Since the Guggenheim Group took over, the fortunes of the Los Angeles Dodgers have changed significantly. From the beginning, the one thing ownership has consistently said is that they want to field championship caliber teams every year. On that promise, they have delivered. The deal closed to purchase the team on May 1st, 2012.
The season was already in progress when they took over, so most of the management team was still in place. Changes would begin later. Ned Colletti, the GM at the time, had not been able to do much prior to May. On May 4th, he signed Bobby Abreu. One of the more important acts for the future of the team came in the June draft. Two of the draft picks, Corey Seager and Ross Stripling, would impact the big-league team in a few years. A couple more, Darnell Sweeney and Jharel Cotton, would be used in trades for big league talent.
On June 29th, the team signed a young Cuban outfielder, Yasiel Puig. His impact on the team would be dramatic when he first came to the majors. The first major trade came just before the trade deadline when they sent Nathan Eovaldi and Scott McGough to the Marlins for Randy Choate and Hanley Ramirez.
They also made trades for Brandon League and Shane Victorino. Then they got Joe Blanton from the Phillies. On August 25th, they made a franchise altering trade with the Red Sox that most would simply refer to as “The Trade”. They sent James Loney, Ivan DeJesus Jr, and Allen Webster to the Sox for Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Nick Punto and cash. After the season, RHP Rubby De La Rosa and outfielder Jerry Sands were sent to the Sox to complete the deal.
For the first time since Fernando retired, LA had a Hispanic star in Gonzalez, and he would be with the Dodgers longer than any of the other three. Crawford did not play at all for LA in 2012. He was injured and would not play until 2013 when he got into 116 games. He played in 105 in 14, and just 69 in 15. He would be cut loose, and ownership ate his contract in 2016. Punto became a fan favorite in a way because of actor Danny DeVito’s enthusiasm for short players. He would wear Punto’s # 7 and cheer wildly for his hero. Very entertaining to watch. Beckett would spend part of 3 seasons in blue. He was also injury prone and would post an 8-14 record with LA. He did though, throw a no-hitter in Philadelphia in 2014,
Fans could see that the team was moving in the right direction. They did not see the results in 2012, but every year since, they have. Ownerships commitment to winning has been more than fulfilled. There have been ups and downs, elation and disappointment. It has been fun, and at times, exasperating.
In 2013, they won the NL West by 11 games over the Diamondbacks. They did this despite losing Hanley Ramirez at the beginning of the season after he was injured in the WBC. Ramirez played SS in only 76 games. Dee Gordon, Punto and Justin Sellers got the rest of the work there. Ramirez batted .345 with 20 homers and 57 driven in. Gonzalez had a very good first year as a Dodger, batting .292/22/100. Vin Scully called him the Dodgers butter and egg man. They had a solid 1-2-3 punch in the rotation with Kersh, Greinke and Ryu. Jansen was the closer. They won the LDS over the Braves, 3-1. They would lose the LCS to St. Louis, partly because Ramirez was hit by Joe Kelly with a pitch that broke his rib in game one. He stayed in the game but only went 2-15 in the series with no extra base hits.
Since that first full year owning the team, they have not won the division just once, 2021 when they finished just one game behind the 107-win Giants. They then won the wild card game on a Chris Taylor 9th inning walk-off homer and then beat the Giants 3-2 in the LDS. All of that while riddled with injuries to major assets including losing Muncy on the last day of the season.
Twice they have had to win 13 games in the post season to win the Championship. 2020 and 2024. More than once, they were close to elimination. In 2020, they were down 3-1 to the Braves in the LCS and won the next 3. In 24, they were down 2-1 to the Padres in the LDS and got two consecutive shutouts to win the series.
Some of the more memorable moments in playoff games: Kike’s 3-homer performance in 2017 in the game six clincher against the Cubs. Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger making outstanding catches in the LCS against the Brewers in 2018. The 11 run first inning in game 3 of the 2020 LCS against the Braves.
Mookie’s defensive play in that series. Kike’s game tying, and Bellinger’s game winning homers in game 7. Justin Turner’s excellent post season play from 2014-22. JT played in 86 post season games for the Dodgers batting .271 with 13 homers and 42 runs driven in. JT is tied for second with Seager. Max Muncy set the new record last year and now has 15. Duke Snider still has the record for most in World Series play with 11.
Seagers MVP performances in the LCS and World Series in 2020. Corey had 8 homers and 20 RBIs that post season. The last two seasons have provided some thrilling moments. Freddie’s grand slam to win game one, then him homering in each of the next 3 games with LA winning two of those contests. Freddie knocked in 12 runs in that series and was clearly the Series MVP. We tend to miss the fact that Freeman had just 6 hits in the series, 5 for extra bases. Tommy Edman’s MVP performance in the LCS against the Mets. Maybe more amazing was the string of scoreless innings put up by the pitching staff in the last two games against the Padres and game one against the Mets.
