Every organization has one. You know the one. That member who can be heard above all others, who has something to say about everything that happens, who wants to be involved in everything but also the one who just rubs others the wrong way. Well DTW is no different . . . in fact, we’ve got a few. I’d venture to say that we all fit the description in one way or another. But where in other organizations that individual may be ostracized and shunned, we in DTW seem to find a way to accept, live with and move on. That is truly the meaning of “family.”

Our family lost one of its members today. And despite those idiosyncrasies that tend to rub us raw sometimes, it is still too soon to lose him. We didn't lose him because he moved out of town or had lost interest in the game and the league and it is through no fault or act of the league for that is not our way. We accept and cherish all who have become part of our family. No, it is the act of some higher power that brought to an end a six and a half year association that began as a result of the actions of a less tolerant fantasy camp organization, actions that may have put a bit of tarnish on their “halo.”

	Dennis Martin

As you may have already guessed, it is our brother Dennis Martin of whom I now write because Dennis lost his battle with lung cancer.

Dennis came to us on the heels of being asked not to return to Angels' camp. And yes before accepting him into our fold, his reputation preceded him. We heard that he was annoying – “annoying” well that’s probably a bit mild and not what was really said but we will leave it at that; not the best ball player; and generally an all around “pain in the ass.” But he came to us wanting to play baseball and we took him in. And in the past six and a half years, Dennis definitely lived up to some of those criticisms as his managers will certainly attest.

But Dennis also brought to DTW some life. As I write this I can see him fully clad in the “tools of ignorance,” as catching gear is fondly called, receiving a pitch and making that high arching throw to second or should I say somewhere between the pitcher’s mound and second for as we know, Dennis didn’t have the greatest arm. But what he lacked in arm strength he made up for in cunning. How about his patented “Dennis Martin Pick Off Play.” We all know that one. He’d bounce up after catching a low pitch and spin in a feigned effort to look for the ball. A sleeping base runner (base coach, manager and half the team for that matter) thinks the ball got by Dennis and takes off. The operative word there is “catching” as Dennis has the ball in his glove the whole time and proceeds to throw to the original base to get the runner out. Ingenuity taking advantage of the quirkiness of our modified base running rules. Boy did the board and managers have some discussions over that little move.

But besides his on field shenanigans, Dennis loved his DTW. He was at every event. Sometimes right there up front making his presence known, sometimes lurking unobtrusively in the back. And he was at every game, even if he couldn’t play.

As I said Dennis came to us from the Angels, having originally attended the Angels fantasy camp. But he always wanted to see and experience why we all loved the Dodgers camp experience. So in February, 2008, Dennis went to his first Dodgers camp. I attended that camp and in fact shared the flight to and from Vero with him. As with all of us, he was truly excited to be in Vero and came to understand what we all knew about the place and the camp. Unfortunately it fell on the shoulders of Burt Hooton and Travis Barbary to have to put up with Dennis. But despite some frozen uniforms and other “rookie” tributes, we all survived and Dennis and I spent hours talking about his experiences on the way home. When Dennis got his diagnosis, he made it his goal to attend one more camp which he did in November 2008. Fittingly it will be his last camp as it could be the last Dodgers camp in Dodgertown, Vero Beach.

As a show of his generosity and love for our little family, Dennis made a gift to us all and not just his expressions of sincere love for the organization. When Dennis first got the word about his condition last summer, he told me privately that he wanted to send in some funds to be used to pay for “a game or two.” Trying to be more optimistic about his situation I told Dennis it was very generous but that we should wait as he would surely be around to use it himself. Unfortunately his take was more accurate than mine and true to his word, on July 3rd Dennis sent us all a very generous gift that will take care of more than a “game or two” over then next few years.

That was Dennis. Yes a pain in the ass some times but always a devoted member of our family who we will miss.

For myself, I know Dennis has read my postings here and know that he knows that he has been in my and all of our thoughts and will continue to be.

We’ll miss you buddy!