I was just talking about this with friends the other day. One of these friends is a die hard Yankee fan (he never was a Twins fan) who I have known since I was 5 years old. We played Little League baseball with and against each other.
I have always been a Twins fan first, but determined when I was 7 years old that I had to have a 2nd favorite team and that it had to be a National League team. I required my little brother would do the same. After being totally impressed by Sandy Koufax in the 1965 World Series I determined he was my 2nd favorite player (Tony Oliva #1) and that the Dodgers would be my 2nd favorite team. My brother ultimately determined the St. Louis Cardinals would be his favorite non-Twins team and that Lou Brock was his "guy."
Thus set the stage for my rivalry with the Yankees fan friend from that point onward. The Yankees quickly figured out the Brave New World of free agency could benefit them signing stars like Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson after a one-year stint with the Orioles. The Dodgers, who always prided themselves on home grown talent had no idea how to leverage free agency. Their first foray into it was signing Twins pitcher Dave Goltz after his 20-win 1977 season. Goltz was not Jim Palmer, Catfish, or Tom Seaver. He was a disaster for the Dodgers.
Somewhere around the time the Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts, they started to unlock the massive advantages they had. Nothing they are doing is illegal. It didn't take until the Kyle Tucker signing to prove it to me. Signing Shohei Ohtani was the nuclear explosion that rocked MLB. Giving Tucker 4 years for $60 million a season was just the cherry on top.
No, the Dodgers aren't doing anything they currently are allowed to do. But it exposes the foundational flaws in MLB's economic/financial framework. Until changes are implemented, the Dodgers will continue to dominate. I predict a 3rd straight World Series victory for them in 2026, a feat not accomplished since the Oakland A's did it in 1972. 1973 and 1974 in a time when there was no free agency.
I wish I could say that I'm enjoying the Dodgers historic run. But I have to admit, I would have enjoyed a World Series win in 1966, 1977, 1978 and even in 1985 much more if they had been able to pull it off in those years listed. There is something hollow about seeing them win under the current conditions. I used to say no manager could do less with so much at his disposal than Dave Roberts. But his last 2-years has forced me to give him the credit he's due.
