![On Oct. 30, 24 Eco Club members took a tour of the school’s solar panels on the roof. They were guided and taught by an employee from E Light Electric, the company that maintains the school’s solar panels, and learned about how the panels are maintained and cared for. “I was definitely very excited about being on the roof in general,” Eco Club member Olivia Fang ‘26 said. “[It was exciting to] learn more about solar panels and how they work and how they supply energy to our school.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/RCH_2632-1200x800.jpg)
![Math teacher Austin Bennett observes seventh period students step to the board to solve Equation of Circle problems May 2. Bennett has been teaching for a total of four years, with only two of those years spent as a Jag. He hopes after his time as a high school teacher to become a professor. "[College math] is more challenging, and it's good to challenge yourself," Bennett said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0147-1200x900.jpg)
![Varsity girls soccer midfielder Leah Sheahan ‘24 hugs a friend during the Senior Night celebrations before the home game against Mountain Vista High School (MVHS) at Echo Park Stadium April 29. During Senior Night, seniors were given flowers and the opportunity to walk out and take pictures with their family as their future plans and favorite memories were announced over the speakers. The Jags tied 0-0, losing the Continental League Championship. “We were obviously the stronger team but just couldn’t find a way to score, but otherwise our connection and our intensity was really high so I’m proud of that. We just have to find the net,” defense midfielder Clara Geuzaine ‘24 said. “[Losing League] wasn’t the best. It’s better than last year and like, I know our team and we are doing really good. I don’t want to jinx it but like hopefully [we’ll do] good [in playoffs].”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Copy-of-DSC_4277-1-1200x868.jpg)
![In room 4101, Natalie Patterson ‘26, Ariana Magor ‘25 and Celina Salazar ‘25 create a poster in science teacher Kerry Reilly’s Chemistry Honors April 18. The three completed a worksheet and drawing to explain the implosion of a tank for their unit on gas laws. “At the start of class, we watched a video of the tank imploding,” Patterson said. “I think [making a drawing] is something new. I like more artsy activities.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_5019-1200x900.jpeg)
5 Things You Didn’t Know About the 2020 World Series
As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays square off in the World Series this week, here is a look at some mind-boggling facts and stats that have gone under the radar.
October 23, 2020
The 2020 MLB World Series has begun this week, featuring the Tampa Bay Rays from the American League and the Los Angeles Dodgers from the National League. The two clubs finished with the highest records in their respective leagues, earning both number one seeds, but the intricacies of this matchup stretch far beyond wins and losses. Here are some uninspected storylines that are absolutely fascinating.
1. The two highest-paid Dodgers make double the money as the entire Rays roster
The cumulative payroll for the Rays 28-man roster in 2020 amounted to $28.3 million, while Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw alone will have made about $58 million by the end of the season (Baseball Almanac).
The Dodgers 28-man roster had the second highest payroll in the entire MLB for 2020, trailing only the New York Yankees, while the Rays had the 28th highest payroll. Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier is the highest paid Ray, making $10.17 million this season, which is still just roughly one third of the money made by the Dodgers highest paid player, Kershaw ($31 million).
The 2020 World Series will feature the highest payroll disparity between the two competing teams in league history.
2. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has a very spotty World Series track record
The 32 year old superstar is looking to rewrite his World Series narrative in 2020, because as it stands, he is statistically one of the worst pitchers in World Series history.
Kershaw is already a Dodgers legend, and surefire hall of famer, as he has collected 8 all star appearances, 3 Cy Young awards, and an MVP award in the span of his twelve year career. However, as he heads into his third career championship series, he has some of the worst numbers of any qualifying pitchers.
He enters with the fifth highest World Series ERA of all starting pitchers with a minimum of 20 innings pitched. He has a 1-2 record with an uncharacteristically high 5.40 ERA (Baseball Almanac). He will look to put all of these struggles behind him and lead the Dodgers to title in 2020.
3. Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena is one home run shy of another MLB postseason record
Tampa Bay’s rookie outfielder spent the majority of the regular season sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19 just prior to the team’s opener in July. However, after joining the club in the back half of the regular season, Arozarena did enough to make the postseason roster.
This decision by head coach Kevin Cash has proved to be one of the biggest driving forces in the Rays World Series run. Arozarena is having one of the best single postseasons in MLB history and undoubtedly making a run at the best postseason ever by a rookie.
He leads all qualifying batters in base hits, runs, extra-base hits, and total bases. Arozarena has already tied Derek Jeter’s record for most hits ever by a rookie in an MLB postseason with 22, and is one home run shy of the all time record for home runs in a single postseason with 7 currently (ESPN). The rookie is putting the entire league on high alert, asserting himself as superstar for future seasons.
4. The Rays have an MVP candidate who you’ve never heard of
A brutal postseason thus far for Rays’ Second baseman Brandon Lowe should not be enough for fans to ignore the stellar regular season that he pieced together in 2020.
The 24 year old posted new career highs in slugging percentage, on base percentage, and OPS over the course of the shortened 2020 season. Lowe also finished with just 3 less home runs on the season that he had all of last season when he played 26 more games (ESPN).
With Tampa Bay being one of the league’s smaller market teams, Lowe did not receive the publicity or recognition that he was owed for a fantastic regular season. Lowe’s name even crept into some AL MVP conversations in the latter months of the season.
Lowe remains a relatively unknown player for most casual MLB fans, but his play is sure to make him a household name in years to come.
5. The Dodgers and Rays have gone head to head only 19 times
Along with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Tampa Bay Rays are still the newest franchise in the MLB, playing their first full season in 1998. In their 22 year existence, the Rays have only played the Dodgers 19 times, with LA leading the all time series 12-7 (Baseball Reference). This accounts for one of the thinnest histories ever between two teams competing in the World Series.
SOURCES:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/
https://www.espn.com/
https://www.baseball-almanac.com/