By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS, Rafu Sports Editor
At his introductory press conference at last December, Shohei Ohtani said one factor above all else directed his decision to join the Dodgers.
“I knew that they were all about winning and that’s exactly how I feel, so that’s one of the things that stood out,” said Ohtani.
Sure, the money was important – and there’s going to be a lot of it. Not having to relocate his home, new wife and ever-popular pup Dekopin was likely a plus.
Nope, the best player on the planet wanted to win most of all, and the Dodgers seemed to offer the best opportunity to do exactly that. They had won the National League West title 10 times in 11 seasons, and Dave Roberts had guided L.A. to the World Series three times in his eight years as manager, winning one.
After six years languishing in Anaheim with the Angels and never sniffing the postseason, free agent Ohtani was looking squarely for a contender, and on Sunday night, his faith was rewarded.
The Dodgers’ high-octane offense kicked into its upper gears again in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, and when the final out was recorded with a ball into the glove of Max Muncy at first base, their ticket to the World Series was punched once again.
They dispatched the New York Mets, 10-5, winning the best-of-seven series four games to two. With the pennant win, the Dodgers both dashed hopes of New Yorkers for a “Subway Series” and have set up the most classic of all Fall Classic matchups.
On Friday, Chavez Ravine will see the Dodgers host the Yankees for their first meeting in the World Series since 1981, won in six games by the “Fernandomania” squad from L.A.
The two teams have faced off more than any other pairing in World Series history – 11 times overall before this year.
For Ohtani, the weight of bringing home a championship has been clear from the moment he donned Dodger Blue. In addition to the lofty expectation of the local fans, he is carrying the hopes of an entire nation. For the deciding NL Division Series game against the San Diego Padres, it’s estimated that upwards of 10 percent of the entire Japanese population were watching.
“I really feel like we finally arrived, I finally arrived at this stage,” Ohtani said after Sunday’s win. “A lot of the games we played were really tough and hard to win. And it was truly a team effort to get here.”
Ohtani was 2-for-4 in the NLCS finale, with an RBI and two runs scored.
“There are no easy games in the postseason. We really played well as a team and I’m glad we were able to pull through,” Ohtani said. “(The World Series) is a place I’ve dreamt of playing my whole life.
“The goal was to get to this far. I have pictured myself getting this far with the contract that I’ve signed. And again, just being able to play on this kind of stage with the team effort, and all the games were really hard. But I’m just glad that we’re at this stage right now.”
This is also a watershed moment for Asian Americans in baseball. The Dodgers not only have players of Asian descent on their roster, they are led by players and staff at the top of the ticket. In addition to Ohtani, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has delivered sparkling starts for the team, and Roberts is a Nikkei born in Okinawa.
Perhaps front and center for the NLCS, the Most Valuable Player trophy was handed to utility switch-hitter Tommy Edman, who is of Korean heritage.
Edman drove in four runs with a home run and a double in Game 6. His 11 RBI in the series tied a club record set by Corey Seager in 2020.
“It’s what I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid,” Edman said amid the chaos of the Dodger clubhouse celebration on Sunday. Asked to sum up going to the World Series in one word, he did not hesitate.
“Fantastic.”
A short time later, Edman was in the interview room, trying to sum up his feelings about the MVP award, his good fortune of having joined the Dodgers mid-season, and the trip to the Fall Classic.
“I’m just excited to get to play those big games. We’re enjoying this series win tonight,” he said. “Over this next week or so we’re going to start preparing against the Yankees. But it’s a dream come true, for sure.”
Coming to L.A. also brought him closer to home.
“The move to the West Coast is actually a move home, because I’m from San Diego,” he explained. “Definitely made things a little easier for my wife and son to be closer to their family.
“And the other part, too, is the organization did such a great job of welcoming me and making sure I kind of had everything I needed because I was injured when I got traded. So just making sure I was going through all the rehab stuff that I needed to. And really just being really diligent about the work that I needed to put in in order to get ready to play every day again.
“So huge credit goes to the staff and then my teammates as well for welcoming me and making me feel like part of the team from day one.”
After all the interviews and champagne spraying, Edman took some time for priceless moments on the field with wife Kristen and their young son. She is the daughter of Toshi and Terry Shiotani.
Edman didn’t win a game this season until August, leading Roberts to marvel at his trajectory from inactive to NLCS MVP.
“I never imagined once we acquired him, he’d be hitting fourth in a postseason game,” he explained. “But I trust him. The guys trust him. He’s made huge defensive plays for us and had huge hits. Just very fortunate to have a player like Tommy.”
Roberts has shown his management mettle brilliantly for the latter half of the reular season and into the playoffs, navigating his way to team victories despite a pitching squad that has suffered numerous injuries and barely resembles the Opening Day roster.
Sunday’s victory was a so-called bullpen game, and Roberts tapped Michael Kopeck – who has served largely as a late reliever or closer – to start the decisive game. One of the announcers on the Fox TV broadcast called Roberts’ efforts a “master class” in pitcher management.
Roberts said later that blocking out external noise and criticism over prior playoff decisions was vitally important.
“Number one, I don’t do social media. That’s a start for me,” he said. “Number two, I just think that I’ve got to … make decisions, bet on players that I feel are capable, put them in the best position to have success and be willing to live with whatever consequence.
“Tonight this series, this postseason, I’ve had a lot of clarity. And the players have made me look really good.”
Games 1 and 2 of the 2024 World Series are set for this Friday and Saturday at Dodger Stadium. As of Monday afternoon, tickets on the secondary market were selling above the $1,000 mark. The series then moves to New York for three games.
If necessary, Games 6 and 7 will be back at Dodger Stadium.
— Additional information from Kyodo News
Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo