.  He cared enough though to mold the team together.  He was smart enough to deal with the younger guys through positive reinforcement.   Link to Hannah Kamp Wall Street Journal Article on Blake 

I’m not saying that the Dodgers in 2009 and 2010 won because of Blake, but I will say that he played a huge role in unifying the guys and getting them on the same winning page.

So on this day that Casey Blake officially announced his retirement I praise him and thank him for his contributions as a Dodger.  Casey wasn’t the most talented guy on the field, but he was definitely the grittiest.  Enjoy retirement Case, enjoy the kids, the family.  Stay gritty my friend.  Hopefully we see you in a managerial capacity in the near future. 

Bring on the Giants! News from Behind Enemy Lines

Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times was on the San Francisco Flagship station, KNBR, this morning.  They were doing a preview of the first Dodger Giant series of 2012.  Hernandez’s overall assessment of the Dodgers so far is not that positive.  Something that the Giant audience really ate up on the morning drive show today.  Not that I expected anything less on that show.

Interview follows:

KNBR’s Brian Murphy:Alright Dylan, let’s talk about the Dodgers.  What a start! 9-1, they’ve gone 9-9 since, but it doesn’t matter, they’re still 18-10.  Is this a dramatically better team than we’ve seen in the last couple of years or is this the team that took advantage of a weak early schedule.

Hernandez: You know I think they’re a team that took advantage of a weak early schedule. Uh, that said, I think they’re a little better than I thought they’d be.  I think Mark Ellis has been a huge addition.  They’re a team that for the most part isn’t really going to trip themselves up.  They’ve had some bullpen issues recently.  Javy Guerra the closer has blown three saves.  Besides that with the fielding, they’re not a team that is prone to many mistakes.  From that standpoint, they’re a slight improvement from last year.  But when you look at the big picture it’s pretty much the same thing, where you have Kershaw the ace and pretty much everyone else.  Right now Kershaw, Chris Capuano and Lilly are all pitching well. But I’m not really sure that you can expect them to contain that throughout the entire year.  Offensively you have pretty much the same thing.  You have Kemp, you have Ethier and then you have pretty much everybody else.  So, I would say they are a top heavy team, without much depth.

Murphy: Yeah, good observations.  It was something we were looking at from afar.  James Loney, .202, Dee Gordon, low .230s, Juan Uribe no homers.  Is this the kind of thing where, are they expecting guys to step up?  A.J. Ellis?  I don’t know, or are they thinking ‘Man, we don’t have much beyond Kemp and Ethier?

Hernandez:  Yeah, I think going into the season I think they knew that.  Don Mattingly said during Spring Training that they’re going to be in a lot of close, low scoring games.  Which is why they’ll have to pitch well.  Which is why they’ll need good production out of the bullpen.  I think that when you look at what has happened in the last two weeks, the back end of the bullpen really hasn’t held up. A lot of that could be because of the fast start...the closer Javy Guerra and the set up man Kenley Jansen were out there almost every day.  So my guess is that they’re dealing with a fatigue issue.  But we really don’t know, Guerra and Jansen, last year was pretty much their first full major league season.  So we don’t know if they can hold up over the full course of the year.  That really will decide how this team goes.

Murphy:  About Kershaw Dylan, his talent is so enormous.  I guess though in Colorado he had a little bit of a hiccup, Carlos Gonzalez got him in the 8th inning there.  But other than that isn’t it the same old dominant Kershaw?

Hernandez:  Yeah it has.  You get the feeling that this is going to be one of those years where he posts a low two ERA and only wins 13 or 14 games or something.  The run support really hasn’t been there too much and a lot of times he’ll take a one inning lead late into the game.  I think in the home opener he gave up a run in a 1-0 lead in the 7th inning.  That is asking a lot of any pitcher.  I don’t care if it’s Kershaw or Roy Halladay or Tim Lincecum. You give them of support and it’s gonna be hard to win on a consistent basis.

Murphy: Yeah, but his stuff remains...he’s the Cy Young Award winner.  Is there a feeling around the Dodger organization that he’s just a superstar with no essential flaws?

Hernandez: Yeah, absolutely.  I think that the one thing that sets him apart from other guys is his mental makeup.  We saw that right away.  When we were first exposed to him as a teenager, we saw that right away.  There was something about him that was a little bit different.  If he suffers a failure, he doesn’t take it all at heart.  It just seems to drive him more.  He seems very open to learning.  He doesn’t let his ego get in the way of his pitching all that much.  I think that when the team looks at him, with the new ownership this is the type of guy that they probably want to lock him up long term, maybe like the Giants have done so with Matt Cain.

