Clayton Kershaw deserves a parade. So does Los Angeles.
Let’s do that, we could?
4 years in the past, the Dodgers received the World Collection, however a pandemic canceled the parade.
These Dodgers are 4 wins from a parade, 4 wins from a civic celebration that might toast the best pitcher of our era and a golden age within the historical past of a storied franchise, 4 wins that might let loose a refrain of raucous pleasure from gamers and followers disadvantaged of a correct celebration, 4 wins from greater than one million people getting collectively for gratification delayed far too lengthy.
“The fans definitely deserve it,” Dodgers proprietor Mark Walter stated Sunday, after the group received the Nationwide League pennant.
Standing in the best way of a parade: the American League champions, the New York Yankees.
“We didn’t come here to win the pennant,” Walter stated. “We came here to win the World Series.”
On the night time the Dodgers received the 2020 World Collection — as the house group, however enjoying in a coronavirus bubble in Texas — then-mayor Eric Garcetti instructed me he supposed to arrange a celebration — if not a parade, then some form of socially distanced celebration. The Lakers had received the NBA championship within the NBA bubble 16 days earlier, and maybe a joint celebration could be so as.
“I think we were all waiting for the timing, for when it was going to be feasible,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “They were even talking about doing something with the Lakers, doing it together. It would have been amazing. But it just wasn’t to be.”
Kershaw stated he by no means actually counted on that celebration, given public well being restrictions within the county and state.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates on the sector after the group’s win over the New York Mets in Sport 6 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Occasions)
“I don’t think we ever thought we were going to get to do that, especially in California,” Kershaw stated. “It definitely wasn’t going to happen out here.”
Mentioned infielder Max Muncy: “It was very disappointing we didn’t get that parade, but obviously there were some bigger circumstances happening in the world.”
Kershaw is on the injured listing now, however eight of the gamers on this 12 months’s NLCS roster have been on the 2020 World Collection roster: Muncy; outfielder Mookie Betts; infielder/outfielders Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor; catchers Austin Barnes and Will Smith; and pitchers Walker Buehler and Blake Treinen.
The Dodgers received the 2020 championship in a 60-game season that required them to navigate 4 postseason rounds. A 2024 parade could be the primary in Los Angeles in 36 years.
“There is something in it for all of us that have been here,” Roberts stated. “We know we won a championship, and it was justified.
“But we do want that parade. That’s another incentive for us.”
Kershaw stated he didn’t consider a parade could be additional particular for the gamers on the 2020 group.
“I think it would be special no matter what,” he stated. “Having a parade here would be pretty cool.”
Mentioned Buehler: “It’d be nuts. We haven’t had one in a long time. Obviously, us and the Lakers in ‘20 didn’t get to do it. It’d be big-time.”
At the same time as they doused one another in champagne and beer Sunday night time, the Dodger gamers have been pleased to visualise a parade however cautious to not depend on one. They don’t seem to be wanting previous the Yankees.
“We’ve got to win four more games before a parade,” Betts stated. “That’s going to be a tough task, with the Yankees.
“This game is hard. It’s hard getting to the World Series. We’ve just got to appreciate being here now, and play some good baseball, and then we can be fortunate enough to have a parade.”
That didn’t cease Roberts from firing up the gang Sunday night time. Simply earlier than he held the NL championship trophy aloft, he hollered a query that wanted no reply.
“You guys want a parade in Los Angeles?” Roberts yelled. “Four more wins!”
