What's next?

I skimmed. I read "Freddie Freeman is in steep decline. Maybe he can DH for someone." That tells me the gist of it.

BLOW UP THE TEAM! Tear the whole thing down to the nubs and start over!

Sure, we can start with Roberts and his bonehead playoff moves? It's clear that one of the things holding the Dodgers back is the fact that Roberts is clearly out of his depth when it matters. The Dodgers need to start fresh, to move in a new direction, to really shake things up. But many here (the morons) will get upset, accuse me of blasphemy, or worse, and point to his winning record as evidence that he is the best best manager that has ever donned a Dodger uniform. They can SEE his .618 winning % as a Dodger manager - but they lack VISION. Even Ray Charles can see he needs to go. And if they tear the team down, including firing Roberts, and have have rookies playing everywhere and Tibbs or whoever at 1rst and have a losing record and miss the playoffs, just remember kids, progress isn't linear! And if you disagree, you're a moron.

See, I can do that, too.

Freeman is under contract through next year. He's not going anywhere. I honestly don't know what the team will look like, but you have guys under contract who are pretty close to being unmovable. Teo might be an exception. Maybe the Dodgers eat some of his contract to move him. I'd like a spot to open up in the outfield. I'd really like to see JDP in the lineup somewhere. If he can't play defense anywhere - and so far, from what I've read, he's a 30 field, which means he can't play defense anywhere - maybe you put Ohtani in left. Long shot, maybe, but he did play some OF with the Angels.

Just listen to Vin and feel better.

Freddie is under contract for another year there is zero chance he is not our starting 1B next year.

Of course Freddie could be gone! Every single player could be gone.

The word could is very powerful, and Mark uses it quite liberally.

This was bereft of predictions and full of conditionals.

If you are going to predict something, use the word will.

The Dodgers have had longer seasons, traveled the most, played in other countries, and will finally get a deserved and longer breather.

Other teams might complain about the Dodgers payroll, but they don't complain about ticket sales when they are in town.

Disappointed? Absolutely. But not suicidal! 3 titles in 5 years ? I’ll take it every time! They ran into a team that played baseball the way all teams should aspire to do. Speed. Hitting. Pitching. Hungry! And by the way, outhomered the boys in blue by a whopping margin. Again, no shame in losing to the brewers. I for one will watch the World Series and enjoy it no matter which American League team wins. No padres? It’s all good! Freddie? I wouldn’t mind him coming back for one more season. He’s earned that much. Teo? Love him, but he does need to DH. I guess they could switch him and Ohtani! In my less than expert opinion, Ohtani should never pitch again. If he demands to, then make it with another team. I want the 40-40 version of Ohtani. Not the 8 win pitcher who ends up on the DL. Edman? I would rather have him than Freeland. But as a utility player, he’s not a starter. Kike? He’s done. Max ? Good regular season. Nowhere to be found against Milwaukee. I hope he retires as a Dodger. Tucker looks like he found it, although it was late. Mookie? He’s fine. Will smith? I’m a little concerned about him. The wear and tear of catching seems to be catching up to him. Second base? Pages? A light seems to come on during the playoffs. Did he finally listen to someone! The pitching? I would love them to sign Skubal. Glasnow? He may never be healthy. If he is healthy, his stuff is as good as anyone in the game. Yamamoto? This early exit could be a blessing. Well rested Yamamoto in 27? Sasaki? I have no idea! Diaz looked great except for one pitch. Then there’s Sheehan, stone, Wrobleski. Pitching shouldn’t be a problem for the next several years. One last thing. I like Your DeLacruz idea. More for the offense than for the defense. That would make the lineup much deeper and dangerous! Get it done! Time for college football and basketball! But I can’t wait for spring training, the winter meetings. Enjoy being a Dodger fan! Could be worse. You could be a Rockies fan!

I would like to thank you, Mark, Bear and Jeff for a great blog this year. It was always fun and informative and a great read. You guys have great insight into the Dodgers,far more than I could ever have, so I always enjoyed reading what you had to say about the team whether I agreed with you or not. It didn’t really matter because I always enjoyed your take on things

As for the team, it just reminds me of the old movie Rocky III when Apollo Creed takes Rocky to the gym where they’re a bunch of young,, hungry boxers, and he tells Rocky to look at look into the eyes of the boxers and see ask him. what do you see? Rocky‘s a little bit dumbfounded. Apollo says it’s the eye of the tiger Rocky. You have to have the eye of the tiger that’s one thing the Brewers had that the Dodgers didn’t. I guess it happens when you’ve already won three World Series titles and you’re trying to repeat It’s hard to stay highly motivated and hungry.