Murphy: Yeah, going to Matt Kemp.  He could have easily won the MVP award.  And now he’s doubling down this year, what a crazy month.  We now hear he’s tweaked his hamstring, I know you weren’t in Chicago, what is the vibe now?  Are they maybe going to be a little cautious and might he miss a game or two this series?

Hernandez:  I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens.  They really can’t afford to lose him for an extended period of time.  The offense right now is pretty much Kemp and Ethier.  If they lose Kemp at this point, they’ll literally become one of the worst offensive teams in the league.  My guess is that they’re going to be cautious.  He does have a pretty long consecutive games streak going.  The longest in the majors, I think it’s approaching 400.  They gave him a pinch hit at bat yesterday and my guess is that we’ll at least see him pinch hit over the next couple of games.

Murphy:  Well that’s something to definitely watch when the lineups are posted. And then finally you mentioned the new ownership Dylan.  I guess it’s official.  I mean it feels like the easy analogy of the Wizard of Oz.  You know, ‘Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.‘  The house fell on McCourt and everybody’s happy now.  It seems like now with Magic Johnson as the public face and this billionaire venture capitalist guy with the money, I mean it seems like the Dodger Kingdom, or the fans of the Dodgers are ecstatic.  Is that the right read of what’s going on with them and the ownership?

Hernandez: You know I think it was initially, and a lot of that has to do with Magic and the memories that he gave people who grew up in Los Angeles here, but I think what came out over the last few days, with my colleague Bill Shaikin, who did a terrific job covering the sale and the divorce.  He reported that McCourt is still going to be collecting parking money every year.  And it will kind of be indirect.  In the introductory press conference the new owners said that Frank will not be collecting any revenue, which was technically true.  But McCourt still owns half of the parking lots and the team still has to pay a lease on the parking lot of $14 million per year.  So McCourt will still be getting money.  And that was one of the first things the new ownership group said, that McCourt wasn’t going to profit off the team basically.  So, they started off with a lie, which I think wasn’t good.  And even though McCourt’s gone, I think the fans don’t want any of their money in any way to end up in McCourt’s pockets.  You know, because they lied, it kind of gives it a bad feel right now.  So I would say that it this point the fan base is cautiously optimistic.  

Murphy:  Now the game plan is that at the trade deadline this summer they may be a little different team than they have been the last few years as far as resources.

Hernandez: Yeah, that is the expectation.  And even before that I think the first sign of what this ownership group will do will be what they decide to do with Andre Ethier.  Ethier will be a free agent at the end of this season, and my guess is that it’ll be in the best interest of this team to get him signed before he does hit the open market.  I would guess that in the next couple of months they’ll approach Ether.  If something gets done, I would say that is a pretty promising sign.  

Murphy: Dylan, great information...and enjoy the series, we’ll catch up down the road sometime.

Hernandez:  Thank you so much for having me on.

Murphy: Yeah, Dylan Hernandez, good to have him on.  I like having a Dodger beat writer on, someone close to the team that sees the warts more, because now we know that behind Kemp and Ethier, not much there. Behind Kershaw, not much there.  That makes me feel better.

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So fine, Giants fans can feel better all they want.  Truth of the matter is, the Dodgers have a better ball club in my opinion. I don't agree with Hernandez that this team is as weak as he hints.  Gordon, with his struggles is still a sparkplug.  Ellis is the veteran presence that the team needs.  Can Loney get worse?  I doubt it.  AJ Ellis is solid.   Rivera, numerous clutch hits.  Hairston, amazing D and timely hitting.  I couldn't disagree with Hernandez more, with the exception of  his assessment of the bullpen.  Yes, there we have issues.

Today it was announced that Giant reliever Guillermo Mota has been suspended for 100 games for testing positive for PEDs.  The Giant team without Wilson, Huff, Sanchez, Mota has many issues and they still can't hit, though I will admit they are doing better than last year.

Now is the time for the Dodgers to make a statement and dominate the NL West on this homestand.

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Oh, That Bullpen!

With all the troubles that the bullpen has had of late, I find it surprising that the Dodgers remain in first place, (and by a rather comfortable margin at that, being only 28 games into the season).  When you examine things a bit closer, if it were not for that hot 9-1 start, where the bullpen performed admirably, this club would be a .500 team, (Since then the Dodgers are 9-9.  I hate to be a person that dwells on negativity, but the reality of the Dodger pitching staff is that the bullpen leaves a lot to be desired.

