The Los Angeles Dodgers received their tenth NL West title up to now 11 seasons on Saturday with a win over the Seattle Mariners.
Successful is a well-known theme for the kings of the west and the group has loads of superstars and veteran management in its ranks, together with — amongst others — Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, all of whom obtained All-Star nods this season and are very a lot accustumed to successful all through their careers.
However together with a large assortment of stars, it takes tradition to win, and Kershaw spoke about simply how vital that’s this weekend, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
“I can’t converse to different clubhouses,” Kershaw stated. “However I simply know that since I’ve been right here, it’s not about one man. It by no means has been. We’ve two guys that may win MVP. We’ve acquired All-Stars everywhere. However the buy-in to successful the sport that day, it’s principally so simple as that.
“Tradition is a extremely onerous factor to, like, say what tradition is within the clubhouse. As a result of it doesn’t matter what it’s a must to have good gamers to win the sport no matter how good their clubhouse is or not. However I feel on the finish of the day, there’s a humility with our superstars that trickles down and lets everyone do their jobs effectively. Mookie and Freddie take their fair proportion of the limelight and rightfully so, however they don’t mission it. They don’t ask for it. They deal with it very well. After which it permits everyone else to sort of do their jobs.”
One factor that involves thoughts instantly in the case of that buy-in is Betts’ exploits in the course of the Dodgers’ infield.
The ten-year veteran performed solely in proper area for eight of his first 9 seasons, earlier than accidents on the shortstop place necessitated a change.
Betts stepped in to fill that void at instances and in addition has manned second base for the primary time since 2014 this season.
He nonetheless hit pretty much as good as he’s ever had this 12 months and supplied dependable protection for a Dodgers group that has struggled in that space at instances, changing into an NL Most Worthwhile Participant candidate and one of the crucial versatile gamers within the league within the course of.
That mixed with gamers filling in for a pitching employees that’s been in flux this 12 months has helped information the Dodgers to arguably their very unlikely division title of their run of success.
The group was languishing in third place in June, they usually completed the 12 months as grand as common, holding a 13 and a half sport lead over the second place Arizona Diamondbacks as of Monday afternoon.
LA has Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Kershaw to thank for that along with different contributors, however their tradition definitely performed an element as effectively.
Picture Credit score: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports activities
