Charlie Morton was the only Tampa Bay Ray who had World Series experience before Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday evening.
The veteran right-hander was part of the Houston Astros’ rotation when they faced the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series, so it wasn’t farfetched to believe his current teammates would go to the 36-year-old right-hander for some kind of hint as to what baseball’s biggest stage was about.
Prior to Game 2 on Wednesday night at Global Life Field, Morton was asked if his teammates had approached him about the subject.
“No, and I don’t think they should,’’ said Morton, who will start Game 3 on Friday evening after each team gets a well-deserved day of rest on Thursday. “I think the recognition that the game is still the game. The environment is going to impact you mentally, if you let it, positively or negatively. I think that is the biggest thing.’’
Morton had a seat in the Rays’ dugout for Game 2 when his mates attempted to even the best-of-seven series, 1-1, after being outclassed by Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw and Cody Bellinger in Game 1, which ended in a dominating 8-3 Dodgers victory.
It is a Dodgers club Morton suggested his mates look to instead of him about how a World Series game should be played.
“The guys in the other clubhouse, the fact that they have been here several times in the past four years, that their core group has remained intact. The leaders on the team have been there for a few years. They look comfortable out there. They look like a team that has been here before and that makes them dangerous,’’ said Morton who will make his second World Series start in Game 3. “That’s where we are trying to get to. The young guys, especially, on this team should be trying to get to. Not only being here this year but trying to stay relevant in the game as an organization. Go back to the playoffs every year with a chance to win it.’’
As for being asked for advice, Morton mentioned how different the 2020 season has been, due to the COVID-19 pandemic leading to games in empty stadiums until Game 1, when 11,388 — mostly Dodger fans — were allowed into the ballpark.
“I don’t think talking to me about it [will help], especially because the playoffs have been weird this year. [With] no fans, it is different. I think they have an advantage because they have been playing here, a tight series with the Braves and staying in the same hotel the whole time,’’ Morton said. “Those are things, to me, that matter, not talking to some guy who has been to one World Series.’’
Morton’s Rays will either be tied or in a 0-2 hole entering Game 3, when the Dodgers will start right-hander Walker Buehler. If the Rays played Game 2 like they did Game 1, Morton will have the responsibility of keeping them away from a 0-3 ditch and in position to be swept out of the franchise’s second World Series appearance.
As for the Dodgers, who are participating in their third World Series in four years, they don’t need to ask teammate about the experience. Kershaw, Betts and Bellinger have World Series experience, and the roster is dotted with other Dodgers who aren’t World Series newbies.
Morton, who made two appearances (one start) in the 2017 World Series and went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA, is right to point his mates toward the Dodgers because, if they played Game 2 like they did Game 1, there was a lot for the Rays to learn.