PSO Premium Review: MLB World Series Game 6

1. Mookie was the difference-maker for the Dodgers

Ever since calling up Yasiel Puig in 2013, LA has been one of the best teams in the NL, winning eight straight division titles and being one of the final two NL teams remaining in five of those seasons. However, this Dodgers team could never get over the hump. Whether it was Kershaw disappointing in October, Kenley Jansen blowing leads, or Dave Roberts making poor decisions, LA always found a way to walk away short of the ultimate goal. 

This team no longer has Puig, but those three other characters along with Justin Turner who have been through all those previous playoff failures, put it all together in this postseason. However, none of their efforts would’ve been good enough if it wasn’t for arguably the biggest MLB acquisition of all-time, Mookie Betts. The former MVP signed the largest contract in baseball history for good reason and earned every penny this year by putting together big hits, great defensive plays, and winning moves on the base paths that proved to be the difference for the Dodgers in Game 6 and this entire season. 

2. Julio Urias is already a legend & has a lot more in store

Another key element to the Dodgers finally breaking through the proverbial glass ceiling is the emergence of Julio Urias. The young phenom was once viewed as a premier prospect and a future Cy Young contender. Some injuries and early-career struggles as a 20-year-old led some to hop off the bandwagon, but those that stayed on were validated after Urias’ incredible run through this postseason. 

He not only closed out the NLCS with three perfect innings to cement the 3-1 comeback, but replicated that in Game 6 of the World Series with 2.1 innings of nothing but batters walking up to the plate and being sent right back to the dugout during the biggest at-bats of their careers. The young phenom is now officially a LA legend forever and still only 24 years old with a future as bright as any pitcher in the league. Walker Buehler, Dustin May, and Julio Urias provide the Dodgers with the most promising young rotation in the big leagues that can add much more than just one championship in the 2020s. 

3. Blake Snell & Randy Arozarena carried the Rays in 2020

As much credit deserves to be given to the Dodgers, the biggest story from this game, this series, and this season was Kevin Cash pulling Blake Snell in the 6th inning, despite him pitching five shutout innings, striking out 50% of the batters he faced, only allowing two hits, and not a single hard-hit ball (95+ MPH exit velocity). Immediately after getting yanked due to Cash’s desire to let other pitchers face this powerhouse lineup instead of Snell for a third time (as hitters naturally gain an advantage the more they see a pitcher’s full arsenal), Nick Anderson extended his dubious MLB postseason record for a RP of seven straight games allowing a run, despite his regular season dominance. 

Once the lead that Randy Arozarena single-handedly gave them with a solo shot was gone, everyone knew it was over for Tampa Bay. Their offense outside Arozarena was dreadful and their rotation trifecta didn’t live up to the billing in the World Series besides the former Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Arozarena and Snell played as well as anyone and put the team on their back for as long as they could, but ultimately a championship-winning team needs big contributions from more than just two players.