I definitely agree that it’s time to move on from Kike, Rojas, and Treinen. Too bad about Bazooka. He can’t be given a contact that shows any reliance on him. Phillips? Depends on the price. I imagine Vesia will go the way of Banda. Time to move on unless he gives a real friendly deal.

Time to deal Teo to a team that needs a DH. His defense has become to big of a detriment and he’s blocking young guys who are ready. The dearth of RH bats at the deadline tells me some team will want him. I’m hanging on to Edman unless he’s needed as part of a bigger package. Tommy spent much of the offseason and into the regular season rehabbing. He’s still valuable as a utility guy.

Freddie isn’t going anywhere. The Dodgers will be good again next year. He’s going to have to rest more whether he likes it or not.

What I would like to see is Skubal brought back and Ohtani made into an OF so JDP can DH. Based on Ohtani’s postgame interview he’s not ready to give up pitching so let’s hope JDP can pick up LF

Im hanging on to Quintero, Morales, and Zazueta but I would use some of the blocked minor leaguers to go after Elly and move Mookie to 2B. Dodgers need to add a couple ascending players and speed to the lineup.

I don’t see wholesale changes coming. Some internal movement and bargain shopping for relief pitchers. I also don’t expect any big free agent signings or trades for big salaries. Graterol, Bubic, Trienen, Lauer, Skubal, Kike’, Phillips, Call and Vesia could be gone. I think it’s going to be a very conservative offseason until the Walter situation is ironed out.

Everyone is saying the Dodgers need to get younger. I could see Teoscar traded to the Mariners or Reds for relief pitching. That puts JDP in left. Call will probably be traded for whatever they can get. That would put Ehrhard on the bench as the fourth outfielder. I think Freeland will get another opportunity at second base, that frees up Edman to be the super utility man.

It’s not exciting but I just don’t see a spending spree this offseason. This we have a lineup looking like this: Ohtani Betts Freeman Smith JDP Pages Tucker Muncy Freeland Bench of Feduccia, Edman, Tibbs3 and Ehrhard. Feduccia catches twice a week, Edman fills in around the infield, Ehrhard spells the outfield and Tibbs3 spells Freddy at least once a week plus anytime Ohtani pitches he’s the DH.

It’s boring as hell but until the Walter situation is resolved I don’t see any big spending. The minor league is going to have to produce.

Miggy is a class act. One thing I loved was the brutal honesty of Max Muncy saying they played like crap and were outplayed by a better team. Ohtani says he will pitch next year but is unsure if he will need surgery or not. It might all be moot unless the players and owners can reach an agreement on a new CBA.

Well I’m in Charleston South Carolina this weekend for my grandson 12 under baseball tournament. Sitting at the beach. Water is a little cold but great. 80 degrees, I think. My grandson’s first words this morning? Dodgers suck. I explained to him that being a fan means taking the good with the bad. And no , they don’t suck. They got outplayed. (Ok maybe they sucked a wee bit). Don’t jump ship! I(we) waited for 32 years for another championship, he’s had 3 in 5 years! It’s all about right now for him! Wouldn’t be surprised if Houston trades Jeremy Pena. If they make him available, look for the Dodgers to be all over that guy. He could solve either the second base spot, or shift Mookie back to second. Either way I like Pena. Gunnar Henderson is intriguing. Power, but that average doesn’t excite me at all. RVS probably ain’t helping too much with that . Ely DLCruz would be perfect. Play him at short, and when Max retires, slide him to 3rd. I know it’s way too early to start trading and signing. But it sure is fun. And being a little more like the Brewers would not be such a bad thing, would it?

Post-season baseball, IMO, is low scoring and best played with great defense and pitching. I would tweak the Dodgers lineup to increase defense and add some speed.

I know Mark has a heart tug for Freeland and I do too, but we both know the Dodgers way is to buy a proven 2B or trade for one. He has value as a bench piece because he is a switchie but along with Kim, the Dodgers will let him rot in AAA.

