YoungDodgers

Bridal Shower info

2006-07-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

Bridal Shower will be held on July 29th, at Joy's (Mat's parents' yard). 2 p.m.

Any extra lawn chairs that anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

There will be silly games, prizes, desserts, drinks, laughs and fun.

Bachelorette will be held on July 29th, at Starz, 8 p.m.

Please keep in mind that the bachelorette will probably be... um... inappropriate, at best.

Surgeon General's Statements Leading to Inaccurate Public ...

2006-07-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Apparently in response to the way in which the Surgeon General's report on involuntary smoking was publicized, newspapers around the world are beginning to convey misleading and inaccurate information to the public about the relative harms of smoking compared to secondhand smoke - creating misperceptions that are likely to undermine the public's knowledge of the dangers of smoking.

This past Sunday, a Philipines newspaper (Sun.Star Baguio) published a column entitled "Secondhand smoke: As harmful as smoking itself."

The article highlights the Surgeon General's warning that no level of secondhand smoke is safe, in a way which appears to be consistent with the headline's proclamation that secondhand smoke is just as harmful as active smoking.

The article itself seems to be a reasonably accurate portrayal of the information contained in the Surgeon General's report. The headline, however, follows the sensationalistic lead set by the Surgeon General in misrepresenting the findings of his own report.

The Rest of the Story

This is precisely why it is so important for public health groups to accurately communicate health information to the media. The media are likely to sensationalize what we say to begin with - if we sensationalize it before it even gets to the media, the results are going to be a completely inaccurate communication of important information.

Here, the Surgeon General's sensationalistic communication about his own report, in which he apparently misrepresented its findings in order to try to heighten the emotional appeal of the science, has resulted in thousands of people being misled about the relative hazards of smoking compared to secondhand smoke.

If people actually believe that smoking is no more harmful than being exposed to drifting tobacco smoke, then we are certainly going to see a waning of the public's appreciation of the severity of smoking's risks to health. And research has documented that this change in the public's appreciation of the hazards of smoking will result in an increase in smoking.

In other words, the misrepresentation of the science by anti-smoking groups is going to result in an increase in smoking -- we are doing public health harm by sensationalizing and distorting the science.

This is not just an issue of scientific integrity (although I would hope that this alone would compel us to present the science as accurately as possible). This is also an issue of causing tangible public health harm by undermining people's perception of the seriousness of the health risks associated with active smoking.

While I certainly appreciate the need to educate the public about the potential harms of secondhand smoke exposure, I do not think it is worth doing so at the expense of distorting their perceptions about the potential harms of smoking. And it is certainly not worth causing more deaths by undermining years of anti-smoking efforts and using tactics that are going to increase smoking.

There's got to be a better way to proceed. I suggest that maybe the place to start is with the truth.

Attention all Pearl Jam fans

2006-07-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

Posted by Eva Ho, Product Marketing Manager, Google Video

Pearl Jam's new music video "Life Wasted" is now on Google Video for free! Be sure to check it out now, as free streaming and download is available only until June 1.

And in line with the band's experimental personality, Pearl Jam released the "Life Wasted" video under a Creative Commons "some rights reserved" copyright license. What does all that legal gibberish mean to you? It means that you can download the video for free, share it with your friends, and even post it on your own site--provided you give the band credit and don't use it for commercial purposes. It's yet another example of Pearl Jam putting its fans first.

[UPDATE 05/25: The free streaming-and-download period was originally scheduled to end on May 24; due to popular demand, we're extending it until June 1.]

Number 190: Jimmy Wynn. Wynn was signed by the Reds in early 1962 ...

2006-07-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Number 190: Jimmy Wynn.

Wynn was signed by the Reds in early 1962, but then picked by Houston in the NL expansion draft. So, he is probably the best player ever selected in an expansion draft. There was lots of opportunity on an expansion club in the pre-free agent era, so Wynn was in the big leagues in 1963 at age 21. He batted .244 in 70 games, then .224 in 67 games the next year. He became a regular in 1965, batting .275 with 22 HR.

