Let's Play What If

Apparently the Dodgers need 6 Aces to succeed.  Although they have won back to back WS without that luxury.  The season is 22 games in, and fans are not happy because Emmet Sheehan (26) is still rounding into form after a very slow start to Spring Training.  Every start has improved over the previous one.  He could have gone 6.0 innings on Saturday, but that is not good enough for a #5 or #6 starter? 

I understand the concerns about Roki Sasaki (24), but I do not believe the Dodgers are going to make a change…at least not until Blake Snell is ready to return. 

I thought the Dodgers should have gone for more SP in the Winter, but most thought the Dodgers had enough depth, and did not want to block any of the youngsters. A very logical argument.

However, we seem to be playing the negative “What If” game, again.  Most have been critical of Sasaki, while many have been critical of Sheehan.  Many are negative towards Alex Freeland (24).  Hyeseong Kim (27) has less directed negativity, but is also subject to his share of negative comments.

I certainly understand the perceived negativity after losing a pair to Colorado.  So let’s continue the negativity that is bound to come about.

Andy Pages is off to a fantastic start.  What if he cannot sustain this pace?  His BABIP is .480, while it was .308 last year.  His K% is up to 26.2% from 21.6% in 2025. 

Are we watching the beginning of the downturn for Mookie Betts?  He got sick last year, but did not have the resurgent energy to get back to where he was.  This year he strained an oblique.  We need to worry about players soft tissue injuries as they begin to age.  What if we begin to see hamstring and groin injuries?

What if Tommy Edman cannot come back to play at an elite level after his ankle surgery.  What if his ankle will not let him adequately roam CF to give Pages a break?  Alex Call can, but what if he is not given an opportunity?

What if Shohei’s power regression continues as he focuses more on pitching?  His SLG is down more than 100 points.  His OPS is down to .915, after the last three years being north of 1.000.

What if Blake Snell cannot pitch well enough to be more than a #6 SP moving Roki Sasaki up to #5?

But what if I prefer to stay more positive?  Let me turn around the what ifs.

What if Tyler Glasnow stays healthy all year?  Who else besides me thinks that Tyler will start 23-26 games this year? 

What if Tommy Edman comes back with a healthy ankle and becomes the elite 2B he was in the WS?  What if he allows Andy Pages to take some valuable games off in the summer, and allows either Freeland or Kim to be a plus platoon partner at 2B?

What if Mookie comes back from the oblique strain and goes on to have a MVP level rest of the season?

What if Andy Pages continues to play elite offense and defense?

What if Dalton Rushing continues hit hot streak and allows for more time off for Will Smith?  Freddie Freeman?

What if Max Muncy has another 35 HR season?

What if Blake Snell comes back and pitches like the 2-time CY Award winner he is?

What if Emmet Sheehan returns to his 2025 form?

What if Justin Wrobleski proves to be a full season SP in the LAD rotation?

And what if Roki Sasaki finds “it”?  Some have pointed out that his velo is way down from last year.  But statcast says that is not true.  His current 4-seam velo is averaging 97.0.  He averaged 96.1 in 2025.  So it is not down.  Is it straighter with less movement?  Maybe. What if he is able to gain command of that fastball and then utilize the splitter and slider to put batters away?

This is just the beginning of a long season, and there will be multiple ebbs and flows throughout the year.  We already know the Dodgers have lost their closer until sometime this summer.  What if Tanner Scott returns to being an elite closer again, after so many gave up on him?