Crickets

Yesterday, Badger said, “Your communication skills remind me of Joe Frazier’s boxing approach.” He’s right. If I have a problem with something you say, you will know about it. I’m no Ali. I don’t float like a butterfly. I am more like Joe Frazier, whose style was to constantly be in his opponent’s chest, wearing them down with stifling pressure and punches from every angle available to him. Compared to many pressure fighters, Frazier didn’t get hit as much as you would expect. Frazier preferred to bob and weave constantly.

Yeah, guilty as charged. Badger nailed it!

I live a Dodger season at a time – not a Dodger game at a time. I look at the big picture, not a single game. Looking at one game at a time will drive you crazy… and I am convinced that many of you have taken that crazy train one too many times.

My son-in-law who is a Red Sox fan and works for me says, “I can never tell whether the Dodgers won or lost by how you act the next day.” Well, it’s not the end of the world if they lose… unless it is the last game… in which case I might be bummed for a few hours, and then my next blog is about next year. It’s a damn game, and if they lose, I may not like it, but IT’S A DAMN GAME! It’s not life and death.

I prefer to live my life as an optimist because I am happy most of the time. When you live your life as a pessimist you are miserable most of the time until you are surprised that something went right… in which case you are probably still miserable. Optimists generally approach life with a positive outlook, while pessimists tend to expect the worst. Optimists go into new situations with high expectations, while pessimists keep low expectations to prepare for negative outcomes.

Researchers have found that the most optimistic men and women demonstrated, on average, an 11-15% longer lifespan, and had far greater odds of reaching 85 years old, compared to the least optimistic group. When my ex-wife found out she had brain cancer (at age 37) and they gave her six weeks to live, I said “It makes no difference what they say. Let’s figure out a way to beat it.” She said, “I’m a realist, I know that this can kill me… and probably will.” You often get what you believe. She died on New Year’s Eve 1996… six weeks to the day. Maybe she would not have beaten it… no matter what, but her attitude gave her no chance. By the way, she was a brilliant woman with a 163 I.Q. Me? I’m too stupid to know I can’t do something, so I just go ahead and do it.

That was twenty-five years ago and our son who was nine when she died. shares his mother’s pessimism about life. He also is brilliant but life is a struggle for him and he has never gotten over losing his mother. I can’t fix it… God knows I have tried. You can never make anyone be anything ever than who they are. Only they can change their direction. But, you still love them through it all.

This brings me to “Crickets” and I am sure you are saying “What on earth are you talking about?” I am talking about: Crickets. Crickets are what happens when the Dodgers are on a winning streak. Crickets are what happens when things are going well. Crickets are what the commenters on LADT have to say after a win or five. However, if the Dodgers bullpen blows a save, a player makes an error, or if the term is 1-108 with RISP, there are no crickets… EVERYONE PILES ON… with negativity.

• I don’t want to be negative, but…
• They will never win…
• They just don’t have heart
• ____________________________ (you fill it in) needs to be cut, sent back to the minors or killed
• Yada, Yada, Yada.

Most people who do all the complaining are either very pessimistic or have lost the ability to enjoy life. Enjoying life does not necessarily mean having lots of money, cars, and accessories. Finding pleasure in your work, going out with friends, spending time with loved ones are all that brings joy to life.

Social media has given many people an entitlement towards being angry and hurt towards matters which they may not understand fully. Such websites are designed to show you what you like and appeal to your deepest feelings. So if you follow a page about people who are unhappy about or opposed to certain things, the site’s algorithm will suggest similar pages.

Such tactics enable a virulent spread of ideas that may or may not have any ground reality. But they become popular nonetheless. Youngsters must especially be warned about his. Social media sites have enabled social engineering to be carried out en masse by dubious vested interests. They paint a picture of a world that may reflect your own personal views and cement them further.

When the Dodgers lose or something bad happens, LADT has double or triple the posts. I am going to suggest that you get a life. A large number of commenters left LADT after the 2020 World Series because they had so much less to bitch about…. well that, or they didn’t like me (of course I don’t care).

I am still very high on this team. The 2021 Dodgers are the best team in baseball… but I also know that the best teams do not always win. It’s complicated to explain why. Look no further than the San Francisco Giants who won three World Series in five years.

In 2010, they won the World Series but did not make the playoffs in 2011. In 2012, they again won the World Series and followed that up by going ten games under .500 in 2013. In 2014 they also won the World Series and have struggled every year since then, until this season. Go figure!

However, the season is not over. There are 50 games left. The Dodgers have challenges, but so do the Giants in a system that is not nearly as deep as the Dodgers. The Dodgers may or may not have woke up from being drunk with a World Championship. Trea Turner is fast… he’s the fastest player in baseball (allegedly). Speed kills… and it also might just be contagious. I saw more good baserunning yesterday than I have seen in weeks. I saw hitters hitting to the opposite field. I saw a team playing for the sheer joy of the game. I saw Cody Bellinger with another huge smile after hitting a 2-run HR, and what I remember most is the smile the covered Albert Pujols face when he absolutely crushed a 2-run HR against the team who thought he was washed up.

I have listened to fans this season who have wanted to get rid of Max Muncy, AJ Pollock, Gavin Lux, Luke Raley, Zach Reks, Sheldon Noisy, Cody Bellinger, Kenley Jansen, David Price, Julio Urias, Austin Barnes, and just about every bullpen pitcher. By the way, the fans who say Andrew Friedman does not value the bullpen or does not know how to build a bullpen, cannot explain how they would do it any better.

Yesterday was just one game, but it was the first game I can remember with three stolen bases (by the Dodgers). Many of us have been wanting to see Quackenbush, and we did. One game does not make a career, but he did look overmatched. I was, however, very impressed with Justin Bruihl, who pitched 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings and appears to have the guts of a Cat Burglar! Obviously, I need to see more before I proclaim him the Second Coming, but I was impressed with his first appearance.

Finally, my advice is to enjoy the season, if not the game. Why does Doc get blamed for everything when they lose and it’s crickets when they win? Many of you hate Dave Roberts and when you hate anyone they have control over you. You are Doc’s puppet. Me? I don’t hate him. He’s a manager. Some moves work – some don’t. To continually criticize him, no matter what marks you as totally irrational and devoid of understanding of the game of baseball. Yes… it’s a game.

Enjoy the ride… I have a feeling that regardless of certain games, this is going to be another great season. The Dodgers have to overcome a lot in order to win it all again, but it is certainly very possible. Las Vegas still thinks so… and that place was built by losers. Rejoice, my Brothers and Sisters! Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies… We are headed down the stretch with just 50 games left! Let’s Roll!