Crumpled Empire

When Bob Costas and Al Michaels broadcasted the Giants-Mets game a few Fridays ago, Michaels brought up an interesting point about the Dodgers. They're the ones who were the glamor franchise now they're broke.

What Michaels was referring to was the situation the Dodgers find themselves in now and how the Giants were the team always on the brink financially. Before AT&T Park was built the Giants were playing games at Candlestick Park, which needless to say was one of the worst baseball stadiums in all-time. The Dodgers were playing in beautiful Chavez Ravine. The Giants were the team that damn near almost became an American League East team, twice. The Dodgers were under the stable ownership of the O'Malley family. The Giants played in the cold fog. The Dodgers played under the bright sun on Hollywood. The Dodgers won championships. The Giants won National League pennants and that was it.

In the past twenty years the tables have completely turned. The Giants play in the beautiful park know. The Giants have the stable ownership. The Giants have the championship. Amazing 360 both of these teams have taken.

"Just look at the faces of the Dodgers players," says the Colonel. We're sitting at the Mos Eisley bar which is quiet tonight. Just us, Boz, and two other people we don't recognize. We're drinking Coors Banquets and enjoying the Giants-Dodgers game. "The Dodgers players look beaten down. They're having a bad season and now they have to answer questions about the ownership situation even though they probably know nothing what is happening behind the scenes."

"Sadly I recognize those faces," I say. "Remember how bad the Giants were between 05 and 08?"

"Don't remind me," says the Colonel who for some reason has a red handkerchief hanging out of his white jacket pocket. I've never noticed before he keeps handkerchiefs in his jacket pockets.


"Back to the original point though," I say. "Remember when us Giants fans envied the Dodgers? They had everything. The Giants only had hall of fame hitters, but no championships to show for."

"The Dodgers downfall started when the O'Malley's sold out to News Corp," says the Colonel. "The News Corp ownership was a disaster and they sold the team to whoever would take it. Worse for Dodgers fans the McCourts were all too willing to buy the Dodgers and they've been worse than News Corp. That's the amazing part to me. Dodgers fans would rather see News Corp own the Dodgers than the McCourts."

And the Colonel hits the nail right on it's head. News Corp may have been a horrendous ownership. But New Corp never went broke. Never owed money to Vin Scully. And never drove fans away in mass. The McCourts have managed to do all of that. Just staggering to think about. The Dodger empire is in ruins.

It's the fifth inning of the Dodgers-Giants game and it's a typical Giants game. Sandoval is the only offense for the Giants, hitting a big bomb in the fourth, and Ryan Vogelsong is desperately holding onto the 1-0 lead.

"Good thing these NL West offenses are just as bad as the Giants," remarks the Colonel. "Otherwise the Giants would be in trouble."

"That's why I'm not looking forward to these next three series'. Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati in nine games. If the Giants win five of those games I'll be happy."

"Think they'll trade for another bat?" asks the Colonel.

"Yes, but it won't be for somebody you'll like," I say. "I guarantee the Giants will go the cheap route and trade for a hitter who is past-being-past-his-prime or someone who'll make very little impact. Think Ryan Garko."

"Sigh, you're probably right," says the Colonel.

Just another night at the Mos Eisley Cantina.