The Los Angeles Dodgers are not new to this environment. They’ve reached the National League Championship Series a second consecutive year, third time in the past five years, and fifth time within the past decade.
Despite the previous trips to the NLCS, the Dodgers have yet to claim the NL pennant. Their 29-year drought since last reaching the World Series is currently the sixth-longest in baseball. That’s been particularly painful for Andre Ethier.
He’s now been with the club for each of the five trips to the NLCS, and resides as the longest-tenured Dodger. Considering the heartache that’s come with previous playoff runs, he’s aware of how much work lies ahead for the Dodgers.
Ethier described needing eight more wins as a ‘long road,’ via Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports:
“A long road,” he said. “Eight games to win after this doesn’t seem like a lot. I know better. I know it’s a long road.”
Aside from the Dodgers falling short in the NLCS last year and still facing a challenge this October, the past two seasons have been particularly trying for the veteran outfielder. He missed the first five months in 2016 and again this year, because of injury.
Nonetheless, Ethier has been included on the postseason roster each of those two years. If Ethier and the Dodgers are to get over the proverbial hump this October, they will need to advance past the defending champion Chicago Cubs.
