Thursday, October 24, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
After Fernando Valenzuela passed away on Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers prepared to face the New York Yankees in the World Series. The last time the Dodgers faced the Yankees in the World Series in 1981, Valenzuela played a crucial role in the Dodger world championship. The Dodgers will honor Valenzuela during the World Series.
Now, the Dodgers must turn their focus on becoming world champions. They have an impossible postseason run. While the Dodgers have twelve starting pitchers on the IL, they still have Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler. Buehler has performed in two World Series. The Dodger bullpen has been fantastic during this postseason, and Alex Vesia and Brusdar Graterol possibly will join the other relievers.
During June, Yamamoto had his best start against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He dominated the strong Yankee lineup. While Yamamoto is a rookie, he has vast experience in Japan pitching in a high-pressure game. He performed outstandingly in Game 5 in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. He also did well in the NLCS against the New York Mets.
The Yankees have Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge. The Yankees lead baseball in home runs, and the Dodger pitching staff allowed almost the most home runs in baseball. However, the Yankees don’t have a dynamic offense. They don’t have a deep lineup.
The Dodgers have a dynamic offense. In the NLCS, the Dodgers scored the most runs in a postseason season in history. Shohei Ohtani performs well under pressure. Mookie Betts has had a great postseason after having a long postseason slump, and he should continue his good hitting in his third World Series.
Freddie Freeman should be considerably better than in the NLCS with his horrible ankle. His swing should be better, and his ability to use the entire field to get singles and doubles.
In the series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Teoscar Hernández became an offensive monster. If he can duplicate that performance, the Dodgers should have no trouble winning the series.
Tommy Edman had a dream in the NLCS, winning MVP of that series. If Edman can produce half of what he did, the Dodgers should win the series.
Kiké Hernández has continued his playoff heroics. Even if Miguel Rojas, who will undergo sports hernia surgery after the season, can play in the World Series, the Dodgers must play Hernández.
Will Smith and Gavin Lux need to contribute to the offense. Andy Pages had a good NLCS and needs to continue it.
Aaron Boone, a former Trojan, has never managed in the World Series, a different beast. Dave Roberts, a former Bruin, is managing in his fourth World Series. This postseason was the best managed by Roberts. While the Yankees have four established starters, the Dodgers will have perhaps two bullpen games during the series because they don’t have a healthy fourth starter.
This World Series should be well-played games. Since the Dodgers have a great eye for the strike zone, the games will last over three hours, sorry Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Since Fernando Valenzuela’s sixty-fourth birthday would have been on November 1st when Game 6 will be played, the Dodgers should win the World Series in six games. This World Series is a dream for every baseball fan.
