Another weiner makes the news

At the risk of offending Juan Banda and Farmer John and perhaps even getting my head caved in, I know a lot of people — Dodger fans among them — who would rather eat their own feces than eat the current incarnation of the Dodger Dog. They sure don't look or taste like the O'Malley's used to make them. TMZ has the full story.

Pic courtesy of Wikipedia

It's starting to look like LAPD might have the wrong guy

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck is still confident that Giovanni Ramirez is the prime suspect in the case of Bryan Stow beating, but that confidence seems to be waning, reports Eric Leonard of KFI.

Beck admitted yesterday that the investigation can go either way: "We go where the case takes. . . If it leads to a conviction, if it leads to exoneration, wherever it leads, we will follow the case."

This is a different cry from a month ago when Beck affirmed that the man in custody was "absolutely" the right man.

Ramirez has been in custody since May 22, and so far no formal charges have been filed against him.

Bryan Stow upgraded from critical to serious condition

Brian Stow — the victim of a beating on opening day at Dodger Stadium — opened his eyes and showed movement in one arm, doctors at San Francisco General Hospital announced today.

Come on, Bryan! It's a longshot, but all of Dodgerland is hoping for your full recovery. 

Read full story here.

What has happened to the Dodgers?

"What has happened to the Dodgers?" CNN asks.

From a fan quoted in the piece:

People have lost trust. You used to come here, and it wouldn't matter if the team was winning. It was fun. It just doesn't feel that way anymore, and I think in essence people are boycotting until something turns around.

That about sums it up for me.

This article doesn't tell us anything that the majority of us don't already know about the demise of the Dodgers organization under the care of the McCourt regime.

Nevertheless, it's another poke at the McCourts. So, for those who've been been living under a rock the past year or so, please read.

Potential legal challenges for Stow family; Garv and Orel team up to buy the Dodgers

It won't be an open and shut case
The SF Chronicle examines the possible challenges that the Stow family may face in their lawsuit against Frank McCourt. In the article, Robert Rabin, a Stanford law professor, thinks McCourt should settle out of court to avoid more negative publicity. I have a strong feeling that the litigation-happy owner isn't going to heed the professor's advice.

Either way, here's hoping McCourt gets hung out to dry on this.

Orel satisfaction
The Daily News reported Sunday that Orel Hershiser is allying with Steve Garvey in a move to buy the Dodgers. The fan in me says, "Please, God! Let this happen!" I also recognize that an ownership team of Carlos Perez and Gary Sheffield would be a favorable alternative to McCourt. I do love Orel's quote in article: "The fan base, they deserve better....The Los Angeles Dodgers are part of the fabric of Los Angeles. Their pride and their heart have been hurt by what's gone on and what's happening. It will take a large effort to restore that and I'm pulling for McCourt and MLB....It hurts my heart. It's about restoring the confidence of the fan base and significant pride of the city."

The mantra of the fans this year has been "Anyone but McCourt!" At least with Garv and Orel, we're not getting just 'anyone.'

If there's hair, Giovanni wasn't there

Giovanni Ramirez' defense team says he didn't have a shaved head at the time of the opening day attack; therefore, he doesn't match the description of Bryan Stow's attackers, according to NBC LA.

Ramirez' attorneys admit that their client periodically shaves his head, but let his hair grow back in March and didn't shave it again until shortly after the day of the attack.

The defense hopes that a security camera at an East Hollywood motel where Ramirez and his girlfriend spent the night March 31 will prove that he had some growth on his dome, also per the NBC LA report.

It should be asked, if the video shows Ramirez emerging from his seedy room with a Trump-like comb-over, will Charlie Beck still adamantly believe he got his man?

No formal charges yet against Giovanni Ramirez.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck believes they have a solid case against Giovanni Ramirez, the suspect arrested in the beating of Bryan Stow, according to the LA Times.

Nevertheless, Beck admits that he is not yet ready to bring formal charges against Ramirez: "We continue down that road in our preparation of presenting a case to the district attorney in the near future. But we will not present that case until we have an abundance of evidence, and we have looked at a number of things that are still being examined."

Twenty detectives continue to work on the investigation, as emphasized by the Chief.

On Wednesday, LAPD released a statement saying that investigators were "satisfied with the results" of the lineup at Men’s Central Jail, but shied away from going into any details on the matter. Both sides have agreed not to release any information about what happened during the lineup.

All of this has raised speculation that Ramirez was not properly identified.

This begs a question. Why were cameras not installed at the entrances of Dodger Stadium prior to the date of the attack to monitor who goes in and out of there? No lights. No cameras. No action on the part of security team, who chose to bury their heads rather than impose measures to improve safety at Dodger Stadium.

Is there any doubt that the Stow family will win their negligence lawsuit against the Dodgers?

So, investigators have no photographic or video evidence of Ramirez in or around Dodger Stadium on opening day. But family members have released pictures of him not at Dodger Stadium on the day of the attack. Go to TMZ, and you'll see what I mean.

Barry Bonds offers to pay college tuition of Bryan Stow's kids

Ultra-classy move by 'the hated one'. 

Stow family attorney says Stow was harassed during game....plus more Dodger news

Per LA Times, the family's attorney is claiming that Bryan Stow and his friends were subjected to "clear signs of intimidation" during the game, and security failed to address it.

Daily News reports that the attorney for Giovanni Ramirez' family members is saying that the suspect's 10-year-old daughter is willing to testify that her father was not at Dodger Stadium that day.

The Astros are a welcome sight to Ted Lilly's sore eyes, according to MLB.com.  

Casey Blake could return as soon as Friday, says Don Mattingly.  

The Dodgers are going to have have to make some moves next year to bolster their lineup, writes Jon Weisman in Dodger Thoughts.

Gotta move them somehow. $7 Dodger tickets available at Groupon.

Stow family suing the Dodgers

You knew this was coming. Another headache for the already beleaguered and financially-strapped Frank McCourt. Will this one tip the scale?

"It's fairly simple," said Thomas Girardi, the attorney representing the family. "The Dodgers have shown a total disregard for public safety. They've gotten rid of security people. They've had all these incidents at their games, more than other teams. There's also a known gang presence. What did they think was going to happen?" 

Courtesy of ESPN.com

Photo of alleged attacker Giovanni Ramirez

Picture removed at the request of Mary Grady, LAPD Public Information Director (per Twitter).

Mother of Giovanni Ramirez says he's innocent

Per Eric Leonard of KFI via his Twitter feed: "my son is innocent" and he "doesn't like baseball."

Suspect in Dodger Stadium beating of Bryan Stow is in custody

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that one of the men suspected in the beating of Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium was taken into custody early this morning.

What still remains unsolved is the location of the other suspect and whether Frank McCourt will defer the reward payment.