Dodgers: Insider Feels LA Fans are Angered Over Early Postseason Exit After 2020 Short Season Title
Dodger beat writer Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group appeared on MLB Network’s High Heat with Chris Russo and Alanna Rizzo recently to share thoughts on the Dodgers NLCS postseason exit. They discussed all the matter of things, but the comments Plunkett made about Dodger fans probably spoke the loudest.
Plunkett discussed how Dodger fans were left feeling upset about the early exit this season. Moreover, he feels that some fans may have wanted or needed this World Series win in order to validate the 2020 Championship title. Here’s what he had to say.
“I think there’s a lot of anger out there in Dodger nation. They’re not happy at all. There was a feeling that last year’s championship had to be validated by another one because it was just 60 games.”
Plunkett must be reading social media comments or inferring thoughts in his own head. The only thing that validates last year’s World Series title is the fact that the Dodgers won it. It was one of the most difficult World Series to win, statistically speaking. Saying that only another title would validate last year is a logical fallacy coming from an emotional bias of some kind. Plunkett however also disputes the idea that last year’s World Series was more difficult.
“I honestly think I think you’re wrong when you say it was more difficult. I think this year was by far the more difficult run that they’ve had. They had to go right down to the last game trying to catch the Giants, so there was none of that September, you know, ‘back off the throttle a little bit.’ They didn’t get to do that this year. They had to travel in the postseason. Last year, well, let’s say interesting is it was to spend a full month in Arlington, Texas, it was nice not having to run to an airport every three days.”
Plunkett has some good points that traveling can take a toll on a team, but so does playing in a park with unfavorable dimensions and for (a large part of the postseason) no fans. This season’s marathon run to the finish was certainly taxing on the Dodgers, but I would venture a guess that most of the players on the Dodgers would not use that as an excuse.
However you feel, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the World Series champions of the 2020 MLB season and that is something that can never be taken away or sullied with outside narratives.
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Other than Plunkett, the only people I have seen faulting the “short season” title have been the fans of other teams, most notably the Padres before they tanked at the end of the season. I don’t think that trying to compare the two seasons makes much sense because every season has its own challenges. It would have been nice to win again and shut up any naysayers, but that didn’t happen. Anyway, on to 2022!
Geez 2020 championship any less valid than the 2017 Cheaters? Let me think about that one….NO!
Hey Plunky you wanna take pot shots at the 1981 title too? It was strike shortened too! Get a grip!
And while you’re at it the 1918-19, 1972, and 1995 champs as well. All strike shortened or war shortened seasons! Lame criticism!
We need a writer like the late Allan Malamud, he was spot on many a times….
Speaking of the ‘way back’ machine, a very special shout out to the late Johnny Ramsey. The iconic stadium voice of the Dodgers, and other LA teams…..
Lastly, going with a music theme here, my world….
Remember this?
25 or 6 to 4…..
D4L, I changed it for you….
23 or 8 to 15.
Ah, the good ‘ole days!
D2
And speaking of memories…..
Fire Station 82 in La Canada/Flyntridge in 1991.
Kids had a blast on the truck.
If you know, you know….
D2
Dougie, I answered the 25 or 6 24 elsewhere. I really do miss Chicago! You’re starting to give yourself away 😉
Didn’t know if you saw that, hence the mention here…..
Back to the drawing board!
Sure was windy this weekend in Northern CA…..
D2
The first one I get but the second sailed the backstop!
Just a high pitch that sailed over Opie’s head, thus a WP. Keeping Opie’s great defensive stats at 14!
Defense first, which is what he was drafted for……
D2
No way (San) Jose. Lol
You see my comments on Walt and Steve Lukather?
Did see your comments on the boys…. I replied back about Bobby and Peter….
And my future ex-wife, Ann. lol
D2
Dougie, cmon man you know better…
I see EVERYTHING lol
2020 was the toughest WS to win more than any other before it. In 2020 the Covid Pandemic was a huge battle to navigate from as one out break could have de- railed any club if it cost them several players to be removed and to quarantine Look what happened to some other teams where Covid disrupted the whole organization in some teams. And, last year, Dodgers or no other team could afford ANY lengthy losing streak, being it was a 60 game season. An example is in 2019 when the Nats lost 31 of their first 50 games. In last year’s shortened season they would have been buried far from any PS appearance with that 19 and 31 won/loss record in their first 50 games.
I consider this WS matchup to be
a ‘farce.’ Just my opinion but if it’s
The Astros prevailing- it means nothing
to me & probably many of the players in both
leagues. Nothing ‘the cheaters’ accomplish goin’
forward will ever be ‘legit’ IMO!
Happy The Dodgers didn’t advance ’cause they
(beginning game (6) of the NLCS) were a shell of
the (106) win team. Didn’t need to have The Stros
rubbin’ our faces in defeat a 2nd time! We’ll wait ’til
we have all our horses active & ‘hungry’ again!
Tom, I see your point but as much as it disgusts me to see the cheaters in the WS, we disagree in part only….
Had the Trashstros gotten to the WS with no hold-overs from the 2017 team fine then no problem.
The four perps, Gurriel, Altuve, Correa and Bregman should have been banned from baseball for life! And I’d feel the same way about had the beat the hated Giants!
Spineless worthless Manfred let them off Scott free!
I had a terrible internal conflict whether to watch or not. My principle side said no way can I watch this bs. While my rabid baseball side screamed how can you not watch with the chance the cheaters go down in flames.
Baseball won out and loved game 1.
Let’s go Braves!
Some writers are so lazy and do no research prior to spitting forth garbage!
Now a days, they comb the internet for stories…..
A number of years ago, I was in the Green Room for FOX & Friends. Their ‘news anchor’ during commercial break came in, sat down at the computer, looking for ‘news stories’.
D2
Lol. Amazing how lazy some folks are.
Sad, indeed.
But we will keep those comments off this platform…..
D2
It’s not that 2020 didn’t count, but in the last 40 years the Dodgers have 3 championships and 2 came in shortened seasons, and we all know what happened in 2017. This team is just cursed to always be a part of history for strange reasons, and while that doesn’t invalidate their successes, it would be nice to see them win a traditional championship as well.
Not to mention the fact this team had maybe the greatest roster ever committed to paper and the highest payroll of all time. Let’s be honest, even with injuries, anything less than a world series win was going to be considered a disappointment.
I’ve never seen anyone giving back any commissioner trophies! Irrespective how they were won.
I watched Plunkett’s interview and he wasn’t diminishing the 2020 championship, he was just emphasizing all the trials and travails the Dodgers had to negotiate this year, not the least of which was Trevor Bauer debacle. In thinking about it I can’t remember a more difficult year for the Dodgers? All the injuries and subpar performances and yet they competed for another WS appearance to game six of the NLCS.
Tim, truly amazing right? Let’s face it folks, Dodger fans are so spoiled! More than a few here didn’t have to live through the McCourt years, whew glad those are over!
I was just starting to forget!!