Plaschke: Dodgers hero Kirk Gibson now tries to be a hero for those battling Parkinson’s disease
Former Dodger great Kirk Gibson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and inspired to create the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness in Farmington Hills, Mich.
(Nic Antaya / For the Times)
“You’re in this now! You’ve got a lot of work to do!”
The gravelly voice was unmistakably Kirk Gibson. The object of his growl was a journalist who spent two years battling him on the Dodgers beat.
Only this time, Gibby wasn’t yelling at me. This time, he was cheering for me.
Starting lineups for Dodgers and Reds in Game 1
Here are the starting lineups for the Dodgers and Reds in Game 1 of their National League wild-card playoff series on Tuesday:
Nine concerns the Dodgers should have about facing the Reds in the NL wild-card series
(Photos by Associated Press and Getty Images. Photo illustration by Tim Hubbard / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he would be scoreboard watching on Sunday afternoon.
But he insisted he didn’t care how things played out.
His team, of course, had already been locked in as the National League’s No. 3 seed, set to host a best-of-three wild card series at Dodger Stadium starting Tuesday.
What wasn’t clear until the end of play on Sunday, however, was whether the Dodgers would be facing the Cincinnati Reds or New York Mets to open the postseason.
‘That’s why I came here.’ Dodgers bet on Blake Snell’s potential as a postseason ace
Blake Snell has posted a 2.41 ERA over his nine second-half starts for the Dodgers while cutting down on walks and wasted pitches, allowing him to get deeper into games.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Blake Snell did not sound bitter. Somehow, he was not racked with regret.
Rather, when asked at his introductory Dodgers news conference this past offseason about the most infamous moment of his career, he took a brief moment to think. Then, unexpectedly, he expressed gratitude instead.
Five years ago, Snell was pitching the game of his life in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series. With his Tampa Bay Rays facing elimination against the Dodgers, he had answered the bell with five one-hit, nine-strikeout, virtually flawless Fall Classic innings.
Will Smith makes the roster, Michael Conforto does not, for Dodgers’ wild-card series
Dodgers catcher Will Smith sprints to first base after hitting a double off Colorado Rockies pitcher German Marquez on Sept. 9.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Despite missing the last three weeks of the season with a fracture in his right hand, catcher Will Smith was included on the Dodgers’ roster for their best-of-three wild card series against the Cincinnati Reds this week, the team announced ahead of Game 1 on Tuesday.
It was not immediately clear if Smith would be able to start Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. Ben Rortvedt was also on the roster, and is expected to start behind the plate if Smith can’t go.