After 32 Years, The Drought Is Over

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1. Congratulations everyone, and especially to you Jeff for stepping up and keeping this place, that we all enjoy so much, going. Having other Dodger fans to share every season with makes supporting the team so much better for me.

   You are actually 1/1 or Batting .1000 as our leader here. That can’t be beaten.

   What a Rollercoaster. I couldn’t quite believe it when Cash pulled Snell. Poor fella, that’s gonna haunt him.
   A real team effort that, and if you were watching that as a supporter of any other MLB team, I would imagine that you’d be rather worried that the Dodgers may only be getting started.

   As it turned out, I think the NL was stronger than the AL this season.

   Atlanta or possibly the Padres would have given Tampa a run for their money.

   2020 may have been a strange year, but winning the WS this year was not diminished by Covid. No one can argue that wasn’t a proper season ultimately won by the best team.

   1. Hey Watford, I’m glad you addressed MJ on the last. That was cool of you.

2. I’m especially happy for all the Dodger players who had a rough time this season and took a lot of fan abuse, Barnes being top of the list, Woody, Muncy, etc. , and came through in the end. Here’s to the Dodgers being even better next year!

3. Great win, great series.

   Really glad that this group was able to win it all before its broken up. Wish Ross could have been a part of it. Always like him.

   Icing on the cake was Manfred getting just about booed off the stage and visibly shaken.

   Would have gone with Kershaw for the MVP myself.

   1. In some ways I would agree there Jason, but Seager contributed to every victory, and he was the one player you could look to in the tight moments. Kersh would have been a sentimental choice. But Corey deserved it.

4. Okay for Queen to sing that song, but I hope no Dodgers do what some guys did in 81 and make a record of them singing it. Congrats to the entire team. To Dave Roberts who in my eyes redeemed himself this post season. To the much maligned, AF, who many times I have said exactly what Jeff said the the story. You have not achieved anything unless you win that last game of the year. To the Dodger bullpen which recieved more flak this year than a group of B=17 bombers over Berlin. When the chips were down, they did a fantastic job. To Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May, rookies who at times have looked as seasoned as the rest of the vets. To Julio Urias, who when the season started I questioned his not attacking hitters. Tonight he went for the jugular. To CK, who has been ripped for years for now winning the big one. His game 5 performance was a gritty as they come. To Joc, Kike, Rios, Barnes, Beaty, Pollock, Taylor, all the guys who made huge contributions at times during the season. Edwin’s extra inning blast that beat the Cheeto’s is one of the best memory’s of a season that was like no other in MLB history. To Ross Stripling, who at the beginning of the season won 3 games and pitched well. He had some bad moments, but Ross was the quintessential team player. He always placed the needs of the team over his own. His debut against the Giants in SF when he pitched 7 plus no hit innings will always be a great memory. To Belli and Muncy who went through very trying seasons, were blasted by many, myself included, and yet did not let that affect their play when the chips were down. Muncy turned it around in the series, and Belli had a memorable homer in the NLCS. The team was under more pressure than most of us have ever faced. And I would be remiss to not mention the leadership and professionalism of Justin Turner. I have enjoyed his play from the first day he joined the team. And finally, to Mookie Betts. Mookie was all that was advertised and more. And I expect him to be better over the next few years. When fans are finally allowed back at Dodger Stadium, you can bet he is going to hear cheers as loud if not louder than anything he experienced in Boston. And to all the folks here on LADT who have shared this roller coaster ride with me. You guys are a great bunch…and so is our lady., DBM. As fans I have a lot of respect for all of you. You have accepted me as a contributor to the site, and I appreciate that more than you know. We might not always agree on everything, but we all love the same team. To Jeff, and Mark, 2D2, your great writing has inspired me to do the best I can. Harold, all of your articles are so informative. I can finally get a good nights sleep.

5. Here is a thought for all of you to ponder:
   Did the Dodgers know that JT had gotten a positive test back but withheld it till nearing the end of the game? Something doesn’t sit right with me how this unfolded. I would think that whoever gets tested would get the result back before a game, not during. Now we’ll see if others were infected by this odd turn of events.

   Within the WS bubble (is it really a bubble?), do the players venture out of their accommodations for meals, walks, bars? If you protect yourselves as you should, how do you get it, especially a savvy guy like JT?

   1. It is curious how he could get infected inside the bubble. Somebody somewhere had to have popped it. And what would have happened if there was a game 7?
      Wait 14 days?, Play game 7 with the taxi squad?
      2020 continues to be weird and there’s still more to come!

   2. From what I heard it sounds like his test from Monday came back inconclusive so they immediately ran his sample from Tuesday and got the results back during the game. I don’t see how the Dodgers could have withheld the result as I think MLB would have gotten notified as well. Two questions; 1) What would have happened if there was a game 7, 2) I wonder if more players Tuesday tests will come back positive.

   3. There is no conspiracy.

      I was watching a documentary on the Spanish Flu of 1918 a while ago. There was a researcher in the 50s who tried to find samples of the original virus in 1918 (it has long since mutated out of existence). He traveled to this remote Inuit village in some remote region in Alaska. There were still people buried who had died from the virus in 1918 who, because they were interred in permafrost, were still well preserved and he was able to collect viable tissue samples. He didn’t have the technology back in the 50s to get a viable RNA sample of the virus, but he did go back a few years ago (he’s very old, now) to that same village and extract viable samples and get an RNA copy of the virus with newer biomed techniques.

      The point is, this was probably the most remote human settlement you could find, in 1918 before jet travel. Still, that village was decimated by a virus that originated halfway around the globe.

      In spite of safeguards, viruses spread.

6. I wanted to thank you, Jeff, and also Mark and all of the other contributors and commentators at LADT! What a fun and exciting ride! You guys made a big contribution to my mental state by giving us so much daily enjoyment for the past several months. It was the best antidote to the Covid blues I could imagine.

   The ending last night was storybook, couldn’t have been scripted better. So many great stories this year: CK shaking off his demons, Urias emerging as a formidable pitcher, Barnes stepping up at the plate and being that stablizing presence behind the plate, the bullpen getting its act together in the end, Cory returning to his rookie year form, JT and Joc as Masters of October, Buehler lights out, Fresh Prince, Muncy, Kike, and Belli showing their stuff when it counted, and of course, Mookie!

   And Doc showing us that he can make good in-game decisions, with the help of the players who executed. Hearing Doc’s speech made me realize what a class act he is. He went out of his way to single out Jansen, who had to give up the closer role, and Strip, who isn’t even on the team anymore. Doc didn’t have to do that. No wonder the players love him. And kudos also to the Rays, who are also a classy organization, and gave us the pleasure of dispensing with the Astericks. No asterick for this Dodgers world championship. They won it under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

   Now we have something to enjoy until next year, when we will start criticizing and second-guessing everything and everyone, but all in the right spirit.

   Go Blue!

7. A few thoughts.

   I wonder how David Price is feeling today?

   I wonder how our recently departed players, such as Rich Hill, Ryu, Maeda and David Freese and of course Ross Stripling feel?
   Happiness for their old friends, or bitterness they’d been moved on?

   Julio looks very different without his glasses.

   I wonder which day of the week Manfred sobers up?

8. During the regular season, the Dodgers put up a 3.02 ERA as a team, which was #1 in baseball.

   Their reliever ERA was 2nd to the A’s at 2.74.

