Dave Stewart has seen October from both dugouts. He pitched in the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 and for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. He’s won rings, taken losses, and learned that hype means little once the first pitch is thrown.
These days, the former Oakland A’s ace doesn’t buy into the “super team” talk surrounding the Dodgers. His formula for winning in October is brutally simple: the team that stays sharp, rides one hot pitcher and one hot bat, and makes the fewest mistakes usually walks away with the trophy. Everything else, he says, is just noise.
“I don’t buy into the super team,” Stewart told MLB Now on Wednesday. “It only takes one or two guys, a pitcher that gets hot and hitters that get hot. That’s the team that’s going to win this thing.”
The Real Threat Might Be Rust, Not the Opponent
Stewart’s biggest concern isn’t who the Dodgers are facing. It’s the calendar. After sweeping the NLCS, Los Angeles will enter the World Series with nearly a week off before Game 1. Rest might sound like a reward, but to Stewart, it’s a red flag.
“The Dodgers have been off for a long time,” he said. “Position players hate long periods of time away from live at-bats. I think that may play a factor.“
History seems to back him up. According to Sports Illustrated, teams that sweep their League Championship Series and wait several days for the World Series have often struggled early in the Fall Classic. Baseball analyst Neil Paine found similar evidence, noting that extended rest can dull hitters’ timing and disrupt a pitching staff’s rhythm.
Momentum Beats Muscle Every October
Stewart has lived through both sides of October heartbreak. His late-1980s Oakland A’s teams were heavy favorites but fell victim to opponents who caught fire at the right moment. “In ’88 and ’90, we were the favorites,” he recalled. “But the other guys were just hotter.“
That experience shaped his perspective. “Pitching and defense win,” Stewart said. “The team that makes the fewest mistakes and executes the best on the mound usually walks away with it.“
As the Dodgers prepare for their next World Series appearance, Stewart’s words serve as a quiet reminder. Momentum can’t be bought or scripted, and sometimes too much rest is exactly what makes a powerhouse stumble.
Read the full article here
