September 2nd, 2012 at 9:35 pm 
by Ron Cervenka I’m usually pretty good at predicting the outcome of the Dodger games, wins and losses, that is – especially once the 8th inning rolls around. After all, the Dodgers are 2 and 51 when trailing after 8 innings (according to Charlie Steiner). As such, I rarely stay until the final out if the Dodgers are trailing in the 8th, so as to get a jump on the heavy traffic out of Dodger Stadium (although I do listen to the remainder of the games on the radio – along with the post-game show). Granted, I’ve been wrong a few times this season (like twice), but most of the time I’m spot on (like 51 times, or however many of those 51 were home games – but it sure feels like 51).
With the Dodgers trailing the Diamondbacks 4-2 heading into the bottom of the 7th on Sunday afternoon, and because it was unbearably hot without so much as a whisper of a breeze, I was whooped. I packed my stuff (my binoculars, my baseball glove, and my newly purchased Dodgers souvenir soda cup, which I had to pay extra for so that I could keep refilling it with water) into my backpack and was about to leave.
“Ah, what the heck,” I said to myself. “I might as well at least stay for the bottom of the 7th.” So, I unpacked my binoculars and glove, only to watch Matt Treanor strike out on four pitches. “Yep, just as I thought,” and packed my stuff again. “Wait a second, A.J. Ellis is coming in to pinch hit for Shawn Tolleson. Ok, I’ll see how A.J. does and then I’ll leave,” so I unpacked my stuff again (less the cup).
Pow! A double into the left field corner by A.J. “Ok, let’s see if Mark Ellis can knock his namesake in, but after that, I’m leaving.”
Nope – Mark flies out to right – not even far enough to advance A.J. to third base. I pack my stuff again because there is no way that Shane Victorino is going to do anything – he hasn’t in a month.
Pow! Victorino hits a sharp single to center and with two outs, A.J. was going on contact… and he scores! “Ok, let’s see if A-Gon can do some magic.” I unpack my stuff.
Gonzalez hits a routine fly ball to right. “Yep, there it is, out number three.” I pack my stuff as the ball is in the air and start to get up to leave.
“Wait. Are you kidding me?” The ball drops untouched between Justin Upton and Chris Young for a sun double moving Victorino to third with Matt Kemp coming to the plate. I sit back down and unpack my stuff. “This is going to be good,” I tell myself.
Nope. Kemp grounds out softly to short. I pack my stuff and get ready to leave just as Matt Guerrier comes in to pitch.
“Ya know, aside from that one mistake pitch to Jason Kubel on Friday night, Guerrier pitched pretty good. Ah, heck, I might as well stay to see if he can get Kubel out this time – but I’m leaving after that.”
Yep. Guerrier retires the side in order, including getting Kubel to fly out to left.
“Ok, I might as well stay to see if the Dodgers can score in the bottom of the 8th, but that’s it – I’m leaving after that.” I unpack my stuff.
Nope. Ethier draws a one-out walk but is left stranded at first base. I pack my stuff and get up to leave.
“Ah, what the heck. Let’s see if Belisario can get Paul Goldschmidt (“the Dodger killer”) out in the top of the 9th – but that’s it… after that I’m leaving no matter what. In fact, I’m not even going to unpack my stuff because even if Goldie hits a home run to me, I’m not going to try to catch it.”
Yep. Belisario strikes out Goldschmidt. “Ok, let’s see if Belisario can get out of the inning, but that’s it – I’m leaving after that.”
Nope. Belisario strikes out Miguel Montero but gives up a two-out double to Chris Johnson. I stand up to leave, but just then my usher friend Patrick shows up.
“What do you think, can the Dodgers pull this one out? Patrick asks me.
“Well… the Dodgers are 2 and 51 when trailing after the 8th, and with that double, it ain’t looking too good.”
Woosh! Belisario strikes out John MacDonald looking. “I’ve been planning to leave for two innings now and don’t ask me why, but I’ve got a feeling that the Dodgers just might win this one,” I tell Patrick.
“You think so?” Patrick asks me.
“Ya. I mean why else am I staying when I would normally be gone by now,” I answered.
“I think Matt Kemp is going to be the hero,” Patrick says.
“Nah. It’ll be over one way or the other before Matt comes back up, he’s batting 5th this inning,” I tell Patrick
I unpack my stuff – I will go after a Dodger home run – especially a walk-off.
“What’s this? Bobby Abreu pinch hitting for Belisario? Uggh! Oh well, at least it’s not the Designated Out – Juan Uribe. At least Bobby will hit the ball.”
