Storybook Ending

a lot of people cried foul after michael bush had a great season in chicago. That’s a whisper compared to the screams we would hear if Dalton ended up starring somewhere else! They can’t trade him. let me put it another way, they can’t replace him! Give Rushing 40 starts behind the plate next season and spell freddie at first several games. find a way to get him in around half of the games next year.

Will Smith just caught every inning of the longest World Series ever.

He takes a lot of pride in his catching ability and has shown zero interest in moving off the position that he has played at an all-star level. While I understand the desire to move him to a less physically demanding position, he may prefer to soldier on, like Realmuto and the Molina brothers. When the time comes–maybe four or five years from now–he could probably shift to 3B.

The Dodgers, perhaps their pitching staff in particular, seem to have fallen in love with Rortvedt as a backup. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe he came over in the Feduccia deal that also netted two interesting pitching prospects. What a steal! Rortvedt knocked Rushing off the WS roster. Whoda thunk it?

I like Rushing, but the sudden preference for Rortvedt has me wondering if the front office sees a flaw in his game. He was struggling to claim regular ABs with the Dodgers–Roberts never had him play LF despite Conforto’s struggles– and now Rortvedt has turned him into a trade chip. Catchers are always in demand.

But who should the Dodgers target?

Just watched the entire parade and Dodger Stadium celebration with a sold out stadium. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Dodger 3 peat. Listened to an interview afterwards with AF and he is going after another World Series Championship next year. We have the Japanese market cornered, we certainly have the money for free agents, we have hungry owners, a talented front office and roster, the Ohtoni commitment of deferred salary to put a wining ballclub on the field each year and we have a loaded farm system, to make trades if necessary so WHY NOT?

Kyle Tucker is an excellent player, but I’m picking up Kris Bryant and Mike Trout type vibes from him.

Injuries have limited his ability to stay on the field.

Unless we sign him to a short term incentivized deal, it might be in the best interest of the Dodgers to take a pass on Tucker; similar to Anthony Rendon.

This is from a fan who thought Rendon was a good fit for the Dodgers.

Parade coverage starts at 2PM EST

I have to believe that Will Kline will be part of the pen next year.

Thank you Mark for Dodgertalk!

With Will’s great arm, don’t you guys think he would be better at 3b, to platoon or replace Muncy after Muncys contract expires. Kim could go to 2B as Brian said. Yep, the Hot Stove season starts NOW!

i would certainly welcome kyle tucker to dodger stadium. But 10 years? no way. 6 years is the max i would go! i see the trent grisham rumblings and can’t help but remember him as an ahole padre! Although he is not a former aaaasssstro. he is an excellent center fielder. 2 years until the kids arrive? sure. there are 2 guys who would be great additions for the outfield. Duran from boston, and kwan from cleveland. both being left fielders complicates it a bit. Teo needs to move to left, or be dealt. i would hate to see him go, but his defense will only get worse next year. And even moving him to left is not the perfect option. he’s been a great dodger! but with ohtani around, the dh spot is full. now if ohtani were to give up pitching and become the left or right fielder? I know, that’s not gonna happen but if it did? what an outfield! everything is pure speculation from now until the season starts next year. i don’t believe it’s ever too early to start rumors or wish. I have said many times that i would love tucker in right field. Stand by that now and until he signs elsewhere. Cody anyone? a reunion would not be a bad idea! probably wouldn’t happen. How about an infielder? Bichette? Second base. Probably too expensive. that bat in the lineup? wow! Max? one year left. He could become utility if they want to sign or acquire another 3rd baseman. he could play some 3rd. He could spell freddie at first, and even play some 2nd base. But he WILL be back! And speaking of Max, let’s give him a big shout out for game 7 . His homer paved the way for Rojas’ heroics. just like Dave Roberts, Max has been the subject of criticism from a lot of us over the years. But when he’s done, he will have a significant spot in dodger history! i don’t see the front office casting him aside this offseason. i do believe Rojas will strongly consider retiring. He won’t go far from Doc’s side though. the pitching (starters) will be just fine . the bullpen will need some work. No way they don’t exercise their option on Vesia! Phillips won’t be back until 2027 if he ever gets back. Kopech? i think he’s someone they should probably keep. Trienan? worthy of one more year? he’s signed, but will they keep him. probably. Yates? GONE! Scott? Look for a big bounce back. Probably sign a couple of under the radar relievers to fill out the bullpen. Wrobleski, Sheehan, Sasaki, Stone, Ryan, Gonsolin. Someone or someones will get moved. maybe in an outfielder deal. Catchers? won’t carry 3 so something has to give. I truly believe Will Smith will be the starter in 2026. Now the hard part. I don’t trade Dalton! no way no how ! But Ben R. is a helluva backup. Maybe Mark has a good point . Can Dalton play some left? But then again, That leaves Teo in right. final thought. Sign bichette for second for next year. bring back max for next season. 2027 bichette becomes starting 3rd baseman. Crazy? maybe, but why not? All you dodger fans enjoy the parade today! My nervous system is almost back to normal!

