Former MLB manager and new Executive VP of Baseball Operations Joe Torre talks about the Dodgers financial situation, Derek Jeter heading for 3,000 and what baseball should do about protecting catchers.

I don’t know if “it’s time for head games,” but somebody needs their head examined:

Asked whether the composition of the team is a reflection of the organization’s economic troubles, McCourt replied, “No.”

So, even if everything were OK, this is the kind of team you would field?

“Yeah, I think we have a very, very good team,” said McCourt, who took out a personal loan to meet last month’s payroll obligation.

[...]

McCourt said he is “very pleased” with how the Dodgers are performing on the field.

Last July, I wrote a post here documenting the Midseason Malaise both the Dodgers and myself found ourselves in. An excerpt:

When an activity that is normally an escape from the depressing parts of existence becomes itself depressing…well, what is there to write about? Especially if you’re not one to tear down your favorite team for the sake of talking about something. There’s a surfeit of commenters online, not to mention talk show hosts and callers, who like nothing more than to kvetch 24/7 about the smallest Dodger problems, never mind the major issues — they don’t need any help from me.

Here we are, a mere few weeks into the 2011 season, and the malaise is already upon us. Except that this year, the depressing news applies to the Lakers as well. Things turned ugly last night. Real ugly. No amount of seeing writing on the wall the last month of the Laker season could forewarn us that the writing would end with a string of profanities.

(As mixed as the Dodger season has been so far, the Boys in Blue haven’t been acting like the Purple and Gold. The team, however, has had its own ugliness to deal with.)

Things are also not exactly like the (newly re-minted) Silver and Black, with a string of heartbreaking losses in their playoff series versus the Sharks. The season is still young.

No, we have ownership issues. Such issues. And now with no historical hitting streak to distract us from the latest bad news, I joked to friends of mine that I was thinking of giving up watching the local teams and switching to World News so I can cheer up a little.

As the Lakers and Kings were gearing up for their playoff runs earlier this year, I was pondering expanding the Trolley Dodger into more of an LA sports blog rather than just the Dodgers. Lakers and Kings, sure, not to mention the suddenly intriguing Clippers, the “5th-sport” teams Galaxy and Chivas USA, and the reportedly inevitable return of an NFL team to LA. Now, I’m not so sure. If all the bad news keeps up, I’m going to need intensive therapy to get over my sports depression.

I do have a summer to get over the 2010-11 Lakers and Kings, and hopefully the 2011 Dodgers will put it all together during that same period. And it’s not as if there is no good Dodger news. Ethier and Kemp are carrying the team, and despite the bullpen woes, our starters are doing pretty well. New manager Don Mattingly has been impressive enough for a rookie. There might even be a pot of gold at the end of the McCourt rainbow. As usual, patience is called for. Lots and lots of patience.

Besides, I’m not desperate enough for World News yet.

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

• Pierre
• Furcal
• Hudson
• Blake
• Loney
• Martin
• Ethier
• Kemp
• Kershaw

6:11p

Smell of cooking Dodger Dogs wafting in from below. Mustn’t cheer. ;)

Phillies taking BP. Was on field for Dodger BP earlier — a wonderfully surreal experience. Ken Levine of Dodger Talk radio show told me going on the field never gets old. I believe him.

6:17 pm

Phillies lineup:

• Rollins
• Utley
• Werth
• Howard
• Ibanez
• Feliz
• Bruntlett
• Ruiz
• Hamels

Next time I’m bringing a laptop. ;)

6:27 pm

Scuttlebutt saying Glavine not in Dodgers immediate plans. Anonymous sources!

6:35

When Fernando Valenzuela walks by in wraparound shades and snappy shirt, it’s hard not to start doing a happy dance.

6:42

During BP earlier James Loney hit a bomb off Don Mattingly into the back of the visitors bullpen. This drew appreciative hoots and hollers from the rest of the team.

He was in a group with Orlando Hudson and Mark Loretta.

6:47

Nancy Bea on the organ. They should have an occasional all-organ game, with nothing but Nancy. :)

7:00

The anthem never knew what hit it.

