Going for two

 

Just a short post today. Fridays are always busy and it doesn't help that MLB starts the World Series on a Friday now. We sat through three off days so we could get to a day when I absolutely cannot watch. The current configuration means that I will get to see exactly one game live even if it goes a full 7 games. Also no World Series game on a Sunday is appalling. Makes me want to write a strongly worded letter to the commissioner.

 

So there's not nearly enough time to relay my complicated thoughts about my Dodgers going for a second straight World Series title for the first time in my life as a baseball fan. It's already a weird space to be in, having to constantly bat away "anyone-but-the-Dodgers" spewing on the usual sites. (I spent part of the morning deleting any youtube video suggestion that has to do with "the Dodgers are ruining baseball". Why would these be in my suggestions?)

 

The Dodgers can do something in the 2025 World Series that has been done 14 times before, but only twice in the last 32 years -- repeat as World Series champion. During the 20th century, this was a fairly common occurrence, happening every decade except the 1980s. Maybe that's why the Dodgers are treated as villains now -- fans today aren't used to it.

 

The Cubs, Athletics (Philadelphia and Oakland), Red Sox, Giants, Yankees (a number of times), Reds and Blue Jays have all celebrated repeat Series championships. The Dodgers have never done this.

 

In fact, this is just the third time they are going for a repeat title. The previous two attempts failed spectacularly.

 

In 1955, the Dodgers finally won a championship for Brooklyn, winning in 7 games against the Yankees.

 

 

No repeat in 1956, oh no. The Series lasted seven games but the Dodgers are remembered in that Series as being the only team to have a perfect game thrown against them in the World Series.

 

 

In 1965, the Dodgers won a 7-game World Series against the Twins.

 

 

 The Dodgers pitched three shutouts in that Series, two by Sandy Koufax and one by Claude Osteen.

 

 

Pitching couldn't save the Dodgers when they returned to the World Series the next year. They scored a whole two runs and were swept in four games by the Orioles.

 

Since then the Dodgers have appeared in back-to-back World Series twice, losing both ends in 1977-78 and in 2017-18.

 

Honestly, I could see the 1955-56, 1965-66 scenario happening again this year. I'm taking heart in most baseball people saying the Dodgers will win, but I've never been a confident fan (it doesn't feel real when I try to be).

 

As for that list of players who played for both the Blue Jays and the Dodgers -- that is too damn long. With the way that major league teams transact today, the amount of pitchers alone (who barely played for the Dodgers) is too much to type. But the first guys who pop in my head are Shawn Green, Tom Candiotti, Al Oliver, Raul Mondesi and Jorge Orta.

 

Enjoy the World Series. I'll be at work. At least we have the internet there.