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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Dodgers: Ellis, Mattingly blame ballpark for struggling L.A. offense

Rich McKinney smirks, shakes seedy hair…and, from what he remembers, agrees.

The Los Angeles Dodgers no longer have the best record in baseball, and they have the Oakland A’s to blame.

...Mattingly used the pitcher’s haven known as the O.co Coliseum as a possible explanation for his struggling offense. Mark Ellis, who played in Oakland from 2002 until June 30, 2011, backed up his manager that the park is a factor.

“For guys that have never played here before, it can be a little bit of a different place to play with the ballpark and the weather,” Ellis said. “It’s just something you have to get adjusted to.”

Ellis said there was nothing he could do to help his teammates understand how to deal with the extensive foul ground and unpredictable weather in Oakland. Instead, it’s just a matter of experience, Ellis said.

“It’ll be 80 degrees in batting practice, then you go out and play and it’s 55 degrees at night,” he said.

Repoz Posted: June 21, 2012 at 06:41 AM | 31 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: dodgers

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1. Bhaakon Posted: June 21, 2012 at 07:16 AM (#4162546)

They play in San Francisco nine times a year; you think the weather there is better?

2. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 21, 2012 at 07:18 AM (#4162547)

That is an incredibly weak excuse. I know it's embarrassing losing to the A's, but they actually are playing well right now and you just got beat. Own your failure!

3. GEB4000 Posted: June 21, 2012 at 07:20 AM (#4162549)

Wow it cools down at night just like San Francisco except it's still warmer.

4. Lassus Posted: June 21, 2012 at 07:28 AM (#4162555)

boofuckinghoo

5. Bhaakon Posted: June 21, 2012 at 07:48 AM (#4162561)

boofuckinghoo

I don't see how frightening and molesting an owl will solve the Dodgers' hitting problems.

6. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 21, 2012 at 08:08 AM (#4162567)

I don't see how frightening and molesting an owl will solve the Dodgers' hitting problems.

I'd make a Watchmen joke here but that will just bring out the nerds in ####### droves!

7. Dave Spiwak Posted: June 21, 2012 at 12:20 PM (#4162767)

When two teams play in Oakland, they both have to hit and pitch in the same ballpark, right? Just checking because I didn't see the game in question.

8. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: June 21, 2012 at 12:36 PM (#4162780)

When two teams play in Oakland, they both have to hit and pitch in the same ballpark, right?

If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one there to hear it - does it make a sound?

9. Tripon Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:06 PM (#4162796)

Not to mention that the Dodgers play in DODGERS STADIUM. A ####### PITCHERS PARK.

10. gef the talking mongoose Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:09 PM (#4162800)

If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one there to hear it - does it make a sound?

What if Hillerich & Bradsby make a bat out of it?

11. Dave Spiwak Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:09 PM (#4162801)

O.co has one of my favorite promotions ... $3 outfield tix for Tuesday games, plus free parking. Even after handling fees, that's still less than $20 out the door cost for your family of four to see a game. And parking is a breeze getting in and out of the stadium (mostly because there's hardly ever anyone there).

12. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:13 PM (#4162805)

Not to mention that the Dodgers play in DODGERS STADIUM. A ####### PITCHERS PARK.

What's the latest on Dodger Stadium's park effects? It was during the analysis of the Derek Lowe signing that it emerged, IIRC, DS was: average to slightly above-avg for HRs, but killed doubles and (especially) triples. These still hold true?

13. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:17 PM (#4162810)

O.co Coliseum

Admittedly I've stopped paying attention to a lot of ballpark names but...is this really the name of a ballpark? What in God's name is O.co? Should that be O.com and it's just a misprint? There is no way, none at all, that I'll ever believe that companies are getting any decent ROI on putting their name on a ballpark.

14. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:21 PM (#4162811)

I have no idea what "O.Co" is. Maybe the sponsorship lapsed and it's an abbreviation for Oakland Coliseum.

15. BDC

Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:21 PM (#4162813)

O.co just leads me to think that Oprah has the naming rights now. So she's getting some brand exposure, at least.

