Sometime in 2010, I wrote a blog post about the Dodgers needing a President of Baseball Operations like Andrew Friedman of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I wrote this because the Devil Rays (now just the Rays) had one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and yet made the playoffs very frequently… even making it to the World Series once. I mentioned this in my interview with Andrew in April:
When I said that, I had no idea that the Dodgers would hire him. But I should have been prepared for the firestorm that happened after I wrote that blog. I wasn’t! I was attacked, saying that it was stupid because all Friedman did was “moneyball” and I was chastized on the blog ad nauseum… btw, the ones who castigated me moved on to another blog after I came back and exposed their weak arguments!
Over the next few years, I heard so much crap about how bad Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts were. When the arguments turned personal, I banished the morons. Since then, the Dodgers have won three World Series, and it should have been four but for the Cheaters.
It’s about time, “I TOLD YOU SO,” you stupid morons. I am not right about everything, but I do get my share! I did not deserve all the bullshit shoveled out by the bullshitters. You know who you are. You still read here. You know that I know. Say that you are sorry and want to move back, and all is forgiven. It’s that simple…. or stay away like the bitter little man you are!
Baseball is supposed to be fun. I have no idea why some of you want to be miserable and make others feel the same. The Dodgers will never win 162 games, and that makes some of you miserable! Many fans quit on the 2024 Dodgers and the 2025 Dodgers… several times. I didn’t! I told you the truth: This team can win it all! It’s been that way every year since Andrew Friedman came to LA, but there is no way you can win EVERY year – you can be good enough, but stuff happens!
On this blog, I have not listened to the morons and the naysayers. Lots of fans criticized Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts, ad nauseum, until they couldn’t, because they branded themselves as morons. The back-to-back championships make it three in the last six years. That’s pretty good. It’s actually great… and lastly, I TOLD YOU SO!
OK, I’m done!
UPDATE: LAD Free Agents and Rule 5 Candidates
I don’t like doing work that someone else has already done, so check out LAD Free Agents and Rule 5 Candidates at LA Dodger Chronicles, where Jeff Dominique has already done a fantastic job, saving me the time.
In typical Dylan Hernandez Fashion, he writes in the LA Times that the Dodgers have to keep this Aging Team together: https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2025-11-04/dodgers-world-series-core-run-back-miguel-rojas. That’s why he is a fish hack and not a GM.
Allegedly, Shohei’s father told him that soon he would have to decide between hitting and pitching and told him he could be a great outfielder. How about this:
LF – Teoscar
CF – Pages
RF – Ohtani
Then, Rushing and Smith can platoon at C and DH. Problem solved.
I think only one of Rojas and Kike will be gone, with Freeland taking that one’s place.
Walt Weiss is the new manager of the Braves. I am underwhelmed!
A lot of new managers, including Suzuki with the Angels.
His biggest fault was keeping Mattingly just because Torre promised him the job.
LOOK, the Dodgers need some black players, always did and still, grew up saying this, Chicago too…
It’s an MLB problem.
Less than 6% of MLB players are black.
Ten years ago, it was 9%.
Thirty years ago, it was 18%.
The black population of the US is 13%.
MLB Needs to Fix This.
I agree!
Mookie and Justin Dean are the only Black Dodgers, I think!
There are many players of color, but few black players.
That’s a whole another post!
So you mean black AMERICAN players. There are also a lot of black players from the Caribbean and northern south America. Just because they speak Spanish doesn’t mean they are not black. Plenty of black dudes playing ball here in Panama.
Elite black athletes veer away from baseball because of several reasons. One, when they are younger, it is easier to buy a basketball and play on local courts than to get baseball equipment which is much more expensive. Same with just having a football. B. Kids can go straight to the NBA out of high school or after one year of college. Baseball usually requires more than a few years in the minors. They can make big money fast. In baseball, only the elite prospects can expect to make it to the majors fast. Betts was signed when he was 18 and made it to the majors to stay when he was 22. Dean was drafted when he was 19. He never made it to the majors with the Braves and did not make it to the majors until this season. He is 28 and has 2 official at bats at the major league level. Doubt he stays with the Dodgers.
This is a misleading stat.
Perhaps only 6% are African American. But Teoscar, Vlad Jr and many other players are of African descent.
Obviously many young African American athletes have gravitated toward basketball and football, and the $$$ to be made there.
And as basketball, an American invention, went global, Europeans are become NBA stars… including the “Greek Freak,” whose ancestry is, of course, African.
It appears we also have a similar problem in the NBA. A surprisingly low percentage of the players are white relative to the overall population.
Not too sure about that John. Perhaps try again with “short” instead of “white” in your final sentence to realize how silly?