Nope. Abreu strikes out. I pack my stuff.
“Ah, I might as well stay to see if Mark Ellis can do anything – he’s usually pretty clutch,” I say to Patrick as I unpack my stuff.
Yep. Ellis singles to left bringing Victorino to the plate.
“You think Victorino will do anything?” Patrick asks me.
“Probably not, he hasn’t in a month. I just hope he strikes out and doesn’t hit into a double play.” I pack my stuff.
Nope. Victorino draws a huge walk. The winning run is now on first base with one out and here comes A-Gon, with Matt Kemp on deck. I unpack my stuff.
“It looks like Matt might come up after all,” Patrick says with his trademark smile (Patrick absolutely loves Matt Kemp).
“I don’t think so. I still think it’s going to be over one way or the other with Gonzalez. He’ll either hit a walk-off or he’ll hit into a double play. But you never know… with a little luck, maybe he’ll strike out and it’ll be up to Kemp,” I say to Patrick with a grin.
Nope. Adrian Gonzalez smokes a double into the right field corner. Mark Ellis scores easily from second. “Holy crap! Look at the Flyin’ Hawaiian! We’re gonna win! We’re gonna win!” I yell to Patrick.
Yep. We won.
“Holy crap! Look at the Flyin’ Hawaiian! We’re gonna win! We’re gonna win!” (Photo credit – Mark J. Terrill)
I packed my stuff, gave Patrick a high-5, walked to my car, and thoroughly enjoyed leaving Dodger Stadium in the heavy traffic.
By the way – Make that 3 and 51, Charlie.
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You know that every time they are losing in the 8th you have to stay now!
Your perseverance paid off, don’t stop believin’!!! I’ll never be able to figure out why Los Angelenos always come late and leave early…they miss a lot of good baseball (and some bad baseball) doing that.
And I hereby officially declare that Shane Victorino has my blessing to wear red sliding gloves (but must wear blue batting gloves)!
I certainly can’t speak for other Angelinos (although I have never considered myself an Angelino because I was born and raised in Burbank and have never lived in Los Angeles), but when I leave early, it is generally out of disgust – just as you (and others) turn the games off early out of disgust on your televisions and go to bed. In fact, there is absolutely no difference whatsoever, my friend.
Back in the days of Mike Marshall (the pitcher), Jeff Shaw, Todd Worrell, and especially during the days of Eric Gagne and Sammy Saito, I would always stay until the very last pitch (and I still do in close games) because the Dodgers used to excell in the ability to come from behind and win – something that today’s Dodgers know very little about (it goes back to that ‘heart’ and ‘The Dodger Way’ thing).
Also, as you well know, getting into and out of Dodger Stadium can be a nightmare. Not getting a five minute jump on traffic could very well cost you upwards of 30-45 minutes of sitting in bumper to bumper traffic.
“If you build it, they will come.” That is, if the Dodgers begin to show some heart again and give me good cause to stay until the final pitch, I will – just as you will continue to watch on TV until the final pitch.
As for arriving late – if I arrived any earlier than I do for every game (and I’m talking 3 hours early for every game), they would have to give me the keys to the place to open the doors for the employees and players. 😉
I’ve always been the opposite. I never leaver early. Never. In fact, I arrive early and leave late. I’ll be leaving here in 45 minutes to go to today’s game and I will proba ly stay until at least a half hour after the game. Instead if beating the traffic I wait it out. I explore the stadium (especially today because it’s my girlfriends first game. I’ll give here the grand tour), check out the team store or just sit and enjoy being in one of my favorite places in earth.
Up by 5 or down by 25…I’m staying until the grounds crew is involved.
I’ve been here for 15 minutes already. 🙂
Glad to hear it. I would be too if I had early entry.
You’re always welcome to join me for early entry, Garrett.
But, did you find a place to keep your stuff so you could go out and get more stuff? Sooner or later you won’t have any room for your stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac
I may take you up on that. Obviously going tomorrow but I plan on going to another game or two this season.
I’m glad you stayed for that one, it was the best come from behind victory all year. It had to be it was only the third trailing after 8 innings. I was screaming my head off at the computer when Gonzalez got that hit. I released a lot of frustration from watching this offense not perform the last few games. Let’s hope they turned the corner.
For the record, I have to see the first pitch and the last pitch of any Dodger game I watch whether it at the stadium or at home in the lazy boy. If by chance I’m in the office with the game on TV or on the internet at the start of a game I generally stay at the office until it’s over.
For the Love of the Game !!