{"id":22808,"date":"2025-10-14T01:30:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T08:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/it-took-some-luck-but-good-things-finally-happen-to-dodgers-blake-treinen\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T01:30:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T08:30:17","slug":"it-took-some-luck-but-good-things-finally-happen-to-dodgers-blake-treinen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/it-took-some-luck-but-good-things-finally-happen-to-dodgers-blake-treinen\/","title":{"rendered":"It took some luck, but good things finally happen to Dodgers’ Blake Treinen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to Blake Treinen’s Journey<\/h1>\n

MILWAUKEE\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Blake Treinen\u2019s first save of the postseason was hardly a memorable performance. He threw more balls than strikes. He walked the first batter he faced and nearly hit the second. And he got the final out on a pitch that was well out of the strike zone.<\/p>\n

The Road to Progress<\/h2>\n

But he did get the final out, preserving the Dodgers\u2019 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opening game of the National League Championship Series on Monday. And for Treinen and the bullpen he\u2019s supposed to be anchoring, that counts as major progress. \u201cWe\u2019ve been putting in a lot of work to try to get some things in a better place with myself,\u201d Treinen said. \u201cToday, I thought I executed almost every pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mechanical Tweaks for Success<\/h3>\n

The fixes, he said, were simple mechanical tweaks that helped set up his pitches. \u201cSometimes through catch-play and touching the mound a little bit, things start to click. And you\u2019re kind of shocked at how a subtle tweak can change everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Past Performance and Struggles<\/h2>\n

In the Dodgers\u2019 World Series run last season, Treinen was as vicious as an ill-tempered Doberman, going 2-0 with three saves, a 2.19 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 12 1\/3 innings. This year, not so much. In his first four playoff appearances more batters got a hit than struck out and five of the 12 men he faced reached base. That followed a disastrous September in which he went 1-5 with a 9.64 ERA. He wasn\u2019t so much putting out fires as he was starting them. The poor performances began to build on one another.<\/p>\n

Mental Challenges<\/h3>\n

\u201cAt times this year, when it hasn\u2019t gone well, things can speed up a little bit in your mind,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s the hard part, to carry the thoughts and focus on what you\u2019re good at.\u201d But manager Dave Roberts, who has had Treinen for the last five seasons, kept giving him chances to turn things around.<\/p>\n

Turning Point and Team Support<\/h2>\n

\u201cI think the best way to for me to kind of view it is whether you\u2019re a position player slumping or a pitcher maybe not getting the outs at the clip that you want, we all know what our abilities are,\u201d Treinen said. \u201cDave\u2019s seen me at my best and at my worst, and so when he calls my name, I\u2019m grateful that he has confidence in me. And I have confidence that he\u2019s putting me in situations for the team to win. So there\u2019s a lot of peace in that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Crucial Game<\/h3>\n

Treinen may have been at peace but he didn\u2019t have much wiggle room when he replaced Roki Sasaki on the mound Monday with two out in the ninth and the Dodgers clinging to a one-run lead. Sasaki, the team\u2019s surprise playoff closer, had been lights out in the postseason, with just one of the 17 hitters he faced reaching base. Against the Brewers, he gave up two walks, a ground-rule double and a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the span of two outs. When Treinen entered, Milwaukee had the tying run on first and the winning run on third \u2014 and the right-hander immediately made things worse by walking William Contreras on six pitches to load the bases.<\/p>\n

A Break and a Save<\/h4>\n

Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki delivers in the ninth inning against the Brewers in NLCS Game 1 on Monday. (Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times) For Treinen, whose only luck lately has been bad luck, the break was one he quickly cashed by getting Turang to chase the next pitch, which was head high, to end the game. That swing brought equal measures of joy and relief for Treinen, who has supplied little of either for the Dodgers this postseason. This time, he said it felt good to finally be able to contribute.<\/p>\n

Contribution and Pride<\/h2>\n

\u201cOur guys have been playing great baseball,\u201d he said. \u201cOur bats are doing a great job. Our starters have been amazing. So [I\u2019m] just doing my job to finish the game.\u201d He also did his job in picking up Sasaki, the hero of the NL Division Series win over the Phillies, who stood to be the goat if the Dodgers lost Monday. \u201cAny time as a professional, when you have the ability to pick up your teammates, there\u2019s a lot of pride in it,\u201d Treinen said. \u201cYou just want to do your part because it\u2019s a team game. I\u2019ve certainly had guys pick me up this year. To have the opportunity to pick someone else up, it feels good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

It took some luck, but good things finally happened to Dodgers’ Blake Treinen. After a tumultuous season and postseason start, Treinen managed to secure his first save, contributing to the Dodgers’ win. With the support of his team and manager, Treinen is on the path to regaining his form and confidence.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n