As a Dodgers fan, the 2024 season is an unforgettable one. There were ups and downs during the regular season. In particular, the team had to deal with several key players’ injuries. Nonetheless, the team didn’t give up and played great October baseball.
I still watched some highlights and interviews these days because this is truly an amazing season. In some videos, many analysts talked about Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager. After watching the videos, I just recalled a friend’s story. That friend is older than I am. He talked about some stories about Dodger baseball in the 1980s. As we know, the Dodgers were led by Tommy Lasorda then. And it seems that there’s something similar between Roberts and Lasorda.
Firstly, it’s about loss. Lasorda became the Dodgers manager on September 29, 1976. In 1977, the Dodgers lost in the World Series. In the 1978 season, unfortunately, the Dodgers lost in the Fall Classic again. In 2017, it was Dave Roberts’ second season as a manager, the Dodgers lost to the Astros in the World Series. Well, we now know what the Astros did in the World Series. Nonetheless, in the record book, the Dodgers didn’t win the title. The next season, the Dodgers lost to the Red Sox in the Fall Classic. Hence, at the beginning of their careers, they each lost twice in the World Series.
Nonetheless, the first World Series title came. In 1981, Tommy Lasorda led the Dodgers to win the World Series. It wasn’t a 162-game season because there was a strike. In the 1981 postseason, a left-handed pitcher from Mexico led the team with 40.2 innings, posting a 2.21 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. That pitcher is the Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela. In 2020, there was Covid-19 pandemic and the regular season was shortened to 60 games. The Dodgers won the 2020 World Series title. In game 6 of the 2020 World Series, Julio Urias, who’s a left-handed pitcher from Mexico as well, struck out the last batter of the game to help the Dodgers win the title. In the 2020 postseason, Urias owned a 1.17 ERA and a great 0.65 WHIP over 23 innings. He earned 4 wins in the 2020 playoffs. Thus, Dave Roberts and Tommy Lasorda each won the first World Series title in a “non-162-game” season. Moreover, they each have a pitcher from Mexico, who pitched well in the postseason.
Finally, Tommy Lasorda led the Dodgers to win the 1988 World Series. The Dodgers beat the Mets in the NLCS to advance to the Fall Classic. In game 1 of the World Series, lots of people have watched the video, which was Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run. Back then, Kirk Gibson’s legs were injured. Moreover, Orel Hershiser, the bulldog, threw 42.2 innings in the postseason, posting a 1.05 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. In 2024, the Dodgers again defeated the Mets in the NLCS. In game 1 of the 2024 World Series, Freddie Freeman, whose leg was injured, crushed a walk-off grand slam against the Yankees. On the mound, the bullpen and Buehler had played key roles. The Dodgers bullpen threw 82 innings in the 2024 postseason and owned a 3.95 ERA with 7 wins. Walker Buehler didn’t pitch well in the regular season with an ERA over 5. Nonetheless, Buehler didn’t allow any runs in the NLCS and in the Fall Classic. Therefore, Lasorda and Roberts each led the Dodgers to win the second championship “dramatically”. A walk-off home run from a player who was injured was unreal. On the mound, the bulldog was outstanding in 1988 and in 2024, it was the bullpen and Buehler.
Looking at their career trajectories, Lasorda and Roberts each lost the World Series twice in the first 3 years, but they won the first title in a shortened season. Additionally, the Dodgers fans definitely remember their second World Series title with a walk-off home run. There’s something similar and it’s certainly not easy to win 2 championships. Tommy Lasorda is a Hall of Famer. Perhaps, Dave Roberts will be elected to the Hall of Fame in the future. Nonetheless, as a Dodgers fan, I do hope that Dave Roberts will lead the team to win more World Series championships in the coming seasons.
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