Vin Scully sighting by entrance to media dining room! I picked a good time to refill my diet coke. ;)

Big heartfelt cheer from crowd for Juan Pierre and his player of the month award.

First pitch 7:10. 67 degrees. They announce it in press box.

7:15

Kershaw a wee bit off but infield takes care of it.

7:21

Fair number of Phillie fans here based on cheers after that double play.

7:35

Graphic on board showing 7 Dodgers 25 and under.

And a nice hit for hustling Loney. Hamels couldn’t get over in time.

…for naught as Russ hits into double play.

7:44

Montage of Fernando highlights to the tune of ABBA’s “Fernando”. Then a huge cheer as they showed him in booth. Great moment.

7:49

No replay here, but I thought for sure Kershaw was safe. Close play. Shame, that was a nice solid hit.

Boy it’s hard not to react too much on big plays. Have to maintain decorum.

8:03

Huge cheer for Lakers score at end of 3rd quarter.

Chase Utley run on towering Sac Fly by towering Ryan Howard.

8:20

Phew! Escaped the top of the 5th with no damage done.

I keep thinking there’s cheering and clapping in the pressbox behind me, but it’s the fans in the seats right above us. :)

8:29

Nice run down of that fly ball by Pierre. Big cheer. Crowd loves Juan.

Furcal leaping just missed that liner.

8:33

Belisario up in bullpen.

8:39

Kershaw out. Time for a Dodger Dog. Or two.

8:49

Lakers final just announced. Another big cheer.

Dodgers threaten in 6th but nada.

Cory Wade into pitch.

8:57

A few fireworks went off prematurely over in direction of Think Blue sign. Happens to stadiums all the time, so don’t feel bad. ;)

The second base ump is missing a good game.

Phillies score again 3-0. Leach coming in to pitch, hopefully not belly itch.

9:03

Battery level warning just now but I’ll keep going as long as possible.

9:09

Hamels pitches thru 7th: 22 balls, 50 strikes, 72 total. Yikes.

After final out I’m headed to locker room.

9:15

G. Mota replacing Leach.

9:18

Don’t Stop Believing, sings Journey.

Crowd sings along, alternating with booing Phillie phans.

9:22

Man, thought that first Russ foul was out for sure.

Attendance 33,839.

9:26

One thing this season has taught us is to never give up, but Hamels has been pitching like a fiend. Has a CG shutout in hand if the bottom of the 9th goes as quietly as the rest of the game.

9:43

Oof. 97 pitches.

Thanks for following tonight. Back later.

Also, they’ve really got to replace the scoreboard and monochromatic video screen someday soon — it looks like a large version of an old Gameboy. In fact, their newer advertising video screen out by the freeway is way better than the one in the park. It does, however, have a certain quaint charm, not unlike an Amish buggy. ;)

The Sixers wound up losing despite some great pitching from the awesomely named Alberto Bastardo, who has been with the team for at least a couple of years. Got to see Preston Mattingly for the first time, not to mention catcher Kenley Jansen, who looks even bigger in person than he did during the World Baseball Classic for the Netherlands.

Not a great game for the team otherwise, but it was still fun to finally be at a ballpark. Looking forward to being at one during the warmer months. And hey, at least it didn’t get rained out like a couple of years ago. ;)

First Dodger Dog of the year — definitely better grilled, of course, but it was a happy moment nonetheless.

Don Mattingly’s son, formerly an infielder. He’s been struggling at the plate I understand. Good to know left field is also protected by the US Border Patrol. I noticed the "Dodgertown Inland Empire," which I guess is the new theme of having several Dodgertowns around (LA, IE, Camelback AZ, etc.) instead of just the one. Sorry for the blurriness — camera on extreme zoom.

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs & Roasted Corn. My stepson Hans reacting to the foodstuff available. We haven’t tried those yet, but I hear they’re crazy good. Perhaps they’re just crazy. ;)

This is the 66ers’ mascot Bernie, who has a very funny act. Kids love him, as do most of the adults. Good crowd rapport, plus funny shtick with the umpires.

Bernie and handlers advertising the Dodger blanket giveaway the next night. With the weather forecast I read, they would probably need it!

About half the size as previously, but now free.