(Guys, this is another solid article from our wonderful partners. Remember I want to represent differing opinions on this site, and foster great Dodger discussions. I know some of you may not agree with everything written over here all of the time, but as the great Tommy Lasorda once said…”Opinions are like noses, everyone has one”. Let’s all try to keep an open mind. Enjoy!)
In the 1990s and 2000s, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox were known as baseball’s deep pocket franchises because they were willing to spend money to recruit players to come to their teams. The Los Angeles Dodgers assumed the title of the big pocket team when they were acquired by the Guggenheim Baseball Management group in 2012. Once the Guggenheim group purchased the franchise, the Dodgers had the best online MLB sports betting odds of winning the World Series.
Now that we are four years removed from the Guggenheim’s group’s purchase of the Dodgers, the team still hasn’t quite lived up to the World Series expectations.
During the first offseason after their purchase of the Dodgers, the Guggenheim Group spent a lot of money bringing in players like Zack Greinke. In subsequent offseasons, the Dodgers kept adding to their payroll by signing free agents or making blockbuster trades.
The spending the Dodgers did paid off immediately, as the team won 90+ games in the last three seasons as well as three consecutive NL West division titles. Despite all the spending the team did, it hasn’t been enough to get them to the World Series, and now it seems like their chances of advancing to baseball’s biggest stage are worse than they were four years ago.
2012’s prized free agent signing Zack Greinke decided to leave the team for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the offseason, leaving a big void in a rotation that boasted two Cy Young award winners in Greinke and Clayton Kershaw.
The Dodgers also parted ways with manager Don Mattingly, who was 446-363 in the five years he managed the team. The Dodgers named Dave Roberts as their new manager, and are hoping he will be able to get the most out of his players and get the team to the ever elusive World Series.
Going into the season, the Dodgers lineup is expected to be:
Corey Seager SS
Yasiel Puig RF
Andre Ethier LF
Joc Pederson CF
This year’s projected lineup will include two young players the Dodgers hope will have a big impact on the field this season. Corey Seager (MLB’s number one ranked prospect) is their organizational prospect the team hopes will be their answer at the shortstop position for some time. Seager will be replacing Jimmy Rollins, who is close to the end of his career.
Joc Pederson was the regular center fielder last season and made the All-Star team. Pederson’s production dipped in the second half of the season but the team believes he will turn things around this year.
The Dodgers’ pitching rotation will look a little different at the start of the season because Grienke is now a Diamondback and several injuries. For example Hyun-jin Ryu is still recovering from his shoulder injury and isn’t expected back in the rotation until May. The club recently lost Brett Anderson for several months due to a bulging disc in his back.
Here is a look at the projected Dodgers pitching rotation.
Jose De Leon/Mike Bolsinger/Brandon Beachy
Since the Dodgers have only two players on their roster with contracts that extend beyond the 2018 season, their window to win a title is closing fast, which means the players have to produce quickly if they don’t want to be in another uniform at the end of the year.
Ethier has looked like his old self this spring, and that is a good thing. Seager has been so so at the plate, but his slight strain has put him behind. Some non roster players have really stepped up their play, Segedin, and Charlie Culberson have been playing very well. I am also impressed with Micah Johnson and Trayce Thompson. They bode well for the future…Urias a little shaky, but he is a year away at least. Zack Lee has been pretty solid so far, but the big surprise to me has been Bolsinger, He is throwing strikes, and has been very effective..
I’ll bet Tommy didn’t say “noses.” But seriously, is any of this piece news?
No. But it’s a conversation starter. Some of it has been going on for a while. Lower payroll, get younger. Really? No. But, you know, you gonna believe what you see or what FAZ supporters tell you?
I believe the door is just opening and will continue to stay open for a long time with the farm system the Dodgers have. It will be the corner stone of their success, not free agency.