More weak garlic fries from the Lion’s Den

A look back at the Dodgers’ final game before the All-Star break, an extra-inning win in San Francisco.

As is known, I have a rule: I don’t go to Oracle Park unless friends and family want to go. It is not because Oracle Park is a bad ballpark — it really isn’t. I have been there many times, and I am genuinely tired of being gouged whenever the Dodgers come to visit.

But alas, my law school buddy and his partner wanted to go, and we all scoffed at paying playoff ticket prices for a Barry Bonds bobblehead. I will admit I would have received a ridiculous amount of enjoyment shooting rubber bands at it out of spite had I gotten one.

Initially, I was going to take the ferry from Vallejo to Oracle Park, but it was sold out.

I arrived late for the festivities. Considering how badly the Dodgers had been playing since One Piece Night, I almost thought it a blessing.

When the chips were down, with the Blue Crew holding a two-run lead, the Dodgers went to their big gun. Tanner Scott? Oh, God, no. He was awful.

Blowing a league-high seventh save is one thing. Blowing a save on two pitches to a hitter that is nowhere close to the Mendoza line is inexcusable.

If not for Kirby Yates deciding to throw batting practice, the Dodgers would be a perfect 5-0 with me in attendance before the first-half finale. Instead, the team is 5-1, as I have attended three Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts in 2025.

I came up with some snark about Scott that’s worth sharing because it’s funny. One might be forgiven for thinking Scott’s lousy performances are a novel form of charitable donations to try to lessen the Dodgers’ luxury tax hit.

For Scott’s sake, he might want to think about opening a bakery and an Italian sandwich shop when his playing days are done. I bring that thought up because it has not been since the days of Brandon League or Jonathan Broxton that I have seen a reliever give out so many cookies and serve up so many meatballs.

Dave Roberts told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register his thoughts about Scott after the game:

It could have been enough but Scott’s 0-and-1 slider to .174-hitting Matos was over the heart of the plate and he hit it out to tie the score in the ninth.

“When using the slider – it’s just in-zone too much,” Roberts said of Scott’s renewed struggles. “He’s got to be able to move the fastball around a little bit. He’s got to be able to shorten the slider at times, when needed, when to strike it when needed.

“Essentially, he’s a two-pitch pitcher. They hunt a certain zone. And when it doesn’t get to where it needs to, then there could be slug. And that’s kind of what it is. That’s kind of as simple as it gets.”

[emphasis added.]

With the looming trade deadline ahead, shocker of shockers, the Dodgers are seeking bullpen help — again. This mystery does not require the services of the late Lieutenant Columbo or his spiritual successor, Charlie Cale.

Stray thoughts

Overall, it was a lovely afternoon in the shade of Oracle Park. I had garlic fries, which again, did not have enough garlic. If I do not smell like garlic afterwards, you did not use enough.

The only thing of note about this visit to Oracle Park was the baffling decision for the Giants to use artificial intelligence to turn photos of Dodgers fans into Giants fans on the scoreboard between innings. For lack of a better word, it was creepy, and I turned to my buddy afterwards and said, “The Dodgers would never do anything so little brother-like.”

Considering the whining that Logan Webb and Willy Adames did earlier in the series about the Dodgers’ faithful showing up to Oracle Park, I feel justified in calling out our northern cousins before the series.

Kidding aside, it was good to see the Dodgers go into the break on a win. I cannot reasonably call that game a high note, because of the warts that have been present before and after the first half’s conclusion.

Auf wiedersehen, Mickey Jannis

To conclude this recap on a lighter note, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge someone who retired without fanfare in late May: Mickey Jannis.

Jannis entered professional baseball in 2010. Jannis became a knuckleball pitcher who played in independent baseball, for the New York Mets organization, and the Baltimore Orioles. He made his only MLB appearance against the Houston Astros on June 23, 2021.

He struck out one, Yordan Alvarez, and got rocked over 3⅓ innings of work.

After his one outing, he bounced around the independent ball scene again, even playing overseas.

Jannis’ retirement is noteworthy on a personal level, because when I first started, he was the only player who even acknowledged my interview request, let alone spoke to me.

He was kind and generous with his time as he continued to pursue his dream of returning to the Major Leagues. I tried to hype him as a panacea for the Dodgers from time to time, to no avail. When I reached out to Jannis upon word of his retirement, I asked if there was anything he wanted to say or ask.

He seemed bemused by the question, by the fuss I was making. He just said he wanted to thank everyone who supported him over the years.

No one is guaranteed a tomorrow. No one is guaranteed their storybook ending. But for one glorious August day, Mickey Jannis reached his Xanadu, and his stay was all too short, but he never complained and departed our sport as a true paragon of class and sportsmanship.

---

Our next update will be in a month, as my mother and I return to Dodger Stadium. For her, it will be her first visit in over 35 years.