In the ever-calculating world of professional baseball, sentimentality often gets benched for strategy — even when bobbleheads are involved. The Los Angeles Dodgers made a move that raised eyebrows, triggered household unrest, and subtly reminded everyone that multimillion-dollar athletes aren’t exempt from load management. With playoff aspirations on the horizon, one managerial decision was less about plastic tributes and more about postseason preservation — and yes, it even left someone at home fuming.

When a bobblehead night is named after you, you expect the player to be in the game and become the main attraction. But not in Los Angeles because the bobblehead night is like any other night for them, apparently. On Wednesday, the Dodgers had a Will Smith bobblehead night, but the player was nowhere to be seen.

Game 3 of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks was supposed to be special for Smith. It was his bobblehead night, and he was not on the team sheet. After the game, Dave Roberts was asked about this, and he said, “It was more so that I just felt with (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto yesterday, I wanted to have Will catch him… So my wife is upset that he’s not catching on to his bobblehead night. I just don’t keep track of bobblehead nights.”

While the wife is upset, Roberts seems to have lost track of how many bobblehead nights the Dodgers are having. While Roberts might not know this, it was the 4th bobblehead night that is linked to their 2024 title win. But more important than bobblehead night is managing the workload on players, and Roberts has done that perfectly.

Smith is performing brilliantly for the Dodgers, and they don’t want to risk him. Roberts says that he is saving Smith for October and wants to keep him fresh. He has appeared as a pinch hitter in games, but Smith has not started 4 consecutive games at any point this season.

Because in L.A., even bobbleheads come second to October baseball. While fans left with mini Smiths, the real one was resting for a far bigger role — the postseason spotlight. The Dodgers manager may have missed the memo on collectible nights, but he’s crystal clear on championship priorities. After all, what’s one silent bobblehead night when the goal is a roaring October parade?

Will Smith hails Yoshinobu Yamamoto after a stellar month

There’s dominance, and then there’s whatever Yoshinobu Yamamoto is doing to major league hitters right now. While most pitchers are out here surviving innings, Yamamoto is busy authoring poetry with a baseball. Dodgers catcher Smith, who’s seen greatness up close, didn’t mince words—because what’s the point of sugarcoating when your guy is serving filet mignon on the mound every fifth day?

Yamamoto is quickly proving he’s worth every penny of his $325 million Dodgers contract. Dominating the mound in April, the ace posted an ERA of 1.06—now an unreal 0.90. With 43 strikeouts over 34 innings, Yamamoto earned his first-ever National League Pitcher of the Month award. His electric presence behind the plate has caught the eye of All-Star catcher Smith. Speaking to Dodgers reporter Jack Harris, Smith said, “Just executing all of his pitches. Just making it really hard on the hitters. Right now, he’s pitching like the best pitcher in the world. We’re just fortunate to have him.”

The chemistry between Smith and Yamamoto is quietly fueling LA’s pitching dominance. Their sync is evident in every pitch sequence and strategy call. Despite a rotation hit by injuries, this duo is carrying the load and setting the tone for what could be a legendary season.

If this dynamic duo keeps cooking, the Dodgers’ rotation might as well be renamed the “Yamamoto-Smith Show.” While others scramble, they’re busy rewriting baseball’s rulebook—one strikeout at a time. So, buckle up: the best pitcher in the world just made LA his playground, and the rest? They’re just guests.