The Los Angeles Dodgers were staring down the barrel of having the World Series headed back to Dodger Stadium for a Game 6 and possibly even a winner-take-all scenario against the New York Yankees before their fortunes drastically turned.
That was until the fifth inning, which changed the equation and suddenly put an eighth World Series trophy within the Dodgers’ grasp. It was an inning that saw the Dodgers completely erase a five-run deficit thanks to three separate defensive miscues from the Yankees.
Attention to detail and the fundamentals was an area of the game that was dominated by the Dodgers throughout the season and World Series. Conversely, the Yankees struggled in that regard.
Joe Kelly had some pretty harsh criticism following the World Series, which caught Yankees general manager Brian Cashman somewhat by surprise, via SNY:
“I heard that. I also know people with the Dodgers, so I’ve got some internal conversations that I’ve gotten feedback on. I think it’s more representative of some specific players rather than the overall group. And in Joe’s case, it feels like for some reason it’s a little personal the way he’s out talking like he has.
“It feels like that’s more personal than anything else. So I can’t make much more than that. I know he’s certainly talking a lot right now, and he won – or they won. So I can just say what I just said.”
Kelly was a member of the Boston Red Sox from 2014-2018, which could be a factor in his blunt assessment of the Yankees.
Though, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he felt playing the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series was effectively a World Series. That’s a sentiment Alex Vesia has since said he agrees with.
Joe Kelly: Dodgers & Yankees was World Series mismatch
In Kelly’s eyes, the Yankees’ deficiencies on the basepaths and defense made them one of the worst remaining teams entering the playoffs and his confidence in the Dodgers’ ability to come out on top in the series was very high.
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