YFSF

Wet But Playable: Mariners-Yanks Gamer I

Brandon Morrow and Joba Chamberlain take the mound for their respective clubs as Seattle comes to town.

Romper Stomper: Sox-O's Late Gamer

The Red Sox have already hung four runs on Rich Hill and it's only the second inning. John Smoltz pitches for the Sox at Camden. Comment away.

Yanks Acquire Eric Hinske

Does this mean the Yanks are a smart franchise? Before this most recent trade, Hinske played three seasons on three different teams run by general managers who went to ivy league schools. Boston is considered by many to be the brainiest of front offices, Tampa's management team is filled with sharp thinkers, and many analysts think Neal Huntington is going to turn things around in Pittsburgh. The Yanks give up a couple of prospects  to add much-needed depth. Hinske can play the corner outfield and infield positions. I like this move given the plan to rest A-Rod regularly and Damon's recent injury issues. Hopefully, Hinske gets back some of the power he had last year.

Looking for a Spark: Sox-O's Gamer V

The Red Sox have kept on winning -- 14-6 in their last 20 -- but their last 10 games have featured some low-scoring affairs. In the four games leading up to the 11-3 pasting of Washington's bullpen, the Sox scored just 12 runs. In the five since, they've scored just 15.

But if you can't go home to get a tonic for a struggling offense, there are always the Orioles -- against whom the Sox are 4-0 this season, and against whom they have another 14 games to play this season. Hopefully Baltimore will oblige, and they start by pushing Jason Berken (6.32 ERA) to the hill against Jon Lester, who has a spectacular 2.78 ERA in his last seven starts and a 2.03 ERA in his last five outings against Baltimore.

Comment away!

Soxfan in LaLaLand, Redux

We took our first trip to Chavez Ravine (we forgot our non-telephonic camera, sadly) this Saturday evening to see the Major League-best Dodgers take on Felix Hernandez and the Mariners. Some observations:

• Most diverse crowd I have ever seen at a ballgame. We sat in the upper deck, reserve seats. $19, and a great view, sight lines nearly perfect. The crowd lives up to its reputation of LA insouciance: relaxed, intermittenly paying attention, truly enjoying themselves. A very nice atmosphere.
• Even understanding tendentious history of Chavez Ravine and eminent domain, the site and park are beautiful. Clean, situated in lovely fashion, with sunset views of the San Gabriel mountains as the game wore on. The most beautiful professional baseball park I have been to that sits outside a downtown. And during the approach to the stadium and at the plateau for the upper decks, you get full views towards sparkling (or smoggy, depending on the time of day) Los Angeles.
• The stadium is segregated by ticket type, even more so than Yankee Stadium. We sat in the upper deck reserves, and there was no way to go anywhere else, even if we wanted to bowl over a security guard. We could have base-jumped, I suppose. The upper sections are separated completely (not by barricade or fence, but by air and space) from the lowers. Yankee Stadium seems positively democratic by comparison. Chatter around the park was that the Dodgers are interested in renovating and changing this, which would be welcome. It is really quite shameful that you can't move around.
• We didn't sample much food other than what we had for dinner, this was no culinary expedition (that was left to an earlier evening and a Top Chef Master - thanks to Ludo for a genius meal and good conversation, the wine provided by a tastemaster). The grilled Dodger Dogs were fantastic, the Gordon Biersch garlic fries even better. Despite a decent crowd they were able to serve them to us fresh, crisp, and covered in garlic. The bagged peanuts were generic, oversalted, dry. With a bottle of water dinner ran $16.
• Felix Hernandez is very impressive in person, even from the top shelf of the stadium. 
• The Mariners lineup is not, despite their win. Oh, except for Ichiro, who put on a display. Though he also dropped an easy fly ball (channelling Luis Castillo, almost!).
• We get to say we saw Ken Griffey Jr. hit a homer in person, something that we weren't able to do up until this weekend, and something on which we thought we'd miss out.    
• In the fifth inning there was a video tribute to Fernando Valenzuela, who was in the house.  A treat to see him and also the highlights.  The crowd went nuts (as nuts as LA fans go, that is) for Fernando. 

Mo: 500 + 1

Congratulations to the great one, Mariano Rivera, on his 500th career save and 1st career RBI. All class, all the time. Bravo 42.

(PS: Yanks sweep the Mets!) 

The End of Interleague for Boston (until October!): Sox-Braves Gamer

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Soxfan in LAlaland

First a mural of Manny, then this. Certainly odd to see.

In The Citi: Yanks-Mets Gamer V

Somewhere out there on that horizon
Out beyond the neon lights
I know there must be somethin' better
But there's nowhere else in sight

A.J. Burnett takes the mound at Citi Field while the Mets send Tim Redding. The Bombers have won three in a row behind a resurgent offense, and need a win to keep pace with Boston who took a closely-pitched game from the Braves this afternoon. Comment away.

Saturday Morning in LA

On the Left Coast for work, took a quick trip to Chavez Ravine to get impulse tix for tonight's game. Visitors are allowed in, and the view from just inside the box office is SPECTACULAR. Excited for tonight, my first time to this park.