We break into your normal programming to bring you this breaking news:

Hard working TrueBlueLA and SBNation Los Angeles Editor Eric Stephen is going to Arizona this spring and he could use new clothes to rep TrueBlueLa in style.

We are over 5,000 members strong and before you spend that tax rebate money on clothes for your kids, food for your family, or food banks, we need you to consider spending some money on yourself. And by yourself I mean Eric. It has been a dry winter, but you all remember how Eric does the pregame show, in - game moderation, post game shows. How he leaves his home every weekend to cover the Dodgers and get the best quotes and in house information. You all remember that, but this year we need to get him to Camelback to cover the team like it has never been covered before.

This is not your normal telethon, we have some of the greatest TBLA characters on the phones right now to take your donations.

So call 1-888-TRUEBLA and make a donation after talking to the commentator of your choice:

The Midnight to Eight AM Shift has some of our best talent:

Gary - as Gary has humbly told us he can tell if someone is a prospect or not simply by watching how they wash their hands. He'll be heading to Camelback himself this spring, ask him which prospect you want him to keep an eye on in the restroom and for the right price, he'll report back to you personally. He has other talents, if you want Gary to put a fastball into someones earhole he's also the man for that. Also can help in the marketing world. Don't ask him about him doing dishes after a layover.

BHSportsGuy - you need a recipe, he's your man. Be prepared have your tomato paste on hand.

Hollywood Joe - the most interesting man on TrueBlueLA can give you an adventure no matter the subject. Surfing, Woman, Food, Wine, Outsourcing. He's your man

Humma - You want him to make fun of himself or give you a clever limerick? He's multi faceted and and will deliver the goods while drinking gin in one hand and handling/manipulating the speaker phone with the other hand. And by speaker phone I don't mean speaker phone.

NoLander - has an opinion about everything, even sports he does not like or pay attention too. He can help with any gadget questions provided it was not created by Apple.

Silverwidow - you want an overhyped prospect in any sport that will become yesterdays news before yesterday comes. He's your man.

Michael White - will answer any Clipper or basketball question, or for the whack jobs, he will answer questions about the WAC

Brandon - you'd think he'd answer any prospect questions but he asked if we could set it up so he does not have to answer any questions. After ranking 200 players he is soooooooo tired of Dodger prospects, so instead ask about exciting audit stuff, you know the stuff gives auditors the woody's they are world renowned for.

Continue reading this post »

Even though it is opening night of the NBA season, we've got our own action going on in the TBLA #1 prospect vote off.  Since the comments in that thread are dedicated only to voting, use this thread to discuss the voting and anything else you'd like. 

#1 Prospect Vote-off

Original #1 Prospect Voting Thread

Last night's "Joe Torre Safe At Home" benefit, featuring Sandy Koufax and Joe Torre, was a special event that I won't soon forget.  I never had the pleasure to watch Sandy Koufax pitch; I was born 10 years after he retired.  I knew of him, of course.  Brought up as a Dodger fan, I was indoctrinated early and often about the legend of Koufax.  Everybody that I know who watched him pitch has always been reverential toward the Dodger legend.  Part of the mystique surrounding Koufax is that he has been a relatively private man for most of the 44 years since he last pitched.  Saturday night offered a unique glimpse into the man, the myth, the legend.

The event was hosted by L.A. Times columnist T.J. Simers, who at times seemed like the only person in the room who didn't appreciate the specialness of the night.  Simers, who spent most of the night addressing the headliners by only their last name, deserves a ton of credit for helping create this event, much as he did with last year's Vin Scully and John Wooden event.  However, the curmudgeon shtick is tired enough on Page 2, and it was downright painful at times to watch in person.  Whether his nerves settled down or what, Simers did improve as the night wore on, as he rightfully took a back seat to Koufax and Torre, and Simers was able to elicit some enlightening answers from his guests.

What stood out to me was the rapport between Koufax and Torre, and Koufax's sense of humor.  My favorite Koufax story of the night was when he and Torre were discussing Koufax's troubles pitching to Henry Aaron.  Koufax had trouble retiring the home run king with his fastball and curve, so he decided to try a change.  After Aaron was retired on a blistering grounder off of Tommie Davis' chest at third base, Davis walked to the mound to hand the ball to Koufax, wheezing and pleading for Koufax to never throw that pitch again.

