The First and Last Time Andrew Friedman Was Denied as Part of The Tampa Bay Rays

Andrew Friedman has been a long-standing executive for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays since 2004. He was voted MLB Executive of the Year in 2020 and became Sporting News Executive of the Year during 2008.

Friedman has been a man of his word.

He won and took the Dodgers to the World Series three times even when considering the COVID era. He has gotten the best out of baseball players such as Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, and Evan Longoria.

While everything appears to bloom for the Dodgers except for Jacob Misiorowski facing Shohei Ohtani at the plate, there is one churlish result that incentivizes Friedman.

The 2008 MLB World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies when Brad Lidge struck out Longoria on a hanger. That is a stark reminder that Friedman was denied of his hopes in bringing a championship to the Rays. The Rays eventually made it back to the same World Series as the 2020 Dodgers but lost.

Friedman has been shuffled in fame, achievement, and misdeed that he needs to deliver the Dodgers a third straight World Series.

The 2008 Philadelphia Phillies did what not many other teams could do which is outwit Friedman. They were led by smart, experienced management, Charlie Manuel, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and so on.

What is different about this year’s Phillies to the 2026 Dodgers is that Friedman has MVP candidate Shohei Ohtani still in the wings, coming off two World Series, and they are getting the most out of their pitching staff from the likes of Tarik Skubal, Roki Sasaki, and Tyler Glasnow.

The only thing that has haunted the Dodgers and Anaheim Angels for many years is Ohtani’s status on the mound. It is difficult to pull off two positions.

During Ohtani’s time on the mound, he averages 10 strikeouts per nine innings and goes to show as a testament for his hard work. Last year, it was one measly trade for Miguel Rojas from the Miami Marlins to pull off the World Series dagger. This time, can it be three?

The other times Friedman lost as part of the Dodgers in the World Series was 2017 and 2018 to the sign stealing Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox.