Meet New Dodger Pitcher John Ely

Despite not knowing every Major League Baseball player, I have no problem pronouncing rookie John Ely: the nicest man in baseball.

I did a profile over at LAist. 

Published: 06/06.

Laughs For Bald Bryan

Laughs For Bald Bryan

Friday November 20, 2009

Featuring: Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Joel McHale, Dana Gould, Larry Miller, and The Dan Band

Wilshire Ebell Theatre | Neighborhood: Mid Wilshire | 4401 W 8th St | Los Angeles 90005 | (323) 939-0126

This is what I call a great great great cause.  Come support a great man with an inoperable brain tumor.  I had the chance to interview Carolla on this event over at LAist.

“I will not leave until everyone who wants a picture gets a picture, and everyone who wants an autograph gets an autograph, and everyone who wants a reach-around gets a reach-around,” Adam Carolla said.

Happy Birthday Matt Kemp!

One of the nice things about occasionally covering the Dodgers for LAist is the chance to listen to Boss Joe Torre dish in chunks larger the soundbyte.

He’s a man whose resume speaks for itself, earning every ear that surround his voice.  He respects us listeners with economical but poignant speech, never complicating matters.  Plus, he maintains an impressive sense of humor.

If the New Yorker offers a worn cliche, he both acknowledges it is just that, as well as its valuable truth.  But what I most take away from one of the smarter men in Major League Baseball, is that it’s a much simpler game than I know.

Easily my favorite turn of phrase from the skipper was on Matt Kemp, who turns 25 today.  Kemp’s had an All-Star caliber season, and he continues seeking the next level.  In Torre’s words, last week:

“He’s always messing up going forward.”

Happy Birthday Kempy!

Patton Oswalt Eats LAist

Proof here —

Patton: LAist. That’s a great website. When I read a restaurant review on LAist I’m like, “Okay, this person has actually been to that restaurant.” It’s like they found someplace great and want to tell you about it. They aren’t just spouting off some assignment piece.

More Dodger Coverage

I was on the Dodger beat last week for LAist —

Thursday: Dodgers Beat Diamondbacks

Recap: The New Kids Are Alright, Dodgers Rope Snakes

Saturday: Dodgers Beat Padres

Preview: Dodgers Seek Offense, Any Will Do

Recap: Dodgers Find Offense And Wolf’s 100th Career Win

Recession Obsession: Not-So-Buried Treasures Map

Recession Obsession is my weekly column dedicated to LA’s most interesting and awesome, inexpensive food.

This week’s is a map of each of them.

Manny Being Manny

Last Saturday I covered the Los Angeles Dodgers (aka Los Doyers) for LAist.  The most intriguing part of the day was Manny Ramirez.

Few players are the topic of such headline variety: The Big $$$ Contract, The Hair, The Steroids… Allegedly, The Homeruns, The Boston Years — The Manny Being Manny. He’s sometimes talked about as a teammate who finds ways to make his teammates better.  I wanted to see for myself.

In the case of Dodgers left fielder, Andre Ethier, Ramirez is often the game’s next batter.  With The Dreadlocked Slugger looming on deck, opposing pitchers — fearing the future Hall-of-Famer next up — often throw meaty balls at ‘Dre.  Saturday I observed Ramirez making every teammate he came into contact better.  That was three hours prior to the game’s first pitch.

In the clubhouse, he smiled a lot, joked around in two languages, and looked every bit a man grateful earning an inordinate sum to play a kid’s game.  He sported an infectious sense of ease and comfort which must not come to many performers of such a stage (the night’s live audience was 53,000, plus television, etc.)

His loose-as-can-be presence melted tension off of his teammates’ shoulders.  Their mugs soon sported similar laughs and smiles. The winning attitudes of these men seemed secured for the day.

In extra innings, the Dodgers narrowly lost.  Throughout the game, like before it, Manny was being Manny.  And if you’re a Dodger, or a Dodgers fan, that’s pretty great.