Yankees vs. Dodgers: Previewing the 2024 World Series - Caretaker Exclusive

[Matthew Trueblood]

For this particular Fall Classic, the Midwest truly will be flyover country, as the Yankees and Dodgers pull the attention of the baseball world back and forth across the breadth of the continent. For fans who can set aside their provincialism and the bitterness of their own seasons' ends, though, it's going to be a whale of a matchup.

Image courtesy of © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Why does it affront so many fans when big-market teams succeed? That question is rhetorical, but not sneering, because once you think about it a bit, the reason is both obvious and reasonable: it makes us all feel small. Every baseball fan holds equal worth, and no team's worth and value depends solely on the size of their fan base, let alone some special merit that stretches past numbers.

That's the truth, and it's fair and it's just, but the sharp-edged threat and snarl of it is this: there are more Yankees fans than there are Twins fans. There are more Dodgers fans than there are Twins fans. They aren't smarter, or more passionate, or more special, and neither the league nor its broadcast partners nor mainstream media intends to treat those fans as more valuable than Twins, Brewers, Cubs, or any other kinds of fans. But there are way, way more of them, and that raises the stakes of the whole affair when something like this World Series matchup happens.

The league has a greater opportunity, and has a fiduciary duty—as much to Twins and Brewers and Cubs fans as to Yankees and Dodgers fans—to seize it. Their broadcast partners have a larger audience and the ability to justify more resources allocated toward serving it. The commentary media has a chance, especially in our polarized and friction-fueled social media world, to stir up some pride and some bile. They're all going to act accordingly, and it's hard to blame them—er, actually, it's very easy, fun, and wildly popular to blame them. But it's probably also wrong.

Coverage of a series like Yankees-Dodgers tends to savor of triumphalism, which our Midwestern eyes tend to code as coastal elitism. In truth, though, it's just writers and marketers and TV producers working with what they have. We might fairly argue for a system that works harder to evenly distribute revenue throughout the league, but even if such a system went into effect today, it wou;dn't erase the last 125 years. Over that century and change, Yankee and Dodger triumphs pepper the landscape, and Yankees and Dodgers legends people the pages. Why is this Series exciting? Because these two teams are meeting in this context for the 12th time, more than anyone else has done it. When the Twins made the World Series, there were plenty of paeans to the value of Minnesotan baseball and its specific virtues. It's just been so long since the team made it that we tend to misremember those blandishments as smaller than the compliments paid to these teams. Certainly, when the Cubs were in the Series in 2016, a huge deal was made of it. Now, it's the Yankees' and Dodgers' turn.

Have I convinced you to care about this fight between two evil corporate supervillains? If so, I hope you'll read on, especially if you're not yet a Caretaker. You can become one for just $6 on our monthly plan, which will get you my coverage throughout the Series and our Offseason Handbook right after it. After that, you can decide whether to stick around and continue enjoying the benefits of our premium content, along with extra perks. If not, hey, sign up anyway! Maybe I can sell you on it before the games run out.

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[RpR]

I never thought I would be rooting for the Dodgers in a World Series.

[NYCTK]

Yankees were clearly the class of the AL, and Dodgers were clearly the class of the NL. Kind of cool that we get to see the best teams from each respective league in the World Series for the first time in a long time. That said the NL was so much stronger than the AL this year and I expect the Dodgers to outclass the Yankees, even with their weak Starting rotation. 

Dodgers in 5. 

Side note, I want desperately for the Yankees to lose and for Soto to leave in the offseason. 

[Doctor Gast]

Although I'm for LAD, I won't be watching it. Out of protest.

[Dave Borton]

32 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Although I'm for LAD, I won't be watching it. Out of protest.

While I share your concern and dismay at BBs grossly inequitable salary totals, this is a classic matchup in the Fall. Add to that, Judge and Ohtani, mano a mano. 

Not to be missed

[ashbury]

My two very favorite teams (besides the Twins of course), going head to head!

• Whoever is playing against the Dodgers
• Whoever is playing against the Yankees

I hope they both win!

[Parfigliano]

5 hours ago, RpR said:

I never thought I would be rooting for the Dodgers in a World Series.

You're not the only one

[Dave Borton]

These guys are billboards:

1. Strauss - German work clothes (at least use Carhart) on batting helmet

2. Nike

3. Starr Insurance (Yanks), G for Guggenheim (ownership group of Dodgers)

Enough already. I remember as a kid how the Buffalo Bisons (old American Hockey League) had a Pepsi Cola bottle cap on their jerseys. I thought it was tacky as a 10 yr old kid in the '50s; haven't shifted in my position.

Gross.

[Parfigliano]

5 minutes ago, Dave Borton said:

These guys are billboards:

1. Strauss - German work clothes (at least use Carhart) on batting helmet

2. Nike

3. Starr Insurance (Yanks), G for Guggenheim (ownership group of Dodgers)

Enough already. I remember as a kid how the Buffalo Bisons (old American Hockey League) had a Pepsi Cola bottle cap on their jerseys. I thought it was tacky as a 10 yr old kid; haven't shifted in my position.

Gross.

You haven't shifted your position but todays team owner would push a 10 yr old kid into traffic to pick up an extra nickel off the street.

[UpstateNewYorker]

30 minutes ago, Dave Borton said:

These guys are billboards:

1. Strauss - German work clothes (at least use Carhart) on batting helmet

2. Nike

3. Starr Insurance (Yanks), G for Guggenheim (ownership group of Dodgers)

Enough already. I remember as a kid how the Buffalo Bisons (old American Hockey League) had a Pepsi Cola bottle cap on their jerseys. I thought it was tacky as a 10 yr old kid in the '50s; haven't shifted in my position.

Gross.

I grew up watching the AHL Rochester Americans, and I remember the Bisons' logo.

[Dave Borton]

19 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

You haven't shifted your position but todays team owner would push a 10 yr old kid into traffic to pick up an extra nickel off the street.

Hilarious. Had to respond. Chuckle icon insufficient.

[Dave Borton]

1 minute ago, UpstateNewYorker said:

I grew up watching the AHL Rochester Americans, and I remember the Bisons' logo.

I used to go to Amerks games just to boo a tall lanky Quebec'er on defense, Nova Scotia, Gilles Lupien.

[UpstateNewYorker]

Just now, Dave Borton said:

I used to go to Amerks games just to boo a tall lanky Quebec'er on defense, Nova Scotia, Gilles Lupien.

That takes me back!  As I recall we called him Big Bird. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Lupien

[Parfigliano]

Graterol in the game throwing 99mph

[Parfigliano]

3 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Graterol in the game throwing 99mph

1 hit 0 run inning.

[Dave Borton]

Great game to kick off the Series.

[LambchoP]

Graterol looked like a future elite closer but while he does still throw hard, he doesn't have very good strikeout numbers. Plus he's always hurt.

[David HK]

On 10/25/2024 at 11:28 PM, RpR said:

I never thought I would be rooting for the Dodgers in a World Series.

Likewise.  I guess I gotta go with the Lesser-Evil-Empire.

Plus, I used to live there, and found a path in an old neighborhood nearby where I could park my bike and sneak thru a gap in the fence for a beautiful LA evening with a Dodger Dog and those Garlic Fries, omg.... 

After the game, down the hill, thru the fence, mount the bike, then home to South Pasadena about 10 minutes later. 😂

[TopGunn#22]

There's still plenty of coastal elitism to go around but it doesn't apply to Dodgers vs Yankees in the World Series. 

Since 1965 the Dodgers have been my 2nd favorite team and Sandy Koufax one of my All Time favorites.  I read every book I could about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier and his Brooklyn Dodger teammates.  That just carried over to L.A. Dodger teams as the years went by.  Disappointed to see Koufax need to retire early, guys like Don Sutton, Bill Singer, Orel Hershiser and Clay Kershaw came along.  

So now that it's clear I'm rooting for the Dodgers it's time to tip our cap to all the classic battles these two teams have had.  Through the 50's when the Yankees won them all except for 1955, to the 60's where Koufax dominated again and the Dodgers beat the Yanks in 1963 to the 70's when the Yankees won back to back against the Dodgers in 1977 & 1978 to finally 1981, where the Dodgers prevailed in a kind of weird strike interrupted season,  it's always been entertaining.  The star power of the two 2 teams always made for must see TV.  