I think that was said tongue in cheek!
I stink!
we need sarcasm tag.
apologies, John.
UPDATE ABOVE
Maybe the black athletes are smarter than whites. Why play for years for peanuts in the minors, when you can play day 1 in NBA and NFL
…and maybe not walk after that.
My son, who was All-City, All Conference, and All State and highly recruited by colleges, quit after his senior year of high school after two state Championships because, in his words, “I want to walk when I’m your age, dad!” Most of his close friends play football at various levels and have had multiple surgeries.
He was a beast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFrd_k1NJzA
Yes, athletes have to make that choice. Surgeries, concussions, drugs, steroids, etc or a life after sports
BINGO! Hence my statement above about this being a comment about the United States. Plenty of black kids in the Dominican are willing to sign at 16 and spend years honing their craft just for a shot at that million dollar contract. Not so much here with the instant gratification of the NBA or pro football.
The DR and Venezuela have some serious training academies because baseball can be a way for a family to escaped poverty.
I get that. And it is similar although not quite as prevalent here in Panama. My posts were mainly dealing with the fact that somebody was trying to point out that there’s some kind of “black problem”. There are plenty of black players in baseball, just maybe not North American black players. Just because you speak Spanish doesn’t change the color of your skin.
Personally I don’t see it as the problem of the MLB or the NBA. If one believes talent needs to follow racial agenda rather than aspiration of the athlete, then where would boxing be? I have the answer to that, boxing would be a joke. I’m just saying that if there is a problem it’s not on the club though it might be on inopportunity offered to certain youths. In over populated areas a field takes less real estate than a court.. thusly building the making of the athlete might be the problem but not the franchise.. racial baseball built the negro league and Dodgers tapped into that soon ending the negro league. If what John said is silly then the whole topic is as well.
When professional teams draft players , they probably don’t see color or race when determining if that particular player fills a need or position. I don’t see Mookie as a black player, just as one of the best players in baseball. As far as the NBA, it’s not really worth watching in my opinion. nothing to do with the number of white or black players, the basketball just isn’t that good. usually the best players make the cut. So if having more white or black players means having a worse team, it doesn’t make sense. I know it’s harder for inner city kids to play baseball. that’s something that mlb, the cities, and even local government could help with, and should help with. The dodgers have led the way in hiring and scouting players all over the world. They can’t be held responsible for the lack of black players in baseball. Heck, i would love to have Byron Buxton in center field and Hunter Green in the rotation. Not because they are black, but because they are damn good ball players! Baseball can help by donating equipment to ares that can’t afford to pay for gloves, cleats, bats, uniforms etc. Don’t tell me they can’t afford it! Getting more black kids, wait. More of any color kids involved in baseball is a good thing. The game doesn’t know what color kids are, just how talented they are. But yes, help the places that have black kids get more interested in the game. It’s not a farce when you hear a lot of of kids think baseball is boring. Heck, game 7 of the world series was sure as hell not boring. the world series ratings were far better than the NBA finals. But it’s a helluva lot easier to purchase a 25 dollar basketball and walk down to the local park and shoot hoops than it is to buy a 300 dollar glove, a 300 dollar bat, 125 dollar cleats, and find a baseball field in some areas. And by the way, that 300 dollar bat can be ruined at any moment! As i said earlier, in order for more kids in cities to play baseball, baseball and local government should help. At least help the kids, they sure don’t do the grownups any favors.
Mark wrote on this topic somewhat recently. There are many factors that go beyond race/color when looking at reasons why inner city athletes gravitate towards other sports. Cost is a major factor, but just one of several.
So you’re saying that I have to wait until after the deadline next year to begin the fire Robert’s posts when we get swept in a series? He’s earned that much lee-way!
Everyone has lost all rights to complain!
Two in a row won’t stop em!
You are right… of course!
My only complaint is about fans who are finding reasons to complain less than 72 hours after the LAD became back to back champs. Go Dodgers!
What does it say about our media and political class that over several conversations dating back quite a ways, this forum has far more thoughtful and constructive discussion on race than we find in either of those platforms? Your comments have intellectual depth while remaining free from judgement. I am grateful gentlemen. You always make me think and I particularly enjoy it when your thoughts challenge my own cognitive predispositions, both conscious and subconscious.
Kudos to Dylan Hernandez for finding and reporting that comment from Ohtani’s father.
How much longer will Shohei be pitching?
Probably until he decides it’s enough. He’ll be fine in the OF.
I might be the only one who noticed this, but I felt it was a bit disrespectful that Will Smith didn’t get a chance to speak — Joe (the Dodgers broadcaster) never handed him the mic yesterday during the celebration at Dodger Stadium.
