LOS ANGELES (News4usonline) – It’s time to believe in Dodger Blue. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants came into their National League Division Series with both teams knotted in wins at 109-109.
Thanks to a four-hit night by Mookie Betts and a clutch hit by Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers claimed their 110th win of the season with a 2-1 Game 5 victory. Now it’s off to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) where the Dodgers will play the Atlanta Braves.
It was no surprise that Game 5 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Giants would be a nail-biter. The two teams came into final game of the NLDS split in wins at 2-2.
After winning the world championship last season, many people picked the Dodgers to win it again. The Dodgers had to play and beat the St. Louis Cardinals in a wildcard game to play against their rivals.
Going into the NLDS, we knew it was going to be tough for the Dodgers to beat the Giants. That’s because the Giants because were the best team in baseball this season. The Giants had the most wins of any team in baseball with 107.
They also won the National League West Division, one game ahead of the Dodgers. Both teams reached 100 or more wins during the regular season. The Dodgers won a total of 106 games.
Going into this series, I wasn’t sure which team would win. Both the Dodgers and Giants had great seasons. Right until the last day of the regular season, I wasn’t sure who was going to win the division. The Dodgers finished second behind the Giants, but they could have easily won the division.
At this point, it doesn’t matter.
Statistics show that teams with the most wins in the season are likely to win the World Series. That didn’t happen with the Dodgers in the 2017 season. That year, the Dodgers won their division and National League crown but they failed to win the World Series.
The Dodgers can possibly win another World Series because they have a lot of great players. Let’s remember, the Dodgers also went to two other World Series where they lost to the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox.
The Dodgers were expected to win those two World Series. However, that was not in the cards for Los Angeles. It was later revealed that Houston allegedly used a sign-stealing scheme to help them beat the Dodgers.
If the Astros weren’t cheating, it is easy to assume that the Dodgers could have won three out of the last four World Series. The Dodgers have been to every postseason since 2013. That is nine seasons in a row that the Dodgers have made it to the playoffs.
The Dodgers have won seven World Series. They now have an opportunity to make it eight, if they beat the Braves and defend their title in the championship round against the American League representative. More World Series runs could be possible if the Dodgers keep their talent.
One observation I have made is that the Dodgers won 106 games in the regular season. Why would they need to play in a wild card playoff game just to advance. It doesn’t seem fair. Outside of the Giants, no other team in baseball had more wins than the Dodgers.
Last season, the Dodgers were forced to play in the NL wild card against the Milwaukee Brewers, even if they were in first place because of the bracket. In 2019, the Dodgers recorded a 106-56 mark, but still would up losing the NLDS to the Washington Nationals.
Even if the Dodgers have the second-most wins in the 2021 season they can still win the World Series no matter what. They have better players is why the Dodgers are considered the best.
There are lots of people that don’t like the Dodgers because the team is so good. Even though they don’t have the number of World Series pennants like the Yankees, Dodger Blue is real.
The Dodgers have played in 21 World Series. Hopefully, they can make it 22 appearances. They will have to beat Atlanta in order to do that.
