It has now been 26 days since the Dodgers celebrated their World Series win on the field in Texas. 26 days of pure joy for most Dodger fans. Some bad vibes being aimed at Turner for coming back on the field to celebrate with his team mates, but mostly just joy and the biggest feeling RELIEF!
I have not gone whole hog getting World Series swag. I ordered a hat, and I have a t- shirt and of course a coffee mug so I can see it every day and not have to pinch myself. It will always be a cherished memory.
But part of reliving the memory has been watching the games on my MLB.tv account and realizing how many close calls there were getting to that point.
The first two rounds against the Brewers and the Padres were sweeps. The Brewers never really put up much of a fight, but the Pads were a different story. Game 1 was a 5-1 win, but game 2 was a squeaker. 6-5. Then in the clincher the Dodgers blew the game open scoring 12 runs and then they opened the NLDS against the Braves.
Game 1, the Dodgers went into the 9th inning tied at 1 and the bullpen imploded giving up 4 to the Braves to lose 5-1. It was not a pretty game at all. They did get 5 innings of 1 run pitching out of Walker Buehler, but 2 9th inning homers off of Blake Treinen and Jake McGee beat them.
Game 2. Braves jumped early and often to get out to a 7-0 lead going into the bottom of the 7th. The Dodgers plated 3 in the 7th to inch closer. In the 9th, Adam Kolarek gave up a HR to Albies that made it 8-3. In the bottom of the inning, the Dodgers mounted a rally, and had the tying run at 3rd with 2 outs when AJ Pollock hit a rocket that was fielded, and the game was over. Down 2 games to none, in game 3 they became the road team.
Game 3. No contest. The Dodgers scored 11 in the first on their way to a 15-3 win. Julio Urias went a strong 5 to get his 3rd playoff win. Corey Seager, Max Muncy and Joc Pederson were the offensive stars. Seager and Pederson drove in 3 and Muncy drove in 4.
Game 4. Atlanta used the Dodger playbook scoring 9 over their last 3 at bats aided by a little luck and some shoddy fielding by the Dodgers for a 10-2 win. Edwin Rios drove in both Dodger runs with a homer, and an RBI single. Kersh took the loss.
Game 5. Up 3-1 you can bet the Braves had been saying to themselves one more win, baby. In game 5, they jumped out to a 2-0 lead. They were looking for more with Ozuna on 3rd. A fly ball to RF that Betts caught at his shoelaces, and a huge base running blunder by Marcell Ozuna who left 3rd too soon kept the Braves 3rd run off of the board.
The Dodgers scored 1 in the 4th on a Seager HR, and then 3 in the 6th to take the lead when Will Smith hit a 3 run HR off of Will Smith. They added 3 more in the 7th on Seager’s second homer of the game and a hit by Betts.
Game 6. The Dodgers got 3 in the first inning on back to back HR’s by Seager and Justin Turner, and an RBI single by Cody Bellinger that scored Muncy who had walked. Buehler again shut the Braves down. But he walked 4 and there was a pivotal moment in the second inning when he gave up 3 consecutive hits. With the bases loaded, he managed to strand all three runners even though there were no outs when the bases were loaded. That set the tone for the rest of the game. The Braves did get a run off of Treinen, but were robbed again by Mookie who robbed Freeman with a runner on by taking away a home run ball.
Game 7. Again the Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead. They scored 1 on a hit by Ozuna in the first, and then Dansby Swanson hit a HR off of Tony Gonsolin in the 2nd. They tied the game in the 3rd on a 2 run single by Smith. Austin Riley put the Braves back in front in the 4th with a single that scored Albies. In the bottom of the 6th, Kike’ pinch hitting for Pederson hit a HR off of Greg Minter to tie the game. In the bottom of the 7th, Bellinger took Martin deep for what proved to be the winning run. Close calls were the calling card of this series.
Urias who pitched 3 innings of perfect baseball got his 4th win of the playoffs. And they win the pennant.
It showed a lot of grit from the team and some solid fundamental baseball those last 3 games to overcome that 3-1 hole. We all know how well they played in the series except for that abysmal ending in game 4.
The Braves series was probably one of the most nerve racking series I have ever watched. Most of the games were hotly contested and they could have gone either way except for the 2 blowouts. My nerves are calmer now, that is for sure, and I am enjoying the glow of the win. But for a moment there, I was not so sure it was going to happen.
Discussion (59)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The Lakers are a better team today than the one that just won the championship. Well done Pellinka. Of course he has to sign Davis
Lakers signed Marc Gasol, Pau’s brother to a 2 year deal. McGee gets traded to Cavaliers to make room.
