DODGERS The MOLLY KNIGHT Book Thread

This book is crazy as fuck. The shit Kasten had to do to get fuckin AGon here is insane...

Wonder how much of it is true?

 

I'm about 70 pages in. The chapter on CK.

 

Those two seasons I remember where I was at each moment. Now I can't remember the last time I saw a game. Time Warner problems.

 

Yep. I think its because we grew up with those guys on those teams: Kemp, Bills, Martin, Loney, Dewitt, Ethier. To think all that's left is Ethier... and for how long. I was 15-16 when they were coming up and expected them to make it at least once. While I'm really sad they never won with that squad, if they win now im still flipping cars on the 101 freeway while sobbing.

 

God damnit I have to get this book, huh?

Is it gonna be sold in stores?

 

For sure, I made this thread with you, Doyer, IBB, TB, DL and a few other guys I'm sure I'm forgetting in mind, as we were all the same age during the Kemp, Dre and literally no one else years. I would definitely say there's been a shift in my attitude towards the team since the end of 2013, maybe it's because I'm 23 and that's what happens when you get older, but who knows.

The book hits home for me even more because my dad died on June 10th in 2013, which was about a week before we started winning every game. I never brought it up on here because I wasn't really ready to talk about it, but them
winning so much was awesome for someone looking to focus on something else for a few hours a day. (or more, depending on how many Sabr fights there were on DSP was that day) Also because my dad was the reason I'm a Dodgers fan, winning that year would have been special to me because it was the last Dodger team he'd ever seen. But yeah, as TB said, I remember that entire year pretty much game by game.

Also, I agree Doyer, I definitely didn't think I'd like it, and almost didn't read it. Glad I did though.

 

So far it's a crazy read. More than 3/4ths of the way through. Really reccomend it.

 

First off, let me say that I'm truly sorry for the loss of your dad. I've lost touch with my own father since my folks split a few years ago, but like you, my dad is the reason why I'm a Dodger fan; and there's definitely many moments watching the Dodgers with him that I'll absolutely never forget. My heart goes out to you big time for that.

To get into the then vs now debate, I think what made those teams so fun (besides the insane run) was that everything was so completely new to us. The Dodgers have never in their history been a team that went out and just bought whoever they pleased. That role was always reserved for the Yankees and Red Sox. I remember my dad preaching to me back when I first became a Dodger fan in 2004, "You're not going to see the Dodgers spend the most for players. It's always been about pitching and bringing up their own guys." This definitely was the trend in the O'Malley days, and while they did spend a few times during the Fox years, they proved that they didn't know how to do it correctly. Honestly, we were all just desperately looking for the light at the end of the never ending tunnel during the McCourt years. Then it all happened so fast: Ethier's extension, Hanley, the Blockbuster, Greinke, Ryu, Puig, the run, the return to the playoffs. It was magic.

With the last two years, to me, we've all realized that this is reality and I think a lot of people have started to take it for granted. The 2014 and so far the 2015 teams haven't really rallied off any crazy streaks, but they have been consistently good. Win a couple series here, lose one here, sweep one, lose one, win one, lose one, etc. I do think some of the infatuation has faded since Kemp, Martin, Bills, etc. are gone and Dre's not the same anymore. This is what happens in sports though. Just ask some of these older guys who post here that went through Koufax and Drysdale, Fernandomania, and the infamous infield of the 80's. Players come and go but the Dodgers are forever. I'm hoping this team can find their identity and get crazy hot so we have something to go crazy about again. It's been pretty barren around DSP these days and it's sad to me that there's too many damn good posters (better yet, people) who don't come around that often anymore. I definitely feel for you guys with the blackout, and hopefully that gets resolved soon, but it'd be great to be able to have everyone back for this crazy ride we're about to go on the rest of the season.

 

Can't believe I am going to buy this book now. Look at what y'all made me do, buy a book, assholes.

 

I don't know if it's an age thing specifically, but I do feel ups and downs over the years. When I was about your age the Dodgers traded Mike Piazza, and I remember being so distraught by the move thinking "I'd rather lose with the guys I grew up with like Piazza, Mondesi, and Karros than win with mercenaries like Gary Sheffield". But then in complete contrast to those feelings, I've never felt more excitement as a Dodger fan than when I watched Manny Ramirez, one of the biggest mercenaries in our team's history.

Losing Kemp (along with the core guys who came up with him) has finally taken it's toll - and almost all of those guys were "lost" well before being traded or let go.

I agree with IBB that the novelty of making the playoffs has worn off. Overall, that has to be a good thing - but now we complain about how bad we are even though we have the 4th best record in the majors and the biggest division lead in the entire league. The expectations have changed.

I also agree with TB, the TW affect is being felt.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that baseball has an up and down cycle over the years. I didn't think things would ever feel the same after Piazza was gone - but here we are years later and there have been plenty of moments and seasons that have topped anything I felt during the Piazza years. We'll get there. If the Dodgers ever promote Seager I think that would be a huge shot in the arm (and probably moreso for us fans than on the field). As the postseason approaches, things should naturally heat up as well.

 

200 pages in. Almost done, really well written. Mix of sadness with even more appreciation for guys like Uribe.

The McCourt chapter made me pissed off all over again.

 

OMG please someone fuckin tell me they got to the Grienke inspirational speech on 301. I'm laughing so hard hahaha!!!!!!

 

Will get the book eventually...right now, rereading the Boys of Summer. Now that's sad for an old timer like me, but at least there was a measure of greatness and victory with those players. And anything about the Duke is aces with me...but I digress...
The thread is supposedly about Puig and his personality, or lack of it, and there is not much about it down in the responses...lots of other stuff- hair color, player acquisitions, the McCourts, etc.
So what's the deal with Yasiel? It always seems to get down to how great his athletic ability is, and not the focus; or is it a "look the other way" thing, or is it a tempest in a teapot about him being disliked? Sure he was liked by Juan and Ryu, but really, where are they now? there's plenty of other guys on the team the way I see it. Was the Turner/Greinke incident the whole ball of wax then?
Personally, he looks like he could be a class A scumbag prima donna.
Y'know, no matter how good his arm is...

 

Thanks Doyer...I'm wondering if your response ended prematurely or something, as it ended kind of oddly.