It's Not Important That You Stumble… It's Getting Back Up That Counts!
Or I Could Say, It’s Not How You Start… It’s How You Finish! Heather Dorniden (now Heather Kampf) is an American middle-distance runner best known for her grit and determination on the track. She competed for the University of Minnesota, where she was an NCAA champion in the 800…
Or I Could Say, It’s Not How You Start… It’s How You Finish!
Heather Dorniden (now Heather Kampf) is an American middle-distance runner best known for her grit and determination on the track. She competed for the University of Minnesota, where she was an NCAA champion in the 800 meters.
Her most famous moment came during the 2008 Big Ten Indoor Track Championships. In the 600-meter final, Dorniden tripped and fell hard with one lap to go—but got back up, chased down the field, and astonishingly won the race. That comeback performance went viral years later and is often cited as one of the greatest displays of perseverance in sports.
After college, Dorniden continued her career as a professional runner, specializing in the 800m and 1500m. Beyond athletics, she has become a motivational figure, frequently sharing her story as an example of resilience and mental toughness. Here is her inspirational win:
Since the All‑Star break (which fell in early July), the Dodgers have gone 12–21 overall. Of course, the media loves this. Plaschke and others will be reveling in their swill. But… things are about to change, as players who have been injured will start coming back as early as this weekend and next week. Kike Hernandez (Mr. October) is as important on the bench as he is in the field. Max Muncy is the heart and soul of the Dodgers. Hyeseong Kim is a weapon, and Tommy Edman is … well, Tommy Tanks. We do not know how fast they will ramp up, but as they come back and Doc “does to the whip,” I think you will see the Dodgers get up, dust themselves off, and, like Heather Dorniden, outsprint everyone down the stretch.
This team is built for the big moments. It’s go time. It’s for sure that Buddy Kennedy will be gone. Michael Conforto is unlikely to weather the storm. This will be very interesting to watch.
Dodger Notes & News
- Ohtani’s velocity was visibly down last night… why? No clue. I don’t think he should pitch and hit in Colorado again.
- Michael Conforto is officially the worst hitter in baseball (.188). He will be gone soon.
- Paul Gervase has a future… It’s just not now!
- Jack Dreyer’s arm may fall off.
- Henriquez remains intriguing.
- Don’t be surprised if Jackson Ferris is added to the roster as a reliever.
- Kiki is hot at OKC. He’s coming sooner than later.
- I have no idea how Edman’s ankle is, but if Kim is pain-free, look out!
- Kopech, Yates, and Scott are also due back by the first week of September.
I don’t know how much I will post for the next month
I have lots of doctor’s appointments as they get ready to replace my shoulder on the 27th. It does not sound pleasant to me, but I have to do it. My daughter is getting married on Saturday, and I delayed the surgery to walk her down the aisle and do the father-daughter dances. That should be a blast! My youngest son is performing the wedding, and my wife is the Wedding Planner. (She is not my daughter’s mother, who is not coming—I won’t say any more.)
I will post when I can, but I have to be in a sling for 4-6 weeks and then in therapy for 60 days. After that comes the back surgery, the carpal tunnel surgery on both arms, elbow surgery, a heart ablation, and possibly a brain transplant, but since mine has rarely been used, I am looking forward to 2026!
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Discussion (69)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The Dodgers have activated RHP Kirby Yates from the injured list and placed LHP Blake Snell on the paternity list.
8:40 PM ET
Dodgers (73-56)
Padres (73-56)
SP Tyler Glasnow R
1-1 3.12 ERA
SP Nestor Cortes L
1-2 5.87 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF Alex Call R
CF Andy Pages R
2B Miguel Rojas R
3B B. Kennedy R
74° Wind 7 mph Out
I have a post “in jail”
Without being presumptous, perhaps it can wait to be “freed” until the next post by Mark?
Another great outing from Glasnow. $30 million a year for a pitcher that can’t stay healthy or throw strikes. You gotta hand it to Andrew Friedman he sure knows how to spend money.
So as the Dodgers slip-side into second place, again…. the burning question is: Should Buddy Kennedy get more runway?
Joking aside, I’m still baffled by how a Buddy Kennedy can wind up in the defending champ’s lineup while long-suffering Ryan Ward remains in OKC. Yes, I know they play different positions… so why not promote ML vet Nick Senzel instead? I assume Kennedy is in there because of some sort of 40-man/waiver-wire logistics beyond my ken. Whatever. It’s just bizarre.
