October 20th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 * * *
“You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you too.”
Dodgers Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella – April 12, 1957
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I was reminded of this quote (one of my all-time favorites) as I watched the Dodgers euphoric, on-field celebration following the last out of the 2020 National League Championship Series on Sunday night, October 18. Coming back from a 3-games to 1 deficit against a very good Atlanta Braves team, the Dodgers organization earned their 24th-pennant (12 in Brooklyn; 12 in Los Angeles), securing their third trip in the last four years to MLB’s Fall Classic. Indeed, it was appropriate for a raucous celebration.
(Photo courtesy of LA Dodgers)
The 2020 MLB season was anything but ordinary: played under a cloud of a global pandemic; more than 120-pages of safety protocols; a 60-game regular season that did not begin until July 23; expanded rosters; the designated hitter added to the National League; cardboard posters of fans were in Dodger Stadium seats in place of 40,000+ fans; and, a postseason tournament that included more than half of MLB teams were but a few of the changes to the Grand Old Game for 2020.
After the Dodgers acquired right fielder Mookie Betts and pitcher David Price from the Boston Red Sox on February 11, baseball pundits were unanimous in their opinions that the Dodgers were the best team in MLB for 2020; and the team lived up to that lofty status. The team won 71.7% of their regular-season games; had the best offense in MLB; a pitching staff with the lowest ERA; and an in-season run differential of 160 (86 more than runner-up Atlanta Braves). It was a magnificent season.
Then, the team moved into the MLB postseason tournament where anything could – and usually does – happen. The Dodgers quickly disposed of the Wild Card Milwaukee Brewers in two games and then sweeping the first three games from the upstart San Diego Padres. The team was firing on all cylinders but ran into engine trouble at the start of the NLCS, losing the first two games and home team advantage to the Atlanta Braves. But the Dodgers fought back in a superb team effort that included a record-breaking hitting performance by shortstop Corey Seager (.310/.333/.897/1.230; 5 HR, 11 RBI), a total of 15-home runs, pitching performances that included Julio Urías‘ breakout performance, and platinum defensive plays by Betts.
2020 has been a wonderful, wild ride with the Dodgers, and there is more to come as the World Series begins Tuesday night, October 20. Look for more spectacular performances by the Dodgers, as they continue in their quest for a seventh World Championship.
GO DODGERS!
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GREAT piece, Jesse!
I will be the first to admit that I never thought – or expected – MLB to get through this season without people dying. In fact, I even posted this somewhere on this site a few times. I have never been happier to be wrong about something.
Although I agree with you line-for-line, I certainly hope that the Dodgers do not take the Tampa Bay Rays lightly. They are very much a worthy – and dangerous – opponent and would love nothing more than to knock off the Dodgers and their $94,977,918 2020 payroll with their $28,773,481 2020 payroll.
May the best team win … as long as it’s the Dodgers.
I think after all is said and done and played, I think it will be the team with the best pitching that will win this series.
Thinking back to the infield Cey Russell Garvey and Lopes, it took them from 1974 to 1981 to finally win a championship. It’s not easy. Throw in the extra round of playoffs and it’s even harder, much harder than the 63-66 team had to endure.
This is our moment, we were robbed in2017 by cheaters. Love to see Kenley Clayton and JT get their Championship Rings, they deserve it as well as Baez who has been here as well. Go Dodgers.
Excellent points. I think back to when the Boys of Summer were in their primes — great teams that went directly to the WS, but only prevailed once (1955). I agree, love to see the veterans get their championship rings this year — some may not be Dodgers after this season
Great first game, way to start the series.
Big game tonight a win with a bullpen game would set up for Dodgers winning in 4,5, or 6.