The crack of the bat and that distinctive noise when ball meets glove can only mean one thing, and that is that baseball is back. Not just any baseball, however, but your defending back-to-back World Champion Dodger baseball is back. It’s no surprise that the goal for this year is to do what the 29 other teams like to call it: ruin baseball and claim a third straight World Series Championship. Every year is different, even with the same team that is brought back, and this year is no exception. We are in the middle of a dynasty here, and just like the previous two offseasons, the Dodgers come back even stronger than last year with the additions of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz. Does anyone remember the Frank McCourt years when we would get excited just for the owner to spend money on one player, let alone two? Oh, those were not the days. Today, folks, we are experiencing something that may never be experienced again, especially given what the future collective bargaining contract may look like after the season.
I remember watching the boys in blue growing up, and you always had really good, even great players on teams. Still, those Dodger teams were remembered for a player who took the country by storm, whether it was Fernandomania to Mannywood and everything in between, there was always a larger-than-life player on those rosters. The crazy thing about this dynasty run is you can’t just pinpoint one player to have a theme, as this whole team is just stacked from top to bottom with all-star quality players, and it’s safe to say the front office is not slowing down anytime soon. The most unique part of this is that, despite all this winning, the Dodgers keep maintaining a very good farm system and promoting pieces that help the big league club continue to succeed. It’s not just a we go out and buy everybody ” philosophy, which is what fans of the 29 other teams will like to point to. This is a new era of Dodger baseball, who, by the way, now have nine world championships, only trailing the National League leading St. Louis Cardinals, eleven titles. After the next three seasons, it will be the Dodgers leading that pack. How crazy to believe.
The fun part about training camp this year is you get to see your starters play a lot more early-season games than usual, as they ramp up for the World Baseball Classic, which starts next week. I personally love the WBC, as it lets you root not only for your country but also for playoff-style baseball in March. Sure, there is a risk of injury, and that is always going to cause a certain amount of panic in any fan’s eyes, but getting to watch your favorite players represent their countries on the highest stage baseball has to offer is certainly special. It is nice having Sportsnet LA basically show every spring training game, and getting to watch all the prospects you know will not make the opening day roster this year, but knowing they will have a destination in the show sooner rather than later is always my favorite part of Spring Training. Winning does not count in Spring Training, but while I say that, let me say that your Los Angeles Dodgers have started 6-0 as of this writing, so while it may not count, it’s still fun to talk a little smack to your buddies around the water cooler.
Expectations are high, and Opening Day is right around the corner for your back-to-back defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Let’s all take this in and enjoy the spring, and enjoy everything the WBC has to offer. Because soon the pressure will be on, and every ball and strike will be judged, as will every win and loss for our boys in blue. As a Dodger fan, I can truly say…I would not have it any other way.