He had power and speed, covered a lot of ground in center field although he had a lousy arm. He was called the "Toy Cannon," because he packed a lot of power in his 5'9" frame. He hit 37 homers in 1967 even though the Astrodome was his home park, a remarkable achievement. The park did a lot to hide his skill as a hitter, as did the low-offense 1960s when he played.

Wynn was traded to the Dodgers after 1973 for Claude Osteen, and even though Dodger Stadium is a lousy hitting park too, it's better than the Astrodome. Wynn batted .271 with 32 HR and 108 RBI for the pennant-winning Dodgers in 1974, and perhaps should have won the MVP. He finished fifth in the voting. His 1975 was sub-par, and he was traded to Atlanta in the offseason. It was a much better hitters' park there, but Wynn at 34 was running out of gas and hit just .207, although he drew 127 walks. His OPS+ was still 108, but after batting .175 in 1977, he was done. He was a fine player, though. Conditions conspired against him compiling numbers that would make him a Hall of Fame candidate, although with more favorable home ballparks and eras he would be. Being a Red in the 1960s and 1970s would have helped, too.

Wynn earned 211.55 ratings points.

Wynn's stats: .250 average, 291 HR, 1105 runs, 1665 hits, 1224 walks, 128 career OPS+.

Hot Dogs, Heat and Homers: A Passion of the Weiss Baseball Review

2006-07-10T18:13:00.000-07:00

After attending my first Dodger game of the year it's always reassuring to find out that despite the constant price hikes for parking and concessions, some things will never change. Dodger fans will always show up in the third inning and leave in the eighth, the female fans in attendence will always be primarily made up of the ugliest one percent of Los Angeles (this is very similar to the movie Twins, with Lakers fans equating to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dodgers Fans being Danny Devito) the music will always be terrible, and that I will always hate the Dodgers.

My animosity towards my home team always strikes most people as weird, considering that not only was I born and raised in Los Angeles, but so was my mother. And as for my father, he might as well be a native considering that he moved here from NYC when he was six years old. But despite these entrenched LA roots, one of the few constants throughout my life has been the Weiss clan's passionate hate of all things related to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The reasons behind this lie shrouded in mystery and myth. Though sources can't verify it, rumor has it that the Weiss clan's hate of the Dodgers stems from Walter O' Malley's decision to build Dodger Stadium without water fountains, a move that inevitably angered my father and caused him to begin a life-long hate towards the team, a hate that now spans generation.s We Weiss men are many things. Stubborn, yes. Strange...obviously. Contrarian, absolutely. But above all, our chief characteristic is that we hold a grudge when we feel like we aren't getting a good deal. A couple water fountains here, a couple water fountains there, and the Dodgers could've had two of their most die-hard supporters. Instead, they only receive unbridled hate and spite. Its your loss, Los Angeles Dodgers organization. It's your loss. And it all stems from that fateful day in 1957, when the treacherous O' Malley decided to trick his fans into buying vast amounts of soda. That my friends was the water fountain heard round the world.

Accordingly, this loathing of all things Dodger causes me to avoid paying for Dodgers games, figuring that withholding the middling sum that I would contribute to their coffers will inevitably cause financial ruin and damn the Dodgers to playing sub-.500 baseball. This is my logic and I am sticking to it. Nonetheless, there is no sweeter sound to a Jewish man than the word free. That being said, a friend of mine happens to date a singer, one who was slated to sing the National Anthem today. Alas, the Dodgers shifted her singing date at the last minute, leaving her with five tickets, which brought me to Chavez Ravine, to see the twin cavalcade of mediocre music and baseball that only Dodger Stadium can bring.

Every year before I go to the my first game of the season, I tell myself that this will be the year that I turn apathetic and just won't care any more. But every year, I walk through the turnstile, see the palm trees cresting out over the horizon, see the gorgeous emerald green diamond and see those players wearing Dodger Blue and suddenly, my only thought is, "I hope these guys fucking lose. Bad!!"

