Over the past couple of years, the world has experienced a pandemic and many other tragedies. The “Circle of Life” includes death and while we do not have to like it, it is best that we accept it, lest it controls our life. A car has a big windshield and a very small rear-view mirror. You should drive your car by watching through the windshield, but occasionally, you have to glance at the rear-view mirror to see where you have been and determine what is behind you. However, driving your car with your eyes only on the rear-view mirror will wreck your life as well.
So my advice is that we all live our lives in the windshield. I have buried both my parents, a wife, and many good friends… and I never forget them. However, while I do live my life in the windshield, I occasionally glance back at that rear-view mirror and remember… Today is one of those days! Bear and DC have two great posts ready, but today is about part of LA Dodger Talk’s past: Dodger Blue Mom (“Miki”) and MJ (“Michelle”). Over the past two years, they have both passed on to be with the big Dodger-in-the-Sky. This site is full of crusty old guys like me and the fact that they are gone does not make us better. We are the worse for their leaving. They brightened up the room every day and for that, I am forever thankful.
What prompted this blog is that I received an -email from Ed, Miki’s husband yesterday:
DBM’s marker finally arrived. This is Giant territory so the placement is appropriate in my view. Tranquility Garden, to the right of the fountain, first path from the top, 2nd in. 35 white doves flew over her site and our family as her song played. We all miss her. GO DODGERS!!!
Here are the photos he attached:
Miki had a family that supported her and honored her. In fact, Ed told me that her daughter is also a rabid Dodger fan. Maybe some day she will make her way to LADT as well. Rest in Peace, Dodger Blue Mom! You brightened up the room and gave this joint a lot of class. We miss you!
MJ – Michelle Jamison
MJ was a private person. We did not know much about her life or her struggles. We did know that she was in a horrific accident when she was in her 20’s which may have left her somewhat disabled, but that is just speculation. I have nothing to share about MJ. I have not been able to track down any of her family, and I suspect that is what she wanted.
I just know that she added class to this site and she was a breath of fresh air. We all miss you very much Michelle and I know that you are enjoying this amazing Dodger run with the Big Dodger in the Sky. Godspeed!
People come and go on this site… some because they do not like what I have to say and I am fine with that. I really do not try and offend anyone, but I am not ever going to back down from saying what I believe is right. We have a lot of diverse people and opinions on this site and hopefully, that will continue, but no one will have the class of MJ or DBM… unless DBM’s daughter happens to show up! We could use some female point-of-view.
I am in Vegas with two of my kids and wife for Fathers’ Day. Life is good!
Discussion (37)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Two bonehead plays by Gonzalez. Doesn’t cover first and then walks a guy who couldn’t hit me. Have to clean that up. No depth at the end of our pen. Uceta isn’t ready and White should be better with his stuff. We need Graterol to get ready
I may not know much about the NBA, but Ben Simmons sure looks like a bad basketball player to me.
Prediction: leadoff hitter and CF DJ Peters will be traded for rotation depth by this time next week.
Felicidades a todos los papas de este gran grupo de aficionados a nuestros Dodgers, y tambien a Mark por su excelente artículo de hoy. Emotivo recuerdo de esas dos damas super aficionadas de nuestro equipo que aunque tengo poco tiempo de escribir tuve la fortuna de conocer algunas de sus publicaciones antes de que se adelantaran en el camino.
So Doc planned a pitch count for Gonsolin due to shoulder fatigue again. So when he said he wanted length he must have meant somebody else to start. I don’t blame Doc today. He can only pitch who he has. Uceta has looked great then awful but has mostly not been good. No lead is safe as long as we are experimenting with milb players at the Mlb level. Gonsolin will probably end up on the il again then what? Bullpen games again? What if somebody else gets hurt?
Uceta could start in The 5th spot but we also have Jackson who is on the 40 man. Or, kick ham is ready we would have to make a roster move or 2. I would go with Jackson he can’t be much worse.
I actually was able to watch the game today. My daughter surprised me with the Mlb package. Jansen really looked good. Fundamentals again pitcher not covering first nearly cost the game. Oh well a win is a win! Go Dodgers!!!
Gonsolin says this problem is not the same as the last time and it isn’t as bad and he’s very confident he’ll be ready for his next start.
Roberts says the problem is the same and they’re trying to manage it. They could at least try to decide on telling one story instead of contradicting each other.
We refuse to use Price or Nelson as starters/long men and none of our guys at OKC are capable, so we need to go out tomorrow and trade for an innings eater. He doesn’t have to have a great resume, just be able to give us 75-90 pitches every 5th game and keep his ERA under 6.00. That shouldn’t be too hard for AF to find for a couple of our less than topnotch prospects. I agree with Mark that it’s just a matter of time until Tony goes back on the IL, quite possibly very soon. We absolutely can’t afford to keep doing bullpen games every 5th day and if we aren’t happy with the way things look now, what happens if/when one of our top 4 guys goes down?
Rancho Cucamonga has put up 24 runs against Visalia today.
Thank God Kenley mowed them down in the 9th to preserve the W.
Please no more Uceta. Kid has potential but is not ready for MLB. Needs time .
On to San diego, should be an exciting series.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!
Replay is worthless.
Yes, the Dodgers can blow a 9-1 lead…
Now 9-8 as I await what the doctors call a “procedure.”
Sheesh….
Well, gotta move along now…
Fuck you, Arizona.