   In the Postseason, the Dodgers had a 3.42 ERA as a staff and their bullpen ERA was 3.64.

   It gets tougher in the World Series as the Dodgers team ERA was 3.52, while the Rays was 5.54, and ultimately, the Dodgers had a better Bullpen ERA than the Rays. However, in the Postseason, it’s hard to sort out starters and relievers.

   The key stat to me is the fact that the Rays gave up two more runs a game than the Dodgers. Yesterday was one of the best bullpen games EVER! 9 IP, 5 Hits, 1 ER, 2 BB, 16 Strikeouts!

   Julio Urias was pitching on short rest but showed why he is a top-of-the-rotation starter. I was even impressed with Tony Gonsolin, who gave up the only run. In 1.2 IP he struck out 4.

   We may say Goodbye to some players this offseason, but there is also a chance we keep some players. I love how Doc mentioned Ross Stripling. I am betting the Dodgers vote him a share and a ring! What class acts – throughout the organization!

9. Of course, we all remember the Kirk Gibson Home Run, but lest we forget, here is the last time the Dodgers clinched the World Series:
   

10. I agree, Mark, class throughout the organization. I wonder what Farhan Zaidi is thinking right now. Of course, he saw his opportunity in SF, but it isn’t easy to win a WS, as AF knows. I was impressed that AF actually apologized to Dodger fans for the fact that “it took so long.” You get the sense that he actually cares. Not at all arrogant. In fact, the opposite.

    On the other hand, there is Manfred, an empty suit if there ever was one. When you lack integrity, people know it. If he was surprised by the boos, he is even more clueless than I thought.

    Since Jeff will have more free time soon, I suggest that we nominate him as the new Commissioner. If he can moderate this blog, he can easily handle some cheating players and egomaniac owners!

11. I love the Clayton Kershaw quote: “We won the World Series. I don’t care about legacy, I don’t care about what happened last year…I don’t care at all. We won the World Series. The 2020 Dodgers won the World Series. Who cares about all that other stuff? It’s just pointless, doesn’t matter. We won, it’s great.”

12. Congrats Guys!!!

    That was awesome

13. When someone tests positive for COVID-19, the results are sent by e-mail to the player, team, and MLB.

    The results evidently came in during the game. The team and MLB knew it and JT was pulled immediately.

    Like my Doctor told me: “85% of the people infected wore masks.” Masks help immensely, but there are lots of other ways you can accidentally get infected. There is nothing sinister here. Stuff happens!

    1. Yeah, bubble schmubble. Stuff happens. Most people know that is true. Some still don’t.

14. Dodgers win, nothing more to add.

15. Congratulations to the Dodgers and everyone here who eats, drinks, breathes Dodgers as I do. We don’t all agree on many things, but our love for the Dodgers is strong. This was a well deserved championship from a freight-train of a team.

    I’m so glad this is over. What a roller coaster ride of a series! So many lead changes. The Rays did not look like the 21st offense in baseball! It was very fitting that Cash Robertsed the Snell call and the post game show legends absolutely roasted him for it. The Rays remind me of the Dodgers of years past with too many platoons and a manager who can’t read the field in front of him, instead relying on his iPad to make decisions as ours has the propensity to do. But, for a night our guy was successful blending old school baseball with the new age.

    Mookie is the spark that starts the engine, but Corey Seager put on a show! Clayton was less dominate and more gritty finally shaking the monkey off his back. Urias grew up before our eyes and Bueller established himself as THE BIG GAME PITCHER on the staff.

    I am so looking forward to a repeat or a three peat with this team. The pitching staff is going to be incredible next year. Kershaw still has more in the tank, as does Price. Bueller and Urias are just getting started. No bullpen games next postseason, just a parade of horses, a hand full of aces.

    Andrew doesn’t need to do too much this offseason. He did his big work by landing Mookie. Now, he just needs to figure out how to bring JT back and get some help for the pen. It will be sad to see Kike, Joc, Petey and some of the others move on, but it will be exciting to see some of the new kids start to grow up during next season.

    I was really freaking out when Doc pulled Woody. It worked out well enough but man, he looked like he could have gone 5. Good job Doc, for not screwing it up. I sure hope he’s learning and this wasn’t just an aberration cuz it looks like he’s gonna be here a while longer …sadly.

16. Floro was clutch in the second inning. Two on, Arozarena at bat and he throws 3 perfect changeups to strike him out. The momentum changed right there.

    It’s great that the Dodgers could win before the band gets broken up this winter.

    Does anyone else but Mookie score on that ground out? His baseball acumen is off the charts. Can see why AF has coveted him since 2018.

    Finally:

    I’d like to thank Jeff D for handling this blog this season. Wish you the very best on your new adventure. To all the other writers, thank you for all the great articles. And last but not least, Mark, thanks for hosting this blog. Not sure of its future but if this is the end it was a glorious way to go out. Glad you don’t need immediate surgery.

    To everyone, stay well and stay safe!

    1. This is not the end.

17. Just read the Rosenthal Athletic piece regarding Turner and though questions certainly do arise I think Friedman made a good point with this . … “But I think from our standpoint, I think the people who were around him were the people that would be in the contact tracing web anyway”. It is interesting that MLB was able to contain any spread through the season and in the middle of the last game this odd event happens. As for the picture, Turner has his mask in his hand so he was wearing it and everyone there obviously had already been exposed. Let’s hope this just fades into nothing.

    When do we start talking about free agent signings and ridonkulous trades? Mark. The floor is yours.

    1. There is be none of that this year, but there will be lots of change and opportunity. I am writing on that as we speak.

18. Thank you Doc for not putting in Jansen for some sort of redemption. It’s about time you woke up.
    Urias is my MVP!!

    1. Kershaw for me

19. Wow, that was quick…

    https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30206627/los-angeles-dodgers-favored-repeat-world-series-champs-2021

20. Yesterday I commented before the game that it would really be fitting if Barnes turned out to be the hero since so many of us were ready to get rid of him earlier in the year.

    Well……………………………if he doesn’t get that hit off of Snell, he might still be pitching. So in my mind, Barnes is the one who turned that game around. A true hero!

    1. Barnes definitely cashed in.

    2. I think we were about to light Snell up and Cash knew it. Good move by the manager. Worked out for everybody, but ‘cept maybe the Ray’s bullpen that, as noted, took the beating, from which Cash saved Snell. It was just a matter of time, and, the time came.

21. Corey Seager absolutely deserves the World Series MVP, but the Dodgers are not World Champions without Mookie Betts. IMO, the best ever Dodgers trade.

    1. They aren’t champions without several other Dodgers either.

       1. True, but what player did the Dodgers add after 2019 that made as a much difference? If not for Betts right field defense the Dodgers would have been eliminated from 2020 post season before the World Series.

          1. A healthy Seager? Joc?

             1. Seager and Joc were on the team, not added. And, both were pivotal. (I am as big a Corey Seager fan as there is, and hope that Dodgers reward him with a massive extension). But adding Betts to the rest of the roster was the difference maker — Clayton Kershaw “He strives to be perfect, to be excellent every single time,” Kershaw said. “That focus, that consistency. I don’t know how much better he made every single guy, but I know it did some.” There is no doubt in my mind that no one else on this roster could have made the defensive plays Betts made that led the team to the WS.

