Okay, so this is a tad late, but it's the first chance I got.
So, Saturday I went to the Dodger game. And it was amazing.
This game, the final nail in the coffin for a 3 game NLDS sweep of the highly favored Chicago Cubs was simply amazing. I thought the tables would be turned and it would be the Dodgers getting swept, particularly after starting two games AT WRIGLEY. I'm not sure who is more shocked, Dodger fans, or Cubbie fans.
But as far as the actual game last Saturday goes, going into it I thought "okay, they took two in Wrigley Field, that's amazing, and yes, they're coming back into town with momentum and playing at home, but it can't be this good, no doubt they'll drop the first game in LA." But no, they owned it. The pitching was fantastic, the hitting...well it was okay...good enough obviously, actually pretty good, but there were a lot of quiet innings. But for me, as a fan, there was absolutely nothing like sitting with the True Blue Crew at Dodger Stadium...the real, hardcore fans ready to cheer their boys on into the World Series.
It was a true Dodger moment, something that lived on beyond the typical "LA traffic latecomers" comments and "west coast baseball" remarks about apathetic fans. I'm not going to make any excuse for LA traffic or the few downsides to the most amazing location for a Stadium (limited parking flow), but when it comes to being fans, I have to rank Dodger fans as being right up there with the best. I've always thought this, as the TV doesn't really show the real thing, and commentators just like to pick on the opposing team's fans. But even before the playoffs I've always thought highly of Dodger fans, and yeah, we definitely take it to 11 when it matters most.
The post celebration was amazing as we hung around standing at our seats, rally flags in hand, for close to an hour after the game watching players pour champagne and Gatorade on each other and listening to players and Manager Joe Torre give us words of thanks to the fans and hope for the next series. It was a great night in LA.
And now, as I type, the Dodgers are opening up the NLCS series against the Phillies, however I have worship practice and I have to TiVo it, all the while avoiding text messages and phone calls from anyone who knows I am a Dodger fan (in other words, "everyone"). And yes, I already bought tickets to Monday's game.
So this season has been the season in which I went to no less than the 4 best games of my life.
This one, of course, and three others. August 1st, the first game we got Manny. But no, that wasn't the reason. This was the first game I took my son, Micah to. Surreal. To share that with my wife was so awesome, something I will never forget.
Another game, the last time the Yankees would ever play their century old rival Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. A privilege to have witnessed.
My first ever trip to Fenway Park. Hopefully not the last, but this one caught me most off guard and will definitely be an experience that will be ingrained in my memory for the rest of my life.
To order these, I don't know how to. On a personal note, the game with Micah takes it. On a strictly baseball note, the Championship Series clincher last Saturday by far (the Dodgers lost the night we took Micah). On a historic note, the final BoSox game at Yankee Stadium. On an Irish note, Fenway.
Either way, it's been a fun summer, and I'm already looking forward to next season. Micah will be a year older, the Dodgers, regardless of how they do, will be looking forward to an even better season, and maybe I'll even work in a trip to Wrigley next year.
So, Saturday I went to the Dodger game. And it was amazing.
This game, the final nail in the coffin for a 3 game NLDS sweep of the highly favored Chicago Cubs was simply amazing. I thought the tables would be turned and it would be the Dodgers getting swept, particularly after starting two games AT WRIGLEY. I'm not sure who is more shocked, Dodger fans, or Cubbie fans.
But as far as the actual game last Saturday goes, going into it I thought "okay, they took two in Wrigley Field, that's amazing, and yes, they're coming back into town with momentum and playing at home, but it can't be this good, no doubt they'll drop the first game in LA." But no, they owned it. The pitching was fantastic, the hitting...well it was okay...good enough obviously, actually pretty good, but there were a lot of quiet innings. But for me, as a fan, there was absolutely nothing like sitting with the True Blue Crew at Dodger Stadium...the real, hardcore fans ready to cheer their boys on into the World Series.
It was a true Dodger moment, something that lived on beyond the typical "LA traffic latecomers" comments and "west coast baseball" remarks about apathetic fans. I'm not going to make any excuse for LA traffic or the few downsides to the most amazing location for a Stadium (limited parking flow), but when it comes to being fans, I have to rank Dodger fans as being right up there with the best. I've always thought this, as the TV doesn't really show the real thing, and commentators just like to pick on the opposing team's fans. But even before the playoffs I've always thought highly of Dodger fans, and yeah, we definitely take it to 11 when it matters most.
The post celebration was amazing as we hung around standing at our seats, rally flags in hand, for close to an hour after the game watching players pour champagne and Gatorade on each other and listening to players and Manager Joe Torre give us words of thanks to the fans and hope for the next series. It was a great night in LA.
And now, as I type, the Dodgers are opening up the NLCS series against the Phillies, however I have worship practice and I have to TiVo it, all the while avoiding text messages and phone calls from anyone who knows I am a Dodger fan (in other words, "everyone"). And yes, I already bought tickets to Monday's game.
So this season has been the season in which I went to no less than the 4 best games of my life.
This one, of course, and three others. August 1st, the first game we got Manny. But no, that wasn't the reason. This was the first game I took my son, Micah to. Surreal. To share that with my wife was so awesome, something I will never forget.
Another game, the last time the Yankees would ever play their century old rival Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. A privilege to have witnessed.
My first ever trip to Fenway Park. Hopefully not the last, but this one caught me most off guard and will definitely be an experience that will be ingrained in my memory for the rest of my life.
To order these, I don't know how to. On a personal note, the game with Micah takes it. On a strictly baseball note, the Championship Series clincher last Saturday by far (the Dodgers lost the night we took Micah). On a historic note, the final BoSox game at Yankee Stadium. On an Irish note, Fenway.
Either way, it's been a fun summer, and I'm already looking forward to next season. Micah will be a year older, the Dodgers, regardless of how they do, will be looking forward to an even better season, and maybe I'll even work in a trip to Wrigley next year.