We are going to need to add another starting pitcher if we play a 162 game season. It may be somebody we already have or a 1 year deal. I don’t think kershaw can stay off the dl for a full season. Mb gray can fill in. We can start with Buehler, kershaw, urias, price, and May but we are definitely going to need gonsolin and 1 or 2 more to get through the season. Turner can’t make a season so we need to c what Rios can do. U know pollock cannot make a full season so we will need another rh bat for sure.
I don’t know why people r so down on Muncy. He is a very tough out, cheap, versatile, and a team player. He is a very tough player that I would hate to lose. He had an off year average wise but he definitely is a grinder. I think he will bounce back and he hits lefties and righties as does Rios.
How about we just resign Turner, and put Lux at second.Then sign two late inning bullpen guys and win another WS! Let all the drama begin after 21!
I don’t see AF taking on a big contract like Arenado’s. As others have pointed out, resigning our young core will be the priority. Cory Seager is now entering his prime. Resigning him will be expensive, but worth it in terms of the WARs he will achieve over many years. Bryant may be an alternative to Justin, if he will sign a short-term contract. I would love to see Justin stay, but it’s hard to know his “shelf-life,” given his age and legs. If there is a universal DH, then it may be worth keeping JT. If not, then better find a replacement. Don’t mean to be unsentimental. Sometimes, you have to be ready to move on.
Getting more serious, only a little more though, I propose Taylor and Muncy for Gleyber and play Gleyber at first. Taylor bridges the shortstop gap the Yankees will have in 2021 until they can go after one of the big free agent shortstops. Muncy will give them the power lefty bat they really need and could be used at second should DJLM not be re-signed by the Yankees or replace Voit at first if they trade Voit for pitching.
Dodgers get the righty bat they need.
Yankees would still need pitching. Maybe Price for Chad Green plus others could be part of the deal.
USC finally had an easier game. No 4th quarter heroics needed. Utah playing it’s first game looked out of sync. And they lost their starting QB early. Lakers keep Pope. Lose Rondo, Bradley and Howard along with trading Green. Lots of players moving to the Nippon and Korean leagues with minor league opportunities lessening because of the reduction of teams. We will probably see some moving to the Latin American leagues that are available too.
I myself have no idea what AF’s plan is. I have watched the interviews and listened intently to what he was saying and it still sounds like double-talk to me. But what do I know? I am nothing more than a fan. I have no inside info to the workings of the Friedman mind. What I know is that my Dodgers are Champions at last, and now they have to defend said title against the raging hoard. Fans everywhere are opining on what ownership should do. I know I like Justin Turner and would love to see him come back. But not for the long term. As for Arenado, high priced contract aside, I think coming home is an elixir for some. They feel at home and become more relaxed and that leads to less stress which is always a good thing. Yeah, he has a huge deal and would LA consider taking on that contract? The answer seems to be yes since the rumors are still out there. The question is not are the Dodgers interested, of course there is interest. The question is, is the Rockies ownership willing to trade one of their superstar players to one of their biggest rivals, and what do they get in return? If I knew the answer to that, then I could give a definitive answer to the question. Since I do not know, I will simply defer. The Dodgers system is full of prospects. Some say we are waiting for Hoese. But since there was no minor league play this season, and we are still not sure what 2021 will look like, his arrival date cannot be accurately arrived at. Seager is a free agent after 2021, as are Kersh and Jansen. There will be a glut of good SS on the market after 21. What to do? There are Lindor lovers, and those who want to extend Seager. I do not think in my heart they will try to re-sign Jansen. Kersh will probably get no more than a 3 year offer and surely not for 30 mil a year. Seager on the other hand in my mind is a goner unless he is extended sometime in the next 6 months. If he goes into this season without a contract, he will leave in free agency. Oh, the Dodgers will give him the QO so they do not lose him for nothing. But Corey will leave if no extension is agreed on by May. I do not know what they will do, I can only sit here and watch.
I wonder if all the talk about Linder etc is because seager has decided not to re-sign. Mb if boras is his agent the Dodgers realize the writing is on the wall. Or mb if AF is concerned about seagers health. AF is quite astute so he is not going to do anything to upset seager if he is staying. Mb AF is planning on playing Linder at second. Or mb he has know interest at all.
Maybe there was a time and place for Nolan Arenado. I’m sure the Dodgers would have pursued him as a free agent. But he chose to extend with the Rockies. Bad decision? Looking back, then at the present, probably a mistake.
But that time has passed. I’ve read if the Dodgers get Arenado, then Corey Seager would be gone, money and all. I don’t know that for a fact. None of the writers really know that either. Just a wild guess, based on … who knows?
