This took place before the 1-0 loss Kershaw pitched. T.J. SIMERS Trying to cheer up one particular Dodger is rather dicey Catcher Matt Treanor doesn't take kindly to a certain writer spreading joy in the team's clubhouse. .......I skipped the B.S. to get to the Dodger's part: But shouldn't that be the mission of every sports team, bringing joy to their fans? It seems so basic, but the Dodgers have been failures. They are trying to do a better job making players available for autographs, but inside the clubhouse there's no joy. I thought I'd try to change things, going to the clubhouse with the intent of inspiring — only to be told to leave. First person I see is pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, so I ask him if he has joy in his heart. "Every day," he says, which is impressive, knowing Joe Blanton pitches every five days. I move on to the next guy. "How about you, you don't look joyful." "This is my game face," he says. By the way, I say, "Who are you?" "Matt,'' he says, and so that's who Matt Guerrier is. Funny the things you learn when spreading good cheer. Luis Cruz is beaming, the joy just oozing from him as he shows me a picture of his 6-month-old son and his first haircut. "I couldn't feel any better," Cruz gushes, and I'm not surprised later when Cruz gets two hits and loses a home run on a great catch. I don't see Adrian Gonzalez, but already know there's no joy to his game, or it's well-hidden. I'm not surprised later when he takes a called third strike to end the game with the tying run on second. I check with Manager Don Mattingly. "For me personally, I got a lot of joy out of seeing you today,'' he says, promising if I can get the Dodgers to win the next 21 games he'll get me on the team's payroll. "Or pay you out of my own pocket.'' So far so good. I talk to Hanley Ramirez, who says, "Hey, my man.'' "I'm just trying to get everyone going,'' I tell Ramirez, "Because nothing else is working.'' That's when someone yells, "Zip it up." Now I'm an old man, and every once in a while I forget. But the voice is telling the team's PR guy to "Get that clown out of here,'' so I know Matt Treanor is talking about me. "What's your problem?'' says Treanor, and I'm thinking, I'm not the one who hasn't had a hit since July 26. "Are you trying to tell me you have no joy in your heart?'' I say to Treanor, never for a second thinking I would talk to a Treanor unless it was the athlete in the family. "Don't come in here causing problems about our attitude,'' says Treanor, and folks wonder why I don't spread good cheer more often. I tell him the team is dead, but I'm here to revive it and remind them how important joy is to what they do. "Get out of here," says Treanor, a second later saying, "Is there anything else you want to talk about?" Hello, anyone home? "Sure, but you don't seem in the talking mood,'' I say, and Treanor says, "I am now.'' Then he gets in my face and we're belly to belly because mine is so big. "What's wrong with this team?'' I ask. "No comment,'' says Treanor, and the whole team is watching because it beats taking batting practice knowing they're not going to score anyway. "Are you playing tonight?'' I ask, curious if the Dodgers have opted to surrender. He's not, and credit to his teammates for not cheering. He's getting really upset, and I'm the one who has been stopped from spreading joy. He says it's unbelievable the local paper isn't supporting the team and I never write anything positive. I mention Cruz, Dee Gordon, Matt Kemp, Ramirez and never get to the Clippers, Vernon Wells and a wonderful USC fan with ALS who is more determined than any of these guys. "I don't think you need to come at Hanley like that,'' snaps Treanor. You mean, my man? He tells me to meet him outside. I have a pass to get back in but I worry he might not. He says, "In the dugout.'' I agree, but need to chat with Mark Ellis. Ellis says he has joy, while Treanor interrupts to call me names that can't be printed here. In the dugout, Treanor swears a lot, puts a finger in my face and when a team official suggests he apologize, Treanor goes on an obscenity-filled rant. I just pull out my Blackberry and take a look at the picture of the twins holding their gifts. As for the joyless Dodgers, they fall flat again.
Me too...although he says some funny things sometimes, and he's no where near as hateful, ridiculous, shortsighted, overcritical, and obnoxious as some of our posts here, I see no reason that he is allowed in the Dodger Clubhouse. For so many years, I've pondered why they allow him in there really. He's basically just a troll in the flesh! He would be banned on a sports forum, why not a locker room?
Simers is like that one ugly and/or fat chick in high school who tries to compensate this by telling everyone she is a "honest bitch" who just tells the truth when really she is just an idiot who is mean for no reason to make herself feel better for who she really is. I'm all for honest/real reporting and getting the tough stuff out of people, but Simers literally just goes in there to spew stupid shit and does it for the sake of just filling something out and being stupidly labeled "provocative" rather than getting something real and honest.
Treanor and Simers are both fags. Simers has been grandfathered into not having any journalistic integrity and Treanor sucks. Although I am not gonna lie. I loved that and laughed my ass off
He's a classic instigator that just should be ignored but he is good at being an asshat and a writer I'll give him that small bit of credit.
Well, Treanors problem isn't fire. He could have the most passion of anyone on this Earth but it won't hide that he is as good as hitting a baseball as Juan Uribe.
yeah like, why would anyone even listen to him anymore? he's just an occasionally funny troll and just suckers guys into arguments they aren't going to win
Why is Simers a prick and all the things he's being called for basicaly telling them exactly the same things we post here? He's not a PR guy, he goes and calls them as they are, and pushes the players buttons... Has he said something that is not true? I like him as a writer, cuz I've got to know what expect from him... I hate freaking Plashke with his "the world is beautiful" and "i'll write about whats extremely obvious" style...
I've had my views on Simers for awhile. Is he a good writer? No; but his shit works. We're sitting here talking about it right now, that's the objective. All of you hating Simers are playing right into his little game.
