PHOENIX, Ariz. \u2014 An entire decade has passed since the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> celebrated an NL West title in the small 4-and-a-half-foot deep pool situated beyond Chase Field\u2019s<\/a> center-field wall.<\/p>\n Only two players that appeared in that game are still major leaguers. The rivalry that formed from the Dodgers\u2019 actions that night has elevated and long fizzled. Time has passed. People move on.<\/p>\n But not Willie Bloomquist. The ex-Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> utilityman and current Arizona State head coach seems just as angry in 2023 as he was after that Sept. 19, 2013 game.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s guys I haven\u2019t spoken to since,\u201d Bloomquist said recently. \u201cWhether or not you want to say the relationship ended \u2014 I\u2019m not extending the olive branch. They\u2019re the ones that pissed me off by doing it. I\u2019m not going to be the first one to call them. If we never talk again, I\u2019m not going to lose any sleep over it.\u201d<\/p>\n The D-Backs pool is one of the more unique features a major-league ballpark has to offer. The last time the World Series was played in this building, in 2001 against the New York Yankees<\/a>, then-Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly covered Game 1 from the pool. Since then, the pool has undergone two makeovers and inspired other organizations to personalize their parks in a similar way.<\/p>\n \u201cWas it gimmicky (at first)? Yeah, it probably was,\u201d said former infielder Jay Bell, who played for the Diamondbacks from 1998 to 2002 and later coached in the organization. \u201cBut nonetheless, it certainly set us apart, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Arizona has twice celebrated in its own water this season. Once when it clinched the playoffs on the season\u2019s penultimate day. And again when it eliminated those aforementioned Dodgers to reach the NLCS.<\/p>\n The D-Backs\u2019 success has brought the drama of a decade ago to the forefront as the 2023 World Series moves to Arizona, with the home team and the Texas Rangers<\/a> tied at one game apiece. But to understand the present, it\u2019s important to fully grasp the context and history of that unassuming but highly sought-after body of water.<\/p>\n Several of those 2013 Dodgers look back on that night fondly. Brandon League, who tossed 1 1\/3 scoreless innings that evening, said a Los Angeles public relations representative was told by a D-Backs official before the game that they couldn\u2019t celebrate if they won.<\/p>\n At that point in the season, it was inevitable that the Dodgers were going to win the division. They were more than 10 games up on the D-Backs. The question was if they could win that night \u2014 the final game of the series. The final chance to close out the division with a splash, so to speak.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were like, that\u2019s kind of weird to bring up,\u201d League said of the instructions to steer clear. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t on our mind. But now that it is on our mind, we\u2019re going to f\u2014ing do it.\u201d<\/p>\n After the 7-6 Dodgers win, Bloomquist was in the Diamondbacks clubhouse, talking to reporters. One asked him what he thought about the Dodgers celebrating in the Chase Field pool.<\/p>\n \u201cNah, they wouldn\u2019t do that,\u201d Bloomquist said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re in there right now,\u201d a reporter replied.<\/p>\n Dressed in his travel suit \u2014 the Diamondbacks next played at Colorado \u2014 Bloomquist left the clubhouse and stormed onto the field. He barked at a couple of Los Angeles players as they left the pool. He told them this wasn\u2019t something the Yankees would\u2019ve done.<\/p>\n \u201cI got crucified for going out there and wanting to fight their whole team for doing it,\u201d Bloomquist said. \u201cI thought it was wrong \u2014 I still think it was wrong. I got labeled the \u2018fun police\u2019 and all this stuff by all those guys who have their talk-radio (shows) and whatever. But, hey, I stand for something. And I still stand behind the fact that that\u2019s our pool.\u201d<\/p>\n Rumors surfaced that the Dodgers urinated in the pool. It was discussed on Phoenix radio for days. Bloomquist said it wasn\u2019t a rumor.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it\u2019s true,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd knowing who did it, knowing some of the guys on their team that told me, they did it.\u201d<\/p>\n Another Dodgers reliever, J.P. Howell, recalled his team getting sent an invoice from a very angry D-Backs team.<\/p>\n The entire episode created quite a stir. John McCain, United States Senator at the time, tweeted that it was a \u201cNo-class act by a bunch of overpaid, immature, arrogant, spoiled brats!\u201d It was a national story for days.<\/p>\n No-class act by a bunch of overpaid, immature, arrogant, spoiled brats! “The #Dodgers<\/a> are idiots” http:\/\/t.co\/KfZZliBFBV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) September 20, 2013<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cI could call it disrespectful and classless,\u201d D-Backs president Derrick Hall said at the time. \u201cBut they don\u2019t have a beautiful pool at their old park and must have really wanted to see what one was like.\u201d<\/p>\n There was already bad blood between the teams. This all happened just three months after a nasty brawl that resulted in 11 suspensions. There was no love lost between the two organizations, whose Triple-A affiliates brawled the following season.<\/p>\n Before the Dodgers clinched in Arizona to cap the 2017 season, manager Dave Roberts promised that history would not repeat itself.<\/p>\n \u201cThat won\u2019t happen,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cThis is a completely different team. I think we have bigger goals than to jump into a swimming pool. Our guys clearly understand what this is about. We have no interest in jumping into a pool.\u201d<\/p>\n Just to be sure, there were police officers stationed on horses guarding that part of the stadium. No risks would be taken.<\/p>\n That brings us to 2023. This pool, along with its potential occupants, is once again a topic of discussion. Before the start of the NLDS, Hall was asked if the Dodgers would be free to celebrate in their pool \u2014 should they clinch in Arizona.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have the right to celebrate however they want, wherever they want,\u201d Hall said, speaking genuinely. \u201cThey\u2019ve certainly earned that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n But this Dodgers team couldn\u2019t so much as capture a lead in the NLDS, let alone win the series. The topic once again was up for discussion in the NLCS, when the Phillies<\/a> won the first two games at home. If they won 2 of 3 in the desert, they\u2019d get a chance to celebrate.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we take two here against Arizona, we\u2019ll be bee-lining it for the water,\u201d said Phillies backup catcher Garrett Stubbs<\/a>, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Throughout this entire postseason, the Diamondbacks have thrived on taking exception to people doubting them. After they clinched the World Series berth, veteran third baseman Evan Longoria<\/a> cited betting lines leaning heavily in Philly\u2019s favor. Tommy Pham<\/a> stood on the stage after the Game 7 victory in Philadelphia filming sad and angry Phillies fans that had heckled them ruthlessly.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been the team\u2019s personality in October. \u201cUs against the world,\u201d all the way to the World Series. They\u2019ve leaned into keeping receipts. So it was no surprise that manager Torey Lovullo had some fun at Stubbs\u2019 expense when it was his team celebrating in the Phillies home ballpark.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I picked up on the comment that they wanted to celebrate in our pool, that bothered me a little bit,\u201d Lovullo said after Game 7. \u201cI think it motivated this team externally. Being able to take a photo (in Philadelphia), it made it a little bit more special.\u201d<\/p>\n The World Series now moves to Arizona. Each team has won a game.<\/p>\n Both teams will start Monday\u2019s Game 3 knowing they\u2019ll have a chance to win a championship in this ballpark. Both teams can end their season in that pool.<\/p>\n Three wins in three days, with a dip in the water as the ultimate reward.<\/p>\n\n
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