Four fatal flaws that doomed the Dodgers bid for a historic three-peat
Winter has come early in Los Angeles this year.There will be no World Series three-peat for the Dodgers this season.No downtown parade to celebrate the continuation of their modern-day dynasty.
Not even a return trip to the Fall Classic to try and defend their back-to-back titles.Instead, despite a 100-win regular season and league-record $432 million payroll, the two-time defending champions were eliminated in the National League Championship Series by the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, ending their bid for history and sending them into an uncertain offseason –– one that could include an extended lockout, notable changes to the roster, and existential questions about how to retool around their aging veteran core.Many questions loom about where the Dodgers go from here.Many unknowns remain about what the sport at large will look like in 2027 –– and when next season, amid what figures to be a protracted labor battle, will even begin.But for now, the focus will be on why a team with the most talent in the sport, the most October experience on their roster, and the best statistical odds of winning the World Series couldn’t even get back to it.As a long winter begins, here are the five biggest reasons the 2026 Dodgers came up short.No-Sho’ OhtaniOn paper, no team in the majors has a better-looking lineup than the Dodgers.In reality, however, cracks in their offensive production have grown increasingly evident in recent postseasons.Dating back to the 2024 World Series, the club has batted .219 in postseason play.In five of their seven playoff series in that span, their team average has been .206 or worse.Even in regular-season play, they have endured extended lulls and repeated second-half slumps.
They’re a supremely talented unit, to be sure.But, despite all the big names they boast, they haven’t performed all that different from most other playoff teams, either.Really, only Shohei Ohtani has been a true separator for them at the plate.And this Octobe...