Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — As the Dodgers gear up for Game One of the World Series, Max Muncy spoke about the team’s preparation and the importance of staying focused. Reflecting on the challenge ahead, Muncy highlighted the qualities of their opponent, noting the vertical movement and deceptive nature of some of the Yankee pitchers’ throws. “It doesn’t really help you out in terms of hitting,” he said of the Dodgers’ in-house pitch simulators. “But it does give you an advantage in terms of seeing the ball. There’s only so much I can do to actually simulate what the ball feels like coming in.”
A significant topic of discussion was the flexibility within the team, especially regarding star players like Mookie Betts. Muncy appreciated Betts’ willingness to adapt, particularly after he returned from an injury. “One of the things you always worry about when you have a guy that has a name and just the accomplishments… like someone like Mookie does, is he wants to be the leadoff hitter,” Muncy explained. He praised Betts for his team-first attitude, which has been instrumental in keeping harmony in the clubhouse. “There’s never going to be any question from any of us about Mookie,” he added. “He’s proven time and time again… he would do whatever it takes to help the team win.”
As for their current approach, the Dodgers are utilizing the days off wisely, focusing on recovery and strategy. Muncy mentioned, “These couple of days that we’re going to have off are going to be huge… get a lot of guys’ bruises healed up.” He noted the team’s need to use the time effectively to get players healthy and prepare properly. “We’ve got to just go about it the exact same way that we would any other series.”
When asked about the potential advantage of past World Series experience, Muncy acknowledged that it’s difficult to quantify. “It’s hard to really like quantify how much experience plays into it at this time of year,” he said. However, he pointed out one factor that could come into play: travel experience. “We’ve been having to go coast to coast already, something that they haven’t done. They’ve stayed pretty local in their playoff series,” Muncy noted, mentioning the challenges of different time zones and weather.
Muncy also discussed the importance of controlling the strike zone, something both the Dodgers and their World Series opponents excel in. “At the end of the day, that’s the whole point of hitting… you want to swing at strikes and you want to take balls,” he said. He elaborated on the complexity of this approach, stating that while some of it can be learned, much of it comes down to stubbornly sticking to a disciplined approach.
Lastly, Muncy expressed enthusiasm for the return of Freddie Freeman to the lineup, acknowledging Freeman’s consistent performance over his career. “You’re talking about one of the most consistent hitters over the last 10, 12 years… you can’t really quantify how valuable that is, and we know how valuable he is to us,” Muncy said. As the Dodgers aim for another championship, Freeman’s return adds depth and a veteran presence to the lineup.
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