Indeed, I am a Cincinnati Reds fan, tried and true, having made the decision to like the Reds in a very scientific manner. IE: They were my T-Ball team. People mock me for this, but I think its as good a reason as any, and quite frankly at this point in my life, anything I can do to separate myself from the vast masses of yokels, con artists, and poseurs that abound in this town is a damn good thing. Seinfeld said it best: Ultimately, we root for uniforms.

To my satisfaction, the game was quick and excellent, meaning that the Dodgers made three errors and managed to blow a solid pitching performance from Derek Hughes...I mean Lowe.
Of course, there were several thoughts that crept into my mind during the game, other than my enmity towards the team.

#1: Most Dodger Fans Are Stupid. Very stupid: I'm not sure if it's just that baseball fans in general are dumb, but I don't think that's necessarily the case. I'm been to games in at least a half dozen other cities and the fans there know the difference between an obvious pop fly and a home run. But every time a ball is hit in the air, Dodger fans ooh and aah like the batter just crushed it 450 ft. Learn the difference. It has been my experience that that most Dodger fans come to Dodger games for two things: Dodger Dogs and ice cream. And while both foods are inarguably delicious, there are more interesting things than missing two innings to eat lukewarm hot dogs and runny "so-called" ice cream

Also, when Dodger fans aren't stupid and actually know the game, they are inevitably strange and generally act like escapees from a local mental institution. For example, the guy sitting behind me went on for about 20 minutes about how a Dodger Game specifically caused the downfall of his marriage. I am not making this up. Then he proceeded to reminisce about Fernando Valenzuela. I'm not sure how the two were related, but I imagine this link is something that probably should be addressed in psycho-therapy. Lots of it.

#2: Is it possible for Dodger Games to Play at Least One Song that Isn't Only Played at Sorority Houses?

So I'll admit I liked Jet's "Are You Gonna' Be My Girl?" when it first came out in 2003. Upon a friend's recommendation I even bought the entire album, which was listened to exactly one time to a variety of screams, shouts and curses. But at this point, I've heard that one single about 4,322 times. Stop playing it. There is never a good time to play that song at this point. It is one of those songs like "Hollaback Girl" or even "Hey Ya," that probably should not be played for the next ten years, if ever again. Calling this song played out is doing a disservice to played out songs. This song never had that much life to begin with. Stop squeezing even more life out of it. Playing this song is very similar to Puffy's attempts to wring more out of Biggie's catalogue. It's been over for a long time. Deal with it.

Additionally, if I ever hear "Let's Get It Started in Here," one more time at a sporting event, I might have to start shooting random civilians. This song makes "Hollaback Girl," look like "A Day in the Life." On top of this indignity, they always play the song at the wrong times, like when the Dodger's are down 4-1 in the eigth inning and someone hits a single. A man on first with one out does not make a rally. Learn the fucking difference. Why don't the Dodgers bring back their organist Nancy Bea Heffley. Hopefully, she isn't dead. Though I seem to recall once having heard that she plays the organ during the 7th inning stretch. At any rate, either bring the organ back full time or start playing decent music. I don't need to hear the Tapes N' Tapes album, but how about playing something from the Strokes or Franz Ferdinand. Anything that doesn't involve the name, Fergie, a name that should not be spoken around me unless used in the context of the sentence, "You Know Who I fucking hate...Fergie!"

For all this rambling and anger, there still is nothing like a Dodger game, particularly when they lose and I get the schaudenfreude of watching all of these disconsolate Dodger fans traveling home with downcast faces, while I savor the fact that the Reds are in first place. Times are good. It is May. It is warm. And now that Dodger Stadium has water fountains, not only can I watch the Dodgers lose, but I can quence my thirst while doing so. For free. And somewhere, Walter O' Malley's ghost is shaking his head and saying, "if only...if only."

