After the Yankees lost the World Series to the Dodgers, Los Angeles became a reliever Joe Kelly adds insult(s) to the injury.
“It was a mismatch from the start,” Kelly said of his Baseball isn’t boring podcast. “If we changed the playoff rankings, they might be the eighth or ninth best playoff team. You put the Padres ahead of them, you put the Phillies ahead, you put the Mets ahead. They just got unlucky because they had to play that doubleheader. The Guardians played like crap, but the Guardians played better defense and better baseball all around.”
From Kelly from the team referenced:
The Mets lost to the Dodgers in six games in the NLCS
The Guardians lost to the Yankees in five games in the ALCS
The Padres lost to the Dodgers in five games in the NLDS
The Phillies lost to the Mets in four games in the NLDS
The Braves lost to the Padres in two games in the Wild Card Series
Kelly added about the Dodgers’ five-game World Series victory:
“It was a complete mismatch. All we knew was we had to play regular Dodger baseball. … We didn’t have to do anything crazy and we were going to win the World Series.
“Look at the team, look at the talent. We go through countless scouting reports. We pay attention to every detail. We have a lot of big superstars in our clubhouse, but our superstars also care and are not lazy and play hard. That’s the difference and the greatest distinction.”
Immediately after the World Series ended, as the Dodgers celebrated on the Yankee Stadium field, Kelly criticized New York’s poor defense.
“They have a bad ball. Yes, sloppy. Everyone knows that,” he said. “We said every game, ‘Let them throw the ball in the infield, they can’t play.’ You saw Shohei get an extra base when he reached third base after a sloppy play by Gleyber. We all knew that.’
The Yankees’ poor defense helped them in their Game 1 loss in Los Angeles, and caused things to unravel in Game 5.
With New York ahead, 5-0, a dropped fly went by Aaron Judge in center field and a throwing error Anthony Volpe at the short stop the door was opened. Although this will not be charged as an error, Gerrit Kool failing to cover first base on a ground ball to the first baseman Anthony Rizzo extended the inning and opened the floodgates.
Kelly, who had a 4.78 ERA in 35 appearances during the regular season, did not pitch in the playoffs for the Dodgers due to a shoulder injury.
