The Los Angeles Dodgers completed their 60-game schedule with the best record in MLB at 43-17. They were among the 28 teams to play out the entirety of their schedule, with the only exceptions being the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers (58 games each).
The Cardinals, of course, were one of the handful of teams that experienced a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak this season, resulting in a week of their schedule being lost.
They still managed to qualify for the postseason with a 30-28 record, which was good enough to secure the No. 5 seed in the National League. The expanded postseason also allowed the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers, both of whom finished under .500, to grab the last spot in their respective leagues.
Considering the circumstances brought on by the pandemic and the overall length of season, some feel that the validity of this year’s World Series champion will be up for debate.
Retired Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully shared a different opinion, believing which ever team is the last one standing will have earned a legitimate title, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“Whatever they give you to play, if you win, that’s all that counts,” he said. “To me, that’s the championship. I don’t care if it’s 100 games, 60 games, 80 games, it’s enough. If it’s a 60-yard dash and you win, you’re the champion of the 60-yard dash.”
Various Dodgers players, including Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Justin Turner, all echoed similar sentiments earlier this season.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has suggested an expanded postseason field could remain in place beyond the 2020 season — though it would require approval from the Players Association. It’s unclear if Manfred’s vision is with the current format being carried past this season.
Scully congratulates Dodgers on winning 8th straight NL West title
Having recently joined social media, Scully sent out a congratulatory tweet to the Dodgers after winning an unprecedented eighth consecutive NL West title.
Even though he no longer calls games in the booth, it is clear that Scully still keeps tabs on the Dodgers from afar.
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