The World Series was enjoyable to watch, even with COVID-19 making sure it was included in the ending, and once again our real world was reflected in our sports world.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made it to the series again, but this time they actually won so people can get off their backs about it. I saw Clayton Kershaw on the morning show, too. Get off his back for sure. He is a gamer.
Oh by the way, 32 years since the last title isn’t all that long. Think about what the Chicago Cubs did just a few short years ago, and the Detroit Tigers haven’t won since 1984.
DODGERS, RAYS MADE IT FUN TO WATCH
Still, the games were fun to watch (they still last too long), including the final 3-1 Dodgers win over Tampa Bay’s Rays to win the series 4-2. I’m still processing the ending of game four with two crazy errors by the Dodgers, a guy falling down between home and third and crawling in and all that. See, it was fun.
I thought Tampa pitcher Blake Snell, who was rolling along in dominant fashion, getting pulled by Manager Kevin Cash after just 73 pitches and 5 1/3 innings was fitting for what baseball is these days – maybe too analytical. My gut says striking out nine hitters in that time frame seemed to earn him a few more throws. It took just six pitches from Nick Anderson for the Dodgers to score twice. Snell had to still be cooling down his hot arm.
Of course the Dodgers changed pitchers like kids used to trade baseball cards and six relievers set the Rays down with Julio Urias shutting down the final seven guys. Tiger fans – that’s what a good bullpen looks like. Maybe Snell getting yanked didn’t matter. The Rays scored just one run.
Mookie Betts had a night for the Dodgers, and Corey Seager capped a great year being named World Series MVP.
Randy Arozarena we saw you hammering homers, crawling, doing it all. It wouldn’t have bothered us if they named you MVP even in defeat.
COVID-19 COULDN’T LEAVE THINGS ALONE
Finally, COVID-19, as it has since March, decided to get in the last word after an entire postseason without any virus issues.
It was strange to learn after the final out that Dodger Justin Turner had been pulled in the eighth inning for testing positive for the coronavirus. I remembered thinking it couldn’t be COVID in the middle of a game.
But it was, and then suddenly he was out celebrating with the team and removing a mask for a picture and let’s hope for a false-positive or at least that he didn’t spread it to others in the end I guess.
Having him out there was not a good look for Major League Baseball, though it was fitting that the sports world once again reflected on life. As a country we have struggled to get on the same page with the virus, too. Some take it seriously. Some don’t.
Photo from CNN International