Are the Dodgers Too Old?

Note to All - This post was drafted before Sundays game. However, it does not detract from the focus of this post.

I do not know if they are too old now, but they are getting pretty darn close. Injuries do not heal as quickly when we turn north of 30, including professional athletes. Or are the players concentrating more on their new positions more, and that is taking a hit on their offense?

Regardless, something is off with the first three offensively.

Ohtani started to ramp up his pitching in earnest in June so he could be ready at the All Star break. However, as we have discussed ad nauseum, too many LAD starters on the IL, and his rehab was ramped up even more. More bullpens. More live sim games with live batters. He started June 16, well before the planned date after his set back in the Spring.

Shohei Ohtani’s baseball age is 30. His physical age turns 31 on July 5. Thus his baseball age is one year younger than the player born on June 30 the same year. As an example, Tommy Edman is 10 months younger than Ohtani, but both are 30 in baseball age. What does that mean? No clue. They had to pick a birthdate somewhere in the middle of the season. The only age that matters is the age the body feels.

I know Ohtani tells everyone that the ramp up in pitching between games is not a reason for his decline in offensive production in June. What is he supposed to say? “You know, if I was ramping up pitching to the level I should have been in the offseason, then I would be crushing it in June like I did in May.” Contrary to reports, especially from those fans who believe that Ohtani is omnipotent, Shohei is human, and cannot hit, pitch, and run at elite levels at all times, especially when ramping up to pitching at an elite level, as he is capable. Pitchers (and hitters) have their routines. When Ohtani started to ramp up, his routine was broken for hitting and pitching.

Now, before those on other sites who love to call us morons read this, I am not criticizing Shohei Ohtani. Not in the least. Bear knows what that was like when only pointing out statistics of Ohtani swinging at balls outside the zone. No comment that he sucked. But he was accused of it.

Shohei is the best player in the game, and once he gets back into a routine, IMO he will return to his elite self, both offensively and pitching. I do not know if his base stealing will return, although I highly doubt it, that should not impact his overall greatness in the 2^nd half.

The last time Ohtani was in full routine was 2023 before TJ surgery. Being back in the rotation should help with that routine.

For the month of May, when he still was not being pushed to pitch, in 128 PA, Ohtani batted .309/.398/.782/1.180. He had 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 15 HRs. He scored 31 runs, and drove in 27. He had 31 K with 17 BB. He was on base 51 times in those 27 games with 10 multi-hit games.

For the month of June, in 91 PA, Ohtani is batting .260/.363/.442/.804. Not very Ohtani like. He has 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HRs. He has score just 10 times, with just 7 RBI. He has 25 K, 10BB, and 3 HBP. He has reached base 33 times in 20 games, with just 5 multi hit games.

This year, Ohtani’s hard hit % and average exit velocity are at or near the top of his career. While his line drive % is down, his ground ball rate is up, at the highest level since 2020. His pull % is the highest in his career, while the opposite field hitting is the lowest in his career. With a lower line drive rate, and way more pull than opposite, he is not driving the ball into LC at a rate that we are used to seeing. That is why we are seeing more ground ball singles between 1st and 2nd from Shohei.

For 5 of his 7 years with LAA, Ohtani was a 2-way player. For those 7 years, Ohtani’s batting line was .274/.366/.556/.922. Is that what we should expect from Ohtani while he is pitching? I will take that with his CY level pitching.

Mookie is struggling in 2025, offensively. He is one of the better defensive SS in MLB, and is making plays this year, he had no hope for in 2024 pre injury. His throws are still an adventure, but they almost always end up in Freddie’s glove.

For June, in 79 PA, Mookie is hitting .257/.342/.357/.699. 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 9BB, and 9 K. In 18 games, Mookie has 4 multi-hit games. His last multi-hit game was June 7. He has not had a HR since June 8. Not even close to Mookie like. Is he exerting more energy by working at SS? It is not the games, it is the work between games. Then again he is 32, and probably starting to slow down. My guess is if he were 26 and converting to SS, I do not believe we would see such a decline. But with the position change to a more physically demanding position, AND his 32 year age, it is a double whammy.

I can appreciate that Mookie wants to be the SS, and to be elite at it defensively. We were told that the team asked him to play SS because it was easier to find an OF than a SS as a FA or in a trade, and for the team, he was agreeable. So the Dodgers put Mookie at SS and signed Michael Conforto.

