I’m not going to guess the details of how it happened because I'm not as imaginative as Oda.

What I want to point out is why Law would need Doflamingo alive. That reason would be to bait out Kaido, just like he used Caesar to bait out Doflamingo. Remember that Law and Luffy’s alliance is to take down a Kaido. Doflamingo is needed to get face time with Kaido. I don’t want to say that Kryos can defeat Doflamingo or that Doflamingo needed saving but I think Law needed an opening to continue the plan and Kryos provided that opening.

Also with the Toys turned back maybe one of them will be the old suit of Hearts.

Like every other guy I would love for more females to join because…fan service.

So, I not the biggest fan of Bartolomeo but I can see him joining the ship for a while if not becoming a full time member of the crew.
The thing that people write on here most of the time is about dreams and positions. I would agree that you have to have a dream to part of the Strawhats but I don't really buy into the position within the crew. I would sum it up to "desire". Luffy had a desire for Zoro because he needed strong members for his crew. Then he needed a Navigator, Cook, Doctor, Shipwright, and Musician. I know you don't really "need" a Musician but according to Luffy you did. As for Usopp and Robin, Usopp had the desire to go out to sea and Luffy told them to board the ship, while Robin needed to board the ship because she didn't have anywhere else to go. They both later had the "desire" to join the crew and ended up asking Luffy to join. I would also add Brook into the second group as well since he also asked to join.

So that's why I think, as of right now, Bartolomeo has a strong chance of joining the crew. 1. He is starting to be liked by Luffy, at the least Luffy doesn't see him as a bad guy. 2. He has a desire to join and might ask to join the crew. If he asks to join or board the ship I don't see Luffy saying no.

My hope is that Bartolomeo becomes a Mr 2 type character. Since none of the Strawhats are now in the coliseum story, I can see Bartolomeo staying behind so that Sabo can join up with Luffy after the getting the Mera Mera fruit. I just can't see anyone just being "awarded" the fruit with any chaos at this point because of all the craziness that is going on within the island.

Jinbe is a natural leader and would be a great 1st mate. However, I see the title of 1st mate or second in command as something understood within the crew but not given or assigned. So, I don’t see Luffy asking Jinbe to join as the 1st mate or the crew voting on a first mate. When Jinbe joins he will advise and lead, but not have the title of 1st mate.

If Jinbe was titled the first mate of the crew it would be because the Marines saw him take charge in a battle and gave him the title on a wanted poster. I could this being a funny event when the crew sees the poster.

Ok for those that think that there is a chance that Caribou might join. I want your take on what I have to say. I’m not trying to turn my opinions into fact by any means, so read this not as me bashing you but as an open opinion on why I don’t think Caribou would join.
Some people have stated that there have been other villains that turned good and joined so it still possible. Well I think that there is a fundamental difference in the other strawhats and Caribou. That is he hurts innocent people.
This has always been a theme in the one piece manga that hurting innocent people is bad.
Luffy –lost his brother Sabo because, Sabo was standing up for the innocent people living in trash city
Zoro – was capture for protecting the little girl
Usopp –villager
Nami – villagers
Robin - Island
You get the idea.
So when Caribou attacked the mermaids in chapter 612, I had to rule out his chances of ever joining. When Franky was a villain character we did not see him hurt an innocent person. Sure his Bros attacked Usopp but Usopp is a pirate not innocent people. Caribou saying to himself how much the mermaids would sell for is just icing on the cake.
So then the question become is there a plot Oda can set up to make freely attacking innocent people redeemable. I’m not saying he can’t I just don’t think he will. Please be reasonable.

Welcome to the Arlong Park Forums.

I think most people would agree and have also noticed this. The only thing that would make Lola not the perfect set up for Big Mum is if Oda decided to not use the event.

Also there is a "Theories that don't deserve their own thread" thread that you should consider using next time.

Random:

Next chapters cover is going to be Zoro's side story. Just a guess that Oda would go is reverse order.

On page 9, Sanji says "Still, even though Gold Roger was executed 22 years ago, how come you his first mate, still have your head attached to your neck…?"

2 things i noticed about this statement was that he is still known as Gold Roger and not Gol D. Roger and that "22 years ago" can be used to mark a timeline as to how long its been since they have started. I don't know how it fits in the timeline just yet but i'm going to look back to see if it was ever mentioned before how long ago roger died.

oh and awesome chapter!!!

Strength-Strength fruit theory
As I was re-reading the last two chapters I started to think that when Shakky said that “My guy? He’ll be fine. He’s 100 times stronger than you boys.” So far most people have been saying that it’s not a literal statement but what if it is? How could someone be “100 times stronger” in the One Piece world? My answer is a devil fruit power that lets you lift 100 times the limit of a normal person. Just like when Zoro cut through Buggy in Chapter 10. How could he do that? Answer: devil fruit. And that is just one of many examples in the One Piece world that something impossible to us is made possible by devil fruit. So this leads me to thinking, if I had a power to pick up massive thing how would I use it? Can’t just go around picking up buildings or ship to throw at enemies all the time, it would just be inefficient. I most likely have some giant thing to hit people with and cause huge amounts of damage. And we have seen someone like that on the Archipelago, Chapter 497 page 16, there is someone that has a Giant Axe. So I think it’s possible that Rayleigh is 100 times stronger than someone.

Yeah what brennen said.

It’s not a great point by any means but when we see Buggy and Alvid for the first time is a lot different than how we meet Aokiji (solo silhouette). Actually the only pirate I recall meeting without a crew for the first time was Jango. But now I’m just making stuff up to support a point that I didn’t care for in the first place.

Kefky are you talking about the guy with the axe?

I did not see anyone with a shotgun.

But if we are talking about the guy with the axe, I agree is not a noble but he’s not so much “sneaking around in the dark”, actually he is in plain view. He is sitting on a roof top. Oda just did want to show him yet. But there are things that you can assume about him.

1.Not a Tenryuubito (no helmet)
2.Not afraid to be spotted (sitting on the roof)
3.Is a combatant (has a weapon)
4.Is someone that has information (knows about the pirate and bounty and knows about the new world)
5.Is pictured by himself

I’m not going to call anything yet but I don’t think he is a pirate because of points 2 and 5.