* Media guide review: Los Angeles Dodgers

One of the things I liked most about working for STATS Inc.  was going to the ballpark, having a seat waiting for me in the press box, and being treated (almost) like any veteran member of the media.

That included perks such as all matter of printed material, including media guides.

For those who may not know, these are the thick volumes published by each team, sort of a yearbook on steroids (you should pardon the expression). Some are made available to the public, while others are not. These are the broadcasters’ bibles; they pore over them for factoids to fill the time between pitching changes or in blow-out games (Jackson is batting .264 with runners on first and third in days ending in an odd number in months ending in “R.”)

The amount of detail that goes into these books are very impressive. They all pretty much follow the same format: There are sections devoted to distinct categories such as

• Front office personnel, including bios and CVs on the owners and other members of the team administration, from the president down to the clubhouse manager and secretaries.
• Manager and coaching staff, complete with playing and managing records
• Major League/40-man roster. It’s fascinating to look at veteran players. They often merit a bunch of players since the information on them often includes year-by-year highlights, standard statistical layouts, and breakdowns (against opponents, day/night, months, etc.). Of particular interest are those bits of personal data, such as hobbies, family, and, especially lately, community and charitable work. The teams want the media to know that these are good guys, still worthy of admiration.
• The minor league affiliates: information on the teams in the system and the players therein.
• Opponents: Here you’ll find brief looks (usually no more than a page) at the other teams in the league. This could include top administration personnel, and perhaps how the home club has fared against the team. Since the advent of interleague play, there might be some more data on the opposing league’s teams.
• Filler: Those tiny bits of data that fill out the short pages. Often a broadcaster’s best friend.

After that, it’s a matter of how expansive the team wants to get.

So bearing that in mind, let’s take a look at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Title: The World of Dodgertown: All Are Welcome (512 pages)

Cover: Manny Ramirez (most prominent); others pics depict the divisional title. B

The administrative section is quite expansive, giving props to the staff, so let’s give that an A.

That’s followed by a “Community” section, in which the team crows about all the good works it does. To be fair, that’s rather extensive too and the Dodgers have always had a special place in the hearts not only of their own local fans, but the country as well (just look at any movie about WWII released during that era: there’s always a serviceman who wants to know how the Dodgers are doing). A

The coaching and players’ sections are all pretty standard: B-

Season in Review: 2008 stats and facts, the latter of which are the little gems that make these things worthwhile, since you can get the numbers pretty much everywhere. B

Opoonents: Includes 2008 results, year-by-year head-to-head records since 1958, and “series record by decade.” B

History and Records: standard career and single season stuff, again, avaiiable elsewhere. Includes such items as award winners and league leaders; a complete roster of Dodger players, managers, and coaches; players by uniform number as well as the history of the Dodger uniform; trades; “This date in Dodger history”; Dodger Hall of Famers; decade-by-decade chronology; “The last time it happened” (items like this are great for rain delays); spring training (“Dodgertown” was actually the name of the team’s Vero Beach, Fla. facility, which shut down last year). B

The Dodgers and Hollywood: How could they not crow about celebrity fans such as Snoop Dogg and Jackie Chan? C- (because I hate celebrity those celebrity fans who only want to be seen at such events and have no real interst in the game).

Player development: Meh. C.

Layout, design, and “intangibles”: Blue dominates, naturally. Liberal use of color, good paper stock; nice readable font, although a bit small — or is that just these old eyes? (A media guide is like a company report; the team always wants to put out a good face, even if it costs a bit). B

Overall Grade: B to B+