Losing Our Youth

Posted By on January 15, 2021

Mark did such a great job in his tribute to Lasorda. It was moving and fitting. And as usual, it got me thinking of how many of those who influenced us in our lives have passed on over the last few years.

I remember how sad I was when Duke Snider passed in 2011. He was 84 at the time, but I was glad that Duke had been alive to enjoy his induction into the hall.

Pee Wee the same, he went into the hall 4 years after Duke. A lot of that came back when Tommy passed. His life was truly blessed and he got to enjoy his induction to the hall only a year after he had to leave his duties as manager.

Gil still is not in, but he deserves to be. And maybe, this next go around he will finally get his due. But not only does it hurt when the stars of the game pass, some of the average guys who made impacts on the team will hurt too.

Like when we lost Lou Johnson and Jay Johnstone earlier this year. I had met Jay when I sang the anthem at Dodger Stadium. He was a very funny guy, and he was a solid player for the Dodgers.

But even losing opponents who you had seen play affects you. I know that when the day comes and Willie Mays passes on, I will feel a definite sense of loss. This May, Willie will turn 90.

Stan Musial, Willie McCovey, guys I saw and respected. Mickey Mantle, one of the greatest players ever, and the best switch hitter I ever saw. Mick used to kill the Dodgers in the Series. And it was fitting how in his last Series against the Dodgers, he hit a homer off of Koufax.

Mick was only 63 when he passed, and had been out of the game for 27 years. He was the subject of numerous articles that chronicled his use of alcohol, and how he could have been such a better player if he had not had so many late night escapades.

Mick, being the man he was, owned up to it all. And that made me respect him as a person even more. No one is perfect. Not even our heroes.

But when we can no longer see them on the field, we still have the memories of their play. I can still see Willie running the bases and his hat flying off. I see Mantle taking a mighty swing, and when he connects the ball really flies.

Then I think to the young people today and the memories they will have of this season. No fans in the stands. No chance to meet the players. But the excitement brought to those kids by the playoff performance of some of the stars, and those kids have memories to hold onto.

Mine center on a couple of unreal catches by Mookie, a couple of really clutch home runs, and a kid named Urias throwing strike after strike to mow down the Rays and give them the trophy.

Those memories will always be with me. I will cherish all of them. And now and then, I will glance to the sky to see if I can catch a glimpse of the Big Dodger up there Tommy always talked about.

This article has 55 Comments

  1. Looks like NYY is finalizing their contract with DJLM. Never figured it would go any other way. They still need pitching.

    1. It is rumored to be 4 years/$92 Million.

      Both sides compromised but this should show Justin Turner that if the AL Batting Champ who is 4 years younger than he can only get four years, then he can’t either.

      Two years. mutual option!

  4. 10am west coast deadline for filing arbitration figures.

    Seager, Bellinger, Buehler, Urias & Barnes remain unsigned.

    1. Good morning all. I am really nervous about Seager, Buehler, Urias and Barnes regarding the filing of arbitration. But, am very optimistic that everything will work out for the players and the Dodgers. I can not see the team being as successful without them.

      1. They are not going anywhere DBM. If they go to arbitration it simply means that the arbitrator will choose their figure or the Dodgers. Of course some animosity can come out of the process. But the Dodgers are usually fair. Seager stands to get a nice raise, as should Urias. Cody could get up to as much as 15 mil, but no one knows what his camp wants. Barnes should get a nice boost. Urias and Buehler, that is the unknown.

        1. I believe we have the following years of control left on each:

          Buehler: 4
          Bellinger/Urias: 3
          Barnes: 2
          Seager: 1

          1. IIRC, both Bellinger and Barnes have 2 years of control left.

            Buehler is a Super 2, hence the 4 years total of arb.

          1. The guys who did not agree to contracts will now exchange figures with the team. They will submit what they want, and usually settle for some sum in between. And they can do that all the way up to the arbitration hearing.

  5. According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB ;
    The Dodgers have established themselves as one of the most active teams on the international market, and they are once again off to a good start.

    According to industry sources, the club has an agreement with shortstop Wilman Diaz, No. 3 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 International Prospects List, and catcher Jesus Galiz, No. 8, both of Venezuela.

    The Dodgers have not confirmed the deals.

  6. Jeff Passan is reporting DJLM 6 years $90MM. Would a team do 4 years at $90MM?? I think that more than a couple would have. If so, why not 6 years? Drops the AAV to $15MM. I don’t think the Yankees had as much of a problem with $90MM as they did with AAV. Now they can sign DJLM and pick up a quality pitcher and stay under the CBT threshold. Teams like the Dodgers and Yankees and other teams with $$$$ are going to push the other owners hard on making sure that the AAV and resulting CBT are not significant factors. Make it high and give the team 5-6 years to get under before penalties begin.

    1. Jon Heyman reported that Toronto offered 4 years at $78 million for DJ, and the Yanks were in that ballpark for 4 years. In the end DJ wanted $90 million total and preferred NY. I think DJ has been a great player the last 2 years, but surprised to see his career OPS is only .787 with most years in Coors. And his career OPS+ is only 102. The rumors of 4 years at $100 million or 5 years at $125 million were way off for DJ.

      Maybe Dodgers will take similar approach with Justin Turner. Offer $25-$35 million total but over 3-4 years instead of over 2 years.

