On the Alex Verdugo Comments

This is a few days old, but the latest player discrediting the Dodgers championship in 2020 is none other than former teammate Alex Verdugo. His quote: “A 60-game season, it’s still hard to judge to this day. Like yeah, it’s a World Series, right? Yeah, they got a ring. But they didn’t play any games at their home field. They didn’t. There weren’t any fans there. It was 60 games. Anyone could ball out for 60 games. That extra 102 is a big difference. They won it, it’s a true one, for what we call it. But I still call it as I see it; it’s still a 60-gamer.” 

Yawn…Here we go again.

I will say this about the 2020 Dodgers.  They were every bit as good as this 2022 team.  They dominated from start to finish and were, without a doubt, the best team in baseball that year.  As fans, we were robbed of seeing more games and of viewing that season in person for the most part, but it was awesome to watch on TV.  (*note: I actually flew to Dallas for Game 2 of that Series, one of their losses). What few recognize about 2020 is that it was as awkward a season as there ever has been. 

Baseball players are dependent on routine and consistency regarding schedules.  If you have success, then you repeat the pattern over and over.  It is how hitting streaks are formed, fielding prowess is mastered, and pitching success is prolonged. It is necessary because the game is such a mental exercise for months on end.  2020 was anything but that.  Stops and starts, two spring trainings, off-site taxi squads, intra-squad game conditioning, playing before empty stadiums with cardboard cutouts and canned music, and piped-in crowd noise.  It was odd and a logistical nightmare. The team that won that year was the team that adjusted and adapted the best to the abnormal conditions. 

The Marlins did an excellent job of that, and they had a few Covid outbreaks that stalled their season, forcing them to insert numerous minor leaguers on the big club and play a bunch of doubleheaders. The Dodgers did their best at adjusting, and you can credit Dave Roberts, Andrew Friedman, and their staff for doing that.  It was an exhausting season on that front, and that success deserved the just reward of a legitimate championship.

Initially, players were forced to be isolated from their families, which was in and of itself a difficult mental strain on many.  Then there was the restriction from leaving hotels and going out.  There were teams that strayed from those rules, and they paid the price with covid outbreaks that canceled games and forced them to play a ton of doubleheaders and with shortened rosters of their normal MLB players. 

Moronic minds can’t get past the 60-game schedule and ignore the fact that there was no home-field advantage for the best-performing teams in the playoffs that year.  Being stuck in a bubble drove most teams crazy, but the Dodgers made the most of it and became closer as a unit.  2020 was a championship for the Dodger families…dads, wives, parents, brothers, sisters, children, et al.  Detractors can bash that championship as much as they want, but it was as legit as any ever won because the circumstances that surrounded that season had so many obstacles in the way.  For the Dodger family, it probably even had more meaning as they got very close as an organization.

Add to the fact they had to win more postseason games than any team in baseball history (13) with fewer off days.  We are talking about the most pressure-packed, mentally taxing games played. Thry were essentially played straight through.

Critics of the championship have an incredible case of sour grapes, with most opining it was a “Mickey Mouse” championship only “after” their team was eliminated.  Now, a few years later, it has become a common thread of their conversation when speaking of the Dodgers, much like fans bashing the Astros for their cheating scandal five years after the fact.  They can’t get past it.  The difference, though, is stark.  The Dodgers couldn’t control the circumstances of 2020, while the Astros drove their controversy and will justifiably have to live with the accusations.

At the conclusion of the 2020 World Series on the Fox Postgame show, some poignant points were made that best explained the legitimacy of that World Series.

Kevin Burkhardt: “It’s a team that has been here before.  They won eight straight division championships.  It took them a few World series to get here.  There’s a lot to be said about intestinal fortitude. They kept on getting back on the horse and getting back here, only to find a way to do it.”

Frank Thomas: “You’ve gotta love this team.  We all felt this team would eventually win the World Series.  They are that good. I mean pitching, defense, hitting, they had it all, and Tampa gave them one heck of a fight to get that trophy.  They deserved this.  No one is second-guessing here about talking about how the Dodgers won the World Series.  We all expected this. This is the first time in the last 20 years that I thought a team that would win a World Series within a 60-day spread, but they did it legitimately.  They didn’t let us down at all throughout this process.  They were the best team throughout the 60-game sprint and throughout the playoffs.”

Thomas’ comment was brief, but he made a key point. Baseball seasons are a marathon, but 2020 was a “sprint.” The Dodgers were the Carl Lewis of baseball.  This year here’s hoping that they are the Frank Shorter of the game.