Dodgers Stadium

2006-05-08T02:56:00.000-07:00

Retired Mobility Opportunities Via Education (MOVE) Administrator Linda Bidabe received the 2004 E.P. Maxwell/J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award from EP (Exceptional Parent) Magazine and Major League Baseball on Aug. 6 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles. Bidabe was escorted onto the field by U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and Worldwide Commander of all Navy SEALS (Ret.) Ray Smith, board director for EP Magazine. Smith then presented Bidabe with the award at home plate prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Afterwards, Bidabe, daughter Tanya Fulghum and grandchildren Nathan and Lauren were seated in VIP loge box seats to enjoy the game as guests of the Dodgers.Each year the Maxwell/Schleifer award recognizes an individual for continuing and significant contributions to the disabilities community. Since 2002, Major League Baseball has collaborated with EP Magazine reaching out to sports fans to promote awareness of the 54 million Americans with disabilities, their families and caregivers.Bidabe was a special education teacher for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office in Bakersfield. She created the MOVE program that teaches people with severe motor disabilities to sit, stand and walk while participating in real life activities throughout the day. Prior to MOVE, students with severe disabilities spent all day on beanbags and had no opportunities to move and enjoy a more full and abundant lifestyle in their homes, schools and communities.

2006-04-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

YoungDodgers new articles for Sunday, April 16, 2006The Fight That Benched Dusty
As part of the celebration commemorating the 1981 World Series win, Dusty Baker will be honored at Dodger Stadium on Monday night prior to the game. ... I went to tell Tommy [Lasorda, Dodgers manager], and I said, "I think I broke my ...

Week Two Wrapup: It's all about the pitching!
Wet enough to have a two hour delay against the hated Dodgers. ... five hit ball against the hated Dodgers, raising his record to 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA. ... going yard in RFK Stadium, contrary to what some players would have you think. ...

An Egg-celent Day of Family Fun in Los Angeles
That’s right – an Easter Egg Hunt on the field at Dodgers Stadium, right before the big game! We hope you'll join the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department and their families at this fun event, that also supports an important ...

New York Mets Pay Tribute to Number 42 By Victor Lana There are ...
One of those times occurred yesterday at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York, when the New York Mets organization honored the late Jackie Robinson on the 59th anniversary of the day he started playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, ...

Minor League Scorebook
... Little Rock stadium and the local government's attempts to keep the stadium's ... the new stadium — you'd think the local media could cover them a little better. ... 2006-04-09: GCL Dodgers did not play. 2006-04-09: Ogden did not play.

the original dodgers stadium - it's still here
One wall of Washington Park, the original stadium for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Third Avenue and Third Street in Brooklyn. Photo from http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SC ENES/Dodgers/dodgers.html I was walking near Third Avenue and ...

Grouchy Friday
At least I've never heard of anyone getting shot after a Yanks/Sox or Mets game, which is more than we can say for Giants/Dodgers. Leave the Chip on Your Shoulder at the Door: Even in Yankee Stadium, courtesy begets courtesy. ...

dodgers stadium...hey, think blue
dodgers stadium...hey, think blue Posted by Hello.

Minor League Scorebook
Here's a piece about Holman Stadium, spring home of the Dodgers and the regular season (whew, that's hot!) home of the low-A Vero Beach Dodgers. Major league contracts are guaranteed, so teams — for better or worse — have to pay player ...

The Win-Win Proposition
... ticket prices, stadium changes and renovations, and the attendance ... Okay, so all that done, how does it look for the Angels and Dodgers? How's this:. Dodgers -> Angels $0.42 [$0.23, $0.60] Angels -> Dodgers $0.29 [$0.08, $0.50] ...

Minor League Scorebook
... up Jered this week -- very hard to believe -- I'll be in the stadium come hell or high water. ... Nonetheless, the Dodgers decided to let Broxton close the game, ... 2006-04-08: GCL Dodgers did not play. 2006-04-08: Ogden did not play.

More on Dodgers (and Angels) Attendance
Alternately, if one club is doing well on the field (and therefore drawing well at the stadium) that there will be a buzz about baseball that will encourage folks to go even to the other club's games.

Dodger Stadium
I'm at Dodger Stadium for game 6 of the road trip, blogging on my Treo. My friend, Chris, hooked me up with suite ... The Dodgers were my favorite team during the 12 years that I lived on Kauai because they were my Grandpa's favorite. ...

