The Los Angeles Dodgers looked to be a team on a mission in the 2017 postseason, as they swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series and defeated the Chicago Cubs in five games in the NL Championship Series to reach their first World Series since 1988.
They ran into the buzzsaw known as the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic, though, and wound up being defeated at Dodger Stadium in Game 7 in what was an all-time classic World Series.
A big reason why the Dodgers made it as far as they did was the emergence of Chris Taylor, who began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City but ended as the team’s leadoff hitter and center fielder.
In a recent interview with David Vasseigh on AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio, Taylor discussed his breakout season and how he will use the tough World Series loss as motivation in 2018:
“It’s been pretty cool having an opportunity to reflect on the year I had and coming back to my hometown and seeing the reaction of friends and family and how excited they are for me is really cool. Just letting it all soak it a little bit, but at the same time, I’m definitely motivated for next year trying to get ready. That bitter taste we had in Game 7 is a little fuel for the offseason work I think all of us are going to put in to get ready and try to come out on top next year.”
Taylor went on to add that he will never get over the World Series loss but getting back there in 2018 and winning it will help get the bitter taste out of his mouth:
“No, I don’t think that’s something you ever get over. I think hopefully we’ll get back there and we’ll be on the winning end in the near future and that’s probably the only way you can get close to getting over something like that.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently shared the same sentiment as Taylor about not getting over the loss, but with their core nucleus of players returning in 2018, the team will once again be in a good position to win the NL West for the sixth consecutive season and get back to the World Series to avenge the loss in 2017.