But if that is the case, not saying it is, I wouldn’t touch Arenado. Seager is younger, had an incredible playoff and a really good season. He’s a difference maker. The Dodgers drafted him, developed his skill set.
Justin Turner, many ways the heart and soul of the Dodgers, wants to continue to play for LA. His teammates certainly want that to happen, the fans do too and I think management is leaning that way, just depends on the deal. Why complicate 2021? Trying to build a team using numbers may not be the best idea. There are the intangibles. Turner is a big time player when it counts.
Bringing him back, yes he’ll be older, won’t cost you more money, won’t cost you premium prospects, won’t mess up the clubhouse chemistry. Arenado decided to sign the big contract in Colorado, his choice, nobody forced the issue. There were plenty of rumors the Dodgers wanted him, he’s a SoCal guy. Again, he signed with the Rockies instead of pursuing free agency and a deal in LA.
A short time after signing, he began to complain, have issues with management, the direction of the team. Have you heard Mike Trout complain? Who exactly is Arenado? Would he be a good replacement for Turner in the clubhouse? Both Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman have pointed to clubhouse unity as a big reason the Dodgers endured a pandemic and won.
Friedman points to the extensive background work they did on Mookie Betts before making the trade. Mookie added to the clubhouse. Numbers are nice, but often misleading. Sometimes intangibles matter more.
Good column today, Bear. Keep ‘em coming.
We will have to see what the market is for Hendriks. He will be 32 next season and I cannot see AF giving him more than a 2-year deal. I think it will be the middle to the end of December before the market is open.
By the way, Jeff Kingston may be the next Phillies GM. In fact, I predict he will!
My realistic expectation is that we resign JT, that we platoon JT and Rios (with the other being a DH often), and that those 2 could both have solid years.
But if we’re betting, then, count me in as well. I’ll take Arrenado’s numbers, whether in Coors, StL, or NY/DC, over our 3b platoon numbers. And I’ll put a Don Julio on it.
Arenado is not coming to la. His contract is excessive and no chance la takes it. Money talks so I don’t feel sorry for Arenado and trout. They had a chance to win or choose money and they both chose money. I am not blaming them for their choice because it is complicated. But, although Keyshawn gets a huge salary I think he could have gotten more elsewhere but being with a winning franchise won the day.
For the same reason I expect turner to re-sign. The Dodgers are the place to be for a winner. Now that we are over the World Series hurdle any player should want to be here. Those that are financially secure can afford to go for the win. Besides la will pay the best.
If the Dodgers re-sign Turner, I would bet that the platoon of Turner and Rios puts better combined stats than Arenado… even if he is still in Colorado!
I hope Arenado does not end up in LA because those of you who want him are going to find out the hard way that I am most likely right.
It may not have been pretty but it was the most beautiful thing I have seen in 32 years (except for my wife, of course -if she is reading). 😉
Nice recap Bear. This 4 year run has been great. in 17 against the Astros, I was very stressed watching. I had a sinking feeling for much of it especially after the game 5 debacle. I had no faith that Roberts wasn’t going to toss a game on any given night. In 18 against the Red Sox, we started the series by tossing a game mostly by stupid mistakes from Puig. After the marathon game, the win felt good, but I felt we were behind the 8 ball and the inevitable would happen. I was mostly mad and stressed during the series. In 19 I felt good getting the lead in game five, bur it never felt safe. We couldn’t add on and then the inevitable happened.
Last year was different for me. I don’t know if I was just getting used to watching it slip away, or if I new deep down that this team was different. I didn’t get stressed like I did the previous three year. I anticipated each game. Even during the Braves series I kept thinking, that we can take 3 in a row against any team. In our losses I felt that we hit the ball well and we were unlucky. This team was just different. More complete. Less platoons and less moving players around.
As you said, there were many close calls. Home run balls were robbed by Belli and Mookie it seems the entire post season. Weak balls hit through gaping shift holes were leading to runs. But, I always thought overall that our bats would get the job done.
Starting in 17, I thought this team’s core was very young and really arrived sooner than expected. I just kept thinking when these kids were 26 and 27 they would start to really shine. That’s where we are now and we just have to keep this going.
I was really elated to hear AF talk about wanting to be pigs and really go for. Yes, now is that time. Be pigs. This core is special. Let’s see if we can repeat and three peat and whatever comes next. We have a great chance at a dynasty. Spend the money, trade a kid or two if necessary and get that RH Bat and a new closer.
Be careful about keeping older players because you have an affinity towards them. Steve Garvey, Ron Cey and Dusty Baker were all cut loose before their age 36 seasons. As much as I love JT, I would rather upgrade to Nolan or Kris and keep this dynasty in tact for a few more years.