Sports
What We Learned From Los Angeles Dodgers World Series Victory
Oct 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) celebrates after winning the 2024 MLB World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Thanks to the greatest World Series-clinching comeback in history Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to spend Friday celebrating instead of preparing for a pressure-packed Game 6 against the New York Yankees.
As baseball’s winter begins, here’s four takeaways from the Dodgers’ eighth title.
1. The Dodgers are the best organization in baseball.
And this would be the case even if the Yankees won the World Series. The Dodgers have made the playoffs 12 straight years, a span in which they’ve won 1,129 regular season games as a front office run by former Tampa Bay Rays general manager Andrew Friedman has constructed a team that is remarkably deep beyond its Hollywood-worthy superstars.
The Dodgers’ 26-man World Series roster includes big-ticket free agents Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who will be paid more than $1.1 BILLION dollars by the club, as well as Mookie Betts, who signed a 12-year extension worth $365 million shortly after the Red Sox lost their minds in 2020 and dealt him to Los Angeles in exchange for a package that included Alex Verdugo, who made the last out of the World Series.
But the World Series roster also featured eight other players acquired via trade, seven players signed to smaller free agent deals (including Max Muncy, obtained as a minor league free agent in 2017 following two middling seasons with the Oakland Athletics) five players drafted by the team within the first five rounds.
The July deals for Jack Flaherty (who threw a team-high 22 innings in the postseason), Michael Kopech (a 3.00 ERA in nine layoff innings) and Tommy Edman (the NLCS MVP) also paid October dividends.
In other words: The most frightening thing about these powerhouse Dodgers is they’re not just a byproduct of an endless payroll.
2. But a dynasty may be impossible in the days of the expanded postseason.
Oct 6, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out against San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish (11) in the first inning during game two of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images This is just the Dodgers’ second title in the last 12 years, so nobody needs to remind them of the randomness of a tournament that’s turning into baseball’s version of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 1998-2000 Yankees were the last team to win at least two straight championships.
While the Dodgers dominated the New York teams in the final two rounds, their playoff run was in danger of ending in the NLDS for a third straight season when the Dodgers fell behind the Padres two games to one with a bullpen game looming in Game 4. The narrative would be much different today if San Diego won one more game.
“It’s hard to win a championship regardless of what your team is like,” manager Dave Roberts said following Game 5. “There’s a reason why there hasn’t been a repeat champion since the Yankees did it. It clearly speaks to the difficulty — the playoff format, all that stuff.”
3. Roberts is on a Hall of Fame track.
Jul 10, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) signals to the bullpen to make a pitching change against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports With the aforementioned limitless payroll creating sky-high expectations and the role of Friedman’s staff in constructing analytically friendly game plans, Roberts’ job is a thankless one in which he’s the easiest guy to blame if things go wrong and the last person to get credit for the Dodgers’ success.
But Roberts is one title away from becoming a Hall of Fame lock — every Hall-eligible manager with three championships has earned enshrinement — and proved more than worthy of Cooperstown consideration in October.
He preserved the Dodgers’ bullpen by punting the two losses to the Mets in the NLCS and displayed his ability to manage on the fly in Wednesday night’s World Series clincher. When Flaherty was chased after recording just four outs, Roberts used his high leverage guys to keep them sharp for a potential Game 6 before he ramped up the urgency after the Dodgers tied the game against the Bad News Bears Yankees in the fifth inning.
Blake Treinen tossed 2 2/3 innings — his longest outing since 2016 — to earn the win before Walker Buehler, a two-time Tommy John survivor headed for free agency, recorded his first big league save with a perfect ninth and made it far more likely that Roberts will someday join Betts, Freeman and Ohtani in Cooperstown.
4. When it comes to roster construction, the Yankees could learn a thing or two from the Dodgers.
Aug 26, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto (22) salutes the Washington Nationals bench before an at bat during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports While Friedman builds a powerhouse around the Dodgers’ big-name players. Brian Cashman has constructed a top-heavy team that grows very thin very fast behind the Hall of Fame-track trio of Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Gerrit Cole.
Players not named Judge or Soto batted .233 with 138 homers and 882 RBIs this season. And while the Yankees were able to easily make the playoffs despite the first-half absence of Cole, their non-Cole starters posted a 5.73 ERA in the postseason, including an 11.90 mark in the World Series.
The ceiling for these Cashman-constructed teams has become clear for the Yankees, who have won eight postseason series since 2017 — seven against AL Central foes and one against the Oakland Athletics. They have been eliminated by the eventual World Series champions four times and by the AL pennant winner two other times in that span. That ceiling grows a lot shorter if Cashman isn’t able to re-sign Soto and extend Cole, who can opt out of the final four years of his deal.
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
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