Teo’s throw to home that nailed Stanton at the plate. Gavin Lux’s last AB as a Dodger, was a sac-fly scoring the tying run in game 5. Mookie then drove home the winner with another sac-fly. Then in 25, Ohtani leading off the Wild Card series with a homer off of Greene that set the tone for the game. LA hit 5 homers in that game, tying a franchise record, 2 by Ohtani, 2 by Teo, and 1 by Edman.
Teo’s huge 3-run homer in game one of the LDS against the Phillies. If you look back at that series, the Phillies starters pretty much shut down LA’s powerful offense. They needed late inning heroics to win all three games. Allowing Milwaukee just 4 runs in a 4-game series was another high point of the 25 run. They won by 1, 4, 2, 4 runs. Sasaki posted 3 saves in those two series.
After getting blown out in game 1 of the World Series, they got a great pitching performance by Yoshi, then outlasted the Jays in game three’s 18 inning marathon with Freddie’s 18th inning blast sending everyone home. Will Klein’s four innings of relief work will go down as one of the better relief appearances in Dodger history.
And finally, down 3-2 in games, they dug deep and even though they were outhit 8-4, won game six 3-1 behind Yamamoto, and some excellent defensive plays to even the series. Mookie drove in the eventual 2 run margin in the third. With Ohtani starting game seven against Scherzer, it looked like it might be a nail-biter, and that is exactly what it turned into.
Ohtani only went 2.1 innings. A 3-run homer by Bo Bichette ended his evening. But the bullpen work of Wrobleski, Glasnow, who allowed the 4th Jays run, Sheehan and Snell, kept the Jays at bay while the offense chipped away at the lead scoring 1 in the 4th and 6th innings. Then in the 8th, down 4-2, Max Muncy hit his 3rd homer of the playoffs to pull within one. It was also Max’s 16th post season homer, putting him #1 in Dodger post season history.
So excellent defensive plays got the Dodgers out of trouble in the 8th inning when Rojas made a stop at second and fired home to force out the runner. Rojas’s game tying homer with 1 out in the 9th to tie the game. Pages catch running over Kike to save the game in the bottom of the 9th. And finally, Will Smith’s 11th inning homer that won the game for LA. Yoshi winning 3 games in the series and being named MVP was the capper.
Thirteen years of winning baseball. An unprecedented run in Dodger history. As good as the Boys of Summer were, they never had a stretch like this. I have been lucky enough to have lived through all of the Dodgers wins from 55-25. 9 times in my lifetime my team has won the whole thing. Red Sox fans waited from 1918 until 2004 before they were back in the winner’s circle. Cubs’ fans, from 1908 to 2016. So, believe me, that 32-year stretch where the Dodgers did not make it is nothing compared to what those fans faced.
The Rangers win in 23, got them off of the teams to never win a series list. There are now 5 teams on that list. Padres, Mariners, Rockies, Brewers and the Rays. The Padres, Rockies and Rays have all been to the Series. Padres in 84, Rays in 2008 and 2020 and the Rockies in 2007.
Will the Dodgers three-peat? They certainly have the roster that can do that. They also have a HUGE target on their backs. Everyone wants to beat the champ. The wild ride is not over yet, and I suspect it won’t be for at least a few years more.
Last Night’s Debacle
Mark Timmons Minor League Report
Jeff’s Anniversary is this weekend, so he is off to parts unknown. Now, I have to deliver… It’s not as good as Jeff’s, but it’s right!
Dodgers affiliates, May 22, 2026
| Affiliate | Result |
|---|---|
| OKC Comets | Lost to Reno, 7-6 |
| Tulsa Drillers | Beat Wichita, 14-2 |
| Great Lakes Loons | Beat Wisconsin, 13-4 |
| Ontario Tower Buzzers | Lost to Inland Empire, 17-3 |
| ACL Dodgers | Beat ACL Padres, 7-3 |
Highlights / key notes
OKC Comets
OKC: Lost 7-6 after falling behind early. Tyler Fitzgerald went 2-for-3 with a HR, 3 RBI, BB, and 2 runs, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Ryder Ryan pitched 4 innings and allowed no hits. Ronan Kopp pitched an inning with no hits, no walks, and 1 strikeout.
Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa: Crushed Wichita 14-2. Tulsa had 18 hits, and Adam Serwinowski struck out 10 over 7 innings of one-run ball, retiring his final 16 batters. Kendall George stayed hot with another hit.
