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Bill Dwyer hates your favorite team

Tiny by cardinalwraith on

This article has me enraged, so I'll present some money quotes without comment. Let's discuss to our hearts' content.

The best team in baseballisn't even the biggest story in its own city. Right now, Los Angeles is all caught up in the Dodgers' magic number and only casually interested in the Angels' magic team.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim adopted a city, and the city it adopted mostly shrugs in return.

We are all Dodgers, all the time, 24/7 Blue Heaven. What if they were a really good team? What if they win another playoff game? Will we offer our firstborn in celebration?

...

The days ahead will be exciting. All eyes will be on the Dodgers, as clinching-time approaches. The headlines will get bigger, the news broadcasts louder. Those who get paid handsomely these days to count Web hits will do so joyously, because Dodger buzz always drives Internet clatter.

It is late September, almost always Dodger time here. All eyes will be focused on Chavez Ravine. In this city, the Dodgers will have it all.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan and may or may not be a reflection of human evolution, divine enlightenment or nine cans into a 12-pack.

3 recs | Comment 116 comments

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bleh... whatever

they can celebrate mediocrity and the fact that they’re barely over .500. screw them.

we’ll see what happens in a few weeks.

Kotch would've had that.

by howiestheman on Sep 22, 2008 11:09 PM PDT   0 recs

You said it. That's about it.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Sep 23, 2008 1:42 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

umm he left out the last sentence

i read the article in the paper this morning:

"In this city, the Dodgers will have it all. Except the best team

Also: who cares? If the dodgers tried calling themselves the Orange County dodgers of LA, we’d still be Angels fans. The dodgers had that market dominated long before we did. Them being more important to Dodgers fans isnt a burn on us.

We’ll just keep winning while they can get aroused by simply making the playoffs in a terrible division

by ihearhowie2.0 on Sep 23, 2008 10:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Why all the Dodger hate?

Our coaching staff is comprised of Lasorda disciples. Give some kudos to the traditional top dogs in the town. Yes, we are up-and-coming, but respect the blue as well.

by Downing Rules on Sep 23, 2008 12:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

um

i have no problem with the players or coaches of the dodgers. I actually like a few of their players quite a bit(loney, martin)

but the article was about la FANS. and anyone whos been to a dodger game or an angel game where the dodgers are visiting knows that dodger fans dont deserve respect from anyone. obscene, loud, disrespectful. theyre scum.

by ihearhowie2.0 on Sep 23, 2008 12:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The difference between Dodgers and Angels fans

Eric Karros, upon his return in a visiting Cubs uniform, was an endless cascade of boos.

Jose Molina, in his first at-bat after returning as a Yankee (and even after) got applause. I could say the same for Scott Spiezio and Jarrod Washburn as Mariners.

That is all you really need to know.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Sep 23, 2008 1:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

How about the team playing a video tribute to to Spiezio in his first game here as a Mariner.

If the dodgers tried to pull a class-act move like that, the fans would start shooting at the jumbo-tron (we all know they’re armed and dangerous, right?).

by snowhor on Sep 23, 2008 1:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I can attest to that about Spez

He got a standing O.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Sep 23, 2008 3:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Scioscia is an Alston disciple, not Lasorda disciple

And in general, he gives more cred to his minor league managers than to Tommy.

by mattwelch on Sep 23, 2008 1:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Explain Matt

I don’t think Scioscia played an inning for #24 Walter Alston. May have met him at Vero or something but if I am not mistaking Lasorda was Scioscia’s only big league manager and Lasorda is the Alston disciple.

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Sep 24, 2008 10:12 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Taking some liberties

Alston was a fairly quiet manager, Tommy is all rah-rah. Tommy was notorious for burning out his arms by overuse (see his disciple Dusty Baker for a good example); not sure what Alston did, but he operated in the years before pitch counts, anyway.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Sep 24, 2008 4:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You are correct, according to BR

Scioscia’s playing career 1980 to 1992

and

Alston’s coaching career 1954 to 1976

Anyway, the point I was trying to make is that Scioscia came from the Dodger blue. We should respect that tradition, as much as it is our inner-city rival and as goofy as their fans can be. They gave us a great manager, the best our organization has ever seen.

by Downing Rules on Sep 24, 2008 4:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm going from memory here, but...