    2. I’m still on the bandwagon to change the name of the World Series. It is not a factual title and is totally a North American thing. We don’t play any team from other baseball playing countries except Canada. This is not an unreasonable request and makes total sense in today’s world just like the electronic strike zone.

       1. The World Series has been around for almost 120 years, and there is no league in the world that claims to be as good as MLB. Players from Japan, Korea, Latin American countries, etc. come here to play because it is the best (and of course pays the best). Changing the name is unnecessary.

          1. You got my vote.

22. Even Boras should know now is the time to negotiate a Seager extension.

    1. Oh yeah? Extension you say. I think maybe extension should have been done before Seager OPS’d 1.256 on the biggest stage in baseball. Boras and Friedman? Yoiks. Let the fur fly.

       By the way Bum, what do you think is fair?

       1. Are you talking 1st or last year of contract?

          1. I’m talking boh and how long.

    2. Arenado him

23. Congratulations to all Dodgers. This was a complete team effort. Doc did a great job of managing this game.

    1. He let Gonzo pitch more than one inning.
    2. He used Baez to start an inning.
    3. He let a hot pitcher, Urias, finish the game.
    4. He started Barnes at catcher.
    5. He used basically the same line up through out the play offs.

    When Cash pulled the starting pitcher, I said, that is a Doc move in past play offs. Doc has learned from his mistakes. That is all you can ask of any person.

    I believe there will be more WS champions for the Dodgers. This team does not have many weaknesses.

    1. Totally agree with ya Al (btw, i have moved to Middleton in the last 30 days).

       I watched Cash come out of the dugout and wave his right hand to the pen, told my wife “Cash has just morphed into Roberts”. What do you know, he got the same results that Roberts has gotten when sticking to the strict sybermetrics. The Dodger players all had the same reaction that I had when they learned that Snell was being pull out of the game, excitement, energy and relief.

       I have to admit, I was cringing waiting to hear that Dodgers’ bullpen was getting up for the ninth inning, then relieve to hear that Urias was going to be allowed to finish the game. I hope this means Roberts has learned a valuable lesson, stay with a hot hand and to hell with the computer. Stats are valuable, as an aid,, however sports is made up of both stats and the human element (emotion), you can’t utilize one or the other strictly, both must be combined.

       I have to admit, Seager was a good choice for MVP, but I would have had no argument if Urias would have been awarded it. Urias role throughout this WS was critical and possibly the most critical. Yes, it took many factors and key contributions to secure this title but without Urias I don’t think we own the trophy.

       Yes, I did call this to be won in 6 or less games (it should have been in 5 as we all witnessed), the Dodgers just had too much talent. Regarding talent, why in the hell did the Dodgers insist on letting one guy beat them time and time again? I have played a lot of sports and was always taught that if one guy is what powers a team that you can’t let him beat you. Arozarena should have never been allowed to do the damage he did, I hope the Dodger brass made note for future game strategies. I smell Patch lurking about, something is wrong with that boy.

       Forgive me for not remembering who is stepping down as Czar of this site, I believe it is Jeff. Anyway, thank you for your service to the members of this site. Your balanced approach has been sorely needed and appreciated, hoping that someone else can step in that will provide that calmness and balance as well in the very near future. Good luck Mark, as I’m sure you are exploring others to manage the site.

       Go Dodgers, finally the long wait has ended. BTW, Roberts is a very nice man and he was very gracious in his comments following the game.

       PS, never let the owner of the team near a microphone again, geez!

       1. Middleton sounds like a great place to live!

          Godspeed!

          1. Danke, about 30 west of Boise (Go Broncos)

24. AC, believe me, I’m soooooo happy that I am NOT on a plane to Dallas right now! Of course, who knows if there would even be a game 7 today, as I’m sure we’ll hear of several more positive tests on the Dodgers, I’m sure on the Rays, and maybe even an ump?

    This is 2020, so none of this should shock anybody

    Now, I need to go win the lottery so I can buy up lots of Lakers and Dodgers championship gear

    1. Use the money you just saved Bobby. I think you have enough to send us all a Championship hat.

       My address: third trailer on the right, Impecunious Mobile Estates, Lake Forest, Ca.

       1. El Toro! 😉

25. Ok LADT nation. We all have to go back and reread all the comments from October 16th and see how silly most of us are. No one more than me. Good thing we’re the fans and not n charge of Dodger baseball! Fans can afford to be stupid!

    1. October 16:

       “Shut ‘em up and shut ‘em down. Then do it again tomorrow. If they lay another egg we will have plenty of time to talk about it for months.“

       Sheer genius right there.

       “But you do know over the the same span Lindor has 50 more home runs than Seager.“

       Oh… ouch! Who said that? More manifest acumen.

       1. Well everyone but you badger!

          1. As someone considerably smarter than me once said “the cream rises to the top”.

             Or, as someone of my intellectual standing more accurately articulated, s*** floats. (Beat you to it Mark)

26. How’s this for the little things making a big difference. The Rays pitching staff 5 H, 2 BB, 11 SO, 1 HR, 3 ER and 1 WP. the Dodgers staff 5 H, 2 BB, 16 SO, 1 HR, 1 R, 0 WP. People can roast Cash for pulling Snell but if Anderson doesn’t throw one in the dirt or Zunino blocks it do we even score? I don’t think there was a contact play on when Betts scored. I think a superstar athlete read what he saw and made a play that maybe Bellinger is the only other player on the team could make. If Barnes is still on third he doesn’t go or is out at home. How many times have we seen failure to execute being the deciding factor.

    1. “How many times have we seen failure to execute being the deciding factor.“

       Every time? Damm near every time?

       That was a close game. There are always ifs. All 3 Dodger runs scored were ruled earned. Our staff gave up 1 earned in an elimination game. The best team won.

    2. Jimbo, in the post game interview Mookie said it was a contact play. He was on the move as soon as the bat hit the ball. All the what if’s and maybe’s mean nothing now. Barnes scored on the wild pitch, Mookie on the contact play. They took the lead and the bullpen did a great job keeping the Rays off of the board. It was a total team effort. That stat’s are what they are. Some guys had great post season’s and others did not. But almost every player made some sort of contribution to a win from the offensive side. Barnes had 2 hits in the series. And both of them led to runs. His sac bunt was huge. Beaty was about the only guy on the roster who did not have a crucial at bat at some point in the post season that helped win a game. And that is simply because he never got the chance. But he will still get that ring. And I will say this for Roberts, he made much better decisions this time. I think he knows how to handle his players. And he has their respect Kershaw and Dave had a long hug during that celebration, and so did he and Kenley. Jansen, through all of the negativity posted about him and his loss of velocity and stuff, showed a lot of class last night. He is now a Champion. And no one anywhere can ever take that away from the players and staff of this team. In a few days, players can announce for free agency. We will all be gearing up for the holidays which will come a lot faster than we all would like. The team will have it’s exit interviews, and some of those players will be moving on. Hopefully, JT is not one of them. Then before you know it in a little over 5 weeks, the winter meetings will be here. I wonder if they are going to do them face to face or by skyping At any rate, the rumors will be flying and there will be many trade scenarios played out. Free agent signings this year will be a bit different I think. Players are not going to get the kind of money most think they deserve. According to MLB, the league has lost well over 2 billion dollars this year. Teams have cut back on staff. A lot of minor league players have been released. And they are still talking reduction of the amount of teams in the minors. So there is a lot of work to be done before spring training in 2021 even starts. And there will be discussions about which rules that were installed for this season that will be kept or discarded. But through it all, we are fans of a World Champion team. And LA has the distinction of being title town again with the Lakers winning earlier this year.

