Day 22

As you know we are gathered here for one of our fellow bloggers Kaybee to help her through the tremendous loss of Trevor Hoffman.

Today as we are gathered around in this circle we are each going to express some type of loss in our sports history and relay that to you Kaybee. It’s ok to use feeling words like “scared, angry, betrayed, Scott Boras sucks, or alone,” in your descriptions and to help poor Kaybee through this rough time.

I will start first today and then we can go around the circle and hear from each of you gathered. Thank you all for coming. Please put on your name tags.

My name is Tom and Kaybee I’d like to talk about one of the first losses I suffered. He’s a little before your time but he was a character and I was dissapointed when he was traded from the Mets. His name was Lenny Dykstra. Lenny D used to spit so much chew in the outfield he would kill the grass. I believe other players used to call it the tar-pit. Opposing teams would be angry and disgusted at the tar pit and no one player would stand near it or hate to run through it if they could avoid it. He helped the magical Mets win the series in ’86 and I loved that guy.

Then it happened. In 1989 he was traded to division rivals Philadelphia Phillies. I couldn’t believe this guy was in center field wearing anything other than a Mets jersey. I instantly disliked him at first. Didn’t watch a game he was playing and soon I heard he was leaving the tar-pit in Philly’s center field too so I laughed. Eventually I got over it, but for so long everytime I would see him in center, I would still see that crazy Met. sniffle sniffle. Recently I heard he was being investigated for being a stock scammer. Silly Lenny still up to his antics. (gently whiping my nose with a hankie)

Excuse me miss. Miss. Yes you reading the book Confessions of a She Fan would you like to go next? Miss..Jane?

 Kaybee, it’s so very hard to let go. I know. I’ve been there. And I didn’t just lose a player; I lost a manager when Joe Torre went to the Dodgers after 12 years with the Yankees. Twelve years! I still have a hard time seeing him in that other uniform. But it’s a process.
First, there’s shock (“OMG, he’s really gone!”). Then, there’s anger (“I can’t believe the front office let him leave!”). Then, there’s grief (“I hate life”). But time does heal. And before you know it, a new member of the Padres will win your heart. You’ll see. Take it from me. I’m not saying I love Joe Girardi. I’m just saying I’m giving him a chance to win me over. Here Jane take this box of tissues, it’s alright. Yes, yes of course you can take a bathroom break.

Next, who have we here? You two ladies in the all red attire-this is not  Fenway but who would like to go first. Yes, mamm yes I know they are showing the Red Sox on MLB network today but we are here for Kaybee. Please tell us your story Miss Julia.

Hi. My name is Julia Fitzgerald and I have a problem. I still have trouble when I think about the fact that Kevin Millar is no longer playing for the Red Sox.  He was a member of our team during the 2004 World Series run – our first one in 86 years!  He was a founding member of the idiots and cowboys squad and I still have my Cowboy Up t-shirt – the rallying cry that he came up with during the 2003 playoffs.
 Millar was an above average player – he played first base (and okay, MAYBE I like Youk a little better there!) but what I really miss is his attitude.  His antics.  His playfulness!  Do you know what he said when the Red Sox were down 3-0 to the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS?  (After the game when we lost 19-8 to the Yankees!)  He told everyone who would listen -” Don’t let us win tonight. This is a big game. They’ve got to win because if we win, we’ve got Pedro coming back in Game 5 and Schilling in 6, and then you can take that fraud stuff and put it to bed. Don’t let the Sox win this game.”  HE CHALLENGED THE YANKEES TO A THROW DOWN when everyone else had written us off.  And what happened – we won!  And then when does he do before game 6 in New York??  He tries to get all his teammates to take a shot of whiskey before the game!  To loosen them up!  He always played by his own rules – but you know what?  He had the skills to back up his antics.  And you all know what happened in 2004 – we WON the World Series! 

It was December 21, 2005, I was in seventh grade and absolutely in love with Johnny Damon. I loved his hair, I loved his beard, he may have been an idiot but he was my idiot! He was truly a Red Sox player, he was one of those guys I couldn’t imagine in another uniform. I thought he would never go to the Yankees! But on that day, when I heard the news… I was in absolute shock.
It was just a horrible feeling because he really embodied everything I thought of a Red Sox player. It wasn’t just seeing him leave, it was seeing him to go the Yankees. I was in shock, and inconsolable for days. I still miss him a lot, and it hurts when I see him in another uniform, but whenever I see those World Series highlights, and remember that time when I called his grand slam in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, I remember all the good times I had watching him. So even though he is on another team now, the complete opposite of the Red Sox nonetheless, I’ve been able to move on, and I know will too.

