There comes a time when every player must make the painful decision to hang up their glove. From what I’ve heard this is the most difficult part of a player’s career. That time has finally come for veteran Jamey Wright. The 41-year right hander who has pitched in 19 major league seasons announced his retirement on Monday. The Dodgers told him that he would not be making the opening day roster, so he called it quits.
Of course I was just about to write an article pleading with him to retire. He probably should have done it a couple of years ago. No disrespect to Wright. He’s a wonderful guy and has an incredible knowledge of pitching stemming from 19 major league seasons. That’s nearly two decades on the mound. He should have retired a while ago, and I cringed every time I watched him pitch this spring.
I remember when Stacie and I were invited to the sportsnetla studios to see a live taping and watch the Dodgers take on the Giants in San Francisco. Orel was talking to us about his career and how amazing his time in the major leagues was. He said it went by so fast, and about not wanting to end the lifestyle. He said once you’re living that baseball lifestyle, you don’t want it to stop.
That’s certainly understandable. If I were a professional baseball player I wouldn’t want the good times to end either. Many players hang on way too long. Orel cried when Tommy Lasorda told him he was cut during his last days as a player. First year Dodger manager Dave Roberts gave Wright the news that he was cut from the club.
Wright will retire back to his home in Colorado and become a full time father to his three children. Apparently he was in full reflection mode on an incredibly long and successful career. Wright’s career spanned nearly two decades, six presidential elections, 10 teams, 719 games, and 2036.2 innings pitched. Wright shed tears when packing up his stuff and saying goodbye to his teammates.
There is no reason for Wright not to become a pitching coach, or bench coach somewhere. He has the experience and the knowledge to be a great coach at any level. After all the guy has been pitching for almost 20 years. Wright was trying to make the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee. This would have been his third sting with the club after pitching with the Dodgers in 2012, and 2014. Wright did not pitch at the major league level in 2015, so his final appearance was as a Dodger.
Wright ends his career with a 97-130 record, and a 4.81 ERA. He struck out 1,189 batters, and made his first and only postseason appearance in 2013 with the Tampa Bay Rays. Wright’s only big league home run came in 1998 with the Rockies. He pitched three complete game shutouts, and had 64 hits. Wright pitched in 8 games for the Dodgers this spring, and posted a 12.15 ERA. Across 6.2 innings pitched he gave up nine earned runs on 14 hits and struck out six.
Good luck Jamey! I hope to see you in the dugout coaching someday.
Class act. Good luck in what ever you do Jamey..
Good luck, Mr. Wright.
If the Dodgers were to somehow land a Jose Fernandez without giving up Urias or DeLeon, that would take a lot of the sting out of losing Greinke. This article brings that up a little.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/bob-nightengale/2016/03/28/dodgers-spring-injuries-trade-rumors/82356636/
“There’s some ambulance chasing going on.”
…teams are offering players because they covet the Dodgers prospects. One thing you can say about the teams depth…or so-called depth…is that it allows the team to hold on to prospect value rather than panic. Once that prospect has been traded away, either now because of injury or at the trade deadline, that prospect is gone. Those resources are more finite. Money, for the Dodgers, a little less so, but there are still limits, especially the with luxury tax.
Maybe if the Marlins tank again, Fernandez starts giving Mattingly attitude he says he won’t re-sign, then they will be a little more amenable to letting him go for less than Urias and DeLeon.
Good find patch.
You know where I stand. I’m fine with a rebuild. We had hoped Kershaw Greinke, Anderwood Stankey would get it done. We were wrong and Greinke be gone, replaced by ? and the Mysterians. Too many things had to go right for us, and wrong for about 8 other teams, for me to believe this is our year. And we are off to a predictably bumpy start here.
I’m fine with a reload, led by Urias, De Leon, Thompson, Bellinger, Seager, Grandal, Verdugo etc beginning in 2017. I think the smart fans of Los Angeles would have supported that idea. Kershaw might not like it, but you can bet no player likes to be bullshitted and that’s what this year feels like to me. Be honest and for heaven’s sake get that tv deal unraveled. LA fans deserve better than “coupon clipping” and Cable Wars.
And Fernandez has already said that he will not sign a contract, to stay with the Marlins. The only thing that could change that, is if Stanton tries to convince Fernandez to stay. But let’s see if the Marlins tank again.
