The ground rules for a conversation with Josh Fields are set right away.
“No numbers,” the Dodgers reliever said Sunday. “We don’t talk numbers.”
Fields knows there is a huge discrepancy between the 9.72 earned-run average he had in nine spring-training games and the sparkling 0.84 ERA he has posted in 21 regular-season appearances, a performance that has pushed the hard-throwing right-hander into a high-leverage role in one of baseball’s best bullpens.
But why jinx himself by looking at the stat sheet?
“I don’t know if I’d say I’m superstitious, but I am a little stitious,” Fields said with a laugh.