Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully has no doubt in his mind the Los Angeles Dodgers will be crowned 2020 World Series champions, and thinks they could've gotten the job done already.
"I don't mean to put anybody down, but when the series started, I thought the Dodgers would win in five (games)," the 92-year-old Scully told Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports on Monday. "Not that I know anything, but my thought is, 'What's taking them so long?'
"That's probably a dumb thing to say, but I guess it's not so much the failings of the Dodgers, but it's a tribute to the Rays," Scully added. "They don't look very formidable on television, I tell you that. They don't look like a team that scores a lot of runs. You look at them, and they'll leave the bases loaded, or nobody out and runners on first and third and trying to steal home. They just don't have enough firepower."
During the regular season, the Dodgers scored 60 more runs than the Rays and outhomered them by 38. Additionally, L.A.'s team wRC+ was 122 compared to Tampa's 109 and they accumulated 3.2 more WAR than their World Series opponents.
The Dodgers' staff posted a lower ERA (3.02) and FIP (3.79) than the Rays, while also allowing less homers and walks per nine.
"I would be totally and completely shocked if they (the Dodgers) lost," Scully added.
However, the Rays have held their own, winning two of the five World Series contests so far after also beating the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros in the postseason.
If Tampa manages to take Game 6 on Tuesday, they'd be one win away from winning the organization's first World Series. The Dodgers haven't won the Fall Classic since 1988.
Scully hopes that isn't the case.
"I hope everyone does celebrate this," Scully said of a potential Dodgers win. "It's been 32 years, and people have been frustrated. Maybe it makes it that much sweeter having to wait so long."