I don't profess to be a doctor, but why hasn't Rushing had whatever medical care is needed earlier, so he can play some portion of 2027.

That is a huge change in attitude from the article from yesterday!

Mark, as I previously have said, being new to this site, I appreciate everyone's opinions and perspectives. I like your current analysis of where current players end up and potential lineup for next season, if there is a season. I hope Tucker comes around, otherwise he was a wasted contract. I would trade Snell and still not sure about Glasnow, because he has a history of being hurt. The only area I disagree with you is on Roberts. I know you are trying to balance the naysayers but I am starting to think you are either his PR guy or on his payroll. His claim to fame is that he stole a base for the Red Sox and scored the tying run and he touts that he was a protege of Maury Wills. I know he played ten years in the majors ,for five or six different teams but his stats are mediocre at best and he averaged twenty something steels a year. I my opinion, the best mangers are ex-catchers. I think The Dodgers need a new manager and pitching coach - never a fan of Mark Pryor, another mediocre player/pitcher. My solution is to move Roberts up in management, maybe as a PR guy, new manager, who picks his own pitching coach. I like the current first and third base coaches but not sure about the bench coach. Let's hope there is a baseball season next year, with a new look for the Dodgers. Thanks again for your work!

Well no more Dodger baseball until Feb 27’ (maybe) but here is the question. The Dodgers supposedly have the top farm system in baseball yet our top prospect (DePaula) cannot be trusted to play left or right field?!? How can that be very difficult to believe. Is his defense worse than Teoscar Hernandez?!? Very frustrating but very thankful for a masterful run up until this year. Hopefully we can course correct and get younger, faster, and hungrier. Hopefully the Tahlane boy in the Dodgers frt office (Friedman) can work his magic! Lets Geaux Dodgers!!!

My crystal ball tells me to relax and whatever the front office wants to do. Prediction the Dodgers trade at least one top prospect and perhaps more for a name young middle infielder. Do not block Morales!!! If it’s a shortstop Mookie plays second and if the player is a second baseman Mookie plays short. At the beginning of the season DePaula and Teo will rotate in someway in left if Teo isn’t traded. With this front office mojo the starting rotation and the bullpen will revolve throughout the season. Muncy and Freeman will be there and produce. They need to insist on Freeman taking more days off. I could see picking up another catcher. Will struggled through the playoffs (like most of the lineup.)

Congratulations to the Brewers. They are a very good team and have shown it the entire season. I love the way they play and put pressure on defenses. Murphy is a very good manager and I love their approach to the game. Gawd it seemed like every walk or single turned into a run, with a steal of 2nd base and a timely base hit. I suspect they will celebrate a World Championship.

It will be an interesting off-season between the CBA and the Walter's situation but when the dust settles I would like to see a new left side of the diamond; Muncy had a good year but time to move on. Better to move a year early than a year late and I think Max will only decline. I see a new athletic shortstop and left fielder. Freddie needs a quality back up to get him off his feet more that can provide outfield help and some pop. Thanks to Kike and especially Miggy who has a year left but time to move on.

The pitching will be interesting. I don't see Skubal signing but I'd like to keep him. Ohtani needs to pitch. Glassnow gone and some new faces in the pen. I think Henriquez is the closer in waiting.

I'd like to see a pitching philosophy that emphasized trusting your stuff and stop nibbling so much. 0 and 2 turns into 3 and 2 way to much and with a couple of foul balls makes for 8 pitch at bats. I find it interesting that fans and players have no problem anymore with strikeouts but if a pitcher gives up an 0 and 2 hit, it's a huge mistake. I disagree. Trust your shit and avoid 2 or 3 non-competitive pitches before we're forced to come in the zone. Hitting is hard; challenge hitters. I still like quality fastballs in advantage counts. Tech has promoted too many walks on off-speed stuff when a guy has 98 plus in his bag. Quality, well located, fastballs are still the best pitch in the game, but we want o trick hitters.

I would like to see a renewed emphasis away from Slug. I kept hearing about how homers win playoff games but when you don't, you lose, as we showed. We need more speed and ways to score, besides slug.

I don't anticipate, sadly, of any of these changes in the Dodger's philosophy.

To me, it was a very long and frustrating year but a year that should have been much more entertaining. I expect a lot which is good and bad. I need an off-season and a reevaluation of my attitude.

See you next year.

