Mets still have mountain to climb to surpass potential dynasty in the making

There was plenty of talk during the World Series about the stable of players unable to participate for the Dodgers. It’s a group that included Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone and Clayton Kershaw.And let’s not forget the other half of Shohei Ohtani — the pitcher rehabbing from elbow surgery who was a Cy Young-caliber arm before this season. That the Dodgers still won the World Series (and somewhat easily, given they faced only one elimination game the entire postseason) should send a few shock waves through the sport, especially for teams that have legitimate designs on winning it all. This refers in part to the Mets, who took a leap this season and likely will be viewed as a championship contender (at least by much of their fan base) heading into 2025.

But to use a football comparison, you have to wonder if these Dodgers are where the Chiefs, with Patrick Mahomes in the lead, were a few years ago and ready to become something of a dynasty.If basketball is more your speed, think the Warriors with Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Maybe we’re only talking this way because for a change the team with the most regular season victories — and a star-studded one at that — actually won the World Series.

That had not happened in a full season since 2018 (Red Sox), and had occurred only four times before that in the 21st century. In other words, these Dodgers weren’t exactly the gritty team that got hot in the second half of the season and carried it to a World Series title.The Dodgers were a powerhouse when the season began and World Series champions as it concluded. The Mets, as well as they played for the final four months of the regular season and into October, have to figure out how to bridge that gap.

It won’t be as easy as just returning much of the same team, plugging in a few free agents and hoping for the best. The Dodgers are masters at organizational depth — the parade of relievers that carried them through the postseason is Exhibi...