Dodgers Interview: Playing the World Series in Canada is Especially Meaningful to Freeman
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers were prepping for Toronto on Tuesday with one goal and a short week to get there. The World Series starts Friday night, and the conversation around this club is as loud as ever. Freddie Freeman met with reporters via Zoom and kept the focus simple. He acknowledged the noise, the history, and the wait. Mostly, he talked about winning.
“‘It kind of started in spring training,’” Freeman said. “‘Doc talked about how special it would be to do something that hasn’t been done in 25 years. As the season went on you stop thinking about it, then you get into October and advance, and now you have the opportunity. Just to be in that position is pretty amazing.’”
Asked about the D-word, he didn’t duck it. “‘If you can get three in five or six years, I guess you could call it a modern day dynasty,’” he said. “‘For me it’s also the sustained winning the Dodgers have done for so long, then cementing it with championships.’” He smiled at the idea that repetition dulls the moment. “‘Getting to the World Series is what we all dreamed about as kids. It’s not routine. I’m excited. We’ll get our work in, fly, and be ready for Friday. I wish the days would go faster so we can get there sooner.’”
The Blue Jays angle came next, and Freddie was clear that August doesn’t mean much now. “‘There’s not much you can take away from a couple months ago,’” he said. “‘Facing the American League, their high-leverage arms, it’s different. The intensity is different. We’ve faced [Kevin] Gausman and [Max] Scherzer. We haven’t seen [Shane] Bieber in a couple years. They have a young rookie we’ve never faced. You’d love more looks, but you don’t have that luxury. It’s the World Series. It’s exciting.’”
For Freeman, this trip carries a personal weight. “‘My dad’s flying out tomorrow,’” he said. “‘Both my parents were born and raised in Canada, my mom from the Toronto area. Every time I go there I feel a little closer to her. I always get an envelope in my locker with photos from some third cousin who found them in a garage. I love going back. It’s special for my family and me.’”
The rotation has been the backbone, and Freddie leaned into that. “‘What’s great about this organization is winning different ways,’” he said. “‘Last year we had Walker, Jack, and Yoshi rolling. This year we pretty much have four number ones healthy. A month ago we were piecing it together, waiting on Blake, building Shohei’s innings. Now everyone’s clicking. You’re not going to score a ton at this time of year because you only see great pitching. When our guys keep throwing zeros or give up one, it helps the offense. We’re counting on our starting pitching again.’”
The layoff question came with a shrug. “‘I don’t think it’s difficult,’” he said. “‘We’ve faced live pitching the last two days. We’ve got an intrasquad game. The intensity is different than playing in Game 6 or 7 like Toronto did, but we’re getting our work in. We had a layoff last year and won the World Series. We crushed that narrative.’”
On postseason run creation, he kept it practical. “‘It’s difficult,’” he said. “‘You’re facing ones and twos the whole time. To string three or four hits together in one inning is hard. That’s why you work the walk, go first to third, do the little things, and get the timely homer. Our pitching has been the story. Offensively in the NLCS we manufactured, tacked on here and there. That’s the name of the game right now.’”
Scouting Toronto’s arms, Freddie ticked through the list. “‘We’re going to face a guy no one’s faced before,’” he said. “‘Trey has a tough release point and stuff. Bieber looked really good since coming back. There’s Gausman and Scherzer. Their leverage guys are good. They can match up differently. They have righties they trust against our lefties. It’s a really good team that’s put together well. Should be a really good series.’”
Experience matters, and he explained why some players look built for October. “‘My first postseason game my knees were shaking,’” he said. “‘Over the years you realize it’s the same game. Once you get over the nervous energy everything slows down. That’s just experience. Some guys do well right away. Kiké’s been so good. I wish we had a magic formula to give to everyone, but that’s just Kiké.’”
Canada’s joy Sunday night wasn’t lost on him either. “‘When a whole country is behind one team it’s amazing,’” he said. “‘They’ve invested in that team and that stadium. Seeing the city come together, Springer’s home run, Vlad’s emotion, that’s stuff they won’t forget. It’s going to be a really good World Series. I’m looking forward to it.’”
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