In this video, we see an unfortunate scene where a man drops his small child reaching for a foul ball. It’s not entirely rare. It happened earlier this year at Dodger Stadium. However, in this instance, the setting is Taiwan. Taiwan, if you don’t know, is an island off mainland China where Chinese people live without being communist. It used to be called Formosa. It’s a neat place! And, they love baseball.

Note how no translation in necessary from Cantonese or Mandarin (we can’t tell which is being spoken here) to understand the humor the broadcasters find in the circumstance. Also note how the ice daggers the man’s wife shoots at him from her eyes are universally recognizable to male homo sapiens all over the known universe.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are not popular in their hometown. This is because their owner is widely regarded – accurately – as a dolt.

Now, the Dodgers have been busted for being slobs in their old spring training digs in Vero Beach, Florida.

Frankrupt.com  is a website dedicated to providing apparel to frustrated Dodgers fans. This is a great example of why the Internet is awesome, and how we live in a thrilling age. If only there had been this for jilted Brooklynites in 1957. Jon Moore, a spokesman for the website, joined Robert in Hour 3. Podcast after the jump.

In today’s Opening Segment, Robert discussed the decline of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and how no one has any sympathy for them. Enjoy a podcast below.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Dodgers have announced the team has filed for bankruptcy protection. Team owner Frank McCourt says the move will help stabilize the finances of the team. Whether you believe him or not doesn’t really matter. Whether Frank McCourt can somehow remain the owner of the Dodgers doesn’t really matter. These things will sort themselves out, because Major League Baseball is a cartel, and cartel bosses like their other bosses to be competent.

The Dodgers are a financial disaster. From the Los Angeles Times:

Manny Ramirez is the Dodgers’ largest creditor, according to the bankruptcy filing. The Dodgers owe Ramirez $21 million, followed by Andruw Jones ($11 million), Hiroki Kuroda ($4.5 million), Rafael Furcal ($3.7 million) and the Chicago White Sox ($3.5 million, for Juan Pierre).

The list of creditors includes much of the current Dodgers roster, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully ($152,778), the city of Los Angeles ($240,563 in tax debt) and two players yet to play for the Dodgers (prospects Zach Lee at $3.4 million and Alexander Santana at $499,500).

You recall Shawn Green – or you should – as a superb hitter with Toronto and the Dodgers. He’s now an author: The Way Of Baseball is his book. Shawn joined Robert in Hour 1 to talk about his life after baseball and his new path as a writer. Podcast after the jump. 

Think of this video as a metaphor:

Father: Frank McCourt
Young Daughter: the citizenry of Los Angeles

Ignore the part at the end where the Young Daughter smiles, and you have a perfect microcosm of the 2011 LA Dodgers season.

LA Police have arrested a suspect in the life-threatening beating of a Giants fan at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day. Brian Stowe was apparently jumped without provocation and severely beaten on March 31st. Stowe is still in critical condition.

Richard Sandomir writes for the New York Times. He joined Robert in Hour 1 to talk about the ongoing turbulence surrounding the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers franchises. Rich and Robert also reflected on the passing of golfer Seve Ballesteros. Click through for a podcast of the conversation.