Anyway, a season later, I’m on the computer getting ready to surf the Avalanche site, and what do I see? Steven Reinprecht has just been traded too. GAAAAAAHHH!!! WHY?!?! Why must life be so awful?!?! Why does Pierre Lacroix hate me so much?!?! Anyway, I was quite dramatic and then I got tears in my eyes and was like, “no, no, don’t cry, just breathe.” I probably went through all the stages of grief… well, mock-type grief, I don’t know if I could call it real grief because… well, ya know, nobody died, they were traded, so… I guess that’s a bonus. Yeah… I would probably say it was better to be traded than to die. Anyway, if I remember correctly, I think my mom told me, “it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all” and I was like, “mom… you just don’t understand.” So, while all loves are different, if you need a shoulder to cry on, I understand. 

Hi, my name is Jen. And I’ve lost someone. In 2005, my love, AJ Pierzynski, came from the Giants to the White Sox. I was so happy. Once he got there, a trio was born. AJ, Joe Crede, and Aaron Rowand formed what was known as the Three Stooges in Chicago. They formed
such a close bond with each other…it was almost like they were brothers. Oh I loved watching these three goof around with each other. And they played with such heart. It was so fantastic. Through the postseason, they celebrated with each other almost
immediately. There are a lot of pictures of the three of them together, celebrating their championship. They even got Steve Perry of Journey to come out to the postseason games after adopting “Don’t Stop Believing” as the 2005 postseason anthem! How awesome is that!

Then November 23, 2005 came. THEY TOOK MY AARON! They sent him to Philly with a couple minor leaguers for Jim Thome and some money. THEY TOOK AWAY MY AARON! Oh my God I cried. Could someone please pass me some tissues? Thank you. Aaron was the most amazing center fielder who started his career here, diving in the most ridiculous
directions to catch balls, running into the outfield fence on numerous occasions. And to add to my hurting heart, Aaron is a beautiful man. They took my beautiful hard-nosed center fielder away from me, and my trio became a duo. I need more tissues please. Thank you again.
 I didn’t think my hurt could get worse. Oh but it did. On October 30, 2008, my heart broke again. Joe Crede filed for free agency. MY DUO IS NOW ONLY AJ! Joe spent his entire career with the White Sox. That’s eight whole years for my Late-Inning Joe. And now he’s gone because his agent is the devil. He was my Superman, completely laying out to make catches at third. May I have some more tissues? Thank you. He hit home runs when it counted, hence the Late-Inning nickname, his last homer as a White Sox on my birthday when I was at the game. JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOE!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now he’s gone.

Oh Kaybee, I know your hurt. I’m here for you. I’m here. I will cry with you because I’ve cried before. I miss Aaron, and I’ll miss Joe. I can watch them elsewhere, but it’s not right. They’re not White Sox anymore. The same holds true with your Trevor. I’m here for you with tissues. We’re all here for you with tissues, love, and support.

Well, uhh. Thank you Jen. I hope nobody else has to use tissues as Jen has used up the rest of the box. Oh, well,  that’s very nice of you Jen. She has offered the use if anyone has to blow their nose they can use a Cubs rag she carries around for just that duty.

Mamm, yes you with the Padres hat on. Is this helping you as well? Would you like to share? Thank you Miss Hyun Young.

Kaybee, as an exact Padres fan like you, seeing Trevor Hoffman leave San Diego was the worst thing that has happened to me. I am just as upset as you are but it was time to move on.. Still can’t believe it, right? Gosh, the pathetic front office! Anyways, I couldn’t let go of it either. He has been closing for us since 1993. That’s almost 16 years. IT’S A REALLY LONG TIME. He shared laughs, moments, and histories here, in San Diego. Trevor Hoffman is going to the Hall Of Fame, as Padre. Sure he’s in Milwaukee now, but he will be our Padre, all-time saves leader, in our eyes forever. Cheer up! I know it’s still hard for you but let’s look on the bright side. He is going to be great with the Brewers and just picture him in HOF as a Padre!

That’s the spirit Hyun Young!

How about you two gentleman in the back? You have been very quiet would either one of you like to speak? No sir, I do not know what time it is in Canada right now. No I don’t believe it is hammer time or beer-thirty either. How about you speak Mr. Homer?

