An Open Plea To Frank McCourt

So I dressed up the family in Dodger Blue on Tuesday and drove down to the Orange Curtain to watch us get a disappointing beating at the hand of Los Angeles Angels of  Anaheim last night. As a Dodger mini-plan holder I can take a loss but there was something I couldn't take.

Now I hate the Angel's as much as the next guy but there is something they have that the Dodgers
just can't get their minds around... Showmanship, Razzle-Dazzle and Jibba-Jabba. The organization had these fans riled up and guess what happened? Clayton Kershaw got jacked by the 10th man, the fans.

So let's take a look at what we could be doing differently.

First and foremost here is a price breakdown for the Bleeder Seats:

Beer at $4.5, $6 and $12 as opposed to $6, $8 and $13
Parking $8 vs. $15 (and I got out in under a half hour)
Large variety of dogs, food and lots of concessions options.. even in the cheap seats.
Bleeders Ticket Prices Dodgers got them  beat $12 vs $20 (but comes out nearly even when you include parking)

In Anaheim, the ushers and concessioneers are all top rate and great with the fans. My straw hatted usher was very polite in suggesting (only half joking)  that I visit the souvenir shop for some new red duds. It was obvious that even the lowest Pepsi-Jockey had a true love of their gig and their team. While the staff at Dodger stadium is completely adequate, there is an LAPD vibe to them. Most seem disinterested and definitely overworked. The long concession lines prove that. In Anaheim, I waltzed through the concessions, even on a mostly sold out game. They had things moving.

Dear God, the FOOD.. a footlong smoked sausage in freshly grilled sauerkraut and peppers for $9. Now food may not seem like a big deal but having a Dodger Dog is not an "event." I can do it at home and I feel taken advantage having to pay $6 for one. The $9 sausage was awesome and I had NO problem paying for that. It was a delicious fiesta of pork (and god knows what else) I can't get anywhere else. When I feel screwed I don't feel like cheering. When I pay $15 for parking, I don't feel like cheering for a limp $6 weiner.  If I suddenly got a tickling in the tummy for some other snack.. BOOM! There was a vendor in the stands ready to help me out. Now I know the fancy folks downstairs pay all that money and should get some extras but it is us folks in the bleeds turn the game around.

Alright, so I got my snacks. The Angels are pumping edgy high energy (read: Not Motown and the Beach Boys) music onto the field and through out the game. Then that stupid monkey comes out and jacks up the fans. We don't even have a mascot. We do have a weird 8th inning stretch where "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey (A SAN FRANCISCO BAND! .. does nobody have The Doors, Chilli Peppers or Guns and Roses on their I-pod) that plays regardless of whether we are losing or winning.  While the fan cam does get some amusing shots of the fans karoaking their hearts out.. mostly it is just uncomfortable and confusing. Sure, "Iron Man" is nice when Broxton comes out but we have already won by then. I like the new Lakers and L.A. gang clapping video but, again, there no specific reason for it. There is no drama built, there is no jumbotron leadership, it's just a big Simon Says game.

So hire someone (even me) to make going to the game an event again. I bet Alyssa Milano would do a bang up job in creating some event like atmosphere for the Dodgers. We live in Hollywood, you must know someone who can keep it fun again.

Trust me, you live in L.A. stop acting like an East Coast carpetbagger. Use some of your income tax refund to spice things up.

Trust me, you give us something to cheer about even when we're losing, we will reward you and pull the team up when they need it.

Oh, and retire #34.

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