The Athletic provides live coverage of Rangers vs Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the World Series. The game takes place in PHOENIX, Ariz. It has been ten years since the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated an NL West title by jumping into the pool at Chase Field. Only two players from that game are still playing in the major leagues. The rivalry that developed from that incident has diminished over time. However, Willie Bloomquist, a former Diamondbacks player and current Arizona State head coach, still holds a grudge. He refuses to extend an olive branch to the Dodgers players who angered him by celebrating in the pool. Despite the initial gimmicky nature of the pool, it has become a unique feature of the ballpark and has inspired other teams to create personalized features in their parks. The D-Backs have celebrated their success this season by splashing in the pool twice. The drama from the 2013 incident has resurfaced as the 2023 World Series moves to Arizona, with the home team and the Texas Rangers tied at one game apiece. To fully understand the present situation, it is important to know the context and history of the pool. Several of the 2013 Dodgers players remember the night fondly, and they were even told by a D-Backs official that they couldn’t celebrate if they won. The Dodgers were on track to win the division that season, and with it being the last game of the series, they wanted to close it out with a splash. After the Dodgers’ victory, Bloomquist learned that they were celebrating in the pool and confronted some of the players. He felt it was disrespectful, and rumors even surfaced that the Dodgers urinated in the pool. The incident caused quite a stir in the media and even caught the attention of politicians. The bad blood between the two teams had already been established through previous altercations, including a brawl and a fight between their Triple-A affiliates. In subsequent seasons, the Dodgers vowed not to repeat the pool celebration if they clinched in Arizona. The topic has resurfaced in 2023, but this time it’s the Diamondbacks who have the opportunity to celebrate in their own pool. The team has thrived on taking exception to doubters throughout the postseason and has embraced an “us against the world” mentality. The manager, Torey Lovullo, was motivated when he heard the Phillies backup catcher saying they wanted to celebrate in their pool. Now the World Series moves to Arizona, and both teams have an opportunity to win the championship in the ballpark and celebrate in the pool.