And during the parade through the streets of L.A., he was on the second bus, not with the main group of stars. On the first bus were guys like Miguel Rojas amd kike— which is great, I’m Latino and I’m happy to see Rojas and kike there. He hit that big go-ahead homer, totally deserved the spotlight.
But let’s not forget: Will Smith hit the game-winning homer. He’s been one of the most consistent and clutch players on this team for years. It just felt wrong to see him pushed to the background during a moment like that.
I love all the Dodgers, but I honestly felt a little sad for him. What do you guys think?
He doesnt want the spotlight.
Silent Assassin, lets leave that as is!
Will Smith did join Doc, Glasnow, Snell and Kike on Jimmy Kimmel. Pretty good segment to celebrate the Dodgers victory.
The highlight was Kike’s revelation that Kirby Yates celebrated by getting a butt tattoo of some sort cartoon or video game character named Kirby hoisting the WS trophy.
Kike is such a showman. When Kimmel asked him about a 3-peat, he said something like, “Well, right now I’m unemployed….”
Agreed!!
Anybody else having trouble getting to the comments on LA Dodger Chronicles?
Yes
I believe the Andy Pages catch will go down in WS history as one the best, comparable to Willie Mays catch off Vic Wurtz in 1954 WS.
And Miggy Ro will be remembered in Toronto like Bucky Effin’ Dent is remembered in Boston.
There were many Dodger players who could have won WS MVP. Yamamoto certainly deserved it.This was certainly a whole team effort for this WS!
I would hope that Shohei Ohtani would be an inspiration for other baseball players to be able to pitch well and hit well; I’m surprised other players hadn’t thought about doing that!
Oh, by the way, I wasn’t able to go to Los Angeles to celebrate the Dodgers championship this year nor last year. Does anyone know has Dodger heroes of the past (e.g. Steve Harvey, Ron Cey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, Steve Yeager, Kurt Gibson, Reggie Smith, and others) attend the celebration?
I liked Steve Harvey’s years on family feud better than with the Dodgers! hahaha
That Harvey guy could not hit at all.
If only he would have batted with his cap off. The glare off his Chrome dome would have caused the pitcher to throw a wild pitch every time!
The answer is no. It is the members of the team, not the former stars who get celebrated. I don’t even think Rick Monday and Orel were there. The last two years are the first parades they have had since 88. They did not get one in 2020.
Two really good pieces, one written one podcast, on the key moments of the WS.
First Alex Kirshner on the Dodgers getting a bit lucky (tongue in cheek tone):
https://slate.com/culture/2025/11/world-series-2025-game-7-la-dodgers-win-vs-toronto-blue-jays-mlb.html
Second, a lovely Baseball Prospectus podcast on Games 6&7 primarily:
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/podcasts/episode-506-otters-dont-have-a-lot-of-verbs/
Finally, in non-WS content Baseball America looks at the top 50 pending UFAs ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-free-agent-rankings-top-50-available-players/
Willi Castro anyone?
That Harvey guy could not hit at all.
Guys getting a ring no longer with the team. Barnes, Taylor, Chuckie Robinson, Outman, Buddy Kennedy, Eddie Rosario, Hunter Feduccia, Sauer, Luis Garcia, Yoendrys Gomez, Jack Little, Chris Stratton, Trivino, Alexis Diaz, Noah Davis, Ryan Loutos, Jose Urena, Paul Gervase, J.P. Feyereisen, Julian Fernandez. Kennedy would have gotten a ring if either team won.
I guess what I was asking for was whether those dodger greats of the past gave this current dodgers a congratulations because those aforementioned dodgers are still part of the dodger family
I assume Orel was around for the celebration.
Plenty of time and means for the alumni to pass along congratulations.
I did not see him at all.
Yu Darvish will miss the 2026 MLB season. The Padres right-hander underwent UCL brace surgery on his throwing arm, sidelining him for 12-to-15 months, the team announced on Tuesday.
