What? Me Worry...
That’s what makes the Dodgers’ 2026 pursuit historically significant. After winning in 2024 and 2025, a 2026 championship would make them the first NL team ever to three-peat.
Well, the Dodgers clinched the NL West title yesterday. I wanted to be there, but US Water Systems pays the bills, and I had a full day. I did watch most of the game, which was blacked out here, but I used ExpressVPN to make them believe I was in Chicago!
I am having so much fun watching the Dodgers, finishing my book, and mentoring the management of US Water Systems. For the fun of it, I asked AI this question: "Who is the Water Doctor?" This was the response:
Mark Timmons, “The Water Doctor,” is the founder and Chairman of US Water Systems and a WQA-certified Master Water Specialist with more than five decades of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment.
OK, that and $10.00 will get you a drink at Starbucks. I am just enjoying this ride by the Dodgers.
Do you understand how special this is?
No National League team has ever won three consecutive World Series.
That’s what makes the Dodgers’ 2026 pursuit historically significant. After winning in 2024 and 2025, a 2026 championship would make them the first NL team ever to three-peat.
Only two franchises have ever won at least three straight World Series:
New York Yankees: 1936–39, four straight; 1949–53, five straight; 1998–2000, three straight
Oakland Athletics: 1972–74, three straight
The closest NL clubs have come includes several back-to-back champions, such as the 1907–08 Cubs, 1921–22 Giants, 1975–76 Reds, and now the 2024–25 Dodgers, but nobody from the National League has gotten No. 3.
So if the Dodgers pull it off this year, they aren't merely defending their title. They'd be doing something the National League has never done in the World Series era.
What do you think the playoff roster will be? Let's hear it!
OKC Comets 5 – El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) 5 – Suspended after 4.0 innings. To be completed on September 18.
Springfield Cardinals 6 - Tulsa Drillers 4
This figured to be a pitcher’s duel, and early on the score would indicate that it was. Neither team scored in the first three innings, and they did combine to strike out 12 times.
In the 4th, Jesús Báez hit a monster HR off RHSP Christian Zazueta giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the 5th, CF Eduardo Quintero drew a 1 out BB from LHSP Liam Doyle. On the next batter K, Quintero stole 2nd. Doyle was done after 3.2 innings and 86 pitches. He did not allow a hit, but he walked five and struck out 8. The Cardinal reliever walked 3B Logan Wagner and gave up a bloop RBI dame tying single by SS Sean McLain.
In the 5th, Zazueta gave up his 2nd HR that bounced off the top of the wall and into the bullpen for a 2-1 lead. RF Mike Sirota led off the bottom of the 5th with a BB. He moved to 2nd on a WP and scored on LF Chuck Davalan’s game tying RBI single.
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Zazueta was pulled after 5.0 innings, allowing the 2 runs on 2 solo HR. He gave up 4 hits, 1 BB, and struck out 7. He threw 74 pitches with 56 strikes (75.7%). LHRP Luke Fox relieved Zazueta. He was not dominant, but he was productive. He completed 2.0 scoreless innings.
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Tulsa took the lead in the 7th. 2B Taylor Young led off with his 3rd BB. He was WP to 2nd and WP to 3rd. DH Elijah Hainline hit a SF giving the Drillers a 3-2 lead.
But then the bullpen was summoned for Tulsa. LHRP Christian Suarez was the first to enter in the 8th. He was not sharp at all, but he also did not get much help from his defense. In 0.2 IP he walked a batter and gave up a single and double. On one of the singles, Sirota had a throwing error allowing the tying run to score. The following double would have brought that run home anyway, but the runner on 1st was sent home on the double. Davalan made a good throw to McLain who made a great throw home that would have got the runner by 10 feet, except the catcher forgot to catch the relay throw.
RHRP Jacob Kmatz was summoned to get the final out with a runner on 3rd, and ended the inning.
In the 9th, Kmatz gave up a single and 2-run HR. This was the 2nd 2-run HR off Kmatz in the playoffs. Not a good ending to what looked like a positive run. RHRP Kelvin Ramirez was pulled after giving up a leadoff walk in the first playoff game, gave up a BB to the 1st batter he faced in this game. But he got the final out.
In the bottom of the 9th, Wagner led off with a BB and moved to 2nd on PH Kole Myers bloop single. Both runners moved up on a Taylor Young groundout. Sirota hit a ground ball out with Wagner scoring. Hainline grounded out to end the game and the season for Tulsa.
Tulsa had 3 singles in the game, but walked 9 times. The Drillers struck out 14 times in this game, making it 31 times over the two games.
Relievers pitched 10 innings, and gave up 8 earned runs. Bad relief pitching, 31 strikeouts in 2 playoff games, and shoddy defense does not bode well for a successful playoff. However, it was a record-breaking season for Tulsa and there were lots of positive stories which I will summarize when I chronicle the 2026 Tulsa season.