In a taped piece, Vin Scully, as only he can, likened Koufax walking to the bullpen "a maestro ascending the podium to conduct his symphony."  Scully also recalled how nervous he was in calling Koufax's perfect game. I got a little choked up watching listening to this quote from Scully, alternating my gaze from the video screen to Koufax on stage, as he was clearly moved:

Sandy had a way of lifting his teammates, inspiring the fans, and I think, once in a blue moon, even inspiring a broadcaster.  On that particular night, it was so dramatic, a perfect game.  Yeah, it inspired me.

Koufax recounted how he almost quit after the 1960 season, going so far as to throw his equipment away.  However, he did return in 1961, a decision for which Dodger fans owe him a debt of gratitude.  Koufax recalled advice given to him that spring by catcher Norm Sherry, who told the southpaw not to throw as hard. I'm sure Dodger fans hope a current young lefty will similarly benefit from some sage advice.  In this case, Clayton Kershaw was brought to the stage as Koufax showed Kershaw how he threw a curve.  Two very notable moments from this exchange were:

• Koufax's hands dwarf those of Kershaw (Kershaw called them the biggest hands he has ever seen)
• Koufax gripped the ball so that he wouldn't push on the back of the ball with his thumb, which he said just got in the way (not that I've ever been able to throw a non-Wiffle curve, but I always thought the thumb played a more prominent role)
  

Kershaw and Koufax became fast friends, talking pitching the whole way back to Arizona, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.  Hey, a kid could have worse tutors.

A few more highlights, from Koufax:

To me, competing is being the last man standing.  It had nothing to do kicking water coolers; that's ego massage.

On whether or not he would try steroids or HGH:

I don't know, it wasn't available.  I took whatever the doctors told me.  When what I was kind of living on they stopped giving to horses i thought 'Wait a minute, I'm not sure this is a good situation,  They banned it for horses and they're still giving it to me, I don't know about this.'"

On his relationship with Don Drysdale:

We were friends.  I think our relationship was good.  I think we drove each other.  If Don was going to do something, I had to do it also.  I think we made each other better, as a friendly competition.  Most teams would like to have two guys who are pitching that well.

On his six-year broadcasting career (he worked for NBC on their "Game of the Week" telecasts from 1967-1972):

I absolutely hated it...I worked every Saturday, and prayed for rain every Friday night.

There were a few other touching tributes throughout the night, one for former Dodger owner Peter O'Malley (who got one of the loudest ovations of the night), one for unsung 1965 World Series hero Sweet Lou Johnson, and another for Ann Meyers-Drysdale, the widow of the late former Dodger pitcher.  On an emotional night -- and rightfully so, as over $700,000 was raised to raise awareness of domestic abuse -- I thought it fitting that even Koufax, who earlier in the evening joked that there was no crying in baseball, fought back tears as Torre recounted their friendship.

Koufax said multiple times Saturday night that "a quality start is shaking hands with the catcher," and he delivered again with yet another complete performance in a wonderful night of remembrance for Dodger fans.

The Dodgers annual Community Caravan is next week, and there are a lot of chances to get up close and personal with some of your favorite Dodger stars, past and present.  Monday is closed to the public, but the next two days have a ton of events that are open to the public:

Tuesday, February 2

Dodgers on hand: Andre Ethier, Hiroki Kuroda, Ken Landreaux, Rudy Law, Bobby Castillo, Tommy Davis, and broadcaster Eric Collins

• 1:45 - 2:45pm: Trader Joe's, 467 N. Rosemead Blvd, Pasadena (no autographs)
• 3:15 - 4:15pm: Dreamfield Dedication, LA Boys & Girls Club,  2635 Pasadena Ave., Los Angeles (dedication open to public, no autographs)
  
• 5:00 - 6:30pm: ESPNZone at LA Live, 1011 S. Figueroa (across from Staples Center):

ESPNZone
Dodger players and legends will be on hand for an autograph session. Autographs are available to the first 150 fans in two lines. The first 80 fans in line will also get the chance to have priority seating for dinner in the screening room where the autograph signing will be held. Guests will be seated in groups of four. Diners must spend $20 each on food and beverages, will receive a $25 game card and be the first to get autographs at 5 p.m. KABC 790 AM will be on hand.

