The Los Angeles Dodgers may have won seven straight National League West championships from 2013-19, but their ultimate goal of winning a World Series has eluded them since 1998.
The organization has gotten close, reaching the Fall Classic in both 2017 and 2018. They of fell short both times, losing to two teams that were found guilty of cheating in the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox.
L.A. had another superb season in 2019, winning a franchise-record 106 regular-season games. There was more heartbreak in the postseason though as they were defeated by the Washington Nationals in five games in the NL Division Series.
Now the Dodgers have perhaps their most talented roster ever after adding a former MVP in Mookie Betts, among others, this past offseason. With that have come the same lofty expectations in 2020.
Because of that, Kenley Jansen said in a recent interview on ESPN Radio’s “The Sedano Show” that the Dodgers have a World Series or bust mentality this season:
“There’s always extra motivation. Listen, for us, it’s been a while now. Either we’re going to win a championship or it’s going to be a bust. That’s how we’re going to feel this year about it too. We’ve been in the playoffs for so long, it’s time. We don’t want to put more pressure on ourselves — and we don’t do that — but the focus and motivation is try to bring the trophy back. It’s been too long for the fans, the Dodgers, the city.”
Along with the New York Yankees, the Dodgers went into the regular season as a heavy favorite to win the 2020 World Series. They’ve stumbled some out of the game but remain close to the Colorado Rockies, who currently are atop the NL West standings.
If they do reach the playoffs, the Dodgers’ pitching staff should be well-rested and the team as a whole should be as hungry as ever to return to and win the World Series to give the fanbase the championship they have been craving for more than 30 years.
Kenley on the mend
Jansen has pitched well thus far despite still recovering from the effects of contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19) prior to the start of Summer Camp.
“I’m still trying to get to 100%,” he said. “It definitely messes up your conditioning and when you try to breathe. Sometimes you get shortness of breath. It definitely takes a toll on your body. It’s not a virus to play around with.
“Even if you beat it, you might feel relief, but you see what it does to your body, and for your body to get back to normal it’s going to take time.”
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