Ohtani’s influence highlights professional athletes’ growing role in shaping the sports business. The record-setting contract he signed, and the economic boom it has generated demonstrate how star players can redefine franchise value. A team’s worth is influenced as much by its cultural relevance as by its results; it is no longer just a sports organization. Ohtani’s appeal transcends the ballpark, drawing fans from all corners of the globe and expanding the Dodgers’ reach in ways far beyond ticket sales.
To the Yankees’ credit, they didn’t roll over and die following a fourth straight game with a Freddie Freeman home run. Meanwhile, the Dodgers quickly read the situation and decided to punt on Game 4.
Is a World Series sweep really possible? For THIS Dodgers team? It’s starting to appear that way as the Dodgers are now one win away from winning the World Series for the second time in five years and the first time in a full season since 1988.
The biggest question for the Yankees is this: can they overcome the momentum the Dodgers got in Game 1? Los Angeles rode Freddie Freeman’s home run to a second straight win, and the Dodgers now have the same 2-0 lead they did on Oakland in the 1988 World Series.
Can Walker Buehler rediscover his postseason success? If he can, the Dodgers’ starting pitching becomes far less of a liability in this series. If not, it’s going to be very difficult for the Dodgers to overcome the Mets.
Have the Braves finally run out of duct tape and chicken wire? Atlanta has been holding it together as best as it can ever since Spencer Strider went down for the season. And while the Braves have held things together well, they’ve always been kind of fragile because of the lack of their top pitcher.
Can you run your way through a postseason series? Milwaukee’s going to try to find out, as the Brewers now face off with the Mets again in a battle of speed vs. power.
And so we’ve reached the MLB doubleheader, and we’re down to two games to decide the playoffs. Two out of Atlanta, New York and Arizona will go to the playoffs, with Sunday’s results leaving the idle Diamondbacks nervously awaiting their fate.
Can Baltimore make up for what happened last year? The Orioles’ rise was a joyride last season, as the O’s went 101-61 just two years after going 52-110. But reality crashed hard in Baltimore when the Orioles ran into Texas and got wiped out in three games.