When the Los Angeles Dodgers installed Japanese-style bidets inside their clubhouse ahead of the 2025 season, the move was widely seen as a creative attempt to make Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki feel at home after joining the franchise.
The bidets became a quirky talking point throughout the season, often referenced humorously by players and fans as a subtle but successful recruiting touch that helped create a comfortable environment for Sasaki’s transition into Major League Baseball.
While those bidets played their small part in attracting international talent, another Dodgers pitcher — Tanner Scott — is now using the metaphor of flushing to describe how desperately he wants to erase the memory of his difficult 2025 season.
Scott, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract last winter, faced immense expectations stepping into his first year in Los Angeles, but instead endured his most challenging campaign since entering professional baseball nearly a decade ago.
Speaking with Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Scott summed up his frustration in painfully honest fashion, saying he wants to “wash it, flush it like a toilet, and just let it be,” an unusually raw admission for a veteran reliever.
His struggles were evident from April onward, and as the Dodgers began assembling a championship-caliber run, Scott saw his role diminished drastically as he lost hold of the closer job well before the postseason push.
Scott finished 2025 with a 1–4 record, a 4.74 ERA, and a career-worst 9.47 strikeouts per nine innings, numbers far below the dominant form he showed during his breakout years with the Miami Marlins before coming to Los Angeles.
The Dodgers, who demand excellence across every level of their roster, were forced to re-evaluate Scott’s position within the bullpen as they prepared for another deep postseason run and ultimately captured the World Series title without him as their late-inning anchor.
In response, the front office aggressively addressed the weakness over the winter by signing elite closer Edwin DĂaz, shifting Scott into a setup role for the 2026 season and reducing the pressure surrounding his high-leverage responsibilities.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed concern last September when Scott struggled both on the mound and mentally, particularly after a blown save against the Baltimore Orioles that triggered a revealing postgame comment.
Following that meltdown, Scott told reporters “baseball hates me,” a line that spread quickly through the clubhouse and media circles, sparking questions about his emotional state and confidence under pressure.
Roberts admitted that the comment bothered him deeply, explaining to Plunkett that such self-defeating statements reflect where a player’s mindset has deteriorated and can lead to dangerous spirals of negativity if not corrected promptly.
“You never like your players saying something like that,” Roberts said, noting that the sentiment demonstrated how overwhelmed Scott felt during a difficult stretch, and how mental strain had begun influencing his physical performance.
The Dodgers’ manager emphasized that negativity can become self-fulfilling, particularly for relievers who must rebound quickly from failures, often pitching in high-stakes situations multiple times per week without time to reset emotionally.
Roberts suggested that if Scott could revisit that moment, he would likely take back those words, as such statements can linger with fans, teammates, and even opponents, shaping perception far beyond their immediate context.
As spring training begins, the Dodgers remain optimistic that a refreshed mindset and a shifting role will allow Scott to rebuild his confidence and rediscover the sharp, aggressive pitching style that once made him one of baseball’s most exciting left-handed relievers.
The organization believes that Scott’s physical tools — including a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and a devastating slider — remain fully intact, but mental clarity and emotional stability will be essential for unlocking the version of him they originally invested in.
Veteran relievers often go through turbulent periods in their careers, and some rebound stronger than before, using adversity and embarrassment as fuel to propel themselves toward comeback seasons filled with redemption.
Scott appears determined to follow that trajectory, repeatedly expressing his desire to reset, move past the disappointment, and prove to both the Dodgers and himself that his 2025 struggles were an anomaly rather than a permanent regression.
The Dodgers’ coaching staff has already begun working with Scott on mechanical refinement and mental conditioning, aiming to help him reestablish trust in his release point, pitch sequencing, and decision-making during high-pressure at-bats.
Equally important is improving Scott’s self-belief, as Roberts and the team’s sports performance department have stressed the value of mental resilience, emotional discipline, and coping strategies for navigating the volatility of bullpen roles.
For Scott, 2026 represents an opportunity to reinvent his Dodgers tenure, turning last season’s disappointment into motivation as he adjusts to the setup role behind DĂaz and embraces the chance to contribute without bearing the weight of closing duties.
The Dodgers, who consistently build elite bullpens through a blend of analytics, scouting, and player development, believe that lowering Scott’s leverage could help him rediscover the rhythm that made him so dominant earlier in his career.
Fans, too, are curious to see whether Scott can bounce back, knowing that the Dodgers’ success often hinges on the stability and reliability of their bullpen during deep postseason runs.
The narrative surrounding Scott has already begun shifting, as his candid reflections reveal a humility and honesty that resonate with fans who admire players willing to confront their struggles publicly rather than hide them.
His desire to “flush” the past season speaks not to quitting but to cleansing mentally — clearing away the disappointment, guilt, and frustration that weighed him down and prevented him from performing at his highest level.
The Dodgers have always valued mental toughness as much as physical talent, and Scott’s willingness to confront his vulnerabilities may be the first step toward reclaiming the dominant form he displayed in Miami.
As the team opens a new chapter in 2026 with aspirations to defend their World Series championship, Scott’s journey toward rebuilding himself mentally and physically will be one of the bullpen’s most closely tracked storylines.
The Dodgers remain confident that a positive attitude, renewed focus, and a more defined role will allow Scott to reclaim his edge and become the high-impact setup man they envisioned when signing him to a multi-year deal.
If Scott succeeds, his comeback story could become one of the most uplifting narratives of the season, turning a year he desperately wanted to “flush” into a stepping stone toward professional and personal redemption.
For now, spring training offers Scott a clean slate, a quieter stage, and the chance to rebuild everything from his mechanics to his mindset — one pitch, one outing, and one moment at a time.
And perhaps, in the end, the metaphorical flush he joked about becomes exactly what he needed — a full reset for a pitcher determined to rewrite the next chapter of his Dodgers story.
