This one is easy for me, Buehler striking out Verdugo to win it all. If you watch a replay of the video, Buehler had a much different reaction than Julio Urias did in 2020. He just looked towards the Dodger dugout and flung his arms out. Urias was bent over shaking his fists. It was the culmination of a year so filled with adversity.
1. Winning the World Series and the comeback in game 5. Looked like they were going to have to come back home to win it. Then that 5th inning happened and the Yankees imploded. Still had to score 2 more in the 8th to win it. Both runs scoring on sac-fly’s.
2. Freddies walk off grand slam in game 1. Seminal moment of the series. Felt to me like they were not going to be denied right there. As big a series moment as Gibby’s blast in game 1 in 88.
3. Edman’s play in the NLCs. Tommy Edman was just unstoppable in this series. 11-27 with a homer and 11 RBI’s. Solid defensively and he just took the wind out of the Mets every chance he got. Drove in 4 in the game six clincher.
4. 4 shutouts in a five-game span, including the last 2 games of the NLDS against the Padres and games 1 and 3 of the NLCS. Bullpen game in game 4 of the LDS. Pen allowed 7 hits and walked 2 while striking out 8. In game 5, Teo and Kike went deep, and Yamamoto and four relievers held the Padres to just 2 hits and a walk. Game 1 of the LCS, Flaherty pitched maybe his best game as a Dodger. 7 2 hit shutout innings against the Mets. In game 3, Buehler pitched 4 shutout innings, and the pen did the rest.
5. Mookie’s LCS performance. Edman got the MVP, but Mookie was right there with him, hitting 2 homers and driving in 9 runs. He and Edman accounted for 20 of the 44 RBI’s LA had in the series. Also, Ohtani and Muncy setting the table. Muncy drew 11 walks in the series and Ohtani 9.
6. Ohtani’s 50-50 game. In a game the Dodgers won 20-4 against the Marlins, Shohei went 6-6 with 3 homers, 10 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases to get him to 51 of each. All of his homers were no doubt jobs.
7. Comeback against the Rockies. Rockies jumped all over Walker Buehler scoring 7 runs in 4 innings. They scored 2 more off of the bullpen and went into the 9th inning leading 9-4. The Dodgers managed to load the bases with 1 out. Jayson Heyward PH for Chris Taylor. With 2 strikes, he launched a ball down the RF line for a grand slam homer. LA managed to get 2 more runners on base with just 1 out being made and Teo came to the plate. He had a checked swing called a ball. Colorado went nuts; it looked like he did not hold up. On the next pitch he hit a ball deep to right center that cleared the high fence for a three-run homer. LA scored 7 and won the game 11-9.
8. Ohtani’s 40th homer. Ohtani already had 40 stolen bases, and he needed a homer to become LA’s first 40-40 player. On August 23rd, against the Rays, Otani came up with the bases loaded and 2 outs in a tie game. Colin Poche was the pitcher and Ohtani homered deep to right center for a walk off grand slam. It was his 40th of the year.
9. Games 2 and 3 of the final series against the Padres. After losing game 1 of the series, the Dodgers lead in the NL West was down to 2 games. Jack Flaherty and Dylan Cease were the starters. Both pitchers left after the 5th inning with the game tied at 3. The Dodgers managed to score a run without a hit in the 6th off of Estrada, and the bullpen held on for the win. The Dodgers could clinch the division by winning game 3. Buehler got the start and went 5 innings allowing only a run. Joe Musgrove kept the Dodgers off of the scoreboard through six innings. In the bottom of the sixth, LA scored 2 off of Musgrove and 3 off of Tanner Scott, they added 2 off of Hoenig in the 8th and the bullpen secured the division clinching 7-2 win.
10. Fun moment. Ohtani when he tied Dave Roberts for the most home runs by a player of Japanese descent, gifted him with a toy Porsche. When Joe Kelly had given Ohtani his # 17, he gifted Kelly’s wife with a real Porshe. To say the least, Dave was a little disappointed. Those are my favorites, let us see yours.
Sasaki will be posted by his Japanese team.
https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/story/_/id/42280725/chiba-lotte-marines-post-japanese-star-roki-sasaki-mlb
Lets hope the Dodgers will get him.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slam dunk. Kid wants to be a Dodger and play alongside Yoshi and Shohei.
Robert jun. trade getting obviously some steam around the rumor mill.
