A spectacular run that included back-to-back World Series championships and delivered unforgettable memories ended with a whimper for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
The Milwaukee Brewers, humiliated by the Dodgers last year in a four-game sweep, returned the favor at Chavez Ravine, defeating L.A., 6-4, in the National League Championship Series. The loss eliminated the Dodgers and ended their run at a vaunted three-peat, or three consecutive titles.
No North American sports franchise can claim such an accomplishment since the Shaq- and Kobe Bryant-led Lakers from 2000 to 2002.
How did a team of All-Stars fall short? Our sports team delivered tremendous coverage that answers that question and many more.
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Shohei Ohtani’s declining health was too much to overcome
Plaschke wrote that the single biggest reason the Dodgers didn’t three-peat centered on the health of designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani.
The owner of four MVP trophies, Ohtani began the season with a goal of also winning the Cy Young Award. So he focused on pitching, and he pitched well, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts.
Then he injured his knee, but he still pitched, long past when he should have been pitching, said Plaschke. He was finally pulled off the mound in early July, but by then he had also injured his elbow and his offense suffered because he was so worried about the pitching. It was at this point the Dodgers should have shut him down entirely, given him a month off to ensure he would be ready for October, according to Plaschke.
But no. Ohtani insisted he was fine even though his plummeting batting numbers said otherwise. When he was finally placed on the injured list in early September, Plaschke said it was too late, and he entered the playoffs as a shell of his former great self.
An autopsy reveals much
Lee agreed with third baseman Max Muncy when he said, “The train finally ran out of steam, I guess.”
A major aspect of the challenge of winning three straight is simply workload. The Dodgers not only have played more games than any other team the last two years, but their schedule has included grueling travel.
The Dodgers started both the 2024 and 2025 seasons early and overseas, playing in the Seoul Series and Tokyo Series in consecutive years. And both years ended with coast-to-coast travel for the World Series, as the Dodgers won titles over the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
The team’s collective age — the oldest lineup in the majors this year, according to Baseball Reference, weighted by at-bats and games played — may not have helped.
Cap concerns
Shaikin wrote about a lockout expected this winter as Major League Baseball owners attempt to implement a salary cap, which limits the amount of money a team can spend on player salaries.
The owners initially proposed a salary cap of $245 million for next year. The Dodgers already have $347 million committed to 14 players next year, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
Under a cap, the owners have promised a transition period to account for existing commitments, and an actual negotiated cap could be higher, said Shaikin.
Even if the players do not agree to a cap — and they insist they won’t — whatever economic system emerges from collective bargaining would likely make it painful for the Dodgers to spend so freely, according to Shaikin.
What some Dodgers fans are saying
Most baseball teams create a now well-anticipated “thank you fans” social media post after the conclusion of a season.
Passionate fans use the post as a sounding board for everything that ails them about their favorite teams. Just look at the “thank you fans” X posts from the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies laced with profanities and vitriol fiercer than any East Coast nor’easter.
🍽️ For many, like the preservationists pushing to save Santa Monica’s Mel’s Drive-In, the mere thought of demolishing the iconic restaurant is offensive. Eating there was certainly on the bingo card for columnist LZ Granderson when he and his son first drove across the Southwest decades ago, and it continues to be a favorite breakfast spot of theirs.
Today’s recipe
(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Many meatballs are made with a panade, often a mixture of white bread soaked in milk, which lends moisture to the final meatballs. For these lamb meatballs, cooking editor Cody Reiss decided to make his panade out of ingredients that felt more in-line with the mutabbal he was serving them with. He ended up using a mixture of leftover pita bread and labneh (drained yogurt). The resulting meatballs were moist, herby, spiced, seasoned, spicy and just a joy to eat.
Photo of the day
Volunteers led by guerrilla activist Jonathan Hale paint over the faded crosswalks of an intersection near USC on Sept. 19.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Jack Dolan, investigative reporter Hugo Martín, assistant editor, Fast Break desk Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor Andrew J. Campa, weekend writer Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
PUSSYCAT Dolls have kicked rap star Lil’ Kim off their UK tour after a string of controversies.
