Monday, February 17, 2025
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers will play their first exhibition game at Camelback Ranch. This will enable Dodger fans to see their favorite team. The Dodgers want to be the first team to repeat as world champions since the New York Yankees did it in 1999 and 2000.
This offseason, the Dodger front office obtained every player they needed to upgrade their team. The Dodgers focused on improving their pitching staff by re-signing Blake Treinen and signing Blake Snell, Roku Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates. They re-signed Teoscar Hernández and extended Tommy Edman. They signed Hye-Seong Kim and Michael Conforto.
Everyone who has seen Sasaki likes his pitch mix. He was a little erratic in his first bullpen session but cleaned it up. While on a minor league contract, he can start in the minor leagues, Sasaki is expected on the major league roster. He has a 100+ miles-per-hour fastball and a devastating splitter. The Dodgers want Sasaki to develop a good slider. Sasaki’s goal is to become the best pitcher ever in the major leagues. Many Dodger fans and pundits think Sasaki will win the National League Rookie of the Year.
Acquiring Blake Snell is exactly what the Dodgers needed. Snell gives the Dodgers an experienced left-handed starter. He has won two Cy Young awards, one with the Tampa Bay Rays and one with the San Diego Padres. Many people have criticized Snell for a lack of stamina, but he makes every start. From Camelback Ranch, Snell has taken Bobby Miller under his wing. I can see having a veteran starter helping Miller to rebound from an awful injured-plagued season.
If the Dodgers will remain healthy, I think the Dodgers will have no problem with repeating as the National League Western Division champions. After that, it is luck in the postseason.