My issue is with the nomenclature. The Marlins rebuild. It implies that you blow up your team and accept that you’re going to stink for a while until you hopefully get good again. I think this a good team…..possibly really good…..possibly a WS contender. It would be better with Greinke and Price and Hamels. ……but they wouldn’t be as good in the mythical 2018 and beyond.
Coupon clipping is what smart household managers do, whether you need to or not.
Kershaw will like winning. If the Dodgers win and the plan looks like it’s working, he’ll be happy. If they lose, he won’t be. If they continue to lose through 18, he’ll leave. I don’t think that will happen, but winning makes everyone happy and everyone look like geniuses.
Dodgerpatch people usually use coupons to buy name products, not generic. And actually, you don’t find coupons for generic products, because your getting a good price because they are generic products. And mostly, you usually get what you pay for.
I don’t agree about this whole ‘we’re wasting Kersh’ prime years” nonsense. We’ve been to the playofs the last 3 years, all part of Kersh’ prime. He’s not been very ace like in those 3 postseasons either (although he was great in game 4 last year in NY, but then our other ace wasn’t so ace in game 5 at Dodger Stadium)
We’ve put together a team good enough to get to the big dance, and Kersh, unlike Buddy Hield, did not step up for most of his starts. If he was the real Kersh, in 2013, 2014, and 2015 playoffs, we might have 1-2 rings.
Now we’re reloading, not rebuilding. We’re still good enough to win the division, and take our chances in the postseason. Especially after half our roster gets over the various injuries.
I don’t believe this team would, as you put it, “continue to lose”, by taking this year to clean up the roster and give the young future superstars some valuable experience. With the Dodgers it would be a one year reload. Example – Trade Ethier and Crawford in Kemp-like deals and play Thompson. Or trade Van Slyke and platoon Thompson. Don’t sign players like Utley and Kendrick, instead give valuable playing time to Hernandez and Johnson. You traded for these young guys for a reason, if it wasn’t to play them then why did you do it? I’d go with Lee, Stripling, Frias and De Leon before signing anybody else. If they can’t hold the fort until McCarthy and Ryu get back, why are they here?
We’ve discussed many options and exchanged ideas on how to use the next two years to change the direction and culture of this organization. It’s my opinion that using this year to have a lineup that is younger and faster is a solid plan. I look at what they are doing and to me it feels counter intuitive.
Badger – I think you’ve absolutely nailed it there.
As usual I’m excited about the up coming season and trying to be positive.
I do feel a bit of a fraud because I just can’t see it.
I’m in agreement with Badger & someone earlier – play the kids now – don’t block their paths with flotsam – give em experience and let’s see what we’ve got going forward.
I cannot understand the Utley/Kendrick signings. Surely one or the other.
As mentioned before if Puig & Joc don’t rebound it leaves us short offensively.
Neither has started well.
The pen looks shaky. JP & Avilan surely have pitched their way off the team.
Blanton still has big question marks in my eyes.
I just can’t believe Wood is going to turn it around & Kazmir needs to step up on what we’ve seen so far.
Seagar & Grandal are recovering from injury.
On the upside Turner looks great.
I hope I’m wrong but as I said before, I see this as a conduit season.
From 16 to 17
They’ve sold the fans on this team being a contender, and priced it accordingly. The average fan is not going to understand blowing it up to give young guys valuable experience. I’m not sure I do either; the future is unknowable. Remember when the Nats shut down a pitcher to save him for next year? In the National League Worst there’s always a chance of making the playoffs, but our team has not been quite good enough once they reach that level.
Stan Kasten thinks the best way to win a championship is to keep making the playoffs and it only took his Braves about a dozen tries to win once. Maybe that’s good enough for Dodger fans today, but I’m getting old and cranky.
Sometimes I get a wake up reminder that I’m just an antique kid with a cruel streak that exists still inside all of us. As fans we often trash talk everything short of heroism. Everybody loves a hero and everybody loves a winner. Everybody on the field and at bat are trying to be both and we’re here to kick em in the teeth when they fail. I’m sure all of us has experiences on both sides of that coin and even at this age there’s still a little Freddy Krueger in all our hearts. I’m still sorry about those cruel things I said about Juan Uribe while he was failing and then I saw him celebrating his teams walk off victory in a game he didn’t even play in while he was still in his failing streak. I guess this holds true in all walks of life. I was a giant man and now I’m Quasimodo!
