...And A VERY Pleasant Morning/Afternoon To You, Wherever You May Be

4:49PM- They started playing "California Girls" over the loudspeaker in the middle of the 9th. The camera guy to my left (whose job it is to capture pretty girls on camera) just let out a big, "It's 10-6, they all left."

4:28PM- "Some are born to sign the blues." One last chance in the ninth.

4:22PM- See below. Got something brewing here...

4:11PM- "Don't Stop Believing" time.

3:45PM- Jamie Hoffman just grazed Orlando Hudson's face as they both merged on a fly ball in shallow right field. Hudson was down for a few moments, but walked off under his own power. Not sure if he will return. Hey Hoffman, don't you know right field belongs to Orlando Hudson.

3:39PM- And the Dodger tradition of leaving in the 7th inning begins. I've always said the best way to beat the traffic out of the stadium is just wait until the end of the game. Won't be fighting any people then.

3:27PM- They just made an announcement in the press box that Jamie Hoffman is the first Dodger whose first hit was hit a home run since Chin-Lung Hu did it on September 11, 2007.

3:13PM- A tough inning for Billingsley. 3 runs, 3 hits, and 1 BB in the top of the 6th alone. With a pitch count of over 100 he's all but done for the day. Hopefully the Dodgers are not.

2:57PM- Uh oh, Bills is in trouble. One run in already, 2 on, 0 outs.

2:54PM- Yeah, found him in the media guide! Mike Brito.

Mike Brito is the scout that discovered Fernando back in the 80's. Okay, I'm beginning to feel like a stalker though. Enough about this guy.

2:41PM- The McCourts just made their way down to their seats. Outside of Bleacher Beach, almost every seat is full. I'm guessing 52 or 53 thousand for today's attendance. Say what you want about the Dugout Club area, I've got the best seat in the house.

2:17PM- A great catch by Tori Hunter to rob Kemp of a hit. He face-planted into the wall, and laid on the warning track for quite some time before being helped up and staying in the game! For an update on Tori Hunter...check an Angels blog or something.

2:12PM- The press box is filled to capacity. I think I see the guy who use to stand behind home plate (probably 10 years ago) with the radar gun. He's wearing his trademark hat. Top 3rd of the top photo, dead middle of bottom one. Looking for a photo of him online.

1:57PM- Remember when it was thought we might be seeing Bobby Abreu in a Dodger uniform? Zero HR's on the year for him...and right on cue he GIDP to end the inning. Bills at 39 pitches through 3.

1:40PM- Ok, WOW! That was hard not to cheer for! Jamie Hoffman's first big league hit is a 3-run jack! Security is escorting the guy with the ball out of the stands. Wonder what he is going to ask for? I would ask for an autographed ball from him. Quick question, in 5 years what do you think will be worth more...A Jamie Hoffman signed ball, or a Guillermo Mota one?

1:19PM- From Diamond Vision..."Juan Pierre Last Night: With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, he drew the decisive walk of walk." Nothing like the old decisive walk off walk.

1:14PM- Its amazing how easily you can tell the difference between balls and strikes from the press box. Usually I'm platooned in the loge levels with beach balls flying around me, and am lucky to see who's even at bat.

On that note, Bills retires the side in order.

1:03PM- It's almost game time, and Bleacher Beach isn't even 30% full, and that's with a giant advertising tarp covering 25% of the entire area. We'll check in later.

12:48PM- From the Dodgers game day memo...

The Dodgers enter tonights action with the best home record in the majors at 18-4, 2.0 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox who stand at 16-6. The 1980 Dodgers went 55-27 overall at Dodger Stadium, which is the Los Angeles club record for best home mark. The franchise record is Brooklyn's 60-17 record at Ebbets Field in 1953.