I used to write liberally about a favorite, Andrew Toles. The Dodgers continue to sign him and place him on the restricted list so he is eligible for health insurance.
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Discussion (77)
Disagree, not disagreeable
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I think our best hope for Diaz is that he returns to form NEXT year. We don't need Freeland this year with Edman, Kike and Rojas. I'd keep JDP over Call or Freeland.
Busy morning for me so I'm just catching up.
Big congratulations on another Division title. How many is that? 13 out of 14 years? Remarkable I do know that we won an astounding 106 games the year those Giants won 107. Let's take it out on them this weekend, if we aren't resting folks. I sure wouldn't ming catching the Brewers for home field. I'm still surprised Tampa Bay has won 95 games. They are so far off my radar. It's my bad.
I will happily take everything back I've said about Kyle Tucker if continues raking. He can earn all that money in the next few weeks.
I can't wait to see which bullpen pieces make the playoff roster. Personally, Diaz can't to enough currently to make my roster. I would have JDP as a LH bench bat. I also would support Feduccia as Will'd back up next year. He's a perfect back up catcher. And I would look to Trade Rushing in the winter. I think he needs to be an everyday guy somewhere. He needs consistent at bats. That would be unless we plan on resting Will a lot more and playing Rushing more. Best wishes to Ryan Ward. I hope he gets picked up and gets an MLB job.
Radion tonight as I just refuse to pay for Apple TV. I've become fond of the radio crew. Rick Monday is old school and I like him.
Part 2...this is tougher. The Four Horsemen 1. Yamamoto...Conquest 2. Skubal...Death 3. Glasnow...War 4. Snell...Famine The best of the rest! 1. Scott...Comeback kid 2. Phillips...Screwdriver 3. Treinen...Mr. Experience 4. Diaz...Cocky fighter 5. Vesia...Scary but nasty 6. Wrobo...finding that second wind 7. Sasaki...filthy 8. Sheehan...electric 9. Bubic...another AF chess piece In the playoffs you need 9 leverage studs and we have them in spades! Henriquez if healthy over Bubic. Book em
For all the naysayers, I say the 26 Dodger team is all around better than the 24 and 25 WS championship teams. I still have no idea how the 24 team won with Buehler, Yamamoto and Flaherty as the only 3 starters!
1. Ohtani...healthy or not he's the man 2. Smith...the backbone 3. Freeman...made for this moment 4. Edman...scrappy and streaky 5. Betts...the unofficial captain 6. Muncy...quietly excellent 7. Teo...fun loving mentor 8. Pages...like cream rising to the top 9. Tucker...silent but deadly 10. Feduccia...one of AF's finest moves 11. Rojas...Elmer's glue 12. DePaula...the future 13. Kike...Mr. Rocktober To be continued... Book em
Mookie and Tucker literally recharged their year in 3 weeks and it couldn't happen at a better time. Reviving these two black holes in the Dodgers universe just raised our chances of a 3peat exponentially. Tucker's short, quick swing packs a lot of power.
Josue De Paula seems to be a popular addition to the playoff roster. Since he was not on the 40-man roster by August 31, he needs to be approved by the Commissioner's office, if he passes the following requirements.
In-Organization Requirement: The player must have been in the team's organization (at either the Major or Minor League level) on or before August 31.
Injury Replacement: The player must directly replace another player who is currently on the injured list and has already served the minimum required time for activation (e.g., a player on the 10-day IL for at least 10 days, or on the 60-day IL for at least 60 days)
JDP meets the first requirement.
For the second requirement, there are currently 3 position players on the 10-day IL: Shohei Ohtani, Andy Pages, and Dalton Rushing. All three will have met their 10-day IL requirement. Ohtani and Pages should be activated by the playoffs, and that will remove them from this criterion. That leaves Rushing. It is clear now as to why Rushing was not placed on the 60-day IL. He would not have met the 60-day requirement.
Now the hurdle is that it has to be approved by the Commissioner’s Office. It is clear that Rushing is injured, and there is ample evidence to support it. Does JDP directly replace Rushing? He would, because the requirement is not position specific. The direct replacement means a position player does not qualify for the postseason roster by replacing an injured pitcher.
I am not predicting that JDP makes the playoff roster, only that he would be eligible.
My guess for the Dodgers postseason roster: Skubal, Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow =starters. Scott, Vesia, Dreyer, Sasaki, Wrobleski, Sheehan, Henriquez, Stewart, Diaz. Should Diaz be ineffective or Henriquez injured it will be Treinen. Lineup (in no order): Shohei, Freeman, Pages, Muncy, Betts, Tucker, Teo, Edman, Smith. Bench: Kike, Fiduccia, dePaula, Rojas.
