Valenzuela achieved this success knowing little English at the time. Scioscia gave some of the credit to Lasorda, who had learned Spanish during his time in the Caribbean winter leagues, and "gave him all instructions in Spanish." Scioscia also "learned Spanish just so he could communicate with Fernando", according to Lasorda. In 1981, the manager strictly platooned Scioscia and Steve Yeager at catcher, with Yeager seeing limited playing time with the Dodgers facing only 14 left-handers during the season. In game 3 of the World Series, Valenzuela was struggling when Lasorda substituted Scioscia, with whom the pitcher was more familiar, in place of Yeager, after Yankees left-hander Dave Righetti had exited the game. Lasorda credited Scioscia with steadying Valenzuela.
Valenzuela achieved this success knowing little English at the time. Scioscia gave some of the credit to Lasorda, who had learned Spanish during his time in the Caribbean winter leagues, and "gave him all instructions in Spanish." Scioscia also "learned Spanish just so he could communicate with Fernando", according to Lasorda. In 1981, the manager strictly platooned Scioscia and Steve Yeager at catcher, with Yeager seeing limited playing time with the Dodgers facing only 14 left-handers during the season. In game 3 of the World Series, Valenzuela was struggling when Lasorda substituted Scioscia with whom the pitcher was more familiar, in place of Yeager, after Yankees left-hander Dave Righetti had exited the game. Lasorda credited Scioscia with steadying Valenzuela.