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
Bengals Have No More Excuses Entering the 2026 NFL Season
For the Cincinnati Bengals, it’s time for results to meet expectations.
They had a more productive offseason of re-tooling its defense and tweaking a roster that underperformed in 2025, which was a disappointment with a 6-11 record and third straight season out of the playoffs in the Joe Burrow era.
The Bengals entered the offseason at a critical crossroads.
Their star quarterback missed more than half of last season — nine games following turf toe surgery — and the Bengals’ defense ranked in the bottom five of several significant categories, The organization faced intense media scrutiny and fan pessimism … Are the Bengals ever going to build a winner around Joe Burrow?
Bengals ownership, led by Mike Brown and his daughter, Katie, have traditionally chosen conservative, baseline adjustments to tweak the roster. That was definitely not the case starting with free agency in March and continuing through the draft.
Veteran impact free agents like Cincinnati native and Super Bowl champion safety Bryan Cook, defensive edge Boye Mafe, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and safety Kyle Dugger were added. They then stunned the NFL by trading away their first-round draft pick (No. 10 overall) for defensive tackle and front four anchor Dexter Lawrence II, and extending him another year at $28 million for 2028. Then they did something they almost never do – they restructured Burrow’s contract to free up approximately $10 million in critical cap space.
All of the moves are a signal that those inside the organization understand that the championship window is wide open. An influx of high-tier talent has fundamentally altered the external narrative and internal expectations in Cincinnati as training camp approaches.
“A lot of urgency this year,” Burrow said. “We have everything we need. We’re deep at just about every position on the team.”
Following the departure of longtime star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson to division rival Baltimore for four years and $112 million in free agency, the Bengals adjusted from relying on a singular dominant edge rusher to utilizing a committee of quick-pressure and flexible edge defenders.
Mafe brings immediate speed off the edge from the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahwaks. Defensive coordinator Al Golden is counting on him being and every down edge. The Bengals added to their pass rush options by taking Texas A&M edge and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell in the second round (No. 41 overall). Howell adds a highly athletic edge threat to the rotational mix. Mafe and Howell join a group that also features 2023 first-round edge Myles Murphy and 2025 first-rounder Shemar Stewart.
For Burrow, the overhauled roster brings back familiar pressure and expectations to win, and win big.
“Put pressure on guys. I love it. I thrive in it,” Burrow said. “We’ll find out who else does. I know we have the kind of people who want to be in that spot. I want everybody talking about the Bengals. You go back and watch what I said before the 2019 (national championship) season at LSU. I feel very similarly about this team. I’m so excited to get started and get moving.”
Burrow’s confidence is fueled by a completely revitalized supporting cast on both sides of the ball. Burrow acknowledges that the increased financial commitment from ownership eliminates excuses, placing the responsibility on leadership to execute.
With a bolstered roster, expectations have risen to a championship standard, the standard by both Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor repeated often following their Super Bowl run in 2021 and their run to a second straight AFC title game appearance in 2022. Taylor has echoed this optimism, successfully accomplished its objectives regarding scheme implementation and personnel preparation during the offseason workout and practice program.
“We accomplished everything we set out to accomplish,” Taylor said at the end of mandatory minicamp in June.
The 2026 season is viewed as a critical juncture for the Bengals to capitalize on its heavy roster investments and win the first Super Bowl title in the franchise’s 59th season.
Sports
'Frustrated' Blue Jays eager to reverse course vs. Rays
Jul 12, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) argues with home plate umpire Jen Pawol (95) during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images The Toronto Blue Jays will be out to salvage what they can from a guaranteed losing homestand Wednesday night when they continue their series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Blue Jays dropped to 1-4 on their seven-game homestand with a 12-2 setback to the Rays on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay is 7-1 against Toronto this season to clinch the season series.
While the Rays sit atop the American League East, the Blue Jays are last in the division, with their hopes of a wild-card spot fading.
“I think everyone is frustrated,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “There’s no secret, this is not going to be easy. It’s going to be hard. You just want to find some small wins for one, and two, you just make sure everyone understands that this is going to be hard and you’ve got to dig your way out of this.”
The Blue Jays have only eight runs over their first five games since returning from the All-Star break.
After the Rays scored three runs in the first inning Tuesday against Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays failed to score against Drew Rasmussen in the bottom of the inning despite loading the bases with one out. That is a microcosm of Toronto’s season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 0-for-4 on Tuesday and is in an 0-for-13 funk in a disappointing season. The Rays’ pitchers have been tough on Guerrero this season, holding him at 2-for-27.