If they blow this one it is on Roberts. That is horrific managing.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our AAA relief pitchers suck.
Gonsolin is likely headed back to the IL
Doc needs to be more like Walter, Tommy and Dusty. Pitch them until their damn arms fall off! What is he? sane?
Vintage doc! We need to start getting length from our starters. He won’t go 5 today. What??
Catman out after only 46 pitches with a big lead. Combined with the fact his fastball was 3-4 mph slower than usual there might be a problem. Not good .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Gonsolins velo on his fastball is down 3-4 mph today. Reason to be concerned ?
Well, not problem with the bat, ringing double by Tony.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to go Big Al l!!!!
What a bonehead play by Lux
Now Gonsolin leads off the next inning
There’s no way the steel sign was on
The core:
Betts
Smith
Bellinger
Muncy
Turner
Seager
Taylor
Core-adjacent::
Lux
Ruiz
The next wave:
Busch
Vargas
Pages
Cartsya
Hoese
Sleepers:
Amaya
Valera
Outman
Vogel
Lewis
Lottery tickets:
Rodriguez
De Jesus
Diaz
Galiz
Gonsolin’s splitter could be elite.
Curious your thoughts on Burns. From what I’ve seen:
Raley–Not a guy
Reks–Not sure if a guy
Souza–Definitely could be, and has been, a guy
Peters–Second division guy; needs a long runway
Tsusugo–A guy [in Japan]
Neuse–Probably will be a guy in a year or two
Burns–???
You know what would be nice? A good performance by Gonsolin. It would make us feel better about our #5 spot.
Excellent post Mark and a nice picture of a young man and his parents. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
I was just thinking a few days ago about Dodger Blue Mom and how much I miss her posts. She was a breath of fresh air and positivity that I really miss. She knew more baseball than she gave herself credit for and was always eager to learn more about the game and the Dodgers. Absolutely awesome pictures. That is a beautiful headstone. Thanks for posting them and the shout our to these 2 women.
Going to miss the game today. I am going over to a friends house to do some pickin. Need a day off from the game now and then.
Nice post Mark!
Andrew Toles is such a sad story but an inspirational story of the strength of his father on Father’s Day!!! I remember watching the milb stats as he clawed his way to the Dodgers Mlb team. I kept thinking is this guy for real? Such a talent I pray he will get his life back to normalcy.
Buehler was great last night with seemingly improved velocity. Wth is Gray out for the season? I don’t know how many times I have read day to day or minor discomfort only to c them out for months. So I am wary to hear Muncy will be back soon. Right, the oblique is very tricky!
Awesome job by Buehler last night. Let us hope the Catman can build on that today and get a sweep heading into San Diego. Padres may have lost Tatis for a while. His shoulder was injured again yesterday. No Betts today, Lineup, Taylor CF, Pollock LF, Turner 3B, Pujols 1B, Burns 2B, Souza Jr. RF, Lux SS, Barnes C, Gonsolin P. Facing a lefty again.
Today’s lineup:
Taylor CF
Pollock LF
Turner 3B
Pujols 1B
Burns 2B
Souza Jr. RF
Lux SS
Barnes C
Gonsolin P
Everyone knows that Doc is a very compassionate man. I’m sure he feels awful about the D’backs current situation so he has taken a lineup already short Seager, Muncy and Belli and is now elminating Mookie as well. Giving our friends in AZ the best possible chance to end their losing streak today, coupled with their going against our #5 starter who hasn’t totally come back to form yet. This should be interesting.
Great post Mark. Two great Dodger fans who are missed. Happy Fathers day to the dads out there. I read the Toles piece this morning. Heartbreaking stuff.
Very thoughtful and appreciated post Mark.
I was more familiar with DBM as we have a bit of a common heritage as she had some roots in Yarmouth, NS. She was such a gracious lady and much more knowledgeable than she would give herself credit. I miss her posts always sensitive to the point of view others might have and for her questions always trying to learn more about Dodger Blue.
Thanks to MJ and DBM for making this a better site. They were/are special ladies and Dodger fans.
Thank you Mark for sharing these thoughtful words about two beautiful souls who are missed on this site.
Mental illness is no joke. Sending good vibes out to the Toles family on this Father’s Day.
Happy Father’s Day to all those, “Crusty Old Guys!”
Here is a more uplifting Father’s Day story and one about a great American and the greatness of our country:
And some fun baseball!
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article252172443.html
Love this post today Mark.
Both classy ladies fondly remembered.
That was a nice shoutout to MJ and DBM. DBM was so nice almost to a fault. I really enjoyed MJ and her writing style. She sure did a great job getting her point across and was very matter of fact about it.
It’s Father’s day, so congratulations to all you fathers out there and all you crusty old me for making me feel relatively young. I love hearing your stories about growing up with baseball and all the little details that are etched in your memories.
Life is short, enjoy the ride.
Mark, that’s a great picture. You really look like the younger you. I can see a lot of your mother in you’re face.
Thanks for this great post today Mark. Those two ladies certainly did add a lot here and they are missed.
I’m re-posting a comment I made just before you closed the last post. I think a number of readers here would be interested:
Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers.
For those of us who are Andrew Toles fans, Bob Nightengale has a really heartbreaking update on him, as per the following link. His Dad, Alvin, must be one helluva guy. This is what being a good father is all about. My heart goes out to him.
https://sports.yahoo.com/wants-son-back-father-dodgers-120054485.html
Classy post, Mark. Peace and comfort to their families.