I like Kyle Tucker, but he is going to command a 10 or 12-year deal at $450-$550 million.

Unless he defers it like Ohtani, I would say no.

Fan favorite Kiké Hernandez is one of the seven LA players to hit the free agent market. Michael Conforto, Andrew Heaney, Clayton Kershaw, Michael Kopech, Miguel Rojas, and Kirby Yates are also Dodgers free agents.Kershaw revealed he would be retiring after the 2025 season.

Mookie got screwed out of a Gold Glove Award. There were NO Dodgers’ winners. That’s OK,we have the World Series Championship.

The parade today is on the MLB NETWORK starting at 2PM ET with full coverage of the parade and stadium festivities.

Congratulations, LA Dodgers! A truly great championship team, a great origination, great personell from players, manager, coaches, and top management. It is very difficult to repeat as champions. This team has impressed me with their commitment throughout a very long mlb season

Heart of a champion.

Son and i watched that together and it’s a memory that will last a lifetime.

Thank you Dodgers.

Thank-you Mark

Thank you LA Dodger talk fans and fans worldwide.

Back 2 back champions!!!!

Brian,

DH – Shohei Ohtani

1B – Freddie Freeman

2B – Will Smith

SS – Mookie Betts

3B – Max Muncy/Tommy Edman (who is also Utilityman)

LF – Teoscar Hernandez

CF – Andy Pages

RF – Alex Call/Wilyer Abreu (acquired in trade with Red Sox, maybe with Kim in the deal – He is a valuable corner outfielder who can play defense at a Gold Glove level and thump right-handed pitching)

C – Dalton Rushing

Bench: Kike Hernandez, MiggyRo, Alex Freeland, Ben Rorvedt (Pick 2)

One of the best series ever, and I have been tracking them since 1947. The long ball beat the scrappy offense in the end. Two walkoff double plays! Great managerial decisions. Great year, thanks to Mark and all the knowledgeable

posters for the daily lift. When do pitchers and catchers report?

My heart can finally return to a normal rhythm. Happy for the team, the fans, the front office. 9 titles pass the Giants 8 and ties them with the Red Sox. Just 2 back of St. Louis for second on the all-time list. Doubt any team will ever catch the Yankees. But I also doubt there ever is a dynasty team that wins 18 like they did between 1923 and 1961. That included two stretches where they won 4 then 5 in a row. Dodgers have never been to 3 World Series in a row. They will have a shot at that next year. 27, who knows. I get the feeling there will be a lockout.

The Athletic used the term “indefatigable” in describing the 2025 Dodgers.

Appropriate!

You can’t leave us hanging in the middle of a 3-peat now. The snows about to fly and the off season’s shit is about to hit the fan! Keep us informed and thanks! 145 days till opening day. Maybe Clayton will throw out the first pitch?

I have this thing where I do rally weights while I am watching the game to help with my stress. I also have this thing where I run to the back door after a big play and yell, “Let’s Go!” to let the world know.

Last night after Rojas’ HR I unfortunately combined the two things and that is why I am sitting on the couch with an icepack on my ankle and not on my morning jog.

I will accept this Faustian deal.

Go blue!

Nice job by Doc switching to Miggy Ro for games 6 & 7. He should get an honorable mention for MVP. From the incredible scoop on Kike’s throw to last night’s dinger. He should never have to pay for a meal in LA. He will now be remembered for more than saving Kershaw’s no-hitter.

I will miss seeing Clayton in the dugout next year.

Nice job by Doc switching to Miggy Ro for games 6 & 7. He should get an honorable mention for MVP. From the incredible scoop on Kike’s throw to last night’s dinger. He should never have to pay for a meal in LA. He will now be remembered for more than saving Kershaw’s no-hitter.

I will miss seeing Clayton in the dugout next year.

So when a season is over you get to evaluate your plan and moves and see what the result is. Obviously better when you win. So after last year WS the plan was to shore up the SP. Ok we did that plus having Ohtani ready. Then the trade deadline non activity plan was we HAVE the guys they just have to get healthy. So in the end the starters came thru, and we avoided the weak pen in game 7 by using all our starters. And FINALLY we got just enough scoring to win. Ans somehow came up with enough defensive key plays at the right time.

