Why Dodger Players, Coaches and Fans Should Celebrate Each Achievement
Last night the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 7th consecutive National League West Division title by defeating the Baltimore Orioles 7-3. With the Arizona Diamondbacks also losing, the clinch was inevitable and the general outcome had been expected for quite some time. Following the game and during the celebration coverage fan reactions varied on social media. It was a mixed bag of celebratory or anti-celebratory tweets and posts.
For those saying teams shouldn’t celebrate division titles, and that the WS is the only thing worth celebrating, save it. These players, coaches & front office work tirelessly to achieve this. There is no guarantee it will happen again. Celebrate every step.
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) September 11, 2019
It’s easy for fans to remember that the Dodgers have not won a World Series since 1988. That they have made it to the past two Fall Classics and both times, fallen short. That they have been the favorites to win it all, only to watch another team celebrate that final victory and later see the televised parade. I get it, it stings, and I’d be lying if I said this writer didn’t even shed a tear or two.
To fans, winning 7 consecutive NL West titles has spoiled us. We forget that it is the culmination of preparation and work that begins in mid-February. We don’t think about all the travel, jet lag, and hotel life. It’s easy to forget all time the players spend away from their families or the fact that they rarely get a day off, let alone something that would resemble a weekend. Most importantly, we don’t remember what its like not to watch baseball beyond September.
I don’t wish to tell anyone how to be a Dodger Fan. If I’ve learned anything about fellow fans, it’s that we ALL have Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde sides that reveal themselves at various times throughout the season. Personally, I try to lean heavy on optimism, but that pessimist side will always find a way to show itself, most recently losing 1-0 to the Giants last Saturday and my 5 year old son further taunting me with, “Dad, remember when the Yankees beat the Dodgers?” before walking out of the room before I could even respond.
Mic drop.
All that being said, I do think celebrating another NL West title is important for the team and is also for the fans.
Are you for or against celebrating every step of the way?
Comment your reasoning too!#Dodgers #DNPoll
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) September 11, 2019
I love baseball, frankly, I selfishly wish the season was longer. However, I doubt I’d feel the same if the Dodgers were a bad team, I’d be constantly looking forward to the off-season when they could improve. These past 7 seasons, the Dodgers at minimum, have given this fan an extended season to watch and enjoy, at maximum, they’ve given all fans hope. Hope of making it to the World Series and the past 2 years, hope of winning it. To me, that hope, this 7th consecutive National League West Division title, is worth celebrating.
Of course everything you said is true and worthy of our attention. Yes we should all appreciate the winning especially after being a fan in the early 2,000’s and 90’s was brutal. It’s a bittersweet story though, as a fan we’re glad we get to watch in the fall rather than tune into the yankees or red sox or Cardinals etc. As a fan having not celebrated since 1988 and watching teams like the Marlins, WhiteSox, D-backs and Especially the VAGIANTS win titles has been the most painful of them all. Since we draw 2,000,000 fans annually, we know it’s not a money issue, right?
This team and management deserves much praise for building a good team, but when we fans will truly commend and show absolute sincere appreciation, will be when the management awards us with a Championship. Until then, we are nothing more than the 2nd place team and in my generation no one remembers who comes in 2nd.
If they don’t do it this year they should give themselves and the fans a break next year and not make the playoffs. Come back completely refreshed for 2021 for the first time in years
So many Dodger fans just don’t get it. They should be proud…….they should celebrate……..Winning the division SEVEN times in a row is hard thing to do. Winning your division over the course of 162 games in a season is hard to do. And all these Dodger fans who don’t appreciate it? It’s a sad group of entitled people. It could be a lot worse………you could be a Rockies fan or a Padre fan, or a Giant fan.
Or, a Brewers fan, witnessing the loss of Yelich for the rest of the season due to fracturing his knee cap on a foul ball that hits his knee.
Hardly entitled requesting a ws title after 31 years. So many teams have atleast done that some multiple times even the marlins and Dback organizations have done. Not necessarily saying I’d trade yearly success for one random title and constant rebuild, BUT there’s no reason why this team can’t win one single championship all the talent they’ve had over the years. Teams with far less have gotten it done
Well Obviously it could be worse Sherman, but that doesn’t mean we should be happy with coming up short. You mention teams that are worse off but leave out the ones that have been better off overall. Redsox getting it done 4 times, yeah they don’t make it every year but they make it enough and bring it home and have something to show for their efforts. You think their fans would trade that for what we have? Absolutely not they’re proud and happy. Astros? They actually won in 2017 instead of choking and have followed it up with 2 more 100 win seasons and do everything they can to have the best roster in baseball putting themselves in great position to win it all again. Their fans wouldn’t trade that for what we have either