2027 LF. Sirota or Tucker CF, Pages or Sirota RF, Tucker or Pages

Hmmm. Interesting.

RISP was obviously a huge issue, but a bigger factor was that the Brewers have become a really good offensive team.

Lots of ideas for the 27 Dodgers. My thoughts on the lineup: Obviously Freddie, Smitty, Mookie and Andy Pages are locks. None if them are going anywhere. Pages redeemed himself in the playoffs and the other guys have contracts. JDP is the heir to CF, with Pages moving to RF. Teo, Edman get traded for a 2B leaving LF to Tibbs/Erdhard, whichever one gets hot. Max would be an easy trade because this team friendly contract but the Dodgers won't have the balls to move him after his contributions and fan respect he garnered. Miggy had a career year and said he will retire. Maybe not if the Dodgers ask him to stay. There is no 2B prospect ready for a year or two and Kim, Freeland and Edman didn't do much the last two years to inspire confidence. So you have Teo, Edman Kim, Freeland for trade pieces for a 2B. DH belongs to Ohtani whether he gets back to his 2025 numbers or not. Unless the owners fire AF or Doc and Ohtani uses his bailout clause, which could be a blessing, he's probably going to be batting leadoff no matter how many sliders away he lunges at. He will still hit 30 homers because that is what he does. Of course, nothing here matters unless the billionaires and millionaires can agree to swallow their pride and sign an agreement.

Brewers manager deserves a raise after his coaching in this series with LA. For example, TREVOR MEGILL was his closer during the season with 30 saves. But we only saw him pitch two innings in this 4 game series. Others mentioned below pitched more innings out of the pen. So, do you wonder why their #1 reliever pitched less and wasn’t even called upon to close game 4? Brewers Manager decided to allow Ashby to go a 3rd inning and close the series out instead. I think it’s because Megill is a RHP. I think the manager preferred using his lefty relievers much more, especially to neutralize our big HR hitters- Ohtani and Muncy and Freeman somewhat, although the latter has lost some of his power as he approaches 40 years of age. I don’t think pitching a lefty means much against Tucker seeing that he hit them just as well as righties.

AARON ASHBY, a lefty, pitched two innings in game 1; 1.2 innings in game 2; and 3 innings in game 4. A total of 6.2 innings. Compare that with MEGILL (2 innings).,

JOJO ROMERO, another lefty pitched 3.2 innings of hitless ball, making our big left handed batters look small. Even he pitched more innings that MEGILL.

Even DL HALL, another lefty pitched 3 innings, which was more than MEGILL .

Granted, the manager did use Dustin May, who is a RHP, as his long reliever. He pitched 4 innings and gave up 3 runs in the process. He certainly was not able to handcuff Ohtani like the lefties were.

Anyhow, there was much more strategy and chess moves made besides this, but in my opinion, this was clearly a big one. Watching our lefties “look small” in crucial RISP last night was sad indeed.

That’s all I have for now. Thanks for listening. TM

Management should IMO focus on rebuilding that bullpen and find relievers who can throw strikes, and stop obsessing over the sweeper. Too many of these relievers are coming in throwing sweepers and sliders constantly. The bullpen is one part of the team that needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. Obviously Scott and Diaz are under contract so they are not going anywhere, but everyone else needs to go.

Even though the Dodgers just got swept by the Brewers, my pride in this team hasn’t wavered one bit. Baseball is a game of highs and lows, and this season gave us plenty of moments to cheer, celebrate, and believe. Watching our players fight, even when the odds were against them, reminded me why I love this team — it’s about heart, resilience, and the bond we share as fans. Sure, the sting of defeat is real, but it’s only fueling my excitement for next year. Win or lose, I’ll be wearing Dodger blue with my head held high. We’ll regroup, rebuild, and rise again, because being a Dodger fan means carrying faith through every inning, no matter how dark the scoreboard looks. The season may have ended, but my loyalty never will.

Mark, I like your take. The team got old, they wanted to run it back. That's should have been the goal, a three peat. Things work, until they don't. Time for change, time to get younger where possible. If Friedman goes doesn't that allow Shohei to op out? Wasn't he tied contractually to Freidman as G.M.?I like Max, but it seems to me he comes up empty alot in the big moments. Anyway, like your potential changes, lots young guys, many deserving of a chance. Any, this was a no doubter series, the better team won. But, Go Dodgers!