It’s over.
The Joe Kelly Postseason is over.
I mean, it’s not actually over. Joe Kelly could still win the World Series. He could still get his third ring in four years. There’s a decent-enough chance that happens. Depending what goes down over these next 34 hours, he could be a World Series favorite in our near future. But will he be on the mound? No. Joe Kelly will not be on the mound.
It was an electric atmosphere last night. The people were ready. Joe Kelly, making an NLCS start. What a universe we have here. Then, Ozzie Albies sawed off a two-strike pitch, cricket-batting it over into the hole in the shift. Then, Freddie Freeman connected on one, and I mean connected on one. Then, with a 1-2 count on Adam Duvall, our hero really yanked one into the left-handed batter’s box. A few moments later, Mark Prior came out of the dugout, Dave Roberts soon on his heels, our elation turned to dejection and then concern. There went our hero. We watched him as he went.
It’s a biceps strain. You can only be so yoked before the universe cashes its checks. But man…what a way to go.
Thankfully, the Dodgers won the game. The bullpen came through; led, of course, by Joe Kelly. The offense came through as well; led, as well, by Joe Kelly. We exhorted them to #WinItForJoe. The guys delivered. Now, much like apostles approaching Pentecost, the Dodgers who remain are left holding one another tight, unsure what will become of them with their leader gone. Can they do it? Yes. Will they? We’ll see. It’s up to them.
What does this mean for us, the Joe Kelly faithful? Well, we too are now waiting. We don’t know if the Dodgers will pick up his option. We don’t know how this injury and the other injuries will affect our guy heading into the offseason. There is much we do not know. But this is not new for the faithful. We’ve been here before. Joe Kelly fidelity is not easy. We did not become Joe Kelly fans because it was easy.
We became Joe Kelly fans because he throws hard.
