Season in review about nothing: Brandon League, ‘The Pilot.’

Brandon League

Brandon League appeared in 74, 58, 63 and zero games the last four seasons, respectively. (Associated Press photo)

This is Part 30 of a series in which every member of the 2015 Dodgers has his season juxtaposed with an episode of the greatest sitcom of all-time. Don’t take it too seriously.

Brandon League, RHP

Key stats: 0 games played.

Seinfeld episode: “The Pilot” (Season 4, Episode 23)

Key quote: “You’re passing already? But the show just ended two minutes ago!”

With the possible exception of Hyun-Jin Ryu (we’ll get to him eventually), Brandon League spent more time in a Dodgers uniform in 2015 without actually appearing in a game for them. But he gets a write-up here, not merely for collecting a major league paycheck for the better part of three months or making 10 minor league rehab appearances.

The most compelling reason to remember Brandon League’s 2015 is how absurd it all was. It’s bizarre to begin with that the Dodgers paid League $8.5 million to effectively do nothing for them this year. It’s even more bizarre to think that League couldn’t help a bullpen that was struggling on July 2, when League’s right shoulder ailment finally allowed him to come off the disabled list.

But so it was. League hurt his shoulder in spring training, got healthy months later, and was ultimately cut loose by a front office that inherited the most expensive year of his contract through no fault of its own.

So it was, too, for Jerry Seinfeld in his show-within-a-show that was all set to debut as the fourth season finale (“The Pilot”). The president of NBC that picked up the pilot was no longer in charge by the time it aired. And so the following exchange took place:

RITA: In any event, I’ve been made the new president of NBC. As you may or may not know, Russell and I did not see eye to eye on many, many projects. And as my first order of business, I’m, uh, passing on your show.

 

JERRY: You’re passing already? But the show just ended two minutes ago!

 

RITA: Well, I just got the job. Goodbye, Jerry.

 

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.