"The team brought home the Commissioner’s Trophy after winning the 2024 World Series, and the city held a full championship parade for the first time since 1988 (their 2020 World Series Championship was not followed by a parade due to the pandemic). Fans worldwide — including millions in Japan, "thanks to three of the team’s stars hailing from that country" — are excited about a possible repeat; a back-to-back has not happened since 1999, when the "Evil Empire" of the New York Yankees won for the second in a row (and won again in 2000). Now, fans across the sport are calling the 2025 club the new "evil empire," though the team has simply been aggressive in improving the roster: they signed two-time Cy Young-winning starting pitcher Blake Snell, Japanese young pitching phenom Roki Sasaki, outfielder Michael Conforto, reliever Tanner Scott, reliever Kirby Yates, and South Korean utility player Hyeseong Kim, and they brought back Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw, Alex Vesia, and Teoscar Hernandez — creating a super team that includes former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, as well as reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani. The roster depth has pushed preseason odds to some of the highest ever for a World Series favorite. Tickets are already selling at near-astronomical prices, and attendees will find themselves awash in food and drink options; taking food inside is "accepted and encouraged," and fans are advised to save a few bucks by preparing a handy Michelada kit, which pairs well with any of the beers served at the ballpark. Six noteworthy concessions items will be served throughout the year." - Matthew Kang