Latest news with #2020WorldSeries
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Facing Dodgers for first time gives Walker Buehler chance to reflect on his time in L.A.
BOSTON — It had been nine months since Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo, stretched his arms on the Yankee Stadium mound, and was dogpiled after recording the final outs of last year's World Series. But on Friday afternoon, ahead of Buehler's first reunion with the Dodgers since departing for the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, the memory remained vividly fresh — for him, his former teammates and coaches, and even a traveling contingent of Dodgers fans in town for this weekend's series at Fenway Park. As Buehler chatted with members of his old organization hours before Friday's series opener, Dodger fans taking a pregame tour of the stadium spotted him on the diamond. Within moments, an otherwise empty ballpark was echoing with cheers and applause, the fans shouting Buehler's name as he acknowledged them with a wave of his hand. 'That was really cool,' Buehler said later, the moment reminding him of a conversation he had with Dodgers broadcaster Orel Hershiser (a World Series hero of a different generation who became a mentor of Buehler's during his time with the team). 'Talking to Orel about some of that stuff that he's gone through and the way people react to him, I think it's obviously two different situations,' he added. 'But for the fans walking around to yell at me, I kind of imagine in L.A. it'll be like that for a while, I hope.' Indeed, if there was any doubt about how Buehler's Dodgers tenure was destined to be remembered, his role in last year's World Series enshrined it in legendary status. No, the right-hander didn't quite reach the Cy Young-winning expectations many had when he first came up as a highly touted prospect with a big fastball and fiery mound presence. For as dominant as he was from 2018-2021, when he went 39-13 with a 2.82 earned-run average and two All-Star selections, the end of his seven-year stint was derailed by a 2022 Tommy John surgery (the second of his career) and a disappointing regular-season performance upon his return in 2024 (when he was 1-6 in the regular season with a 5.38 ERA). Buehler's best Dodger moments, though, always came in the postseason: From his division-clinching gem in Game 163 as a rookie in 2018, to his 1.80 ERA in five starts during the Dodgers' 2020 World Series run, to when he took the ball on short rest twice in a failed title defense in 2021, to his 10 consecutive scoreless innings in the final two rounds of last year's postseason most of all; an unexpected star turn following his post-Tommy John struggles throughout the summer. 'That moment means a lot to all of us, that we were a part of it with the city and the fans that came out every day for us there,' he said, while talking to reporters in the Red Sox's home dugout. 'I think it would have been hard to leave that for anywhere — except for here.' While Buehler expressed interest in remaining with the Dodgers ahead of his free agency last winter, his eventual departure became clear in the first week of the offseason. The team didn't extend him a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer — which ended up being the same amount he signed for with the Red Sox. The Dodgers instead went after Blake Snell with a $182-million contract, and won the January sweepstakes for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. 'It was an interesting situation. I think there's obviously two sides to that situation,' Buehler said when reflecting back on his free agency. 'We had conversations about it, we talked through it. And they went and signed guys that they wanted to sign. And I signed with a place that I wanted to play. It kind of is what it is.' In hindsight, it was an outcome neither side seemed to be regret. In Buehler's absence, the Dodgers have managed to work around first-half injuries to several key starters, and are on track to have a potential postseason rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Snell (who could return from a shoulder injury after one last minor-league rehab start with triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday). Meanwhile, Buehler said he has enjoyed playing for the Red Sox, even though he has regressed with a woeful 5.72 ERA (sixth-worst in the majors among 107 pitchers with at least 80 innings). 'It's been a really fun year, outside of some of the playing stuff for me,' he said. 'But my family and me, we're loving it here and have felt really very welcomed here, as well, just like we were in LA.' Buehler has been better lately, giving up just three earned runs in his last 18 innings to help the Red Sox maintain the final wild-card spot in the American League. His next start, fittingly, will come in Sunday's series-finale against the Dodgers. 'It'll be interesting,' Buehler said with a laugh. 'Obviously, I was one of the last of the wave coming up there. So I've kind of got little bits and pieces of it playing against Joc [Pederson] and [Cody Bellinger] and Corey [Seager]. So it'll be nine of those for me, I guess.' Buehler wished he could have squared off against Clayton Kershaw; something he said he and the future Hall of Fame left-hander (who will instead pitch Saturday's game) joked about while meeting up on Thursday's off day. Still, Buehler added, 'I think you just try to keep it as normal as you can. Obviously it'll be a little awkward or funny or whatever. But I don't know. At the end of the day, we're all playing a sport for a paycheck. The goal is go and to get one over on them. I don't think the preparation against them is really different.' Friday, on the other hand, was a day for nostalgia, with Buehler receiving his World Series ring from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and most of the remaining players from last year's team during pregame batting practice. 'I was very fortunate to be drafted and developed and get to spend so much time there,' Buehler said. 'Should credit a lot of good success that I've had to them, and how they handled and treated me. Nothing but good things to say there.' As for if his ring — a diamond-studded reminder of what, for now at least, remains the lasting image of his Dodgers career — gave him any closure, Buehler smirked. 'I think you already have it,' he said. 'But I think everyone kind of knows I'm on a one-year contract, so you never know what's going to happen down the road.' The Dodgers were without shortstop Mookie Betts, who was home in Nashville with his family attending to a personal matter. Roberts said Betts was expected to rejoin the club on Saturday, but was unsure if he'd be back in the starting lineup for that day's game.