…. I distinctly recall Scioscia, in a few of those many Lasorda-is-a-genius articles (probably by Plaschke), going out of his way to point out that he was not a Lasorda a disciple, and that he was much more influenced by one other Dodger stalwart. If not Alston (and you’re right, the timeline don’t make sense), it was a longtime minor league manager or something. It’s really stuck out on me the few occasions I’ve seen him talk about it, and if I ever again have five spare minutes I’ll go look up the citation.

by mattwelch on Sep 25, 2008 4:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I know he has always given a lot of credit to those Dodgers catchers of old

that were always around Vero. I am sure there is a lot of things that Scioscia has taken from all the managers and coaches he has played for. I also think he has made some adjustments and fit it to his own personality.

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Sep 25, 2008 11:47 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Like asking the jews to respect the nazis

I’m old enough to take it now, but this all brings back painful memories from my childhood. I was only Angel Fan I knew and I took crap for it many years.

Nolan Ryan for president!

by Dodger Hater on Sep 26, 2008 8:56 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

here, here

hated playing wiffle ball, over-the-line, etc. and always having to be the dodgers because all the kids were brainwashed dodger blue. i remember telling my friends “look, we’re going to be the angels, i’m pitching and i’m don aase!” good post DH.

by SCHalo on Sep 26, 2008 11:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

sorry about the hate you got...

And if you are old enough to take it, then why is your name a negative one related to the Dodgers?

I know a good therapist, if you need one.

On a more serious note, you did go quite too far by comparing nazis/jews to dodgers/angels. That’s excessive. Happy Rosh Hashanah by the way (Monday evening).

by Downing Rules on Sep 26, 2008 12:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Your assuming that he likes females

Guys an azz!!

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Sep 23, 2008 1:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Dwyer

was the editor of the Times sports pages until 2006, i.e. the man who thought that both Bill Plaschke and T.J. Simers made good columnists.

What’s obvious about this column is that it’s perfectly content-free, that is, he has nothing backing those opinions. It would have been a lot more convincing had he mentioned something like actual Neilsen ratings.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Sep 23, 2008 7:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not entirely related

But this LA Observed piece on the relative merits of the Times’ web page editorial content is really not to be missed.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Sep 23, 2008 7:57 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Truly pitiful...

…and just when you think the news cannot be dumbed down any more . You do not realize how bad it is until yo go back and look at how good it was in the past.
I bought a collection of Life magazines from a neighbor a few years ago. They span from 1942 to 1947…mostly having to do with WWII and the post-war era. The quality of the writing is so relatively stunning.

The comments by Witness LA on the LA Times “kitty” post are completely accurate.
So what greeted me this morning on Yahoo’s front page? “Miley’s (Cyrus) Antics Raise Concerns”. Now THAT’S important!! Gawd…it’s self-parody.

by sothball on Sep 23, 2008 9:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Nice post

The Angels may have beat them 8 times in a row, but winning three before they do is all that matters.

by hauldog on Sep 23, 2008 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

on your site.

The Angels may have beat them 8 times in a row, but winning three before they do is all that matters.

by hauldog on Sep 23, 2008 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No I enjoyed the post. Not trying to be a dick

Rev said everything needed to be said on the topic of other blogs.

The Angels may have beat them 8 times in a row, but winning three before they do is all that matters.

by hauldog on Sep 23, 2008 10:30 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

the hack with that

The only hack in Bill Dwyer is the way he hacked away at the LAT’s sports staff until he got it right. Make that perfect. His mid-1990s team of Chris Dufresne, T.J. Simers, Jim Murray, Scott Ostler, Gene Wojciechowski, Tim Kawakami, Mike Downey, Allan Malamud and Bill Plaschke might’ve been the finest team of writers in history. So now Dwyer says what so many Angel fans have been yelling since 2005: We’re not L.A., got it? It’s called the truth. The lie is the Angels’ full name. They have zip to do with Los Angeles. This is nothing like the Jets and Giants; fans in News York and Jersey love those teams. Los Angeles fans root for the Dodgers, pure and simple. The Angels might as well be in a foreign county. Oh, they are.