The Blue Jays’ defense also has been a problem against the Rays. Toronto has committed five errors over the two games of the four-game series.
That number could have been higher. One error call on Tuesday — third baseman Kazuma Okamoto on Nick Fortes’ grounder in the seventh — was changed to a hit.
Schneider said the fielding mistakes are more a result of the Rays’ style than his team pressing.
“This team really plays the game fast,” Schneider said of Tampa Bay. “I don’t think that it’s us playing tight. I think it’s them forcing the issue.”
The Rays also have been hitting for power in the series. They had three homers on Monday. Fortes, who went deep in his second consecutive contest, joined Yandy Diaz — who was playing in his 1,000th MLB game — by belting a three-run homer on Tuesday.
“That’s pretty special to play 1,000 games at this level, and he’s done it at an incredibly high level,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Diaz. “I appreciate Yandy, certainly the hitter he is, the way he’s evolved as a teammate, as a leader on this team, the energy that he provides on a daily basis, and the way he carries himself is really special.”
Chandler Simpson and Ben Williamson each had four hits for Tampa Bay, and Junior Caminero had two hits and three walks. The Rays had a season-best 21 hits.
“It just attests to everything that we can do in the lineup,” Simpson said. “We can win it with speed, put the bat on the ball. We can also use the power game as well to win games.”
The Blue Jays will go with an opener on Wednesday, with right-handed reliever Braydon Fisher (3-3, 3.65 ERA) getting the call. In 10 career relief appearances against the Rays, he is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA.
Right-hander Griffin Jax (5-7, 4.08) is Tampa Bay’s scheduled starter on Wednesday. He is 1-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 17 career games (two starts) against Toronto.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Martin Perez returns for Braves, to pitch against Padres
Jun 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Martin Perez (33) throws against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Veteran Martin Perez will come off the injured list to take his spot in the starting rotation when the Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
The Padres beat the Braves 8-3 on Tuesday to even the four-game series at a game apiece. San Diego has won four of five games against the Braves on the season.
Perez went on the injured list after being hit in the arm by a line drive by Juan Soto of the New York Mets on July 5. He threw a bullpen session on Sunday and was deemed ready to return.
“He rebounded well,” Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said. “To be honest, it’s not a terrible thing that he got a little break. Threw 50 innings last year, so I think probably good timing there if there is such a thing for something like that. Chances are he was going to need a break at some point this year anyway.”
Left-hander Perez (6-6, 3.54) will face off against San Diego right-hander Michael King (6-7, 3.34). Perez has thrown 81 1/3 innings this season.
Perez made his last start against the Mets on July 5 and allowed five runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings. He had to leave the game after absorbing the line drive off his left forearm. X-rays showed no broken bones, but it was severe enough to require a trip to the injured list.
Perez has never beaten San Diego. In four career appearances (three starts), he is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA. He lost to the Padres on June 24 when he pitched four innings and allowed three runs on four hits and four walks.
King received no decision in his most recent start on Friday against the Kansas City Royals, a 7-6 loss in 10 innings. He pitched five innings and allowed one run on four hits and two walks, striking out four. He has allowed two or fewer runs in 12 of his 20 starts.
King has made three career appearances against the Braves, going 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA. He beat Atlanta 1-0 on June 22 in San Diego when he threw seven scoreless innings.
The Padres continue to tinker with the lineup. On Tuesday they batted struggling veteran Xander Bogaerts No. 8 in the lineup, something he has done just 48 times in 1,761 career games. He went 1-for-4 and was robbed of a home run by Atlanta center fielder Michael Harris II.
“We’re taking a little bit of the pressure off Bogey,” manager Craig Stammen said. “That’s probably the biggest thing. We’ve got to get him going somehow. Thought moving him up in the lineup might get him going. He’s still taking good at-bats.”
Bogaerts said, “What can I say? Play better.”
Manny Machado doesn’t have that problem. He has homered three times in the series and has hit safely in 12 straight games. During the streak he has five homers, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored, and he has raised his average from .187 to .204.
The Atlanta offense, which entered the series having scored five-plus runs in nine consecutive home games, was limited to four hits for the second straight game. Two of those came from rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis.
The Braves released veteran designated hitter Kyle Farmer, an Atlanta native, on Tuesday when they activated outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. Farmer appeared in only 12 games and went on the injured list in May with a right forearm strain. He made two brief appearances after his return earlier this month.
Yastrzemski was on the 10-day injured list due to an elbow ailment.
–Field Level Media
Bengals Have No More Excuses Entering the 2026 NFL Season
'Frustrated' Blue Jays eager to reverse course vs. Rays