Javy Guerra

The Dodger closer is struggling.  He’s being hit hard.  He’s walking guys.  His confidence is gone and he’s blowing saves. The pitch selection he uses is questionable.  He’s leaving balls up that are very hittable.  He has lost his swagger.  It is possible that the league has figured him out and he needs to make adjustments.  The next few weeks will be the true test for Guerra.  Can he rebound from this rough patch or will he end up in Albuquerque eventually?

Scott Elbert

The Dodger lefty specialist can’t get lefties out. They are hitting .429 against him.  Right handed hitters aren’t far behind, batting .400. Elbert has an ERA of 6.75.  Even when Elbert records outs, he has been hit hard.  It’s disappointing to see him regress.  Elbert had so much promise just a few years ago.  

Jamey Wright

Though he has had a few moments of brilliance this season, Wright has been tagged with two key losses and periodically has outings where he simply can’t get anyone out (such as today).  A Dodger bullpen that is dependent on journeyman reliever Wright is in trouble.

Todd Coffey

Unimpressive aside from a couple of weeks early in Spring training.  The Coffey experiment needs to end.  I really wanted him to do well.  He is a great clubhouse guy and a positive story.  But if he can’t get outs, its time to go.  His 13.50 ERA tells the story.  Yes, he’s only pitched 2 2/3 innings but he hasn’t been able to get outs since mid-March in Spring Training.

Ronald Belisario

His one inning this season resulted in retiring the side with consecutive outs.  So far so good, but can we really be dependent on this guy.  Past issues with drugs, alcohol, and overall integrity makes me question management’s decision to give him another shot.  They love his stuff.  When that sinker is on, he’s as valuable as can be, but it has been 3 years since 2009.  One good outing has not made a believer of me yet.

The remaining guys, Kenley Jansen and Josh Lindblom have been steady.  But a bullpen of two doesn’t bring much confidence to the table.  This Dodger club will have to have improved relief pitching if they expect to remain in contention.  The starting staff has carried this club, but we can’t expect that to last forever.  Is there help available in the minors?  Albuquerque’s closer Josh Wall (1-1, 4.15 ERA,13 IP, 4 saves), Chattanooga’s closer Shawn Tolleson (0.84 ERA, 10.2 IP, 4 saves, 18 K’s) have started the season well.  Then there are starting pitchers Nathan Eovaldi, John Ely and Mike Antonini that could be moved to the bullpen if needed.  But seriously, there isn’t anyone that is a true reliever with MLB experience that is available in the farm system.  

I love the fact that this team is 4 games up in  first place, but the bullpen has to be a concern to us all.  Back to L.A. to take on the hated ones for three.  This is an important homestand against two division rivals.

Monday Night, History to be Made at Dodger Stadium, Don't Miss It

Something special will happen at Dodger Stadium on Monday.  Something of historic proportions.  An event that should be recorded and kept for posterity.  The widow of the man who broke the color barrier, Mrs. Rachel Robinson, will be accompanied to the Dodger Stadium mound by his former teammate, Cy Young Award winner/MVP and baseball pioneer, Don Newcombe and the first official African American baseball owner, sports icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson.  

Rachel Robinson in 2007, Jackie Robinson Day at Dodger Stadium (photo by Associated Press)

It should be a moment that is captured and remembered for everyone.  It should be the image plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the nation and the headline news at the top of every television news segment.

I guarantee you this.  As I’m standing here today, forced to watch the San Francisco Giants telecast in Northern California.  They will ignore the event as if it never happened.  So as disappointed as I will be knowing that I’ll miss the historic moment, and will be forced to watch their two homers in the booth talk about such players as Brett Pill and Aubrey Huff, I will have the satisfaction in my heart knowing that the changing of the guard has taken place.  That the stewardship of the organization is in good hands and that Magic Johnson and his group will be busting their behinds to make the Dodgers the best team in baseball.

With philanthropy, Magic teaming with Rachel Robinson and Jackie's family is one of the best public relations moves the Dodgers have ever made.  Jackie's legacy has L.A. roots and his organization and foundation needs to be supported whole heartedly by the Dodgers.  It is a perfect and appropriate fit.  I'll never forget Mrs. Robinson in the booth during Jackie Robinson day several years ago at Dodger Stadium and how while being interviewed about her late husband, she interrupted and cheered as the Dodgers scored a run.  "You never stop being a fan," she said.  Gotta love her.

