Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez Mickey Mouse ears disrespectful? Chat with Lasorda’s Lair with Scott Andes
By Mike Dyce
The Los Angeles Dodgers need a win tonight in Game 6 of the National Championship League Series to force a Game 7 or their season ends. They are currently trying to fight their way back in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals.
I had a brief chat with Scott Andes, Editor of Lasorda’s Lair the FanSided Dodgers website, and asked her some questions about the state of the Dodgers. Are the Mickey Mouse ears gesture disrespectful? Is Yasiel Puig bad for baseball? Are the Dodgers built for success beyond this season?
Here is his input.
What do you think about the back and forth between the Cardinals and the Dodgers? Is Adrian Gonzalez’s ‘Mickey Mouse’ gesture disrespectful or all in good fun?
Oh it’s absolutely all in good fun. People are suuuuuuuuch a stick in the mud. These people need to remove the obstructions from their rear ends, and lighten up a bit, Have some fun. Sometimes I think these people just hate to have fun. They don’t like seeing other people having fun because it makes them mad. They can’t enjoy life, so they feel like nobody else should. I didn’t say anything when Molina fist pumped on top of home plate for five minutes, or when Wacha fist pumped and shouted because he got a strikeout in the first inning. That’s Baseball. Guys are fired up, it’s the playoffs. These are high stakes. Everything is on the line. I like it when players show passion. Gonzo was just having fun. He’s been doing those arm bombs all season long. it’s just a way of firing up the crowd, and having fun. The Mickey Mouse ears were meant as a joke. He’s just having fun with Wainwright’s comment. He doesn’t mean any disrespect towards anyone. I’m sure if everyone would just lighten up a little, and remember that Baseball is supposed to be fun, then they would have a much better Baseball life.
Is Yasiel Puig bad for baseball?
Of course Yasiel Puig isn’t bad for Baseball. I get why he draws the ire of so many opposing fans and teams. He’s really good, and he BEATS YOUR TEAM. People hate losing, and especially hate losing to some brash young kid who bat flips and celebrates every moment on the diamond. The thing is, they secretly wish Puig was on their team. If he was, they would love him just as much as we do. The 22 year old outfielder drips with talent from every pore of his body. Im going to quote two famous Dodgers. Roy Campanella once said that you have to have a lot of little boy in you, to play Baseball. Puig has a lot of little boy in him, and he’s not afraid to show it. These passionate players like Puig make the game more exciting. I don’t want to watch a bunch of boring robots on the diamond. The late great Jose Lima was very similar. He was not afraid to celebrate Baseball and life on the mound. Every moment he danced. Every moment of life and Baseball should be celebrated. Maybe Limatime knew more than we thought he did?
Who do the Dodgers match up against better in a potential World Series pairing? Detroit Tigers or Boston Red Sox?
This is a good question, but I think they match-up better probably with the Tigers. The Dodgers payed the Red Sox back in August, and lost two of three at Dodger Stadium. The pitching staff had trouble keeping Boston’s deep and versatile lineup on check. But the Tigers also have a great righty heavy lineup, and they have Scherzer, and Verlander. But Detroit’s bullpen is considerably weaker than Boston’s is. I wouldn’t want to face either team, but if I had my choice it would probably be Detroit.
If the Dodgers don’t go to the World Series, is it a successful season?
I’m not so sure. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand the Dodgers have had a great season, getting to the doorstep of the World Series. This is the closest they have come since 1988, and it has been exciting, and we couldn’t be prouder of our boys in blue. But at the same time it would be terribly dissapointing to get to within a grasp of the WS and not get there. We want this more than you know. Dodger fans have suffered for long enough, and it;s time to bring the World Series back to Chavez Ravine where it rightfullly belongs. Another plus of the Dodgers making it to the World Series is the dissapointment and horror of Giant fans, who now are on the other side of the looking glass, having to watch the Dodgers possibly clinch a National League title. That would bring us more joy than you could ever imagine.
Are the Dodgers built for long-term success?
I think they are. Just in a different way than some teams. The Dodgers have built their success mostly on signing or trading for players who were left for dead by other teams. Couple of big trades, a piece here, another piece Macgyvered here, and a Puig here. Combine those new players with some of their home grown Dodger stalwarts like Clayton Kershaw, Andre Ethier, Kenley Jansen, and A.J. Ellis, and you have a very strong team that stands ready to be contend for years to come. Most of the Dodgers core players are young enough to start a dynasty of sorts. A Blue dynasty. Most are also under contract. The farm system has been somehwat depleted in recetn years, but the Dodgers still have a few top prospects in the pipeline ready to come up, like Joc Pederson, Onelki Garcia, and Zach Lee.
If the Dodgers don’t win the World Series, what offseason moves should they make?
If the Dodgers don’t win the World Series, I don’t think theyre going to make too many offseason moves. Most of the moves will involve re-signing their current players, and keeping everyone in place. The top priority will be to resign Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers need to just funnel his 250 million dollar contract directly into his bank account. That wonderful man is worth every cent. But I can see them trying to possibly improve the bench, maybe second base, and add another starter to the back end of the roation. Most of the guys should be back in 2014.
Remember, you can get more Dodgers news at Lasorda’s Lair.