Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
“In the year that was improbable, the impossible has happened,” the great late Vin Scully exclaimed after Kirk Gibson’s miraculous home run on October 15, 1988.
The same phrase described the 2024 world-champion Dodgers.
Before the spring training began, baseball pundits expected the Dodgers would win the world championship since the organization spent $1.3 billion during the offseason. Every baseball fan should know no team can buy a world championship.
The Dodgers had twelve starting pitchers on the IL. Kyle Hurt, Emmet Sheehan, and River Ryan had Tommy John surgeries. Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin couldn’t return from Tommy John surgeries to help the 2024 Dodgers. Tyler Glasnow, the projected ace, couldn’t pitch after July 28th. Gavin Stone, the best Dodger starter, could not pitch after September 15th and will miss the 2025 season. Because of a big toe injury, Clayton Kershaw couldn’t pitch after August 31st.
The Dodgers overcame Mookie Betts missing two and half months with a broken hand. Max Muncy couldn’t play for three months with a stubborn balky oblique muscle. Freddie Freeman missed an uncharacteristically amount of time with injuries and a family emergency.
Unlike the previous seasons, the Dodgers didn’t quit. When they must win, they found a way to win. Mookie Betts took over shortstop in late spring training when Gavin Lux proved he could not handle it. After he came back, he played Gold Glove-caliber right field. Miguel Rojas played shortstop with a sports hernia that will require off-season surgery.
Walker Buehler struggled throughout the season. If the Dodgers didn’t have so many injuries to their starting rotation, Buehler probably wouldn’t have made the postseason roster. He performed fantastically in the NLCS against the New York Mets and the World Series against the overrated New York Yankees.
Shohei Ohtani was crucial to the 2024 Dodgers. At the beginning of the 2024 season, Ohtani didn’t lose his concentration when his long-term interpreter was accused of a huge gambling scandal. He played hard in every game. His 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases helped the Dodgers win several games. Through the NLDS and the NLCS, Ohtani helped the Dodgers win. In the World Series after Game 2, Ohtani couldn’t contribute because he had a partial shoulder dislocation. He understood his presence in the lineup made a difference.
Freddie Freeman shouldn’t have played during the NLDS against the San Diego Padres and the NLCS against the New York Mets. However, if Freeman hadn’t hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, the World Series could have been different. Freeman homered in four games in the World Series.
Dave Roberts was brilliant during the postseason. Before this postseason, many people were unmercifully criticized for his moves. This postseason, he made every correct move. He sometimes needed to give up on games to rest the fantastic and overworked bullpen.
Without trading deadline moves, the Dodgers wouldn’t have gone to the World Series. Andrew Friedman was brilliant. He didn’t get the big names, but without his creativity, the Dodgers probably wouldn’t be world champions. Jack Flaherty, who didn’t pitch well in Game 5, played a crucial role in the second half. Michael Kopech added a closer to move Evan Phillips in a high-leverage relieving position. Tommy Edman was great even winning the NLCS MVP.
On a personal note, this is my second full-season Dodger world championship. Since 1993, I have dreamed of covering a full-season Dodger world championship. I have done it! This world championship is for the late Fernando Valenzuela who passed away Tuesday night before the World Series started.
