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jesse rogers
LOS ANGELES–It was a swing that could have turned the World Series.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Got a hanging sweeper from an all-world pitcher/hitter shohei ohtani In the third inning of Game 4 of the World Series – and moments after it was blasted into the night sky los angeles dodgers Took a 1-0 lead.
It was a turning point for the Blue Jays, as they lost an 18-inning heartbreaker, putting Toronto behind in the series for the first time – and Guerrero’s homer gave the Jays a lead in Game 4, which they would never relinquish.
It was the latest in an October full of big moments produced by the face of their franchise, and the fact that it came against the Dodgers’ two-way phenom adds to an evolving story: Ohtani isn’t the only superstar in this World Series.
Manager John Schneider said after the win, “That swing was huge, tying the series at two games apiece.” “The sweeper is a pitch that is designed to generate popup… and the swing that Vlad put on it was typical. After last night [Game 3] And all the recognition that Shohei has received individually and where he is at the top today, it’s a huge turnaround from Wlad. This is a huge change to move us forward. I think it gives [us] Some speed.”
Guerrero has been pacing the Blue Jays all month, hitting .419 with seven home runs this postseason. But don’t just label him a free-roaming lazy person. While that description may fit his famous father, young Guerrero is much more than that – and his teammates have taken notice during their trip to the postseason.
‘Grab some popcorn and watch him do his thing’
max shazer The future Hall of Famer is pitching in the World Series for a fourth different franchise, and even the 41-year-old right-hander is impressed by what he sees from Guerrero on a nightly basis.
“He’s closed and full right now,” Scherzer said. “He’s such a force. To me, his greatness goes beyond his offense. It’s also his defense and baserunning. He’s a great player in every way.”
But nothing has compared to the show Guerrero has put on with a bat in his hand this season. Even his hitting coach David Popkins often finds himself watching his star like a fan.
“It’s a lot of fun being at the show, getting some popcorn and watching him do his thing,” Popkins said with a laugh. “He’s ahead of us making every adjustment before we even get to it. I learn from him every day.”
“And when those things click, it takes off like Donkey Kong.”
It’s a common theme for those playing with him this October.
close to Jeff Hoffman He said he stays “on the edge of his seat” every night waiting for Guerrero to do something special. Sometimes it comes with a big home run to left field and other times it shoots the ball the other way for a single, as he did in Game 4 as well. Guerrero is the embodiment of spraying all areas.
“It’s a quality at-bat every time,” the third baseman ernie clement Said. “It doesn’t have to be a homer. He’s out there battling and seeing pitches and going really hard at opposing pitchers.
“This postseason overall is the most amazing baseball I’ve ever seen. And that’s saying something because he hit like .400 in the second half last year. This is the best version of him.”
‘Helping your team win some games’
Hot on the heels of signing a massive $500 million contract that will keep him with the Blue Jays through the 2039 season, many of Guerrero’s teammates point to the added pressure on their superstar’s shoulders to perform this month — but he continues to live up to expectations.
He has hit .529 in the Division Series, .385 in the ALCS and .368 in the World Series so far. Guerrero was asked what impressed him most about his game after his Game 4 home run against Ohtani.
“I’m helping my team win some games,” he responded through the team interpreter. “That’s what I’m obsessed with right now.”
A month after his latest heroics, the impact of his play echoed throughout the locker room.
“He’s never still,” Popkins said. “He’s really based on who he is as a hitter and his core beliefs are based on how he was raised. He’s special in that sense.”
‘I’ll probably pitch around that’
Another regular viewer of “The Guerrero Show”, Jez Reliever Eric LauerWas asked how he would pitch to Guerrero. He paused and shook his head as he thought about it before answering.
“I’ll probably pitch around to him,” Lauer said, laughing. “His bat path is so smooth and long, I think he can achieve anything.
“Whenever he comes up, we’re just like ‘Hang a slider or curveball. Hang something. Or throw a fastball up the middle and see how far it goes.'”
“The nice thing about Waldie is he’s not a home-run-or-bust hitter,” Hoffman said.
Even Guerrero may take some time to appreciate his home run against the game’s best player. It came on a night when Ohtani grabbed all the headlines by reaching base a record nine times in Game 3. The Dodgers star was denied a night of glory for the second consecutive time thanks to the second-best player on the field. On Tuesday, it was Guerrero who stole the show, giving his underdog Jays a chance to upset the defending champions.
“It was very important for me to hit the home run and we took off from that point,” Guerrero said. “And I basically know myself and him [Ohtani]We’re talking series, but when we’re between those two lines, we’re competing.
“It felt good to be able to hit that homer against him.”
