The Dodgers knew Sasaki was unlikely to feature as a starting pitcher in October, given their healthy and dominant rotation. But they saw an opportunity to use him as a reliever in the playoffs. Only, however, if he were also open to it. "We were just honest with him, that as things stood, the only real pathway - short of multiple injuries - was in the bullpen," Friedman said. "But we wanted his full buy-in."
We've talked about the hitters, and not saying hitting and pitching is the same, but I do think the ideology is similar in the sense of, as you're working through things mechanically, you're looking at the stat line. But once you get to the postseason and in that mind, then nothing else matters except competing and doing your job. I do think Blake is a little caught up in the mechanic part of it.
