Column: There’s no way the Dodgers should even consider bringing Yu Darvish back after his World Series meltdown
Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish recoils as Astros center fielder George Springer hits a two-run homer in the second inning in Game 7 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on Nov. 1, 2017.
The Dodgers could soon be making a huge mistake on a certain powder keg of a pitcher, so forgive the hurriedly shot-off pun.
No Thank Yu!
Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi are out of their brilliant minds if they think there’s any way Yu Darvish should be allowed to again wear a Dodgers uniform.
Nobody is saying this is probable, but it is certainly possible in the wake of reports that the Dodgers are among six teams in the running to acquire baseball’s most attractive unsigned free-agent pitcher.
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His price of at least $100 million over five years wouldn’t seem to mesh with the Dodgers’ current fiscal tightening, but they could dump salaries of players such as Logan Forsythe or Yasmani Grandal to help it work. Friedman and Zaidi have already proven that if they want someone, they are smart enough to make it happen, so never count them out of any acquisition.
The question isn’t whether they could do it. The question is why would they do it?
Why would they want to do this to Dodgers fans? Why would they want to do this to Darvish?
No reminder is necessary to anyone living within 1,000 miles of Chavez Ravine, but we’ll put it out there anyway.
Many people believe Darvish cost the Dodgers last season’s World Series championship. If there’s one shoulder carrying the blame, it’s his. If there was an October villain, it’s him.
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Darvish wasn’t just the losing pitcher of Game 7 of the World Series, he was basically the entire loss. He turned the celebration of a lifetime into the embodiment of a nightmare in just 47 pitches, allowing the Houston Astros to score five runs before the end of the second inning. Dodger Stadium was filled and loud for the biggest baseball game in this city’s history, yet he quickly stole the moment, hastily ended the party, and turned the night silent at the start of a 5-1 defeat.
“What I did today affected everyone on the Dodgers,’’ he said tearfully afterward, and he was speaking of an entire mournful city.
Darvish coughed it up not only in Game 7, but also in Game 3 when he also didn’t get out of the second inning by allowing four earned runs in a 5-3 loss. For the World Series he was 0-2 with a 21.60 earned-run average while throwing tipped pitches, wayward pitches and just plain fat pitches.
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It was arguably the worst big-moment performance ever by a Dodgers pitcher — yes, worse than even Clayton Kershaw’s worst postseasons — while being one of the worst efforts by a World Series starter in major league history.
When Dodgers fans think of how a 29-year drought will now reach three decades, they’ll think of him until that drought has ended. If he’s not exactly Bill Buckner in Boston, he’s pretty close. The only blessing was that after Game 7 he took off the uniform with the assumption he would never wear it again.
And now the Dodgers would give it back to him?
There is, as always, logic in the front-office thinking. Darvish is still a good pitcher. He fit well into last year’s division-winning rotation after being acquired at the July 31 trade deadline.
He was 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA in nine Dodgers starts. He finished the year with a 0.47 ERA with 21 strikeouts and one walk in his final three regular-season starts. He was unbeaten in two starts in the first two rounds of the postseason, with a 1.59 ERA.
As the days progressed, he kept getting better and more comfortable and, on the eve of the World Series, it could have been argued that he was one of the Dodgers’ safest bets.
But something happened to him on that big stage. He suddenly appeared uneasy at the thought of pitching under those bright lights. There was a marked unsteadiness in his words and body language. He seemed to lose his nerve.
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Some observers were not surprised by his Game 3 meltdown. By the time it happened again in Game 7, the only question was whether manager Dave Roberts should have pulled him sooner.
The answer in this space has always been no. Darvish had just retired two consecutive hitters on grounders and the Dodgers had to believe that the once-unhittable pitcher could regain his footing and get out of the inning. Of course, he didn’t. George Springer homered and Darvish had seemingly thrown his final pitch for a fan base that booed him into winter.
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The Houston Astros celebrate winning the World Series.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel, second from left, third baseman Alex Bregman, left fielder Marwin Gonzalez and second baseman Jose Altuve celebrate after beating the Dodgers 5-1.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Houston Astros players run to celebrate with teammates after beating the Dodgers.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Houton Astros celebrate with the Commissioner’s Trophy.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Astro players spray champagne in the clubhouse.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The Astros’ Josh Reddick gets sprayed with champagne after his team defeated the Dodgers.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The Astros’ Josh Reddick gets sprayed with champagne during the postgame celebration.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The Houston Astros celebrate winning the World Series.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The Houston Astros celebrate beating the Dodgers, 5-1, in Game 7 to win their first World Series.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The Dodgers watch the Astros celebrate their World Series title.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Houston Astros celebrate beating the Dodgers to win the World Series.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times )
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Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa holds up the flag of Puerto Rico after his team won the World Series.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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The Astros swarm pitcher Charlie Morton after he held the Dodgers to one run over the last four innings to preserve the win.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Yasiel Puig heads to the outfield in the ninth inning.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers watch their World Series dreams disappear with a 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros in the ninth inning.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Clayton Kershaw leaves the mound after the top of the third inning.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The Houston Astros celebrate beating the Dodgers to win the World Series.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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World Series MVP Houston Astros center fielder George Springer, left is hugged by teammates after winning the World Series.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa holds the flag of Puerto Rico during the postgame celebration.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann jumps on pitcher Charlie Morton after Morton held the Dodgers to one run over the last four innings.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Augusto Romero, of Granada Hills, left, embraces his girlfriend Lizet Perez, of Sylmar, after Dodgers lost.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Members of the Dodgers watch the Houston Astros celebrate winning the World Series.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Astros outfielders George Springer, right, and Cameron Maybin run in to celebrate with teammates after beating the Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Houston Astros celebrate winning the World Series.