How about Outman, Miller ,Freeland, Cartaya for him ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still leery of a guy with that much injury history. Played exactly one full season out of five years in the majors. Sox are going to want a lot for him, and personally, I don’t think he is worth it.
You’ve pretty much covered the highlights Bear. It was a magical season. I only wish Ohtani had shown up in the World Series.
Sasaki, Fried, Robert Jr, Adames …. and a bullpen arm?
I wonder what Gomes and Friedman think of Robert Jr. He did not have a great year. Grade 3 hip flexor strain would do it. And I am also curious what it would take to pry Crochet away. If they are both available it would take our best prospects as the bidding would be high.
Who in our system is the one guy that is not available for trade?
Don´twant Crochet. His second half numbers were bad and when he said he wants a contract or he does not pitch in postseason play that raises a huge red flag for me about his character.
No thanks. Rather have Snell or Fried.
I would include Vesia coming out and getting the final out in GAme 2 with the bases loaeded on the first pitch. Other than that Bear pretty much nailed it.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!11
He’s 25 and projects 170 innings and a 4.8 fWAR. I’d take that without question.
And every ego barks. He’s young and no doubt frustrated he’s with such a horesh*t organization.
But, I doubt Chicago would trade him. He’s the star there and is team controlled until ‘27. If they decide to move him there would be multiple teams involved for such a talent. I think he would be a great fit in L.A.
Tom Britton from The Athletic has an interesting piece on projected salary. He uses projected fWAR in his process:
Soto 13 years $611million
Burnes 7 $217m
Fried 5 $140m
Adames 6 $150m
Snell 4 $110m
Flaherty 4 $92m
Santander 5 $105m
Teo 3 $69m
Scott 4 $69m
Buehler 2 $32m
And there’s more of course. Good read.
Soto for 13 years /611 is a no brainer IMHO. Sure fire furture HOF already, 26 years old. In 10 years from now that deal will be a bargain.
There will be coming some money off the Dodgers books too soon. CT3 only one more year left, FF contract after 2027, Muncy after 2026, Kershaw probably after 2025.
And I am not afraid of his defense . Put him in LF for the next 3 years. Then when FF contract is up put him or Shohei at 1b and the other at DH.
Plus he will bring some much needed youth to this team.Biggest challenge to the Dodgers future success at this moment might just be the age curve they are facing with Betts, FF, Ohtani, MM all on the wrong side of 30 already. Soto will lessen that threat quite a bit.
If Soto wants to come to LA you have to make it work.
Imagine Ohtani, Betts, Soto, FF at the top of this lineup. That is a historically superior lineup.
If not Soto I would like Snell, Teo and Adames along with Sasaki.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re getting a little greedy there DR😀
He is also delusional. But that is his normal state! Teo and Adames, and Sasaki, probably or at least maybe. Soto and Snell are Boras’s clients. They won’t be Dodgers. LA has already made an offer to Adames.
I’m with you Bear I don’t think the Dodgers will sign a Boros client unless it’s a good deal, several times Boros has made little comments about the Dodgers, I think only uses them to drive the price up on his players. Who was the last Boros client the Dodgers signed? He loves to deal with the Yankees, that’s where I think Soto lands.
JD Martinez and then to just a one-year deal. They knew they were going after Ohtani when they signed him. They let guys walk after signing with Boras. To me, this eliminates. Snell, Manaea, Soto, Alonso, Scherzer, Bregman, and even Tyler O’Neil who is also a Boras client. And the guys with QO’s attached. except maybe Adames and Freid. But doubtful AF would sign two guys who have a QO. Soto has one, so does Burnes and they are double whammy guys because Boras is their agent.
I hope the Mets sign Soto and stick it to the Yankees.
You got Ohtani for 700 million and then he defers it 20 years.you just can’t never say never.
I get that, and they have Mookie for 8 more years, Freddie for 3, Yoshi for 12, Glasnow for 5, Smith for 10. I am not sure they can defer much more money. Also, I don’t think they can outbid the Mets. Plus, there is the Boras thing. They have not signed a Boras client to a long-term deal in AF’s entire time with the team. Graterol is the only Boras client on the team. Paxton was also, neither on a long-term deal. The only Boras client the Dodgers ever gave a long-term deal to was Kevin Brown in 1998. I doubt they break from that.
If those numbers are close, I’d sign Teo, Fried, Flaherty and possibly Santander, depending on the trade market for outfielders. Edman and Rojas can man short. I’d rather stay away from Santander. Whatever the FO decides I’m good with.