Anyway, I assume that the returns of Kike, Kim and Edman will knock Kennedy, Dean and (I ope) Conforto off the roster.
We are supposed to be encouraged by the returns of Scott and Yates too–but what if the time off doesn’t improve their performances? And what guarantee is there than Kike, Kim and Edman provide the jolt this team needs when superstars like Mookie still struggle? The Dodgers should still win the West…right? right???…but the Padres reinforced their roster and could have the momentum down the stretch. But the Dodgers should at least get a wild card spot… right? Right???
For Dodger fans, this one sucked. Thank goodness for Rojas preventing a no-hitter and Freeland for preventing a shutout.
But baseball fans, I suspect, enjoyed watching Glasnow, a Hollywood-handsome guy who looks like a Marvel Avenger, get outpitched by a guy who looks like somebody who might sidle up at the local dive. Nestor Cortes might be the funkiest pitcher in the game.
In my humble opinion Glasnow is NOT a starting ptcher you can count on in a BIG game. IF the Dodgers plan on starting hm in the playoffs, he’d better start a game at home because these are his 2025 road stats show an ERA of 5.40 with 16 strikeouts in 4 appearances.
Today’s bets aren’t on whether the Dodgers will win, they’re on whether they’ll get more than 2 hits and/or score more than 1 run.
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is insanity.
i’m hoping doc doesn’t sit Fleeman again! he’s the offense!! Kennedy? don’t get it! 2 games, ok. almost every day with Alex sitting? no! … lot of games left. Friars haven’t won sh#t yet! Speaking of padres. I despise Machado. BUT, i will give him his due. he’s as smooth as anyone I’ve seen at 3rd base. Shame he’s such a arssss!…. i like andy pages. but sometimes he rubs me a little. At times he refuses to take a pitch. swings at non competitive pitches. throws to the wrong base. that said he is very talented. but last night he pulled up 6-7 feet from first base and didn’t run thru the bag. didn’t like it! remember when we had a guy playing shortstop a couple of years ago who was criticized for that and admitted he didn’t give it his all, all the time? we don’t cut him any slack now that he’s gone! i’m just saying!…. i’ve not been one to scream for Ward, but dear lord, he’s got to be better than conforto ! if buddy miller can make this roster? i’m just saying!
4:10 PM ET
Dodgers (73-57) 2nd place Western Division
Padres (74-56) 1st place Western Division
SP Y. Yamamoto R
10-8 2.90 ERA
SP Nick Pivetta R
13-4 2.81 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
3B A. Freeland S
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Miguel Rojas R
C D. Rushing L
75° Wind 10 mph L-R
Time for Ohtoni being a starting pitcher to be over iin 2025.He has all winter long to ramp up for the 2026 season. Make him a reliever. We need him to get on base and start stealing some bags and put pressure on the pitcher and defense. 17 steals this year doesn’t cut it. i’m sure all his other offensive numbers will also increase.
amen AVF! everyone oooh’s and aaah’s about ohtani and the fact he’s hitting 102 on the radar. Ignoring the fact he’s been hit hard lately. i don’t remember him swinging so wildly last year. right now they need his offense far more than his pitching! Wrobleski can hold down the #5 spot for the rest of the season. fix the offense! the pitching is not the problem!
O boy. Another wasted opportunity in inning #1
Now that they’ve completed their quota of runs and hits, game over?
This here blog is a fine place to discharge one’s negative emotions as the team suffers through its greater than average misfortunes. On the other hand, how welcome a forum it is to share one’s bliss with fellow travelers after a victory such as today’s 8-2 triumph. The bi-polar ride that is the sum of the late August 2025 season has been an adventure for sure.
I chatted today with with a laid back SoCal transplant Dodger fan who’s a checker at the local super market. The young man gave me context that I will effort to hang my hat on, namely these past three games are like the Padres’ World Series. “Those dudes down there” he concluded “are just a bunch of cry baby wannabees.” I will trust in his judgment…
Mr. Freeland is looking pretty solid. Freddie was, well, Freddie today. Dalton Rushing is a keeper, his bat will eventually become more consistent and today was a sample of what’s to come I’d wager. Yamamoto was good enough and the relief pitching was a damn sight better than that group of complainers on the other side. I even stayed tuned in for some of the post game interviews and gossip, something I hadn’t had the stomach for lately. That smarmy David Vassegh still puts me off my potato chips and near beer though. GO DODGERS!!!