It’s not just that the Dodgers became the first reigning champion to start 8-0, and did it with the unreal Shohei Ohtani hitting a walkoff home run — on his Bobblehead Night, no less. But it’s how they did it, and what they overcame.
They did it with Clayton Kershaw, perhaps the generation’s best pitcher, sidelined, and with Ohtani, maybe the most talented player ever, doing just half his job.
They did it for a few games with superstar Mookie Betts fighting a virus that caused him to lose 25 pounds. And with superstar Freddie Freeman tweaking his surgically repaired ankle in the shower.
They did it with very limited use of the Torpedo Bat (only Max Muncy tried it). And they did it with the toughest travel following their Japan series (tied with the Cubs).
