Filed Under » Los Angeles Dodgers

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has made his first decision since taking control of the floundering Dodgers franchise, putting himself fourth in the lineup for tonight's game against the Braves.

"The Dodgers need a steady hand right now, not just from the executive level but also on the field, playing in the games," said Selig. "I plan to provide that."

Selig, age 76, says playing in the major leagues has been a lifelong dream of his, but insists that he is not abusing his power.

"I might be older than the average player, but we saw how Jamie Moyer was still contributing last year in his late 40s," said the commissioner. "And I'll have you know that in 1949 I was eighth on my JV baseball team with a .271 average. Unfortunately, I didn't make varsity the next season because by then my school allowed black students to play. That's when I started the Collective Bargaining Club at school and the rest, as they say, is history."

Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play man Vin Scully, entering his 62nd season behind the mic, says he has finally developed a catchphrase he hopes will make him famous.

"I may be old," said the 83 year-old Scully, "but I'm not stupid. I know that the only way to have any relevance in this business and to make an impact is to come up with a good catchphrase. Unfortunately, that kind of thing has never been a strong point for me."

But starting this season, Scully says he will yell "BIG BITCH BABY!" after every Dodgers home run.

"I think it's something you'll hear kids saying and that you'll see on t-shirts," said Scully. "I'm mainly going to use it on home run calls. So as the ball clears the fence, I'll yell 'Back, way back … and it's a BIG … BITCH … BAAAABBBBYYYYYY!' But it can also work on close plays at the plate, like if there's a collision or something: 'And BOOM! BIG BITCH BABY!' I'm pretty much going to work it in as much as possible so it becomes popular."

Los Angeles resident Russell Tims, still euphoric from this month's overturning of California's controversial bill banning same-sex marriage, proposed to his partner on the Jumbotron during Sunday afternoon's Dodgers game. His proposal was summarily rejected, leaving Tims red-faced and humiliated in front of 44,000 fans.

"It was totally spontaneous and out of character for me," said Tims, 36, of Westwood. "But this has been such an inspiring month, and we were having a fun time at the game, so I just went for it. In retrospect, it was a really dumb idea."

Tims says his (now) ex-partner, Paul, had no idea the proposal was coming and, in fact, the two had never even discussed the idea of marriage before. "We had actually only been together for, like, a month. Things were going pretty good between us, but the baseball game was only our third date."

That didn't stop Tims from getting up from his seat during the second inning (he told Paul he "was going to get some beers") and informing an usher of his plan. The usher said he "would see what he could do," and Tims returned to his seat. "When I got back, Paul said to me, 'weren't you going to get beer?' And I remember thinking, 'uh oh, he's totally on to me!' Of course, I now see how ridiculous that was."

Three innings later, the usher walked by Tims's seat and gave him a subtle nod. "I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest, I was so excited," recalls Tims. Sure enough, as soon as the top of the fifth ended, Tims looked up to see both he and Paul on the Jumbotron, while the P.A. announcer asked the crowd to "turn their attention to the big screen, as Russell has something he would like to ask Paul."

"So I dropped to one knee, took Paul's hand, and asked him if he would do me the honor of being my husband. It was so stupid – I didn't even have a ring. But the crowd was standing and cheering by that point, so I didn't even care."

Needless to say, Paul's reaction was not what Tims was hoping for. "He looked at me, just stunned, and said, and I'll never forget this, 'are you fucking kidding me?' I told him that I wasn't. And he said to me, 'I barely know you.' It was at that point I realized what a huge mistake I had just made."

Paul immediately got up from his seat and disappeared up the aisle, leaving Tims alone, kneeling, and completely dejected. "Imagine getting a bucket of cold water poured on you while getting punched in the stomach while having your pants pulled down in front of a stadium full of people. That's basically how I felt."

Tims says he and Paul haven't spoken since the incident, which he regrets, but that it is "probably for the best." And in any event, he says he has learned a valuable lesson. "Don't propose to a relative stranger on a whim. And if you must, for the love of God, don't do it in front of tens of thousands of people."

An appeal from the decision overturning Proposition 8 is set to be heard by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals this coming December.

SportsPickle is previewing each MLB team as the 2010 season opens. Today: Los Angeles Dodgers(2009: 95-67, NL West champion).

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was informed today by Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt that he will live with Mrs. McCourt once the couple's divorce is finalized.

"Divorce is always hardest on the children," said Jamie McCourt. "But I think Manny took the news like a trooper. He cried a little bit, but he was brave. I told him that I have a lot of fun toys at my new house. He'll enjoy it there."

Ramirez asked if it was his fault that the McCourt's were separating. But both Frank and Jamie assured him he was not to blame — and that they loved him very much.

Yet Ramirez sounds heartbroken.

"If I was more lovable, Frank and Jamie would want to stay together so they could see me every day," Ramirez said today, tearfully looking up from playing with a truck on his bedroom floor. "I know it's my fault. I think it's because I took those funny pills that I found in Jamie's purse. Now they're mad and they're breaking up."

Frank McCourt says losing Manny is the hardest part of the entire divorce.

"I didn't want this to happen. I'll miss everything about Manny every day," he said. "Even the stuff that sometimes seemed annoying like wiping his nose or changing his sheets because he peed in his bed. But I'll still go to the stadium every night and see him there. She can't take that away from me. I'll make sure to make those moments together special."

Ramirez says he still holds out hope of getting the McCourt's back together. But he also wonders if Jamie McCourt will find someone else.

"Maybe she will get together with someone really cool," he said. "Maybe she'll be with someone like Mark Cuban. Whoa. That would be awesome!"