[It] was my pleasure to sit down with these three men and talk about their Italian heritage. As a result the feature called the “Italian Story” won a National award this week, called The Telly.

Maria has also started up a sports blog recently called, appropriately, Maria Serrao’s Sports Blog.

From Manny Ramirez’s statement released on May 7th:

“Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I’ve taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.

“I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I’m sorry about this whole situation.“

Just sayin’.

The first thing we noticed after getting parked was a more pronounced police presence than usual.

There were also cops and security personnel cruising around the stadium. But that’s to be expected when you get a world-famous athlete playing in your park. We didn’t see anything untoward going on, apart from one fight in the 4th inning that was quickly squelched, so it seemed to be working.

It was noticeably more crowded getting around the entrance and food vendor areas, although I’ve seen it similarly crowded on big promotion nights or holidays.

While waiting in line for our first Dodger Dog and local Hangar 24 beer, we caught a couple readying themselves for the game with a final dreadlocks adjustment.

There were a ton of the Manny dreadlocks wigs being worn, including by Bernie, the 66ers’ mascot (see below).

Once we got seated, this gentleman was good enough to stand in front and remind us of why we were all there. ;)

A crowd was standing at the third-base-side railing trying to strain for a view into the dugout. When Manny made his first appearance, running onto the fields for warmups, he also got the first of several ovations of the night. Somebody even broke out a beach ball for the occasion, just like at Dodger Stadium. :)

Partway through warmups, Manny jogged over to the railing and signed autographs in the middle of this mob.

Big cheers for Manny’s introduction and him running on the field. No boos were heard anywhere near us. A few were reserved for San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, who threw out the first pitch. ;)

Much like a pro soccer game, the players were accompanied onto the field by kids. Here’s Manny with a couple of children and 66ers mascot Bernie.

Bernie also engaged in a bit of pre-game meditation on the third-base line.

I’m a sucker for mascots, especially talented ones. Bernie has some great routines, and the kids adore him. Here he is rocking the dreadlocks and the cowbell.

In Manny’s first at-bat, batting leadoff, he drew a walk from the understandably nervous Rancho Cucamonga Quakes pitcher, Alex Torres. The starter settled down, later striking Manny out twice.

After the walk, Manny went from first to third on a double by DH Elian Herrera, but was stranded there.

Winner for best headgear of the night was this fellow, with a Dodger cap atop his sombrero.

Manny had a pretty good average thanks to the home run the night before. Kind of surreal seeing his name out there on the old scoreboard.

Shouts of “Manny!” and “I love you, Manny!” and “Hey, Manuelito!” as he came off the field. Cellphone cameras filled up with pictures.

Preston Mattingly, son of Dodger pitching coach Don Mattingly, pinch-hit for Manny in the 6th inning, then stayed in at LF for the 7th and the rest of the game — which, by the way, the 66ers won, 4-1, after a great eight innings by starter Timothy Sexton.

Manny’s name at the top of the lineup board. All of those guys will have quite a story to tell, no matter how far they go in their baseball careers. I wonder who will be making it to the bigs someday.

Here’s the starting lineup transcribed (see box score):

• LF Manny Ramirez
• DH Elian Herrera
• CF Trayvon Robinson
• 3B Pedro Baez
• 1B Steven Caseres
• RF Scott Van Slyke
• 2B Adolfo Gonzalez
• C Alex Garabedian
• SS Christian Lara
• P Timothy Sexton

I imagine writing that name on the board must have been fun. :)

Lastly is this sign located just outside the entrance, with mileage to the various Dodger facilities around the US and Caribbean. If only we knew what units the distance to Albuquerque were in! ;)

A few other articles and related whatnot about the night:

• ie66ers.com: “Ramirez causes stir in San Bernardino”
• ie66ers.com: “Sexton Steals Spotlight from Manny”
• mlb.com: “Quiet night for Manny with Inland Empire”
• San Bernardino Sun: “Dodger fans flock to see Ramirez”
• San Bernardino Sun: Photo gallery
• LA Times: “Manny Ramirez’s minor league tour coming to end”
• Manny’s minorleaguebaseball.com page
• Box Score

Keep in mind:

The 66ers would also like to remind fans that the media reports concerning Manny Ramirez’s rehab appearance with the 66ers has not been confirmed by the Dodgers as of Friday morning. Major League players’ rehab schedules are subject to change, so the team cannot confirm or guarantee that Ramirez will be playing on those days. Both Sunday and Monday games are currently SOLD OUT, however the 66ers have created special ticket options for the two games. Tickets for Tuesday’s 11 a.m. game are still available.

