A-Rod, Jeter, and Big Papi React to the Dodgers Getting Swept

“They won 100 games, and they just run into a buzzsaw. They run into the best team that’s been the best team for the last seven months,” Alex Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz reacted on FOX’s postgame set at Dodger Stadium after the Brewers completed their four-game NLCS sweep Thursday. Milwaukee won Game 4, 6–4, ending Los Angeles’ attempt to win a third consecutive World Series.

Rodriguez credited the Brewers’ anticipation of another meeting with the Dodgers, who had swept Milwaukee in last year’s NLCS.

“You can see it in the body language, in their eyes. They were hungry from the start.”

For Jeter, part of the reaction concerned Dave Roberts’ appearance before reporters after the elimination.

“For the people at home, you don’t know how difficult it is to do those press conferences after you just lost. It is very, very difficult to do because there is a lot of work that goes into a full season from the middle of February to now we’re getting to the end of October, and you have one goal in mind,” Jeter said.

He praised Roberts’ conduct in victory and defeat, then returned to Milwaukee’s performance.

“Sometimes you tip your cap to the other team,” Jeter said. “We can sit here and try to dissect what happened with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They didn’t hit. They didn’t pitch. But they ran into a team that was hot.”

Ortiz recalled Pat Murphy’s assessment of the expectations Roberts faces in Los Angeles.

“If he doesn’t win the World Series, they had a bad year,” Ortiz said. “This game is a tough game to play.”

Ortiz also praised Roberts’ managerial career and the way he handled the loss. Rodriguez closed his assessment with the difference between the two teams in the series.

“It was the clutch hitting, resiliency of the Brewers and the lack of big hits for the Dodgers. That’s why they’re going.”