You don’t like the Dodgers, I don’t like the Dodgers, but don’t let your pure hatred of Dodger blue and Dodger dogs blind you to the fact that after winning a legit championship for the first time since 1988, the new evil empire is simply playing by the rules of the game and our hate is really jealousy.
Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki is the latest example. Sasaki, who is said to be wary of the media and doesn’t crave the spotlight, likely chose blue for a number of reasons which the Giants could have put in place but didn’t. It wasn’t about money for Sasaki, he came over early like Shohei Ohtani did and while he won’t starve given his endorsement opportunities, Los Angles used international money and they were near the bottom in available funds yet Sasaki said yes.
Winning was likely a major factor, plus two Japanese stars in Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take media pressure off the 23 year-old star. Also, he won’t be counted on to carry the pitching load. As we are all too aware, former Giant Blake Snell signed early in the offseason, Ohtani is back off Tommy John surgery, Yamamoto is healthy again plus 2024 All-Star Tyler Glasnow starts season number two in LA. Sasaki is likely the number five starter, little pressure in his rookie year. It doesn’t hurt that Los Angeles, like San Francisco is on the west coast and a shorter flight to Japan.
The Giants could have set this all up, except for a few issues. Proximity wise as I mentioned, similar, that’s where things end. The Dodgers spend to win. The Giants spend to turn turn styles. The Dodgers signed Ohtani and Yamamoto. The Giants kinda sorta tried. The Dodgers play to their market size. The Giants think they are located in Milwaukee. San Francisco has the 13th highest payroll in the sport right now for the 2025 season. They are a projected $35 million below the luxury tax, which isn’t nearly as prohibitive as the NBA penalties are. They could spend more, they choose not to. Ownership thinks Justin Verlander’s name will bring you out to the park. The Giants are sandwiched between the Cubs and the Red Sox in the payroll rankings, two other major market teams who figure the fans will come out regardless of the product on the field so why spend more?
In baseball, money most times equals success. The Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Astros, and Braves dot the top 10 in payroll. Texas is up there, they won the World Series in 2023. Money is not everything, but it does indicate how badly ownership wants to win as you can see with the Mets, Astros and Blue Jays. Hate the Dodgers, blame the Dodgers, blame the system, we’re just upset our team isn’t dedicated to winning like the boys in blue.