The 2025 Season in One Game

Posted By on November 1, 2025

Anyone who thinks there is no element of luck in baseball is probably already institutionalized, or ready to be. Whoever wins today is not necessarily the best team, but they are the 2025 World Series Champions. The 2025 Season all comes down to just one game. Win and you are the Champions of the World. Lose and you are an afterthought. I like the Dodgers’ chances. Ohtani will start and empty the tank… three or four innings is what I expect. What happens next depends on where he is in the lineup when he leaves the mount. We could see anyone, except Yamamoto: Glasnow, Snell, Kershaw, Wrobs, Sheehan, et al. The lineup should stay the same. I’m done talking about it. Play ball!

THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL

Next Year

I am convinced that most Dodger fans are looking at this team rebuilding in the wrong way. The Dodgers have too many outfield prospects who may be ready in the next two years to make a dope-fiend move. I think the biggest and best move would be to move Will Smith to another position. I once said 3B, but now I believe it is LF. Will has evolved into an elite hitter, and Dalton Rushing will be an elite power hitter. Get them both in the lineup! Don’t trade Rushing. I think he is a future All-Star. His power will be a welcome addition, and he is a good catcher. Of course, so is Will, but catching wears him down. I want to see how his bat plays up without catching.

Will Smith is a tremendous hitter, and I believe Dalton Rushing will be as well. If Will Smith can avoid the nicks and bruises of catching, I think he might lead the league in batting average. Mike Sirota is the future Dodger Centerfielder, but that will likely have to wait until 2027. The Dodgers need to get younger, and with Rushing at C and Smith in LF, they will. Teoscar plays RF one more year (unless you can get an excellent trade for him now. Call can be his caddy.

Kike could be the odd man out in 2026, as Rojas and Edman will be the superutility players. Here’s what I would do next year:

  1. Ohtani DH
  2. Smith LF
  3. Freeman 1B
  4. Muncy 3B
  5. Betts SS
  6. Rushing C
  7. Teoscar RF
  8. Pages CF
  9. Kim 2B

Bench: Rojas, Rortvedt, Call, Edman

Pages is above-average in CF. Sirota IS a centerfielder. When Sirota arrives in 2027, Pages moves to RF, and Teoscar moves to LF. 2026 could be Muncy’s last year, and then Will Smith to 3B? Why not?

X-CITES

https://twitter.com/DodgersNation/status/1984474359273259374

This article has 73 Comments

  1. good morning Mark! terrific game last night even though the offense was not good (except for one inning) again. everyone talks about the aggressive hitters on the Jays. Well last night it bit them in the assss! tying runs on second and third with no outs? Kudos to Doc for bringing in Glasnow! Hey! so he got a little bit of luck with 3 great pitches, so sue him! It’s been a good world series and tonight should be the topper! i predict the dodgers will win 6-4! that’s right! They score 6 runs tonight! yamamoto is MVP with ohtani a close second. … As for next season, i still believe there’s a possibility Teo either moves to left field or gets traded. He’s been such a good dodger, but, his defense is way below average. Smith in left field. Pages in center (with a short leash). and kyle tucker in right field. He’s definitely an upgrade defensively, and he’s an upgrade offensively too. i like Dalton catching also. the one position in the infield that makes me nervous is 3rd. i thought Max was a lock to be back full time, but his performance in these playoffs is concerning. Especially defensively. it’s going to be interesting to say the least what AF does there. .. Last thing. i agree and said earlier. i don’t think they resign Kike. I hate it, but maybe this time it’s finally over. It’s either him or Rojas. flip a coin!…. Mookie does it again tonight!!! let’s repeat!!!

  2. I don’t like Pages in CF. I believe they need a stop gap CF until Sirota is ready. And 2027 is not a lock. There will most likely be a lockout. Someone like Varsho. Grisham would be ok; he is a very good CF and added some pop to his game. Find a taker for Teo and move Pages to right. I doubt they go after a big-name free agent. But the team is old, and it is beginning to show. The only starter under 30 is Pages. Unlike Mark, I don’t believe Smith gets moved anywhere next year. He will be the starting catcher once again.

      1. What do you call Conforto? He is exactly the same kind of player they are, with less defensive skills. Both of those guys have value. They don’t need a superstar in center; they need a great defensive player with bat to ball skills.

