Peace,
Love,
AND BASEBALL,
Alyssa

Yes. Oh, yes. I love this time of year. The days are longer, the pollen is in the air and there are little buds of future flowers everywhere you look. For the past few years and every year at this time, we have a couple of ducks (I think they may be married but I don’t know for certain) that fly into my backyard daily and take a bath in my pool at around 4 p.m.

Spring has sprung! And with the promise of all these amazing gifts from nature, comes the reminder that Opening Day soon will be here.

Even the drama of the McCourts’ divorce can’t bring down my baseball spirits. Because even though I obviously want my team to do well, this is the one time of the year that it’s not about my team winning or losing. It’s about walking into my home stadium, after months of a cold winter, and relishing in the hope of a new season.

The buds will bloom. The gates will open.
The frogs will chirp. The bats will crack.
The birds will fly. The balls will soar.

And for this time, right now, before any loss or statistic is recorded, my team… is the best in the league.

Peace,
Love,
AND BASEBALL,
Alyssa

P.S. My new show, “Romantically Challenged,” will premiere on April 19th on ABC at 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. CT). I am both nervous and excited. I hope you love it and it makes you giggle.

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What I’ve learned about the playoffs and the Word Series is to be very, very excited. But not too excited.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate the postseason. I do. And it’s not that I don’t recognize the majesty of St. Louis Cardinal Jack Clark taking Tom Niedenfuer deep in Game 6 of the 1985 National League Championship Series. And it’s not that I don’t long to see the Dodgers win a World Series again. But the truth is, part of who wins that classic matchup is based on the same factors as who wins a regular-season game — skill, smart managing, the ability to bounce back, and luck. That’s what makes the game great.

Still the notion that postseason games are somehow more important, or more pressure-packed, or more, I don’t know, special than a contest in the middle of May, or July, or even April, obscures a larger truth, which is this: Every game is special, and it’s how a player performs in each game, and in every game, that determines his success, not how he plays in one series.

For years, I had pretty limited postseason experience (quite limited actually), but like so many fans before me, I learned the risks of postseason exuberance the hard way in the fall of 2008. I found myself an adult in a whole new baseball situation as I watched my Dodgers win a postseason series and move on to the NLCS. We hadn’t won a postseason series since 1988, when I was just fifteen, but I had always appreciated postseason ball. It was fun to watch the games of the fall even if my heart wasn’t emotionally invested in the teams that were playing. I could really just sit back and appreciate the fundamentals at their best.

Last fall proved different. I wasn’t just invested in who won, I was all in. I sat in my seat with a white-knuckled, sweaty-palmed death grip on whatever I was holding at the time. Every pitch meant something. Every out. Every managerial move. Every call by the ump. The fans were alive. They stood when there were two outs and two strikes, waving those rally towels as if they possessed magical powers to make the batter strike out. “Throw him the chair!” my brother screamed. Translation: “Sit him down.”

As you might expect, losing to the Phillies in the NLCS last year was devastating. My brother and I were inconsolable. As lame as it might sound, a little piece of my heart broke that night. An even bigger piece of my brother’s heart broke that night. The game that we were eliminated in was at Dodger Stadium, and we stayed for about an hour after the last out. In that hour, players came out for curtain calls and blew kisses to the fans that were still there. I would say over a thousand fans stayed, and we were a rowdy bunch. Frank McCourt and his lovely wife stuck around. A chant started. “Please sign Manny.” Clap, clap. Clap, clap, clap. “Please sign Manny,” the Dodgers fans shouted.

Nomar came out of the dugout, and the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. He waved and put his hand over his heart paying tribute to us fans. He took a long look around, soaking up the moment, his moment. It seemed like he was saying good-bye to the stadium; I hoped he wasn’t saying good-bye to baseball. Tommy Lasorda said a few words into a microphone. He thanked “the best fans in baseball.” He finished up his speech by saying, “When you lay your head down on the pillow tonight, say a prayer for Tommy and the Dodgers.” It was a vivid moment, and while we reached a disappointing end, there was something strangely uplifting about the whole scene.

