January 7th, 2016 at 4:25 pm 
by Dick Greenblatt On Wednesday night I was given the visiting team’s line up card from the Dodgers-Rockies game of July 3, 2014 at Coors Field (the Dodgers won 3-2). It was the official card signed by Don Mattingly and given to the umpires in the meeting at home plate before the game.
I was pretty excited to have been given this piece of authentic and unique memorabilia by a dear friend who is a member of the Colorado Rockies staff. As you might have guessed, it is already framed and hanging on my wall.
Only nine of the 25 guys on this July 3, 2014 lineup card are still Dodgers.
(Photo credit – Dick Greenblatt)
As I was admiring this lineup card, it dawned on me that of the 25 players listed, only nine are still with the Dodgers in less than two years time. Sorry, but a 74% turnover rate on a division-winning club in that short a period (even though I believe that this team is as good or better than that one) is the perfect example of why I think free agency has hurt the game from the fans’ point of view.
When there is a new cast of characters each year we have to change loyalties to players that were our favorites the last time we looked. The players, themselves, may be enriched financially, but they have to adapt to new philosophies, abilities, teammates, management, facilities, and living conditions far more often than was the norm.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a die-hard Dodger fan and I still love the GAME, but I do miss the days when players would spend an entire career with one team and the “gypsies” were more the exception than the rule
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What an awesome piece of Dodgers memorabilia, Dick!
Although the new Dodgers brass keeps pulling out a winner in spite of the dramatic changes they’ve made, they keep coming up short of expectations.
That said and as our good friend Bluenose Dodger keeps telling us, Friedman and Zaidi seem to be headed in the right direction towards build a potential dynasty team from within. In my opinion (and probably Harold’s), THIS is how you counter losing players to free agency. As much as I hate to say it, this is how the Giants have been able to accomplish what they have.
I agree with Dick on free agency. I have a difficult time building up a loyalty to players constantly on the move. It’s the name on the front of the jersey that keeps me focused.
Free agency has also made it more costly for families to attend baseball games with prices rising for tickets and concessions.
Yes, I do think F&Z are building, quite quickly, a farm system for sustainability from within not dependent on free agency. The Dodger farm system has already moved into the top five and with a good year from the young international signings will move to the top of the pack.
Signed line up card. HCIT? I didn’t really know that the player’s names would be printed.I figured they would be hand written as you see in the dugouts at times.
Great piece Dick. I completely agree, and the game will never be the same. When Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally were freed to sign where they wanted in 1976, the game changed forever. And the Dodgers have rarely had any luck going the free agent route when attempting to better their ball club. The revolving door of players is now particularly noticeable with the Freidman/Zaidi regime. It’s a sign of the times I guess.
I’ve been disappointed with this aspect of the game, Dick, for many years. It seems like just when you get familiar with a team player, he’s gone.
Especially in recent years, with a team that’s been good enough to make it to the post season almost every year. It would be nice to bring the same players back every year.
“[W]ith a team that’s been good enough to make it to the post season almost every year. It would be nice to bring the same players back every year.”
I think you missed the point again, Joe. You seem to think that it’s the team that chooses not to bring these players back but it’s not. It’s THEM chasing the almighty dollar and/or a lengthy contract – all because of free agency.