In news that is news to absolutely nobody, the Los Angeles Dodgers are going back to the World Series.

The team with the highest payroll swept the team with the fourteenth highest payroll to make it back to the World Series for the second year in a row. The Dodgers swept the four-game series from the Milwaukee Brewers.

The team with the highest payroll was led in Game 4 by the guy with the highest salary.

Money talks. But in this case, money also pays off.

The Los Angeles Dodgers paid Shohei Ohtani $700 million to be their best pitcher and best hitter for ten years. In the first year of his contract, he didn’t pitch because he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. But all he did in 2024 was hit 54 home runs and drive in 130 runs, more than anyone else. All he did was lead baseball in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS+. All he did was win his third MVP in four years.

Last night, all he did was hit three home runs and strike out ten Milwaukee batters in six innings. He did what he was paid to do. 

So, is the fact the Dodgers outspent everyone good for the game or bad for the game? It’s a debate that will never end.

But if you are a Dodgers fan, do you care? Isn’t it nice to know your team wants to win? Isn’t that what every fan wants every year, just the chance to win? 

The Rangers won it all in 2023, and that was glorious. But does that forgive the fact that in eight of the last nine seasons, they haven’t even made the playoffs? And now, it’s been reported the team is cutting back on payroll. Of course, that doesn’t mean they can’t build a playoff-caliber team. But it means ownership isn’t committed to winning like the Dodgers are.

Dodgers fans expect to make the playoffs. Rangers fans hope they do. That’s the difference.

It sure would be nice to have a team run by people who are committed to winning. That’s all any fan asks for. Unless you’re a Cowboys fan. 

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