      2. Another report had the Dodgers in for 4 years $60MM. That is hard to believe that it was actually offered. Maybe that was offered very early on as a starting off point, but it was never realistic. The only one that is verifiable is NYY.

  7. Bear – thanks for the memories. I don’t mean to steal that from Bob Hope. My youth is so far back in the rear view mirror but my Dodger memories thankfully are still right up there with yesterday’s memories. In fact, I recall them better than what I did yesterday.

    So many Dodgers are now only fond memories with many such as Jackie, Gil and Junior Gilliam gone far too soon. I too miss others who were not Dodgers such as as Al Kaline, Ernie Banks, Tony Gywnn, Yogi and of course, the Mick.

    I have mentioned before that I live in the past and the future. The present just is while the past cannot be taken from us and the future holds what is to come. Hence my penchant for the minor leagues.

    1. Never a problem stealing from Hope there Harold. He was a classic. One of the things that makes me sad about America is that there are no comedians around like Hope, Skelton, Danny Kaye, and yes, even Rickles, who could have you laughing without using curse words. I liked Jerry Lewis when I was a kid, but later he just got annoying. I just thought Mays was other worldly. He was something to watch. Maybe because he was doing it in every facet of the game. I never felt that way about Aaron. I knew I was watching a great hitter, but I do not remember ever seeing an outstanding defensive play. Some times I like staying in the past, it was a more serene time. Dodgers signed SS Rayne Doncon…Former Dodger hitting coach, Ben Hines passed away Wednesday night at 85.

  8. Jesse Sanchez
    @JesseSanchezMLB
    ·
    31m
    #Dodgers make it official with shortstop Wilman Diaz, #3 on
    @MLBPipeline
    ’s Top 30 Int’l Prospects list.

    1. Catcher Jesus Galiz also is signed. With 17 year old toolsy SS 17 Rayne Doncon (Not Top 30), that is three signed by LAD.

  9. From MLBTR:
    It’ll be a six-year, $90MM contract for LeMahieu when finalized, as was first reported by Pat Ragazzo (Twitter link). The $90MM overall guarantee isn’t particularly surprising, but it is indeed an eye-opener to see that sum come over a six-year term rather than five or even four years.

  11. Glad to see him get paid. $3M isn’t chicken feed. He should do well investing that kind of cash with his financial prowess.

  12. I don’t know who Dan Clark is but so far he’s the only one I see who’s mentioned the Turner deal being close to done.

    1. Another wannabe. One of his scoops was Machado to NYY. Some of these guys just want to say they got the scoop, so they make up things they think will happen. When one of the connected sources tweets it, it will be more believable.

      1. Yeah, I agree. I went back and read it and it basically amounted to a “rumors are . . .” level of reporting.

  13. Kurt Suzuki signs with LAA. One year $1.5MM, Good sign for the Angels. I am surprised Nats did not re-sign him. Yan Gomes and Tres Barrera only catchers on Nats 40 man. No way Gomes catches more than 100 games and Barrera has all of 2 MLB ABs.

    1. Nats might still decide to spend on Realmuto, giving them another big bat and let them keep Kieboom on third this year. That would let him have some time to get acclimated to MLB so they can see what they have in him.

      I see it as kind of similar to what we have with Lux at second. Big prospect, started slowly, not sure how it will develop.

      1. STB I may be the only one who feels this way, but I’m very confident that if we give the 2b job to Lux, and bat him 8 or 9 every day , we’ll see the Minor League Player of the Year shine thru

        2b is not a worry to me one bit

          1. I also think Lux will be given the 2nd base job and it’s his to lose. But I could make a case that CT3 should be the everyday guy there and Lux should have to earn a spot either at 2nd, left field or pinch hit, which would do little for his development. I know he had only 19 games last year and didn’t do well. When the playoffs started, the Dodgers wisely started CT3 at 2nd. He moved to left in later innings to get Kike’s defense in the game. If CT3 was good enough to start at 2nd for a World Series winning club, why isn’t it reasonable for him to be the starting 2nd baseman NOW? Make Lux win the job or he becomes a trade piece.

        2. No, you are not the only one. I think Lux will rediscover himself without all the hoopla. The kid is legit. You do not tear up the upper levels of MiLB, be named MiLB Player of the Year as a 21 year old without the skills. Yesterday I listed several top level MLB 2B who did not become regulars until they were 23. I still believe the Dodgers should have drafted Bichette, but I also believe Lux will have a very productive ML career. 2B is not a problem for the Dodgers.

      1. Geez. How much will he makes in arb in 2022 & 2023?

        Remember when we gave Piazza 2y/$15m for his final two years of arb?

        We might have to give Cody 2y/$50m!

  15. Fangraphs may be good at stats but their prospect lists suck.

    They just reranked us and put Diaz 9th, ahead of Hoese [and quality guys like Cartaya, De Jesus & Vargas] while putting Galiz 18th, ahead of L-Rod.

    For reference purposes only, they currently gave Victor Gonzalez 21st for us–he’s, you know, the guy with the ring who pitched in the WS.

  17. Barnes, Urias, Seager. and Buehler do not reach a settlement before the deadline. Some chatter from different sources that the Dodgers are close to bringing Turner back. Personally, I will believe it only when the ink is on the contract.

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