i wouldn't hold your breath donnie if you had something to say you should have been man enough to pick up the phone and call him texting is impersonal and [in this case] the pussy way out not to mention kemp being illiterate and [thus] unable to understand < you can say you reached out to him, but you really didn't you actually disrespected him i only hope that when kasten and company eventually fire your inept ass, they notify you the same way maybe they'll even include and emoticon/smiley Don Mattingly Thanked Matt Kemp Via Text, Yet To Hear Back by Vincent Samperio | Dodgers Nation -- 2 hours ago Though the reality won’t officially hit until the spring, Matt Kemp is a San Diego Padre after spending his entire career in Los Angeles. After seemingly years of speculation that Kemp would be traded, it finally happened when the Dodgers sent him and catcher Tim Federowicz to the Padres for Yasmani Grandal, Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin. While it was difficult to trade away a homegrown talent and fan favorite, the front office felt that it was the right move to make. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, manager Don Mattingly reached out to his former outfielder, texting Kemp to thank him for his contributions and hasn’t heard back from the outfielder, among some others. "The Matt thing is a tough one, because it looks like the old Matt is back," Mattingly said of the trade. "But you know with our outfield situation, something had to happen. We had to do something. I texted Matt, thanked him for everything he’s done for me and our time together since ’08. I hope I was able to help his career." Kemp was the Dodgers sixth-round pick in the 2003 draft, who made his debut three years later. He went from young, raw talent to MVP runner-up in 2011. He began his career in right field, moved to center field before last season when he was moved out of center to left and finishing in right. Mattingly hopes Kemp can understand why he made the move last season: "At first, the move [out of center] was rough. The time I made the decision, it was never personal. I like Matt, it was just something I had to do for the best of the club. Sometimes that hurts guys’ feelings. But I thought when he went to right field, it was a big step. Yasiel solidified center and from there, we took off. I don’t know if [Kemp is] mad at me. But it was the right thing for the right reason. If he’s upset or hurt, he can be mad, but at least I was man enough to tell him I did what I thought was best for the 25 guys. He was good about it and, at the end of the day, we won." If Mattingly doesn’t hear from Kemp, he will be seeing plenty of him during the spring and regular season.
Not sure DBB made as much out of this as Gurnick is. Could be typical media BS. How many of the other players got back with him and how many texts did Kemp get especially after all of the trade messages.
In fairness to DBB he probably should not have called him as that conversation could have been awkward and either less than truthful or problematic if Donnie didn't echo the party line and why wouldn't he. The article suggest Kemp wasn't the only one he didn't hear back from. Matt and the Dodgers is old news and their is a lot good to talk about for 2015. The new tight defense infield, the improved defense and rotation and hopefully a stronger deeper pen with young arms. Unfortunately for DBB the outfield is how much more settled than this time last year and as of now best of luck to DBB in handling that potentially fun scenario.
In Matt's defense, he probably didn't understand Mattingly or thought he received the wrong text. "Hi Andre, I hop u succed with the Podres next yer! Thx 4 all u did in LA, and I her the weather in Oakland is very nice!" -Gump
Ummm u started the thread. Kemp and his fans have long since moved on as I said previously just media hype. So close the thread it's yours as the OP. I would say good move on move.
I knew what you meant. I was needling Irish. I am beginning to wonder about DBB and how. He feels about the current outfield numbers.
Yeah, moving on is the way to go, because it's the only thing left to do, given the situation. But reading Mattingly's take on "the OF situation-something had to be done" reeks of desperation and not of clever, genius FO button pushing , IMO...what we are all supposed to take away from anything they do, unquestioned because of "business" these days. Sounds all pretty amateurish to me, especially getting rid of the best, most productive of the "crowd" we are supposed to have had. The move was made, and the die is definitely cast, so we'll see how it all washes out in the end...but if this is about DBB and his methods, then his clumsy, doltish, uncomfortable approach as stated, is no surprise at all. I wouldn't text him back either... It still amazes me that the FO intelligensia, brutal and unforgiving as they have been so far since their employment began, regard DBB as a capable field captain. I just don't get it...it's like a proctologist who comes home and complains about looking at assholes all day... It's the choice that was made, obviously.