    3. Doc said the contact play was on. As someone who coached baseball for years I was glad to see more then once this postseason the importance of secondary leads.

27. FINALLY!

28. Feels great that the Dodgers are world champs. This really should be 2 championships in the last four years, but 2017 will live in infamy.

    I was actually happy the score wound up being what it was and the Dodgers didn’t blow it out in the final innings. Playoff baseball is about stories and pivotal events. I can’t think of another sport where there is so much consistent drama and tension.

    Having the score as it was allows everyone to talk about the decision to pull Snell. The game could actually still be going on had the Dodgers been shut down in that inning.

    I think what is ironic is that analytics were supposed to free baseball minds from the sclerotic thinking that dictated that strategic and tactical decisions were to be made in traditional ways. “This is how we do things.” The analytics nerds were disruptors. Sometimes you need disruption.

    I think the Snell decision is a case where there is so much adherence and faith in the analytics based “process” that it takes away real time flexibility. It makes the decision making formulaic – and predictable. “Trust the process” they say. Ok, well statistically it is true that a lineup is more successful against a starting pitcher when they see him for the third time, and it makes statistical sense to pull him and put in a fresh pitcher who has a different look to keep the opposing lineup off balance.

    I think one of the biggest flaws with relying so much on analytics is what makes analytics valuable – they are the accumulation of data points over a long period of time. This makes them useful in identifying trends and increasing probability of outcomes marginally. What they don’t do is reflect real time variability in performance. Everyone has good days and bad days. Pitchers arms get tired. Players get a year older. Some days a player is on. Other days he’s not.

    A manager needs to be able to recognize real time performance or how a player is trending over the last few games and make adjustments to “The Process” as needed. I think in Snell’s case there was a lot of pressure and incentive to stick with the plan and do what has worked over the last year. The formula was to use Snell twice through the order, then go with Anderson, which is a formula that had consistently worked. If Cash deviates from the script and Snell gets lit up, then he has to answer the criticism of why he suddenly altered a process that had worked all year and was backed by “science.”

    But there were mitigating factors:

    – Snell had mentioned in an interview that he had finally, when the playoffs began, started to really feel good and had regained his form prior to his injury and was feeling like his Cy Young Award winning self from 2018.

    – Anderson, despite being good all year, had not been good in the playoffs. Small sample size or not, a manager needs to look at the short term performance of players and assess why they aren’t performing and make an adjustment in their usage. Sometimes it’s good to stick with a guy if the fundamentals are still good. Doc put May back in there after his poor performances and was rewarded with a great performance by May. They did their due diligence and identified a problem with May – he was too amped up, which effected his pitches – corrected the problem and put him back in the game in a position to succeed.

    – Snell was particularly sharp last night. Sometimes you just have to ride the hot hand, especially if there are still some sequencing options or the hitters haven’t shown an ability to adapt. Doc rode the hot hand in keeping Urias in rather than going with Treinan or, God forbid, Kenley.

    I think Doc made a similar mistake with Hill a couple of years ago, but I think he made the right call to pull Urias when he did in his last game. Urias started out pounding the zone, but you could tell he was losing a little command in the 4th and 5th innings. Urias is good for about 3-5 innings. Hopefully the Dodgers can work on this and develop him a little more for the starting role.

    I think Doc has done and outstanding job in this post season, and I’ve criticized him before. Even Baez was an ok move if Baez just has confidence in this changeup and actually throws it. Kenley in the 9th was a good move if Kenley pitches like he did the night before.

    Managers are geniuses when their players execute. They’re goats when they don’t.

29. Great playoff run.

    Apparently Justin Turner’s Monday test came back inconclusive, which is not all that unusual. A second test came back positive. It could be a false positive, know a few people who have had that happen.

    I remember sitting in my living room 32 years ago and watching Kirk Gibson’s dramatic home run spark a Dodger World Series championship in 1988. Never, in my wildest imagination, did I believe the Dodgers would go this long between titles.

    Cory Seager certainly deserved the MVP. Had an incredible run.

    Yes, Blake Snell was dealing, doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have come apart an inning later. Seen that happen a few times.

    Winning this year was great for the entire Dodger organization, especially Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner. It was a tough road with four rounds of playoffs. An amazing comeback against Atlanta.

    I’m guessing the Dodgers bring back Justin. How can they not?

    Thanks to Mark for creating this site and thanks to Jeff for keeping it going.

30. DODGER PRESS RELEASE

    WORLD CHAMPION DODGERS TO HOLD CELEBRATION AT LATER DATE

    LOS ANGELES – The World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today issued the following statement:

    This season was everything we believed it could be. It was just missing one thing: The best fans in baseball. While the wait for a World Championship is finally over, a celebration worthy of our great fans and the City of Los Angeles will unfortunately have to wait until it is safe to do so. We can’t wait to celebrate together!

    The Dodger Stadium team stores will be closed today as World Series Championship merchandise is received. The Top of the Park store and Left Field Plaza store at Dodger Stadium will re-open tomorrow from 12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Starting Friday, the Left Field Plaza store will be open daily from 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. while the Dodger Stadium Vote Center is open.

31. I am so happy for the Dodgers and congratulate them for winning the World Series. Wow, it still makes my head spin and I am thankful to see another WS victory in my lifetime. So many memories and plays from this playoff series, a truly team effort from Corey winning a deserved MVP to the stellar bullpen efforts to the many, many defensive and offensive plays.

    I was thrilled about Floro striking out Arozarena, Woods coming through when we needed him, Urias on short notice, just awesome. The whole team contributed to this well-deserved win, most have already been mentioned here. So congrats Dodgers. I am so proud of you and proud to be a fan and part of this daily blog that means a lot to me.

    I will also add a few thoughts:
    By wishing Justin Turner well.
    By thanking Mark, 2D2, DC, AC and Bear for keeping me focused and sane every day reading their thoughts, summaries and analysis.
    By telling Bobby that I am glad he did not make that plane trip for the seventh game. Also, Bobby, I am having my cardboard cutout shipped and will keep it as a souvenir.
    Love you all.

    1. Likewise! I can’t wait to take a selfie with my cutout once they send it to me!

32. Never do what your opponent wishes for you to do. I don’t think any of the Dodgers wanted to see Snell continue on! But maybe Mookie, Seager or Turner would have put a ball in play that inning! If Roberts has made that call…….. we’ll we know

33. As I was watching the celebration the thought ran through my mind, “I wonder what Joc, Kiki and the other free agents were thinking?” Great win I am only sorry that Cash will be roasted for his decision.
    My son was at the game and we were texting and he sent videos of the events. When Cash made the pitching change I texted him, “that’s a Roberts move.” Several of you had the same reaction.
    Roberts is still a class act, all the way.

34. Congrats Dodgers!
    Thanks to all the participated in this blog. You all made this season more fun with all your comments some really off the wall, but all good reading.

