World Series Diary: Rooting for the Dodgers as an SF Giants Fan

World Series Diaries: Rooting for the Dodgers as an SF Giants fan
Part 4

*Pederson works a two-out walk*

He’s from the Bay Area and went to Stanford. Pederson has a lot of overlap with SF Giants outfielder Alex Dickerson, but he would be a great insurance policy given Dick’s injury history. I doubt they can convince him to sign though. Someone will probably give him a chance to play every day. Honestly, feels like a fit for the A’s.

*The Rays make two outs on two pitches to start the 6th inning and Dave Roberts visits the mound*

I swear if they pull him.

*Roberts sends him to the dugout*

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I understand the history of Roberts leaving in Kershaw too long, but it doesn’t make me any less sad about it.

*Dustin May enters*

May doesn’t make me feel as nervous as it should, he is nasty. I know he gets hit hard, but I like watching cool pitchers. It’s who pitches after him that worries me.

Update: Today he is not getting hit hard.

*Kevin Kiermeier singles and the Dodgers visit the mound*

May looks locked in. Stick with him, don’t get fancy.

*They leave him in*

Good, hopefully, Roberts isn’t going to overmanage this.

*Tsutsogo flies out and he’s pulled for a lefty*

Welp.

LOL Cash tricks Roberts into pulling May for a lefty and now two righties (Mike Brosseau and Arozarena) get to face Victor Gonzalez. Honestly, my Dodgers fandom is fading with every pitch. It’s like a potion that can only overpower my true self for so long. I wanted Kershaw to get redemption, but he got pulled and now Roberts is doing some classic managerial frustration.

*Gonzalez throws the ball to the backstop and Kiermeier advances to second. The count is full*

“Great decision Roberts,” I scoff. My father is laughing at Roberts cost the Dodgers another World Series overmanaging (as he would put it).

*Gonzalez walks Brosseau and Arozarena comes to the plate*

Just hit a home run. Put me out of my misery. I’m a Giants fan rooting for the Dodgers, this is what I deserve.

*Arozarena does not do that*
*Gonzalez finally gets to face a lefty and gets out of the inning*

I’m not really relieved. I’m frustrated. I’ve always enjoyed Roberts’ managerial tendencies as a Giants fan, but now I’m experiencing them with my hopes on the line. Personally, not a fan.

I now remember that Gabe Kapler is more like Roberts than Bruce Bochy and that makes me sad.

Kiké Hernandez came in as a defensive replacement and bats. I’m supposed to root against him, but the Giants no longer have Bumgarner and he’s not going to do anything against a righthanded pitcher anyway.

*He doesn’t*

*Broadcast shows Blake Treinen warming up*

They are really going to go to 2020 Ryan Madson with the series on the line.

*Barnes works a walk*

An extra few runs would be nice.

*Mookie Betts strikes out, ending the inning*

I really can’t believe they’re bringing in Treinen to close.

*Margot singles up the middle*

I don’t have a camera to look into with a face that says “What did I tell you?” but that’s what I did sans camera.

*Meadows fouls a couple of balls off*

He just missed them. He hasn’t been the same since he had COVID-19. I hope he rebounds next year. At his best, he’s such a fun player to watch.

*Treinen strikes Meadows out on the next pitch*

*Wendle flies out and Willy Adames will bat with two outs, representing the tying run*

Oh, what a story it would be.

*Adames strikes out*
*The Dodgers win 4-2 and lead the World Series 3-2*

I’m surprised the Rays didn’t give Brett Philips a pinch-hit at-bat there. He was the hero last night and had the platoon advantage on Treinen.

Honestly, I’m just happy I didn’t have to see Joe Kelly pitch. Kershaw has two wins in a playoff series for the first time in his career and I’m happy for him, but I wish he’d gotten a chance to work deeper into the game. Granted, if I had watched him blow leads in the past as a Dodgers fan, I might have been begging them to give the ball to May.

See SF Giants fans, you can root for the Dodgers and come out on the other side. Is it weird at first? Definitely. Will you wish they had a better bullpen? Absolutely. But the SF Giants/Dodgers rivalry hasn’t given me a reason to root against them in years. I like Clayton Kershaw and maybe he’ll have to save the day in Game 7.