Notable Quotables

"When we win a game, it's a team win...when we lose a game, it's a team loss."
-Morris Buttermaker, North Valley League Coach

Here it is, opening day (Only Bud would spread out "Opening Day" to become "Opening Week") and we find out the Dodgers' Cy Young pitcher has the stomach flu.  Vin says he wants to pitch, and so he does.  The camera is sure to have a close-up on Kershaw's face in-between pitches as he holds back dry heaves.  Nice touch.  Vin summarizes Kershaw's ailments and says "he had diarrhea, upchuck, fever, all of that."  Vin said "upchuck"; I can die in peace.

Through 3 innings, a sick Kershaw gives up 2 hits and strikes out 3.  He also gets a hit himself with one of the weakest swings since I visited the batting cages.  Supposedly, Donny Mustache saw Kershaw laying down in the hallway in-between innings and decided that was enough.  This means, instead of a rock who can go 9 no problem, the Dodge have to turn the rest of the game over to the bullpen. 

(Nervously looked away from the TV)

As up in the air as things still might be, we can be thankful for those wise words...

"Life sucks, and then you manage the Padres."
-Donovan Brandt

But...not a real bad performance.  In the car listening to the 7th, I began to hear dreaded words.

"Bottom of the 7th, and Matt Guerrier in for the Dodgers."
-Charley Steiner

GRRRR.  We didn't trade him, or cut him.  He's here, not Albuquerque.  (sigh)  Fine...show me what you got.  No runs/no hits?  Ah...the coin landed "heads" and you looked like a good pitcher.  Hoo boy, after a Matt Kemp zonk, up 4, Donny must have felt truly secure sending in...Kenley Jansen.  Can I give that guy a key to the city of Alb---

NICE.  NICE TOUCH, JANSEN.  Give those 2 runs back. 

OK, what the hell is wrong with me?  Am I overly concerned because I see so little different in this team's personnel from last year?  Should I calm down because it'll be a month until we can actually spend money?  If this was a random game in July, I wouldn't really care so...

The 9th comes, and Javy Guerra, a pitcher mentioned on this blog a year ago overdue to arrive in town, gets the save.  When the Dodge get 5 runs, it should be consider an offensive explosion.  (Unlike an "offensive explosion" that happens when Tommy visits the can)  So we waited all winter...it's just a matter of adjusting your priorities now that the season started.  Take it from Tommy, who left this nugget on Twitter while visiting Peoria a few weeks ago:

"If you think you can break the meatball record @grimaldispizza come join me."

Don't ever change, Pisan.