Or so Andy Pages said.
“I don’t even think of what happened last year,” Pages said in Spanish.
asserted
Pages → say → Spanish
“What happened, happened.”
asserted
happened → happen → ?
The way Pages viewed it, his miserable offensive performance on the Dodgers’ World Series run last year wasn’t something for which he had to make up.
asserted
he → view → which
The experience, Pages said, made him the player he is now.
asserted
he → say → ?
The player he is now drove in the runs that sank the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night and sent the Dodgers on their way to a 4-1 victory in Game 4 of their National League Division Series.
asserted
that → drive → Series
“Tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “Andy picked us up huge with a big hit.”
asserted
Andy → say → hit
The best-of-five series over, Pages walked around the visiting clubhouse at Truist Field in a commemorative gray shirt that was soaked with cheap sparkling wine and beer.
asserted
that → walk → wine
A pair of goggles covered his forehead.
asserted
pair → cover → forehead
“Special,” he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
The journey here started a year ago, when Pages batted just .078 in the postseason.
asserted
Pages → start → postseason
But Pages said he considers that World Series to be a wonderful memory, and not just because he made a game-saving catch in Game 7 as a defensive replacement.
asserted
he → say → replacement
“Because we won,” he said.
asserted
he → win → ?
And rather than sulk over not starting the last three games of the World Series, Pages decided to use his failures to guide his training.
asserted
Pages → sulk → training
To be the kind of player who could be trusted in big games, Pages figured, he had to become a more selective hitter.
uncertain
he → trust → games
Improving his eye by stepping in against an artificial pitching machine called a Trajekt Arc, Pages made his first All-Star team this year.
asserted
Pages → improve → team
A broken hand in late August nearly derailed his season, but Pages did what he could to remain sharp.
uncertain
he → break → season
Before he was able to swing a bat again, Pages was stepping in against the Trajekt Arc again.
asserted
Pages → swing → Arc
Pages returned for the final week of the regular season and batted .333, which is why what happened next was shocking.
asserted
happened → return → .333
In the first two games of the NLDS, Pages was a combined 0-for-7.
asserted
Pages → combine → NLDS
What was worse than the numbers was how he looked.
asserted
he → look → numbers
He looked lost.
asserted
He → look → ?
He looked desperate.
asserted
He → look → ?
Pages’ ABS challenge privileges were revoked after a particularly unwise effort to turn a called strike into a ball.
asserted
privileges → revoke → ball
At this point, manager Dave Roberts acknowledged he was concerned.
asserted
he → acknowledge → point
However, Roberts said, “This is one of those things where I’m gonna continue to give Andy leash.
asserted
I → say → leash
I believe in him.
asserted
I → believe → him
I feel that for us to win the World Series this year, we’re gonna need him to be an active part of our team.”
asserted
him → feel → team
Pages rewarded Roberts with a two-hit performance in the Dodgers’ Game 3 win.
asserted
Pages → reward → win
In Game 4, Pages stepped into the batter’s box with the game on the line.
asserted
game → step → line
Bases loaded.
asserted
Bases → load → ?
Game tied, 1-1.
asserted
Game → tie → ?
Pages worked a full count.
asserted
Pages → work → count
Suarez threw him a 99.7-mph fastball on the inner half of the plate and Pages banged it up the middle.
asserted
Pages → throw → middle
Two runs scored, and the Dodgers were suddenly ahead, 3-1.
asserted
Dodgers → score → ?
“I was waiting for that moment,” Pages said.
asserted
Pages → wait → moment
“I prepared a long time for that moment, and thanks to God I was able to get the result.”
asserted
I → prepare → result
He prepared for the moment.
asserted
He → prepare → moment
He dreamed of the moment.
asserted
He → dream → moment
But he didn’t try to visualize it.
asserted
he → try → it
“I think that when you think too much about something, it doesn’t happen,” he said.
asserted
he → think → something
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