35. Great ending to a great season!
    Game 6 was the ultimate team effort to get a win against a dominant starting pitcher. The Dodgers shutting out the Rays for the last 8 2/3 innings of the game by using 7 different pitchers was fantastic. Especially when you consider that all of the pitchers used by the Dodgers were unheralded and lower paid players. For game 6, we didn’t even use our studs Kershaw and Buehler, or the high paid relievers Treinen, Jansen, or Kelly. Great performances by all 7 pitchers in game 6, and credit to Roberts for using them wisely, and Friedman for building such a deep roster.
    All the players deserved this championship, but it is especially sweet for Clayton Kershaw. He has been the best pitcher in baseball for a decade, and an absolute team player. He was not always at his best in the postseason, but he never backed down. He took on the opponents ace, pitched deep into games to protect bullpen, pitched on short rest, and came out of bullpen if called upon. And after the devastating loss in game 4 on Saturday, he gutted out a win in pivotal game 5. Congrats to Clayton, the hall of famer and great humanitarian!

    I do wish that Stripling, Maeda, Hill, Ryu, Freese, and the other contributors from prior years could be a part of this team, as they deserved a championship, especially in 2017. By the way, Ross Stripling had a podcast on Big Swing where he talked about his trade, the shock, the whirlwind process, and his continued support for the Dodgers. https://play.acast.com/s/big-swing-podcast/rossisback-thefeelingofgettingtraded

    And thanks to Mark, Jeff and all of the writers for producing this site. Great content and a great forum to express opinions and even disagree without hatred. Great season, and spring training is just around the corner!

36. A few thoughts about the game last night and the post season in general:

    1) When nobody else was able to touch Blake Snell (not Mookie, not Cory, not JT, …), Austin Barnes came through with a key hit. This is not the first time this has happened at a key moment in the post season. Anybody remember game 5 of the 2018 NLDS when Austin drove in a run to keep Kersh in the game.

    2) Have we just found our Josh Hader? Let Urias start throughout the regular season, but come winning time, perhaps he is best used exactly as he was this post season with 2-3 inning saves to shut the door on a close game. No need for a closer. No need for a set-up guy. Just bring in Julio. He seems to really excel in that role. Can’t do that every day, but over a 7 game series, you could employ that strategy as many as three times.

    3) I was struck by how many different players had major contributions to this championship run. Truly a team effort. Well done Dodgers.

37. As Doc is sipping his favorite wine this winter and kicking back for some well deserved relaxation, he’ll have a smile on his face, knowing he’s the manager of the World Champions and knowing exactly what Kevin Cash will be going through all off-season as he hears about what a bone-headed move he made.

    I have no doubt that Doc will give Cash a call, tell him he knows exactly what that feels like, and to keep his head up because that feeling doesn’t last forever.

38. Houston Mitchell made an interesting comment about the 1988 team vs all of the previous teams he followed. “And then of course there was the magical 1988 season, a team that probably didn’t have the level of talent those other teams I listed had (1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, coming close in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985), but seemed to know how to win.”

    I think that is what makes the 2020 team so special…they knew how to win. For the postseason, the Dodgers offensive numbers:

    Overall – .254/.349/.465/.814 – 101 runs
    2 outs – .308/.431/.565/.996 – 59 runs
    RISP – .268/.372/.450/.822
    RISP w/2 outs – .345/.471/.560/1.031

    Nearly 60% of the LAD runs were scored with 2 outs!!! Throughout the postseason, as the situation required more clutch, the Dodger hitters provided that clutch. How many years has the complaint about the Dodgers been that they cannot hit in the clutch RISP…forget RISP w/2 outs?

    It wasn’t just one player who clutched up:

    RISP (by AB):
    Smith (23 AB) – .304/.385/.522/.906
    Muncy (18 AB) – .389/.593/.778/1.370
    JT (18 AB) – .111/.190/.111/.302
    Belli (16 AB) – .375/.500/.688/1.188
    Corey (15 AB) – .400/.500/.667/1.167
    Mookie (13 AB) – .308/.286/.462/.747

    The above does not include Joc who came to bat only 5 times with RISP, and boy did he deliver: .600/.667/1.200/1.867

    RISP w/2 outs) (Top 6 by OPS):

    Joc – 3-3 – 1.000/1.000/2.000/3.000 (7 RBI)
    Max – 6-11 – .545/.722/1.091/1.813 (11 RBI)
    Belli – 4-8 – .500/.636/.750/1.386 (5 RBI)
    Fresh Prince – 5-15 – .333/.412/.667/1.078 (9 RBI)
    Corey – 2-5 – .400/.500/.400/.900 (5 RBI)
    Mookie – 3-8 – .375/.375/.500/.875 (8 RBI)

    If there was any doubt about Joc showing up for October, it was absolutely demolished by the 2020 postseason. Maybe it took 4 years for the players to actually believe they could win, but believe they did in 2020. The best team in MLB won the World Series.

    1. Thx for posting this. I saw some criticism after the game 4 loss that the Dodgers blew it because they didn’t hit with RISP, and I had to rub my eyes a little. It’s a complaint that I’ve been reading here for literally years.

       The Dodgers were second in all of baseball in hitting with RISP and were even better in the playoffs. This was never an issue.

       https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/splits-leaderboards?splitArr=59&splitArrPitch=&position=B&autoPt=false&splitTeams=false&statType=team&statgroup=1&startDate=2020-03-01&endDate=2020-11-01&players=&filter=&groupBy=season&sort=21,1

       With two outs they were even better – best in baseball. This carried over the playoffs.

       https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/splits-leaderboards?splitArr=59,56&splitArrPitch=&position=B&autoPt=false&splitTeams=false&statType=team&statgroup=2&startDate=2020-03-01&endDate=2020-11-01&players=&filter=&groupBy=season&sort=15,1

39. Dee Strange – Gordon’s 2021 team option was not picked up. Instead, Dee will get a $1MM buyout. Dee is only 32 so some team is going to take a chance for a Dee Strange-Gordon bounce back year.

40. To Manny Machado………….HOW BOUT THEM DODGERS?

41. What a beautiful day in the neighborhood!! Dodgers won the 2020 World Series! Has such a beautiful ring to it, doesn’t it. So much to say about last night, but AC summarized it so well, as he always does.

    When Floro came in and struck out Arozarena on 3 pitches it seemed to set the game back in order and I just knew it was only a matter of time.

    Wonderful to see the young pitchers come through like they did. Urias in particular was majestic. He exhibited Fernando Valenzuela cool. Think about it, we have Buehler, Urias, Gonsolin, May, Graterol, Gonzalez, Ferguson, Gray, White, for years to come, and then there is Bobby Miller, Clayton Beeter, Landon Knack, Michael Grove, Jimmy Lewis and others just a little further down the pipeline.

    It’s great to be a Dodger fan!!

