But in the second week of September when the Dodgers were a few victories away from clinching the division, something strange happened: they started losing. The Giants took 3 of 4 in Los Angeles including a 19-3 drubbing. Then they went to Arizona and dropped the first of a three game set. Los Angeles needed 2 wins to clinch.
Before the second game of the series, Mattingly addressed the team. He told them they were playing to clinch
instead of playing to win. All they needed to do, Mattingly said, was put the division title out of their heads and just play for the day. Those in the room said it was an effective speech.
When he was finished,
Zack Greinke stood up. "I've got something to say," Greinke told the room. This was unusual because Greinke wasn't prone to public speaking, but also because he was pitching that day, and most pitchers don't even like to make eye contact with other humans in the hours leading up their starts.
"I've been noticing something," Greinke said. His teammates leaned in. Greinke was generally thought to be the smartest, most observant guy on the roster.
The room became silent.. This was gonna be good.
"Some of you guys have been doing number two and not washing your hands," said Greinke.
"It's not good. I even noticed it happening earlier today."
More silence.
"So if you guys could just be better about it that would be great," he said, and then he sat back down.
His teammates looked around the room at each other, stunned. They were expecting an insight into why they were losing, some brilliant observation that would help them bounce off the schneid. But Greinke wanted to talk bathroom hygiene. At first the players were not sure if he was kidding. But as the meeting broke up and they began heading out to the field and they realized he was serious, they laughed long and hard enough to shake off their tightness.