The last thing I want to do is distract from the postseason, but there is a bit of news that could potentially be explosive, and it appears to involve the Dodger organization. It's a developing story about a whistle-blower, the FBI and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Cuban ballplayers and potentially organized crime. Per
Jon Wertheim at Sports Illustrated:
The dossier given to the FBI suggests the extent to which some MLB personnel are aware of—and brazenly discuss—this unscrupulous culture and the potential for corruption. While both the league office and other teams are mentioned in the files obtained by SI, the Los Angeles Dodgers, a franchise with extensive scouting and development operations in the Caribbean, figure most prominently in the dossier:
— One particularly remarkable document shows that Dodgers executives in 2015 went so far as to develop a database that measured the perceived “level of egregious behavior” displayed by 15 of their own employees in Latin America. That is, using a scale of 1 to 5—“innocent bystander” to “criminal”—front-office executives assessed their own staff’s level of corruption. Five employees garnered a “criminal” rating.
Whoa! Remember, former Braves GM John Coppolella
was banned from the game last year due to nefarious dealings related to international signings. Now, it appears, folks could go to jail.
Featured above is a 1916 International Film Service press photo of former Dodger outfielder Hi Myers (
eBay Link). It has nothing to do with the above story. Rather, I just happen to love those checkerboard styled Dodger uni's. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 Yankees hurler Bill Bevins was one out from no-hitting the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series before yielding a walk-off two-run double to pinch-hitter Cookie Lavagetto, 3-2. In 1951 Bobby Thompson of the NY Giants hit the most infamous home run in Dodgers/Baseball history. He walloped a Ralph Branca pitch in the ninth inning at the Polo Grounds for a walk-off victory, 5-4, during the deciding game of a three-game series to decide who would go to the World Series. The homer has since been dubbed the "shot heard ’round the world." You can watch it here, if you must. In 2005 manager Jim Tracy is fired by the Dodgers.
- Happy Birthday, Henry Thielman, Phil Reardon, Chris Haughey, Darrin Fletcher& Brock Stewart!
BTW, tickets for this entire series (as well as the NLCS, should the Dodgers advance) at Dodger Stadium is already sold out.
The Hot Link dog will be available for this series against Braves and will be available only at the King’s Hawaiian Grill in the Left Field Plaza. It features a Hot Link with BBQ sauce and vinegar slaw. See it on the right.
