Mark,

I am feeling terribly despondent after reading your farewell and the resultant closure of a favored part of my everyday pattern of life. Although I will miss ladodgertalk.com on a daily basis from the early morning when I read the topic of the day until late in the evening when comments are closed, I find myself drawn to the site where I can peruse the comments of almost all of you although, Jeff, it would be nice to know where you plan to land so I can avoid that site like the plague. Sorry for that but it needed to be said IMO.

Although I know very little about the requirements necessary to manage and maintain a site like this, I would certainly be willing to talk with you about this and my wife is encouraging me to do so. I am retired and have the time and eagerness to make this happen if you would consider this. As I am a 57 year veteran of the Dodger Wars, I believe that I have the base of knowledge to know what I know, the research skills to find most of what I don’t, and the willingness to reach out to others to help provide answers.

Mark, if you’d be open to discussing this and perhaps serving as a mentor until I’d get up to speed, just let me know. I’d also like to know how the rest of you Dodgerphiles would feel about this and if you’d stick around and give ladodgertalk.com a chance to continue and hopefully thrive.

Mark, thank you for all the time and effort that you’ve put into LADT. I only found your site a couple of months ago but what a great find it was. You and your writers are so knowledgeable and great Dodgers fans. I haven’t posted much but I’ve sure learned a lot from your site. You’re going to be missed.

I know that you’ve said that your business is doing well and I hope that continues. I wish you well with your new foundation. It’s purpose is something that will surely be needed after disasters that you mentioned above.

May God bless you and your family.

This is a bit of a shock.

I’m taken aback, but in a way I’m inspired, too. I think it’s during times like these where we really do need to evaluate the larger picture and important things in life. What is our legacy going to be?

I’ll give you kudos for doing that, and for starting a foundation that will make a lasting impact for those who need it. It inspires me to make similar changes.

I’ve spent a lot of time here, and learned much, and argued much. …maybe too much. Nevertheless, I’m grateful to have known you …and others … such that I feel I am a slightly better person.

Thank you for your time and effort … and good luck

Thank you Mark

God bless you and your family and all who come here.

When it’s time to go, it’s time to go, and Mark knows better than anyone that now is the time to say goodbye.

Thanks for everything, Mark.

And thanks to the other great writers and posters on this site.

Health and happiness to everyone.

I’ve only been a visitor here for about a year Mark but really appreciate the site you’ve put together.

Your plan for the trucks is beautiful. Hope it grows by leaps and bounds and that you never have to use them.

I want to second Bear’s suggestion that you all check out http://www.thinkbluepc.com. Dennis and Andy who run it are great people and are always looking for new commenters and writers. AC, DC, 2d2 and Evan, your posts would be welcome, I’m sure, and you wouldn’t have to commit to anything weekly, just whenever you had something to say.

Wishing all of you health and happiness always.

Will miss reading this blog and all it’s contributors. Best of luck to everyone. Stay healthy and may God bless you all.

UPDATE ABOVE

Thank you AC, DC,2D2 and Evan, your articles have always been interesting, very enjoyable,

I have learned so much from them,thank you, hope all of you will start another site.

Mark – I understand the commitment you have made to LADT and the pressure it must have put on you within the context of your family and work and now with the situation in which we are all living . I truly understand as at times I found it was difficult to turn out one article a week. Your commitment has been amazing over such a long period of time.

Your decision is troublesome only because it causes us to be concerned there is more going on with you than you are letting us know. From afar please know that with whatever we can do we have your back.

I know that your decision is not just impulsive as there were times in the past that you made the same consideration. For whatever reason the timing now is right for you. I respect that and thank you for your kindness to me over the past couple of years.

You have built a community of knowledgeable Dodger fanatics, perhaps the most knowledgeable and interactive in the blogosphere. Thank you for that. Many folks will have continuing memories of LADT and the family it built.

To the many loyal posters here, thank you for your kind comments. Stay safe and look forward to the next chapter in Dodger baseball. As Tommy reminds us, “When one window closes, another one opens.” Or as Yogi told us, “When you see a fork in the road, take it.”

Mark

I’m really hoping that you havnt got something going on that you haven’t shared with us, because you have not seemed yourself these past couple of weeks.

You intimated that you wanted to scale down your posting for a while, until this terrible C-19 Virus blows over, but have been drawn back in, because as you say above, this is your passion.

