Incredible Story Behind Dave Roberts Leaving Blake Treinen to Pitch in Dodgers’ World Series Clincher
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled all the right levers in the team’s journey through October, but one decision in particular perfectly embodied why he is so adored by his players.
In Game 5 of the World Series, Roberts chose to leave Blake Treinen on the mound, despite the reliever giving up a double to Aaron Judge and a walk to Jazz Chisholm Jr. Treinen, 36, had been deployed from the bullpen unexpectedly in the sixth inning.
Brudar Graterol walked the first two hitters of the sixth and allowed the New York Yankees to take a 6-5 lead on a sacrifice fly from Giancarlo Stanton. After a third walk from Graterol, Roberts had Treinen face Anthony Volpe.
Treinen executed as Volpe grounded out to second on a full count. The best reliever in the Dodgers’ bullpen took care of the seventh in order but then faced trouble in the eighth.
Roberts was going to stick with Treinen as long as possible, but once Judge doubled and Chisholm walked, the prospect of leaving the veteran on the mound seemed slim.
Instead of pitching coach Mark Prior, it was Roberts who walked to the mound. To the surprise of many, Roberts didn’t make a pitching change, but took a few seconds to slow down the game for Treinen and left his best reliever in the game.
“I just wanted to feel his heartbeat and just kind of look him in the eye and say, ‘What do you got?'” Roberts explained. “And he said, ‘I want him.’ And so I said, ‘All right, you got this hitter.’ Because my intention was for him to get one hitter.”
After successfully getting Stanton out, Roberts was going to end Treinen’s performance there but the veteran didn’t make eye contact with his manager as if he were avoiding a signal to leave the hill.
Then, Roberts saw Freddie Freeman.
“I give Freddie credit,” Roberts said. “Freddie was waving me off. He kind of subtly kind of said, ‘Hey, let him stay in.’ So then I trusted the players, and Blake made a pitch.”
Treinen retired Anthony Rizzo on a backfoot slider to secure the Dodgers’ lead heading into the final inning. The veteran reliever pitched 2.1 innings in the Dodgers’ 7-6 historic comeback win.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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Cool story. Roberts often goes against the CW. In his early days it seemed like it almmost always worked. The last few years he;s been bitten by it more often. But it worked this time. I have always loved Roberts as a manager, all you naysayers are full of crap. I only wish he would manage the ARMS better, I think he overworks his pitchers in games too much, particularly of his young rookies, hence the rash of injuries. But he’ll figure it out.
This was one of those epic moments of this Workd Series. Treinen had given his all in the playoffs and for Roberts and the other players to have that kind of confidence in him was awesome. The heart and soul of this team really showed in this moment. Kudos to Roberts for taking the leap of faith. Just hoping Treinen gets signed back with the Dodgers.
Thank you for a great article, Valentina. Superbly crafted to build interest and mystery. Excellent!
Ps. I have published 70 articles and essays and taught writing in college. So, I hope you do not take my assessment of your writing lightly. Please keep up the good work and have a great career!