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
The Dodgers won’t have a 5 man rotation for the foreseeable future. 6 starters for them is now the norm.
I agree, bear I don’t think the Dodgers or a juggernaut! I think they’re very well managed team with a lot of talent and a lot of very good players. Otani is really the only one I would consider a superstar now. Mookie and Freddie and now Kyle Tucker are excellent players, but I don’t consider any of them superstars right now. The Dodgers have a great pitching but with her injury, history and a couple of other unknowns is it correct to consider any of them superstars. Yamamoto was a superstar in the World Series in the playoffs. Snell had a couple of games in the playoffs that were outstanding Glasnow in my opinion may have the best stuff of any of them, but injuries have kept him down throughout his career. If Ohtani concentrated on pitching only he may be the best or one of the best ever. But his value is most as a two-way player. Do the Dodgers really need Freddie Peralta? Probably not, but I still think it’s more of a keep him away from other teams than it is a case of need. Personally, I don’t think the deal gets done. Still a lot of chatter about Teo, and possibly moving him. I don’t think they trade him as I said earlier I think he has a bounce back and a very, very good year at the plate. I also think if he comes in lighter as reported he’ll be just fine in left field. I really look for Max Muncy to have a solid very good season. Max makes some very good defensive plays at third, but he also can look mediocre at times. I know he wants to finish his career as a dodger. I think a lot depends on how well he plays this season. As far as Kim goes, he has an opportunity to solidify the second base position. The only question is well he hit enough to make a claim at the position if he doesn’t, he still valuable off the bench. As far as Rojas, don’t know what to expect, but after what he did in the World Series, he’s earned the right to finish his career as a dodger. Tommy Edman? How will he look when he comes back? I hope he’s finally healthy because he’s very valuable infield and outfield.. as I said earlier I hope Dalton rushing gets enough bats to show everybody how good he can be, but unless Smith gets hurt, he’ll catch at least 70 percent of the games and as I and others have stated, Fred’s gonna need some time during the season to stay fresh. Maybe Dalton does spell Teo in Leftfield. But with Alex, call out there it will be hard for Dalton to get much time in left field. Pitchers and catchers will soon report and the journey begins again. I’m sure the Giants aren’t quite done trying to get better. Arizona will score some runs and be very competitive . Padres? Bull pen will be excellent not sure about the starting pitching or the whole lineup. Rockies? Probably lucky to win 60 games. Can’t wait till it all starts again! wait.
If Dalton relieves anyone, it will be Freeman. He has logged more time at first than he has in the outfield. I don’t think LA considers him an outfield option at this point in time.
How bout them RAMS!!!!
They are a juggernaut but in modern baseball juggernauts can be felled. Injuries, short series, other teams getting hot all can stpp them. Dave Roberts too!
Roberts is 3 time WS champion (as a MGR) and is a HOF’er, was that a dig at him?
Some people just don’t like Doc, but the one thing I noticed is that his decisions have improved 100%. But he can only play the guys the front office gives him. Once they are on the field, it is out of his hands.
With 3 Japanese pitchers in the rotation,Ohtoni,Yamamoto and Sasski a 6 man rotation is a must with them pitching no more than once a week as they did in Japan.
We are the West Coast Evil Empire with lots of green and lots of smarts. Come get us if you can. Tell me what franchise is better run in all of sports. NONE,a big fat NONE. I suffered many years when the Yankees were the East Coast Evil Empire when George was running the team. Not anymore.
Hope they beat Seattle Sunday and the Patriots if that’s the matchup in the Super Bowl.
The National League West stinks. If the Dodgers choose to so ,they will win the West by 10 or more games.Chill Dodgerdad everything is going be OK.
Greatest Sports Moments of All Time Number 1
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Did you go to IU Mark?
Mark, don’t forget Kofax, 1966. The whole year. 27 wins. 27 COMPLETE games. All on a tired arthritic arm about to fall off. A long moment I know, but one we will never see again.
Tommy, what did you think of Kingman’s performance?
Nobody’s sweating the division! Just saying the giants backs, and padres are going to be very competitive. Remember a couple of years ago when the backs swept the Dodgers in the playoffs.? Now it’s a given the Dodgers are much better now . I’m not afraid of any team in the west. But I will say that the cubs might make me take notice. And no I don’t believe they’re better than the dodgers! I really thought the braves might be a very good team. But either way Kim down for up to 6 months, that hurts their chances.
That’s the first time I saw that. Congrats
Plus we’ve built a culture of family, toughness and an ability how to win.
He is far from perfect and capable of making a mistake. He’s on a good run.
That’s pretty much the case. If they get Peralta, the front five would be Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow and Peralta leaving Knack, Sasaki, Stone, Ryan and Sheehan fighting for the six job. But if they do get Peralta, one of those guys is most likely in the deal.
We all know that, but he still has the highest winning percentage of any manager EVER. After he puts them in the game, it is out of his hands. Performance is always on the players. His best trait is how he communicates with his players, and they trust the man. That counts for a lot.
Andruw Joanes and Carlos Beltran elected to the Hall of Fame. They will join Jeff Kent when they are inducted on the 26th of July. Two exe Dodgers and one former cheato. 11 players did not get 5% of the vote including Matt Kemp and Howie Kendrick. Manny Ramirez fell way short in his final year on the ballot.
A few thoughts: Doc had to deal with superstars who were playing hurt, not hitting, not running to he bases well and showing crappy defense in the dog days of summer last year. He got them out of their funk and playing like the professionals they were as they got healthy. Kudos to him for that and some great calls and trust in what he had on the team. 2026: Unless the Gnats or Pods make super trades on the next month, the rest of the NL West will suck hind teat like the litter runt. Period 2026 (Part Duce). The Dodgers will win the West going away and should take care of the NL maybe setting up another great WS with the Blow Jays or some very lucky AL team who gets hot at the right time and beats them. If that happens the pundits will talk about how the Dodgers are ruining the game and a payroll cap is inevitable . But it won’t matter in 2026 because the Dodgers are going to Threepeat because they the have a solid power laden offense with good defense, spectacular pitching and a manager who knows how to handle all these superstars. They will play hard and smart for Doc because they respect and trust him as he does them. Thanks to all of you writers and fans for making this a great site. Mark deserves a lot of thanks for keeping it alive. Can’t wait to see what Spring Training brings.
Technically, yes. I think I have 8 hours credited to IU. My son went to the Kelly School of Business at IU and had about 40 hours before he dropped out. My daughter is the only one in the family with a degree… in Mortuary Science! We are just a bunch of illiterate dropouts!