Jackie, Jackie Jr. And Rachel Robinson (photo by Nina Leen)

As I watched replays of the Wednesday morning press conference as an enthusiastic Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten addressed the crowd.  I couldn’t help but get excited about the positivity that was practically palpable.  There was a spirit of excitement that I haven’t felt with the Dodgers in a long, long time.  Yes, I truly believe that a World Series championship is coming our way again.  Maybe not this year, but within the near future. 

This is an ownership group that will be pro-active and dedicated to improving the fan experience at Dodger Stadium.  They’ll improve Dodger Stadium.  They’ll seek out players to keep us in contention.  They’ll build the farm system and invest in the foreign markets.  Off-season free agents will be targets of the Dodgers.  Los Angeles, (the real L.A., not the fake one in Orange County) will again be the place where free agents want to come and play.  Be afraid Giant fans.  The Los Angeles Dodgers are about to become the powerhouse that they deserve to be.

So set your DVRs to record early on Monday night as the Dodgers face the San Francisco Giants.  Before the first official pitch is thrown, and amazing and historical ceremony will take place.  Let’s all stand and cheer for Rachel, Newk and Magic.  Past and Future will be present to remind us fans how special it is to be Dodger fans.

A Couple of Links From the road

I have been on the road all week.  Started with a flight to Denver on Tuesday (where I reported on that night's Rockies game).  Drove to Salt Lake City the next day, and continued on to Reno, NV today.  All related to my work assignment.  So keeping up with the blog has been a bit difficult, though I was able to post something over at the ThinkblueLA blog last night:  My post at Think Blue LA Linked Here

I must say that I highly recommend another article posted by ThinkblueLA.com creator Ron Cervenka. (LINKED HERE )  He did an interview with Dodger BP pitcher Pete Bonfils.  It is a fun and informative read.  Imagine dating back to 1969 as a batting practice pitcher with the Dodgers.  Pete has some amazing stories to tell.

For those of you that haven't migrated over to the Think Blue LA Blog and forum yet, I highly recommend it.  The forum is awesome with a great following of passionate Dodger fans.  Register and join in.  Ron is really cutting edge with the latest Dodger news and fresh opinions.  Hey, and I write a piece there every now and then too.

Dodgers Hold On, Another Cliff-Hanger at Coors Field

So my first experience at Coors Field started out amazing with the Dodgers jumping out to a 7-0 lead.  By the time the night came to a close, I came to claim that I personally have witnessed it.  This is a place where no lead is safe.  The Dodger shung on to win 7-6, with the tying run just 90 feet away while the batter in the box that struck out to end the game, Carlos Gonzalez, was sporting a .400 average against them.

I arrived when the gates opened and was impressed with the Denver digs that the Rockies enjoy.  

Blake Street, in front of entrance

Entering Ball Park

A pristine clean ball park with all the amenities.  I immediately went down the third base line and watched batting practice in the left field corner, only to see Chris Capuano throw some pitches off flat ground to Clayton Kershaw.

They also had a yellow softball and Clayton tried his luck with an underhand fastpitch delivery.

After the ushers gave us the boot from the section, I walked over to the Dodger dugout, only to get turned away by an usher there...though I had tickets 7 rows behind home plate, it didn’t matter.  I was shooed away.  Oh, well.

I settled in my seat.  Maybe the best seats I’ve ever had.

View from my seats

Here's Dee Gordon and Mark Ellis taking some practice swings just before the start of the game.

Four pitches in, Dee deposited his first Major League home run into the right field bleachers off of Jhoulys Chacin.  It was a no doubter.  A perfect swing and a 1-0 lead.  

Dee Gordon steps in for the first pitch of the game.  He hit his first ML homer on the 4th pitch of the night.   Note Rockie third baseman Jonathan Herrera moving in anticipating the bunt.

Gordon crosses the plate after the homer.

Three batters later, Andre Ethier did the same.  This one I filmed video with my camera.  Take a look at this 48 second YouTube video that I posted merely seconds after Ethier hit it.

It was a little shaky, but it's really the first piece of live footage that I have shot that is of a legitimate game highlight.  I usually tape footage of guys taking pitches.  Lucked out with this one.

Ted Lilly was on his game, extending his shutout innings into the 6th inning.  Lilly got the well deserved win, allowing 2 runs over the 6 frames.  He is off to his best start of the season in years.  The scouts seated next to me said they clocked him at 97 MPH on the radar gun.  (Just seeing if you were paying attention, I don't think Lilly surpassed 89 on the gun).