At the conclusion of the 2005 season the Blue Jays traded Orlando Hudson to the Diamondbacks for Troy Glaus (which later turned into Scott Rolen).  ‘The O-Dog’ was one my favorite players because of the intensity, joy and team building traits he brought to the field.

  You could tell the guy was a great teammate, always celebrating a win, joking with other players and really getting into the competitive aspects of the game (at least in his interviews it showed that).   The Jays lacked hitting in those years, so we picked up Glaus.  Nagged by injuries, Troy didn’t perform the way we expected him to.  Through this time, I got to watch ‘the O-Dog’ hit close to .300 every year for the D-Backs, and make the ‘highlight reel’ defensive plays at second base always see him do on a consistant basis.  Now that Hudson is a free agent, the Jays don’t really have a need for him unless Aaron Hill falters.  It was hard to let go of the O-Dog, but you often have to try and give something to get something.  It didn’t really work out well for the Jays in this case.  I would have rather we kept Hudson and had Aaron Hill compete at his natural position of shortstop.  ‘Hindsight is always 20-20 however.’

Very precise and I can see you are hurting. Cough Cough..

Ok. You sir in the bright yellow shirt. You seem very festive and in an upbeat mood and the perfect person to finish off our support group today. Mr. Happy is it? What would you like to say to Kaybee?

Jaha and Yohanek (not exactly a law firm) have met several times over the years, with each meeting solidifying a relationship that has gone a bit beyond that of the traditional fan/athlete.

Mr Yohanek,we can hear you just fine but thank you for your exuberance. Please continue..preferably in a softer tone.

Every boy growing up as a baseball fan dreams of making it to the big leagues.  The reality is that few will ever reach that plateau.  Collecting John Jaha memorabilia is the closest I will ever come to that dream, and that is very special to me.  It is truly a wonderful feeling holding something in your hand that was worn in a game by a professional athlete.

Homage was paid to the player (John Jaha) by my Wisconsin license plate…JAHA FAN…this shows everybody that I am a John Jaha fan and proud of it.  My devotion to him as a player and as a person is unparalleled.

I’ve met Jaha on numerous occasions.  He used to recognize me in a crowd.  That recognition means a lot to me and shows that John appreciates his fans and that a little of the devotion I have shown him over the years is being delivered back to me. 

One particular meeting between him and I stands out.  It was in 1998, Jaha’s last season with the Brewers.  It was near the end of the season and he was trying to bounce back from a bad ankle injury.  Injuries had plagued him much of that season and it was hindering his confidence.  I approached J.J. before a game and asked, “How are you doing Johnny?”  His reply was, “I’m fine, but they just don’t want me anymore.”  I stood there for a moment speechless, trying to make sense of what was happening.  My favorite ballplayer had just told me his team had lost confidence in his playing ability.

I then gave him a pep talk…I told him that he should keep his head up and that he would get back to where he was a few years before. 

That was the last time I saw Jaha as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.

A few weeks later, it became official when the Brewers declined to offer Jaha a contract for the 1999 season and he became a free agent.  The Brewers felt his injury problems were too much of a gamble and that it wasn’t worth the risk.

Six months later, the Oakland A’s signed Jaha to a one-year contract. 
Jaha went on to have the best season of his career by winning Comeback Player of the Year honors-hitting .276 with 35 home runs (career high) and 111 Runs Batted In. 

Jaha got the last laugh…

Moral of the story:  Even when you know someone close to you is leaving-support them in their future endeavors and wish them great success.  In this case of John Jaha, it was the Milwaukee Brewers who decided they didn’t want him, not Jaha.  He wanted to stay in Milwaukee.

Here’s to Trevor Hoffman getting 600 saves in a Brewers uniform!
Cheer him on!

WEll, thank you “Happy” aka Nick Yohanek for that spirited tale of loss and redemption. Very moving.

Thank you all for coming today. No for heavens sake Julia, Jane does not have to be the last person to leave the room because she has on a Yankee cap. Next session we will tackle rivalries and destroying lives when you can’t let go. And no there will be neither Yankee nor Sox gear worn in the room! That concludes the first ever MLBlog’s support group and Kaybee hoping it helped!

If anyone else has a story they would like to share with Kaybee and the “group” please do.

Programming note: Tomorrow will bring another Timeout at the plate where we look to the tropics for some northern baseball love.