What would be the definition of a Miami tank? They will do what they always do, win fewer games than at least two teams in their division, fail to make the playoffs and draw fewer fans than damn near everybody. Donnie won’t be the difference there. If Fernandez wants to play in post season he will need to get out of town. Stanton? Good luck. When he signed that contract he established what his priorities are. He’s living the good life in South Beach and probably will be for the rest of his life.
Stripling starting today but no tv. Dammit. I want to see this guy.
Seager should be ready, but I doubt Kendrick and Grandal will be. And so it goes.
Badger I’m bummed that we can’t see Stripling pitch. He has pitched so well, and has had a lot of strike outs, but I have not see him pitch much.
I haven’t either MJ. If he goes 5 today with 3 or fewer earned runs, he makes a case. I want to see somebody from within step up. Why not him?
Hey MJ, stop using me as a verb 😉
I hope Cory is going to be able to hit, once the season starts, because he doesn’t have much time, to prepare for the season, and hasn’t had a lot of at bats, if any, against any real major league pitching. The Dodgers really need Cory’s bat, especially with Ethier out.
Last night, it seemed like only Turner, and Agon, were ready, for a real major league pitcher. Joc did get a nice hit, to left, but I think he is doing what Bum has said. I think Joc kept his swing, a little smaller, but once he got his hit, he tried a longer swing.
The pitcher last night Holland, wasn’t always on the plate, so the hitters had to find a good pitch to hit. I guess that is called effectively wild, but he didn’t give up, many hits.
It was good to see Puig talking to the hitting coach. I hope the hitting coach can help Puig hit good pitching, and to be more patient, at the plate. Puig was off a while, so I hope he comes out, in his next game, hitting again, and it is against a major league pitching. I wish someone could help Puig and Pederson, to recognize the spin on the ball better.
I also hope, that Crawford, can start hitting. We need a sure bat, in the outfield, because we won’t know, if Puig and Pederson will hit, good major league pitching, until the season begins. I am a little leary about Scotty, hitting, right handers, so we do need some offense, in the outfield. I am hoping for the best.
I hope Stripling, pitches good today, and makes the management’s decision harder. I guess it really isn’t that important, who gets to pitch that fifth slot, in the rotation, because it is only for one start.
I saw one AB of Puig last night.
But what I saw, I did not like. I takes the pitch, and the bat was not even on his shoulder. He was not ready. He just gave the pitcher a pitch. Like he was a big shot from Cuba.
Most good hitters want to see every pitch. To watch the flight of the ball, learn something of the delivery, the spin on the ball, and so forth. But his attitude is “I am Puig, and a do not look at every pitch.”
He just is not the hitter he was a couple of years ago.
Roger I saw that too and like you I found it irritating. In my opinion – it’s ok to take strike one if its not the pitch you were looking for in the location of YOUR choice. I told all my hitters if he throws a get me over fastball in your wheelhouse on strike one you have to make him pay for it. He won’t do it again and in fact you may find yourself hitting ahead in the count the rest of the day. Puig gave away a strike and I think that’s foolish. I don’t recall exactly where the pitch was, but if that pitch is a cookie? Did Turner tell him to take strike 1?
While on that subject, the conversation between Turner and Puig, did it look to you guys like Puig was listening intently? Do you think Puig went to him, or did Turner initiated it?
Badger it really looked like Puig was trying to learn from Ward. Puig acted nothing like he did, with Mattingly, and Mattingly’s coaches, if you know what I mean.
I get sick of how Puig acts at the plate too. Like when he shakes his head, to say, that he knows what is coming, and he is going to hit it.
Puig needs to show with his actions, and not all of this other stuff. He looks stupid, when he acts like that. I think he thinks, he is cool, but we all know he isn’t, and he doesn’t look cool, he looks anything, but cool.
Totally agree MJ
Agree with some above; hopefully Stripling does well today and earns that #5 gig.
I didn’t see what Puig did at the plate, but it is of a piece with the bat flipping and the other bush league stuff that was posted about a couple of weeks ago. I’m tired of the excuse of cultural differences. When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, he was total class. If he hadn’t been, the experiment would have been set back considerably. All minority players who came after him benefited.