Go Mizzou.

by BuckyFox on Sep 24, 2008 5:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I know a LOT of Angel fans in L.A.

Have you been to the City of Angels lately?

by Rev Halofan on Sep 24, 2008 10:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

disagree

strongly.

ive never liked simers nor plaschke nor dwyer.

many people in la like the angels…and it is just like the jets, giants, cowboys, et al

Orange County is part of the Greater L.A. market, so theres really no harm no foul.

And the Angels were originally founded in LA, so I’d say they have a lot to do with the place.

by linkbruin on Sep 25, 2008 12:34 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Christ, Bucky, how much they give you in the buyout?

Dwyer took a section that was still great in the early 1980s, and helped turn it into a Plaschke-led disgrace. Used to be the best baseball-covering daily in the nation, now it’s one of the worst.

by mattwelch on Sep 25, 2008 4:43 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Matt

I don’t have the details at my fingertips, but how many of those writers were already in place before the ’90s? I know Murray was. I seem to recall reading Malamud and Ostler and Wojo and Downey waaaay back.

Francisco Rodriguez: 2006 to Present: 149 saves. 5 Panthers. As fabulous as Pride, Romero, Gregg, Budde and Dino Ebel combined.

by Stirrups on Sep 25, 2008 10:05 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yup

a lot of those guys were writing there when I was in high school, and I graduated in 1988. The only really great writer from the recent past (and he too has now moved on) was Tim Brown.

by jjackflash on Sep 26, 2008 12:24 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You are so wrong

about so many things in such a short space, I don’t know where to start.

But let’s start with the fact that, as far as the Angels and Los Angeles are concerned, you do know what “Los Angeles” means, right? And that the team played its first 5 years in Los Angeles, and was called the Los Angeles Angels, and that the franchise that was awarded to Gene Autry was the Los Angeles Franchise for the American League? Oh, and every night, literally tens of thousands of people from Los Angeles County attend Angels games. For many, the Big A is a lot closer and easier to get to than Dodger Stadium.

by jjackflash on Sep 26, 2008 12:28 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The Big A

Maybe not closer
But definitely easier to get to/from.

If GA wasn't so Lazy, I'd have something clever here.

by TheTypingFiend on Sep 26, 2008 4:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If you live in the SGV

especially the eastern part (e.g., Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont, Diamond Bar), you’re a lot closer to the Big A.

As for me, although Pasadena is a lot closer to Dodger Stadium, the last time I went to a game there, it took me 47 minutes from the time I got to my car until I pulled into my driveway…about the same as going to the Big A, which is probably 30 miles farther away. So yes, easier to get to/from as well.

by jjackflash on Sep 26, 2008 11:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Delorean ride! Classic

The Angels may have beat them 8 times in a row, but winning three before they do is all that matters.

by hauldog on Sep 23, 2008 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This part absolutely sums this entire article up.

“One astute baseball observer, the columnist who types on Page 2 of this sports section, pointed to a reason for this. Speaking of various methods of inducing sleep before surgery, Page 2 typed, "Instead of anesthesia to put you to sleep, they have you listen to Mike Scioscia being interviewed.”

That means the Angels’ manager is boring. "

Poor Bill. He knows the people reading his article cannot use logical reasoning. Therefore he must spell out clever page 2 ESPN quotes to them, in hopes of his readers getting jokes.

Go blue?

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Sep 22, 2008 11:36 PM PDT   0 recs

you lost me at

astute baseball observer and espn.

Lamest poster of all-time.

by ineptituderunsamok on Sep 22, 2008 11:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I want to know when Simers became an astute baseball observer.

Since that’s who Dwyer’s definitely referring to.

