Anyone who thinks there is no element of luck in baseball is probably already institutionalized, or ready to be. Whoever wins today is not necessarily the best team, but they are the 2025 World Series Champions. The 2025 Season all comes down to just one game. Win and you are the Champions of the World. Lose and you are an afterthought. I like the Dodgers’ chances. Ohtani will start and empty the tank… three or four innings is what I expect. What happens next depends on where he is in the lineup when he leaves the mount. We could see anyone, except Yamamoto: Glasnow, Snell, Kershaw, Wrobs, Sheehan, et al. The lineup should stay the same. I’m done talking about it. Play ball!
THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL
Next Year
I am convinced that most Dodger fans are looking at this team rebuilding in the wrong way. The Dodgers have too many outfield prospects who may be ready in the next two years to make a dope-fiend move. I think the biggest and best move would be to move Will Smith to another position. I once said 3B, but now I believe it is LF. Will has evolved into an elite hitter, and Dalton Rushing will be an elite power hitter. Get them both in the lineup! Don’t trade Rushing. I think he is a future All-Star. His power will be a welcome addition, and he is a good catcher. Of course, so is Will, but catching wears him down. I want to see how his bat plays up without catching.
Will Smith is a tremendous hitter, and I believe Dalton Rushing will be as well. If Will Smith can avoid the nicks and bruises of catching, I think he might lead the league in batting average. Mike Sirota is the future Dodger Centerfielder, but that will likely have to wait until 2027. The Dodgers need to get younger, and with Rushing at C and Smith in LF, they will. Teoscar plays RF one more year (unless you can get an excellent trade for him now. Call can be his caddy.
Kike could be the odd man out in 2026, as Rojas and Edman will be the superutility players. Here’s what I would do next year:
- Ohtani DH
- Smith LF
- Freeman 1B
- Muncy 3B
- Betts SS
- Rushing C
- Teoscar RF
- Pages CF
- Kim 2B
Bench: Rojas, Rortvedt, Call, Edman
Pages is above-average in CF. Sirota IS a centerfielder. When Sirota arrives in 2027, Pages moves to RF, and Teoscar moves to LF. 2026 could be Muncy’s last year, and then Will Smith to 3B? Why not?
Discussion (43)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Remember earlier in the series when all the Blue Jays fans chanted about Ohtani “We don’t need him”?
Well, it turns out maybe they did need him. Lol
WHAT A SERIES FOR THE AGES.
DODGER MAGIC.
MOTO…..WOW.
GO DODGERS.
FOREVER.
GO.
DODGERS.
What a DYNASTY
Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter, what matters are the results, and my formula, my method, my ritual worked again!
In 2020 Kyle Glaser wrote this piece about how the Dodgers operated, how they were building, and how they spent their money differently than other big-market teams.
Since then, they’ve won three World Series in six seasons.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/theyre-the-model-how-the-dodgers-player-development-machine-rolls-on/
Best organization. Best time ever to be a fan of this team.
Fuck yeah! Congratulations to all of us. Two Iowa guys, Dreyer and Walters winning it. Miggy Ro! Yoshi!
Thanks Mark!
We are the Dodgers, we hit home runs.
Yamamoto, series for the ages
What I said “road field advantage”. Guess I’ll have to stay around for a 3peat! Get taken off hospice again. Drama? What else?
Joe’s call on the final DP was pretty amazing:
“To beat the champ, you gotta knock em out”
That’s fucking right!
Amazing series!
Amazing team!
Will Smith is catching his 58th inning of the World Series after hitting that homer in the 11th inning of Game 7.
Kershaw.
Warming.
Up.
You have to believe Yamamoto is going as far as he is able to carry the torch.
I think I’m the only one posting here, but who else is left for Roberts?
Dare I say, Kershaw? Treinen?
WHAT A GAME!
Great move getting PAGES in there! No way Edman makes that catch!
Ump kinda squeezing the Dodgers between the Will Smith strike and the Barger ball.
I DESPISE going to Yamamoto here.
HATE it.
That said….
This game. This World Series. Absolutely incredible. High drama.
Can’t say that was a great AB by Kike.
I CAN say that was a great AB by Rojas!
Ohtani. One more chance
Hate going to Snell here, but the bullpen is what it is.
No Vesia, no Sasaki, can’t trust Treinen. Banda? Klien?
Over Snell? Maybe….
Just a great series.
PS: Who still names their kid “Ernie?”
Vladdy Jr. is super fun to watch.
Just a great, great, great Series.
Two half-innings to go!
Shohei Ohtani is the second player in World Series history with multiple hits in a winner-take-all game he pitched in, joining 1934 Dizzy Dean
not sure I see the wisdom in bringing in Glasnow in the middle of an inning
phew
I think the dream is over.
It’s time to wake up and face reality; this team doesn’t have what it takes.
They forgot the bats.
Even if they were to win this game.
Spoke too soon.
That one’s on Roberts.
Just got home to watch the game, looks like Ohtani isn’t long for it. But so far, so good.