Puig is a big leaguer – that makes him a role model for kids who watch the games, whether we like it or not. All we need is a bunch of young baseball players who disrespect authority, each other, and the game by acting like they don’t care, showing off, and disregarding coaching.
Two innings pitched by Stripling, and three strike outs, and a walk, and no hits, and no runs.
For the most part I like what i see with Puig. In regards to comments above about Puig taking a first pitch strike with the bat on his shoulder, I liked it. he would up walking in that ab bat. He has kept his bat on his shoulder and watched the first pitch a number of times this spring. In his last at bat yesterday he swung at the first pitch. Pitchers don’t know what he is going to do.
Puig does shake his head. Not a lot, just enough to be Puig. Matumbo used to shake his finger when he blocked a shot in the paint. It was inserting a little personality into the game. let’s lighten up and let Puig keep some of his Puigness.
Now if the Dodgers can live with SVS in RF and Thompson in LF, which I can do through 2017, then maybe they should try to get Richards from the Angels for Crawford, Puig, and Lee
Bum it would be ok, if Puig got a hit, or a HR, but that doesn’t happen. That is why I said that Puig needs to show with action.
I thought Wood looked good yesterday.
Bum Joc hit a HR, to left center field.
He changed his stance again yesterday. It looked much much better.
Puig really looks thinner and so does Agon.
Agon (Classical Greek ἀγών) is an ancient Greek word in reference to several things. In general, the term refers to a struggle or contest. In its broader sense of a struggle or contest, agon referred to a contest in athletics, chariot or horse racing, music or literature at a public festival in ancient Greece.
I saw that. MJ, is there a player you pull the most for?
Not really, but I’m sure I pull for some, more then others. I do pull for underdogs, at times.
Staff gettin blowed up today.
I guess if Puig wants to give strikes away that’s his choice. I just want him to stay healthy and put good swings on pitches in the strike zone. He does that he should have a successful year.
Joc does show signs of making some progress. He also has shown old habits are hard to break. I’m hopeful with him.
Turner. Please stay on the field for a full year.
Turner got spiked by a Padre player, but I guess it is not that deep, or bad, and he has the day off, tomorrow.
I said this before, that the stars are aligning well for Lee. Its destiny, Lee will be the 5th starter. Its his time, his turn. His arm is ready to pitch 200+ innings.
Avilan has been demanding to start the season in OK.
Utley is looking great. Who needs Kendrick? Oh yeah, the Angels do.
I knew Utley would come to spring training, and fight to play second. He is to much of a competitor, to not do that. I also think he is a team guy too. It looks to me, that Turner, might be a little slimmer too. That former Cardinal Jon Jay, is becoming a thorn in the Dodgers side. I hope it ends, when the season begins.
Puig with 3 K. Stripling with 3 HR. Against the lowly Padres. This team is a disaster waiting to happen. The only hope is for the rest of the division to stink. It’s only Spring.
Jimmy Buffett said he “needed a bottle in front of me”
not a
“frontal lobotomy!”
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. Mark Twain
Yeah, Twain nailed that one. When it comes to baseball, it’s hard to know what we know for sure. And when it comes to the team we are focused on, there are many built in biases that get in the way of impartial analysis. The odds say this isn’t the Dodgers year, but that’s no fun. You probably won’t win by betting on them but you won’t lose much either unless you get stupid. A hundred bucks will win you a couple nights in Vegas. That sounds like fun. Or with the same $100 you can take your wife out to dinner right down the street. I’d do the latter. But I’m ramblin here……
The Dodgers look ok, not great. If the management team is serious about winning this year, changes will be made. If the plan is to stay close until everybody is back……. I still don’t bet on the Dodgers.
My point exactly!
This year the Dodgers are in a position to make a deal or two. Last year they didn’t have the pieces.
They will be players… if the deal is right.
They are not dope fiends… like most fans!
Judging from some of the deals I’ve seen so far, that is troubling.
Well, until they actually do it, I remain skeptical. snyder is right – so far? – not so much.
Badger how would you feel, if the Giants and the Dbacks, didn’t improve? And I hope you and your wife, had a nice meal.
How would I feel if our rivals don’t improve? Interesting question. I’d feel elated if the Giants fail, but to improve they would have to win 85. I’d be fine with that if we win 86. I’d be very surprised if the Dbacks don’t improve on 79 wins.
It was odd I didn’t recognize one pitcher, on the Padres today, when I looked at the box score.