With fewer than 10 games remaining in the regular season, we are getting some clarity about the postseason, especially in the NL. The Brewers and Dodgers have clinched their divisions, and the Braves are close. The Cubs, Phillies and the hated Padres seem destined to win Wild Card spots. (The D'backs are four games behind the Padres, and five behind the Cubs and Phillies.). Based on season performance, the Padres would rank as the weakest of the NL qualifiers--and they really aren't that weak with an 84-69 record for a .549 winning percentage. They have the game's best bullpen and some guys who can rake. Every NL contender is strong and any could get hot at the right time. The American League is weird, weaker and still very competitive. The three winningest teams--the Rays, Yankees and Red Sox--all hail from the same division. The Cinderella White Sox and Guardians seem tied at the top of Central with identical 78-75 records, but the Sox hold the tiebreaker. As it is, either could win the Central--and either could flop out a wild card spot. (The Rangers and Blue Jays are both two games behind the Guardians.) The Astros, a team we love to hate, lead the weakling AL West with a record of 77-76--despite run differential of -50! The Rangers, at 76-77, could catch them. (So I'm rooting for the Rangers.) Those valiant, close-but-no-cigar Blue Jays also have a 76-77 record and still have a shot at the WC. The Dodgers can still catch the Brewers for best record and home-field advantage. The Brewers are 95-58, while the Dodgers are 93-60--but the Brewers hold the tiebreaker. It's doable but only if the Brewers help out.
Lots of opinions on who makes the postseason roster, all credible. I believe these last nine games will determine who stays and who goes. JDP ? He’s auditioning for a role. If he starts raking, he could replace Call. Freeland? He’s started to heat up at the plate. His defense? Excellent. Keeping him allows Edman to be the super utility player he is! With Pages coming back, and Edman and Kike in reserve, is Call the odd man out? Pros and cons . Call has basically no power. (Con). He shows a lot of patience at the plate. (Pro). His defense is slightly better than Teo. (Pro). Kike is much better defensively than Teo and Call. (Con). I’m not hating on Call. He’s been exactly what they traded for. But with Edman, Kike, pages, Teo, and Tucker, the outfield seems well equipped for the postseason. Freeland is a switch hitter. He can play 3rd, second, or shortstop. Advantage ? Freeland over Call. I think so.
The playoff roster will be decided by injury vs. health...
It's in flux... but I see Evan Phillips as a lock (if healthy).
Giants stink
Looking at this giants lineup I have to admit I don’t know any of them.
Aaron Judge placed on the 10 Day IL with a strained calf.
The Dodgers have activated RHP Edwin Díaz from the injured list and optioned RHP Landon Knack.
10:15 PM ET
Giants (64-89) Dodgers (93-60)
SP Cesar Perdomo L 0-1 3.68 ERA SP Tyler Glasnow R 4-1 3.50 ERA
Confirmed Lineup SS Mookie Betts R C Will Smith R LF T. Hernandez R 1B F. Freeman L 2B Miguel Rojas R RF Kyle Tucker L 3B E. Hernandez R CF Alex Call R DH J. De Paula L
70° Wind 8 mph Out LINE LAD -313
His anyone heard or read, what's the official status of Snell and his current injury? Will he make his next start against the Padres? I have NOT heard or read anything about his current groin injury. He looked fine yesterday in the locker room celebration with his buddy Skubal getting beer and champagne poured all over both of them.
Friday’s Dodger Affiliates' Schedule 4:05 p.m. PT: OKC and El Paso resume yesterday’s suspended game tied 5-5 in the top of the first inning The regularly scheduled Friday matchup between OKC (Christian Romero) and El Paso (Jhony Brito) will start after the end of the first game. It’ll be a seven-inning affair.
Somebody needed to say it, thought it might be me this morning, but Plaschke said it and said it loudly: this team does not look ready to play the better teams all the way to November. There are just too many ifs for this late in September.
Currently the only team that looks playoff ready is the Padres at 9-1. If the bracketing holds, the Dodgers could see them in the NLDS. I’d rather that not happen as it would mean the Padres beat Atlanta in Atlanta.
Yeah, I know, Caesar’s Palace has the Dodgers favored. But, remember what happened to Caesar?
Please, Snell, Glasnow, Ohtani, Freddie, Pages and the bullpen - show up, and show up soon.
A writer on Fangraphs is urging the Angels to claim Ryan Ward off waivers--assuming the Rockies, the only team with a lower win percentage, don't claim him first. Not sure the Angels are an ideal fit. But Ward, I think, could help a few struggling small market teams. I also wonder if he has pondered options in Japan or South Korea.
On mlb.com, the writer left Emmet Sheehan off and included Edwin Diaz I see Sheehan making it in place of Brock Stewart taking a seat. Or maybe Diaz if he continues to get hit in his return.