The Lady Marmalade star, 52, won’t appear for the final night of the run at London’s O2 Arena later today, with the headline act fed-up of her unpredictable behaviour.
Lil’ Kim won’t appear with the Pussycat Dolls tonightCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe Dolls have had enough of her unreliable behaviourCredit: Getty
A source said: “Kim didn’t show up to their gig in Manchester on Saturday night, and it was all very last minute. It threw everything into chaos and a sign just went up at the last minute to say she wouldn’t be performing.
“As a result, she hasn’t been asked back for the closing night in London tonight, which was seen as the grand finale.
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“Her not showing up in Manchester was really the final straw for team PCD, there had been a string of issues where she was challenging to work with.”
The Sun has contacted representatives for the Pussycat Dolls and Lil’ Kim.
No official reason for Kim’s absence in Manchester was given, though some fans claimed she was ill.
However, others noticed she had shared social media videos of herself on her tour bus in the build-up to the gig where it looked she was playing video games.
One fan wrote on TikTok: “She was on the tour bus prepping for GTA 6.”
Another posted: “Omg we were there last night how bad is that, not even a comment on sorry she’s no show or anything, playing GTA in the trailer apparently, previous videos of her trying glad she didn’t show.”
Kim came under fire from baffled fans at a previous gig in Paris when a music video playing on the big screens behind her during her set appeared to be synced from her phone and private messages kept popping up before the feed was quickly pulled.
The larger than life star then invited Kim to join the Brooklyn-based rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A, before she launched her solo career with her double-platinum album Hard Core, which debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200.
Grammy-winner Kim’s biggest hits in the UK are all collabs, including the 2001 number one ‘Lady Marmalade’, a cover commissioned for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, and 2003 track ‘Can’t Hold Us Down’ with Christina Aguilera, which reached number six.
BECKY Hill has taken a swipe at The Voice bosses as she opened up about how she has missed out on becoming a coach on the show.
The Loose Control singer, 32, shot to fame on the first series of the ITV show back in 2012 when she was 18-years-old.
Becky Hill has revealed the reason why she won’t return to The Voice as a coachCredit: Capital FMThe singer took part in the ITV show when she was a teenager in 2012Credit: Handout
Capital FM host Jimmy Hill was interested to know if Becky would ever return to the singing programme after it was revealed Sir Tom was axed last month.
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Jimmy asked her: “Would you ever go on The Voice as a coach?”
Becky replied: “I don’t think the show would have me on.”
Becky has become a huge pop star since starring on the showCredit: GettyBecky was coached by Jessie J (pictured with Cassius Henry, Ruth-Ann St Luce, Toni Warne, and Vince Kidd)Credit: BBC
She continued: “Because I had an interview with them a few years ago because they were having a fifth chair.
“And in the interview I said well I’m the only success story from The Voice and there is a reason for that because you have talented people on your show.
“You make a TV show out of them, and then you don’t help them out afterwards.
“I remember being 18 and having to knock on so many doors when I was that age, but there were so many people on that show in my year, that were contestants that didn’t have that experience, kind of came off the show feeling like they had a normal job.
“They were then shoved on TV in front of 12 million people and then they were just spat back out.
“And I would wonder whether me saying to The Voice I would like to help artists. I don’t just want to be employed to be like ‘When it was me, I know how you feel’.
“Because I know that that’s what they’re going to try and get me to do.
“I would love to help people out and make people into, introduce them to people.
“Never got a callback. So I don’t think it’s a case of ‘Would you do The Voice?’
“I think it’s a question of would The Voice do me?”
When Becky appeared on The Voice in 2012 the show aired on BBC One and was presented by Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates.
The coaches were will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J and Danny O’Donoghue.
The series was won by Leanne Mitchell.
The Voice has now aired 14 series since then and it recently hit headlines after it was revealed that Sir Tom Jones was axed.
