Get ready for a whole lot of Los Angeles Dodgers starting in 2014.

The Dodgers formally announced their new regional sports network in partnership with Time Warner Cable called SportsNet LA. Pending MLB approval, the deal is for 25 years and will be worth between $7-8 billion for the Dodgers, according to the LA Times. It ends a long back-and-forth affair between the Dodgers, Time Warner and Fox Sports on the future home of the baseball team after their contract ended later this year.

“We concluded last year that the best way to give our fans what they want — more content and more Dodger baseball — was to launch our own network,” Dodgers chairman Mark Walter said in a statement. “The creation of AMP will provide substantial financial resources over the coming years for the Dodgers to build on their storied legacy and bring a World Championship home to Los Angeles. Just as we are actively transforming the team and the stadium, we want the Dodgers to be exhibited on the very best sports network in the country — one that will provide an unrivaled fan experience.”

Read more

Vin Scully is getting quite the education on Twitter this week.

After reading Shane Victorino‘s tweet on Tuesday, the 84-year-old broadcaster wanted to get Los Angeles Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis trending on Twitter.

In a matter of minutes, Ellis was trending in the U.S., much to the delight on Scully.

By the way, Ellis hit two home runs on Friday as the Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-1.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully would get his own bobblehead during the 2012 season.

Well, here it is — Scully’s bobblehead night is Aug. 30 when the Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After missing the first five home games of the 2012 season due to a cold, Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully returned to the booth Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

The 84-year-old spoke to reporters prior to the Dodgers 5-4 victory and said he first started feeling ill last weekend in San Diego and was nearly diagnosed with pneumonia.

“I couldn’t stop coughing,” said Scully. “That night, as God is my witness, I did not sleep a wink. I didn’t want to keep coughing because when you cough, it makes you hoarse. So I packed the pillows up to try to prevent the coughing, but when I packed the pillows, I couldn’t sleep. I went to the ballpark (on Sunday) and thought, ‘Oh, Lord, if I can somehow get through this one.’ So I did the game, and I went home. I was asleep in the car on the way back, or at least trying to sleep. That was the lowest point.”

Read more

Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully could return to the booth as early as Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The 84-year-old has missed the last three home games due to a bad cold.

Thanks to this nasty weather in Los Angels, it appears he might not miss a fourth game because Friday’s Dodgers-San Diego Padres game could be in jeopardy.

I look forward to hearing all of Scully’s stories from his time at home this week.

Update (4/14: 6:11 PM): The Los Angeles Dodgers tweeted an update on Scully:

Tomorrow, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully is expected to return to the booth for his 1st 2012 regular season game at Dodger Stadium.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 15, 2012

Vin Scully is resting at home with a bad cold and will miss Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers announce.

— Jon Weisman (@dodgerthoughts) April 10, 2012

A bit of bad news prior to Tuesday’s Los Angeles Dodgers home opener as legendary broadcaster Vin Scully will miss today’s game due to a bad cold, according to Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts.

Feel better, Vin.

The passing of the torch as Magic Johnson and Frank McCourt are all smiles at Opening Day from Petco Park in San Diego.

Photo: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

@magicjohnson congrats on buying dodgers need a 1b or pinch hitter of the bench? Will play for free. Will donate salary charity

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) March 28, 2012

Former MLB outfielder Jose Canseco wasted little time sucking up to Magic Johnson after his bidding group bought the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2 billion Tuesday night.

Canseco, 47, was recently bounced from the Mexican Baseball League after he admitted taking testosterone.

Something tells us Magic and the Dodgers will pass on his services.

Do you believe in Magic?

Magic Johnson‘s bidding group reached a deal to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium from Frank McCourt for a whopping $2 billion — the highest amount ever paid for a sports franchise. Bankruptcy judge Kevin Gross is expected to approve of the deal on April 13, a little over two weeks before McCourt must pay his ex-wife Jamie $131 million as part of their divorce settlement.

Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC are the official owners, which include Johnson, Mark R. Walter, Peter Guber, Stan Kasten, Bobby Patton and Todd Boehly. The controlling owner is Walter, chief executive officer of the financial services company. Kasten, the former president of the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves, is expected to run the day-to-day operations.

Read more

Get ready to hit the mute button when the Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Denver this season.

Vin Scully is scaling back his work load this season and won’t call road games outside of California and Arizona, the team announced Saturday.

The B-team of Eric Collins and Steve Lyons will call Dodger road games east of Arizona.

Scully, 84, will still announce more than 100 games this season on KCAL 9 and Prime Ticket.