George Springer brushes off questions about hostile Dodger Stadium
Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt connects for a double against the Cincinnati Reds during Game 2 of the National League Wildcard Series at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 1.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Neither Alex Call nor Ben Rortvedt had appeared in a playoff game until this season. And though neither Dodger reserve got off the bench in the first two games of the World Series, theyβre a lot closer to the action then they expected to be before the July trades that brought them to Los Angeles.
βItβs really cool. Iβm just soaking it all in,β said Call, who came over from the Washington Nationals at the deadline.
βItβs been a whirlwind,β added Rortvedt, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, then spent most of the summer in triple A before being called up when Will Smith got hurt in early September. βIβve been taking it more day by day, so it hasnβt kind of struck me as much as people think it would. Definitely when this is done Iβm really going to reflect and kind of realize how crazy it has been to kind of be on this team and be where we are now.β
Call, 31, who also played with the Cleveland Guardians in a five-year big-league career, appeared in one game in each of the Dodgersβ first three playoff series, going three for four with two walks, getting hit by a pitch and scoring a run.
βItβs kind of crazy because it feels like it should have been harder,β Call said of reaching the World Series. βWith the Nats, itβs like we were going to have to grind our way all the way to the top. And then you get to come over the Dodgers and youβre the favorites, World Series champs. Youβve got probably the best roster ever assembled, with amazing stars up and down the lineup, and then theyβre like, βOh yeah, we want Alex Call on our team.β
βThatβs kind of an amazing compliment.β
Rortvedt, 28, who also played with the Yankees and Minnesota Twins in four seasons, started the first four games of the postseason and hit .429.
βIf I pinch myself, itβs kind of like Iβm not sure [Iβm here,]β he said. βI just try to be as prepared as I can, understand the magnitude of things, and just try to be prepared and try to slow everything down and do my best.β