Irish Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dancing with the Stars contestant announces rugby retirement after 10 years
Rugby star Jordan Conroy has said he didn't think it would be "so difficult" retiring from the sport. The Rugby Sevens star announced he will hang up his boots after 10 years playing with Ireland. In an emotional statement on Instagram, the 31-year-old admitted to it having been a difficult decision to make. The Tullamore native said: "I didn't think it would be this difficult writing this, saying goodbye to something that's been apart of your life the last 10 years. "Trying to put everything into words is quite impossible or not shedding a tear while writing this." Conroy first started playing rugby when he was 18 and played 15s with Tullamore and Buccaneers. He made his Ireland Sevens debut in 2016 and was the highest try scorer at the 2020 World Series as the Boys in Green qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He has played 171 World Series games for his country, scoring 123 tries in that time. Conroy, who also took part in RTE's Dancing with the Stars, added: "First of all I'd like to thank my I've known from the beginning of when I started this, to those who I met along the way. "Thank you for allowing me to share this journey with you, the good times and the bad times." SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Jordan Conroy of Ireland scores a try during the 2023 Sydney Sevens match between Ireland and Great Britain at Allianz Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by) He said "we were more than just a team". "We were more than just a team, we were a bunch of lads who believed in each other when others laughed at us. "To you I give thanks and I am honoured to have shared this journey with you. "To the special people who I've met around the world who stuck with me since the very beginning and saw something in me to @padinphx@therealdenimdan@trevorleander_trev@meenu___apr@clorabella@kobay_okeeffe@lalainejoyce thank you for your kindness your blessings. "It makes me sad that I might not meet some of you ever again, but that's okay because we can cherish the memories we had. "Finally to myself for believing in me for braving the toughest storms that this sport has thrown at me but also taught me so many things. "I wouldn't be the Jordan I am today if it wasn't for this sport. "I now officially announce my retirement from professional Rugby 7s it's been on heck of a ride folks. "Peace and Love," he added. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Angels Announce Kenley Jansen News After Leaving Red Sox Game
Angels Announce Kenley Jansen News After Leaving Red Sox Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Angels not only have one of the greatest hitters of all time, but they also have one of the greatest closers. They both appeared in Monday's 9-5 win over the Boston Red Sox, albeit with very different performances. Advertisement Designated hitter Mike Trout finished 0-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored, while right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen left after just four pitches in the ninth inning. Fellow right-hander Hector Neris then came in and tossed a clean frame to secure the win. The Angels, who are now two games under .500 as they try to keep pace in the AL Wild Card race, would be disadvantaged if they lost Jansen for an extended period. They announced his injury after the game, via The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher. Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74)© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images "Kenley Jansen had shoulder cramping and he should be fine, Ray Montgomery said," he reported. Advertisement Jansen is tied for 11th in baseball with 15 saves. The four-time All-Star signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an undrafted free agent in 2004 and converted from a catcher to a relief pitcher in the minors. He made his big-league debut in 2010 and stayed with the Dodgers through 2021. Jansen won NL Reliever of the Year in 2016 and 2017, recording 47 saves in '16 and 41 in '17. He led the NL in saves in the latter campaign and won the 2020 World Series championship with the Dodgers. Jansen also led the NL with 41 saves as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 2022. Related: Kenley Jansen Sends 3-Word Message After Major Dodgers News Related: Angels Make Unexpected Coaching Move Before Astros Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Clayton Kershaw ‘sad' after close teammate cut for Dodgers' top prospect Dalton Rushing
