World News – US – Corey Seager Says His Playoff Performance Is Incomplete Without A Dodgers Title

He gathered some game-changing hits and hits He set personal bests and all-time records He’s finally healthy and hot at the same time And yet alone a ring will make these playoffs complete

« The whole point is to win, » said Seager on Friday night, author of his most iconic performance to date with two home runs in the Dodgers’ fifth playoff victory over the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series

« We haven’t done it yet So no matter what you do, if you don’t win at the end of the year, it’s not the same »

Seager, however, also didn’t look alike During the playoffs he struggled with injuries and inconsistency This year his only real challenge was to live up to the expectations set by his recovery. 15 home runs and his regular season of 41 points leading the team

His only success in the wildcard series was a big hit: a seventh inning homerun in Game 1 that put the Dodgers out of reach of the Milwaukee Brewers

In the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, he hit better than 300 in a playoff series (four on 11) for the first time in his career, highlighted by a performance in Game 2 in which he scored recorded three hits including two doubles and two RBIs in the Dodgers’ one-run win

In the NLCS he pushed the bar even higher He recorded one brace, one homerun and at least three RBIs in Games 2 and 3 After scoring 0 for four in Game 4 – beating his best streak of five career playoff games – his two long balls on Friday made him the first shortstop in Major League Baseball history with four homers in a single playoff series and the Dodgers’ first player with 10 RBIs in a knockout round

According to ESPN, he’s also just the fifth player in MLB history with at least four home runs and 10 RBIs in a postseason series

« It was amazing, » said first hitter Mookie Betts of Seager being right behind him in the batting order « I didn’t know much before I came I just knew he was a good shortstop he could swing it a bit Seeing him day in and day out is definitely a blessing I really have a job and that’s right to be on the base and stay there pretty much until it hits me, which doesn’t take too long « 

« He’s been healthy, he’s been healthy, he’s had a great year, the experience he’s had in the playoffs – it’s all lining up right now, » Roberts said.  » For me, there is no better player « 

Indeed, Seager’s 2020 post-season stats – 342 batting average, 409 base percentage, 842 slugging percentage, five homers, 14 RBIs – are a stark contrast to his October outing. previous:

In 2015, he was a 21-year-old rookie with just 27 games of MLB experience.In 2017, he injured his back in Game 3 of the NLDS and did not return until the World Series He missed all of the 2018 playoffs after undergoing surgery on Tommy John And he never found a groove in 2019 after spending most of the offseason rehabilitating himself after hip surgery

In the playoffs, he crushed fastballs, hitting 381 with five more hits against the field, and worked a team best 18 8% walk rate against brittle balls and off-speed throws His 1251 on slugging basis is the best among NHL hitters who have played more than three games

And if the Dodgers can reverse that NLCS – and keep Seager’s dream of a World Series title alive – there’s no doubt who would be the team’s most valuable player in the series.

“It’s win or come home,” he said, brushing aside questions about playoff pressure almost as quickly as those about his personal stats. “It’s simple There is no extra pressure

« We know what’s at stake and it’s all games in all series It’s just winning that day It’s not impatient It’s about tomorrow and winning »

Los Angeles Dodgers, Corey Seager, National League Championship Series, Dodger blue, Atlanta Braves