They have a new $25 BBQ Picnic Ticket option:

The BBQ Picnic Tickets include an all-you-can-eat food buffet of hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, baked beans, potato salad, chips and cookies. Soda and water are also available at the buffet. The tickets will include a wristband for admission to the 1st base patio area for the buffet, which will be open from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. The seating area for the BBQ Picnic Tickets is in the 1st base patio area, and there are no assigned seats in this area. These tickets must be purchased in advance at the 66ers box office while they are still available.

Fans will receive one (1) wristband per ticket purchased, and fans must have their bracelet to enter the patio area. There will be a $25 replacement fee for all lost wristbands. The 66ers encourage fans purchasing BBQ Picnic Tickets to give themselves extra time getting to the stadium, parking and getting into the ballpark. Long lines and large crowds are expected for both games, so please plan accordingly.

As Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez nears the end of his 50-game suspension, Drug Enforcement Administration investigators are looking at a Miami doctor and his son as the source of his banned performance-enhancing drug, sources familiar with the investigation told ESPN.

More details and pics.

Congratulations to Los Angeles Kings legend Luc Robitaille, who was selected today to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He will enter along with Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and Brian Leetch. The ceremony will be in Toronto on November 9th.

Announcement tribute video from the Kings:

From LAKings.com:

“What I am feeling right now is very difficult to explain,” said Robitaille. “I never set out to accomplish anything like this. When I was a kid, I dreamed of playing in the National Hockey League, and to now be alongside greats like Rocket Richard, Guy Lafleur and Wayne Gretzky is not only indescribable, it is beyond anything I ever dreamed of.

“I also want to congratulate Steve, Brett and Brian, three players I was fortunate to have played with during my career.”

There was a steady stream of ticket buyers coming up to the windows at Arrowhead Credit Union Stadium in downtown San Bernardino this morning when I stopped by. I poked my head in to the office and confirmed with a front desk person that there had been a swing upwards in ticket sales this morning.

I’m guessing tickets will still be available until there is more confirmation about dates, but of course at this point there’s no telling for sure.

If this does turn out to be a Manny-splendored game, I’ll naturally be posting pictures and audio afterwards — during, if I can get it worked out.

LA Dodgers Manager Joe Torre stops by to give Conan a special Dodger jersey, and talks about the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry, Manny, and having the best record in baseball!

Let’s hope this bodes well for our boys in blue this Fall. :)

MLB NETWORK TO AIR SPECIAL DON DRYSDALE SEGMENT ON MONDAY, JUNE 15

Bob Costas to voice special segment on Drysdale’s sixth straight shutout game on the night of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination

June 12, 2009 - MLB Network will air on Monday, June 15 a special feature narrated by Bob Costas about Don Drysdale’s sixth straight shutout game, pitched in 1968. The game, held on June 4, 1968 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates, coincided with Robert F. Kennedy’s victory in the 1968 California primary. In the first words of his acceptance speech, Kennedy congratulated Drysdale; moments after the speech, Kennedy was assassinated. Four days later, on June 8, Drysdale broke a 55-year old record for consecutive scoreless innings and wore a black arm band to honor Kennedy’s memory.

The piece includes original interviews with Drysdale’s former teammates former Dodgers first baseman Wes Parker and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton, Drysdale’s widow Anne Myers and Kennedy’s speechwriter Jeff Greenfield.

“Baseball’s past is incredibly important to today’s fans and this feature shows how baseball intersects with all aspects of our country’s history,” said Tony Petitti, President and Chief Executive Officer of MLB Network. “We feel a responsibility to baseball fans to describe and relive these key moments.”

The piece will first air between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. ET and re-air throughout the night on MLB Tonight and Quick Pitch.

About MLB Network
MLB Network launched on January 1, 2009 and is currently in 52 million homes. With live games, original programming, highlights, classic games, and coverage of baseball events, MLB Network is the ultimate television destination for baseball fans. For more information, go to mlbnetwork.com.