Cross him off the list
the padres have now lost darvish and michael king. Do they still want to trade dylan cease? The Tigers will likely “listen “ to offers for Skrubal. But it’s unlikely that the padres have enough depth in their farm system to pull off a trade with them. So in order to restock their starting pitching they will probably need to do it via free agency. What’s out there? As far as position players, Preller could target JT Reamulto. the phillies are rumored to be very interested in Baltimore’s Adley Reushman.(spell check). i would look for them to move Aaraez as well. An aging Machado isn’t going anywhere. Tatis will keep his “bionic “ arm in right. Cronenworth is rumored to be elsewhere in 2026. they are set in center field. Mason Miller is rumored to be stretched into a starter., weakening that vaunted bullpen. It’s not the end for the Friars, but it’s not a team that’s going to put fear into the world champions! Oh, they still haven’t hired a manager. They probably won’t get one as good as they just lost! …. Still can’t wait to see where Tucker and Bellinger end up! i got a hunch one ends up in Frisco, and the other ends up in LA! flip a coin! Mark, would you do Bellinger 4 years , $120 million? or better question, would Cody do that?…. See all the rumblings about Diaz coming to the dodgers, i don’t believe it. They just signed Scott to a 4 year deal that may or may not work out! i can see a scenario where they trade with the Rays for Fairbanks, but nothing financially stupid for any free agent reliever ….. Winter meetings aren’t the same as the games, but they are fun and helps pass the cold days during the winter. Was listening to the mlb network yesterday. Hardly any of them believe the dodgers stand pat this winter. 2 just doesn’t quinch the thirst for another! and another! and another!! let’s keep posting, we can all come up with something new to share every day!
Dylan Cease is free agent. The Padres’ pitching cupboard is pretty bare with a depleted farm system and an old roster. Can’t see them much of a threat in 2026.
sorry AVF , i forgot Cease was a free agent. well that’s 3 starters gone. when Tony Gwynn was there i considered the padres to be the dodgers little brother. And now with machado and tatis there, they are dodgers little bitches! With Mason Miller possibly being a starter next season, it’s entirely possible he spends the next year recovering from tommy john. not wishing any bad luck on him, but that will be a big jump. … The giants are a team to keep an eye on in this offseason. they got money to spend and Posey is hungry. We’ll see if his new skipper can manage the big boys!! they probably will target one maybe 2 starters. And they will throw a boat load of money at kyle tucker! Possibly the most active team in the offseason. …. Wondering if the dbacks move Zac Gallen this winter. even after selling off some key pieces at the deadline they still were a dangerous team. How much will they add or subtract? …. the rockies are still crying about the dodgers! now they want a cap on research and development! maybe they should sell the team and shut up! …. Funny thing. the dodgers have already got their 700 million dollar investment in ohtani back in full. So they can afford kyle tucker if they wish. or bichette. or trade for steven kwan, or jared duran, or whatever they desire! damn the rest of baseball misses frank mcCourt! i don’t!!!
“The Dodgers are now worth $7.73 billion, including their real estate and related businesses, by Sportico’s count. The club has closed the gap with the Yankees ($8.39 billion) and ranks No. 14 among franchises in all sports, a list that is dominated by NFL teams at the top”.
Good afternoon, any info or projection on Bobby Miller, could he close or be a bullpen piece , if he works out , he gives Roki a chance to start. I hope he turns it around ,
I’d be super-surprised if Sasaki wasn’t a starter from day 1 in Spring Training regardless of Bobby Miller or any other Dodger pitcher.
wow! i think we all have completely forgotten about Bobby Miller! I thought he was someone we would have seen starting in the world series as soon as this year. Now i’m not sure he starts for the dodgers anytime soon. Bullpen? Not until he fixes that fastball that has absolutely no movement! Good breaking stuff though.
Dont forget about Gavin Stone and Kyle Hurt…..
But Im going to enjoy this WS win and not think about 26 for a couple months….
Mikey,
The Dodgers’ retired players are frequently brought back for various occasions. Ron Cey, Steve Yeager, and, of course, Rick Monday, Orel Hershiser, and others work for the Dodgers. I am sure sume were at the parade, but it was short notice, so I don’t think they all were there.
of all the pitchers i am most excited about for next year, Gavin Stone is top of my list. his demeanor, his presence, his stuff. it will be interesting to see how the dodgers handle him, especially if sasaki goes into the rotation.
Per Olney:
… Because of the looming labor situation, some younger stars who are under team control in 2027 before reaching free agency could be shoved into the trade market by circumstances this winter.
The best example: Joe Ryan, who is eligible for free agency after the ’27 season. Typically, the Twins could wait until next summer’s trade deadline to consider taking offers for Ryan. However, with many executives believing that at least some of the ’27 season is in jeopardy because of the labor strife, placing an appropriate trade valuation on Ryan will be much, much more complicated next July; teams might not be willing to part with significant return if they believe the ’27 season will be truncated or lost. So if teams want to get proper return on players like Ryan, they could be better served to take offers this winter, rather than waiting until next summer.
Other players who could fit this timeline: MacKenzie Gore of the Nationals, the Guardians’ Steven Kwan, the Cardinals’ Lars Nootbaar and the Orioles’ Adley Rutschman. If those players aren’t going to be locked down with multiyear deals, the best time to get value in a deal for them could be this winter.