        1. I’m OK with Pages in CF–especially after watching him run over Kike to make that game-saving catch! (A friend who bet on the Blue Jays a few weeks ago to win the WS says that Pages’s play cost him $850.)
          While Pages has improved a lot in CF, his arm does make him a natural for RF.
          The best CF option in the FA market is probably Harrison Bader–great defender with a decent bat. Fact is, AF could have signed him instead of Conforto for a lot less $$… but then we wouldn’t have had the fun of bitching about Conforto all season long. (How much of a WS share will Conforto get?)
          Best-case scenario: Pete Crow-Armstrong gets made at the Cubs front office, demands a trade, and comes home to LA. …. Hey, stranger things have happened.
          I love reading about the Dodgers’ OF prospects but of course they are also suspects until they prove otherwise. The two-time champs really don’t have many needs, but I could see a blockbuster featuring Rushing and few prospects for a proven star.
          But who?
          Hmm…
          There were some rumors before the trade deadline about Steven Kwan…
          Rushing + ??? for Kwan?

  4. Jarren Duran is another outfielder who would fit right in with the dodgers. Speed, power, and good defensively. but would the sox trade with the dodgers again? most of the trades between the two teams have gone in the dodgers favor. They need guys who make contact with some speed. Andy Pages has a cannon for an arm. that said, i’m a little concerned about his makeup. He probably is better suited for right field. Teo is just not a reliable outfielder now. he needs to dh. Does Boston need a DH? throw in a prospect and check!

  7. i’m done playing gm for the day! game day!! may the defending champions be defending for another year!!! i believe it happens! who’s with me?

  8. I’m impressed with Bo Bichette. The rumor mill has pegged the Dodgers as logical location for Kyle Tucker but Bichette is a middle infielder and is 2 years younger. I’m impressed by his bat to ball skills. Plus, our system lacks middle infielder depth.

    In terms of game 7, the Dodgers pitching depth makes them favorites to win the WS but those Jays are gritty. They’ve definitely earned my respect. Although, Dodger bats are sputtering there is enough talent in this lineup to get the job done. I’m expecting a low scoring game, as pitchers will have a very short leash.

    As Mookie stated last night, Ohtani was made for this. We expect something big from him tonight. Should be a fun game tonight!

    Go Dodgers!

  9. i like bichette. But does he still want to be play shortstop? plus will he leave his buddy vlad? second base is his if he wants to play for the dodgers, but teo would definitely have to move out of right field if they sign bichette.

    1. 1. Bichette is not nearly the equal of Mookie at SS
      2. Toronto can pay him.

      If they do, I think he stays.

  10. Ohtani DH
    Betts SS
    Freeman 1B
    Smith C/RF
    Muncey 3B
    Teoscar LF
    Rushing C/RF
    Rojas/Kiki 2B
    Edman/Kiki CF

    Smith and Rushing alternate catching to save wear and tear.

  11. So before going out to wash my RV I decided to just reflect a bit on 2025. Even with all the poor hitting, weak bullpen and a bunch of strikeouts still a great campaign. I especially have enjoyed the players we got know this year and I will not discuss Conforto.
    Overall defense has been enjoyable to watch.
    Mookie—excellent at short.
    Edmans, Rojas, Kiki and Max had flashes of brilliance.
    Pages has matured. And Freddie and Smith were quietly very solid.
    Pitching, while difficult for several, what a joy to witness Yamamoto!! And Roki finally getting there has been refreshing.
    And must mention William Boone Klein with a super performance.
    Plenty of positive to offset the negatives and a big thank you to Mark for keeping this venue open for our enjoyment.
    Bring it home Dodgers!!!

  15. 8:00 PM ET FOX

    Dodgers (93-69) WS (3-3)
    Blue Jays (94-68) WS (3-3)

    SP Shohei Ohtani R
    1-1 2.87 ERA
    SP Max Scherzer R
    5-5 5.19 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup
    DH S. Ohtani L
    C Will Smith R
    1B F. Freeman L
    SS Mookie Betts R
    3B Max Muncy L
    RF T. Hernandez R
    CF Tommy Edman S
    LF E. Hernandez R
    2B Miguel Rojas R

    In Domed Stadium

  16. 2B Betts
    1B. Freeman
    C. Smith
    DH Ohtani
    3B. R. Lewis (traded Rushing)
    CF. Armstrong *
    SS. Freeland
    LF. Edman
    RF. ?