Dodgers 8 Pirates 3- A typical Home Opener in Pittsburgh
After seeing a 7-3 loss that year, I attended every Home Opener to the close of Three Rivers save for one, the final home opener at the stadium that was delayed a day by rain, pushing it to a day that I couldn't make the trip on (I ...

I Owe LA An Apology
Falling in love with watching baseball live at Dodgers Stadium (I'm all about the Dodger Dogs). Authentic Mexican food and "scratch" margaritas. Outdoor concert venues (for fans, imagine seeing Brian McKnight in concert under a star ...

New Home of the Mets: Jackie Robinson Field?
Met Life Park I could deal with as I could with Rheingold Stadium (since the beer ... heaven forbid, something like AskJeves.com Stadium I wont be happy. ... Robinson played in Brooklyn, for the Dodgers, the team from which the Mets ...

Why Awards Should Only Be Given Posthumously
The infield that played together at Dodger Stadium for a record 8 1/2 years ... They last walked off the field as a unit in their Dodgers uniform nearly 25 years ago. ... 1981, at Yankee Stadium -- in the sixth game of the World Series. ...

LA is the Place
My friend from Los Angeles told me something interesting yesterday. he said traffic in LA is so bad, fans can't get to a Dodgers game before the 5th inning, normally. So if u watch a Dodgers game being played at Dodger Stadium, ...

Fun With Big Barry
Last night's festivities included the Dodgers v. Giants game at Dodger Stadium with Hercules. What was supposed to be a romantic evening under the stars watching America's favorite past time in box seats ended up having a, er, ...

Happy Birthday to Me
1958 1st baseball game in California, San Francisco Giants beat Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-0 ... 1976 Yankee Stadium reopens, Yankees beat Twins after trailing 4-0 ... 1989 95 crushed to death at Sheffield Soccer Stadium in England ...

2006-04-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

YoungDodgers new articles for Tuesday, April 11, 2006Minor League Scorebook
... Little Rock stadium and the local government's attempts to keep the stadium's ... the new stadium — you'd think the local media could cover them a little better. ... 2006-04-09: GCL Dodgers did not play. 2006-04-09: Ogden did not play.

Alextronic and the Judge
The folks at Jones Day and Guidance Software invited me to an exclusive evening out at Dodgers Stadium this week to join their guest of honor, Judge Scheindlin. Of course, like all other ED junkies, I came to be introduced by Judge ...

Why Are We Building a New Yankee Stadium?
So mighty were the Yankees, and such a draw was the team and its stadium, that by 1958 the the Giants and Dodgers, New York's other Major League Baseball teams, had moved to California. For four years, from 1958 through 1961, ...

Opening Day: Hour 4
1:48 -- The top of the third in the Dodgers game begins with a look at the new new seats in Dodger Stadium, which are literal box seats, complete with a little table. 1:50 -- Long line for Dodger Dogs at the concession stand. ...

The NEW Hardest Working Man in Show Business
ceremonial first pitch at Dodgers Stadium. As he pulls out his baseball mitt and prepares for his moment of truth, his TV Land friends stop by to help support him. Also appearing in this installment are: Brady castmates ...

A Fitting Name for the New York Mets' New Ballpark: Jackie ...
Shea Stadium was named for lawyer William Shea, whom Mayor Lindsay at the time ... The connections between the New York Mets and the Brooklyn Dodgers are ... Just like our Mets, the Brooklyn Dodgers were the underdog team in a city ...

Dodgers 1960...
I had heard that a few renovations were made and were looking forward to seeing what they have done with the place. It was obvious the direction the stadium would be when we picked up our tickets. The Dodgers went retro. ...

New Mets park, but not a new Shea
Instead of calling the new park Shea Stadium they've stated that they're actively looking for a naming rights partner. It's lovely to honor the Brooklyn Dodgers' history; isn't it better to honor the New York Mets' history? ...