42. 2020-2021 offseason Calendar:

    October 28 – Free agency officially begins. Options to be exercised or declined. Can negotiate only with current team for five days.
    November 1 – Qualifying Offers must be made by 4:00 PM (CT) – $18.9MM
    November 2 – Free agents are open to negotiate and sign with any other team.
    November 3 – AL and NL Gold Glove Awards announced.
    November 9 – AL and NL Rookie of Year announced.
    November 10 – AL and NL Manager of Year announced.
    November 11 – AL and NL Cy Young winners announced.
    November 12 – AL and NL winners announced.
    November 20 – Teams must finalize their 40 man rosters.
    December 2 – Deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players.
    December 6 – Winter Meetings scheduled for Dallas, TX. Extremely likely that these meetings will be virtual.
    December 10 – Rule 5 Draft.
    January 15 – International free agent signings begin, ending December 15, 2021. Same time for 21-22.
    January 15 – Deadline for arbitration figures to be submitted.
    February 27 – First ST games
    April 1 – 2021 MLB Season to begin

    1. AC, any news on the 2020-2021 offseason Calendar about the minor leagues?

       1. The contract for MiLB and MLB expired September 30 with no new agreement. It is presumed that the MLB teams will assume control of a more consolidated MiLB structure. It is almost a foregone conclusion that the number of MiLB teams will be reduced from 160 to 120. The new league structure and teams still need to be negotiated and contracted. I will be following the MiLB negotiations and discussions as they proceed and report as I learn.

          1. Thanks, AC. Thanks for keeping us posted.

43. After my beloved Colts and Peyton Manning finally won a Super Bowl, Jim Irsay gave Edgerrin James a Super Bowl ring since he had meant so much to the franchise and was a big part of their run toward a championship. I hope Mark Walter, Stan Kasten, and Andrew Friedman decide to do the same for every member of the 2017 team that was cheated out of a ring. Off the top of my head guys like Ethier, Hill, Morrow, Maeda, Puig, Darvish, Fields, Grandal and others who were part of this eight year run and were denied the moment they deserved.

    And bring back Joctober!

    1. Agree Hawkeye, if it can be done for the players from the 2017 WS. I would be a happy camper if they resigned Joc also. Along with Bumsrap, I have been one of his biggest supporters.

44. Truth-Middleton is a very nice place. Small town and yet close to Boise. I live in Meridian, Idaho. Suburb of Boise. When this coved virus is over we need to have a cup of coffee.

    1. excellent idea, IdahoAl . I am building a house out west of Caldwell about 3 miles from Deer Flat Animal Refuge. My wife dragged me into The Village in Meridian the other day. I’m really enjoying the people of Idaho, what a refreshing change from well, I won’t mention the state but you know where I am talking about, Al. LOL

45. Shout out to Dylan Floro and Victor Gonzalez. Julio needs a nickname. Probably not going to happen with Boris being his agent but I’d try and sign Julio long term as well. Seager, Buehler, Urias. Get er done. Congratulations Dodgers.

46. Julio was signed by Dodgers when he was 15 years of age. Dodgers did a lot for him and it’s likely he feels he has something owed to the franchise. If Borass fills his head with negativity towards the Dodgers then he wouldn’t deserve being one. I’m sure the franchise will be more than fair with him.

    1. Actually Scott Boras has been very favorable in his comments as to how the Dodgers worked with Urias throughout his youth/injuries/surgeries/rehab. But there will be no LAD discount.

47. How many is spent after the financial losses that teams took we be very interesting this offseason.

48. Wow. What a great ride this season has been. Congratulations to the Dodgers and Dodger Nation. I’m so happy for the players and management especially CK, KJ and JT. If you would have told me after I watched the last game in Spring Training against the Brewers that we would get some semblance of a season in, I would have said “no way”. I’m so glad we got it in through the work and sacrifice of so many.
    * In so many ways this was a perfect storm for the Dodgers despite all the weirdness of 2020. We put the best team I can remember on the field. We had only one season ending injury, the one to Fergy. We got through with no cases of covid, until last night, due to dedication and discipline from all parties to follow the protocals. We had surprising rookies rise to the challenge and veterans come through. It was a remarkable journey.
    * Is it possible that JT’s results are a false-positive? Many here know more than I about the testing. Did he have just one test with results twice? Nick Saban had a failed test but subsequently had 3 daily tests came back negative and according to SEC rule he was allowed to coach that Saturday. Do we know more about JT’s results?
    * I’m on record as hating the “contact play”. I still do. That is of course unless Mookie Betts is the runner on 3rd.
    * Can the media now shut up about CK’s post season history. It was never as bad as they portrayed it anyway.
    * I want to take exception to Watford Dodger’s comment “I wonder how David Price is feeling today?”. I said it in the beginning of this season and I will say it again, NO player should be criticized for the personal decision to opt out. With the information available at that time, each player had to decide what was best for him and his family and should never be criticized for their decision. Would Price have made any difference in the outcome? Didn’t we win it?
    * Cash will now be a whipping boy like Grady Little, Doc and others based on his removing Snell. I still think it is amazing the dedication to analytics organizations have. The commitment to moves not based on the manager’s eyes and the pitcher’s heart are replaced by probability. I do know the probability was extremely high that the Dodgers were running to the bat-rack when Snell left the game.
    * The decision to use ‘Bubble Venues” for the playoffs proved to be brilliant. If Manfred had a hand in it, he finally got one right.
    * with respect to Seager and CK, Urias was my playoffs MVP. He eliminated all need for an 7th, 8th and 9th inning closer against the Braves and the Rays.
    * This site has become very fun for me. I love offering what I can to the mix. I want to especially thanks Jeff for what he’s done and leaving this site better than he found it. I really enjoy the information and conversations by folks like Mark, Badger, Bear, DBM, Cassidy,BulldogsandPenguins, tedraymond, singing the blue, Idahoal, Quaz, Bum and all of the rest of you who contribute your knowledge and opinions on Dodger Baseball.
    Let’s enjoy this ride. And then get back this winter to the 2021 team and repeating as Champions. It is always interesting and will be again. I’m heading back to Phoenix for the winter soon and it should be a blast this Spring Training. Let’s all hope and pray things are closer to normal and Camelback Ranch is full of happy fans.

    1. From what I read, Turners first test was inconclusive. Second test positive.

49. Great Dodger win! What an extremely talented and deep team.
    I was one of those who said AF cannot be considered with the greats without a World Series win. I stand by that but I am ready to elevate him now with this World Series win. The Dodgers from top to bottom check all the boxes for the best organization. AF has been the main cog in making this the model franchise and the envy of all the baseball world. The transition to the young guns was a visionary move that paid off. The future staff headed by buehler, urias, and May should be dominate for years to come

    Manager doc Roberts certainly pushed the right buttons to win a World Series. I think to keep it together when kershaw could not go in his scheduled start was huge. It seemed the planning for game 6 with the pitching was exceptional. The use of Barnes and urias was just critical to the Dodgers winning. I agree with his confidence in May and Gonsolin even if Gonsolin did not hit his stride.

    The players
    Most of us felt our bullpen was so much better than past years and yesterday’s game was evidence that it was true. The bullpen did a better job than the “stable”. I was particularly impressed with wood who just mowed them down. He was so aggressive and confident. Floro took Superman down with 3 pitches. Gonzalez was just fantastic the whole series. Baez used properly is an asset. Bazooka a great addition. Urias was just the star we had hoped for. He started the year ho hum but finished like “wow” . He smelled victory and went for the jugular.

    And if you feel defense doesn’t matter tell mookie Betts that. How about the great receiving of Barnes. If bellinger had been in cf game 5 there probably wouldn’t have been game 6. Turner played a great 3rd base. Seager was automatic. When our defense wasn’t good it cost us. Tampa d was stellar. That Wendell at third made some very difficult plays look routine. I don’t want to make this any longer so I won’t talk about our offense in this post.

