As the baseball world prepares itself for a low-cost World Series, Dodgers fans might still be looking backwards at what might’ve been.
Sonja Chen on MLB.com focuses on how the team managed Shohei Ohtani’s injuries, and what perhaps they might’ve done differently.
“I haven’t been able to really come to grip in terms of what I’ve learned overall this season,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton following the Dodgers’ elimination. “It’s something that I’m going to kind of go back to the drawing board in terms of treatment, training program, and see what I can come up with for next season.”
Chen breaks down the entire timeline of Ohtani and his injuries this season, from a knee tweak to being completely shut down from pitching, to starting again, and then a full IL stint. Chen notes that perhaps the Dodgers should’ve done more at the beginning to help their two-way player, and that said two-way player probably should’ve done more to help himself.
“The communication back and forth has been awesome,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said after Ohtani came off the IL. “The fully sharing exactly how he’s feeling, maybe not as awesome.”
Definitely lessons learned as the Dodgers look forward to 2027, where Ohtani has said that he definitely is going to pitch again.
“Yes, definitely,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton when asked after Los Angeles’ season-ending 6-4 loss to the Brewers if he plans to pitch in 2027. “And looking forward to having a better season next year.”
Brian Murphy of MLB.com covered that and other quotes from Ohtani on his plans going forward, including that as of earlier this week, Ohtani did not know if that was going to include offseason surgery.
That is, of course, if there is a next season.
If there is, Tyler Kepner of The Athletic shares his experience with a dynasty after the World Series wins stop, as he covered the New York Yankees during and after their three-peat. No doubt it will be somewhat different for the Dodgers, who seem to be the scapegoat for the impending lockout.