Welcome to the baseball world of Alyssa Milano, Dodgers season-ticket holder, actress, and designer of TOUCH women's apparel! Join me here, at Alyssa.com and at the ballpark! Go BLUE!
It was a great weekend for the boys in blue.
It was a good feeling to sweep the Rockies after they won seven in a
row last season. Two walk-off victories in one series! Let's hope we
can ride this momentum and keep it going.
Some highlights for me:
Matt
Kemp: To ask a guy like that to bunt, the night after he hit a grand
slam, is pretty unorthodox and he bunted like he does it every day.
Effortless and effective.
James Loney: After he had hit into
that double play in the eighth, for him to mentally come back by
bringing Rafael Furcal home with a single in the 10th to win the game
was outstanding.
Esteban Loaiza: He had a ribbie that led to
two runs in the fourth, and he pitched like he had the fifth spot in
the rotation to lose with those four scoreless innings to begin. A
solid outing, even though he didn't get the win.
Russell Martin: Saturday night, the guy played third
(his Minor League position) when Nomar Garciaparra got hurt. Then in
the 13th, Martin hit the ball deep enough to get Matt Kemp home for the
win. Martin is batting .414 (12-for-29) in his last 10 games and has
raised his average nearly 100 points to .280.
Brad Penny: He looks good. He always looks good. The guy is solid.
Ten runs against Mark Redman in the first.
Jonathan Broxton: There is nothing like watching a pitcher pitch his way out of trouble.
Joe
Torre: I love watching him manage this team. Some of it works, some of
it doesn't, but at least there is guidance and some semblance of a plan
with every at bat.
Well done, my beloved Dodgers. Well done.
Peace, Love, AND BASEBALL, Alyssa
P.S. I think my Dad should be worried. It seems like my mother has a little crush on Joe Beimel.
"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me...All I ask is that you respect me as a human being" - Jackie Robinson
HAPPY JACKIE ROBINSON DAY!!!! Sixty-one years ago, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. It is hard to imagine that just 62 years ago, there was segregation in the sport we love. Having said that, I just read that only eight percent of big leaguers are African American and that's the lowest level in at least 20 years. So I ask you this: Why do you think this is and what can we do to engage our African American youth in the sport? I would love to get your thoughts on this.
Who watched that game last night? I got home from work and turned it on during the third inning. I'm completely aware that your closer can't save every game, but being aware of that fact didn't make watching that home run any easier. Ouch. I was by myself (well, with the doggies) and when McLouth hit that bomb in the ninth, I let out an audible yelp that spooked the Chihuahuas. They then proceeded to look at me like I was out of my mind, which I very well may be.
I know it is early in the season and it is a marathon not a sprint, blah, blah, blah. BUT...anyone frustrated?
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated, but it's weird, I also feel a tremendous amount of faith that things will turn around. I have this weird faith/hysteria combo going on (further proof that I may be out of my mind). And I think I feel the faith because of Joe Torre. There is something about having him at the helm that puts my mind at ease. I just feel like he has the brain capacity to make the appropriate changes and get things on track. More importantly, I think he will ask that some changes be made if he thinks he can't win with this roster. Isn't there something in his contract about player/roster consultation? Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes. Yes, I know that patience is a virtue but when we are in the basement of our division, patience eludes me.
Hence, the hysteria.
Going to the field in two hours and twenty minutes. GO BLUE.
We left the house at 6:30 on Friday. My brother (above) drove and we listened to "Home Plate" on XM Radio. We were giddy to be making the drive to the stadium for the first time in months. Giddy and giggly. My brother drove like a NY cab driver, weaving in and out of traffic. Normally this would drive me nuts but I knew he was just excited to get there.
Once there, we parked the car. We went through security where we were greeted with "welcome backs" and "how have you been's?" As soon as we walked through the gates we noticed all the renovations on the field level at Dodger Stadium - our home away from home. Wowie! The stadium looks gorgeous. The McCourt's have outdone themselves this off-season. Everything looks sparkly, clean and bright. There are many new vendors like - Canters Deli, Mrs. Beasley's (love their lemon cake), Ruby's and Camacho's. The walkway seems to have been widened. Say what you will about Frank McCourt but I think he has done an outstanding job with maintaining and improving the stadium. I guess coming from real estate the man understands the value of property. I appreciate what he has done to better the fan experience at the park. And that's what it is all about isn't it? The experience. Sitting there with your family and friends enjoying an evening in the yard.
What is it about the smell of a ballpark? It smells so deliciously distinct. You know how your home has a specific smell? As soon as I unlock my front door, it is the smell that tells me I'm home. I feel the same way about the ballpark. As soon as I walk through the gates, it is the smell that tells me I'm home.
We got to the seats and got settled in... and low and behold...there he was. Joe Torre in all his glory. So yeah, I squealed like a teenage girl at a Jonas Brother's concert. So what? He wears his hat down low and his jacket was zipped all the way up (it was chilly). All you could see was his tan nose. Tommy Lasorda was right there next to him. So exciting.
It was a good game. Billingsley looked good with 7 strikeouts in 5 innings. Sweeney, Kent and Ethier all doubled. The rooks looked solid. My brother and I made endless jokes, a la Abbott and Costello's "Who's On First" routine. I would ask, "Who's on deck?" and he would reply "Hu". I would follow up with "I don't know. I asked you." That's never going to get old. I can see us driving everyone nuts with banter like this. Brother and sister humor. Ah, thank God for siblings.
And then there was Saturday's exhibition game celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers moving from Brooklyn. The last game played in the Coliseum (pictured above and below) was in 1961. I was sitting next to a gentleman who used to go to those games with his dad. He was there with his son. Baseball is such a generational experience. I was there with my family. We lost but being a part of the record turnout and listening to Vin dedicate his tribute to the great Dodger fans was enough for me.
