Bear and others have been consistent with their disdain for strikeouts. I am usually in that category, but OTOH the Dodgers seemingly have promoted slug over contact, which is why we see too many LAD hitters not take a good 2-strike approach. Player or team philosophy?
Shohei Ohtani has always been a strikeout hitter with BIG SLUG. Last year his K% was 25.7% while his career is 25.5%. Shohei always has and always will swing as hard as he can every time. Last year, NL average K% was 21.9%, which was better than the AL rate of 22.6%. Ohtani has a penchant for striking out, and a penchant for hitting monstrous HR. I will take the strikeouts as long as there is the chance for that game changing HR. That is who he is. He has three straight MVP awards and 4 out of the last five years. I am not going to bet against him in 2026. Two looks of Shohei:
Here is a compiled list of LAD hitters and their K% with at least 100 PA:
- Dalton Rushing – 37.4%
- Hyeseong Kim – 30.6%
- Kiké Hernández – 26.6%
- Shohei Ohtani – 25.7%
- Michael Conforto – 24.9%
- Teoscar Hernández – 24.5%
- Andy Pages – 21.6%
- Freddie Freeman – 20.4%
- Will Smith – 20.4%
- Tommy Edman – 16.2%
- Miguel Rojas – 14.5%
- Mookie Betts – 10.3%
That is 6 greater than the NL average and 6 below. For whatever that means.
As a team, the Dodgers were 16th in number of strikeouts in the regular season of the 30 teams. So while we may be laser focused on what the Dodgers are doing, they are in the middle of teams. The Dodgers were 6th out of 15 teams with the most strikeouts in the National League, and the only playoff team with more strikeouts was Cincinnati. If the Mets held on to beat out Cincinnati at the end, no playoff team would have had more strikeouts than the Dodgers.
With all of the perceived strikeouts by LAD hitters, they were still #1 in Runs scored, HR, SLG, and OPS. They were #3 in OBP and BA. Striking out as much as they did, did not hurt their WS chances. And when they got to the WS the Dodgers faced the team with the least number of strikeouts in MLB, Toronto, and beat them as well.
Would I prefer that the Dodgers take a better approach with 2 strikes? Of course I would. But I am not sure that there is a strong correlation between number of strikeouts and the teams’ ability to win. But there is more of a correlation between HR and the teams’ ability to win.
I am not going to draw into that HR/Win correlation, but I am also not going to go against whatever their offensive philosophy was for the past two WS championships. It is easy to look at statistics and blame players or philosophies in roster construction for reasons why a team loses, but it is hard to argue against success.
Another common complaint is that the Dodgers have to get younger. I agree with Badger, the Dodger hitters do not need to get younger, they need to get better. For the last three years, the Dodgers have lead all of MLB teams with the average age of batters. It was 30.7 in 2025 and 30.3 in 2024.
I am not naïve. I know there is a limit to how long MLB hitters can be effective. Are the Dodgers approaching that age? I guess we will see in October, but even at their advanced age, they are still favored to win it all.
Rushing and Kim figure to get a longer run this year, with regulars Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker both under 30. Even considering those players, I am going out on a limb and saying that the average LAD hitter is above 30. What may hurt the Dodgers is that those soft tissue injuries do not heal as quickly after 30 than they do in their 20’s. How long will Max be out if he has another oblique strain? Or Teoscar and another groin pull? How many more seasons of MVP level production from Freddie and his ankle? The Dodgers are blessed with enough depth to minimize those IL stint effects.
I was amazed at how low Mookie’s k number was.
I could be totally wrong, but I’d bet that about 70% if his strike outs were called third strikes.
and I’d be 70% of those called 3rd strikes on him were NOT strikes. I always thought he got the worst calls of anyone on the team by the home plate ump
I agree.
Mookie, always the gentlemen, does that little hop when it happens and then trudges back to the dugout.
I’ll second that.
The top two K rates came from rookies. Both should improve.
I don’t care as much about strikeouts as I usta did. I do care about chase rate. I’m not sure what the team % is but I know Ohtani’s, for the great hitter he is, is way too high. So is Freddie’s. Mookie’s, Smith’s, Muncy’s and Tucker’s are all where they should be. If Ohtani would match their chase rates he could OPS what Bonds did. The first rule of hitting – get a good pitch to hit.
The second is spit on balls.
Great stuff.
