2 weeks Ago By David Suggs
Smells like team spirit. The Dodgers have relied on more than impressive pitching and timely hitting to gain entry into the 2024 World Series. Los Angeles also relied on team chemistry to surge its way up MLB's ladder.
A 162-game regular season gauntlet — coupled with up to 20 games worth of postseason action — is no easy terrain. Baseball teams are almost required to cultivate a language and culture indigenous to their dugouts. If not, it's quite easy to lose your head.
Each team has its own flavor. The Mets had the "OMG!" sign, a nod to Jose Iglesias' chart-topping tune. The Pirates handed home run hitters a sword when they returned from their mission.
As for the Dodgers, they opt for an intricate piece of choreography. Look closely after Los Angeles' hitters get on base. More often than not, they'll perform a little jig as they do so.
Why the waltz? Are they merely disciples of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Isadora Duncan and Alvin Ailey? Or does it have some deeper-seeded meaning behind it? The Sporting News fills you in on the origins of the Dodgers' various fox trots. SN's MLB HQ: Live MLB scores | Updated MLB standings | Full MLB schedule Why do the Dodgers dance after hits? To dance is to relieve one of their inhibitions. To that end, it's unsurprising why so many Los Angeles players would let loose on the dance floor that is the diamond.
The two-step performed by Dodgers hitters emerged as a form of team bonding, sandwiching itself between team dinners and airplane poker games in the Pantheon of ways to build camaraderie with one's fellow teammate. Los Angeles' choreography has existed since the 2023 season. Freddie Freeman went viral for his dance during Usher's performance at the Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala in June 2023, and his teammates took notice of his moves .
As games have gone by, the motions have gotten that much more refined. Dodgers utility man Miguel Rojas broke down the method behind L.A.
's dancing madness in a TikTok posted to the team account in August. Singles Strolling into first base after lacing a single into the outfield prompts the simplest of the Dodgers' moves, a hip lock inspired by Los Angeles' strength coaches. MORE: Shohei Ohtani's playoff run results in a new Japanese tradition Doubles and Triples Freddie dance, make me do my Freddie dance.
Freeman is not just one of the best left-handed hitters of the 21st century, but he's also an impressive dancer, gaining a reputation for letting his arms flop in the air like a tube man residing in front of car dealership. The Dodgers caught onto the move and acted accordingly. Freeman's move has become formative to Los Angeles' hitting routine.
Freddie Freeman triple for the first hit of the World Series just as we all predicted. pic.twitter.
com/95e8LN0ttm Freddie Freeman hits the 500th double of his career! pic.twitter.com/unN6FjUu4X Kiké Hernández has added his own wrinkle to Freeman's move, invoking Olympic breakdancing — and more specifically Australia star Raygun — to do so.
Kiké stays hot in October 🔥 The @Dodgers second triple of the night! Watch the #WorldSeries 📷 in 4K on FOX & the FOX Sports App: https://t.co/ATi1Zc0LHu pic.twitter.
com/4FvyqdLOl7 Home Runs Freeman also serves for the inspiration for Los Angeles' home run trot. When circling the bases and heading toward the third-base line, Dodgers stars greet their teammates with a two-handed wave that invokes images of Freeman's celebrations for doubles and triples. you've likely seen Shohei Ohtani pull if off repeatedly over the course of 2024.
Shohei knows how to get things started 😮 pic.twitter.com/zMv8DrGRF5.
