Forget what you’re hearing about the Los Angeles Dodgers being an automatic World Series lock after picking up Tarik Skubal. One league executive dropped some serious truth to The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, reminding everyone that “it’s still baseball.” And honestly, our very own Seattle Mariners already proved that point big time last year against Skubal himself.
Our M’s Already Knew This About Skubal
Remember Skubal? Yeah, the guy who just joined the Dodgers. He was pitching for a playoff team, the Detroit Tigers, just last year. He even pitched *twice* in a five-game series. And what happened? Our Mariners sent him and the Tigers packing in five games in the ALDS! That team had Casey Mize as their No. 2 starter, not some other ace, so it just shows that even the best arms can get knocked around when it matters most. This exec knows it, pointing out that even with Skubal, Yamamoto, and Ohtani, it’s just never a done deal. Baseball is wild, folks.
The Dodgers’ Injury Mess and Shaky Streak
Here’s the kicker: this “luxury” pickup might actually be a *necessity* for the boys in blue. The Dodgers are battling a brutal injury bug right now. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are on the IL, trying to get back, but let’s be real, their health track records aren’t exactly stellar. Shohei Ohtani? No timetable to pitch, dealing with knee and biceps injuries, though manager Dave Roberts is optimistic he’ll throw again this season. Dalton Rushing’s status for the rest of the season is up in the air with a slight UCL tear, and Will Smith is out until mid-August with a neck injury. Even Edwin Díaz, who’s back from April elbow surgery, isn’t totally dialed in, giving up five hits and two runs in 2.2 innings over three appearances. Oh, and despite their massive division lead, they just dropped a season-high five straight games. You gotta wonder what’s really going on over there.
History Says They’re Not Unbeatable
The idea that these Dodgers are invincible is a myth, folks. It almost got shattered last year, even before Skubal was in Dodger blue. The Philadelphia Phillies had them on the ropes, leading in the sixth inning or later in two of their three NLDS losses to LA. And let’s not forget how close they were to losing Game 7 of the World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays if Miguel Rojas didn’t hit a shocking homer or Andy Pages didn’t make a ridiculous catch. This isn’t just about collecting superstars; it’s about playing baseball when it counts. Skubal could be clutch in October, but he’s far from a guaranteed World Series ring.
So yeah, it’s still baseball. And for all the hype surrounding big trades, injuries, and a few shaky games can quickly change the whole narrative, even for a team with a massive lead. Let’s remember what our Mariners showed us last year: you gotta play the game to win it, every single out. That’s the beauty of it, isn’t it?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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