Dodgers Becoming a Juggernaut
Like the imaginary creation of Marvel Studios, some believe the Dodgers are putting together a roster that would be considered unstoppable by most pundits and experts, in other words, a baseball juggernaut. The Yankees teams that won four consecutive World Series from 36-39, and…
Like the imaginary creation of Marvel Studios, some believe the Dodgers are putting together a roster that would be considered unstoppable by most pundits and experts, in other words, a baseball juggernaut.
The Yankees teams that won four consecutive World Series from 36-39, and the Yankees team that won five straight from 49-53 were also considered unbeatable. LA is shooting for its third. Last accomplished by another tough Yankees team, 98-2000.
In this era though, winning three in a row is a lot harder considering the number of series needed for the feat to be accomplished. Let’s be serious for a moment. After cruising through the first three series last year, the Dodgers were severely tested against the Blue Jays, who were two outs away from winning the whole thing.
The Jays also had a couple of spectacular defensive plays keep them from walking the series off in back-to-back games. Rojas’s play at the plate, the DP pulled off at the end of game six by Kike and Rojas, and Pages great catch in game 7.
LA gets a game tying homer from the least expected player to do so, Rojas, and the game winner from Smith. Otherwise, we are talking about another post-season gut-wrenching loss. And don’t forget the marathon 18 inning win in game 3, putting LA up 2-1 before they would lose 2 straight at home and head to Toronto down 3-2.
So, what do they do? Well, they sure did not stand pat and rest on their laurels. They added one of the best closers in the game and then went out and signed the player considered the top offensive player available to close a huge hole in the offense. Just getting Diaz and Tucker improves the team dramatically and opens several options to how they will align the roster come March when the season opens.
Signing Tucker might be the death nell for a player like Ward to ever make the team. It also probably sends Siani to AAA. Unless they were to move Hernandez, now unlikely since it seems they would rather move him into left, where he played well in 2024. The outfield would be LF, Teo, CF, Pages, and Tucker in right. That makes Call the 4th outfielder.
With players like Edman and Kim who can also play the outfield, usually CF, the need for Ward or Siani is just not there. There has also been chatter that the Dodgers are ACTIVELY pursuing starter, Freddy Peralta of the Brewers. Adding Peralta to an already loaded starting pitcher group seems a bit like over kill.
But you’re starting five would be Yamamoto, Ohtani, Snell, Glasnow and Peralta. With talent like Sasaki, Sheehan, Ryan and Stone backing them up. That sort of leaves guys like Knack and Miller twisting in the wind, and Frasso and Nastrini destined for another year at AAA. There will be injuries and the possibility of that depth getting tested. But like they have the last several seasons, LA plans for the post season, and limits its pitchers as much as they can.
Peralta will not be without some cost, most certainly a young arm or two, and possible a major league ready position player. Just who that might be is anyone’s guess. We should know soon whether it will happen or not. The Tucker deal is not official yet and they need an open roster spot for that. If they do trade for Peralta, they will most likely include at least one player on the 40-man.
Are the Dodgers truly a juggernaut? By the literal definition of the word, I think not. If you listen to the fans of other teams, they are.
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Discussion (101)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Would love to see this for MLB players: https://x.com/votehub/status/2013742159439028561?s=46
That would probably be when they get down to exchanging who goes in trades, or how much money they are offering a free agent.
Shohei Betts Tucker Smith Freeman Hernandez Muncy Pages Edman all of the bench guys plug in to Edman’s spot. Dave will adjust the lineup against tough lefties. But that lineup there is his left-right combination.
FOOW!
Floor?
What’s the opposite of “woof”?
Based on his career stats including playoffs as a visiting player, Kyle Tucker has maintained a .340 batting average, a .421 on-base percentage, and a .540 slugging percentage across 58 plate appearances at Dodger Stadium. Statistic Value Batting Average (AVG) .340 On-Base Percentage (OBP) .421 Slugging Percentage (SLG) .540 On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS) .961 Home Runs 2 Plate Appearances 58
Pages had a great year last year, and I expect improvement!
Shohei Tucker Mookie Freddie Smith Max /Rojas Pages Teo Kim/Edman Rushing, Ibanez, Call
Peralta to Mets
Pages 6th is bold
It’s being the Hall of Good not greatest of the greats.
I think the L/R thing has proven pretty effective, can’t see them rationalizing away from it. FWIW, one of my favorite elements of the baseball media is when they describe something as “serious talks.” When do discussions graduate from talking to seriously talking? Any ideas?
Roberts said after the press conference that he felt Tucker would hit in the top 3. You know Ohtani will hit first and Betts second, so three seems about right. If Doc opts for the left-right thing, the rest looks pretty good. According to his career splits, Freeman has hit .263 in 120 games batting in the 5 hole. His best numbers have come batting second. Smith is a .272 hitter in the cleanup spot. Teo hits .281 in the 6 hole and Muncy .228 batting 7th.
Also interesting to hear how the Dodgers thought they could mitigate the loss of draft picks and draft bonus.
I don’t think Edman will be ready at the start, and I look for incremental improvement from Andy Pages, who was pretty dang good last year.
Hmmm. Ohtani L Betts R Tucker L Smith R Freeman L Teo R Muncy L Pages R Edman S I guess?
Here’s what I think will start the season: 1. Ohtani DH 2. Betts SS 3. Tucker RF 4. Smith C 5. Freeman 1B 6. Pages CF 7. Muncy 3B 8. Teoscar LF 9. Rojas/Kim/Edman 2B Rushing, Call, Kim, and Rojas will play a lot early in the season. Don’t overlook Ibanez! He is very underrated.
AtTuckers introduction today, it was interesting to hear Roberts say that Tucker would most likely hit 2nd or 3rd in the lineup.
Agreed!
Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman seemingly shuts down potential Freddy Peralta trade pursuit “As expected, the Los Angeles Dodgers have stayed busy this offseason, signing players such as Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker. However, it seems as if the Dodgers are finished adding at at least one position. Los Angeles has plenty of talent in their pitching rotation from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, a fully healthy Shohei Ohtani and more. Because of that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman all but shut down the Dodgers acquiring more starting pitching, via Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation. “We are not,” Friedman responded when asked if the team was still in the market for starting pitching”.. The Dodgers don’t need Peralta or any starting pitcher for a 3 peat.
Tucker likely batting 2nd or 3rd was a minor revelation in today’s press conference. Makes a lot of sense with Tucker’s OBP.
Kiki will be signed at the start of Spring Training when he and Edman will be allowed to be put on the 60 Day IL.
It was carried on the MLB NETWORK. Great news conference. Tucker wearing number 23 answered all the questions and will fit in nicely into the lineup and clubhouse.