Thankful for…

In honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I am, unfortunately, unable to feed you mashed potatoes, turkey, or cranberry sauce through the computer (at least until technology progresses to that point). Therefore, I must do the next best thing, which is to explain what various people affiliated with the Dodgers can be thankful for on this holiday of gratitude:

Dodgers’ faithful+sports’ fans+the Dodgers’ organization: Well, first and foremost, these three entities are surely thankful that the team performed very well (for the most part) throughout the past season. Though expectations were extremely high from spring training on, it is always an accomplishment to make it to your League Championship Series, which is precisely what the Dodgers did.

The fans and organization can be thankful for a legendary broadcaster and even better man, Vin Scully. Vin Scully recently announced that he will be back for the 2010 season. If anyone has paid their dues, it’s this man. He could retire whenever he wants, and no one would have a right to dissuade him. The fact that Scully remains committed to this franchise after all these years is a testament to the type of the person that he is. He’s loyal, dedicated, and for lack of a better word, a consummate giver. This man gives and gives and for that reason among others, these entities can be thankful for him…the man, the myth, the legend!

Randy Wolf: Wolf can thank the Dodgers for rolling the dice on him this season. He was originally offered a contract by the Astros, but they pulled their offer shortly after. The Dodgers turned out to be the only team willing to take a chance with him. Wolf far exceeded expectations, and for that reason, this relationship can be seen as mutually beneficial (the gratitude is reciprocal). In other words, the Dodgers should be thankful for Wolf as well. So, Mr. Colletti, as you’re enjoying your Thanksgiving Feast, add one extra thank you (maybe thank O-Dawg as well for his season-long contributions which have gone largely unnoticed), which should go to Randy Wolf.

Anyway, Wolf can also be thankful from a financial standpoint. Although Wolf is “no spring chicken” by any means, he figures to get a decently-sized contract (during his impending free agency) due in large part to his impressive season. The Dodgers are one of the leading candidates to sign Wolf, but even if they do not, Wolf has their agreement to thank when contemplating how he was able to earn so much more money this upcoming off-season.

The Dodger Squad: The Dodgers have the Phillies to thank. At first glance, this may seem sarcastic, but I assure you I’m not being facetious. As you well know, the Phillies have defeated the Dodgers in the NLCS for two consecutive seasons. Granted, it hurts and it hurts badly, but these post-season struggles should help the Dodgers in the long-run. With a multitude of relatively young players, the Dodgers have gained much needed experience. Sometimes in sports, it takes losing a couple of years to a championship-caliber team, before a team can truly realize what it takes to become a champion. The Dodgers have learned their lessons. If this last NLCS was any indication of what’s to come, the Dodgers should have learned that they must shore up their starting rotation. This same team with a stronger starting rotation would have a good shot at a World Series ring. I honestly believe that the Dodgers should be thankful to the Phillies for forcing them to grow as a team. The Phillies, for better or for worse, have shown the Dodgers what a championship team looks like.

Let me know what you think by providing your feedback below. I always appreciate it. 

Tags: championship-caliber, contract, free agency, NLCS, O-Dawg, Phillies, Randy Wolf, shore up, starting rotation, upcoming offseason, Vin Scully