The Hunt for a Red October ...and please keep telling Clutch to chill!

by cardinalwraith on Sep 22, 2008 11:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

you lost me at

astute

Lamest poster of all-time.

by ineptituderunsamok on Sep 22, 2008 11:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Proof he is a HACK

He gets paid by the word and throws in all that empty build up to fill out a piece in order to get a few extra bucks to buy his Tribune-Co boss an extra cocktail to ensure he keeps his hack job getting paid by the word so he can buy his Tribune-Co boss a drink…

oh the vicious Tribune media cycle goes on… like a truck-stop toilet violently swirling toward oblivion in the middle of nowhere, unnoticed by a population that listens to the radio, watches television and reads blogs for its media.

by Rev Halofan on Sep 22, 2008 11:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

ZELL MILLER Quoting Shaq:

Hey L.A. TIMES veteran writers:

“Tell me how my ass tastes!”

by Rev Halofan on Sep 22, 2008 11:46 PM PDT   0 recs

You must mean Sam Zell, right?

Then again, the idea of Zell Miller saying that is actually even funnier.

". . .and the young lions will lock horns!" -- Ron Fairly, from an Angels telecast

by rspencer on Sep 25, 2008 1:33 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

brain-cramp

the beauty of the BLOG vs. the printed page is you can have a brain-cramp, be publicly corrected and then agree to be corrected, whereas PRINT, which is thrown out the next day has a permanence and irrefutability that leads to pompous hectors like Dwyer et al writing like a tenured professor lectures – and with less impact and influence with each issue…

by Rev Halofan on Sep 25, 2008 1:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

in other words

YEAH, I meant Sam Zell. Apologies to Zell Miller.

by Rev Halofan on Sep 25, 2008 1:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Bill Dwyer who?

The only thing that makes me interested in the Dodgers is a potential freeway series. Other than they Dodger Blue is meh.

Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!

by teopeht on Sep 22, 2008 11:46 PM PDT   0 recs

My take

I hope the Doyah’s lose out and don’t make the post season…

BUT…. if they do make the postseason, I want them in the Series. For two reasons.

1. Four game sweep
2. Piss off the East Coast Media (kinda like 2002, but then they had Bonds’ dick to suck).

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Sep 23, 2008 8:52 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So would it be a four game sweep and ESPN (I mean the east coast media)

would be sucking Manny’s dick?

Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!

by teopeht on Sep 23, 2008 12:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good point

Forgot about that.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Sep 23, 2008 3:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

According to Bill Dwyer

The Angels are so good that they have enveloped on themselves and have become irrelevant?

The Dodgers are relevant because they are trying to stay a few game above .500 and win the vaunted NL West.

I have been hanging and hoping the Times would right the ship…

Bill, if i may quote Duran Duran, “you smell like you sound”…

My LA Times subscription officially canceled.

"why do you we still have quitlin?" -VladdyG

by cupie on Sep 22, 2008 11:52 PM PDT   0 recs

Bill Dwyers vote for the HOF goes to....

Billy Ashley, with a close second vote nod too Todd Hollandsworth. Screw fire marshall Bill. Thanks to the Manny trade the Dodgers are a few games above .500, due to the Dodgers not hiring Soth, the Angels are once again AL West Champs, personally, I like the trade off.

YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....

by halofolife on Sep 23, 2008 1:03 AM PDT   0 recs

Regarding Simers claim that Soth is boring

Simers was let go by ESPN’s Around The Horn. When Max Kellerman hosted. How big of a jack ass do you have to be, to be fired by a Max Kellerman hosted program. Seriously, T.J.’s next gig might be with the San Bernardino County Sun, or The Californian(two sucky newspapers in the IE).

YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....

by halofolife on Sep 23, 2008 1:14 AM PDT   0 recs

The idiot talks about how great the trade for Manny was (and it was)

but how about that great signing of A. Jones and that deadline trade for G. Maddux (1-4 with 5.71 ERA) Nomar Hamm has been solid. Just love to see Bud Black and the Pad’s sink the Dodgers with the Giants being the dagger

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Sep 23, 2008 1:25 AM PDT   0 recs

Nomar Hamm's wife has won more and.....

accomplished more in her athletic career then ass backwards Ramon has in his. So that makes him Nomar Hamm

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Sep 24, 2008 10:21 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This guy might be a Dodger hack,

but he’s in every way, 100% correct.

