World class move by the Dodgers

[Scott Dierking]

Andrew Toles hasn’t played for the Dodgers since Sept. 30, 2018. However, he just had his contract renewed for another year last week.

You probably know Toles’ story. He hit .364 in the 2016 postseason for the Dodgers and was off to a solid start in 2017 when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament sliding into the wall while trying to make a catch. He missed the rest of that season but returned in 2018, playing 17 games. He wasn’t at spring training in 2019, and it was eventually learned he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

In 2020, Toles was found sleeping behind a building at Key West International Airport in Florida. He was homeless and taken to a mental health facility.

At last report, Toles was in the care of his father, Alvin, who said Andrew is in a “zombie-like” condition. ”We are having challenges,” Alvin told USA Today in 2021, “but nothing that God and I can’t handle. Schizophrenia, it’s just so tough. I mean, he can’t even watch TV. He hears voices and the TV at the same time, so it’s kind of confusing. I’ve seen him looking at some baseball games on his laptop, but I don’t think he really understands what’s going on. I just want him to have a chance in life. That’s all. Just to be healthy, live a normal life.”

It would be easy for the Dodgers to cut ties with Toles and wish him well. Instead, they have renewed his contract every year so Toles, 30, can keep his health insurance. They did so again this year. It’s a classy gesture that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

The story did not go unnoticed by former Dodgers pitcher Tom Koehler, who signed with the team in 2017, injured his shoulder in spring training and never pitched an inning for the team.

“I love this,” Koehler said on Twitter. “Saw it first hand how they treated me when I could provide nothing for them. I am not surprised they are helping Andrew. It’s bigger than sports.”

I would guess that almost all of us have a friend or family member who has suffered from a mental illness. While it seems unlikely that Toles will ever play in the majors again, let’s hope that he can just enjoy life again. And if things work out perfectly and he’s able to return to Dodger Stadium one day to throw out the first pitch or just wave from the stands, let’s hope there’s a sellout crowd on hand to give him a standing ovation.

[TuscanyTile2]

Thank you for posting this.  Great story!  Incredibly classy move by the Dodgers.  I hope Steve Cohen follows in these footsteps.

[32EBoozer]

WWJD Do?

 

 

 

 

 

What would Joe Douglas Do?

[section314]

Great story.

[Larz]

Amazing. I know someone with both conditions. It’s tough. She’s like 4 people. Many people don’t have the patience or tolerance to deal. Thankfully this guy has his dad and insurance. Hope it works out ? 

[Leftylarry]

On 3/29/2023 at 3:27 PM, Larz said:

Amazing. I know someone with both conditions. It’s tough. She’s like 4 people. Many people don’t have the patience or tolerance to deal. Thankfully this guy has his dad and insurance. Hope it works out ? 

It’s not about insurance, we lost a friend to this many years ago, they don’t like the meds, makes them feel zombie- like and they almost always go off them so they can FEEL, anything and they hear the voices, my friend ended up on the streets, we tried to help, would pick him up , take him home feed him, make sure he showered ,he’d be good and be talking about the future, a job, getting an apt and then eventually they hate the meds or the meds don’t work and bingo, same deal.

In the old days they were institutionalized which was no life either, I have heard of happy endings with jobs and even spouses and families but they have bad periods and nothing works during those.

horrible situation.

[Larz]

2 minutes ago, Leftylarry said:

It’s not about insurance, we lost a friend to this many years ago, they don’t like the meds, makes them feel zombie- like and they almost always go off them so they can FEEL, anything and they hear the voices, my friend ended up on the streets, we tried to help, would pick him up , take him home feed him, make sure he showered ,he’d be good and be talking about the future, a job, getting an apt and then eventually they hate the meds or the meds don’t work and bingo, same deal.

In the old days they were institutionalized which was no life either, I have heard of happy endings with jobs and even spouses and families but they have bad periods and nothing works during those.

horrible situation.

agree. The girl I know has been off her meds awhile now. Everyone is worried but like you said she just won’t take them. She supports herself and is a good mom but things she tells me just scares the crap outta me 

[SAM SAM HE'S OUR MAN]

I thought the world class move was taking out Aaron Judge with a cement block .