Dodgers Dugout: Despite the doubters, Dodgers continue to move forward

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, and I bet I could beat Michael Phelps in a race if I was allowed to wear floaties.

Best team in the second half?

So, in the last edition of Dodgers Dugout, I mentioned how well the Dodgers have been playing, and was greeted with a lot of emails from the Debbie Downers out there who pointed out that it’s not that the Dodgers are playing well, it’s that the Giants are playing poorly. Now, those of you who are enjoying the recent play and are hopeful can skip this next part. I will meet you down at the item about Yasiel Puig.

OK, those that are left: The fact the Giants are playing poorly has nothing to do with how well the Dodgers are playing. I don’t care if the Giants were undefeated since the All-Star break, the Dodgers are playing exceptionally good baseball since then, mainly led by the offense.

Since the All-Star break, here’s how the Dodgers rank offensively in the NL:

Batting average: .272 (first)

On-base percentage: .335 (third)

Slugging percentage: .458 (first)

Runs scored: 122 (second)

Doubles: 55 (second)

Homers: 32 (second)

Since Clayton Kershaw got hurt on June 26, the Dodgers have the best record in the National League at 23-14.

Is it possible the Dodgers will fade? Sure. But if you believe that will happen, why not enjoy this run while you can? I am as tough as anyone on the Dodgers, but there has been a lot to be happy about the last few weeks: Different players leading the team, the resurgence of Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner, the continued standout play of Corey Seager, the excellent work turned in by the relievers, the fact they seem to really enjoy playing for Dave Roberts.

Don’t dilute that with negativity. If they crash and burn, we can criticize them then. But why not hope that they don’t fade rather than expect that they will?

Yasiel Puig alert

So, the Dodgers send Yasiel Puig to the minors (Oklahoma City), with one of his tasks being to improve relations with teammates. On Monday, the players of Oklahoma City rent a party bus and get a little crazy, but nothing too bad, with Puig SnapChatting the proceedings (including an impressive amount of cursing from Puig). The Dodgers are not happy. But he sure seems to be improving his relations with teammates.

I don’t think we will ever see Puig wearing a Dodgers uniform again. Earlier this week they removed pretty much all of his merchandise from the souvenir stands at Dodger Stadium.

Trade update

How the players acquired at the trade deadline are doing:

Josh Reddick: .125 (4 for 32)

Rich Hill: Still on the disabled list

Jesse Chavez: 1-0, 7.94 ERA in four games

Josh Fields: 0-0, 0.00 ERA in five games

Ask Ross Porter

Former Dodgers announcer Ross Porter will be answering select reader questions for the rest of the season. Email me a question for Ross, and I will pass it on. His latest response:

Cameron McIntyre asks: Seeing that most home teams dugouts are on the first base side and the Dodgers sit on the third base side (to avoid the setting sun I understand) how was it decided, Ross, that Dodger Stadium would be in a North/South direction?

Ross: There is no rule requirement pertaining to home team dugouts. It is totally arbitrary which team uses the dugout on the first base side or third base side. No surprise that the home club gets first choice. Maybe the sun angle during day games is a factor for choosing the dugout that has better shade. In baseball rule 1.04, ballparks are supposed to be built so the sun sets behind third base and shines on right field. Why? Supposedly, it was because there are more right handed batters which would mean fewer fly balls to right field.

Or it could be the choice of dugouts is determined by which side has the better clubhouse. Most dugouts are directly connected to the clubhouse by a tunnel, and a majority of big league dugouts are below the field level.

You are right, Cameron. There are 18 major league teams who have their dugouts on the first base side, nine in each circuit, and 12 who occupy the third base dugouts, including six in each league. The Dodgers and Angels both prefer the third-base side.

Rule 1.04 also states under “The Playing Field” that it is desirable that the line from home base through the pitchers plate to second base shall run East Northeast. That has been largely ignored by major-league teams.

Owners have also decided the location of the home team dugout depending where their suites are located and whether they can see their dugout during a game.

Dodger Stadium was constructed in less than three years at a cost of $23 million, financed privately, and opened in 1962. It is the third oldest major league stadium after Fenway Park in Boston (1912) and Wrigley Field in Chicago (1914), and is the largest by seat capacity--nearly 56,000.

What Vin Scully means to me

I asked you to tell me your best Vin Scully memory, and I got a lot of responses. I will publish selected ones in each newsletter. And keep emailing them to me.

Kathy Pratt: I have been a Dodgers fan for 62 years and my special Vin Scully moment is personal. Living in a small town in Oregon I would hear Vinnie and Jerry broadcast games on radio station KFI in Los Angeles. Because of the weak signal I had to start out listening to the games outside on our ’57 Chevy car radio, straining to hear Vinnie’s voice tell me that “Dodger baseball is on the air.” As the game went on and reception improved I would move to the kitchen radio and then, if the games were long, to a transistor radio tucked under my pillow.

For a high school graduation gift in June of 1963 my mother, a longtime Dodger fan herself, bought us tickets to see our beloved Dodgers play against the Giants at Candlestick Park. It was a beautiful day, a bit windy and cool, but I was waiting to see my hero, Sandy Koufax, pitch and I didn’t think life could get any better. That is until I looked up and saw Vin Scully standing next to my mother. I was stunned. She had seen him in the concourse and asked him to come and say hello to her daughter, a true Dodgers fan. We talked for a short time and then he left to broadcast the game. My special day turned out perfect as I had met Vin Scully and Sandy won the game.

It speaks volumes to the character of the man that he would take the time out of a busy day to help make a complete stranger’s graduation gift perfect.

This will be the last year we Dodger fans get to experience a master performing his craft. I know how much we will all miss him and treasure the countless memories he has given all of us.

The TV situation

If you would like to complain about the Dodgers’ TV situation, you have three options: The Dodgers, Time Warner Cable and whatever local cable or satellite provider you have that doesn’t carry the Dodgers. Here’s who to contact:

For the Dodgers, click here or call (866) DODGERS, or (866) 363-4377. (I hope you like form letters).

For Time Warner, click here.

For DirecTV, call (800) 531-5000 or click here.

For your local cable or satellite provider, consult your bill for the customer service number and for the website.

And finally…

Vin Scully discusses how heartbreaking it is that Gil Hodges is not in the Hall of Fame. Watch and listen here.

Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me and follow me on Twitter: @latimeshouston