Link:
* “A devout Christian, [Clayton] Kershaw believed that his wealth could best be used to help others in need. His faith had taught him that he needed only enough money to ensure his family never had to worry. The rest was for giving away. Major League Baseball had recognized him for his work with orphans in Zambia months earlier by presenting him with the Roberto Clemente Award, the prestigious honor given annually to the player who best exemplifies the Pittsburgh Pirate legend’s service to others.” (67)
* “Because of significant language and culture barriers, baseball locker rooms are almost always segregated by race, with white players hanging with white players, Latinos with Latinos, African-American players with other black players, and Asians with their translators.”
* “Some of you guys have been doing the number two and not washing your hands,” said Greinke [to the team]. “It’s not good.” (201)
* ESPN: Championships are won by teams, like the Giants and Cardinals, that spend money wisely and value that elusive intangible called chemistry. If The Best Team Money Can Buy is to be believed, the Dodgers lack that special something. The book tells stories about Yasiel Puig bringing his entourage on team flights, coming late to games, and generally showing a lack of motivation that reportedly turned his teammates against him. Truly great teams can overcome behavioral issues and personnel divides — keep in mind that the Yankees actually won a World Series with Alex Rodriguez — if the rest of the roster isn’t falling apart.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case in L.A. With the pitching staff whittled down to a slumping Clayton Kershaw, Greinke, and a box of mismatched old shoes, and with Puig sitting on three home runs, a pensive, nervy feeling is permeating Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers remain five games ahead of the Giants for first place in the NL West, yet there’s a sense that a crash is looming, that it’s not possible for a rotation this depleted to survive into October. Joc Pederson has cooled off, Adrian Gonzalez has traded his bat for a matador’s cape, and Jimmy Rollins is inexplicably still allowed to play baseball.
