My 2017 World Series

It’s been a year since the 2017 World Series. I’ve tried to write about it in december, again around the start of spring training and again when I had some weeks off during the summer. Never managed to get very far because it still hurt.

Now, it still does but I also look back on last season with amazement and pride. Our boys in Blue were record breakers, even with that abysmal few weeks between August 26th and September 11th. Bellinger with his 39 homeruns, Turner with his .322 BA, Kershaw winning 18 and Kenley saving 41. There even was a young guy who pitched just over 9 innings and got a win. His name was Buehler and by now we all know him.

Getting to the World Series

That 2017 season shook up the blue bleeding fans and the entire season there was a vibe and after that great series against the Cubs. Turner hitting one out in the ninth, like Gibson did 29 earlier on the EXACT SAME date was one for the ages. Before I knew it, the NLCS was over and our Dodgers were going tot he World Series for the first time since 1988.

Having been a fan since 1980 and having to endure a 29 year drought I knew I needed to do one thing: be part of the world series 2017. Well, that sounds complicated enough with an entire legion of dodger fans wanting to do the same and willing to pay the steep ticket prices. For me, living in Europe, it was a whole other game. I had to book a plane ticket mere days before game one. Which means it wasn’t cheap. But I did it anyway. My flight was on the day of game 1. Luckily there were no delays so I arrived on time, drove to my airbnb, settled in and around three walked to the stadium.

Friends

Now, I’ve seen busy days in and around Dodger Stadium but this was absurd! People were genuinely stoked. This was, finally, next year! It took me half an hour in line to get into the stadium, tried to get from top deck to lower levels but that was impossible. Smart thinking but on the other hand it stopped me from meeting some Dodger friends. Which was sad, but we’ll meet again.

I did meet Jorge Sandoval FINALLY! We have been facebook friends for years but never met. He was really stoked to see his Dodgers play in the World Series. Emma Amaya was working at the top of the Park shop so we got to meet up for a chat. Always great to meet Emma, she is so knowledgeable about baseball. After the home games I got to meet up with two more facebook friends and Dodger fans I never met: Carmen Martinez and Mariana Vasquez. Great to talk to them, it was like I've known them for years!

It Starts!

Then it was time to get the show started. Big flag, national anthem, announcement of the players and... I’d almost forget... it was HOT! 103 degrees at first pitch. With people really getting excited it felt like 150! But shadows lengthened and people were still just settling in and before we knew it Taylor hits one into the left field pavilion. Less than one full inning into the game and the Dodgers took the lead. Didn’t take Houston long to reply. In the top of the 4th Bregman hits one out, game tied 1-1. Then JT was at is again, with one on he hit a homer into the lfp, Dodgers in front 3-1. It turned out to be the final score. We were lucky enough to get regular season Kershaw who got 11 strike outs and Jansen who got the save.

Randy Newman’s 'l love LA' never sounded this sweet! The stadium exploded and there were high fives all around. I walked to my airbnb with a little spring in my step, not realizing I had been awake for a bit more than 24 hours. I slept like a blue baby.

Game 2

Game two turned out to be what most people agree on one of the most amazing games in MLB history. Eights homers were hit during the game that spanned 11 innings. It was totally awesome to be sitting right there in a Dodger Stadium packed to the brim with Dodger fans and even some Astros supporters. There was a lot of banter but all in good fun. Valenzuela threw the first pitch, Vin was there, it was great!It’s hard to believe it was only 1-1 in the bottom of the 5th. Seager looked like he just sealed the deal in the bottom of the 6th with a homer with one on. Dodgers took the lead for the first time that night: 3-1. It stayed that way for some time. Then in the top of the 8th Puig gave it his all to try and catch a ball hit by Bregman but he didn’t get it and a few moments later he scored. 3-2 Dodgers. Top of the ninth. Only 3 outs to get on the road with a 2-0 lead in games. It’s Jansen in the bottom of the ninth, what could go wrong?

Well, His name was González. Hitting his first homer of the post season. 3-3. So we went into extra innings and man oh man what a show. Altuvé homers, Correa homers. Puig answered with a homerun, Dodgers trailing by only one. Forsythe slides home, all tied up after 10: 5-5. Springer hits one out with one on. Houston now leads by two. But wait… Culberson HITS.ONE.OUT!! Goosebumps all over when I recollect that moment. Can Puig do it again? But no, he strikes out. Game gone! While I write this and read it back it looks like a cold fact-like review of the game, but being there in Cauldron Stadion watching this game was total awesomeness. Yes it took me the better part of a year to come to terms with it, but it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Game 3 and beer

I watched game 3 at Arts District Brewery downtown LA. It was a weird game. Darvish was out of control from the get go, late throws, wild throw. It never felt like we had a hold on that game. Fans were positive, though. It might have been the beer that flowed plentiful.

The End

There the 'live' world series ended for me. I flew back to the Netherlands and watched the remaining games at home. Game five was insane and in the end we, blue bleeding fans, were left with nothing more than memories and hopes and dreams. Because that’s what’s being a fan is about: hoping for better times when times are rough and when they are good you enjoy it and dream about so much more. Last year was a roller coaster ride that almost ended the way a Dodgers season should end but just before the finish line we had only one thing left to say:

Wait till next year!