“We brought a championship back to Los Angeles and no one can ever take it away” – Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
After falling short of a World Series title in their last two appearances in 2017 and 2018, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally got to take home a trophy of their own on Tuesday night. Although the 2020 season was abbreviated and unlike anything baseball fans have seen before, the Dodgers undoubtedly proved themselves to be the best team in baseball throughout the regular season. With the unbeatable record of 43-17, it was no surprise they made it to the Fall Classic, but being known to choke in the playoffs, it was bound to be an interesting journey to first. They started strong with a clean sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card Series, followed by another sweep in the Division Series against the San Diego Padres. The NLCS was more of a challenge for LA. The Atlanta Braves were up two games to none in this 7 game series, but yet again the Dodgers fought hard for the National League Pennant, and won the series 4-3.
With only two teams standing after many rounds of playoffs, the Tampa Bay Rays came to face the Dodgers in the final series at the new Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Both the Rays and the Dodgers have many notable studs on their team that made it hardly impossible to predict the outcome. Although, as many loyal Los Angeles fans hoped and waited 32 years for, the Dodgers reigned victorious after 6 games. It is theorized it was the detrimental mistake made by Rays manager, Kevin Cash, of taking out their ace Blake Snell, after throwing 73 pitches, and allowing only two hits. Mookie Betts and the Dodgers took advantage of that said mistake and took a 3-1 lead, which won them the game, and a title that will forever go down in baseball history. Blake Snell was not the only player to get pulled from that game. In 2020 fashion, Justin Turner, the Dodgers third baseman, was pulled mid-game when it was announced he tested positive for the Coronavirus. Although he was not the only player in the league to test positive before, it is a much different scenario as he was in the dugout with his teammates prior to getting his results back. The questionable decisions made by him and the organization didn’t stop there as he went back on the field to celebrate the championship win with his teammates.
Debatably putting the virus aside, after a well deserved post-game celebration, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rob Manfred honored the Dodgers’ shortstop, Corey Seager, with the 2020 Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player Award after an incredible performance throughout the six games. He proved himself with a .400 batting average and multiple RBI. Remarkably, Seager is the first player since 2014 to be named both the World Series MVP and the League Championship MVP in the same season. Seager, Betts, and Cody Belinger are all incredible, young players who certainly contributed to the success of the franchise this season. Although, the verteran pitcher, Clayton Kershaw is who many believe is the most deserving of his ring. After being with Dodgers since 2008, while consistently being a reliable, powerhouse pitcher, let alone a commendable teammate, every baseball fan can be happy for Kershaw’s victory.