    1. At some point during the postseason each and every player except Terrence Gore seemed to have a moment whether it be on offense or defense. Floro was left off the first series, but last night may have gotten the biggest out of the game.

50. Especially a great day for me so far. I have been congratulated by a lot of people who really dislike the Dodgers. The manger here is a big Rockies fan, and she sent me a couple of messages on Facebook..much as it pains me to say this, congratulations on the Dodgers winning. That felt good, along with my best friend from Cali calling me right after the last out. He absolutely hates the Dodgers. Simply because he was living in Brooklyn when they moved. He is more of a football fan anyway, so I reminded him how awful his Giants are this season. Lakers and Dodgers both win. Great time to be an Angelino. The manager here also said she was mad because she thinks the Rockies will trade Arenado to the Dodgers….I doubt that will happen. Winning the west next year is not going to be easy. I think the Padres are much improved and they will probably add some pieces this winter. I do feel sorry for JT who is being roasted on almost every media outlet for showing up on the field for the photo session sans mask. I am of the mind that his test is most likely a false positive. It happens so often anymore. And it seems weird that he would be the ONLY player to test positive.

51. STB – interesting thoughts about Doc reaching out to Cash.

    I’ve wondered how Doc’s relationship with AJ Hinch is these days?
    If I remember correctly. he had Hinch stay st his place during the WS home games because of their enduring friendship!

    What transpired must have put a little pressure on that relationship lol.

    BTW – and thanks for asking earlier – I’m a 54 year old English man who fell in love with Baseball and the Dodgers back in the summer of 88 when I visited California with my girlfriend.
    Being a big sports fan and particularly Cricket, I wanted to see Baseball for myself.

    Sitting there in the warm glow of a June evening at Chavez Ravine, I was totally smitten (not with her unfortunately, she went when we got home).
    We lost 10-4 with Don Sutton pitching for LA.
    Loved it so much that I went back for more two nights later to see Fernando pitch a complete game in an 11-1 victory.
    I was hooked.

    To cut a very long story short – that trip changed my life. Arrived home and decided at 22 that I needed to see more of the world so within a year i was off.
    Bought a round the world ticket and ended up being away for 2 years.

    Spent most of the first year in Australia, via a few parts of SE Asia, but the second was always gonna be spent in LA.

    Got a job in a Youth Hostel in Venice Beach and headed down to Dodger Stadium as often as I could.
    Ramon Martinez was my favourite.

    So here we are 32 years later, and I’m watching the games live in the UK every day, and talking to friends on a Blog. Who says technology is a bad thing…..

    1. Excellent mate!
       I am Costa Rican. Studied at Sussex, love baseball and love the Dodgers. Good to know your story. Great.

    2. Thanks for your reply Watford. Funny with all the soccer fans here in the States that there are relatively few baseball fans in the UK. London is one of my favorite cities and I was lucky enough to come over about 20-25 times on business from the 70’s through the early 2000’s.

       I remember visiting an aunt of my father’s on most every visit. She was quite elderly but sharp as a tack. I believe she lived in Willesden Lane which, as I view the map, is not all that far from Watford.

       Haven’t been across the pond in about 10-15 years but hope to get over at least once before my time is up. I’m about 20 years older than you, so I’d better not wait too long. 🙂

    3. Thanks for sharing Watford. I enjoyed your story. While working in Venice Beach, did you build up and show off your muscles?

52. Hearing that Justin Turner defied instructions to stay off the field during the celebration last night. I don’t have a whole lot of facts, but if it turns out he was in defiance and a risk to everyone around him, then I would be in favor of harsh penalties against him, and totally opposed to any attempt by the Dodgers to re-sign him. But as I said above, for now I am withholding judgment until we get full disclosure.

    If it turns out that Turner was in defiance, then it takes some of the lustre off of this championship for me, and completely changes how I look at Turner.

    1. Penalty yes, but not re-signing him I don’t agree with. This doesn’t wipe out the charity and community work that he and his wife have done. Dodgers could have told him to go back in too after he took a photo with the trophy. it was an emotional time and I know I’ve made plenty of bad decisions during emotional times. He’s been a great teammate and leader. He let the moment get the best of him.

    2. It was in my opinion a poor decision on everyone’s part. I’m hearing “optics” a lot today. Yes, it is true everyone out there had already been exposed but you just can’t get away from it, he tested positive, he gotta disappear. Everything about that screamed “super spreader event, in your face”. Management should have said no way.

       As for next year, that’s something unrelated. He should stay with this organization as long as he wants to.

    3. I agree with Hawkeye and Badger with regard to JT.
       Good people do stupid things but I don’t think it should prevent his coming back next year if a deal can be made.
       I do think he owes everyone an apology. If he really doesn’t think he did anything wrong, I might have to re-think my position.

       1. I could see as the season progressed, mask wearing digressed. Turner should have kept his mask on and stayed 15 feet away from the scrum. The players could have come to him to celebrate as they would choose to do.

    4. I’d prefer to have more facts on JT’s alleged irresponsible behavior. #1 we need to know more details on the positive test. It is dangerous to jump to conclusion without more facts. I always revisit 2008 and the Duke Lacrosse scandal where everyone jumped to conclusions about the player’s guilt which all proved wrong. Let’s wait and get the facts.

53. My initial WS thoughts

    Urias – came of age
    Mookie – worth every penny
    Kershaw – so happy for you
    Seager – a healthy Cory is really, really good
    Roberts – became a complete manager this post season

    Season 43 – 17 .717
    Post Season 13 – 5 .722

    There is NO asterisk

    There are so many more but that is my initial day after impressions of this series
    No slight to the rest of the players as this was a team win

    1. To quote Washington Post writer Tom Boswell;

       If you want to give these Dodgers an asterisk, it should redirect to a footnote that says: “Nobody ever won a title that was more valid than this one.”

       I think we can all agree with that!

54. A very gratifying World Championship, and congratulations to everyone on the team who contributed to it, which essentially is every player. And to all the millions of Dodgers fans who have waited so long for this. I was driving much of the day, and heard so many very happy people call into the various radio shows. And how about the fans who flew to Texas to give us a virtual home game crowd!

    Well, I guess I will not get to criticize Roberts any more for a while or at least many fans will ignore it. It is somewhat amusing that Cash is getting blasted for doing exactly what Roberts did with Hill in two straight World Series, both times resulting in losses. Roberts handled things well in the last game, though I thought that the move to Urias was obvious, and then Urias got through 1.3 innings with only twelve pitches or so, so of course you leave him in as long as he is getting everyone out. But since we’ve seen him go to Jansen or someone else in such situations, we must applaud him for not doing it. He was as always gracious and likeable on the postgames shows. I do not think that he was brilliant in the playoffs, but after losing Game 4 to the Braves and Game 4 to the Rays, he changed his appoach, at least for that game. There may be a lesson there.

    Betts was the big difference this year for me. He did not have a great playoffs with the bat, but he got the two key hits last night, and was great on the basepaths and the outfield in all the games. i’ll repeat what I said last night, that his shoestring catch and throw In NLCS Game 5, down 2-0, and looking as if we were about to lose the series in humiliating 4-1, fashion, seemed to wake up the team, and was the kind of play that we have not gotten very often in big playoff games. Betts was indeed a difference maker.