The Dodgers can, do, and in all likelihood generate more “buzz”, stimulate more anticipation, and generate more fans simply because of the location and the “history”, however disconnected it may be from the current incarnation of the team.

The Angels have a fantastic team for a relatively small, but loyal, fanbase. We are the chosen few, the derth and the diehard. We will not falter on a bandwagon team, but we also must realize that a bandwagon is good for this team. We need the flaky, puerile, bemused fans that will wander through the turn-styles and shout the glory of the team from somewhere beyond the back page of the newspaper.

The Dodgers are the big brother who burned out, but was there first. And we all know baseball is a game of seniority and tradition. So for better, worse, or Steve Physioc, this team is our bane, and our pleasure. This is our Angels baseball.

by shiftyeyedgoat on Sep 23, 2008 1:47 AM PDT   0 recs

Check the teevee ratings, granpa. you are correct for 1961-2001. You might be right for 2002-2004. You are not right from 2004 to the present.

by Rev Halofan on Sep 23, 2008 2:16 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well, I'm trying...

This link for 2007 FOX telecasts of MLBsays the Angels and Dodgers tied at 2.4 rating with a 6 share for the Angels vs. Bosox and 7 for Dodgers vs. Cubs, but this link showing Nielson ratings for this season says the following:

FSN: FSN West received its highest single game Angels rating for the ‘08 season with the Angels-Yankees July 31 telecast, which earned a 2.19 HH rating. The Dodgers also recorded their all-time highest-rated game on FSN Prime Ticket for the August 1 D’Backs-Dodgers game, which earned a 5.19 HH rating (FSN)….

Which says the Dodgers’ highest rated game this year was a full 3 rating points higher than the Angels’ highest.

Where’re you seeing the numbers Angels have higher rated telecasts?

by shiftyeyedgoat on Sep 23, 2008 1:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow - point conceded

if those ratings # are for the entire reach of the FSN channels. Wow. I wonder if there was something counterprogrammed to one and not the other, but that is just a massive difference, one i never expected.

by Rev Halofan on Sep 23, 2008 4:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

but he’s in every way, 100% correct.

not really. Things change, the Dodgers aren’t what they use to be. WE are gaining notoriety. And with Moreno and Mike at the helm, the ’gers have an uphill struggle for years to come
to match the up and coming Angels.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Sep 23, 2008 2:43 AM PDT   0 recs

for shifty

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Sep 23, 2008 2:43 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The quoted text above...

left out the last line which sums up the entire article in our favor, folks…

It is late September, almost always Dodger time here. All eyes will be focused on Chavez Ravine. In this city, the Dodgers will have it all.

Just not the best team.

This whole piece is a commentary of the fact that the entire LA region has their head up their ass. They are so concerned about the Dodgers getting into the playoffs that they have lost site that the best team in baseball is 20 miles down the 5 in the OC.

I had the same reactions that all of you did until I got to the last line – it was all a rouse boys – he’s mocking the Dodgers and their fans, methinks.

Jim Scully

Jim Scully Home
Haloville - Land of the Halos

by jimmuscomp on Sep 23, 2008 2:48 AM PDT   0 recs

I had the same reaction

When I got to the end of the column, I was like, “Oh, okay, he realizes that the local media and bandwagon fans are a bunch of twits.”

by Brew Angel on Sep 23, 2008 9:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I read the article and I think you are correct.

He is really offering praise to the Angels. In reference to Scioscia…

“Also, dumb like a fox. Nobody is happier than Scioscia at the ease with which his team has clinched a playoff spot early and has drifted easily beneath the radar. Scioscia is not a Joe Namath-call-the-shot guy. He would rather you wake up the morning after he has beaten you and have you wonder what hit you. His Angels may end up with the quietest 100-win season in baseball history.”

by sothball on Sep 23, 2008 9:23 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

by staying humble.

I love that theme, coz it seems so backwards for a team that has dominated the regular season like the Halos have.

by Downing Rules on Sep 23, 2008 12:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs