A lot of LAD envy from NYY sympathizers. First Nestor Cortes says that it was NYY that was the better team. You know, the LHP that was on the WS roster for one thing: to get Ohtani and Freeman out with the game on the line. Cortes failed miserably in that role. Cortes will forever be known as the pitcher giving up the walk off slam to Freddie in Game 1. Just like Dennis Eckersley will always be reminded that he was the pitcher to give up the Kirk Gibson HR in 1988 WS Game 1 and turned that Series around.
In a recent interview with The Athletic’s Tyler Kepner, Cortes had this astute observation:
“We had done enough to win that game. They can talk whatever they want to talk, but we win Game 1 — which we should have — we lost 2 and 3, we win Game 4 and we should have won Game 5. Then we go back to L.A. up 3 to 2. So people can say it slipped away from us, people can say we made a lot of mistakes, which we did. But at the end of the day, we were the better team. I see it that way, and I’m sure everybody in that clubhouse sees it that way.”
Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Someone should remind Nestor that it takes 27 outs (or 30 outs in Game1), to actually win a game. It takes 4 WS victories to win a WS Championship, and It takes a full 26 man roster to all play their roles to win a WS Championship. LAD did those tasks and NYY did not. LAD was 4-1 and NYY was 1-4. Who was the better team?
An argument that 1988 NYM and 1988 Oakland were better teams than the 1988 LAD team has more legs than Cortes’ argument. Nestor, get Freddie out, then maybe you can pop off.
The second LAD envy comment from a NYY sympathizer came from a longtime NYY broadcaster, Michael Kay. Recently MLB.com released its annual Top 100 Players Right Now list. And to the shock of Kay, Shohei Ohtani was listed #1, ahead of #2 Aaron Judge. Kay has a radio show and did not mince words about his belief that Judge is a superior baseball player compared to Ohtani.
“On what planet can you say that Ohtani is better than Judge?” Kay wondered. “I don’t understand it. Are you projecting in 2025 that you think Ohtani is going to go back to being a dominant pitcher?”
“I just think, and I hate to admit it, that there is an anti-Yankee bias,” Kay said. “And I think everyone in Major League Baseball is absolutely in awe at the skills sets exhibited by Ohtani. And they should be — he’s one of the best baseball players ever. And so is Judge. So when they’re that close, you have to look at the statistics … Judge’s statistics are far superior to Ohtani’s.”
Hey Michael…WHO CARES about a list that has no meaning or significance. This was MLB.com’s list. It is one publication’s list of their top 100 players. Come up with your own and publish it.
FWIW, the Dodgers had 3 of the top 8 players on the list. NYM had 2. NYY? Just 1. Does that have any meaningful significance? Hardly!
More than a half dozen publications come up with their top 100 MLB prospects. None of them agree. Many not even on the #1 prospect. BA and MLB Pipeline have their top draft prospects and top international prospects lists. They are meaningless as well. They are fun to read, and I admit I get into the details. I just received my BA Prospect Handbook for 2025, and I will read it and study it…for my pleasure, not to be critical of their rankings.
Okay, now we can all go back and remind everyone who we believe will make the LAD roster.
I have yet to see Freeland play. Does anyone know how he is doing?
1-2 with 2 HBP. He has not done anything memorable defensively that I can recall.
Looks like a dude. He’s on the 2026 opening day roster along with Rushing.
Cortes isn’t entirely wrong. They were close to winning Game 1 and Game 5. But they didn’t. That happens every series.
If we go back from 2023 playoffs to 2013 playoffs, we can find games we should’ve won (well maybe not 2023 as we got spanked by AZ). 2022 we should’ve beaten SD in Game 4. 2019 we should’ve beaten Wash in Game 5. 2017 we were cheated. 2015 we should’ve won Game 1 and 5 vs NYM. 2014 we should’ve won Game 4 in StL. It happens.
Vast majority of playoff series aren’t blowouts so the losing team is usually very close to winning a game or 2, and maybe could’ve /should’ve won. We know that better than anybody.
You can do that in almost every playoff or World Series. 41, Mickey Owens misses strike three and Henrich reaches first. Yanks score 4 to win the game and go up 3-1. Who knows what would have happened had Brooklyn tied the series with that win. 2014 NLDS, leading 2-0, Kershaw gives up a 3-run homer to Matt Adams in the bottom of the 7th for the Cardinals only 3 runs. LA loses the series 3-1. Greinke gave up a solo homer to Daniel Murphy of the Mets in 2015 that cost them the game and the series. Greinke was pitching against deGrom and matched him inning for inning. After the fact, it is easy to say we should have won.
I go through this argument every year at playoff time. The best TEAM is the one that wins it all. NYY could have won Game 1 if Nestor Cortes doesn’t offer up a walk off GS. But he did. NYY could have won Game 5, but the best TEAM does not fall apart in an inning of a World Series game. But NYY did.
The Dodgers were not the best team in 2021-2023. The best TEAM does not hit WRISP as poorly as they did in the 2022 NLDS. The best TEAM does not run out of pitching in a NLDS. The same could be said about 2021 in the NLCS.
Is the marathon runner the best if he/she leads after 26.1 miles but gets passed in the final .1 mile?
The Dodgers were the best TEAM in 1988. Not NYM or Oakland.
The one exception is 2017. The Dodgers were the best TEAM, but they were cheated.
Who’s the better baseball player, Ohtani or Judge?
Well, looking at their average WAR per year its Judge by 1.5 or so. And if he was an average center fielder, which he is not according to the metrics, it would be a wider margin.
Who would you rather have on your team? Depends on the fan. I’d rather have Ohtani. He’s younger and he can pitch. Hopefully.
Judge or Ohtani? Mays or Mantle?
You pick. I just enjoy the opportunity to watch both play the game.
I’m not a slave to defensive metrics and I think Judge did more than respectable job in centerfield then many give him credit for. To watch a man at 6’8″ play the position, was impressive in my opinion.
That will always be tainted by the fly ball he dropped in the Series.
Ohtani
I understand that there is going to be disagreements by fans as to who is the best. My issue was that it was a a long tenured NYY broadcaster that blew a gasket. Could you imagine Vin Scully getting upset over a single publication’s reported best MLB player right now?
I have no problem with the discussion as to who is better between Judge and Ohtani. They are both 1st ballot HOF players. Judge gets the hit/slg tools. Ohtani had more SB last year than Judge has in his career. Judge does not pitch. In 481.2 IP, Ohtani has accumulated a 3.01 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 1.082 WHIP, 608 K (11.4 K/9), 3.51 K/BB, and garnered a 4th in CY vote for 2022.
Judge arguably has the best hit tools in MLB and by more than a marginal gap. OPS is a large influencer on WAR. Defensively he is a poor defensive CF. Last year he was in the 7th percentile OAA (-6), and had a -9 DRS, and a -10.2 range runs above average. He does catch everything hit to him, except in the 5th inning of a WS Game 5.
So yes, Jdge is the best hitter, but Ohtani has a legit argument that he is the best overall player.
And I agree it is a joy to watch both play. Just like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Francisco Lindor, Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Gunnar Henderson…
Best player I ever saw hands down was Willie Mays. Genuine 5 tool player.
The player with the most naturally powerful and gifted swing I have ever seen in my lifetime was Mike Piazza. I’ve never seen anyone with such a beautfiul swing, and all-around pure hitter profile. I teared up when the Dodgers traded him.
Stupid FOX.
Piazza was a great hitter, but as a catcher, he left a lot to be desired.
Michael Kay is never shy about expressing his opinions especially if it’s pro Yankees. He’s a very good announcer but a homer 3000 miles from LA and watching Ohtani.
Just one man’s opinion.
Did LA jump the gun trading Lux? Kim has struggled so far in spring training adjusting to MLB pitching. Is he overmatched?
A lot, if not most, of the MLB reporters saw Kim as needing development time.
If Edman becomes the second baseman and Outman the center fielder, then no, a mistake was not made. If Lux has a strong first half and the Reds need pitching, maybe the Lux trade will wind up helping the Dodgers trading for McClain.
Kim could be the bench guy that currently is owned by Rojas, Kike’, and Taylor. That for me is a perfect swap of aging players for one young guy just one year away. Maybe Freeland joins the team next year and replaces another aging player.
2026
Bench: Edman, Kim, Rushing, ?
DH Ohtani
2B Betts
1B Freeman
RF Hernandez
CF Outman
C Smith
LF Depaula
SS McClain
3B Freeland
Outfield could be Hernandez, Outman, and Edman to start the 2026 season.
From what I’ve seen of DePaula, he’s at least 2 years away from the MLB roster. No way I see him as the 2026 left fielder.
As to Outman………………………….I too am a fan, but he struck out 3 more times today. I really hope he can find himself but I’m beginning to think he’d be better served in another team’s uniform.
I think he’s an ideal change of scenery candidate. Send him to a team that isn’t contending and where there is far less pressure and competition to succeed immediately.
Too early yet STB, but as I said with Lux, a change of venue is a blessing for some players especially with the Dodgers versatility.
Might be just what the Doctor order for Chris Taylor as well.
No arguments here. I needed another lefty bat and couldn’t think of one I wanted so I stuck DePaula in as a placeholder. I’m willing to trade Outman. I’d rather he get to play in the MLB than in Oklahoma.
Arizona took the Dodgers out of the Post Season a couple of years ago using speed, timely hitting, and enough pitching. Mark suggested the Dodgers could benefit if they were to obtain McClain from the Reds. His scouting grades were:
HIT: 60
POWER: 50
RUN: 60
ARM: 55
FIELD: 50
OVERALL: 55
Edman, McClain, and Kim would give the Dodgers added speed, not as elite as AZ’s but enough to have to be reckoned with. I think Kim is a year away as long as Kike’, Taylor, and Rojas are Dodgers.
I think you are dreaming if you think the Reds are going to trade McLain. He is going to be their everyday second baseman. Lux is going to be used as a utility guy for now. He has been playing some third base.
Hard to imagine Outman starting.
I read this morning that the Dodgers are working on his swing mechanics. Don’t like the sounds of that. He hit pretty well in Korea with his swing. Yeah, I know, behind the fastball. See more of them and he will catch up. They signed him knowing what kind of hitter he is. His game is line drives, speed and superior defense. I wouldn’t mess with that.
I agree Badger. While it is unwise to compare him to Ichiro, when Ichy first got with the Mariners, Lou Pinella thought he was a bust. Couldn’t pull the ball, behind pitchers, showed poor balance at the plate pulling off any pitch away.
He was just finding his way and had the ability to hit, even with power but he had an unusual, unorthodox swing. To the tune of 3000 hits.
Leave the kid alone with his swing and let him find his way for awhile, even in AAA. What’s he played about 5 games?
Not in my opinion. Sorry but Lux was a mediocre hitter at best with no power in the majors.
He crushed pitching in AAA. But major league pitching and AAA pitching are two different stories.
Kim is worth the look, if not, there are a bunch of other superior options to Lux, Rojas, Kike, even Taylor might be better.
Bote is making a great case to be on the opening day roster. Up until today’s game, he was 8-12 with a homer and 6 driven in. The two former closers they have signed, Yates and Scott, were tagged with the runs given up today. Scott has a 13.50 ERA this spring.
no
Ohtani or Judge? R u kidding me! Ohtani is also one of the best pitchers in baseball. End of discussion
Another spring loss, even with Betts, Freeman, Conforto and Edman in the lineup. No offense to speak of. Karros had a nice inning. Yates tagged with the loss. As one former Dodger leaves the Pirates, Brett de Gues, another is officially signed, Andrew Heaney. de Gues was then picked up today after being placed on waivers by the Marlins.
James Ouchman because it is just so painful to watch this young man try to hit a baseball
It’s not offense I’m concerned about, it’s the pitching. The Farm has been milked dry and now we have to hope our ‘rehabbed’ arms will hold up. We’ve got a lot of stock but this is the Dodgers.
Lots of opinions about who’s going to make the roster and talk about who stays and who goes.
Here’s what we know after 13 at bats which leads the club at this point.
Nothing. Or very little.
Kim – 1 for 12. .083, 2 BB, 5 K’s
CT3 – 3-11, .273, 1 BB, 6 K’s (his K rate the last 3 years is like 35%)
Rosario – 3 for 11, .200, 1 walk, 4 K’s
Outman – 2 for 10, .200, 1 BB, 6 K’s ( he hits LHP vs RHP, forget about it)
Edman – 1 for 9, .111, 0 BB, 2 K’s
Pages 2 for 9, .222, 2 BB 4 K’s
Conforto – 0 for 7, .000, 1 BB, 3 K’s
Kike – 1 for 7, .143, 2 BB, 3 K’s
Not counting Hope and DePaula who are at least a year away.
So based on performance so far, the bench should be Hoese, Bote, Feducca and Miggy Ro.
The point is it’s way too early to decide on the younger players. Not so much for me, for the older guys like Taylor who has a poor track record the past 3 years and shows no improvement. It’s Kike or CT3 for me and I’d take Kike.
I’d like to see something from Conforto before he’s penciled in a lineup.
What I do see that disturbs me, even this early, is for the 8 guys listed above there is a total of 32 strikeouts in 80 at bats. I know that the pitching is usually ahead of the hitting this early, but a 40% K-rate for guys vying for a position is ridiculous. An emphasis on contact might be a place to start.
Since 2017 Dodgers year in and year out seem to be around 20% – 23% K rate.
No reason to anticipate that to change this year.
23% isn’t 40%. What’s your point?
That it won’t be 40% in the regular season?
It won’t be. But it is possible to start the season it could be higher than 23% for a while. This is a come out of your shoes launch organization.
Plunkett takes a look at the mechanical changes Glasnow is working with:
“I think having that happen it was time to say, ‘Alright, I need to change something,’” Glasnow said… A look at the biomechanics of his throwing motion offered him something to focus on – the angle of his spine as his front foot lands on the downslope of the mound sometimes gets too extreme, causing his arm to drag behind in the kinetic chain. That puts added stress on the elbow ligaments.
And David Adler of MLB takes a cool look at the different split-finger fastballs of Dodger starters:
https://x.com/_dadler/status/1880421957386289595
Change is good. If we do not change we do not grow. Progress is not possible without change. The first step toward change is awareness. We cannot become what we need to become by remaining what we are.
Then there’s this: all change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.
We all hope what Glasnow is doing will help, but I believe it would be wise to prepare for more of the same. The Dodgers are attempting to do just that.