Chicago’s Zobrist aims to make amends
CHICAGO — Less than an hour after the 2017 Cubs season concluded, Ben Zobrist was eager for what awaits him this winter.
“I've never been more excited for an offseason,” Zobrist said Thursday night after the Dodgers eliminated the Cubs in five games in the National League Championship Series. “Not to get to it quickly, but I'm motivated to start ASAP.
“Physically, there were some things that happened that were not the best thing for me, but you've got to keep pushing forward. I got myself into some bad habits, with the wrist issue particularly. I had a low back [ailment], things like that are preventable."
Zobrist tried to play through a sore left wrist injury for more than two weeks before the team finally placed him on the disabled list, but the switchhitter's production from the left side suffered.
He also coped with occasional back stiffness.
“I will make adjustments [to injuries] that are preventable," Zobrist said. “The wrist thing wasn't preventable, so I had to eventually shut it down. I had to find a way to try to be at my best even though I wasn't."
Zobrist batted only .214 in the first half and “rebounded” with a .249 mark in the second half that was still far from his normal production.
He finished at .232 — down from .272 in 2016, his first season with the Cubs. He is now a career .263 hitter.
“This offseason I'm more motivated than ever to get going, to fix some flaws that were created this year with some unfortunate injuries, and I look forward to that," he said.
Zobrist, 36, has two years left on his contract and knows this is an important stage in his career.
“You're motivated to be dependable," said Zobrist, last season’s World Series MVP.
“That's the biggest thing. My team needs to depend on me better than they were able to this year, physically and statistically. I know I'm capable of much, much more and it was a very difficult start to the season for me. Mentally and emotionally from last year, it was really tough to get it going.
“Whether that contributed or not, who knows? You're just trying to push through and get to the point where you're back to yourself. I felt I started behind, but I feel like the first day of spring training I will be ready."
As for Los Angeles, after third baseman Justin Turner and closer Kenley Jansen propelled the Dodgers to their most recent home playoff victory a few days ago, they took off their uniforms and pulled on Tshirts supporting a teammate. Jansen's shirt urged fans to send Turner to the All-Star Game, albeit three months late. The redbearded Turner's shirt simply bore Yasiel Puig's No. 66 in big blue numerals.
This type of thing happens almost every day around the Dodgers, who will host their franchise's first World Series game in 29 years on Tuesday night.
“The thing is, I think we all care about each other," Jansen said. “It's not about that one guy. We are all here helping each other out and getting better every day. Ever since spring training, we've been doing that."
Jansen's belief has been proven throughout a season that's already one of the most remarkable in Dodgers history. Despite their jaw-dropping payroll, an LA-record 104 regular-season wins and a 7-1 rampage through the NL playoffs, these Dodgers are a team in a fundamental sense.
Although the majors' most expensive roster is extraordinarily deep, the Dodgers lack a peerless star beyond Clayton Kershaw, who doesn't play every day. They share the offensive load to a remarkable degree, and they play defense with an aggressiveness that underlines their deep trust in each other. Nobody carries the Dodgers. They lift each other.