Santander has a QO attached to him.
I would take Freid over Snell any day. Snell is a Boras client. He is not coming to LA.
He did have one big hit in game 1. His 8th inning double ended up being the tying run. Allowed them to get to extra innings. dePaula or Rushing about as close to untouchable as anyone.
Not sure dePaula is near untouchable.
Sasaki to be posted; he will be a Dodger. The boat has sailed on Robert Jr. & Crochet for the Dodgers. Sign Sasaki, Teo, Adames and a couple of relievers. Move Lux for prospects; see how Rushing looks in LF in spring training.
Good plan Brklyn. And you are probably right about the Chicago players.
What about Flaherty and Buehler?
Fave moment of 2024 was standing at Yankee Stadium near the Dodger dugout when Buehler struck out Verdugo and seeing the team rush out of the dugout and celebrate.
Being at Freeman’s grand slam game was amazing as well, but being present to see your team win the title is the ultimate goal. I saw the Lakers beat Boston in Game 7, 2010, and now the Dodgers in Game 5, 2024. Those games will always be top 2
Bobby – didn’t realise you were also at the WS winning game – thought you were at the Bullpen giveaway game!
It doesn’t get better than that. Must’ve been an unforgettable experience especially coming back from the dead in game 5.
Good on ya mate.
Yaaa man, I was at Game 4 where we got shelled, but it would’ve made no sense to fly back and miss out on the main point of being in NY in the first place: to see us clinch it.
Plus that fantastic margharita pizza slice at 2:30am in Time Sq area was soo good!!
Totally jealous Bobby. Good on you!
Judging from the video’s I have seen on Facebook, not many of those Yankee fans were very gracious in defeat. I heard more expletives in 20 seconds than I have in years.
Mine has to be Freddies slam in game 1. Just like Gibsons hr, it felt like we already won the WS!
I don’t know how it can be anything other than Freddie’s GS it set the pace for the whole series, just as Gibson did in “88” If the Yanks win game one it would have been a whole different series.
I agree with you Dave. Freddie’s walk off grand slam was fantastic. I had to contain myself from yelling in happiness. My wife does not like sports at all, so I had to keep the cheering to myself to keep the peace. 🙂
Freddie hitting homers in the first four games was pretty awesome too. Joined Duke Snider as the only Dodgers to ever homer four times in a World Series.
Buehler’s strikeout of Verdugo and shrug toward dugout.
Instead of spending $150mil or more on Adames, I’d personally LOVE to sign Ha Seong Kim to play SS. I bet he’d be way cheaper, way less years, and we’d still get him at a very young age. I think he’s an ascending player and would fit right in.
This guy is a fantastic defender and improving hitter.
Fav moment has to be Freddie’s grand slam. Just stole that game and tilted the series to us. Sign Sasaki, Buehler, Teo and then gather some prospects to throw at Blue Jays for Bichette. Give Rushing a shot in left. Outman and Edman in center
…..and sign Treinen also
Jays GM has already stated that Bichette is not going to be traded.
Plus he’s versatile!
The only downside is his shoulder surgery and how he recovers therefrom.
He is older than Adames, has no power and they are almost even defensively. Adames had a down year as a defender last season, but he is usually much better. I believe he has peaked.
Im not to concerned about Adames defense. I looked it up he had 20 errors last season 6 of them were in an 8 game span in mid August. He was probably playing through some bumps and bruises, so I can give him a pass for having a rough two week stretch.
I’m a Kim fan but his shoulder injury scares me, I can’t get out of my head how much shoulder injuries messed up Matt Kemp, and Cody Bellinger. I don’t want to watch Kim, in our line up, struggle for a season or two like belly did, and Matt never was the same after his injury. If healthy I’d be right there with you.
Bellinger has at least gotten some of his game back. He will never be 2019 Bellinger again, but he is more that excellent as an outfielder, and his bat can still do some damage.
Kid will look great in a Dodger uni.
Yes he will. If Dodgers get him we are for sure going to a 6 man rotation.
I think the Dodgers still try to get Crochet from White Sox whether they get Sasaki or not. We all just witnessed how many SPs it takes to get through the year. He’s 25 and projected to make 2.9 mil in arbitration next season with control through 2026. Lux is in Betts way so he has to get moved anyway might as make him part of a WS trade.
I don’t think they even enter talks for that guy. His comments during the time prior to the deadline would have turned management off. And he totally sucked in the second half.
