Reds in SOCAL - Post 1

I am going to tell you about the Dodger Stadium and the experience.

Dodger Stadium was built in 1962 and it is surrounded (to the east/south/west) by a gigantic c-shaped parking lot.  The property is more parking than base paths.  And there is one entrance.  So if you are driving to the Stadium for the first time and following your Satellite Route machine, you are going to be upset once you turn onto Elysian Park.  Because now you a member of a miserable parking line.  And the rows of cars do not offer tailgating and joy like Miller Park – just controlled parking decisions and a possible post-game stabbing.

Sometimes, you have to dig up the tradition.  And that is the Short Stop, on Sunset -  Southwest of the stadium entrance.  The Short Stop is an old cop bar, and contains lockers where law enforcement would rest their pieces as they drank beers in the dark.  And it is dark old school Dodger bar.  The drinks are well poured and the juke box is filled with purpose.  But the best is ancillary.  The bar welcomes a tamale man that reminds you of the diverse LA you were told about.   Escape from the place brings on vampire shrieks from the sun.  Oh yeah, it’s July and 6:30.

It’s an uphill hike to Dodger Stadium. An in-between distance: a cab is ridiculous to take from the bar to the stadium.  But the walk is just enough to piss you off.  So you walk because you are from Ohio and get your ticket.  I am taking my buddy for his birthday and I can see in his eyes “I never watched season 6 of ‘House’” so the hustle is on to get him to his seat and entertained.  He needs to be occupied and lubricated.

Loge Level.  First base side.  Beautiful  seats, yet in the bottom of the 2^nd I have to look at Miguel Cairo instead of Joey Votto.  I like Cairo.  But he does not replace the first Red MVP since Barry Larkin in 1995.  I can shake all that off with a Reds win.

Bottom of 4^th inning.  You give LA 3 innings to fill their seats.  It’s the 4^th and the jackals are out.  We are on the second (loge) level on the first base side.  Upgrades possible.  But the seats remain empty.  Meanwhile, the Reds are not hitting anything.  But you have to think if the Reds can just get 3-4 (the Dodgers have 2) they win the game.

Bottom of 5^th inning – The Dodgers are up 2-0 thanks to manufacturing two in the 1^st/2^nd.  They will take an accident run or anything that increases their score.  They have to somehow make 2 runs stick because they are not going to score again.  And they know it. 

Jerry Hairston Jr. is a fine player.  He bats 3^rd for the Dodgers.  That is a serious problem.

Top of 6^th inning – The Reds get busy.  Phillips double.  Bruce single.  Frazier single.  The Reds are about to pop but then compile 2 outs.  The rally is dead.  But the Dodgers make the management folly of the day and offer the Reds catcher (Merasco) strikes with the pitcher on deck.  Merasco doubles and the Cincy crowd erupts with delight.  We can do this.  The Dodgers can’t score.  3-2 Reds.

And they don’t.  And the Reds add some insurance runs against HOT Todd Coffey (ex-Red).  Nothing I love more than a little rally against an ex-Red that ruined many barbeques.  But after his failure, I want to give Coffey a hug and whisper “I know”.  He is yanked and sent to a deep, freezing cave.

Reds win 8-2.  Votto on the bench.  Up one game on the annoying Pirates.  Cueto on the hill next.  The only thing to do is be an intelligent fan and drive to Stadium Way via Scott Ave.  Park on the street.  Only suckers and Dodger fans park in the sanctioned, crescent lot.  The informed walk a path through.  And on the subject of intelligence, if the Reds do the simple tasks, Cueto will win for you.  He is not going down twice in a row.  Maybe the West can be good for the Reds.