• 7pm: Andre Ethier drops the ceremonial first puck at the Kings game against the Rangers

Wednesday, February 3

Dodgers on hand: Matt Kemp, James McDonald, Ramon Troncoso, Fernando Valenzuela, and broadcasters Jaime Jarrin, Pepe Yniguez, and Charley Steiner

• 12:30 - 2:00pm: Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles, 5006 West Pico Blvd. (near La Brea), Los Angeles (no autographs)
• 3:00 - 4:15: Best Buy,  6000 Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 1240 , Culver City (fans can play video games against the Dodgers and get autographs as well
• 5:00 - 6:15pm: Dodger Rally at Olvera Street,  East Cesar Chavez Ave. and Olvera St. , Los Angeles:

Dodger Rally
Dodger players and legends will be on hand for an autograph session. Fans will be asked to join two autograph lines and the first 150 fans in each line will get an autograph. KHJ La Ranchera 930 AM will be on site.

Also from the Dodgers:

The Dodgers will also hand out a limited number of promotional items and ticket vouchers to fans in attendance at Trader Joe’s, the Dodgers Dreamfield dedication ceremony at the Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, ESPN Zone at L.A. LIVE, Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles, Best Buy at the Westfield Culver City Mall and Olvera Street.

For more information, go to Dodgers.com/community.

**********

I got a few more packs of 2010 Topps Series I baseball cards, and posted the Dodger-related cards here, if you are interested.

If you are like me you have spent the last week listening to Holiday Music and several of those songs just won't give you any peace.  Right now my nervous brain system is being bombarded with "gone away is the bluebird" from Winter Wonderland.  For some background on Holiday music check out Joe Posnanski's discussion about Holiday Music.  To counter the music in my head I've decided to write my own little parody of Winter Wonderland and it blows.

I suspect we have some talented lyricists among our readers, so I'm tasking you with coming up with the best parody of a Holiday song that has something about the Dodgers replacing key parts of the song.  Your prize will be the adoration of the TBLA nation and dinner with Weird Al Yankovic. Hopefully no one will be offended by this, if you are just remember I'm talking about "Holiday Music" not Religious Music.

To help you get started here is a  link to many Holiday song lyics.

Surely you can beat this:

Dodger bells ring
are you listening 
at the Ravine
tears are glistening 
A beautiful sight
were happy tonight
walking in a Dodger wonderland

Gone away are the blue men
here to stay are some new men
We miss the old team
as we go along
walking in a Dodger wonderland

On the field we can bulid a new team
For the Holidays, we will sign a halladay
You'll say, can we afford him
we'll say: No man, but we can defer him
when he's in town
he can do the job

Later on
we'll conspire
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
the plans that we've made
walking in a Dodger wonderland

In the press box, we can dream of a new team
built with gold, We'll have lots of fun
even if we have to use the Fuller man's trust fund
we will find a way to get it done

When it snows
ain't it thrilling
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play
the Lasorda way
walking in a Dodger wonderland
Walking in a Dodger wonderland
walking in a Dodger wonderland

via www.orlandoweekly.com

One year ago yesterday TBLA hit the big time when Eric Stephen penned his first TBLA column showing off his affinity for mixing music and baseball to make his points.  Things haven't been the same at TBLA since Eric took over TBLA and as an editor and fan I just want to thank him for all his hard work, good humor, and patience.

I've made alot of bad decisions in my lifetime but this time I got it right. Usually hindsight is used to show when someone made the wrong call but when SB Nation told me that TBLA needed some new blood I never thought of anyone else, and for once I hit it out of the park.   Luckily for all of us, Eric didn't hesitate to say yes and quickly established that he could bring his humor and knowledge on a daily basis.  Hard for me to describe how lucky I feel to work with him, we agree on many things in the Dodger world, and in the bigger world but when we have disagreed it has always been with respect that we sort things out.

Congratulations on one year Eric, won't be long before Stephen Colbert is including you when he does his "better know a Stephen" segment.

via www.hauntedshop.co.uk

Don't miss seeing Eric Stephen squirm while USC is pummelled by Cal, Jacob saying something clever, Paul Scott saying something to irritate me, Rolex saying something to irritate Eric, Tripon explaining why he doesn't give his friends free donuts, Craig intelligently defending someones attack on Ned, Marty on why he hasn't given Jon the tech support he needs at the Tribune, El Lay Dave on what it was like to see Elvis back in the 50's, MWhite on why the Clippers are more fun to watch then the World Champion  Lakers , CeaserBook complaining when some neer do well sits next to him that should be sitting 20 rows above us, Delias hating on anyone with HAM in their name, the quiet Roy Kim, Lidlbit and her new husband, my wife and her old husband, and of course the prizes. Yearbooks, DVD's, T-Shirts. Plus it is Star Wars Night so Yodabrthr should be right at home.

Five Tickets Left