Beat the drum and hold the phone, here comes your Los Angeles Oklahoma City Dodgers!
Sure, at first we all had a good laugh at Oklahoma City becoming a branding statistic, but it turns out they’re actually doing pretty darn good, with 59 wins and 33 losses, leading the Pacific Coast League American Northern region. And as if that weren’t enough, the Metro has caught Dodger Fever (also known as LaSorda’s Revenge) as well, with fans packing the stands at last Saturday’s game, according to milb.com:
A nine-run bottom of the seventh inning broke open Saturday's game for the Oklahoma City Dodgers who went on to an 11-5 win against the Round Rock Express in front of a sellout crowd of 10,845 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The nine runs marked the highest run total in a single inning for Oklahoma City this season and most for an Oklahoma City team since May 21, 2013 in Fresno when OKC racked up 10 runs in the eighth inning of a 15-2 win.
Now I’m not gonna lie to you: I really don’t know what any of this means except that we’re good now, right? We have a sports team to be proud of? And, more importantly, should this be a team that I allow my fairweather fandom to support?
Manager Damon Berryhill and coach Johnny Washington seem to have put together a pretty exciting team, filled with exotic names like Yimi García, Ramón Troncoso, and my personal favorite Randy Fontanez, but mostly because that’s also the name of a roller-disco DJ I once dated. When these guys are on the field, whoo boy! Look out! If you build it, they will come!
Last night’s game—on Christian Faith Night, no less—was just as stellar, apparently. Also from milb.com:
Scott Schebler hit a RBI double into the right field corner to secure a 7-6 walk-off win for the Oklahoma City Dodgers in the 12th inning against the Round Rock Express Sunday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The win gave the Dodgers a 3-1 series win against the Express in front of a sellout crowd of 9,112. Sunday marked the Dodgers' third consecutive sellout as Oklahoma City improved its league-leading record to 59-33.
Not only does Oklahoma City now have a winning team to be proud of, but from what I’ve heard, the ball-club has also imported the world-famous Farmer John's Dodger Dog to concession stands. Look at that thing…the meat actually hangs over the bun! Put me in coach, I’m ready to play!
I guess now all that’s left for me to do is buy a John Goodman-as-Babe Ruth-sized 4XL jersey, an officially licensed ball-cap, a giant foam finger and a plush doll of the official Dodgers mascot, the lovable crime-solving mutt Brickie. Oh, yeah, I guess I should actually see a ballgame too. Maybe a rep from the team could put a little promo package together for me with a couple of primo tickets?
Until then, I’ll be listening to “Centerfield” over and over again for the next week in sheer hope. Play ball!
Louis Fowler is the poverty row Jenni Carlson. Follow him on Twitter at @LouisFowler.