16. JJ1986 Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:21 PM (#4162815)

Overstock.com. They've rebranded.

17. SoSH U at work Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:35 PM (#4162825)

Admittedly I've stopped paying attention to a lot of ballpark names but...is this really the name of a ballpark?

There's no requirement that any of use these nonsensical ballpark names.

18. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:45 PM (#4162839)

I saw Mark Ellis in SF's Powell Street BART station this morning.
In person, he looks exactly like Mark Ellis. Except he was wearing a very nice suit, instead of a baseball uniform.

19. BDC

Posted: June 21, 2012 at 01:58 PM (#4162855)

There's no requirement that any of use these nonsensical ballpark names

The PGA Tour faces the same problem. Often there's an old name ("Texas Open") or that of the course ("Colonial") to fall back on so that you don't actually have to refer to that weekend's tournament as the "Waste Management Phoenix Open."

20. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: June 21, 2012 at 02:01 PM (#4162857)

It's an idiotic marketing ploy by Overstock.com, by the way.

21. SoSH U at work Posted: June 21, 2012 at 02:03 PM (#4162859)

The PGA Tour faces the same problem. Often there's an old name ("Texas Open") or that of the course ("Colonial") to fall back on so that you don't actually have to refer to that weekend's tournament as the "Waste Management Phoenix Open."

And I've long proposed a BTF project to rename (or at least affirm the existing name of) every big league ballpark. That way we could prevent such crimes against nature as O.co. Coliseum from ever darkening our doorstop again.

Sadly, I seem to be the only one interested in such a mission.

22. gef the talking mongoose Posted: June 21, 2012 at 02:05 PM (#4162862)

Well, in such an endeavor I presume there could be only one "Sucking Pit of Hell Park," which could be a problem.

23. jack the seal clubber (on the sidelines of life) Posted: June 21, 2012 at 02:33 PM (#4162882)

The PGA Tour faces the same problem. Often there's an old name ("Texas Open") or that of the course ("Colonial") to fall back on so that you don't actually have to refer to that weekend's tournament as the "Waste Management Phoenix Open

All of this pales before the college football bowls..they force the announcers to repeat the sponsor's name every time they refer to the game, so you, the viewer, will never forget you are watching the "Summer's Eve Feminine Cleanliness Holiday Bowl".

24. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 21, 2012 at 08:59 PM (#4163100)

I guess they can't hit during the day, either.

25. Walt Davis Posted: June 22, 2012 at 03:11 AM (#4163380)

When two teams play in Oakland, they both have to hit and pitch in the same ballpark, right?

If you can call what the A's do "hitting".

(a day late, so sue me.)

26. Everybody Loves Tyrus Raymond Posted: June 22, 2012 at 03:30 AM (#4163382)

Why do the Dodgers insist on running James Loney out there day after day, year after year? He's swinging a rolled up copy of Baseball America that the dog peed on.

27. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: June 22, 2012 at 07:56 AM (#4163425)

boofuckinghoo

I don't see how frightening and molesting an owl will solve the Dodgers' hitting problems.

But at least we can finally learn how many licks does it take.

28. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 22, 2012 at 08:06 AM (#4163427)

If you can call what the A's do "hitting".

Cubs fans don't get to make fun of the A's!

29. Danny Posted: June 22, 2012 at 09:52 AM (#4163513)

If you can call what the A's do "hitting".

Why this month is different from all other months.

30. stanmvp48 Posted: June 22, 2012 at 10:11 AM (#4163543)

"Why do the Dodgers insist on running James Loney out there day after day, year after year? He's swinging a rolled up copy of Baseball America that the dog peed on."

Every time Loney comes to the plate I think of a 36 year old former Dodger with over 400 career homers.

31. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: June 22, 2012 at 10:20 AM (#4163554)

Why this month is different from all other months.

With Moss, Cespedes being back, Derek Norris getting called up...there is actually a little hope for this team. Weird!

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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Dodgers: Ellis, Mattingly blame ballpark for struggling L.A. offense

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