Mookie will not blame the diminished results offensively because of his SS work. Like Shohei, what is he supposed to say?

I will not criticize the Conforto signing, as I was initially for the deal. The price was a bit exaggerated, but I liked the player, and thought that he would fit in well. He does fit in well as a teammate, but his baseball acumen is well below that of a replacement level OF, not withstanding the great catch he made Friday. Should Mookie go back to RF? I am not Mookie and do not know how his body feels running on the grass. He says infield is easier for his legs. You can choose to not believe him, but why would he make that up? Kim at SS and Edman in 2B? Okay. Mookie to 2B? Kim to SS and Edman to CF. Okay. Either way, Kim is in and Conforto is a LH hitting PH and reserve OF.

Regardless, how will Mookie take the change? I understand perfectly that Mookie is a better teammate than Rafael Devers was with Boston, and would be willing to make a move for the betterment of the team, but it needs to be discussed with him. Then again, I doubt that Mookie makes the All Star game this year, and he will get an unusual mid-July break at home with family and rest during this time, and perhaps that will trigger a resurgence at the plate. That should have no impact on Conforto, as Kim should be in the lineup before Conforto.

Now to Freddie. His injuries are not healing like when he was in his 20’s. I am not sure his ankle will ever be the same. He will turn 36 in September, and yet his 2025 offensive numbers have been outstanding overall for the first 78 games, although he admits that he has not clicked for the last 6 weeks.

"Swing is still in Arizona I think."

Freddie Freeman (0-4, 2 K) chats with the media after the #Dodgers lose to the Nationals 7-3 in Game 2 of the 3-game set. pic.twitter.com/v1jixTGtvj

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 22, 2025

For the month of June, in 19 games and 78 PA, Freddie is hitting .197/.269/.254/.523, 4 doubles, 3 RBI, 7 BB, and 18 K. He has 14 hits, and only 4 multi-hit games in June. His last multi-hit game was June 17 against San Diego. His last HR was May 14. His last multi-XBH was June 3 against NYM with 2 doubles. This is nowhere close to being the Freddie we were expecting.

Freddie will be going to Atlanta for the All Star game, and that will be a reward for him. He is deserving and it will be a homecoming of sorts for Freddie, as he is still adored in Atlanta. This will be a nice respite to get his mind off what is happening with his offense with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers HAVE to have the first three in their lineup to be clicking for them to win. Andy Pages has been a very nice addition. He is deserving of an All Star spot, but it will depend on which team does not have a player voted to be a starter to know whether Pages has a chance.

Will Smith has been extraordinary this year. And Teo is Teo. Hyeseong Kim has been a surprise. I am not sure where the Dodgers will be without these four.

But just as disappointed as Shohei, Mookie, and Freddie might feel, I am just as convinced they will break out of whatever it is that is ailing them. In the interim, if Mookie needs a break, put Hyeseong Kim at SS. If Freddie needs another day off, put Rushing at 1B (not Kiké). While I do not believe the Dodgers are TOO old, they are getting older, and it is about time for them to get more youth in the lineup, more often than they have been.

Because AAA and AA is really devoid of regular position players , the Dodgers are going to need to ride these players until, the A League players get to MLB. Maybe Freeland will be an exception, and while I do like him, it is not unrealistic to believe he is a platoon infielder as well. Outman and Feduccia certainly are role players, and there really is nobody in AA that gives an impression that they are even at that level, although Yeiner Fernandez could make a case for reserve as a catcher and 2B. An Austin Barnes type player. But certainly not a regular.

There is plenty in A+, A, and Rookie League to like, but they are a long way away from MLB, and a lot can happen in their development as they traverse that climb through the organization. I am working on my 1^st half analysis of the LAD MiLB farm system, and it will be heavily positioned with those levels.

As I said in a previous post. Be patient. The Dodgers are getting closer. They will be getting starters and relievers back and healthy. They will be playing an easier schedule. And I am guessing that Michael Conforto will not be in the lineup as often after the All Star break if he does not start producing. And still they are 3.5 games in 1^st, and only 1 game behind Detroit for the best record in MLB. With 83 games remaining, and a lot of pitching help on the way, I sure like their chances.

For the record, on Sunday:

• Shohei - 2-4, 3 runs, 5 RBI, triple (6), HR (26), 1 BB, 2 K
• Mookie - 1-4 1 run, 1 RBI
• Freddie - 1-4, 2 runs, 2 K