Dodgers’ October Woes: Is ‘Next Year’ Just an Empty Promise?

Same Plan Next Year, Dodgers? Because the Job’s Not Actually Finished

The Los Angeles Dodgers are no strangers to heartbreak. After several seasons of coming close but not close enough, one would think they’d have made the adjustments needed to cross the finish line. Yet here we are again, with another early exit that leaves the fanbase frustrated and critics wondering if this organization is genuinely committed to winning it all—or simply content with being a regular-season juggernaut.

After all, it’s one thing to have a “same old” vibe in the front office’s attitude toward team construction. But another year of predictable pitching woes and squandered talent has fans asking: when will enough be enough?

Same Plan, Same Result

It’s no secret that the Dodgers have leaned heavily on a strategy that prioritizes regular-season success, often assembling a depth-rich roster that produces well over 162 games. It’s a formula that wins divisions and thrills crowds all season long, but come playoff time, it’s simply not cutting it. This approach emphasizes getting to October, but does it ever really prepare for October?

The Dodgers’ reliance on “opener” pitching strategies and bullpen-heavy games in the postseason has exposed a glaring issue: this team lacks dominant, workhorse starters who can go the distance in October. In recent years, fans have watched pitchers like Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole flourish elsewhere, wondering why the Dodgers, with their immense resources, aren’t pursuing more frontline arms who can rise to the occasion in do-or-die situations.

Meanwhile, the offense—though explosive in the regular season—tends to vanish when it matters most. What good is a 100+ win season when you’re putting up goose eggs in October?

Is Ownership Content With Good Enough?

Fans and critics alike are starting to question ownership’s commitment to genuine, hard-fought championships. Are the Dodgers settling for perennial contention rather than pushing the limits to create a dynastic winner?

Some point to the team’s payroll as evidence of a willingness to spend, but the roster’s composition often feels reactive rather than proactive. Yes, they are spending, but where are they spending wisely? It seems like every year brings a headline-grabbing move (or lack thereof) that leaves fans scratching their heads. Justin Turner was allowed to walk; Corey Seager, too. Cody Bellinger was jettisoned without a second thought. Sure, some of these decisions could be justified in isolation, but the bigger picture has been inconsistent at best.

Blame Game or Reality Check?

For Dodgers fans, the question is simple: when does this change? When does this organization stop prioritizing a great regular season and start doing what it takes to win when it counts? The front office’s response has often been to trust the process, but it’s a trust that’s been eroding.

It’s no longer enough to brush off another postseason exit with talk of “next year.” Dodgers fans deserve better than rinse-and-repeat strategies and offseason promises. Next season needs to be about something more—about finally finishing the job.