Scouts monitoring the action

So, with a 7-0 lead at hand in the 6th inning, the Rocks slowly wittled away at the lead, leading me to seriously believe that the victory was not going to happen.  Josh Lindblom was rudely received by the Rockie bats, giving up three runs.  Kenley Jansen surrendered another run in the eighth.  This left the game up to the struggling Dodger closer Javy Guerra.  Yes, the same Javy Guerra that the ushers wouldn't let through the flexiglass gate behind home plate a few minutes before the game started.  It wasn't until Trey Hillman came out and vouched for him that thye let him in.  (I kid you not.  The ushers at this ballpark were jerks!)

Guerra, as so often happens, made it a nail biter.  I give him credit though.  He struck out two and was saved by a fine defensive play by Mark Ellis, to record his 8th save on the year.   This has to be a confidence booster for Guerra who has been struggling in dramatic fashion lately.  Guerra was hitting 96 MPH on the gun and his darting slider was at 91.  The final slider to strike out CarGo was classic.

CarGo swings and misses at a Guerra slider for the final out.  Gonzalez then splinters his bat into pieces out of frustration.

So, tomorrow Clayton Kershaw goes for the Series win.  Unfortunately I can't remain in town for that.  A series victory tomorrow will keep this train rolling.  The Dodgers under the new ownership are undefeated and...as my friend Ron Cervenka from the True Blue LA blog was so quick to text me.  Dee Gordon has more homers than Albert Pujols on the season!

I'm in Denver/Last Night's Loss/The Sale is Complete!

For the first time in my life I find myself in Denver, Colorado today.  I’m not quite sure how I have managed to skip Colorado in these 50 years, but the drought is over and I’ll be seven rows behind home plate tonight.  

So my major league ballpark count is now raised up a notch to twelve in ten different cities.  Visits in the past have been to San Diego (Both Petco and San Diego/Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium), Anaheim, San Francisco (Candlestink and Phone Bill Park), Oakland, Phoenix, Houston, Boston, New York (Shea Stadium) and of course, Dodger Stadium.

I have also visited, but not attended a game in Seattle, New York’s old Yankee Stadium, Washington and Baltimore.  I have a ways to go before hitting all major league cities.  Retirement can’t come soon enough.

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Last night’s loss at Coors Field just didn’t sit right.  With the bases juiced and none out in the 7th, we were prepping ourselves for a downpour of Dodger runs in the Denver night only to see Kemp, and Ethier strike out and Rivera to pop out.  A disappointing development and something we haven’t seen those three do much in the first month of the season.  Such is the drama of 162 games.  The ebbs and flows of a long season.

Still, sitting pretty in first place with a 16-7 record, we couldn’t have wished for much more as McCourt hands over the ownership to the Guggenheim group.  A three and a half game lead after 23 games is quite an achievement for these guys, who many picked to finish 4th in the N.L. West.

The thing that I love most about this grand old game is that as soon as the disappointment of a loss is reality, the optimism of the next day exists.  Lilly against Rincon tonight.  Hopefully Ted is able to maintain that homerless streak in the confines of Coors field.  

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Dodgers Announce completion of Sale.  The Dodgers issued the following Press Release was this morning:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 

SALE OF LOS ANGELES DODGERS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

LOS ANGELES, May 1, 2012 - The Los Angeles Dodgers, Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC (“GBM”) and Frank McCourt today announced the completion of the sale of the Dodgers to GBM for $2 billion. As previously reported, the Dodgers’ new ownership includes Mark Walter as control person, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Stan Kasten as CEO of the organization.

 The Los Angeles Dodgers stated, “The Dodgers emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization process having achieved its objective of maximizing the value of the Dodgers through a successful Plan of Reorganization, under which all claims will be paid. The Dodgers move forward with confidence - in a strong financial position; as a premier Major League Baseball franchise; and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community.”

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and...this Media Advisory was issued a few hours later, announcing a Press Conference Tomorrow, introducing the new ownership group.  These are exciting times!

NEW DODGER OWNERSHIP TO BE INTRODUCED

AT WEDNESDAY 10 AM NEWS CONFERENCE

WHAT: The new ownership of one of the most prestigious sports franchises—the Los Angeles Dodgers—will be introduced at a news conference at Dodger Stadium.

WHO:   Mark Walter

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Stan Kasten

Peter Guber

Bobby Patton

Todd Boehly

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Councilman Ed Reyes

Dodger Hall of Famers Vin Scully and Tommy Lasorda and Dodger greats Don Newcombe, Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey and many others

Rob Manfred, Executive Vice-President, Labor Relations & Human Resources, MLB

WHEN:                 Tomorrow, WEDNESDAY, MAY 2               10 a.m.

               

WHERE:               Dodger Stadium—Conference will be held in centerfield

1000 Elysian Park Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90090