Dodger bullets in the final couple of games:

• In recent postings on Twitter and other social media platforms, I have seen numerous posts of Dodger fans complaining about the playoff format and the fact that the Dodgers, as the team with the best overall record, will have the toughest road to the World Series. I will admit that the fact that MLB does not re-seed teams after the first round does seem a bit unfair, but the rules are the rules.  I think it is safe to assume that the Dodgers will need to defeat the Mets and the Braves to get to the fall classic.  That is the case, and they have to roll with the fact that the Braves will have the easier route to the Series.  They still must go through L.A. 

• It wasn’t too shocking to read from Jon Heyman that Xander Bogaerts’ agent (of course, Scott Boras) has announced that eight teams are interested in signing him.  They are St. Louis, Atlanta, Minnesota, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago Cubs, and the Dodgers. 

• This Dodger team has set the all-time MLB record for most wins by multiple runs.  So far, they have 93 wins by multiple runs (tied with the ’98 Yankees).  With two games remaining. It looks like they may probably eclipse this record.  With that said, their record in one-run games isn’t that hot.  Is this a reason to be concerned going into the playoffs?

• Kenley Jansen recorded three consecutive saves against the Mets over the weekend in their most important series of the year.  Didn’t someone tell the Mets that all they needed to do was get one guy on base, and the “rattling” of Jansen would begin?  Those Dodger fans that are complaining that we didn’t re-sign Jansen over this past off-season have incredibly short memories.  He has not been a top-notch closer for a few years now, and there is no reason to fear this guy whatsoever.  This is strictly my opinion, but Jansen isn’t close to the pitcher that he was in 2015 or 2016, and that cutter isn’t anything close to what it used to be.  With the new rules in place next season with the pitch clock and limited throws to bases, Jansen is in trouble.

• Never have I seen so many options available to a manager regarding filling the post-season roster.  There are bound to be some disappointed players left off the 26-man roster. I’m just hoping that team chemistry isn’t affected by some bitter player(s) that don’t make the cut.  Amongst those left off should be Joey Gallo and Craig Kimbrell.

• Michael Grove has done his part in saving the staff by burning up a lot of late-season innings.  Regardless of his subpar ERA and his lackluster statistical line, his value was extremely important to this team.  If the Dodgers do win the whole enchilada, it should be remembered that the health of the pitching staff was instrumentally affected by Grove eating up crucial innings that would have otherwise taxed a browbeaten and injured Dodger starting five.

• As of this writing, Freddie Freeman attaining the coveted mark of 200 hits this season, is up in the air.  He will definitely have to rally to get here. If he doesn’t, again, no major leaguer will reach 200 hits this year. Jeff McNeil overtook him in the batting crown race by one point.  McNeil is really swinging a hot bat, but he’s far short of 200 hits.  The last time a National Leaguer had over 200 hits was six seasons ago when Charlie Blackmon had 213 for the Rockies in 2017.  Last year the MLB leader in hits was Trea Turner with 196.  Remember when Steve Garvey would regularly get his 200 hits?  I know analytics frown on Garv, but I can’t help believing that he should be in the Hall of Fame.

• Dave Roberts has done what was expected in getting the boys to rest in these final two weeks.  It was no easy feat to keep the team focused on winning, and they have pretty much accomplished that and remained healthy in the process.  This recent lapse against Colorado is not a setback.  It is a rest, and what do the Dodgers have to play for other than remaining fresh and healthy?  They haven’t played risky baseball.  Few dives for catches, and no stolen base attempts in crucial times.  It is to be expected.  Not a concern.

• So much talk has referenced the Dodger’s all-time record of wins.  What few seem to notice is that no National League team has accomplished this number of wins in over 110 years.  Not the John McGraw Giant teams, not the Gashouse gang Cardinals dynasty, nor the Big Red Machine in the 1970s, or those Atlanta teams in the 90s.  What the Dodger teams of the Dave Robert’s era have done may go down in history as the greatest ever in the National League.  A title or two is so important to cement that legacy.  With two or three WS wins, these Dodgers will be remembered for decades to come

• Clayton Kershaw can silence all the detractors this year with a solid postseason.  To this day, there are those that discount his career achievements on lackluster post-season play.  Few recognize his masterful performances at times as well.  Most notable: games 1 and 7, 2017 WS, and Games 1 and 5, 2020 WS.  People seem to forget those and remember WS Game 5 of 2017 when the Astros knew what pitch was coming.  Yes, it’s tough to recall some other key post-season losses, but Greg Maddux wasn’t that stellar on the big stage, either. 

• I was wrong in my prediction on Trea Turner, Freeman, and Lux hitting over .300.  Lux has fallen quite remarkably due to injury.  I hope he regains his swing because when he is hot, he can be a significant addition to the Dodgers lineup.