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Los Angeles Times

Sport

Jack Harris

Give this Dodgers' title an asterisk, one that signifies a season of unique difficulty

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias is mobbed by teammates after the final out in a 3-1 series-clinching win against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Go ahead and put that asterisk on this season after all.

This Los Angeles Dodgers' championship, clinched with a win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday night, should stand out. Not because it was easier. Or because a title this year somehow meant less.

Quite the contrary actually, at least in the Dodgers' opinion.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to clinch the series. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

This pandemic-altered season not only was unlike any other, the players believe it was harder than any before it too — a test of mental fortitude and personal sacrifice that should come with a footnote, that should be treated with extra recognition, that should forever be viewed in a different light.

"In a lot of ways," Justin Turner said, "it's been more challenging."

It certainly turned out that way for Turner, who tested positive for the coronavirus and was removed in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday. It was a sobering reminder of how the postseason could have been jeopardized at any point because of the virus.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes throws his equipment in the air as he rushes to celebrate with pitcher Julio Urias after the final out in a 3-1 series-clinching win against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

The season was shorter, but the playoffs were longer. There was less travel, but more stress. The Dodgers had the National League's best record, yet enjoyed virtually none of the benefits of a normal No. 1 seed. And after abiding by health and safety protocols all season, they spent the last three rounds of the playoffs in a makeshift hotel bubble in North Texas.

When it all finally ended, a 32-year wait for the Dodgers' seventh all-time championship snapped with a 3-1 victory Tuesday at Globe Life Field, the team's celebration made it clear.

This accomplishment wasn't normal. It signified so much more.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) beats the tag of Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino to score a run in the sixth inning during Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

"All the things we had to deal with — you could argue to say that it's even more difficult," manager Dave Roberts said. "Not even talking about playoff format, just all the things we had to do, as opposed to the long rigorous six weeks spring training, 162, the regular format."

The Dodgers have been answering legitimacy questions ever since the season was delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There was doubt about whether a championship this season would fill the void left by World Series defeats in two of the previous three years, or if the presumptive title favorites could truly fulfill their potential in a regular season with only 60 games.

The team's answers, however, have never wavered.

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers during the national anthem prior to Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

"Obviously we understand that it's a different season," Turner said before Tuesday's game. "That was one of the first things we talked about when we got back together: Look, no matter how many games we play, no matter what the postseason looks like, if there's a championship to be won, we're going to go after that and do everything in our power to bring it home."

The baseball alone was tough enough, especially in a postseason that subjected the top-seeded Dodgers to a crapshoot best-of-three wild-card series, forced them to play a seven-game National League Championship Series in seven days, and pitted them against the best team from the American League.

But all the other factors — the social distancing requirements and constant COVID testing and removal of in-game video review and all-around uncertainty of a season played amid a global health crisis — wore the Dodgers down just as much.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash takes the ball from starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. The Dodgers won, 3-1, to clinch the series. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

"I think for us, off the field was a bigger challenge," said Kike Hernandez, whose wife is expecting the birth of their first child soon. "The whole COVID thing affected a lot of peoples' routines. For me, being from Puerto Rico, I haven't seen my family in a really long time, and I think there's a lot of people in that clubhouse that can share that sentiment, that haven't seen their families in a really long time. Besides baseball, the most challenging part was dealing with the daily life as it is."

Those disruptions aren't going away any time soon. But Tuesday's triumph will make them feel far more manageable. For the Dodgers, the steepest mountain has now been climbed. Their most difficult task has culminated in a long-sought title.

"There should not be an asterisk," Roberts said. "And I stand by that."

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dylan Floro reacts after striking out the Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena to end the second inning in Game 6 of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Or at least not a footnote with a negative connotation. Maybe a gold star instead, or an underlined emphasis in MLB's record books. This wasn't any normal championship, after all. Some type of enhanced distinction is probably deserved.

"There's a lot of things that go into this," Turner said, "that you can make an argument to say it might be even more difficult."