A source told us at the time “ITV absolutely love Sir Tom and they’re working very hard behind the scenes to make this work.”
Celebrity Traitors star James Blunt made a major move at the Round Table in the latest episode of the BBC show, which left Hannah Fry and Jerry Hall vulnerable for murder
10:38, 08 Oct 2026Updated 10:38, 08 Oct 2026
James Blunt has admitted to some serious skulduggery in Celebrity Traitors(Image: BBC)
James Blunt has admitted to some serious skulduggery on Celebrity Traitors that only fan managed to rumble.
The You’re Beautiful crooner, 52, is among a slew of stars who have signed up for the second series of the BBC show, which kicked off this month.
Last week, James made a very subtle move at the Round Table, while his co-stars, Hannah Fry and Jerry Hall were vulnerable for murder to save the one he wanted to stay in the game.
After the rest of the Faithfuls received a shield to keep them safe, the singer claimed in front of the cast that he was suspicious of maths whizz, Hannah, while dramatically declaring that the ‘most obvious solution is often truest’.
Musing over the likelihood of one murder and a recruitment, James proposed the perfect plan would be to murder one threat to the Traitors – Amol Rajan – and recruit an even bigger threat – Hannah.
The nail-biting episode ended on a cliffhanger. However, James has now taken to Instagram admitting that mentioning Hannah was actually a ruse to stop her from being murdered as he needed her on side.
One eagled-eyed viewer posted: “I’d like to think it’s a tactic to keep her in the game. If her name is brought up the Traitors are less likely to murder her.”
Confirming that this was his game plan all along, James replied: “Bingo!”
We don’t know if Hannah, stays or not, however some fans reckon she must have survived another night on the show after James appeared to let the cat out of the bag online.
Fans are also wondering if thespian Richard E. Grant has been given the chop after the tense Round Table ended without any votes.
Richard was in journalist Amol’s bad books after being the first murder of the actor last week.
Speaking on Radio 4 today, Amol said that Richard, 69, apologised to him and admitted that he went “completely mad” filming the BBC show.
“Absolutely [I played it all wrong],” he said. “There is generally a tactic that is applicable and effective – you’ve got to try and stay schtum. And the one or two things I might say in my defence are: you know how these things work—it’s all in the edit.
“Also, lots of people were having a go at Richard, we all had a go at him because he said he was a traitor, which has never happened before and is a completely ludicrous thing to do.”
Revealing the pair had lunch together to clear the air, Amol concluded: “So it wasn’t just me doing it. I actually had a lunch with him (it was all filmed in Spring) a few weeks ago, and I did ask him and he said, ‘I’m so sorry, I went completely mad and thought you were a threat.'”
LIAM Gallagher has made a cheeky joke to fans who missed out on Oasis Live ’27 tickets after all 42 dates sold out in three days.
Tickets went on sale on Friday and remained available over the weekend before completely selling out.
Liam Gallagher has made a cheeky joke to fans who missed out on Oasis ticketsCredit: WireImageHe joked that fans could sneak into the showsCredit: X/liamgallagher
Following the news, Liam, 52, took to X this evening to issue a statement as he left a parting joke with their fans.
He said: “That’s all folks, we have officially sold out. No more tickets left.
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“Congratulations to everyone who got a ticket and to those who didn’t, sneak in, f**k it, YOLO. LG x.”
Excited fans who managed to luckily get tickets rushed to the comments section as one said: “See you in 2027, Liam!
“I’ll be travelling just to see you guys! Best wishes from Costa Rica!”
Another person commented: “See you at Knebworth! Let’s have it!”
However, some unlucky fans weren’t able to get their hands on tickets as one fumed: “I was manifesting it so much, I’m upset.”
While a second moaned: “Liam I’m so sad, I was born and raised on Oasis and I didn’t get a code. I hope I can see you one day.”
All 42 of Oasis’ shows have sold out after a three-day onsale windowCredit: Instagram/oasisThe brothers will be embarking on the world tour in May next yearCredit: Getty
Pre-registered fans were randomly selected to receive a unique code for nine onsale windows running from Friday to Sunday.
