LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers have made their fans feel plenty of emotions over the past several seasons, from thrilled to chilled and elated to deflated and pretty much every other sensation that can light a face blue with utter frustration.
But the feeling Tuesday was oddly foreign.
As big-business as any company sold for $2 billion, as corporate as any entity with a payroll of $300 million, as major-market as any franchise that annually attracts 3 million customers, the Dodgers felt overwhelmingly human.
They were, with one simple introduction, suddenly small enough to wrap your arms around and squeeze like a threadbare stuffed animal.