The Magical Ride
Continues
Everyone
knows the story by now. The Los Angeles Dodgers were all but left for dead,
manager Don Mattingly’s seat was as hot as it could get, but then everything
clicked and they went on a run unlike anything ever seen before. Now, as the
ride continues, the Dodgers find themselves in the National League Championship
Series, and four wins away from a World Series appearance.
The Dodgers
will be facing an NL Central team, the most top heavy division this year,
either the St. Louis Cardinals or the Pittsburgh Pirates. These two teams are
battle tested and have been fighting all season long for positioning. They are
the opposite of the Dodgers. The Dodgers coasted here fairly easily, not having
to battle or play a game that really tested their resolve. However, the Dodgers
have a confidence and a swagger about them that neither of these two teams has.
Nothing
describes this run quite like the events that led to the game winning hit.
Yasiel Puig smacks a double down the first base line, bringing Juan Uribe to
the plate with no one out. Uribe is certainly not someone that could be
described as an adept bunter, so of course Mattingly asks him to do exactly
that. After failing in his first two attempts the bunt sign is taken off and
Uribe draws the count even. On the ensuing pitch Uribe crushes a home run to
left field to give the Dodgers the lead and they never looked back. A moment
like that, in that spot, wouldn’t happen to any other team this year.
October isn’t
just about talent. Luck and magic play a part as well. There is a lot of
postseason left to be played but it’s hard to bet against the Dodgers right
now. They are clicking on all cylinders and the ghosts of October seem to be on
their side. They’ve written a phenomenal script, now let’s see if they can
stick the landing and end it in storybook fashion.
