In the upcoming World Series, Major League Baseball and its broadcast partners have achieved the perfect scenario they desired: a showdown between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The largest TV markets on the East Coast pitted against the most prominent on the West Coast.
A clash between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the two standout stars of the game, both widely expected to be crowned league MVPs, who will make their debut in the Fall Classic.
Reflecting on his journey, Ohtani remarked, “I sense that we have finally reached this moment, I have finally reached this stage,” at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night.
As per Sportico’s latest valuations, these two teams are the highest-priced franchises, among the leading revenue generators and biggest spenders in the sport.
To secure a spot in the best-of-seven World Series kicking off at Dodger Stadium on Friday evening, the Dodgers ousted the New York Mets 10-5 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, utilizing an opener and six relievers. On the other hand, the Yankees previously triumphed over Cleveland in Game 5 on Saturday night to clinch the American League championship.
The Yankees are making their 41st appearance in the World Series, having emerged victorious 27 times. The Dodgers, on the other hand, have clinched the title six times. This will mark the 12th encounter between the Yanks and the Dodgers in the World Series, but their first since 1981. Out of the initial 11 meetings between the two franchises, New York triumphed in eight of them.
In 2012, Mark Walter and Guggenheim Baseball procured the Dodgers from Frank McCourt for $2.15 billion. Presently, the club has a valuation of $6.3 billion, placing second in Major League Baseball behind the Yankees valued at $7.93 billion. The defeated Mets, on the other hand, have an estimated worth of $2.91 billion.
Expressing his delight, Walter stated, “This is a phenomenal feeling, yet we must secure four more victories,” while receiving the Warren Giles Trophy for winning the NL pennant on the field at Dodger Stadium.
The club’s value has surged by 20% since just 2023 when they amassed revenue of $637 million, featuring as the second-highest revenue-generating team in MLB, trailing closely behind the Yankees, who raked in $720 million.
Both teams have spared no expense to reach this stage. The Dodgers disbursed $339.8 million in player payroll this season, securing the second spot in MLB, with only around $11 million separating them from the Mets, who held the top spot. The Yankees followed closely at third with a total of $314.7 million.
During the offseason, LA splurged a staggering $1.025 billion to secure the services of free agents Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani signed a 10-year deal worth $700 million with $680 million deferred, while Yamamoto penned a 12-year contract valued at $325 million.
Addressing their progress, Ohtani mentioned, “Our aim was to reach this point, and my vision of achieving it aligned with the contract I signed. All the matches were incredibly challenging. Nevertheless, I am elated that we have arrived at this juncture.”
Walter expressed contentment with the investment, emphasizing, “As a team, we have performed admirably. We have secured four pennants in the last eight years, which is a testament to our efforts.”
One can aspire to win the World Series. In 2017, the Dodgers suffered defeat at the hands of the Houston Astros in a seven-game World Series, marred by the Houston sign-stealing scandal. They experienced another setback in 2018, losing in a five-game series to the Boston Red Sox. Their redemption came in 2020 with a six-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at the Globe Life Field bubble, marking the conclusion of the COVID-curtailed 60-game regular season.
Celebrations for the triumph took place on neutral territory, with restrictions preventing the Dodgers from hosting a parade in downtown Los Angeles due to health and safety concerns.
If they emerge victorious against the Yankees, who last tasted World Series glory in 2009, the dynamics would shift.
Expressing the desires of the fans, Walter stated, “We aspire to do so. Undoubtedly, the fans deserve it. Over the years, we have been consistent contenders, and now is the time to seize the opportunity.”
Sunday night marked the first time since 1988 that the Dodgers reveled in a playoff series victory on their own home turf at Dodger Stadium, defeating the Mets in a seven-game NLCS.
In Game 7, Orel Hershiser outplayed Ron Darling, claiming a 6-0 win. In stark contrast to the bullpen-centric approach seen on Sunday night, Hershiser pitched a full nine innings.
During this postseason, the Dodger starters have averaged 3.4 innings over the initial 12 games. Improvements are not anticipated against the Yankees.
The fact that the Dodgers overcame the San Diego Padres and the Mets in the first two playoff rounds with just three reliable starters—Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, and Walker Buehler—underscores the exceptional performance of the bullpen.
Walter commended manager Dave Roberts for adeptly managing the pitching staff and injury challenges. Notably, star first baseman Freddie Freeman was absent from the lineup on Sunday due to a high right ankle sprain, causing him to miss two of the past three games.
Under Walter’s tenure, Roberts has led the team through all four World Series appearances. Praising Roberts’ bullpen strategies, Walter remarked, “Roberts’ handling of the bullpen has been exceptional. He and the entire team along with the staff have performed exceptionally well. We are extremely proud of their efforts, but there is more work to be done. Our objective was not merely to win the pennant; we aimed to secure the World Series title.”
Image Source: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Instagram
