(edit to update subject line)

I've decided to make the trip to LA during the week the Phillies are out there to meet the Dodgers. I am leaning towards staying at the Ramada on Santa Monica Blvd. in W. Hollywood, or possibly at the Hyatt West Hollywood where the first Outsports Convention was held...but I am open to other suggestions, depending on what else I decide to do while I'm there and things like that. (I had a cool thought yesterday, but my hopes were dashed when I checked the CBS website -- they're not taping "The Price Is Right" during that week. Darn. wink )

Anyway, the Phils and Dodgers meet Tuesday 8/9 through Thurs. 8/11. Anyone interested in seeing one or more of these games or otherwise getting together, post away!

[ June 17, 2005, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

I will defintely make one of the games!

Cool -- you'll just have to listen to me complain a lot about the team with the red hats. wink

JiP... you're supposed to say, "It's a date!" wink

No, that's Jim Allen and the LA Angels.

No, the Angels are a contending team. Although, if he comes to the game, that does not preclude him from complaining.

Um, we're talking about Jim Allen here. The Angels could be undefeated and have the division clinched by the July 4th weekend and JA could still find something to complain about! wink

Yes, George, well...I was trying to be polite.

[screaming] Lies! All lies, every one of them! LIIIIIEEEEESSSSSS!!!![/screaming]

Actually, except for anything to do with the name change, I'm the voice of reason on the Angels blogs I go to. Hey, quit laughing! It's true! Remember when the Angels lost to the Yankees 12-4? It was doom and gloom; two days later, after they'd won the next two games, it was "We're winning the World Series this year". I mentioned that it was only April, there were still 120 games to go and that staying calm was a virtue. It's already happening again after two straight losses to the Tigers. Jesus people, this isn't the f**king NFL, it's a marathon and it's May. Patience!

Joe, you're missing the obvious solution: staying at the Phillies hotel. Get a media guide, it should list where that is. It's probably near downtown, but you're going to need a car here anyways, so it's all relative. What? Huh? I have ulterior motives for suggesting this? Getting the Anaconda's hotel room number? Why I NEVER!

Seriously, since he punk'd me in Philly, maybe a visit to where the Phillies get on their team bus at Dodger Stadium might be in order. Knowing my luck, he'll break his finger three games before they hit town and be back east for treatment or something.

I'm totally up for going to Dodger Stadium and unleashing a chorus or 80 of Nelson Muntz-esque "Ha HA"'s at the Dodgers. My Angels gear will blend in nicely with the Phillies gear that the Least Coast exiles who'll come to watch da Phillies will be wearing. Mmmmmmmm.....Dodger Stadium garlic fries........

[ May 09, 2005, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

No, this year it's his back. According to today's papers he's actually in L.A. right now to get a second opinion on it.

I have a media guide at home so I can check on their hotel. A car isn't going to work since I don't drive anyway. I figure that for whichever game a group of us goes to, I can get a ride from one of you kind souls. wink If I end up going to one of the other games I could perhaps take a cab, as allegedly the stadium is about 8.4 miles from the Ramada I mentioned above, according to MapQuest.com. Of course, some of us took a cab to the hockey game during the first Outsports Convention and that turned out to be an interesting ride... eek! And for whatever else I might decide to do, I figure I'll find some way to get there. Or I'll hang out at the hotel and look glamorous and wait to be discovered...hey, now everyone's laughing at me! Stop that!

The Phils' hotel is the Westin Century Plaza. Lowest rate I found was $269 per night. I don't think I'm quite ready to spend that much. wink

Wow, that's quite a haul to get to Dodger Stadium. Hmmmm....August, the hotel swimming pool, Jim Thome........

Hahaha, Kevin Millwood pitched 8 innings of 1-hit ball tonight.

[ May 09, 2005, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

The Century Plaza is a long haul from Chavez Ravine, as Jim points up. But it does have four reflecting pools within its grounds and every room has a whirlpool bath. For what it's worth, when the San Jose Sharks come to town to face the Kings and/or Ducks, it's their hotel of choice.

Joe, if you do decide to mortgage your soul and stay there, you'll have to invite all of us to a party there. It sounds far nicer than a darkened garage. wink

~Adam

A party in the whirlpool -- that actually sounds like a fun idea. If it's that far from the stadium, though, I don't think it will work...especially if I want to go to two or three games instead of just the one.

I think I'll just decide between the Hyatt and Ramada (that I mentioned in my original post), and book a room tonight or tomorrow, and then get my flight. I want to use my miles to upgrade to first class -- that's something I'm really looking forward to. wink

I decided to book my flight first after all, but I had to make a slight change in plan. I was planning to fly to L.A. on Monday 8/8 and return home on Sunday 8/14. However, when I went to book the flight and upgrade to first class, the upgrade wasn't available for the Monday flights I chose -- so I booked it for Sunday 8/7 instead, so I'm upgraded on both flights. Which means an extra hotel night as well.

Finally I'm traveling in a manner to which I should be accustomed.

[ May 11, 2005, 06:38 AM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

After seeing the latest debacle at the ballpark tonight, I'm starting to think that instead of seeing the Phillies play we should meet at Disneyland or someplace where I probably wouldn't be tortured. eek! wink

Okay, now that I've got my flight and hotel booked (after doing some checking around on different websites I ended up making a reservation at Le Parc Suite) I guess the next thing is tickets for a game.

