Phew. So many thoughts. So many feelings. If you didn't know, Matt was traded to the San Diego Padres today! I know I haven't published anything in a long time. Honestly, a lot of the things that have happened over the past two seasons are just book worthy. A lot of tears and frustrations and pushing each other to stay strong and keep trusting the process. So those are in the vault for now.

But now that Matt is officially a part of another organization that's not the Dodgers I feel like that deserves a post because I have a lot to say that couldn't simply be posted in a short social media post. 

In 2015 when Matt was drafted, we were so freakin happy. We also had no idea what this journey entailed for us. 

Matt played at every level in the Dodgers system, Ogden, Midland, Rancho, Tulsa and OKC. We met some of our closest friends in that system. We had some of the best times on road trips, sharing apartments, meals, laughs and exploring cities we would have never went to if it wasn't for baseball. 

The people that the Dodgers staffed and the player development in their minor league system is top notch. Matt puts in all the work and has the tools, but I think it's fair to say he wouldn't be the player he is without the help along the way with some of the hitting coaches, mentors, etc. through the system and teaching him how to be a big leaguer. 

Then in 2019, Matt got the opportunity to have his dream come true. Being a big leaguer. I'll be honest when the Dodgers drafted Matt I never thought they would be the team he made his debut with. Too much talent. Too much money to do whatever you want, get whoever you want. Matt earned that debut year and every opportunity that followed. 

A walk-off. Some go-aheads. A grand slam. A ton of RBIs. Almost three years of service time. Three playoff runs. A WORLD SERIES. We've been through more (both good and frustrating) than we could have imagined with the Dodgers.

I can't say enough about how the Dodgers treat their families. I know I have only  experienced one team, but I know it won't get any better. They always make sure the families are right there and involved in everything, and for that, I will always be grateful. I left my career to travel with Matt and experience every ounce of this, and the Dodgers made that easy. 

Thank you to the fans, reporters, SportsNet LA crew, Backstage Dodgers crew, beat writers and the people we met along the way. Meeting people along this journey is one of my favorite parts, and our paths crossed with some real gems. We're overwhelmed with the support we've received from Dodger fans since the DFA last Wednesday. We're grateful for all the stories, packages, etc. that LA gave our fund efforts. 

We're grateful to have been a part of this organization for such a long time. But we're also so freaking pumped for this new chapter!

San Diego has always been our favorite place to go during the season. As always, we don't know what the heck is going to happen, but we're so excited for this new opportunity and fresh start. 

Go Padres! (Is that what we say?!) 

The last couple of days have been crazy. Especially for us in the sports world. If you hadn’t heard, spring training was cancelled yesterday and the regular season pushed back at least two weeks.

I’ve debated writing anything because there are still a lot of unknowns and confusion.

What we know as of now is we’re going to be staying in Arizona. Matt will still be going to Camelback Ranch to workout everyday. This could change, but for us, it just makes sense to stay in Arizona. 
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They’ve given the options of staying, going to your team’s city or going to your “offseason” home. We don’t have a home really so that’s doesn’t really make sense. We still have our place in Arizona until the end of the month at least so that makes the most sense for us as of now.

I couldn’t really come up with a title of this without sounding like we were traded which Matt HAS NOT been traded…yet at least. 
This is just a blog talking about what is like being on a team when trade rumors are swirling all around you and then when “blockbuster” trades happen. 

To be honest, when Matt was in the minor leagues, we didn’t really pay attention that closely to trades because we never thought Matt would really be a piece and we didn’t feel the effects of a trade very much in the lower levels of the minor leagues.
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But ever since Matt has been put on the 40-man, we watch trade stuff like hawks. OK, that might be dramatic. But every move has a direct hit on each player on the 40-man and then to the (now) 26-man roster for the season.
Also from my standpoint, my mind goes straight to the logistics of a trade. Learning a new team, navigating new cities, different organizations ways of doing things.

Just when I think I have this whole baseball life somewhat figured out a season like 2019 punches me in the throat. HA. But seriously. In all the best ways.

Welcome to my (Jesica’s) take on Matt’s rookie season from behind the scenes and all my emotions. 

Since I have been traveling with Matt, we’ve had it pretty easy as far as pretty much knowing what’s going on. My first year we were in AA all year then went to fall league then the next year were in AAA and even though Matt was hurt most of the season we pretty much knew we were going to be in OKC or AZ rehabbing. Then obviously started this season in OKC and then everything else that followed made up for all the certainty we’ve had thus far.

Since April 30 when Matt made his debut, I’m not even kidding you guys when I say everyday I was thinking after the game “ok, is Matt going to text me and say he’s being optioned.’ It happened a few times but most days it didn’t but still everyday was a thought. I say that because that’s why we lived out of hotels for the entire season and paid on our apartment in OKC every month. So we would have that apartment to go back to and it housed all of our stuff and it never made sense to get a place in LA because it wasn’t permanent.

I don’t think this was on Matt’s mind as much as it was mine just because I was the one who had to figure out all the logistics if he did get sent back. How to get Grainger, when to fly back, make sure we have all our stuff, contact job to tell them I’m back, just all these things started going through my mind if/when he got optioned. All Matt had to do was get on the plane and go play in OKC or go play in LA…and I don’t mean to make that sound easy because it’s not obviously and I wrote a blog on what it was like during the season but during the season I’m the one dealing with all the life stuff because he doesn’t have time or need to be focusing on that stuff.

Whew. What a year, you guys. I know it’s technically not over yet. But for us, we’re finally settled until spring training. 

We’ve been through spring training. Moving to OKC. Making a debut in April. And then went on the craziest ride of our lives for the rest of the season. We lived out of hotels since the end of April. Had a few options but never made it back to OKC. (Since made his debut on April 30 he did not spend a night in our OKC apartment and I spent about 10 days there and we paid for rent all season because there was always a chance everyday we would go back) I made it back to OKC after all-star break option then went back out to LA then went back to OKC to pack up most of our apartment not knowing if that was the right move or not. Went through September not knowing what October held. Made the playoff roster. Started game 5. Went on 37 flights since April 30. Moved to California for offseason. Matt started working out. Went to Georgia. Went to Tennessee. Put on our first Matt Beaty Scholarship Weekend. Made it back to Pasadena with Grainger (our pup). Went on vacation to Aruba (using hotel points we piled up this season with some left over). And now we’re here. I just got rehired with lululemon which is where I’ve been working for two years but had to be off boarded because I didn’t have a chance to work much this season. I’m training for my third half marathon. I feel refreshed but I’m out of breath are you?! HAHAHA

But seriously how freakin' fun, wild, crazy, hard, all the things. I sit here now trying to tackle where to start in writing and sharing aspects of this season and I struggle to know where to begin. I journaled A LOT. And I wrote during some of the best times on Dreams and Seams Facebook page but I didn’t do the best job posting here throughout the season. And I honestly I’m OK with that. I can look back knowing I was so in the moment and that’s exactly where I needed to be.