By Jose M. Romero /@RomeroJoseM

Septembers are so awesome.

Especially if you’re a sports fan. The postseason races in baseball are really heating up, and by the end of the month, should be at their most exciting. Pro football and college football are just getting started. The soccer seasons in most countries are in their second month, and in the U.S., pro soccer is nearing crunch time.

You have golf every week and the U.S. Open of tennis, and if you like NASCAR, the Chase is about to start for the circuit championship.

Yes, these are good times for couch potatoes and fantasy football freaks and soccer junkies and more.

And in October when the NHL starts and the major-league baseball playoffs move toward the World Series, it’s arguably even better.

Read more

By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

The strains of the classic “ El Mariachi Loco” had barely faded from the booming speaker system at Dodger Stadium when Adrian Gonzalez officially announced his arrival in Los Angeles with a three-run home run to right field in his first at-bat with his new team.

For Dodgers fans, the moment could hardly have been better. For Dodgers fans of Mexican descent, well, it was perfect.

Read more

By Jose M. Romero /@RomeroJoseM

For Fox Deportes

PHOENIX – The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the All-Star break on July 8 in first place in the NL West by the smallest of margins – half a game.

They got off to a hot start to the season, went on a horrible losing streak in late June in which they dropped 11 of 12 games, and by July 8 had their two best players, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, plus base-stealing ace/shortstop Dee Gordon on the disabled list.

But the Dodgers are at the top thanks to some solid pitching and the surprising contributions of a number of players not widely known. One is a big infielder from Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico – Luis Cruz.

Read more

By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For FOX Deportes

Elian Herrera had a lot to smile about when I approached him after his Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 on July 5.

The Dominican Republic native hit his first major-league home run, and was so excited he practically sprinted around the bases at Phoenix’s Chase Field. When the game was over, Herrera stood by his locker in the visiting clubhouse, beaming.

I’d spoken with Herrera before the game. I asked him where the ball from the home run was. He showed it to me. I asked him how he was able to get it from the fan in the first row of left-field seats who came up with the ball after it flew out of the reach of Diamondbacks left fielder Jason Kubel’s glove. He told me he’d traded a signed bat for the ball.

Read more

By Jose M. Romero

For Fox Deportes

The Big One is finally going to hit Los Angeles.

Not that Richter scale-shattering earthquake that geologists talk about striking the L.A. basin – at least we all hope not – but that perfect storm when four of the city’s major pro sports teams are all playing meaningful games within the same span of days.

In the NBA, the Lakers and Clippers are about to start their respective playoff series against Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Games 1 and 2 are on the road for both teams beginning Monday in OKC, with the Clips playing Game 1 in Texas Tuesday.

Read more