Clayton Kershaw pitched to Austin Barnes 86 times in the regular season dating back to 2015, developing a bond with the catcher/utility player. Pitchers and catchers spend so much time with one another over the course of a grueling 162-game season that it's natural for the parties to grow close. That rapport is why it's tough for pitchers to see their battery partners jettisoned, with Kershaw expressing his disappointment Thursday after the team designated Barnes for assignment to clear a path for top catching prospect Dalton Rushing. 3 Clayton Kershaw and Austin Barnes in 2024. Getty Images 'I think everybody was surprised,' Kershaw said before a 19-2 win over the A's, according to the Los Angeles Times. 'Yeah, it's sad. Barnesy's one of my best friends on or off the field. You won't find a guy that competes better than Austin Barnes. He wants to win more than anybody, and he always found a way, and he came up with some big moments for us throughout the years. I think a lot of people forget he was starting a lot of playoff games and winning a lot of games for us, getting big knocks. 'It's sad to see someone like that go who's been here that long, and I think we all kind of feel it. It's no disrespect to Dalton. I know he deserves it, and he's going to be a great player. It's just, for me personally, I think a lot of guys on the team, it was disappointing to see him go.' Barnes won two titles with the Dodgers during his 11 seasons, serving as both the backup and starter. He had been Will Smith's No. 2 before the team moved on. The 35-year-old has never been known for his bat, posting a career .660 OPS, but he played in 10 games during the team's 2020 World Series championship run and had one NLCS at-bat in last year's title stretch. 3 Kershaw and Austin Barnes developed a strong bond. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Barnes notched just 44 plate appearances this year before the Dodgers opted for upside, adding the No. 15 prospect in all of MLB, according to The catcher had been the team's second-longest player, per the Los Angeles Times, second to just Kershaw. Their 86 regular-season games together marked the second-most for Kershaw and any catcher, trailing just A.J. Ellis' 118 games, and they produced a 2.66 ERA together. The Dodgers exercised in the offseason Barnes' $3.5 million option for 2025, but that's chump change for the free-spending franchise. 3 Dalton Rusing took Barnes' spot on the roster. Getty Images 'This was certainly a tough conversation,' manager Dave Roberts said, per the outlet. 'Austin is a Dodger for life. He helped us win the championship. Caught the last pitch in 2020, in the World Series, and he's done a lot of great things in the community, for the Dodgers, for myself, personally. 'I just think that for us right now, with what Dalton Rushing is doing on the performance side, it's an opportunity to challenge him, expand his growth, give him an opportunity to log some major league games and essentially give him some runway.' As Kershaw laments his friend's exit, he's set to make his debut Saturday against the Angels after being sidelined due to knee and toe surgeries last year. The Dodgers are tied with the Tigers for MLB's best record with their 29-15 mark, but are dealing with a rash of pitching injuries. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki are all sidelined, among others, while Shohei Ohtani is still working toward his Dodgers pitching debut in his second season.
Los Angeles Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Dodgers Dugout: Dodgers make a surprising move
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. There are only 10 players still on the team who were on the 2020 World Series title team. Can you name them? Answer below. The Dodgers did something Wednesday that I didn't think they would do, certainly not this early in the season: They designated catcher Austin Barnes for assignment and brought catcher Dalton Rushing up from the minors. Designated for assignment means the Dodgers have seven days to place Barnes on waivers, trade him or release him. Barnes had been with the Dodgers since 2015, with only Clayton Kershaw having a longer current tenure with the club. Barnes, who went to Riverside Poly High and Arizona State, was drafted in the ninth round of the 2011 draft by the Florida (now Miami) Marlins. After the 2014 season, he was traded to the Dodgers by the Marlins along with Chris Hatcher, Andrew Heaney and Kiké Hernández for Dee Strange-Gordon, Dan Haren and Miguel Rojas, which makes me realize that Barnes' first season with the team was also the first year of this newsletter. I hope that's not an ominous sign. Barnes' first full season with the Dodgers was 2017, and it was also his best season offensively, as he hit .289/.408/.486 with 15 doubles, eight homers and 38 RBIs in 262 plate appearances as the backup for Yasmani Grandal. Barnes was mainly a backup in his career, appearing in 100 or more games only twice, 2017 and 2018. He hit so well in 2017 that he moved into a platoon role with Grandal near the end of the season and was the main starter during the postseason, going 10 for 46 with a homer and five RBIs. His defense was his true calling card, as he was one of the best at pitch calling, pitch framing and blocking pitches in the dirt. Pitchers loved him, and he was considered almost an extra coach on the bench the last couple of seasons. His hitting has fallen off dramatically the last few