LOS ANGELES — It has grown more impressive each September — only to lose its luster with each subsequent October.
For now, enjoy the sweet spot in between.
For the eighth consecutive season, the Dodgers clinched the National League West, hitting four home runs in a 7-2 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night while the second-place San Diego Padres were losing to the Angels. The win also clinched the Dodgers’ status as the No. 1 seed in the National League playoffs.
Since the leagues were split into divisions in 1969, only two teams have lorded over their neighbors longer than the Dodgers. The New York Yankees won nine consecutive American League East titles from 1998 through 2006. And the Atlanta Braves won 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 through 2005 (with no division championships to be had in the strike-shortened 1994 season).
None of those teams had to overcome the challenges presented to teams this year.
“I recall a time a few months ago when I didn’t know if we were even going to have a season this year,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So to now fast forward and be crowned NL West champs again, it’s a credit to everybody in that clubhouse, in that organization. Really proud of these guys.
“It’s something that a lot of people expect but it should never be taken for granted because as you can see every year there’s a different champion in divisions. The consistency we put forth every year is a credit to the entire organization.”
The Braves and Yankees each validated their division dominance with World Series titles, something the Dodgers will again try to do starting next week.
“They all count,” Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager said. “You can’t take them for granted. You can’t assume this every year. We’ve been on a pretty special run.”
Seager’s division championship T-shirt was mysteriously wet as he conducted his postgame interview by Zoom. The media has not been allowed to conduct interviews in person during this pandemic season and was not allowed into the clubhouse for the traditional champagne and beer showers unique — and seemingly ubiquitous at this time of year — to baseball.
But MLB has asked teams to tone down the celebrations given the health and safety protocols that are omnipresent in 2020.
“I didn’t even know it was wet,” Seager said when asked about his damp shirt. “Probably sweat.”
Probably not. But the reaction on the field following the final out was admirably restrained, looking very much like the reaction to a win in mid-July.
“Truth be told, there were some guys tonight who didn’t even know we had a chance to clinch,” Roberts said. “I think we were pretty responsible, but I let it be known that this needs to be appreciated because this is not easy.”
Only two Dodgers — Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen — have been with the team for all eight titles.
It is further testament to the length of this run that Dustin May was starting his sophomore year of high school when it began. He went five innings Tuesday to join the expected (Kershaw in 2014 and 2015, Walker Buehler in 2018 and 2019) and the unexpected (Joe Blanton in 2016 and J.P. Howell in 2013) as the Dodgers’ winning pitcher in a division-clinching game during this run.
With the Dodgers’ postseason rotation plans still a thought exercise for the front office, May gave up a solo home run to the second batter he faced Tuesday night, walked a season-high three and threw two wild pitches while also striking out five and allowing just two singles after Robbie Grossman’s home run.
The Dodgers’ bullpen took it from there, allowing just two hits in four scoreless innings while the offense did what it does. Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and A.J. Pollock hit home runs off A’s starter Frankie Montas (the Brusdar Graterol of Dodgers spring training 2016) and Corey Seager went deep off lefty reliever T.J. McFarland.
Muncy’s 424-foot, two-run home run was a positive sign from one of the Dodgers’ trio of slumping left-handers (along with Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson, who returned to the lineup Tuesday). Bellinger has shown signs of coming around recently and was on base four times Tuesday — a run-scoring infield single, a double and two walks.
Seager’s home run made it 5-2 in the fifth inning and it was time to get the champagne ready. And there was champagne.
“We kind of gave speeches, kind of had a glass of champagne each one individually and you kind of celebrate that way,” Seager said. “You kind of talk about it instead of being able to dump stuff on people and this and that. … Champagne showers, beer showers, it is fun. So it kind of sucks not to be able to do that.”
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