Hoo boy, back after eight months of anxiety kept me from writing these.

Today's Dodger of the Day is pitcher Jim Neidlinger.

James Llewyn Neidlinger was born September 24, 1964, in Vallejo, California. The Pittsburgh Pirates signed as an undrafted free agent in 1984 and spent the next six years bouncing around Pittsburgh's minor league system. He spent most of his playing time in AA and Single-A; he was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Year in 1986.

Neidlinger saw two brief stints in AAA during his time with the Pirates. He started four games for the PCL's Hawaii Islanders in 1986 and pitched four innings over three appearances in 1988. Like many other minor leaguers, Neidlinger took a second job, working 70 hours a week as a UPS driver.

He was traded to the Dodgers October 3, 1988, for southpaw Bill Krueger (who I will, God willing, get to at some point). His arrival with the team came as a relief. In a Los Angeles Times dated September 7, 1990, Neidlinger said, "when I (Jim Neidlinger) came to the Dodgers' organization (in 1989), I remember sitting down with minor league instructor Dave Wallace and telling him, 'Look, I'm a good person. I don't complain or moan, all I want is an opportunity to pitch--at triple-A... That's how low I was. I wasn't even thinking about the major leagues."

Neidlinger got serious time in AAA in 1989, appearing in 24 games for the Albuquerque Dukes. He pitched 139 innings and had a 4.06 ERA, but with a not-so-stellar 10.6 H/9.

The 25-year-old Neidlinger made his MLB debut August 1, 1990, at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants. He pitched six innings, giving up one run on seven hits and striking out three. The Dodgers lost the game 2-1; closer Jay Howell gave up a ninth-inning solo shot to catching great and future Dodger Gary Carter.

Neidlinger's first win would have to wait until August 12 in Atlanta. The Dodgers put up three runs in the first and four in the fourth to support Neidlinger's seven-inning, two-run performance and win the game 7-3. His final appearance in the majors would come September 29 in San Francisco. It was a 4.1-inning, four-run stinker that may have sunk his chances at an extended career.

He spent 1991 and 1992 back in Albuquerque. He had an ERA over 4.00 in both seasons and never really got his H/9 down. It says something that, despite his relative success at the MLB level, he couldn't even crack the Dodger roster during this relative dark age for the team.

In 1993, he signed with the Twins and spent the season with the PCL's Portland Beavers. His ERA ballooned to over 5.00 and he averaged more than six RA/9. An attempt to salvage his career with the AAA Cardinals affiliate was aborted after just seven games. He retired shortly thereafter. He moved to Vermont and worked in the college game, first as an assistant at the University of Vermont from 1995-1997, then as an assistant at Middlebury College from 2007-2016. He is currently the head coach at St. Michael's College, a D-II in Colchester, Vermont.

Remember these?

Ray Hayworth

Al Scheer

Dolly Stark

Joe Schultz Sr.

Stan Andrews

Matt Luke

Joe Kelley

"Sweet" Lou Johnson

Wilson Alvarez

Herb Thormahlen

John Karst