    * Pages, Glasnow, $$$, Mike Sirota

    1. 1. Betts may be the best defensive SS in baseball. I see him there for another 2 years.
      2. Freeland is a Utility guy, IMHO.
      3. Royce Lewis is injury-prone and likely to stay that way. He is injury-prone in the sense that his availability has been compromised repeatedly across different seasons and by a variety of injuries. There are a few reasons why Lewis’s durability stands out as a concern:

      1. Multiple major structural injuries (two ACL tears) often raise long-term risk for compensatory/secondary injuries (muscles, legs, hips) because mechanics may change or strength/power may be altered.

      2. Recurrent injuries: It’s not just one type of injury; soft tissues (hamstrings, quads, groin/adductor) seem to have been recurring.

      3. Leg/hip region is the site of many injuries: one article notes four of his injuries have come to his right leg (two ACL surgeries + quad + adductor) and questions if there is something underlying.

      4. Because of these injuries, he has missed substantial chunks of seasons, limiting his ability to build sustainable performance/tracking.

      5. Even when healthy, his role has sometimes been managed cautiously because of the prior history (the team seems to have adopted “play smarter, not harder” messaging).

      I like Muncy better.

      PCA is nice, but I think Sirota is better.

      Rushing and Sirota will be All-Stars.

    2. Pete Crow Armstrong?!??!

      Joke?

      He was barely playable for the second half of this season! why would the Dodgers pursue him.

      They pursue superstars or undervalued players? You think the Cubs are ready to move him for pennies on the dollar? Why would the Dodgers be looking to trade Pages or Glasnow?!??

      Is there any thinking going on here?

      where

      1. PCA s a wee bit better than you portray him.

        I’ll leave the thinking to you while I amuse myself with nonsense. I’m having more fun though.

        1. In the second half of the 2025 season, Pete Crow-Armstrong had a .216 batting average, 47 hits, 6 home runs, 24 RBIs, and 24 runs scored over 62 games after the All-Star break. While his first half was a breakout season, his performance in the second half saw a drop in his OPS, from .847 to .595.
          Batting Average: .216
          Hits: 47
          Home Runs: 6
          RBIs: 24
          Runs: 24
          Games: 62 games after the All-Star break
          OPS: Dropped from .847 in the first half to .595 in the second half

    1. Moronic to send him out for the 3rd. He was laboring and pitching behind in the count. One time through the order was obviously the time to make the switch to Glasnow. Roberts got greedy.

  21. I think the dream is over.
    It’s time to wake up and face reality; this team doesn’t have what it takes.
    They forgot the bats.
    Even if they were to win this game.

    1. This is such an amazing pair of lines barely separated in the same post:

      this team doesn’t have what it takes.
      ….
      Even if they were to win this game.

  23. Shohei Ohtani is the second player in World Series history with multiple hits in a winner-take-all game he pitched in, joining 1934 Dizzy Dean

  25. Hate going to Snell here, but the bullpen is what it is.
    No Vesia, no Sasaki, can’t trust Treinen. Banda? Klien?

    Over Snell? Maybe….

    Just a great series.

    PS: Who still names their kid “Ernie?”

      1. Last one wasn’t a strike, but who cares!?!??!!

        This is just an awesome series!

        Game-tying home runs to tie a game in the 9th inning of World Series Game 7:
        Miguel Rojas
        (End of list!)

  28. Ump kinda squeezing the Dodgers between the Will Smith strike and the Barger ball.

    I DESPISE going to Yamamoto here.

    HATE it.

    That said….

    This game. This World Series. Absolutely incredible. High drama.

  30. I think I’m the only one posting here, but who else is left for Roberts?

    Dare I say, Kershaw? Treinen?

  33. Will Smith is catching his 58th inning of the World Series after hitting that homer in the 11th inning of Game 7.

    1. The champ landed some big punches in the 8th and 9th; and the knock out punch in the 11th.

      What a series!!!

  36. What I said “road field advantage”. Guess I’ll have to stay around for a 3peat! Get taken off hospice again. Drama? What else?

  38. Fuck yeah! Congratulations to all of us. Two Iowa guys, Dreyer and Walters winning it. Miggy Ro! Yoshi!

    Thanks Mark!

  40. Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter, what matters are the results, and my formula, my method, my ritual worked again!

  43. Remember earlier in the series when all the Blue Jays fans chanted about Ohtani “We don’t need him”?

    Well, it turns out maybe they did need him. Lol

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