Recycling Update, Other News and Notes

I'm leaving for Chicago in two days. I am driving, making it a road trip with my friend Cate, and that means I will likely be out of commission on the blog for that time. I will have my computer, and I will be listening to the games, but don't expect much until possibly next Monday or Tuesday, after I've settled into my hotel room in the Windy City.

So, several things to address. First, Josh Rawitch from the Dodgers got back to me regarding recycling issues at Dodger Stadium. He told me that the trash company the Dodgers use to haul trash actually does separate the recycling, which is why the stadium hired that company in the first place. He also said there are recycling bins at the stadium, which look like Coke bottles. Now, this season, in the ten games I have attended, I have sat in left field pavilion, all over field level, and all over the loge. I haven't sat in the reserve section or top deck, but I have yet to see a Coke bottle recycling bin anywhere at the stadium. I don't think Josh is lying to me; I just think these bins must be few and far between.

Last Friday, I went to see a game with my friend Nick (and actually hung out with Steve Sax and Alex Cora from Sons of Steve Garvey). While I was leaving my loge level seats, I passed two blue recycling bins that were near a bar that was added during the off-season renovations.


Those were the only recycling bins I've seen at Dodger Stadium, and believe me, they weren't exactly prominent. I walked right past them, and only noticed because Nick needed to throw something away, and realized he was looking at a recycling bin and not a trashcan. Also, the bin itself doesn't do a very good job of indicating what should go inside of it. Cans and bottles, in theory, but what about plastic beer cups? Or the paper cups that hold frozen lemonade? These things are technically recyclable, too, right?

I have so much more to say about all this, particularly with regard to the comments Bruce Paine and Malea wrote in the last post, but there's not enough time. Let's just say that I think a company like the Dodgers should get the fans involved in recycling, since a cultural mindset change is what we're after in this country with regard to the environment. That means, no more using a trash company that separates recyclables. Instead, first we concentrate on getting the fans/consumers involved in recycling their own goods. People know about recycling, obviously, but if we really try to focus them on the issue at hand, the next step will be a hell of a lot easier. And that next step is: we have to next work on finding alternatives to the products consumed at the stadium, as suggested by Paine and Malea. The problem for the Dodgers is that this probably means a greater cost, but can we get people, including the Dodgers' ownership, to start to believe the extra cost is worth it?

I think most would agree that this country needs to slow down its consumption of basically everything, or at the very least find more environmentally friendly ways to consume. The Dodgers are a corporation, and part of an even bigger corporation in MLB. Why not start a trend? Be proactive, and show the country, and MLB, that 50,000+ fans don't have to be a detriment to the environment 81 times a year at every stadium in the country.

I'm going to work on some ideas for all of this, but feel free to leave more of your own in the comments while I'm on my little break.

Okay, onto the teams. Here are the bullet points.

• The Red Sox just lost three of four to the Twins. Offense wasn't really a problem, except maybe on Monday. The Sox scored 22 runs over the four games, and lost by one run in two of them. Starting pitching was the real issue, highlighted by Tim Wakefield's performance on Sunday, in which he gave up seven runs (six earned) in just 2.2 innings. The Sox look to get back on track with two in Baltimore against the Orioles (is it just me, or are there are lot more two-game series than normal this season?). After that, they'll head home to play an interleague series against the Brewers.

• The Dodgers got swept by the Astros (including a spectacular loss in a game that saw Kuroda throw a no-hitter for 6.2 innings) and looked really pathetic overall. They have now lost four in a row, and the spark plug of their offense, Rafael Furcal, is on the DL with a bad back. That means Pierre will lead off most of the games, and since Jones will continue to play in center, Ethier won't get much playing time. It's hugely frustrating to me to think of Ethier just sitting on the bench, especially considering his level of production when he does get the chance to play. The kid needs to be playing everyday. Period.

• The Dodgers are heading out on the road now, facing Milwaukee (weird--both my teams are playing the Brewers this week; I hope the Brewers lose six in a row) and then heading down to Anaheim to play the Angels. This is a tough stretch for the Dodgers. I'm not really expecting much, so maybe they'll surprise me.

Dodgers' Record: 19-18 (3.5 games back of the Diamondbacks for first in the N.L. West)

Red Sox Record: 24-17 (one-half game ahead of the Rays for first in the A.L. East)

COMMENTS:

AUTHOR: Bruce Paine
DATE: 05/14/2008 09:37:49 PM

I have spent a tidbit of time thinking about the issue in NFL stadiums and came to a conclusion. For the idea part to spread it has to happen in high profile stadiums. Teams like the Dodgers, Yanks, and Boston have to be on the forefront or the idea won't get press. A news company like ESPN would never mention if it wasn't happening with one of their banner teams. In the NFL, it has to be the Pats, Cowboys, Eagles, or Chargers. It has to be one of those big market teams or you won't hear about it. That is no reason for smaller market teams like the Colts or Chiefs or Rams to not do it, though.
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AUTHOR: Karina
DATE: 05/17/2008 03:59:00 PM

Congratulations Erin, you have at least bring some awareness from the Dodger office about this very important issue.

There must a way to convince the front office about the importance of recycling, which also involves better strategies than a couple of recycling bins scattered over a huge place which is very crowded.

p.s: have a nice road trip!
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