My thought process was that we could get a group together for the game on Tuesday night (8/9), and that way once I get there I have the option of getting a ticket to one of both of the other 2 games (and of course if anyone else wanted to join me those nights you're more than welcome). Does that sound like a good plan, or would the Wednesday or Thursday night games work better? Anyone intersted, please chime in with your thoughts. Thanks.

Giving this a bump...........

Okay, so as you can see if you notice that this thread's subject line has changed, the game on Tues. 8/9 is the game we're planning for. If anyone out there would like to attend this game, now's your time to post here and speak out!

There's a decent chance I'll be going to the other games in the series (Wed/Thu 8/10-11) so if anyone wants to go to either of those games as well, let me know.

I am also toying with the idea of taking a bus down to San Diego the Friday of that week and seeing the Phils-Padres there. The bus terminal in SD is not far from transportation to Petco Park and the Greyhound schedule shows an 11:30 pm bus back to LA. So I may spend a day in Padre-land. wink

If ya can get down to SD, do it.....that's a sweet park set right on the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter.

Though I must admit, it is the 2nd best MLB park opened in 2004, will be headed there in about 5 weeks time.

I haven't made a final decision on SD yet, but as long as I can get from my hotel to the bus station in LA (if need be I can take a cab), I don't see why I can't do it. I would've preferred a train but Amtrak doesn't have a late enough train back that night and I don't see myself waiting around until the early morning hours, nor do I see myself getting a hotel room for 1 night when I'm already paying for a hotel room in LA for the same night.

There are some good single seats available for the game, so that's an incentive. wink

I just ordered a ticket for the Phils-Padres game. Section 101 behind home plate. wink Any chance we can get seats like that for any games against the Dodgers?

While I'm bumping this up in case someone else might be interested (ha!), I'm now wondering: is J.D. Drew going to be out for this series next month due to his broken wrist? If he is, then who will I have to boo? Other than the Phillies, that is? eek!

Joe the answer to your first question is probably yes. Sorry that the object of your desire will not be there. However, having listened to my father over the weekend discuss ad nauseum what is wrong with his Dodgers, and having attended games at Dodger Stadium, I think I can give you an edumacated guess as to what and whom should be booed. (In no particular order)

1) Jim Tracy - still the Dodgers Manager! (giving him the finger also acceptable)
2) The guy who supposed to be sitting next to you who "shows up early" in top of the 3rd. He'll be right in front of you when Burrell "adjusts" himself, or Abreu hits a HR off D.J. Houlton.
3) Any mention/sighting of Paul DePodesta or Frant McCourt
4) The Ricoh guy. Apparently, he pops up about 3 times per game (and on the internet feed) eek!
5) Any Jumbotron highlights of the Giants and/or Yankees.
6) Celebrities not wearing Dodger caps (e.g. Jack Nicholson, Kobe Bryant)
7) Any time you are in the men's room, listen to the radio annoucers and boo Rick Monday lustilly. Do not, under any circumstances boo Vin Scully. Even if he calls Cletus, by his given name. wink
8) Fans doing the wave and/or throwing any combination of beach balls, breast implants, or napkin airplanes onto the field.
9) When the PA system cuts off Nancy Bea Hefley in favor of a Dodger player's batting music.
10) A-holes that go to Dodger Stadium and boo at everything..... wink

And let's not forget those idiots who decide to run onto the field. Not only should they be booed, they should be beaten with bats! I haven't taken to booing Jim Tracy (the manager) as I think he's a good man stuck with the stupidity of the McCourts. Them, I boo. And, of course, if Scott Erickson is brought in (usually in the 6th inning) booing may be mandatory--along with the occasional drooling. wink

As for JD Drew, tests showed he won't need surgery but will be in a short cast an amount of time; he'll be re-evaluated in two weeks to see how he's progressing.

~Adam

That's helpful. Though I'd never boo Vin Scully...unless he booed me first, that is. wink

It occurs to me that I should set a deadline for this, so I can make arrangments with those I've already roped in via e-mail wink -- so if anyone else reading this wants to go, let me know by Sunday.

I think booing Vin Scully may be punishable by having to listen to his retired colleague, Ross Porter. Though I don't mind him, I do know some who deride the recemtly hired Charley Steiner, so booing him pre-emptively may be acceptable. wink

~Adam

I will always remember Charley Steiner from his ESPN days, for his reaction (hysterical laughter that went on and on) to the clip of Carl Lewis destroying the national anthem before a basketball game.

One last bump for this, by the way...

GO DODGERS!!!!!

Yawwwwwwwwwwn

My trip is one week away...WOO-HOO!

I'm starting to consider getting a room in San Diego for a night rather than taking a bus back. It seems like it would be easier to take Amtrak, but to do that I'd have to stay overnight as there isn't a late train back.

Maybe my last update before I leave on Sunday:

I got a hotel room for my one night in San Diego so I can take Amtrak back to LA early the next day. And...

I just bought a ticket behind home plate for Phils-Dodgers on Wednesday (8/10). Woo-hoo! This means I'll see at least 3 games during the week.

[ August 05, 2005, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]