Scully

We're coming down to the end of the baseball season.  We still have the playoffs to look forward to, although our team the LA Dodgers are well away from any glory this year.  They have not played particularly well although they have two wonderful players in the pitcher, Kershaw, and the center fielder, Kemp.  Someone said the other day that both of them were much too good to be Dodgers!  Rather a harsh comment, but true.

This is Wrigley Field in Chicago, I think.  Home of the Cubs.

 There have been few problems with the team this year.  Manny has long gone, and the new manager, Don Mattingly seems to know what he's doing.  The problems all have come from the unfortunate divorce proceedings of the owners, the McCourts.

These two overly rich people have milked the coffers of the team and although I don't know the entire story, Major League Baseball has had to come in and rescue the team, even though these two remain the owners.  It's been a nasty business, but someone has to pay for Mrs. McCourt's $5,000 haircuts.  And their many homes and private jets!  The fans have been staying away and the gate is down about 30%.

One great thing however, is that the broadcaster, Vin Scully, has agreed to stay on for yet another season.  He is 84 this year and has been calling the Dodgers for over sixty years.  Remarkable!  He brings an elegance to the game and a knowledge that is not just statistically driven.  He no longer goes beyond Denver to do his work and lets the other ones do it.  But they need two and they never stop gabbling.  Vin knows how to leave a little silence from time to time.  He is irreplaceable.

For my British friends with long memories he is the equivalent of John Arlott.  Irreplaceable!