Bob Nightengale posted that Crochet was one of the most sought after players at the GM meetings, and that the Phillies and the Dodgers are the most aggressive teams after him.
Phllies GM says he is looking for position players in return.
There are also reports coming out of the meetings that the Dodgers are hot on Sotos’ trail. Believe it only when it finally happens. I do not believe they will trade for Crochet.
I would rather they get Fried.
Same here, to me he is a better pitcher and a better option.
I see a different guy than you do Bear. 25 years old, 4.7 fWAR (projects 4.8 fWAR, and 170 innings) 12.88 K/9. On a different, more successful team, he could become an ace. He did have a rough July/August but overall he pitched well.
If he’s available multiple teams will be all over him.
Totally understand, but I believe character has a lot to do with which players the Dodgers will target.
I hope the Dodgers bring Buehler back. And Kike.
Buehler, maybe, Kike, probably not. He is redundant with Taylor, Edman and Rojas on the roster. He has already removed all references to the Dodgers from his social media pages. And you want to suffer through another mediocre performance in the regular season? He hit .229. His OPS was below .700 and his OPS+ was just 85. He had a decent postseason, but he is 33 now, definitely on the downside of his career. And there are better options. Taylor might or might not get released. You cannot have a bench full of utility guys. One thing this team lacked, especially after Jason Heyward left, was a power lefty bat off of the bench.
I think Buehler will be a fall back for the Dodgers, if other deals don’t work out
I have finally returned from Reno. My son had surgery to remove a large mass from his stomach. They got all of the mass, and he is home and doing fine. They still have to complete the biopsy, but they were generally positive about the outcome. The pre-tests were all negative, but we need the final results.
I am also trying to recover from two 2 ½ hour trips in a car.
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It is hard to pick over Freddie’s GS in Game 1, but for me it was Walker Buehler striking out Alex Verdugo for the WS win. The same is true for me for 1988. Gibby’s HR will always get the attention (and it should), but for me, Orel Hershiser striking out Tony Phillips to win the WS will be my favorite moment of the 1988 WS. Those two outs brought WS championships to the Dodgers. The two HR were pivotal and undoubtedly set the tone for the Series, but the K’s to win the Series will always be my favorite moments.
And I cannot forget the Julio Urias K of Willy Adames to win the 2020 World Series.
The win will always prevail for me over all of the great moments in a World Series.
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I hope to get back to writing very soon. I am currently working on the MiLB autopsies.
Sorry to hear your son needed surgery but happy he’s doing ok, hope all goes well, after the long car ride I’ll bet your back to the ice bags on the knee. Hope your feeling better tomorrow.
Thank you.
Yes, my knee is swollen and I am icing.
Prayers and best wishes to your son, yourself, and your family.
Nothing hits our hearts harder than when ourkidsare having medical problems.I feel for you and I will pray for your family.When it comes to my daughters well being,it reminds me real fast that the Dodgers are just a baseball team
Bear, you seem very certain that we’ll be the ones to sign Sasaki, as are almost all of the media.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that although his agent (Wasserman) is also Yamamoto’s agent, they also represent Darvish, with whom Sasaki is very close. I still think we’re the favorites, but I never like to bet against Preller.
Here’s a link to a very thorough article on Sasaki by Jonathan Mayo.
https://www.mlb.com/news/roki-sasaki-faq?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
I have read that, but I still am pretty sure Ohtani and Yoshi can help convince him he has a better chance of success with LA. Darvish is on the downside of his career. He is almost finished. Ohtani and Yoshi will be around for most of Sasaki’s.
I thought he wanted to play in LA.
Jeff,
Will be praying for a speedy recovery for your son.
Thank you.
Thought I had posted this earlier, but please wish Andy the very best for a speedy recovery from another Alemany household.
Couple of interesting reads about Sasaki:
From Baseball America (no paywall)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/signing-roki-sasaki-could-land-team-an-extra-draft-pick/
From The Athletic ($$$)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5900748/2024/11/07/mlb-free-agency-roki-sasaki-japan-pitcherroki-sasaki-pitching-arsenal-mlb/?source=user_shared_article
Hadn’t even thought about the extra draft pick possibility. Whichever team signs him (hopefully us) will basically be signing him for nothing.
We’ve already become Japan’s team. Unless Sasaki hates the idea of sharing the spotlight with two other Japanese stars, the Dodgers certainly seem like his most logical destination.
Love this T-shirt