There were 115,300 fans. That was the most ever for a baseball game, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The best part of all was that it benefited a wonderful cause: ThinkCure, the Dodgers' new official team charity, which aims to raise funds for the treatment and eventual prevention of cancer. "This record is a tribute to the passion and compassion of our fans,
with whom this event clearly struck a chord," Frank McCourt said. "It's a marvelous launch for 'ThinkCure' and great news for our partners at City of Hope and Childrens Hospital L.A."
Poor Loaiza. He had his hands full with the odd shape of the field. Anyone know the distance of left field? It looked like only 200 feet! Loney homered and rookie Dewitt made up for his two-out error in the second with a two run homer off Paplebon in the 9th. The fans created a massive wave. It was the biggest I have ever seen (inclusive of the players in both dugouts participating)!
It was a great weekend. Spring has sprung. You know how I know? Vin told me so. He said, "It's time for Dodger baseball."
Hello, fellow baseball fanatics! It's been far too long since I posted. Please excuse the manic nature of this entry. I have been so very busy with a whole array of activities. I don't even know where to begin. I'm just going to dive in. Bear with me.
Here is a picture of my new puppy. His name is GIBSON. Yes, Kirk Gibson. My brother named him. I wandered into a pet shop in January and found Gibson. After learning that he had been in the pet shop since AUGUST, I had to get him. He was on sale. Yup, the bargain bin. I think he waited for me to find him. He is such a good puppy. I love him madly.
I've also done quite a bit of traveling for TOUCH since my last entry. I went to Atlanta for the NHL All-Star Game, Arizona for the Super Bowl, and New Orleans for the NBA All-Star Game. Tough life,
huh? I had amazing experiences at all the events but I felt like I was cheating on baseball. Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I am so proud that the clothing line has taken off the way it has and that female sports fans have been so supportive. Female sports fans, if you are reading this, thank you so much for your support. Here are some pictures from all three of the events.
The NHL All-Star Game:
In Arizona with my two best buddies Alaa and David:
With Swin Cash of the Detroit Shock at the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans:
I have been doing a lot of interviews for Wisegal (which airs March 15 on Lifetime) and Pathology (which finally will be in theaters April 18). I usually hate doing those kinds of interviews, but I'm really proud of both of these projects so it hasn't been too bad. I start back to work on My Name Is Earl next week. I am happy the strike is over.
In my free time, I learned how to crochet (insert old lady joke here) and have been glued to the news for the primary coverage. It is so beautiful that people are engaged again in politics. And although I think both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would do a good job running the country, I voted for Obama on Super Tuesday. His message of hope has renewed my faith in politics. After the last (disenchanting) eight years of "fear politics" and controversy, it's inspiring to feel hopeful again.
Okay. Okay. Okay. Now on to BASEBALL!!!! I am so freaking excited for the season to start. Woooooohooooo! Joe Torre in a Dodgers uni? Are you kidding me? Is there anything more amazing than that? I think not.
Some questions for all you Dodgers fans out there:
Third base: LaRoche or Nomar? Personally, I think Nomar coming off the bench gives us a lot more options. He can play all infielder positions well and he has enough pop to serve us well off the bench.
Pierre moving to left field and Jones playing center? Jones is a 10-time Gold Glove winner. Works for me. The real question is: Do you start Ethier or Pierre?
And a question for all you baseball fans out there: Thoughts on Clemens and his congressional testimony? In my opinion, it was a total circus that proved that little in congress is bipartisan.
ESPN is reporting that "There is a photo of Roger Clemens at Canseco's house during the June 1998 party, according to the New York Daily News -- a photo that would contradict Clemens' sworn testimony that he never attended the party."
Well, it’s a sad day for baseball. The Mitchell Report has forever changed the sport we love and maybe even tainted specific memories we have made while watching. I have such fond memories of Gagne coming out of the bullpen. GAME OVER. The energy. The cheers. The closer that never let us down. I guess it should be no surprise that he was named, considering his performance decline in the last couple of years.
I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what to feel. My head is cloudy. I guess there is good news to be found, if one had to find the silver lining. The good news is that this is finally all out in the open. The good news is that baseball can hopefully move on and implement a stronger, independently conducted, testing system that is supported by the players association as well as MLB and that performance enhancing drugs may become a thing of the past.
I also think that there should be another report - we can call it The Milano Report for now, recognizing and celebrating the players of the steroid era that didn’t succumb to the pressure of using illegal performance enhancing substances. The players that excelled, even though they were at a disadvantage while facing their juiced opponents, should be commended for their strength, heart, natural ability and integrity. By the length of the list of players involved and the percentage of those most likely using but not named, maybe it’s the good guys that should have the asterisks by their names and should be singled out.
Please revisit my “Steroid And Botox Era” blog entry for more of my views on this topic.
This is me with my “Winter Meetings rally cap” on. Okay, so it’s not really a cap, it’s a soft cooler and I’m only wearing it right now in spirit (I’d look pretty funny at my kitchen table, reading the paper in it). In my heart, this is what I’m wearing. While wearing it, I am saying a prayer, doing a ritual dance and chanting in a low hum: “Power Hitter. Starting Pitcher. Power Hitter. Starting Pitcher.”
Updated Dec. 9: Please see "Batboy Announcement" in the comments on this post. You know Batboys, they are always doing stuff, whether it's picking up bats or giving umps baseballs or helping me monitor comments.
Thank you, Frank McCourt, for bringing Joe Torre to the Dodgers. As my father said today when he heard the news, and I quote, “Oh my God. I am so excited . . . I am spitting.”