Plenty of time to discuss this after tonite.
Good luck all!!
2B Betts
1B. Freeman
C. Smith
DH Ohtani
3B. R. Lewis (traded Rushing)
CF. Armstrong *
SS. Freeland
LF. Edman
RF. ?
* Pages, Glasnow, $$$, Mike Sirota
8:00 PM ET FOX
Dodgers (93-69) WS (3-3)
Blue Jays (94-68) WS (3-3)
SP Shohei Ohtani R
1-1 2.87 ERA
SP Max Scherzer R
5-5 5.19 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Mookie Betts R
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Tommy Edman S
LF E. Hernandez R
2B Miguel Rojas R
In Domed Stadium
So ohtani starts, then what? Glasnow for the bulk innings?
Love the post, Mark. Let’s finish this damn job.
why? we can’t have some fun?
So before going out to wash my RV I decided to just reflect a bit on 2025. Even with all the poor hitting, weak bullpen and a bunch of strikeouts still a great campaign. I especially have enjoyed the players we got know this year and I will not discuss Conforto.
Overall defense has been enjoyable to watch.
Mookie—excellent at short.
Edmans, Rojas, Kiki and Max had flashes of brilliance.
Pages has matured. And Freddie and Smith were quietly very solid.
Pitching, while difficult for several, what a joy to witness Yamamoto!! And Roki finally getting there has been refreshing.
And must mention William Boone Klein with a super performance.
Plenty of positive to offset the negatives and a big thank you to Mark for keeping this venue open for our enjoyment.
Bring it home Dodgers!!!
Ohtani DH
Betts SS
Freeman 1B
Smith C/RF
Muncey 3B
Teoscar LF
Rushing C/RF
Rojas/Kiki 2B
Edman/Kiki CF
Smith and Rushing alternate catching to save wear and tear.
i like bichette. But does he still want to be play shortstop? plus will he leave his buddy vlad? second base is his if he wants to play for the dodgers, but teo would definitely have to move out of right field if they sign bichette.
I’m impressed with Bo Bichette. The rumor mill has pegged the Dodgers as logical location for Kyle Tucker but Bichette is a middle infielder and is 2 years younger. I’m impressed by his bat to ball skills. Plus, our system lacks middle infielder depth.
In terms of game 7, the Dodgers pitching depth makes them favorites to win the WS but those Jays are gritty. They’ve definitely earned my respect. Although, Dodger bats are sputtering there is enough talent in this lineup to get the job done. I’m expecting a low scoring game, as pitchers will have a very short leash.
As Mookie stated last night, Ohtani was made for this. We expect something big from him tonight. Should be a fun game tonight!
Go Dodgers!
i’m done playing gm for the day! game day!! may the defending champions be defending for another year!!! i believe it happens! who’s with me?
dats ok. he is probably as good as pages in center. probably a little quicker too.
Duran is a LFer
Jarren Duran is another outfielder who would fit right in with the dodgers. Speed, power, and good defensively. but would the sox trade with the dodgers again? most of the trades between the two teams have gone in the dodgers favor. They need guys who make contact with some speed. Andy Pages has a cannon for an arm. that said, i’m a little concerned about his makeup. He probably is better suited for right field. Teo is just not a reliable outfielder now. he needs to dh. Does Boston need a DH? throw in a prospect and check!
There is ZERO chance Teo plays RF next year. That will be corrected.
I don’t like Pages in CF. I believe they need a stop gap CF until Sirota is ready. And 2027 is not a lock. There will most likely be a lockout. Someone like Varsho. Grisham would be ok; he is a very good CF and added some pop to his game. Find a taker for Teo and move Pages to right. I doubt they go after a big-name free agent. But the team is old, and it is beginning to show. The only starter under 30 is Pages. Unlike Mark, I don’t believe Smith gets moved anywhere next year. He will be the starting catcher once again.
good morning Mark! terrific game last night even though the offense was not good (except for one inning) again. everyone talks about the aggressive hitters on the Jays. Well last night it bit them in the assss! tying runs on second and third with no outs? Kudos to Doc for bringing in Glasnow! Hey! so he got a little bit of luck with 3 great pitches, so sue him! It’s been a good world series and tonight should be the topper! i predict the dodgers will win 6-4! that’s right! They score 6 runs tonight! yamamoto is MVP with ohtani a close second. … As for next season, i still believe there’s a possibility Teo either moves to left field or gets traded. He’s been such a good dodger, but, his defense is way below average. Smith in left field. Pages in center (with a short leash). and kyle tucker in right field. He’s definitely an upgrade defensively, and he’s an upgrade offensively too. i like Dalton catching also. the one position in the infield that makes me nervous is 3rd. i thought Max was a lock to be back full time, but his performance in these playoffs is concerning. Especially defensively. it’s going to be interesting to say the least what AF does there. .. Last thing. i agree and said earlier. i don’t think they resign Kike. I hate it, but maybe this time it’s finally over. It’s either him or Rojas. flip a coin!…. Mookie does it again tonight!!! let’s repeat!!!