Everything New York Baseball
The second part I love that really corresponds to this is the fact that there's going to be a tribute to New York Baseball in the stadium. We're talking about the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 40's and 50's, the New York Giants of the that ...

Ruminations: Friday
The Mets are joining the Yankees in new-stadium heaven. The new stadium certainly won’t be called Shea but it will pay homage to Ebbets Field, the old home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. While the architectural renderings look great, ...

"Council Votes Yes On New Yankee Stadium" on NY1, 4/5/6
Mets officials say the new stadium will have an Ebbetts Field look to it, referring to the old stadium that was once home to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Mets hope to have construction completed in time for the 2009 season.

Opening Day: Hour 6
3:43 -- Attendance at today's Dodgers game is announced as 56000, which happens to be the exact capacity of Dodger Stadium. Hmm... According to Vin Scully, it's never been that high for a regular-season game before. ...

Woof-woof, Dodger Dogs
We were only "live" from inside the stadium during the pre-game festivities. ... The Dodgers lost by one run and I think I only botched one "Chief thing" I was ... I don't know when the Dodgers play again, but I think they'll have more ...

DC SCENE MONDAY
Of the first 18 former Negro Leaguers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, nine played for the Grays at Washington's Griffith Stadium. ... That was seven years after Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and shattered ...

Minor Notes - 4/10/06
... to a 7-2 victory over Akron on a cold, windy Saturday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium. ... -SLU notes: Jose Sanchez started the game on a good foot for the Mets holding the Dodgers to only three hits and one run in five innings of work. ...

Shea goodbye: Mets unveil new stadium plans
Shea goodbye: Mets unveil new stadium plansShea goodbye: Mets unveil new stadium plansNew York ... stirred up the past on Thursday when they unveiled a stadium design reminiscent of EbbetsField, the storied home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Monday, April 10, 2006
... of the Year" award in his first year and help lead the Dodgers to 7 pennants in the 10 years he played for them)... ... pitcher Larry Jaster (the area is still marked and is considered the longest home run ever hit at Shea Stadium). ...

2006-04-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

YoungDodgers new articles for Sunday, April 02, 2006Dodgers '06 preview: Radical reconstruction project (Daily Breeze)
Dodgers have revamped almost everything, including the stadium, to repair the damage from a 71-91 season.

New Era Launches National Interactive Tour at Dodgers Stadium (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
New Era Cap Co., Inc., the exclusive maker and marketer of Major League Baseball's official uniform cap, announced that it will launch the "Authentic Fit" tour, an interactive mobile tour, during the Los Angles Dodgers 2006 home opener at Dodgers Stadium on Monday, April 3, 2006.

Angels top Dodgers in Freeway finale (MLB.com)
Angels top Dodgers in Freeway finale

Dodgers unveil stadium renovations (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Dodgers' McCourt unveils stadium renovations

Angels Drop Dodgers In Spring Training Finale (CBS 2 Los Angeles)
Juan Rivera hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Dodgers 4-2 on Sunday in the finale of the Freeway Series.

Dodgers drop Freeway Series finale (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Dodgers drop Freeway Series finale

Inclement Weather Threatens Dodgers Opener (AP via Yahoo! News)
The Atlanta Braves have been the model of consistency for any team in any sport, winning 14 straight NL East championships.

Escobar helps blank Dodgers (Anaheim Angels)
Escobar helps blank Dodgers

What a thrilling Giants-Dodgers fight this will be (San Francisco Chronicle)
We're about to witness the most fascinating season in the Giants-Dodgers rivalry since Will Clark roamed the landscape, and be warned, you may find the context disturbing. The Dodgers are the good guys in this story, at least from a national viewpoint,...

The Newly Renovated Dodger Stadium Opens Today (CBS 2 Los Angeles)
The newly renovated Dodger Stadium will be open to the public Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the Freeway Series.

Dodgers Stadium

2006-02-15T23:00:00.000-08:00

Dodger Stadium, in Los Angeles, California, has been the home of the Los Angeles Major League Baseball team since 1962. It was also the home of the Los Angeles Angels between 1962 and 1965.