Yesterday's pregame activities included a ceremony celebrating Rick Monday's fantastic save of an American flag on that date in 1976. Listen to Vin Scully talk about it here. You can also go here to check out a bunch of photos from the evening. Per Tracy Ringolsby at MLB.com:
"They were going to put the match to the flag, and it was soaked in lighter fluid," remember Monday. "My attitude was if they don't have it, they can't light it, so I scooped the flag up and kept running. I didn't know if it was on fire or not, but I did know one of the guys was not a [baseball prospect]. He threw the can of lighter fluid at me, but he didn't have a good enough arm to hit me."Featured above is a photo, via Bill Shaikin on twitter, of Monday and his wife Barbaralee with that flag.
The story about Rick Monday's deed is well known and roundly celebrated throughout the country - as it should be. What isn't well known, however, is the circumstances surrounding the two protestors who attempted to burn that flag. In fact, no one really knows much about them, but Vice reporter David Davis does his best to uncover the story. Unfortunately, we don't really know much more than what we already know (which isn't much):
With their disappearance, with their refusal to address the past, they leave behind questions that seem likely to remain unanswered: What pain and rage led them out on to the field that day, and what did it have to do with that mental institution in Missouri? Why burn an American flag as a method of protest, and why at Dodger Stadium? And, why did a father use his 11-year-old son as an accomplice? In the long silence that followed the moment, there are surely other questions—questions of regret, questions about what it has been like to live with this for 40 years.Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 2008 Vin Scully received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University. He would later give an stirring commencement speech to the graduating Class of Seaver College at Peppederine that you can watch a snippet of here. Also, during that evenings game in Colorado Brad Penny would hurl an 93-mph fastball that is missed by catcher Russell Martin and knocks out homeplate umpire Kerwin Danley. He would be stretchered off the field.
- Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Cuban star Yaisel Sierra headed for Rancho Cucamonga."
- Per Craig Edwards at FanGraphs, "Estimated TV Revenues for All 30 MLB Teams."
- ICYMI: Right-handed reliever Louis Coleman has been reinstated from the Bereavement List. Left-handed reliver Luis Avilan has been sent back to Triple-A.
- Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider on twitter, Dave Roberts indicated yesterday that we should expect Carl Crawford to be activated today.
- Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers injury roundup: Hyun-jin Ryu to throw bullpen session Tuesday."
- This stinks of blatant pandering. California Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) introduced a resolution yesterday to name a portion of the I-5 Freeway, between the 134 and 110 Freeways, after Vin Scully.
"Scully's voice has been a consistent bond to our local traditions over the past 58 years," said Gatto. "It is fitting and appropriate to name a stretch of the highway after this civic institution."
- Blowout Buzz shares some preview pics from Topps 2016 Five Star Baseball cards; including the Corey Seager card on the right. Go here to see more. This product hits stores in late September.
- Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "An upbeat Don Mattingly excited for challenges ahead with Marlins."
“I’m enjoying that part of it and that was the allure of Miami,” he said. “A lot of people might say that’s not a great situation, because of turnover in the manager’s office and things like that. But the allure was the teaching; it was the youth, it was being able to build and being a part of changing the culture and that whole thing. The challenges of that is what attracts you to the next situation.”
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