As fans of the game know, baseball is a game of failures. Players will fail more times than they succeed – look at the statistics for batting averages. And yet people will spend their lives either playing or watching the National Pastime.
The Dodgers have a unique dynamic this year with their own successes and failures. While the team has its share of veteran players, the chemistry changed with many core roster pieces leaving in the off season due to free agency. This gave rise to a handful of rookie players from the minor leagues getting their shot at The Show this season.
The team has learned to blend with a host of new faces. Still, from the outside it appeared to have some challenges with cohesion. The Boys in Blue have been battling through Spring and Summer with starting pitching and bullpen issues, a host of injuries that could fill an All-Star lineup, and the rookies finding their stride on the field.
Often we fans forget how spoiled we are. Despite some ups and downs this season, the Dodgers have been firing on all cylinders returning from the All-Star break. They continue to hold down first place in the NL West.
During the first matchup of the series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, the Dodgers not only came back to win the game 11-5, but they also unveiled a new celebration that had social media aflutter.
For those watching Friday night, All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman tied the game in the top of the third inning with a stand-up double. He then proceeded to “dance” by waving his arms back and forth above his head. The Dodgers dugout responded in kind. And that’s when Twitter initially lost its mind.
As the game proceeded and the Dodgers started playing more small ball to move the next guy over and rack up runs, with each outstanding play a new player would do his own version of “the dance.” From third baseman Max Muncy awkwardly wiggling his arms while smiling at the dugout, to All-Star catcher Will Smith and rookie infielder Yonny Hernandez.
The icing on the cake was All-Star infielder/outfielder Mookie Betts doing his version of “the dance” after his RBI double in the top of the ninth inning scored the final two runs that put the nail in the coffin for the Rangers.
Although enjoying the celebration, the fanbase was curious to know what sparked the new move and during a post-game interview with SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson, Freddie Freeman did not disappoint with his explanation.
“Well, I think everyone might have seen my dance moves at the (Dodgers Blue Diamond) Gala. That kind of went around on the internet,” shared the always-humble Freeman. “My hands are up, so the boys have been wanting to do this for awhile and took an off day and us all at (Max) Muncy’s last night having a good time for his daughter’s birthday party, that we decided to implement it into the game. Of course, I was the first one to have to do it. But we’re having fun with it. So, it was my dance from the Gala. That’s what we’re doing on extra base hits now.”
Freeman was quick to exclaim that it was not his idea as he shared a laugh with Watson.
“I didn’t do this! Obviously, Mookie and all the boys wanted to do it. So here we are, dancing at second base.”
Sometimes we get so caught up in the game, we forget to enjoy it. Thanks to the Boys in Blue and their new celebration Friday evening, fans have yet another reason to smile when their team is on the field.
Let’s go Dodgers!