seasons. Since 2021 he had hit .215, .212, .180, .264 (with few walks and little power) and .214 this season. The final blow was deteriorating defense, as his arm had grown weak. With the Dodgers struggling offensively at the bottom of the lineup, it was getting hard to justify giving Will Smith more than one day off a week, and it's best to give your stating catcher a couple of games off a week so he can stay fresh in September and the postseason. It was a still a surprise though. But if you take a moment to consider that the Dodgers traded A.J. Ellis despite him being a favorite of Kershaw, perhaps it really isn't a surprise. And you have to wonder if Chris Taylor is feeling nervous considering how well Hyeseong Kim is playing right now. When Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman come back, there will be some key roster decisions to be made. James Outman will be sent down, but who else goes? Barnes should always be remembered for one thing more than any other. In Game 6 of the 2020 World Series, Blake Snell, then pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays, was cruising, shutting out the Dodgers on two hits while striking out nine through 5.1 innings. He looked unhittable. Barnes came to the plate and singled to center. Rays manager Kevin Cash came out and removed Snell. Against reliever Nick Anderson, Mookie Betts doubled Barnes to third. Anderson threw a wild pitch, letting Barnes score, and Betts scored on a ground out by Corey Seager, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. The Dodgers went on to win the game and the Series. Does Cash replace Snell if Barnes doesn't get that hit? We'll never know, but it seems doubtful. If Barnes lands with another team, he deserves a nice ovation when he returns to Dodger Stadium. Talking about Barnes, Dave Roberts said: 'This was certainly a tough conversation. Austin is a Dodger for life. He helped us win the championship. Caught the last pitch in 2020, in the World Series, and he's done a lot of great things in the community, for the Dodgers, for myself, personally. I just think that for us right now, with what Dalton Rushing is doing on the performance side, it's an opportunity to challenge him, expand his growth, give him an opportunity to log some major league games and essentially give him some runway.' So, let's talk about Rushing. He went to Louisville and was taken in the second round of the 2022 draft. He has moved consistently through the minors, hitting good to great everywhere and was hitting .308/.424/.514 at triple-A Oklahoma City this season. His bat has been major-league ready for a while. With Will Smith solidly behind the plate in L.A., the Dodgers tried Rushing out at first base and left field. Reports from scouts who have seen him play left field are that he's a work in progress, and the Dodgers say they want him to be a catcher. So it appears he is coming up to spell Smith a couple of times a week. It's tough for a young player, used to playing every day, to come to a team and sit on the bench most of the time. So it will be interesting to see what exactly the Dodgers do with him. Two of the positions he could play, first base and DH, are currently taken by two future Hall of Famers. And will the Dodgers want to risk the defense by putting him in left? If he plays for a couple of weeks as the backup catcher and is hitting line drives everywhere, will they be tempted to put him in left? Roberts on Rushing: 'In one sense, to not take at-bats every day, you could see some downside. But I think that us talking internally, having him here in this environment, around our pitchers, around our coaches, understanding how we game plan, understanding major league hitters, and then to most importantly log major league at-bats — I think just net sum, it was more positive.' It will be fun to watch. Clayton Kershaw will make his long-awaited return to the rotation Saturday against the Angels. How will he do? Who knows. It's just nice to have him back out there. Kershaw is one of the two greatest pitchers in Dodgers history, along with Sandy Koufax. The last time we did voting for the greatest Dodgers of all time, Koufax finished first, Kershaw fourth (Jackie Robinson and Vin Scully were in between). The last few seasons have been injury-filled, but Kershaw has still been a good pitcher. He only looks bad if you compare him to the numbers he put up in his prime. Last season, when he started seven games and had a 4.50 ERA, was the first season since 2008 (his first year) when he had an ERA+ below 100. In 2022 it was 177, meaning he was 77% better than the league average pitcher. In 2023, it was 175. And you can count on one thing even now: Every time Kershaw goes out on the mound, he's going to empty the tank. He's going to give you everything he's got. He pitched on short rest during the postseason. He did everything the Dodgers asked him. This may be his last season. Enjoy it while you can. Most seasons with the Dodgers: 18 seasonsClayton KershawBill RussellZack Wheat 16 seasonsGil HodgesPee