Drink up, Dodger fans. This one’s for you.

I’m not going to lie and say that as a Giants fan, another year of you not winning it all doesn’t make me giddy with laughter and joy. But, unlike your two previously failed October campaigns, this one hurt even me.

In 2017 you gave the stacked Astros offense all it could handle, taking them to a Game 7. Every game that series felt like it could’ve gone either way. And even though Houston popped the champagne bottles instead of you, you guys were a lock to come back next season to give it another go. Nothing to hang your heads for there.

In 2018 the Red Sox stomped everyone and everything in their path, turning the Yankees, the Astros, and eventually you, into mincemeat. They were the best team in baseball that year by far, so an upset was tough to imagine. Not anything a fan wants to hear, but again, nothing to hold too heavy a heart over, and any sane person would’ve chosen you to go right back to the World Series again this year.

But last night, the narrative shifted. This wasn’t like the last two years. This stung a little bit extra, for a couple reasons.

The 106-56 Dodgers, taken down by the Washington Nationals, who scored the decisive run of the Wild Card game on an error in the 8th. The Nationals that were down 2-1 in the series, and trailing 3-1 in the 8th of Game 5. The deciding blow was a grand slam in extras off Howie Kendrick, an ‘ole salty veteran who used to play for the Dodgers. It wasn’t even THE Series, it was the division series.

And Clayton Kershaw was at the center of the heartbreak once again.

A true Shakespearean tragedy, full of irony and fallen heroes.

Now, we cannot take anything away from the scrappy Nats, who should have the momentum to give the Cards a handful. They have the starting pitching to match St. Louis, but their shaky bullpen has to clean it up if they want to beat the aura of “The Cardinal Way” in tight games. They have top-tier speed at the top with Turner and Eaton, with plenty of pop (and clutch pop, at that) with Rendon, Soto, and Zimmerman down the line, amongst others. The NLCS will definitely be must watch.

But back to the boys in blue. If you’re one of those Dodger fans running over your Kershaw jersey in the streets, or throwing it onto the field for retweets, spare me the dramatics. If you think he’s the sole goat in this situation, maybe go back and check the tape; this was a team effort on all fronts.

The team didn’t hit with RISP for jack, most notably Corey Seager’s 0-8 in those situations. A.J. Pollock struck out 11 times, going 0-13 overall. Dave Roberts went with Joe Kelly and Clayton Kershaw in relief of the biggest game of the year instead of, literally, anyone else; the entity of Playoff Kershaw is pretty well documented at this point, and Joe Kelly stunk all year. He also left the experience of Russell Martin for 4 of the 5 games out of the starting lineup, electing for rookie catcher Will Smith, who finished the series with a menacing .077 average. Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor, and other three aforementioned duds combined for 1 RBI in the series. One.

And above all, sometimes you gotta just tip your cap to the other team. The Nats played good ball when they needed to, showing up in big situations.

It’s in our nature as fans to really let players have it when they fuck up. Even I took to Twitter with something outrageous in the moment against Kershaw (I tend to get carried away, you should see me when the Lakers lose games they shouldn’t). But let’s scale back putting all the blame on Clayton, huh?

But this was a rough one, guys. No other way to slice it.

The funny thing is, I got the Dodgers going to the World Series again next year. Just like every year it seems like. They’re going to steamroll through the regular season again without a peep from my Giants or any other division rival. They won’t see an NL series in October where they’re not favored, and in my eyes, they’ll be right back there again.

But, no matter who makes it out of the American League to oppose them, I have to pencil them in as the winners. It’s just happened too many times now.

It’s just that simple. At least, until I’m proven wrong. Which the baseball fan in me, not the Giant fan, hopes for. I’ve got plenty of friends who bleed Dodger blue that could use a break. And until another NL juggernaut reveals itself, the Dodgers should be in line to make it happen.

Where the Dodgers go from here in terms of the offseason, who knows. Bullpen help is commonplace amongst every team except Tampa Bay these days. And God knows their lineup doesn’t need anymore thump, but they’ll probably swing to get some anyways and become even better than they are now.

So drink the sorrows away now L.A., gear up for the Lakers (or the Clippers, if you’re one of those weirdos), and maybe don’t polish off the whole bottle now.

‘Cuz we’re doin’ it all again next year. Enjoy the winter.