Plenty of us are extremely excited that the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to run things back with Chris Taylor just a few days before the lockout rendered all activity impossible.
Quite likely none of us are as thankful as diehard Dodgers fan Christian, though, to whom Taylor was able to speak this week on a virtual holiday visit to Children’s Hospital LA.
Wrapped in an MLB logo blanket featuring every team — I must confess, I also had the same pattern on a shirt and on my drapes, so I get it, Christian — the young boy began his session with CT3 by thanking him for the 2020 championship, something all of us would likely want a chance to do.
He also admitted he had a great time partying, which … again, relatable.
Later in the face-to-face virtual meeting, though, Christian really got to the core of the matter and tugged the heartstrings, thanking Taylor for sticking around this offseason when he could’ve easily gone elsewhere.
Christian spoke for the rest of us @ChildrensLA when he thanked Taylor for signing a new contract with the @Dodgers. Go Blue! pic.twitter.com/dt15kMp4mY
— Children's Hospital LA (@ChildrensLA) December 20, 2021
Dodgers star Chris Taylor got a special “thank you” for staying in LA.
Baseball’s a business, sure, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s also a young boy in the hospital getting a chance to thank a loyal soldier for fighting for the city of Los Angeles — and choosing to keep that relationship going.
It’s a child entering what is about to be a very difficult holiday season for all of us, summing up exactly what we’d all like to say to the athletes who stayed by our sides.
It’s also very cool to get a reminder that baseball still matters to people of all ages. There are children raised on the game, children who’ve been dealt a tough hand, who want nothing more than to thank Chris Taylor for what he’s done and will continue to do. And that’s awesome.
The Dodgers clearly got a steal in the community when they re-signed Taylor at the start of the month, but they also nabbed a star on the diamond. The Dodgers’ first-half MVP raised his profile by pulling the ball more, and his portfolio shift seems to be for real.
Biggest pull % increases ‘21 vs ‘19-‘20 (min 300 PAs on each side)
— Gage (@GageEHC) December 22, 2021
1. Jorge Polanco (+15.5%)
2. Mike Zunino (+14.2%)
3. Shohei Ohtani (+14.1%)
4. Chris Taylor (+11.9%)
5. Luis Urias (+9.7%)
No coincidence these folks experienced signal boosts in 2021
We understand anyone who had to move on from Los Angeles for one reason or another, but we’re still excited to go to battle next year with the guys we have left like CT3, who’s using his holidays to brighten the days of those in need.
Proud of him.
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4 big whiffs by Dodgers’ front office before the lockout
The Los Angeles Dodgers probably could've done more before the lockout. Why didn't they? These moves, at the very least, were within reach.