Joe Beimel, internet celebrity
For those who haven't seen it, there is a Dodgers fan who has posted a bunch of Joe Beimel tribute videos on youtube under the name troyfromwestvirginia. you can find them all at the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/user/troyfromwestvirginia
You can also find some responses that Joe's friends have posted by simply going to youtube.com and typing ``joe beimel'' into the search box. This whole thing is taking on a life of its own, right up to the fact that troyfromwestvirginia has announced in his latest video post that he has decided to actually come to Vero Beach to see his hero, none other than Dodgers situational lefty reliever Joe Beimel, and actually waves his travel itinerary in front of the camera to prove to the viewer that he is, in fact, coming. Troy explains in his first video that the reason he is such a Beimel fan is that ``I root for the underdog.'' Well, Troy, we look forward to seeing you at Dodgertown next week. I hope you get to meet Joe, who is one of the most personable, fan- and media-friendly guys on the team. By the way, Joe Torre said today that he has a pretty strong idea of whether he is going to allow Beimel to keep his long hair, but he wouldn't tell us until he tells Joe. Reading between the lines of that, it sounds like a trip to the barber is in Beimel's immediate future, but I could be wrong.

Tony Jackson has covered the Dodgers for the Daily News since 2004 and has covered Major League Baseball on a regular basis since 1995. He previously covered the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds. He is a native of Springdale, Ark., and a graduate of the University of Arkansas.

Comments
If I were Joe Torre, I wouldn't want to change a thing about Joe "Samson" Beimel's hair.
Posted by: Andrea | February 19, 2008 3:20 PM
Not to downplay my fandon (is that a word?) of Joe Beimel, but I'd be going to Vero Beach even if he were not there. I've been a huge Dodger fan my whole life and it was a guy filming spring training that is the original source for the mini domino effect that has resulted in my trip to Vero Beach.
Actually, I have met and shook Joe Beimel's hand. Told him I was a big fan of his.
Posted by: troyfromwestvirginia | February 19, 2008 4:54 PM
Troy is the man! lol The dude even mentioned me in the video. LOL
Roberto
http://baseballislife.mlblogs.com/
Posted by: Roberto | February 19, 2008 5:47 PM
Hi Troy. Fred Peritore here. I'm a former teacher at Arcadia High School. You may know me as seabeachfred on such sites as DodgerBlues, TalkSox, HaloCorner, Mets Forum, and CubsForum. I go by Fred Peritore on other teams' sites, but that's not the point. What I'm trying to say is... I have been meaning to go to Vero Beach this spring, and if you have space in your hotel room, maybe we can stay together in the same room to save some cash and hopefully become best friends. I can tell you numerous stories about the good old days when Dodger Stadium finally decided to install water fountains.
Posted by: Fred Peritore | February 20, 2008 12:07 AM