This registration process was the only way members of the general public could buy tickets.
Since the tickets have sold out, fans have been issued with a warning to remain vigilant and avoid scams on social media.
Resale tickets will only be available to purchase via the Ticketmaster and Twickets websites, for the prices originally paid, nearer to the tour dates.
Earlier today, Liam and Noel, 59, issued the stark warning to desperate fans considering buying from sites selling tickets to theirgigsat inflated prices.
The statement on the Oasis social media pages said: “All codes have now been sent out, with the final sale windows happening today.
“Please avoid scams involving social media accounts selling codes or tickets. These will be fake or invalid.
“Tickets currently on secondary websites are liable to be cancelled.
“Resale tickets will be available nearer the events and will only be available, at the price originally paid, through Ticketmaster and Twickets.”
Sebastien Pocognoli’s first match in charge of Scotland ends in a goalless draw against Slovenia as they are made to rue several missed chances in Ljubljana.
Butlin’s is known for its redcoats and fun-filled entertainment but it is the first time that I have visited the holiday site for a themed weekend
I visited Butlin’s in Bognor Regis for a themed nostalgic weekend
If you grew up in the 1990s, there’s something rather special about spending a weekend surrounded by the music, fashion and nostalgia of the decade. That’s exactly what I found at Butlin’s 90s Weekend in Bognor Regis — a fun-filled break that brought back plenty of memories, while offering all the comforts of a modern resort.
We stayed at the Ocean Hotel, which was one of the highlights of the weekend. Our room was comfortable, modern and, best of all, came with views overlooking the sea. Waking up to that view certainly made getting out of bed a little easier, and the hotel provided a relaxing base between all the entertainment and activities.
Our stay also included Premium Dining, with breakfast and dinner included. There was a good variety across the weekend, including Mexican food on Saturday and Indian food on Friday, while Sunday brought the ultimate comfort food in the form of a traditional roast dinner.
Breakfast was very much what you would hope for from a hotel buffet, with a full English, pastries and the usual selection of cereals, fruit and other breakfast favourites. There was plenty of choice, so nobody was going to leave the restaurant hungry.
One of the highlights was Saturday morning’s bottomless brunch, which gave us two hours of food and drinks. It was a great way to start the day and fitted perfectly with the party atmosphere of the weekend.
The entertainment was, of course, a huge part of the experience. On Friday evening, we watched a Madness tribute act, which had the crowd up and enjoying plenty of classic hits.
Saturday night brought a Take That tribute act, providing another dose of 90s nostalgia and plenty of singalong moments.
One part of the weekend that we noticed was a pop up celebrating friendship. Dubbed the UK’s very first Celebrant of Friendship, it saw friends get together in a series of marriage-style vows to turn “we should catch up” into “we do”.
There were a number of ‘Frien-do’ ceremonies in a Chapel of Friendship that we witnessed at the Big Weekenders with many people celebrating and happy to pose for a photo.
I even joined in at one stage holding a plaque that “we do” with two of my friends on the weekend away.
One thing I did miss was the silent disco, which saw people making their way around the resort.
From what I could see, it looked like one of the most entertaining activities of the weekend, with plenty of people getting involved. It was probably the one thing I wished I had made time for.
There was also something wonderfully nostalgic about simply being at Butlin’s for a 90s-themed weekend.
Between the music, entertainment, food and atmosphere, it felt like a chance to switch off from everyday life and have a bit of fun.
For me, the Ocean Hotel room and sea view were another major highlight, giving the weekend a comfortable and relaxing element alongside all the lively entertainment.
Overall, Butlin’s 90s Weekend delivered exactly what I was hoping for: nostalgia, entertainment, plenty of food and a great excuse to relive some of the best music of the decade.
Whether you’re a committed 90s fan or simply looking for a fun weekend away, it’s an experience that’s difficult not to enjoy.