This team is so complete it’s getting hard to find faults.
I guess the unknown aspect of really any bullpen is the thing that stands out as a potential weakness this year.
We might have to commit to some young SPs helping out in relief.
I guess I am old school on strikeouts. When I grew up watching and playing baseball, strikeouts were not acceptable.
Ohtani is what he is and we just have to accept that. What is frustrating is how good he could be if he cut down the SO’s and chase.
I can live with the sluggers having a lot of SO’s. What sucks is the pop gun hitters with high K rates. Chris Taylor comes to mind.
I think the getting younger will begin in 27 when our young OF prospects are ready for their debut. There will be an OF spot open after Teo is gone for Hope and Siroto to battle it out for. And I think DePaula has to tradition to 1B. That leaves the last opening at 3B open after Max is gone. Possibly Murakami if he produces and opts out from White Sox
It will be fun watching it play out.
Kike’s WS performance. In 5 WS he has played in 29 games and had 91 PA and 84 AB’s. He has had 17 hits, 4 BB and 28 SO. A 33% SO rate. He has scored 9 runs, hit 2 HR and has 9 RBI’s. His BA is .202, OBP is .244, SLG is .310 for an OPS of .544. Adequate, but not elite.
He is however much better in the NLDS with an OPS of 802 with 3 HR and 10 RBI and 12 runs scored in 8 appearances. Also the NLCS with an OPS of .835 with 6 HR and 13 RBI and 13 runs scored in 6 appearances. .
He has clearly been very valuable in the NL playoffs and decent in the WS.
Along with his intangibles and versatility he is a valuable post season asset.
Decent??? With a .202 average and a OPS of .544? That is just frippen pitiful. His best postseason stretch ever came when he was with the Red Sox in 21. He was 20-49 overall with 5 homers and 9 RBI’s. His NLCS numbers are inflated because of one game. 3 of his homers and 7 of those 13 RBIs came in game six of the 2017 NLCS. The rest are spread out over 5 series which makes them a lot less impressive.
I was being kind Bear. I initially started that comment with, I don’t know what all the hype is about Kike in the WS. I tend to agree with you that he is overhyped.
Ah, kindness, seems to not be one of my better traits. Especially when I believe someone is as overrated as he was. Taylor was a big K guy, but he always played hard and never let bad performances define him. He never made excuses, especially when he was hurt.
I am not sure that I would have re-signed Kiké, but there is no denying that he has the ability to impact an October game in a positive way. If I had to guess, I would think that Kiké was signed not only because of his October resume, but also because his clubhouse WAR is sky high, and the Dodgers love a great clubhouse.
A tale of two statcast pages:
Exit Velo – Player A – 90.7, Player B – 86.0
Hard Hit % – Player A – 38%, Player B – 28.2%
Bat Speed – Player A – 70.7, Player B – 67.3
Barrel – Player A – 8, Player B – 2.7
Chase – Player A – 19.3%, Player B – 35.1%
Whiff – Player A – 30.5%, Player B – 31.4%
BB – Player A – 11.3%, Player B – 4.1%
OAA – Player A – +3, Player B – 0
Arm Strength – Player A – 84.5, Player B – 84.4%
Running – Player A – 26.2, Player B – 28.7
Baseball Age – Player A – 24, Player B – 27
Player A is still a rookie, while Player B is in his 2nd year.
Both players controlled through 2031.
Neither player stands out as a star, or even as a regular. Player B hit the sweet spot more than Player A by a fair margin, but could not generate enough bat speed to get good exit velo.
Without knowing who the players are, which one would you prefer?
I think logically most would pick player A. Obviously there are intangibles that are not measurable. Metrics are a good evaluating tool, but the game is played with more than metrics.
Player A – Alex Freeland (S)
Player B – Hyeseong Kim (L)
After learning. who the players are, personal bias comes into play. And that is okay.
To be fair to Kim, his 0 OAA is +4 at 2B, -2 at SS, -2 in CF. Freeland’s was a combined +3 for 2B and 3B. Kim did not play 3B while Freeland spent more time at 3B than 2B.
While neither player is expected to break 300 PA, Kim’s 2026 projections are slightly better than Freeland’s. Kim is considered a better 2B, and with Tommy Edman out, that is the position of need right now.
Of course, Bear could be right and Santiago Espinal could sneak his way onto the roster. He is an accomplished MLB player and a former All Star (2022 with Cincinnati). Would not be my choice, but the Dodgers do love their veterans.
Great stuff Jeff. Looking forward to seeing them battle it out in ST. Also hope Ward gets a good look in ST.
Maybe I’m alone, but I liked what I saw from both Kim and Freeland. Freeland just plays the game hard and I think hed get better with more playing time.
Kim has and exciting skillset, which I think would be fantastic in the 9 hole.
I like them both. I think Freeland has the higher floor.
I would slow play Rojas and Muncy and try to get both Kim and Freeland a lot of play through May.
Kim will be away from the team for a couple of weeks with the WBC and his team starting in Tokyo.
Buehler will make $1.5MM if added to the roster and could also access performance bonuses worth $2.5MM on the deal.
Great deal for the Puds. Risk nothing if he doesn’t make the roster and a bargain if he pitches well.
Walker’s ERA over the last two seasons is over 5. In his lone appearance against LA he pitched just 4.2 innings allowing 3 runs.
Love me some Walker
It is not so much the fact that he strikes out a lot, it is the fact that Ohtani chases way too many pitches he could not hit if he tried. The low and away pitch is the same kind of Kryptonite to him as it was Bellinger when he was having his bad years.
He’s the greatest player in the sport. Criticizing him is like finding faults with Leonardo’s sculptures.
Leo had trouble painting eyes.
Dammit!
He painted over 40 copies of the Mona Lisa. He never gave the original to the patron who commissioned it.
He might be the greatest player in the sport, but he has faults, they all do, and his is his high K rate. He chases way too many pitches that he has no chance of hitting. He could easily be a .300 hitter if he was more selective. He is a career .282 hitter. That is not greatness. That is a lower career BA than Freeman. Babe Ruth hit .342 for his career. His OPS+ is 46 points higher than Ohtani. But let’s compare Shohei to his closest competitor, Aaron Judge, Career .296 hitter. OPS+ slightly higher than Ohtani, so proclaiming Ohtani the greatest in the sport is quite wrong. Ohtani is one of a kind because he also pitches, but as a hitter, he could be better. Anyone who thinks differently is not checking the facts or watching many of his at bats. By the way, Babe Ruth never struck out more than 93 times in a season, Ohtani doubled that number last year alone. After 8 years in the majors, Ohtani is just 200 Ks behind what it took Ruth 22 years to accumulate. Ruth also walked 732 times more than he struck out. His career ERA is lower than Ohtani’s too. So, lets reign in the greatest talk. He is unique to today’s game.
Friend, you’d do well to read more closely and think more openly.
I read a lot more than you think, and my mind is pretty open, but stats do not lie. Let’s just compare last season when both were MVP’s Judge hit .331/53/114 with an OPS of 1.114. His OPS+ was 215. He led the league in BA, WAR, runs scored, walks, OBP, Slugging, OPS+ rOBA, Rbat+ and total bases. Ohtani led in runs scored, Slugging, OPS, OPS+, rOBA, Rbat+ and total bases. Ohtani struck out more, 187-160, walked less 124-109, his OPS was .130 points lower. He drove in 30 less runs. He slugged 60 points lower. His value increases with his pitching, but you really could not see that this year he only pitched in 14 games. His post season numbers for World Series play are not eye popping; he has played better in the LCS than the World Series. Judge clearly had a better year; Ohtani played on a better team. That is what the stats tell you. it is my opinion that Ohtani would be a much better hitter if he was more selective. I have rewatched almost the entire 24-25 seasons because my MLB acct allows me to do that. So, I can see just how many really horrible at bats he had.
Roberts said Graterol will not be ready for opening day, they will slow play him. Astros interested in Michael Conforto.
I hate strikeouts. Wasted at bats that is all they are. Five Dodgers struck out 121 times or more. That is simply my stand. Be more selective, quit chasing pitches out of the zone, and all the offensive stats will improve. Simple.
Nobody likes strikeouts. But the Dodgers GIDP number was 108. I wonder how many runs, and wins, would have been recorded had all those GIDP’s been K’s instead?
The Blue Jays grounded into the most double plays in the majors, 133, 25 more than the Dodgers, but they struck out 254 times less. LA outscored them by 27 runs. No way to know. I just can’t stand to see bad at bats.
And yet the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in the WS. So while you may have strike outs, you can’t argue with the overall results.