A dynasty or pure posturing? The final verdict on the Dodgers
It seems like yesterday, but it’s actually been six years since baseball started whispering the ‘D’ word: Dynasty. And no, we’re not talking about the typical Netflix series that gets canceled after one season. We are referring to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that, if it wins this World Series, would take home its third ring in six years. Something that, let’s be honest, in the era of MLB’s extreme competitiveness is like winning the lottery three times in a row… but with more sweat and fewer odds.
Freddie Freeman, the first baseman, summed it up with the elegance of someone who just hit a home run: “Winning one is hard enough. If you can get three in a span of five, six years, I guess you could say it’s a dynasty.” Of course, then he added the quintessential millennial tagline: “I guess.” Because in this generation, even the most epic statements are accompanied by “maybe, I don’t know, you tell me.” But he’s right: the franchise’s sustained success, with 12 of the last 13 division titles, is something to take your hat (or baseball cap) off to.
The dilemma of the purists vs. the new school
This is where the conversation gets juicy. What really defines a dynasty in modern baseball? Because, friends, there is no FIFA manual or unlockable achievement in a video game to certify this. Purists, those who still believe that vintage is always better, point to the 1949-53 New York Yankees with their five consecutive crowns. That, let’s face it, is a level of dominance that borders on the obscene.
But then there’s Bob Costas, a microphone legend, who drops the bomb: “If I were broadcasting, I wouldn’t refer to them as a dynasty.” Their argument is that they should be compared to the Atlanta Braves, who won 14 divisions in a row but only won one world title. In other words, they were the kings of the regular season but they deflated at the key moment, like that influencer who has a million followers but zero engagement.
However, even Costas is open to reflection. Recognize that the rules of the game have changed. With the expansion of the playoffs, it’s no longer simply about being the best through 162 games. Now you have to win short and eliminatory series, a format that rewards the one who is hottest at the right moment, not necessarily the most consistent. It’s the sporting equivalent of the TikTok algorithm deciding to make you fashionable one week in and another.
The legacy beyond the rings
Mookie Betts, the Dodgers star, confesses that he is more focused on preparing for the games than contemplating the team’s historic position. His statement is a mood: “If you’re thinking about going to the postseason and obviously having a chance to win World Series year after year, I guess that would qualify as some kind of dynasty, but I don’t know what it takes to call it that.” Translation: “Let me play, let the historians fight with that.”
John Thorn, the official historian of Major League Baseball, puts a twist on the debate. For him, a current dynasty is defined by consecutive pennants or division titles, not necessarily by world championships. Under this logic, the Dodgers would already be a textbook dynasty. They have been in the conversation year after year, always relevant, always competing. They’re the Taylor Swift of MLB: always talking, throwing hits, and staying on top whether you like it or not.
Dave Roberts, the manager, sees it from a more pragmatic perspective: “It just puts us on the Mount Rushmore of sports organizations.” Their philosophy is to let others debate while they are in charge of putting the issues on the table. In other words, they cook the banquet and the food critics discuss whether the presentation is worthy of a Michelin.
In the end, each championship is one more step towards immortality. As Betts points out, all of this helps build a case for the Hall of Fame. Because, let’s face it, in the era of overinformation and hot takes, it’s not enough to be good; you have to be legendary. And the Dodgers are one step away from achieving it.
Do you think the Dodgers deserve the title of dynasty anymore? Share your opinion and this article on your social networks to fuel the debate. And don’t miss our analysis of other franchises that have marked an era in professional sports.
