This was the top priority theme for October last year, and the intangible factor that led to the victory.
Last year’s run repeatedly cited clubhouse culture and the camaraderie of the entire roster as the key behind their postseason success. They knew it sounded cliché. But they found it to be transformative.
So during this week, when the title defense begins with a two-game series with the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Dodgers were similarly intended to form Tight Bond again.
“We played the best baseball at the end of the year. It felt like it was when we were really close and everyone was pulling from the same fabric,” said the veteran utility man. “Everyone was on the same mission, and we’ve been that way since the first day of the year and talked a bit about trying to roll the same intimacy we’ve had since last season.”
In Tokyo, that message has been reinforced over and over again.
On Saturday afternoon, Shortstop led a player-only meeting at the underground bullpen at Tokyo Dome.
“I was just talking to the boys,” Betts said.
On Sunday night, it organized a team gathering and planned a private sushi and yakitori dinner for the group with the help of fellow Japanese stars.
“In the words of baseball players, we call it a show dinner,” the manager said. “And they said it was like the best show dinner ever.”
During the meal, the Dodgers were treated to a traditional “tuna cutting show,” where three sushi chefs wore a few feet of knife and sliced nearly 500 pounds of fish into chunks. They were encouraged by their Japanese teammates to sample more exotic local dishes, including sea urchins ( Uniand hairy crab (not approved by a single base hand).
But most importantly, they have acquired the most personal experiences in Japanese culture. This is a great delight for the host of the night superstars.
“I was talking to Sho for a moment, and even he was very excited,” Reeler said. “I know that means a lot.”
“It was their nationalism and sense of pride and I think they just wanted to move their best feet forward to welcome their teammates into Japanese cuisine and show their hospitality,” added Roberts. “I think there’s power to those who have shared experiences with them. I think that’s pretty cool.”
Of course, the business end of this trip is still coming. On Tuesday, Yamamoto will face the Cubs’ left-handed looting Imanaga in the first Japanese opening day pitching matchup in MLB history.
“It’s an incredible opportunity as Japanese pitchers head to the field to get on stage like this in Tokyo,” Yamamoto said.
On Wednesday, Sasaki will make his highly anticipated major league debut.
“That’s something I’ve been looking forward to since I was in school,” Sasaki said. “So it must have been a very surprising surprise to my high school self to be able to make my debut at Tokyo Dome.”
And for a week, Otanis will be paying attention. Otani plans to play his first major league game in his home country.
“We have five players in these games,” Itani said, “it’s a big deal,” including Imanaga and yet another Japanese Cubs star, outfielder Suzuki.
But up until then, the Dodgers wanted to capture other benefits from the field as a way to establish new connections to the clubhouse, recreating the culture that brought them to the championship last fall.
“I think team building, player building, family buildings, and more, everything continues to start and galvanize as the season progresses,” Roberts said of the Dodgers’ opening trip to Korea this year ago. “There’s a lot in it, not just the postseason. …But I think this kind of experience is definitely zinc-plated.”
