The Los Angeles Dodgers’ postseason struggles in recent years are well-documented as despite winning the National League West every year since 2013, they have yet to accomplish their main goal of capturing a World Series title.
A big reason for that is some of their star offensive players have not shown up in October, with the main culprit being Corey Seager, a former National League Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner.
His postseason resumé has not reflected those accolades though as in 31 playoff games going into 2020, Seager had hit just .203/.275/.331 with three home runs and 10 RBI.
He had arguably the best regular season of his career in 2020 and has carried that production into the postseason to this point. In Game 3 of the NL Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, Seager had arguably the best playoff game of his career, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a walk, driving in three runs.
He was a triple shy of the cycle in just the third inning as the Dodgers had a historic offensive performance in a 15-3 rout of the Braves.
“You’ve been around it, now you know what to expect. You know the game changes, you’re pitched to different, taking a walk is as good as a hit, moving runners,” Seager said of learning from his previous October struggles.
“Doing anything you can to help your team win, and results will come. At the end of the day you’re not worried about your own results. You’re worried about making the last out and winning games.”
It seems that not trying to do too much is helping Seager. In 11 postseason games this year, he is batting .333/.396/.857 with four doubles, six home runs and 15 RBI. He addressed if he feels he was trying to do too much in previous years.
“I don’t know if it’s necessarily that, but definitely being too aggressive and swinging at pitches you shouldn’t,” Seager explained.
“Getting into bad counts, not realizing how important moving the chain is, not realizing how important the walk is. You just kind of learn those things over the years and try to do them as best you can.”
Seager having success on first pitch
While Seager mentioned taking more walks and being patient as a reason for his success, he also has done a lot of damage on the first pitch of at-bats this postseason, including an RBI double and home run in Game 3.
“There’s a lot of reports, a lot of different things like that. It’s not necessarily not being aggressive early, but it’s winning the pitches you should win. Trying not to swing at the borderline pitches, trying to win early in the count to set up later in the count, or get it back in your favor,” Seager noted.
“It’s little things like that. It’s not necessarily going up there and just taking, or trying to take until you get two strikes. It’s about winning those pitches you need to win.”
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