    Seager was great, and we have to sign him. We also have to sign Buehler. We can debate about the rest of them. I am hoping that this is not a once in three decades great moment, but that we can join some other franchises in winning multiple titles in a short period. That should be the goal here. That’s how the Yankees approach it, and the Lakers and the Patriots, Seahawks, and Alabama football. I would like to think that our ownership is driven to win many title, not just rest on the one, as I think that we did for many of the seasons, with of course several different owners, since 1988. Can we win it again next year? Well, we are the early favorites, but that is almost reflexive of the oddsmakers. We will have challenges from San Diego, Atlanta, St. Louis, at least, in our leaague, and then Rays, Yankees, Astros and others will be strong teams.

    I had mixed feelings about starting this season, I did not know if it would be feasible, and then when teams had to shut down and quarantine, it looked like like a mess. But we got through it, the playoffs were as good as in any regular long season, and I have not heard anyone scoff at the title as aberrational. We earned it, and it was great to watch all of it.

    I am sure that I will have some quibbles about what we do or do not do in the offseason, but that is part of being a fan, I hope. I have enjoyed the almost always polite and insightful analysis provided by everyone here.

55. Congrats to all the Dodgers, especially for the players who got so close in ’17 and ’18. I’m happy for all the loyal fans who had to wait so-o-o long for another WS title. I’ve been a Dodgers fan since before they won their first WS in ’55. The Dodgers won 6 WS titles from ’55 thru ’88. That’s 33 years, so 32 years without a title is a long time. I think that they’ll win a couple more in the next few years. It was great to see Urias pitch so well in the series. It was also great to see Seager (my favorite Dodger) win the WS MVP award.

    Happy WS win to all Dodgers fans!

56. Turner was in the dugout, celebrating, talking to, rubbing shoulders with his teammates and then on the field for the whole game until the eighth inning. Tell me, what difference did it make that he came out to be with them again after the game? If he was positive and with his teammates for eight innings what more could he have done? I suppose there were more people on the field after the game, but wouldn’t they be at risk just being with their mates and children because of their previous contact with JT?
    I just don’t see the uproar about JT coming out, except that he may have defied the rule makers. He certainly deserved to be a part of the celebration. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the victim of a false positive.

    1. 100% this!!

57. Dodgers are…
    Best team in the office
    Best team in the standing
    best team in the stadium

    I think that unlike other teams that have won the world series and do not return to the final, some do not even qualify for the playoffs, the Dodgers will continue to grow and be a better team than before.

    I thought this season would only have value if the Dodgers or Yankees won it, because of the past and because of what happened with the Houston shits, but after enjoying these last series, I DEFINITELY say that no matter the number of games, Dodgers deserve to be champions!

58. About Turner,,, I pretty much guess this will be my opinion only, but here goes. Most of the last week, no one has been wearing masks in the dugout except the coaches. Players have been mingling for quite a while without them. So, Turner gets taken out in the 8th because of a positive test and is immediately isolated from the team. Tell me what difference his going back on the field makes when the entire team has been exposed for a couple of hours. All of these players and many of us have been cooped up for the better part of 9 months. The team had been following the protocols ever since the season started. And not one single case on the roster. And now, in the 8th inning there is one? Sounds pretty fishy to me. How come his is the only one? And if he has 3 tests after this that are negative, that means the positive one was wrong. So crucifying the guy before all the facts are in is nuts. Now, he did defy MLB security people who told him to not go on the field. Ok, that was not a good thing to do. But the man has been part of and the heart of the team for quite a while. I doubt in the same situation that I would have just sat there and watched myself. Here it is, the teams biggest moment since he has been a member, and he has to stay on the sidelines? What about allowing all those non players on the field for the celebration? Had they been tested? There are a lot of questions as to how the whole thing was handled. I for one am sick of all of this crap. I am not free if I am a prisoner where I live. We have restrictions here in my building, and most of the residents pay heed to them. I do not go into any of the community area’s or too a store without a mask. But if I am just out and about, I don’t wear it. There have been some positive test through out the majors over the season, and as of yet, not one of those players has been hospitalized as a result that I have seen. Lets get the whole story before we all lose our heads anyway. JT is a free agent now.

    1. Agree, Bear, thanks.

    2. 100% agree

    3. Totally agree. Turners the man!

59. One person was not mentioned that should be. Caleb Ferguson before he went down was an important piece in the Dodger pen and they missed him in the playoffs. He will not be a part of the team next season since it is a 12-18 month recovery time.

    1. Like I said in my original post I am fully aware that all of the facts are not known, and I said then and feel the same way now, i.e., I reserve judgment. But it is disturbing to hear that he defied MLB officials and returned to the field. Sure he’s worked hard for this, and sans his test results, he earned the right to celebrate with his teammates on the field. And so did all the victims of Covid who died w/o the comfort of having family members present have a right to a better ending. And yes, he may have exposed his teammates to the virus earlier in the night, but why compound the problem by continuing to expose people after he knew. Did anyone notice that their were a lot of children running around the field? And yes, children can get Covid, and even die from it.

       As I said, I will withhold judgment until all the facts are in. But as things look now, the preliminary evidence doesn’t fill me with confidence that this will end well. And it’s not just Turner. Sounds as if Dodgers’ management may have some culpability.

       1. I personally feel that in most likelihood it will turn out the test was a false positive. Out of the blue, one guy who has been in the bubble for over 3 weeks all of a sudden has a positive test? That in of itself to me is pretty fishy. I do not think he put anyone at risk more than any other player who was running around on the field. If he was actually positive, someone inside that bubble would have to be too. And there have been no other positive tests so far. I know all about who is at risk and who is not. I myself due to my age, my diabetes and other factors am supposedly high risk. I have not had so much as a cold since February. The chances of Covid where I live are pretty slim. There have been only 30 cases in the entire town. And no reported deaths. People die during pandemics. Covid has taken many lives. But you can die crossing the street of a heart attack. That’s what killed my mom at 42. I do not fear death. I fear not living. This is probably the only time JT would get to celebrate with his team mates. My only problem is that I think he should have had his mask on. But Roberts and many others did not have theirs on either. And yeah, I think a lot of blame is on the way the entire ceremony was held. They should have kept the family’s isolated until everyone was back at the hotel and they could have all gotten together there. Defying MLB security was a personal choice JT made. He most likely will be fined in some manner. But if it turns out the test was not a real positive, can they still fine the guy? This whole season has been a strain on everyone concerned, family’s players and fans. And you cannot keep an entire country bottled up for 9 months and expect people to like it.

          1. People should have a right to make decisions about their life. It looks like all wanted turner on the field! They had been with him the whole game. Mookie Betts basically said come on out. I’m glad he did!!

60. MLB will investigate. Will they do anything?

    https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/justin-turner-celebrates-with-dodgers-after-positive-covid-test-four-lingering-question-as-mlb-investigates/

    1. That remains to be seen. A lot of players becoming free agents today having their options declined. One of those is Jose Peraza. Red Sox declined his option. Romo let go by the Twins.

61. https://dodgersway.com/2020/10/28/dodgers-max-muncy-trolls-rob-manfred-instagram/?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

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