Great Lakes Loons
Great Lakes: Won 13-4 with 15 hits. Chuck Davalan reached base four times, scored four runs, drove in four, and stole two bags. Jose Hernandez had three hits and a homer.
Ontario Tower Buzzers
Ontario: Lost 17-3. Chase Harlan (3B) was 3-5. Lindsey was at 2B, and Joendry Vargas was the SS. Lindsey’s star is certainly dropping.
ACL Dodgers
ACL Dodgers: Won 7-3. Francisco Espinoza (19-Year-Old C) was 2-4 as was SS Aiden West. 18-Year-Old 3B Moises Bolivar hit a 3-Run HR.
I am pissed about Muncy being hit last night. Muncy has developed a bit of a baseball pin-cushion reputation lately. He’s been hit multiple times over the past couple of seasons, including another scary wrist/hand-area HBP in 2025 that caused a bone bruise and sidelined him late in the year. I am not saying it was intentional, but the Brewers need to be put on notice that you can’t do that crap to the Dodgers.
Activate Kershaw tonight, and he will hit Chourio and Turang with no qualms. Or… use Henriquez as an opener and drill Turang in the ribs. Accidental or not, you have to send the message, and if I am Doc, I will say, “Yes, I ordered that,” and take a 10-day vacation. You have to show that the Dodgers cannot be trifled with.
You are suggesting revenge? You believe there was intent? A 1-2 pitch that loaded the bases in a 5-1 game?
I don’t believe Milwaukee plays like that. They don’t need to. I think that was just a high and tight fastball that got away from him. The intent was to set up a low and away breaking pitch to end the scoring threat. The way to make them pay is to drive the next strike into an alley to close the gap. And that didn’t happen because the Dodgers clutch hitting is in a funk. 0 for 7 WRISP. The answer is to score runs, not put more of their lineup on base.
No revenge. My policy is:
You hit Ourine, we’ll hit Urine!
That don’t make no sense.
No, it does not
In the bladder?
I’m sure it has been a thing for a while but last night was the first time I’ve noticed it. What is it with the Brewers uniforms that say Wisco? Is that a thing in Wisconsin? Seems lame to me.
AI told me….
You are definitely not alone in thinking they are lame. When the Brewers and Nike released the jerseys, it sparked a massive debate on social media and sports forums:The “Nobody Says It” Factor: Many lifelong Wisconsin residents argued that the term “Wisco” is rarely used by actual locals, and felt that state shorthands like “‘Sconi” or “‘Sconsin” are more authentic.
I lived in Wisconsin for 7 years and never heard the term Wisco. They’d likely sell more of those if it said Badgers, though Madison might have a say in that. People in that state love their badgers. And who can blame them? All badgers are lovable. Perhaps Taxidea Taxus? No. Too academic. Also too many letters.
Taxidermy your own Badger:
😉
See. Like a Teddy Bear. Lovable. Perfect gift for a toddler.
The Badger is a member of the Weasel Family:
Saturday Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule
2:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (TBA) at Wichita (Sam Armstrong)
3:35 p.m.: Great Lakes (Brooks Auger) vs. Wisconsin (Ethan Dorchies)
4:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Logan Allen) vs. Reno (Mitch Bratt)
6:35 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) at Inland Empire (Danny Macchiarola)
Our minor leagues are smoking right now. All the outfielders, including a dangerous Davalan (future leadoff man?), impossible to catch George, and prime-time De Paula. Sleepers like Hainline, N. Miller. High octane stars like Serwinowski, Root. And maybe my favorite dream-on candidate: Harlan. Muscular, athletic frame with solid baseball skills. Troy Glaus starter kit.
Love it!
Chase Harlan: 6’3 205. 19
“Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
One of the more physical sluggers in the 2024 high school class, Harlan put on an impressive show during batting practice at the Draft Combine that June. The Dodgers signed him for a well-over-slot $1,747,500 in the third round and then put his pro debut on hold so he could have surgery to repair the labrum in his right hip, an injury that had nagged him for two years. He split his first pro season between Rookie ball and Single-A last summer, homering nine times in 68 games.
With a strong 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame and a quick right-handed swing, Harlan creates at least double-plus raw power. He lets his pop come naturally as he doesn’t chase excessively or sell out to pull balls in the air, though he has trouble making contact against non-fastballs. He posted an .886 OPS vs. heaters, compared to .376 with a 52 percent swing-and-miss rate against all other types of pitches.
Harlan moved better with a healthy hip, displaying fringy speed, though he’s not much of a factor on the bases. He has enough range and the solid arm strength to get the job done at third base but needs more consistency after making 14 errors in 52 games there. If he has to move off the hot corner, his other options would be right and left field as well as first base.”
Good eye Simon