Author: Andy Lane Chapman

Position: Columnist Bats: Right Throws: Right Height:5'4" Weight: 140 lb. Born: August 30, 1976 Ft Huachucha AZ High School: Honesdale High School (Honesdale PA) College:York College (York PA) Dodgers Fan Since: 1976 Favorite Dodgers Players: Steve Sax, Brett Butler, Clayton Kershaw Favorite Band: Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church About: Wedding flower designer, knitter, avid reader and addicted to Twitter. Lover of wine, dance parties in my kitchen, and useless information. Married to a Mets fan, Mom to 2 boys and a golden retriever.

(I’ve Got A) Dyslexic Heart

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“Do I read you correctly, lead me directly
Help me with this part
Do I hate you? Do I date you?
Do I got a dyslexic Heart?”

~Paul Westerburg

Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers Chris Taylor during game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, July 15, 2016 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo by Jon SooHoo/©Los Angeles Dodgers,LLC 2016

It’s only been three games since the second half of the season started, and we seemed to have run the gamut in terms of performances by our beloved Dodgers. A game where the offense explodes, lead by Chris Taylor. A game where the offense does nothing, yet is in the game the whole time thanks to stellar pitching, only to lose in extras. And a game were the pitching is not good, and the offense is not good, until the very end, when it is too little to late.

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Uh Oh, It’s Magic

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“Summer, it turns me upside down
Summer, summer, summer
It’s like a merry go round”

~The Cars

Los Angeles Dodgers against the Washington Nationals
Los Angeles Dodgers against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 22,2016 at Dodger Stadium. Photo by Jon SooHoo/©Los Angeles Dodgers,LLC 2016

After four torturous days without Dodgers baseball, it is here — the first day of the second half. The first half felt long and tenuous at times, so I thought I’d take a quick look back at what I think are the Top Five highlights.

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Halfway Gone

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“Talk, talk is cheap
Give me a word you can keep
Cause you’re halfway gone and I’m on my way
And I’m feelin, feelin feelin this way”

~Lifehouse

LOS ANGELES DODGERS V SAN DIEGO PADRES
Manager Dave Roberts congratulates Howie Kendrick after the game. Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers

This is only my first season writing about the Dodgers, and so far it has given me plenty of fodder. Between the injuries, and the losing streaks, and the injuries, and the Giants, and the injuries… it’s been quite the first half. It started off on such an amazing high, a 15-0 rout of the San Diego Padres. And then…There have been many, many references on my part to this team is the reason I drink. There has been quite the lively discussions among fans about everything from the rookie skipper Dave Roberts to the bullpen usage and everything in between. But more than anything, it has been defined by all the injuries.

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Hit Me with Your Best Shot

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Baltimore Orioles vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Corey Seager–Los Angeles Dodgers during game against the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jon SooHoo/©Los Angeles Dodgers,LLC 2016

“Well you’re a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me
That’s okay, let’s see how you do it
Put up you dukes, let’s get down to it”

~Pat Benatar

Here we are, coming up on another “Midsummer Classic.” And, as a side show to the All-Star game, the Home Run Derby. This will be the third straight year that the Dodgers have had a participant. In 2014, Yasiel Puig did not hit a single home run. In 2015, Joc Pederson made it all the way to the finals before losing by one to winner Todd Frazier, then with the Cincinnati Reds. This year, the Dodgers’ participant is rookie extraordinaire Corey Seager. Seager is the seventh rookie to appear in the Derby, as well as the eighth Dodger player.

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4th of July 

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LOS ANGELES DODGERS V COLORADO ROCKIES
Newley reinstated pitcher Brandon McCarthy throws on the mound today against the Colorado Rockies. Jill Weisleder/Dodgers

“You were pretty as can be, sitting in the front seat
Looking at me, telling me you love me
And your happy to be with me on the 4th of July”

~Shooter Jennings 

It’s been four days since the news came that Clayton Kershaw would be put on the disabled list for his back. I’m definitely feeling better now than I did then. In those four days, all the Dodgers have done is win every game, allowing only one run from opposing teams, welcomed back a long lost starter, and gained a game on San Francisco Giants in the standings.

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If I Should Fall Behind

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“And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin’ I’ll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me”

~Bruce Springsteen

105

The other day, when the news came down about Clayton Kershaw having back spasms and maybe facing a DL stint, I facetiously tweeted “RIP Dodgers season.” Now that’s not fair, or entirely true, that one player can make or break a season, being on (what is hopefully) a short stay on the disabled list. But if there’s any player that that sentiment would apply to, it would be Kershaw.

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(Put Me Out of My) Misery

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“Frustrated, Incorporated (put me out of my misery)
Frustrated, Incorporated (I’d do it for you, would you do it for me)
Frustrated, Incorporated (forever after happily)
Frustrated, Incorporated (making misery)”

~Soul Asylum

Los Angeles Dodgers against the Washington Nationals
Los Angeles Dodgers against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 22,2016 at Dodger Stadium. Photo by Jon SooHoo/©Los Angeles Dodgers,LLC 2016

Well Dodger fans, I’m finally starting to crack. I try to be optimistic as much as possible, and then games like yesterday happen. What is it about Clayton Kershaw that makes it hurt so much more? He is the one that the team turns to, to put them on his back, to make a losing streak stop, to get a win when they most need it. Sunday’s game was uncharacteristically not that. Four runs in one inning was the undoing of the Kershaw, and the Dodgers. Of course, Clayton is human. Anyone can have a bad day. Maybe it was the five days rest. We all know how regimented he is. Maybe it was Yasmani Grandal. Maybe, it was absolutely nothing at all and these things just happens.

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Roller Coaster (of Love)  

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Los Angeles Dodgers against the Washington Nationals
Los Angeles Dodgers against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 22,2016 at Dodger Stadium. Photo by Jon SooHoo/©Los Angeles Dodgers,LLC 2016

“Oh, yeah, it’s rollercoaster time
Lovin’ you is really wild
Oh, it?s just a love rollercoaster
Step right up and get your tickets!”

~Red Hot Chili Peppers

Sometimes, I suppose, it’s easy for us to forget how lucky we are. We get bogged down in the day to day minutia and only focus on the bad things happening to us. This happens with sports fandom also. It’s so easy to focus on all the things that are going wrong with your team, that you don’t see all the amazing things that are happening in front of you.

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Hot Hot Hot

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“Hey hey hey
Yes I’m jumping like a jumping jack
I’m dancing, screaming, itching, squealing, fever feeling
Hot hot hot”

~The Cure

LOS ANGELES DODGERS V MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Kike Hernandez waits to be interviewed after the Dodgers win. Jill Weisleder/Dodgers

The weather is heating up. Even here in PA, it’s going to be in the 90’s today. And the Dodgers might finally be putting together a hot streak of their own. Series wins versus Arizona and Milwaukee have the Dodgers starting to look pretty good. If only those stupid Giants would stop winning.

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Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

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venable

“Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment’s pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?”

~Carole King

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they had signed veteran outfielder Will Venable. I don’t know much about him other than he played for the San Diego Padres, so I decided to look into the newest Dodger player.

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