I know you’ve done 20 years, which is an awful lot, but I was only just thinking that since 2012, when I discovered this place, this is the strongest and best that it has been.

It has evolved into a great community with unbelievable writers.

AC & 2D2 would never have got the opportunity to showcase their skills and knowledge – and don’t forget, they wanted to be part of it because they enjoyed it. They are very good.

The addition of DC & Evan gives us even more talent here, making the best Rotation in the Blogosphere. Don’t get me to pick an Opening Day Starter from that group!

Then there’s the Posters. I read elsewhere, and you will not find a better and more knowledgeable crowd than you’ve assembled here.

You have some very good followers, committed Dodger Fans.

For me, Michael (Bear) & Badger, have enhanced thugs further, and I read new names posting every day.

Plus of course the non posters, who just read here.

My point – do you think that possibly by this place becoming so good, you are now feeling an extra pressure to deliver something wonderful and original every day, because that’s what’s expected?

If that is the case, then you are wrong.

The contributors here will find things to talk about themselves. These are intelligent people. We are not expecting earth shattering pieces every day. We just like being here.

Being part of something.

These are unique times. There is no Baseball to talk about. Not even Trades.

Trying to find interesting topics is hard, but DC has been brilliant at taking us on trips down Memory Lane, and the other boys have stepped up with interesting pieces.

These are unbelievably trying times for everyone Mark. You are not immune to pressure or anxiety about what the future might hold, but it will pass, and the World will get back to normal, and the fear will subside.

Now is not the best time to make big decisions -because shutting this place, this community, at a time when people need it most, because of the familiarity and connectivity, IS a big decision.

I hope I don’t sound rude when I say that it’s not just about you. You have created something special, but now would be totally the wrong time to end it. People need this escape, and to share.

Think again when you and your world are on an even keel, and things might seem a whole lot different.

The fact that you think about morning, noon & night shows how much you care about this place. Just stop worrying about it, it will all be good.

Very best wishes to you, your family and everyone else who posts or reads here.

Anniversary of Fernandomania. Dodgers-Yankees on MLB Network tonight. MLB has some sort of Arizona May plan. Motivated me to check out the sight and I see this. WTF? Hope all is well with you and your family Mark.

Jeez Mark, you make my pin head swell. You have been a great friend and have helped me in more ways than anyone knows so I can’t let you go completely as I will keep in touch every now and again. I was supposed to help coach Little League this year but things changed. I donated all the cool Dodgers stuff you sent me to be used as incentive trophies for the youngsters. Guess that’ll be in the hands of someone else to handle as it’ll be unlikely I’ll be up to doing it beyond what this season came to. I know I haven’t been commenting much lately but the community outgrew me as smarter people say whatever I have to say and then some better than I could. You are very much a special friend. Thank you for that…….and everything else. This is a great place you put together, I am proud that I was welcomed here. Peace Brother.

I would like to invite all of you to come to a site that I post on frequently, run by a guy named Dennis Schlossman. Dennis lives in Pennsylvania and is a passionate Dodger fan web site is thinkbluepc.com. We would love to see you guys over there. Thank you Mark for giving me the opportunity to post here. It has been an enjoyable couple of weeks.

Best of luck to you.

Come on Mark, are you kidding? You can’t just get out of here just like that!

I don’t have that much time here, but it was part of my daily routine to read this blog, And I’m the type of person who doesn’t like changes.

I wish all the best to you and to each and every one of us who are part of this great blog, there were many great days, and sometimes I enjoyed the fights, but I learned a lot from you, from your stories, experiences and knowledge about life and baseball.

Thank you for the many hours you spent of your life here, it could even be said that this blog is like a son to you.

It was a great honor for me…

Gracias y buena suerte!!!

Mark, thank you for making these past years so enjoyable with the best blog around. I will miss your comments and wonderful graphics and wish you and your family to be safe and well. I will also miss reading the articles by AC, DC, 2D2 and Evan. Also enjoyed exchanging ideas with SoCalBum, peterj, Watford, and many, many others who helped me with my questions. Take care all.

Yes, Mark. You’ve been selling all kinds of things on here so maybe it is time for you to move on. My hope is that the rest of the writers get together and decide to carry on their baseball talk, putting forth intelligent commentary, and treating the readers with a lot more respect than you have given to many of the posters over time.

Good luck with your business and family.

Winner winner, chicken dinner.

Thanks Mark , God bless you and your family. You have and do mean alot to us all.