Joe Beimel really wanted to stay

Joe Beimel returns to Los Angeles today for the first time since signing with the Nationals. The left-hander had always made it known that staying in LA was his first choice, but was unable to agree to a new contract with the Dodgers.

Beimel’s biggest fan, Troy from West Virginia, provides some insight into just how much Beimel wanted to come back, posting on a Nationals message board a YouTube message he had received from Beimel during the negotiaton process with the Dodgers.

i have no idea what you did while you were down in AZ, BUT IT WORKED! colletti called my agent yesterday, and when my agent didn’t call him back, he had the traveling secretary scott akasaki call me on his behalf to see if i had any interest in coming back to the dodgers. my agent and ned talked today, so hopefully something can be worked out sooner rather than later. if i end up signing back with LA then i am definitely flying you out here for a weekend series of your choice and leaving you tickets. you have my word.

joe

As optimistic as Beimel sounded, Troy’s “Bring Back Beimel” campaign was ultimately doomed because, of course, it came down to money. Beimel wanted what he thought he was worth, and the Dodgers believed that the economy should have lowered his demands.

Will Ohman was signed, and both Beimel and Hong-Chih Kuo have been hurt.

But Beimel is coming off the disabled list in time to possibly close games out against his old team. He even apparently has a new No. 97 custom-made bathrobe after giving his old one away to Troy.

The legend continues - elsewhere.