Wee ReeseDuke SniderDon Sutton 15 seasonsCarl Furillo 14 seasonsWillie DavisDon DrysdaleSteve GarveyJim GilliamSteve Yeager Kershaw's return was at a good time, because the Dodgers put Roki Sasaki on the IL on Tuesday because of 'right shoulder impingement.' Apparently, Sasaki had pain in his shoulder for a few weeks and didn't tell anyone. He only mentioned it after his last start. Meanwhile, his fastball velocity had been dipping each start. Now we know why. There's almost always an adjustment period when pitcher come from Japan to the U.S. A different baseball (the ball in Japan is slightly smaller (8.875–9.125 inches compared to 9–9.25 inches), the pitch clock, and, the ball in Japan has better grip, making it easier to manipulate and spin. Plus, even without those factors, just adapting to a new country is difficult enough. When Sasaki will return is unknown. He was 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA this season. Dodger pitchers on the IL and when they are expected to return: Tyler Glasnow, shoulder (unknown)Brusdar Graterol, shoulder surgery (September)Michael Grove, shoulder surgery (2026)Edgardo Henriquez, broken foot (unknown)Kyle Hurt, Tommy John surgery (2026)Evan Phillips, elbow (June)River Ryan, Tommy John surgery (2026)Roki Sasaki, shoulder (unknown)Emmet Sheehan, Tommy John surgery (after the All-Star break)Blake Snell, shoulder (unknown)Gavin Stone, shoulder surgery (2026)Blake Treinen, forearm (July) There are very few players in baseball history who seem to rise to every occasion. One of them is Shohei Ohtani. He hit two home runs on his bobblehead night Thursday, and these are his numbers on all the bobblehead nights the Dodgers have had for him: 7 for 16, four home runs, eight RBIs, three stolen bases. Just think, the Angels had him for five years and did not really do much with him, as far as marketing goes. What were they thinking? Also, since wearing glasses, Max Muncy is hitting .261/.364/.543 with two doubles, one triple, three homers and 12 RBIs in 55 plate appearances. Dodgers leaders in strikeouts per nine innings, minimum 750 innings: 1. Clayton Kershaw, 9.72. Sandy Koufax, 9.33. Hideo Nomo, 8.94. Chan Ho Park, 8.34. Darren Dreifort, 8.36. Kevin Brown, 8.17. Chad Billingsley, 7.98. Jim Brewer, 7.49. Tim Belcher, 7.110. Bill Singer, 7.0 As you can see, there are no Brooklyn pitchers in the top 10. So, here's the top 10 Brooklyn Dodgers in strikeouts per nine innings, minimum 750 innings: 1. Dazzy Vance, 6.32. Van Lingle Mungo, 5.33. Ralph Branca, 5.13. Carl Erskine, 5.15. Don Newcombe, 5.06. Kirby Higbe, 4.77. Nap Rucker, 4.68. Adonis Terry, 4.58. Whit Wyatt, 4.58. Preacher Roe, 4.5 We are going to take the Joker off the board (fans of the TV game show 'The Joker's Wild' will understand that reference) and talk about a rare non-Dodgers topic. MLB reinstated Pete Rose, Joe Jackson and others on the permanently ineligible list, basically saying that a lifetime ban ends when you die. We can talk all day about the cowardice of reinstating Rose just a few months after he died. Or the fact that a person's death does nothing to change what they did or did not do. Rose, Jackson and the other members of the 1919 White Sox are now eligible for the Hall of Fame. My question to you is, should they be elected to the Hall of Fame? Click here to vote in our survey. We'll discuss the results next time. The 10 members of the 2020 title team still with the team: Mookie BettsTony GonsolinBrusdar GraterolKiké HernándezClayton KershawDustin MayMax MuncyWill SmithChris TaylorBlake Treinen Friday: Angels (Jack Kochanowicz, 2-5, 5.23 ERA) at Dodgers (Dustin May, 1-3, 4.08 ERA), 7:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020 Saturday: Angels (*Tyler Anderson, 2-1, 2.58 ERA) at Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw, first start), 6:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020 Sunday: Angels (*Yusei Kikichi, 0-4, 3.72 ERA) at Dodgers (Tony Gonsolin, 2-0, 2.81 ERA), 1:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020 *-left-handed Who is the next Dodger to go? | Dodgers Debate Dodgers call up catcher Dalton Rushing, designate Austin Barnes for assignment Mookie Betts' toddler son runs away with first-pitch baseball. It's as adorable as it sounds Hernández: Roki Sasaki's shoulder issue leaves Dodgers in a familiar and problematic position Dodgers place Roki Sasaki on injured list, further depleting the team's pitching Roki Sasaki's declining fastball velocity is a problem. Can the Dodgers find a solution? Pete Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson reinstated by Major League Baseball, making Hall of Fame election possible Shaikin: Pete Rose is a sure thing for the Baseball Hall of Fame now, right? Not so fast Austin Barnes bunts in a run and homers in Game 3 of the 2020 World Series. Watch and listen here. Have a comment or something you'd like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at and follow me on Twitter at @latimeshouston. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