Next up—-Start working on 3-peat

Without the 3 Japanese players Ohtoni, Yamamoto and Sasaki, we don’t have a World Series Championship in 2025. If you’re a player from Japan wanting to play in the United States, why would you not want to play for the Dodgers? This is only the beginning of the Ohtoni era in LA with the Dodgers’ commitment to him to put on winning ballclub on the field each year with Ohtoni’s commitment to defer his salary. Brighter days are still ahead for this franchise.

I can’t believe they pulled it off! The Dodgers lived up to all of the lofty expectations this year. Congratulations to the organization, the fans and to Mark for the blog this year!

one other thing. Was Clayton happy or not? i was selfishly hoping he would not have to pitch last night. i wanted him to have that last out he recorded with the bases loaded and the game on the line to be his final pitch! The epitome of class! I’m sure he’ll be around the stadium, but i don’t believe he ever coaches in the majors. He’ll be too busy being a dad! He dang sure doesn’t need the money! … Fox’s post game show? Arod almost seems human at times, right? Nah! Jeter does a good job. Big Papi? a little much don’t you think? Burkhart? good. The broadcast crew? I like Smoltz a lot. Joe ? tries not to be partial, but it’s got to be hard! He’s good. the jays play by play guy is as good as it gets . Schulman is top notch! Very cool scene the other night. Dan in one booth and his son in the other. Now that’s a family affair!!

thanks from the bottom of my heart Mark for this. i enjoy this so much and it keeps my life fresh and happy. We can all sit back and enjoy the next few weeks while waiting on the next chapter of LA DODGERS. In my lifetime, i have never seen a manager make such game altering decisions in a world series. He has evolved into the best manager in the game. We can question him starting ohtani. But if he was going to use him (99% of managers would have done the same thing), he made the right decision. Wrobleski. he had faith in him and he proved that faith right on! Glasnow. perfect useof the 6’8” flame thrower. Snell. no brainer. Yamamoto. simply the best. Andy Pages. i don’t think 95% of managers make that substitution. Rojas. genius! Dave made great managerial decisions . I’m not the only person in this world who criticized him in the past. But he has simply made himself into the best manager in the game. Now the critics will scream payroll. So not true. that blue jays lineup was better top to bottom in this series. Their bullpen pieces were better than the dodger pieces. Now i”m not including the dodger starters ss pieces. Doc pushed the right buttons at the right time. Rojas delivered. will smith delivered. Pages delivered. the lineup adjustments he made were so critical. Now i don’t believe for a second he retires! there’s a lot of fire left in his belly! But i do believe that Rojas will retire after this. why not go out like this. He becomes a great coach and someday manager. I’m sure Kike wants to return, but does the front office want him back? Bottom line? let’s enjoy this team for the rest of the offseason and get ready for more of the same next season! once again Mark, thanks for keeping this alive! thanks for keeping it a civil and respectful site! Thanks for sharing your story and your life with us! thanks for your patience and understanding with some of us “morons”! thanks to everyone who posts here and whether we agree or disagree it doesn’t matter. we are dodger fans forever! i’m not the sharpest tack in the drawer, but i don’t have to be!

One of the best things about winning is that we don’t have to lament the blunders.

That’s what the fans of the Blue Jays are doing.

I caught a piece of a Blue Jays broadcast and they were talkng about the poor lead IKF got when he was forced out at home by Rojas. From the looks of the video, he should have been a few feet closer to home when the pitch was released. And he needed to be just a couple inches closer.

There were a lot of close plays in this game that could have tilted in favor of the Blue Jays, Fortunately, there were also a lot of great plays–and not sloppy errors like the ones the Yankees made last October.

Instead, a lot of terrific, dramatic baseball, with unexpected heroes like Miggy today and Will Klein a few days ago.

Gotta get me some 2025 WS swag online. I wear swag literally every day here in Panama, and it is getting a bit worn. Maybe get some extra as there are a couple Panamanian fans I know in the pueblo I live in. Enjoy the off-season blokes!

Great blog Mark. Thank you for providing us a civil intelligent forum. Can’t wait for the hot stove season to discuss Muncy,MiggyRo, 2 Hernandez, 3 catchers, Tucker, a pheon from Japan and all the prospects.

A cruise to Hawaii ending in Long Beach and finishing watching the WS with a boatload of Dodgers fans every game will be a memory that will last forever. Got my Ohtani shit on for the flight back to Orlando.

Go Dodgers! This is the place, this the moment of the year, congrats to all of you Dodgers fans ! Thank you Mark !