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Yasiel Puig shows his frustration after fouling off a pitch in the fifth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cody Bellinger looks down while standing on first base after a force-out in the fifth inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Tyler Howard, center, of Los Angeles, along with other fans watch Game 7 at the Short Stop in Los Angeles.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Manager Dave Roberts talks with Clayton Kershaw after the sixth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Corey Seager splits his bat while grounding out to end the sixth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Dodgers’ Justin Turner gets hit by a pitch in the third inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Kenley Jansen and Austin Barnes talk during a break in the seventh inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fans react at the Down N Out bar in downtown during Game 7.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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A frustrated Dodgers fan watches the game in the fifth inning.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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A lone Dodger fan watches the Houston Astros celebrate their 5-1 victory.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig slams his bat into the ground after popping up with two runners on base in the third inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Clayton Kershaw walks off the field after striking out Yuli Gurriel to end the top of the third inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Angeles Maurino, center, reacts with Dodgers fans at the Down N Out bar in downtown Los Angeles during Game 7.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Mescal Miranda, left, of Los Angeles, along with other fans watch Game 7 at the Short Stop in Los Angeles.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Bartender Nate Joyner wears face paint as he watches the game with Dodgers fans at the Down N Out bar in downtown Los Angeles.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig, right, and center fielder Joc Pederson react after pitcher Yu Darvish was taken out of the game.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish looks down after giving up a double to the Astros’ Marwin Gonzalez in the second inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Orlando Villa, of Los Angeles, reacts as the Houston Astros go up 5-0 in the second inning.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, center, and the infield wait for a relief pitcher after starter Yu Darvish was taken out of the game.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish stares into the outfield as George Springer reaches home plate after hitting a 2-run homer to give the Astros a 5-0 lead in the second inning.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Astros right fielder George Springer, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run homer against the Dodgers in the second inning.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The Astros’ George Springer, second from left, celebrates his two-run home run with Carlos Correa in the second inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The Astros’ George Springer runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish in the second inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The Astros’ George Springer reaches home in front of Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The Dodgers’ Corey Seager strikes out in the first inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Enrique Hernandez encourages Yu Darvish in the dugout before the first pitch in Game 7 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda arrives to watch Game 7.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fans Greg Uy watches the Dodgers in the first inning with bases loaded at the Down N Out bar in downtown Los Angeles.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Dodgers fans show concern as the Astros score twice in the first inning of Game 7.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fans boo the Astros’ Yuli Gurriel in the first inning of Game 7.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fan Tim Kell, right, of Rancho Cucamonga, cheers for his second World Series championship game at Dodger Stadium. “This is the ultimate,” Kell said, who attended the 1988 World Series.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Sarah Keh dances to mariachi music in the right field pavilion before game 7 of the World Series.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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A pair of sportscasters stand beside the Commissioner’s Trophy before the start of Game 7.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Young Dodgers stars Corey Seager, left, and Joc Pederson take batting practice before the start of Game 7.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans try to get a closer look at players from the corner of left field before the start of Game 7.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Astros fans watch their team warm up before the start of Game 7.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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A Dodgers fan is literally blue in the face before the start of Game 7.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
It’s difficult to imagine those fans ever forgetting that moment. It would be a miracle if Darvish ever forgets that moment. It’s impossible to see how a return to that setting would work for anyone.
Just ask Tom Niedenfuer. He was an effective Dodgers reliever, the nicest of men, a true pro who began his Dodgers career in 1981 with four sturdy seasons that included a World Series ring and five scoreless postseason appearances.
But then, in October of 1985, the big righty nicknamed “Buff’’ kept the Dodgers out of the World Series by allowing a walk-off homer to St. Louis’ Ozzie Smith one day, and then a game-winning homer to Jack Clark two days later to give the Cardinals the National League pennant.
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Niedenfuer was never the same Dodgers pitcher, lasting only one more season before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in May of 1987. Upon his infrequent returns to Dodger Stadium since then, Niedenfuer would talk about how he was still reminded of his failings by everyone from parking lot attendants to older fans. He took it all with good humor, but it showed how Dodgers fans never forget.
They will never forget Darvish, either, so why put him through this?
Their rotation will be fine. Their season will be fine. They will be the favorite to return to the World Series even without Darvish, and they certainly don’t want him once they get there.
“From that experience, I want to go back on that stage, and I want to pitch better,’’ Darvish told Sports Illustrated this winter when talking about Game 7. “That’s the only occasion in which I can redeem myself. I want to be part of a team where I can get that chance.”
Strong words. Admirable goal. That team can be the Chicago Cubs or New York Yankees or Houston Astros or any one of 29 major league franchises.
Bill Plaschke, an L.A. Times sports columnist since 1996, is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame and California Sports Hall of Fame. He has been named national Sports Columnist of the Year nine times by the Associated Press, and twice by the Society of Professional Journalists and National Headliner Awards. He is the author of six books, including a collection of his columns entitled “Plaschke: Good Sports, Spoilsports, Foul Balls and Oddballs.” Plaschke is also a panelist on the popular ESPN daily talk show, “Around the Horn.” He is in the national Big Brothers/Big Sisters Alumni Hall of Fame and has been named Man of the Year by the Los Angeles Big Brothers/Big Sisters as well as receiving a Pursuit of Justice Award from the California Women’s Law Center. Plaschke has appeared in a movie (“Ali”), a dramatic HBO series (“Luck”) and, in a crowning cultural moment he still does not quite understand, his name can be found in a rap song “Females Welcome” by Asher Roth.