12:39PM- As I walked around the dugout and clubhouse I couldn't help stroking my own ego. However, I quickly noticed these kids (like 9 and 10 year olds) standing next to me, asking Joe Torre questions, and talking to the players (yes Brent Leach counts!). They were participating in the Junior Dodgers Broadcast program. Not only do they get to go on the field, but they get to call the game in their own broadcast booth. Ten years old!!! And here I thought I was on to something.

12:34PM- Just got the lineup...

Juan Pierre LF
Russell Martin C
Orlando Hudson 2B
Casey Blake 3B
James Loney 1B
Matt Kemp CF
Jamie Hoffman RF
Juan Castro SS
Chad Billingsley P

I really thought Matt Kemp or James Loney would get the cleanup role vacated by Ethier. Casey Blake hasn't hit higher than 7th all year.

12:18PM- Reasons to fork over the extra dollars to sit behind home plate. Free sunscreen.

12:15PM- Torre's pre-game comments:

I (and about 10 members of the press) had the change to meet with Joe Torre a few moments ago. Joe was very patient and polite as he listened to questions from each one of us, even me! Forget nerves, the dugout chat was very casual and calm.

On Ethier: "He wanted to start today, but I decided not to. He's available, but he's probably better off not starting. He took a ball off the corner of his big toe, so this part (points to finger) of the nail is cracked."

Jamie Hoffman will get his first major league start (Torre: "Last night I had thoughts of playing Blake in right field, but I decided against it.") in place of Andre Ethier.

Russell Martin will start today's game, though not because of Ethier's absence. Torre said Ausmus will likely start one of the three games in Colorado as a result.

On Schmidt: "He's fine. I mean last night, after I heard from Stan, he's fine. He never lost consciousness, it just broke the skin." Torre doesn't expect it to alter his pitching schedule. "I would guess that would be the case."

I asked Torre if Jonathan Broxton would be available today:

"I don't know. They'll come out and play catch, and that's usually when we find out. But if he can't do it my guess will be Troncoso. What we are finding out about Troncoso is the pressure of the game...it doesn't bother him, and that's obviously very important when you are thinking about later in the game.

Xavier Paul is still on the mend. "It will be a couple of games."

On Hong-Chih Kuo: "I didn't get anything on him. He'll be in Glendale this week doing some sim games. So that's good, but when we are going to him next...we don't know yet."

On Brad Ausmus' effect on Martin: "It's big, very big. You'll see them in the weight room laying on pads and going over the games. I think that's evident by what Russell is doing out there, and by how many trips Russell has made to the mound. The pitchers...they trust him. And I think the reason they trust him, outside of giving them good information, is the fact that there is consistency. And that to me is the most important thing."

11:49AM- Just got back from the dugout. Pre-Game comments up shortly

10:45AM- As several players are playing long toss on the outfield grass the unmistakable smell of Dodger Dogs has begun wafting through the stadium. When I showed up this morning around 9:30AM the place was a ghost town; however, things are beginning to pick up.

10:31AM- Just found out no batting practice before Sunday afternoon games. Oh well.

10:20AM- It appears that Andre Ethier will sit out today's finale, though I've yet to see a lineup card posted in the press box. I'll pass along anything I hear from Joe Torre as soon as he speaks to the media.

10:06AM- Vin Scully just arrived, and is talking to various media members. I'm afraid to look in his direction!

10:00AM- Sunday mornings at Reflections of Blue are usually that- a reflection. Pouring through my Dad's old Dodger scrapbook affords me the opportunity to look back at a time when Dodger baseball in Los Angeles was in its infancy. However, this Sunday morning, from the Vin Scully Press Box at Dodger Stadium, it's time to catch a glimpse of the future.

A huge thanks to Josh Rawitch and his entire staff for granting access to those in the blog world. A glimpse into the future? A growing trend across sports? Let's hope so.

The last day game I attended at Dodger Stadium proved to be quite memorable; and I'm sure this won't disappoint. Feel free to leave comments and questions, as I'll be reporting from the stadium throughout the day.