Right now the Dodgers have won the first 2 in L.A. but don't think they've got it locked.  They flashed a graphic up last night that I remembered immediately.  The last two times the Dodgers and Yankees met, the team that started off 2-0 LOST the series.  Dodgers in 1978 and the Yankees in 1981.

The star power is there for a great World Series.  The only thing lacking right now is Aaron Judge's ongoing post season slump.  If he busts out, everything could turn on a dime.

[TopGunn#22]

I will add this...I've been critical of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, often saying he does the least with the most.  But I have to give him credit this season.  His pitching staff was wrecked with injuries.  He really didn't have a solid closer all season and yet he still led the Dodgers to a Division Championship and a World Series berth and they are currently up 2-0.

Yes, he's had an epic season from Ohtani and a very good season from Mookie Betts to lean on.  But Freddie Freeman and catcher Will Smith were nowhere near what a typical season is for them.  He's done a masterful job of navigating all the pitching injuries.  

Well done Dave Roberts.  Now you need to seal the deal.  

[ashbury]

16 hours ago, David HK said:

Likewise.  I guess I gotta go with the Lesser-Evil-Empire.

Plus, I used to live there, and found a path in an old neighborhood nearby where I could park my bike and sneak thru a gap in the fence for a beautiful LA evening with a Dodger Dog and those Garlic Fries, omg....

Go back for a visit and try it again.  I'm sure they're just as mellow about it now.  😀

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Yes, he's had an epic season from Ohtani and a very good season from Mookie Betts to lean on.  But Freddie Freeman and catcher Will Smith were nowhere near what a typical season is for them. 

Oh no!  He didn't have all four of these all-stars to plan his day around, every game of the season?  How ever did he cope? 

[David HK]

On 10/26/2024 at 8:42 AM, Dave Borton said:

These guys are billboards:

1. Strauss - German work clothes (at least use Carhart) on batting helmet

2. Nike

3. Starr Insurance (Yanks), G for Guggenheim (ownership group of Dodgers)

Enough already. I remember as a kid how the Buffalo Bisons (old American Hockey League) had a Pepsi Cola bottle cap on their jerseys. I thought it was tacky as a 10 yr old kid in the '50s; haven't shifted in my position.

Gross.

This is the case around the world, but that's the nature of American sport-  soccer, rugby, etc, have non-stop action, not breaks every few moments where somebody tries to sell you some beer or a truck.  Therefore, all during the broadcast the logos on the uniforms appear constantly.  When I first started working overseas, it peeved me off, but I soon caught on.  

For example- NFL game: 3:10  minutes of action: 11    MLB: with the new rules, 2:36  action: 18 minutes

Soccer + rugby pretty similar:  1:55, action: 57 minutes  

Heck, even my local rugby club gear (even the pre-game warm-up kit!) is covered in sponsor logos, and we're never on TV!  I don't even know what most of these businesses are, except for the one on the back of the shorts:  "Taboo"- a Filipino music and dance club in the heart of steamy Wan Chai! 😂🤣😂

[Dave Borton]

On 10/27/2024 at 12:26 PM, TopGunn#22 said:

That just carried over to L.A. Dodger teams as the years went by

I was 14 when the Dodgers moved and if boys could cry, I would have.

[Dave Borton]

Where is Fat Joe.

[David HK]

For me, the Less Evil Empire won.  That was a heck of a final game, too!  In my heirarchy of hate-watching, I always root for the greater evil to lose in front of their own fans.  It was pretty sweet to watch all those pinstriped nimrods eat ****!  🤣⚾😂

That stuff aside, no way even at full strength do our Twins stay on the field with either of those teams.  Got some work to do.  Are the pohlads gone yet, or will that be tomorrow?

 

[Dave Borton]

Great penultimate paragraph in today's Sports Illustrated:

 

Quote

The bullpen door opened for Buehler at 11:43 p.m. Earlier, he told Roberts: “If it gets squirrelly, I’m ready,” and went to the bullpen on his own accord. He made the emergency assignment look easy. Volpe grounded out. Wells struck out. The final pitch of the 2024 season was a knuckle curveball. Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo could only touch the air...