As we were walking to the car, I saw daddies holding sleepy kids with their baseball gloves still on, draped over their father’s backs. I found solace in the idea that even though we weren’t moving on to the World Series, memories were made that night. The children of the fans from ’88 had their own stories to tell. A whole new generation of Dodger fans got to experience NLCS baseball for the first time. And who knows, maybe one of these years we’ll actually win.

PEACE,
LOVE,
AND BASEBALL,
Alyssa

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He does have one minor, itsy bitsy, flaw though — he’s a diehard Yankees fan. Ah well, no one’s perfect. I’ve chosen to overlook this because he just makes me so damn happy.

I know what your next question will be. I can hear you think it.

“What if the Yankees play the Dodgers in the World Series?” you ask.

I have no freaking clue. I may have to move back in with my parents for a while. Just writing that last sentence made me giggle. We will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Please accept my apologies for not updating my blog in a while. Between my wedding, honeymoon and being in preproduction for “Romantically Challenged”, I have had my hands full of excitement. Oh wait, did I tell you that “Romantically Challenged”, was picked up for midseason? It was! This has been an overwhelming year. I am blessed.

If you are going to be in the Chicago area on September 11th, please come see me here:
FansEdge Store (at The Shops at Northbridge)
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT
55 E. Grand Avenue

Now a question for all of you Dodger fans:

What are your thoughts on getting Padilla, Sherrill, Belliard, Thome and Garland? Please leave your thoughts for me.

For me, I think Ned Colletti has done a solid job of adding the depth. My concern (and if you remember, I’ve voiced this concern since the offseason) is that we won’t get very far in the postseason without an ace to set the tone.

Peace,
Love,
AND BASEBALL,
Alyssa

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If you allow yourself to be open to the struggles of humanity, it can sometimes be difficult to remain hopeful and positive. I try to educate myself on what is going on in the world. I try to remember that as I type away, in the comfort of my sitting room, with my A/C and chai latte, there are many things simultaneously occurring that are unfathomable and devastating. I try to remind myself daily of how blessed I am. I’m pretty good at remaining grateful. I can look at my family, friends and animals, and know that they are all a reflection of what is good in life.

It might seem weird that I’m starting a post about the All-Star Game with the above paragraph, but honestly, my experience at the All-Star Game always invokes a feeling of gratitude. It is a reminder that, not only am I blessed to be given the opportunities bestowed upon me, but also that I am blessed to have been born into this country.

Baseball is an escape for me. I get lost in it. Baseball is the coming together of unlike minds for a like purpose. Every moment before a pitch is thrown has its own pulse. Looking at a field and seeing all the greats in the game, in all their shapes and sizes–their different cultural backgrounds, history and cellular make up–is a reminder that anyone, from anywhere, can play the game of baseball. You don’t have to be seven feet tall or seven feet wide. It is the Everyman’s sport. Regardless of any controversy that surrounds baseball, this is what I think of when I look at all the greats on one field.

I had a beautiful time in St. Louis.

This will be my fourth year attending the All-Star Game! Yeah, I’m pretty freaking lucky. It is always a surreal experience seeing all the greats sharing the same field. My eyes always wander not knowing exactly where to focus. Needless to say, I can’t wait!

Here are some cool All-Star Game facts I stumbled across, courtesy of The Sports Network:

GENERAL RECORDS
Largest Attendance, Game – 72,086
Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, August 9, 1981.
 
Smallest Attendance, Game – 25,556
Braves Field, Boston, July 7, 1936.
 
Longest Game, by Innings – 15
Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, July 11, 1967 (NL, 2-1).
Yankee Stadium, New York, July 15, 2008 (AL, 4-3).
 
Shortest Game, by Innings – 5
Shibe Park, Philadelphia, July 8, 1952 – rain (NL, 3-2).
 
Longest Nine-Inning Game, by Time
3 hours, 38 minutes – Coors Field,Denver, Colorado (AL, 13-8).
 
Shortest Nine-Inning Game, by Time
1 hour, 53 minutes – Sportsman’s Park, St. Louis, July 9, 1940 (NL, 4-0).
 
