The Trolley Dodger

When a season ends so nightmarishly, it’s easy to try out daydreams — some might say pipe dreams — as a palliative. Take for example the calls for trading Pau Gasol and/or Andrew Bynum and bringing in Dwight Howard, who has often been linked with the Lakers.

“Gasol Or Bynum”

“Howard’s Future With Magic”

It’s probably not as simple as a one-for-one trade, but wow — imagine the new Superman flying in Staples Center.

With the Dodgers home opener versus the Giants being on ESPN this year, we were worried that we’d miss out on having Vin Scully calling the game — and it wouldn’t seem like a real opener without him.

The Dodgers have sent out this press release, which is good news at least in part — we can turn the sound down on ESPN (usually a good idea anyhow ;) and up on the radio.

VIN SCULLY TO CALL OPENING DAY ON TALKRADIO 790 KABC
Hall of Fame broadcaster will handle play-by-play for six innings at his 54th Los Angeles Dodgers home opener

GLENDALE – Vin Scully, who is entering an unprecedented 62nd season broadcasting Dodger baseball, will call six innings of the Dodgers’ home opener on TalkRadio 790 KABC on March 31. Scully will broadcast innings one through three and seven through nine, with Rick Monday and Charley Steiner handling the duties during innings four through six in typical postseason format. The Dodgers take on the San Francisco Giants at 5:00 p.m. on Major League Baseball’s Opening Night on ESPN.

Scully will be calling his 54th home opener in Los Angeles, as he joined the club in 1950, eight years before the franchise moved to the West Coast.

Read the full press release on Dodgers.com

Although this does raise the question of whether the game will be in sync on TV and radio, or “enough” in sync, to be watchable.

This is actually from this past March, but I don’t remember having seen it.

ESPN’s Buster Olney sits down with Jake Peavy and Andre Ethier as they go over an at-bat between the two in 2009

Ethier comes in near the end of the game to pinch-hit.

Got an email just now asking me to pass along info about what looks like a fun event upcoming tomorrow (9/23) afternoon:

Former Dodgers catcher Jim Campanis will headline tomorrow’s Dodgers Watch Party at ESPN Zone at L.A. Live at 4 p.m. Campanis, who will meet with fans and sign autographs, was traded from the Dodgers to the Royals in 1968 by Los Angeles GM Al Campanis—his father—for two minor leaguers and cash.

Fans will also have a chance to enjoy an All-You-Can-Eat Dodger Dogs buffet for $10 as the NL West-leading Dodgers face off against the worst team in the majors—the Washington Nationals.

All-you-can-eat Dodger Dogs would be reason enough, so getting an autograph from a former Dodger seems like icing on the cake. :D

(More on Jim Campanis at baseball-reference.com.)

ESPN.com really must not like hockey.

Seriously. Soccer and College Football before the NHL? I guess ESPN pays lip service to Soccer since 4 billion people on Earth like it, but what the heck is College Football even doing on there in May? Yikes.

Curious, I checked out SI.com. Even worse!

First of all, College Football is before MLB and NBA, then frickin’ College Basketball and Golf are before the NHL. Golf?!

For the sake of completeness, here’s FoxSports.com:

Never thought I see day when Fox was more reasonable than the other guys, but there’s the evidence.