The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their first division title in a few years after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, but the host team was none too pleased with the playoff bound club, as they celebrated their postseason spot in the outdoor pool.
The Diamondbacks are one team that has been chasing the Dodgers in the west division and the wild card all season and they were miffed at what Los Angeles did after the game. According to ESPN.com, the Dodgers took to the pool in the Chase Field outfield area to celebrate after clinching the division title, jumping around and celebrating with each other after the close 7-6 victory in Thursday to make it into the postseason.
The Diamondbacks were mad at the celebration because according to ESPN, the team asked the Dodgers not to come back out onto the field after first celebrating the victory. After the game a number of players slapped hands around second base, then soon after players started going into the outfield and climbed over the walls to get into the Chase Field pool that rests in right field.
Obviously the party continued in the clubhouse later and the Dodgers management apologized, saying that they "misunderstood the request" and thought the team meant not to do it in front of fans. The report says that the stadium was mostly empty by the time the team celebrated. The Diamondbacks said that they were surprised by the celebration and some players criticized the Dodgers veterans for letting it happen.
The Dodgers started off this season terribly and at one point manager Don Mattingly was thought to be on the chopping block. But after calling up Cuban rookie Yasiel Puig, everything changed and the pitching got better with Clayton Kershaw having another amazing season and the team went on a historic stretch, barely losing over the summer.
The Dodgers are having a great season under new ownership and after making two huge trades last year and clearly it's paying off. The team has won 88 games and should get to at least 90 and they are ranked fifth in batting average and sixth in on base percentage. The team has been playing some fantastic ball and should be a favorite for the World Series from the National League.
