August 25th, 2016 at 5:14 pm 
by Ron Cervenka I’m not going to elaborate on the intricacies of the A.J. Ellis for Carlos Ruiz trade because you can find those anywhere right now (not to mention that it just plain hurts too much). But I thought it both appropriate and important to share this A.J. Ellis quote from his just-concluded farewell interview in the Dodgers dugout:
“There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey, there’s nothing like it in sports. I don’t care that I’ve never been anywhere else, I don’t care. There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey.”
When I took this photo on August 14, 2016, I knew that it was Vin Scully’s final season as a Dodger. But like everyone else, I had no idea that it would also be A.J. Ellis’.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
An already difficult 2016 season just got tougher for Dodger fans.
Posted in 
Are you trying to make me cry?
Simple, profound. Thank you.
My absolute favorite Dodger for the past few years. The man and the ball player should be the prototype for all ball players.
Thanks A.J. See you in Philly but not for long. I can’t believe he won’t be back in the fold for 2017 perhaps as a minor league coach/manager or even in the Dodgers front office in some capacity. I hope it is a field level position as he has so much to offer to the kids coming through.
The day that A.J. Ellis gets traded, the Dodgers get no-hit by the hated ones…
…I mean, that’s not the least bit ominous, right?
Well then… my jinx worked!!
Way to go, Corey Seager!
In terms of player talent, Ellis and a low level pitching prospect for Ruiz seems to be a good trade. However, Ellis’ intangibles as a clubhouse leader and a pitching tactician have been well documented and his catching defense at age 35 is still better than Grandal. And, of course, there is the friendship with the best pitcher on the planet. The scouting report on Austin Barnes; “Barnes has the tools to be a first-string catcher. A right-handed hitter, he excels at controlling the strike zone and consistently provides high batting averages and on-base percentages. He mostly concentrates on hitting line drives and using the middle of the field, but he also has some sneaky power and could hit 12-15 homers per year. A gifted receiver who moves well behind the plate and has an average arm.” So, I ask myself why did the FO take this risk and what will be the outcome? Will we remember August 25, 2016 as the date the Dodgers’ FO helped solidify the teams march to the WS, or another trade that goes down into the Dodgers history as infamous? We will not know the answers for a couple of months — but it did not start well last night in what was described as a somber clubhouse before the game.
I heard this on the radio on my way home from work yesterday and was shocked and saddened at the same time. I really hope he comes back to us in a coach or managers position. We really need to keep classy guys like him in our organization!! I wish him the best in Philly & a speedy return to The Blue.
I was so upset about this trade that I went to a Journey/Foreigner cover band concert to get away from baseball. To me this trade makes no sense. I have followed AJ since he was in Vero Beach in 2004. My son’s ST was always in Florida, so I made sure that I made plans to see his team against the Dodgers in Spring, and then spend a weekend at Vero watching the Dodgers. I met AJ in that Spring of 2004 and became a follower.
How many games between now and September 1 would AJ be the catcher? Maybe once, but no more than twice. Grandal could have handled the catching chores until Barnes was recalled and hand healed, and there would have been no disruption in the clubhouse. The little additional offense that Chooch Ruiz would give the Dodgers will be more than offset by the loss of AJ’s daily leadership. Lifelong Dodgers should get extra consideration. I know Ruiz is well thought of by the Philly’s organization, and rightfully so. While Ruiz’s leadership skills may serve him well in Philly, it will not help him in LA. That argument by Friedman rings hollow to me.
If the FO was so concerned about RH hitting, then they should have brought Puig back up. I cannot buy the argument that Puig is such a disruption in the clubhouse that he needs to remain in OKC, but losing AJ at this time would not be a disruption. Is Ruiz a better player than AJ? I would say yes. But since Baseball is team sport, then individual abilities are not as important as the team. I grew up with the mantra that the name on the front of the jersey was more important than the name on the back. AJ Ellis embodied that belief. I recognize that MLB is a serious business, and the business side involves trades. But to move a lifelong Dodger this close to the end of the year, in a playoff run, in really a meaningless move is contrary to a successful organization. I respect Andrew Friedman, but I have to believe that if Gabe Kapler is making decisions, this trade does not happen. Gabe Kapler has been in a ML Clubhouse and understands how valuable an AJ Ellis really is. How did the FO think that last night would go? To think it would go any way other than Corey Seager not getting the only hit would not be logical.
While I am upset about the trade, I am wearing my Seager Dodger jersey instead of my Ellis jersey, because the name on the front is more important than the name on the back. I sure hope we do not miss AJ’s .365/.450/.615/1.065 career post season offense.
Very well stated, AC. Couldn’t agree more, as would most of us right now.
Yesterday’s loss was still ominous, but at least we didn’t have to endure a Giants’ no-hitter on the same day we lost one of the most popular players in Dodgers history.
As an athlete….No more importantly, as a human being, when you get the type of reaction that that AJ has received yesterday from fans, you know you’ve done something right. What more is there to say that hasn’t been said. Just a Thank You to AJ for teaching us all humility and just for being a great person. You sir are the exact type of athlete I would want my kids to idolize.
When I watched in utter disbelief at ST 2013, you stop and take the time to sign autographs for EVERY SINGLE fan standing in line, you had my respect right then and there!
I can speak on behalf of all us fans….you will always be a Dodger. This we know!
Thanks again AJ, you will be back!
Amen to that Mike. I saw A.J. do that twice with autographs.
He’s been my favorite Dodger for quite some time now because of the kind of man, teammate and Dodger that he is.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I seen it flash at the bottom of my TV screen, while watching IT on MLBN. “What the hell did that say”, I shocking thought.
It’s been nearly 70 years I’ve been watching this game of MLB but I can never get use to these shocking, unexpected trades.
I still haven’t gotten over it.
I’ve been sitting here trying to think of what to say.
Thank you, Ron. Thank you to all the other posters who have responded.
The only time I can remember feeling like this about baseball was in 1966, when Maury Wills was traded.
AJ probably won’t read this, but I want to say: To me you’ll always be a Dodger. You’ll be an outstanding coach someday, and probably a manager. I’m hoping it’s with the Dodgers.
Maury came back.
Don’t get this at all on a the metrics side, chemistry side, or just the plain old common sense side. Just listened to a whole Baseball Prospectus podcast dedicated to the saber-metrics analysis of the trade and it still makes no sense when you take into consideration game calling metrics, framing and other defensive indicators. It doesn’t really make sense for the common theory of hitting lefthanders if you look at Ellis’ historic splits. If you take in the intangibles of basically upsetting an entire clubhouse by dispensing with your clubhouse leader and the favorite catcher of your star pitcher just coming off the DL, this makes even less sense. It seems to me to be a perfect case of just not leaving well enough alone. Have already decided that if they don’t win everything this year, I am blaming it on the “Ellis Curse.”