While I’m not a big fan of interleague play, I am excited to see the Dodgers play the Rangers this weekend. And it’s not just because they share the -gers suffix. ;)

My early post “Back in the day” talks about my love for baseball over the years, stretching back into early childhood. I am told we were Athletics fans when I was a baby*, but as a military brat who moved around a bit before alighting in Texas, I wound up a childhood fan of the Rangers.

The team was never that good during my fan years of the mid-70s to mid-80s, though they turned in a few close calls in the AL West. The Rangers didn’t make the playoffs until the 90s. Luckily for my childhood sports fan ego, I had the Cowboys to cheer for in the 70s.

But despite it all, if it was summer time (and the heat + humidity outside wasn’t fatal ;) I was running around the “bases” in my back yard, throwing and batting a tennis ball off a brick wall, playing as a Ranger.

I’m a recently minted Dodgers fan, circa 2002-03, and like any religious convert am something of a zealot. However, there’s still a part of me that adores the Rangers, so this weekend’s interleague series between my two baseball loves at the new Arlington ballpark feels pretty special.

However, I will still be rooting for the Dodgers to kick their butts. :)

* Being born in Northern California, thank goodness I didn’t wind up a Giants fan! ;)

I came across a picture I took of the lineup board from that day (click to embiggen):

Out of curiosity, I decided to find out what has become of these players, not quite two years later, as a cross-section of Dodger minor-leaguers.

SS Shane Justis

Currently: 2B Huntsville Stars (AA Brewers). Selected by Brewers in 2008 Rule 5 draft. Hitting .313/.377/.462/.838 with 3 HR, 15 BB, and 19 SO in 182 AB.

CF Ryan Rogowski

Currently: OF New Jersey Jackals of the independent CanAm League. In 2008, he made it up to Jacksonville (AA Dodgers) then was sent back down to the 66ers. He was released in Spring Training 2009. Hitting .323/.355/.436/.791 with 0 HR, 3 BB, and 3 SO in 31 AB.

2B Travis Denker

Currently: 2B Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA Red Sox). Traded from Dodgers to Giants in August 2007 as PTBNL in the Mark Sweeney trade. Placed on waivers after 2008 season and selected by the Padres, who subsequently waived him in April 2009, and was claimed by the Red Sox. Hitting .247/.339/.351/.690 with 2 HR, 19 BB, and 30 SO in 154 AB at Pawtucket.

C Lucas May

Currently: C Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Dodgers). Hitting .298/.391/.468/.859 with 4 HR, 14 BB, and 23 SO in 94 AB.

RF Jamie Hoffmann

Currently: OF Los Angeles Dodgers. Started 2009 at Chattanooga, then went to Albuquerque. Called up after Xavier Paul (another 66ers alum) went down with an staph infection. Likely headed back to AAA soon. Hitting .190/.174/.429/.602 with 1 HR, 0 BB, and 5 SO in 21 AB.

3B Russell Mitchell

Currently: 1B Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Dodgers). Hitting .175/.234/.296/.530 with 5 HR, 14 BB, and 40 SO in 189 AB.

1B Drew Locke

AKA Andrew Locke, Andy Locke. Currently: OF Corpus Christi Hooks (AA Astros). Hitting .351/.395/.566/.961 with 10 HR, 18 BB, and 37 SO in 205 AB.

DH Bridger Hunt

Currently: recovering from off-season shoulder surgery in Glendale AZ. Listed as “inactive” on the 66ers roster.

LF Adam Godwin

Currently: CF Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Dodgers). Hitting .253/.304/.295/.599 with 0 HR, 6 BB, and 28 SO in 95 AB.

SP Randy Wolf

Currently: SP Los Angeles Dodgers.

Thanks to Matt Pedersen, 66ers Media Relations, for the assist on tracking down a couple of the guys.

I was already aware of the official @dodgertownusa Twitter account, but was pleasantly surprised to find @dougiebaseball as well, which belongs to Dodger Doug Mientkiewicz. He’ll be covering the team in general but his rehab as well. As Doug wrote a few days ago:

hey dodger fans have a question about the team? feel free to ask-the dodgers asked me to give fans a way inside and they came up with this-

There’s also amusing banter about Joe Torre being a jinx for him, along with this funny tidbit from earlier today:

Ok good. I’m new to this whole twitter thing. I wanted to do a blog and got this instead

Tell ‘em you can do both, Doug! :)