Longest Extra-Inning Game, by Time
4 hours, 50 minutes – Yankee Stadium, New York, July 15, 2008 (AL, 4-3), 15 innings.
 
Most Players, Nine-Inning Game, One Club – 29 – Accomplished three times:
NL, August 9, 1981
NL, July 10, 2001
AL, July 11, 2000
AL, July 10, 2001
 
Most Players, Nine-Inning Game, Both Clubs – 58
NL (29), AL (29), July 10, 2001
 
Most Players, Extra-Inning Game, One Club – 32
AL, July 15, 2008
 
Most Players, Extra-Inning Game, Both Clubs – 63
AL (32), NL (31), July 15, 2008, 15 innings.
 
Most Players Left on Base, Both Clubs – 28
July 15, 2008.
 
Fewest Players, Game, One Club – 11
AL, July 6, 1942.
 
Fewest Players, Game, Both Clubs – 27
AL (15), NL (12), July 6, 1938.
 
Earliest Date For All-Star Game               Latest Date For All-Star Game
July 6, 1933 At Comiskey Park               August 9, 1981 At Municipal Stadium
July 6, 1938 At Crosley Field     
July 6, 1942 At Polo Grounds     
July 6, 1983 At Comiskey Park     
 
All-Star Games Won-Lost                  Most Consecutive Games Won
40 — National League                              11 — National League (1972-1982)
36 — American League                  Longest Unbeaten Streak
(Two Ties)                                          12 — American League (1997-2008)

 
MANAGERS
GAMES
Most All-Star games managed
10 Casey Stengel, AL, 1950-1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 (both), (won 4, lost 6)
 
Most consecutive All-Star games managed
5 Casey Stengel, AL, 1950-1954; also 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 (both)
 
GAMES WON
Most All-Star games won as manager
7 Walter Alston, NL, 1956, 1960 (both), 1964, 1966, 1967, 1975 (lost 2)
 
Most All-Star games won as undefeated manager
5 Joe Torre, AL, 1997, 1999 through 2001, 2004 (tie in 2003)
 
Most consecutive victories as All-Star manager
6 Walter Alston, NL, 1960 (both), 1964, 1966, 1967, 1975
 
Most consecutive years managing All-Star winners
3 Tony La Russa, AL, 1989-1991
Joe Torre, AL, 1999-2001 (tie in 2002)
 
Most All-Star games won as manager, one season
2 Walter Alston, NL, July 11, July 13, 1960
 
GAMES LOST
Most All-Star games lost as manager
6 Casey Stengel, AL, 1950-1953, 1956, 1959 (1st), (won 4)
 
Most All-Star games lost as winless manager
5 Al Lopez, AL, 1955, 1960 (both), 1964, 1965
 
Most consecutive defeats as All-Star manager
5 Al Lopez, AL, 1955, 1960 (both), 1964, 1965
 
Most consecutive years managing All-Star losers
4 Casey Stengel, AL, 1950-1953
 
Most All-Star games lost as manager, one season
2 Al Lopez, AL, July 11, July 13, 1960

 
UMPIRES
Most games umpired
7 Bill Summers, AL, 1936, 1941, 1946, 1949, 1952, 1955, 1959 (2nd)
Al Barlick, NL, 1942, 1949, 1952, 1955, 1959 (1st), 1966, 1970
 
Most consecutive games umpired
2 – Many umpires

If you’re going to be in St. Louis, PLEASE come visit me! I will be doing two appearances during the All-Star Week festivities.

The first will be at the TOUCH Boutique at Busch Stadium on Sunday, July 12, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., in between the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game.

The second will be at the All-Star Fan Fest at America’s Center Convention Complex in the heart of downtown St. Louis, on Monday, July 13, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. I will be signing in the Minor League Baseball Attraction located in Hall 1.

Hope to see you there!

Peace,
Love,
AND BASEBALL,
Alyssa

P.S. Dodgers fans, vote for Matt Kemp here. He is losing to a GIANT. Are you okay with that? LOL.

P.P.S. Follow me on Twitter as I update live from St. Louis starting on Saturday.

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