The Trolley Dodger

The new “realistic” MLB.com Gameday makes me want to find a game controller. :)

There is a link to the “Classic” version.

It’s been a while since I subscribed to the paper version of the LA Times, but there are occasions that I miss it, particularly on Sunday mornings when there’s nothing like relaxing with a big newspaper.

That said, if I were planning on resubscribing, I would scrap those plans after the recent irresponsible character assassination of Dodger Marcus Thames by TJ Simers. If I had a subscription, I’d consider canceling it.

No responsible journalist acts that way. No responsible person acts that way. That the LA Times continues to allow this behavior under its banner means they either don’t care or are more concerned with pageviews than doing the right thing.

This is hardly the first time Simers has acted irresponsibly (probably not even the first time this week), but enough’s enough.

Simers and Bill Plaschke’s (whose “writing” exploits have often been chronicled on this blog) continued presence in a sports page that used to host the best in the business is just wrong. Akin to Vin Scully being replaced by Howard Stern. I don’t know Marcus Thames from Adam, but even if there were some “there” there, some story to tell, Simers’ approach should be grounds for being banned from the clubhouse.

See also “T.J. Simers’ Unnecessarily Cruel Hatchet Job on Marcus Thames” from The Big Lead.

DODGER STADIUM TO HOST TSUNAMI RELIEF EVENT TOMORROW

Donors will receive tickets to exhibition game at Dodger Stadium

WHAT: The Dodgers and NBC LA will hold a "drive-through" relief event at Dodger Stadium tomorrow to help raise money for the American Red Cross Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

WHO: Dodger alumni Bobby Castillo, Kenny Landreaux, Rudy Law, Al Ferrara, Jimmy Campanis and Derrel Thomas and NBC LA on-air personalities will be on hand to take donations.

Donors who give $20 or more will each receive two tickets to an upcoming Spring Training exhibition game at Dodger Stadium.

WHEN: TOMORROW, Tuesday, March 15 - 5:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Dodger Stadium Parking Lot 1

Media should enter the stadium through Gate A at Sunset and Elysian Park Ave. Parking Lot 1 is directly to the left of Gate A.

MISC: Monetary donations of cash and checks will be accepted. Checks should be made out to American Red Cross with "Japan Tsunami Fund" in the memo line.

The Dodgers have a long-standing history with Japan dating back to the 1950s. Current Dodgers from Japan include pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and three minor league players. Nine members of the front office are also originally from Japan.

Media planning to cover the event should contact the Dodgers' Public Relations department at (323) 224-1301.

Couple of Dodger videos posted today on the official MLB YouTube channel. Let’s see if you get chills by the end like me:

On September 18th this year, it will be the 5th anniversary of the famous 4+1 game, in which the Dodgers tied the score with four consecutive home runs, then beat the Padres in extra innings with a walk-off homer.

With Russell Martin no longer with the Dodgers, that means the five players (six if you count Kenny Lofton’s walk that represented one of the two runs in the 10th) involved in the 4+1 are gone.

1. Jeff Kent
2. JD Drew
3. Russell Martin
4. Marlon Anderson

and then Nomar Garciaparra. In fact, looking at the boxscore for that night, only Rafael Furcal, Jonathan Broxton, and Andre Ethier are still on the team.

Starting catcher for the Padres? Mike Piazza.