Chip off the Old Block

Sometimes it can be fun to be wrong. Full disclosure: growing up I was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. That changed when I moved to a Major League Baseball city, Houston, and started regularly attending the Astros’ games regularly. I still do.

Still, a first team is like a first love in fanhood. You never completely let them go. Now that the Dodgers are actually, well, NOT dysfunctional again and one of their owners, Magic Johnson, is one of my favorite sports personalities, ever, they have my interest again.

Last night, on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, I felt the old juices flowing. I found myself into the game and actively rooting for the Dodgers against the St. Louis Cardinals. Last night, trailing by two runs, 5-3, in the seventh inning with two outs, rookie Scott Van Slyke (.333, 1 HR, 6 RBI) came up to pinch hit for third baseman Adam Kennedy.


LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

Van Slyke is the son of former All-Star and for Cardinal Andy Van Slyke (Played 1983-1995; .274, 164 HR, 792 RBI, career). With third base open, Cardinals pitcher Marc Rzepczynski (0-2, 3.60, 1.00 WHIP) appeared to be pitching around Van Slyke, running the count to 3-0.

As I said, sometimes it can be fun to be wrong. One of the ESPN announcers mentioned that Van Slyke would have the green light to swing. I said to myself, “With a 3-0 count and two outs, if he swings he might be swinging himself back into the minors!”

Andy Van Slyke 1

WRONG!!!

So what happens? Rzepczynski delivers a fastball right down Broadway and BAM!!! Van Slyke hits his first homerun, a 400-foot blast to left-center. Dodger Stadium erupted and so did I.

It is great to see the Dodgers, one of the most historic teams in sports, in contention again, far out in first place in the National League West. It is great to see Dodgers fans having fun at Dodger Stadium. And it is great to see the long standing MLB tradition of the children and grandchildren of former players having a break through moment in the big leagues.

Sometimes it is fun to be wrong.

Welcome to the show, young fella! 2

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1) Image from www.i70baseball.com
2) Image from www.ocregister.com