Dodgers fall to Red Sox in a disappointing five games
The Los Angeles Dodgers, after a hard fought postseason run, fell to the Boston Red Sox in five games. After looking like a team that could win it all when they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games, The Dodgers simply fell apart in the World Series. The Dodgers playoff frenzy had teachers and students staying up late to watch extra inning games, showing Dodger pride at school and even leaving school early to go see the Dodgers live. Spanish teacher Jimmy Chapman even designed his curriculum to focus on the Dodgers playoff success. The Dodgers showed the talent they posses and heart and effort they had to give, but came up short, really short. Their inconsistent bullpen and shaky hitting was no match for the Red Sox, who excel in both of those categories.This year was an incredible run for the Dodgers. After starting the season slow and losing star hitter Corey Seager to injury, it seemed like the Dodgers wouldn’t be able to get back to the promise land again and claim the title. However, the Dodgers made a mid-season blockbuster trade acquiring Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for some minor league prospects. His 42 runs batted in, 13 home runs and stellar feilding, propelled the Dodgers to a league best 37-17 record post all star break. The red hot offense from the lineup put the Dodgers number one in home runs in the National League with 235. The Dodgers were fighting with the Colorado Rockies for the number one spot in the National League West Division, which the Dodgers won with a tiebreaker game. This was their sixth consecutive year winning the division, third consecutive in the NLCS, and second year in a row in the World Series. The regular season success of the team set the table for a successful post season.The Dodgers went up against The Red Sox, who had a league best 108 wins. The Dodgers didn't really put up a fight though. Besides a thrilling 18 inning game three victory, The Dodgers didn’t show any signs of life in the series, including blowing a 4-0 lead in game four. Granted The Red Sox were the favorites to win the series at -135 (bet $135 to win $100) and the Dodgers knew it would be a tough fight, but no one expected them to fall this hard.Back to back World Series losses won’t sit well with players. Next season may be one where we see the Dodgers franchise player Clayton Kershaw, and star Manny Machado, look elsewhere for success as they enter free agency. If the Dodgers fail to retain either of these players, especially Kershaw, we could be looking at a 2019 season where The Dodgers turn to the young talent the team has in Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger and Walker Buehler, to rebuild the team into a contender, which possibly means, after years of success, having some years of missing out on the playoffs. Dodger fans will just have to wait some more to capture their first World Series title in over three decades.