Los Angeles Dodgers
2015 Win/Loss Record:
92-70, 1st in National League West
Last Postseason
Appearance: 2015
Last World Series
Championship: 1988
Key Arrivals: Micah
Johnson (INF), Scott Kazmir (P), Kenta Maeda
Key Departures: Zach
Greinke (P), Jimmy Rollins (SS)
Manager: Dave
Roberts, 1st Year
Overall Review: The Los Angeles Dodgers
have won three consecutive NL West Division titles, but that’s where their success has ended. After losing to the Cardinals in the NLCS in 2013, the Dodgers
have followed with two straight ousters from the NLDS. Last year’s defeat was
particularly heartbreaking as they lost the fifth and final game of the series
to the New York Mets at home, with their best pitcher on the mound.
And speaking of that pitcher,
he’s now gone. Free Agent Zach Greinke signed a free agent contract with
division rival, Arizona, leaving Clayton Kershaw as the lone All-Star pitcher
on the starting staff. And while the line-up is still rather talented, they are
a year older. With the failure against the Mets last October, one wonders if
the window of opportunity is closing fast—or has already been shut.
Offense: The leader of the offense is
still first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. At 34, he’s one of those everyday players
who is starting to get a little long in the tooth. However, last year he hit
.275, smashed 18 home runs and added 90 RBIs. An above average fielder at
first, he is a four-time Gold Glove Award winner with the last coming in 2014.
Centre-fielder Joc Pederson, was an All-Star and got a little Rookie of the
Year consideration in his first full year in the big leagues. While his average
was a little paltry at .210, he did connect for 26 home runs and 54 RBIs. If he
improves that average, he should be an All-Star in the outfield for the Dodgers
for many years to come.
And then we have Yaisel Puig,
and with him you get a mixed bag. While it is true he is the most talented
player on the Dodgers, he is a hothead, trouble-maker, and generally an
all-round jerk. The Dodgers have to weigh weather the talent is worth keeping
him around because of the attitude, and last year it wasn’t. While missing a
good chunk of the season due to injury (he played only 79 games) when he was in
the line-up, he looked disinterested. If he doesn’t improve on the stats (.255,
11 and 38) it may be in the Dodgers’ best interest to part ways.
Pitching: Losing Greinke will hurt a
lot, but he’s gone and there’s no point crying about it. The rest of the staff
will just have to pick up the slack, starting with ace Clayton Kershaw. Over
the last five seasons, Kershaw has won the NL Cy Young Award three times and
finished in the top three in voting the other two years. In 2015, he was 16-7
with a 2.13 ERA and struck out 301 batters (leading the NL) in 232 2/3 innings.
He’ll be joined in the rotation by free agent signee Scott Kazmir (2-6, 4.17,
54 in an injury-riddled season with Houston), Japanese League star Kenta Maeda
(first big league season), Alex Wood (12-12, 3.84, 139) and Brett Anderson
(10-9, 3.69, 116).
In the bullpen, Kenley Jansen
will be the closer again after posting a 2-1 record with 36 saves, a 2.41 ERA
and 80 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings. He will have help from Chris Hatcher, who
will be the set-up man after finishing 2015 with a 3-5 record, four saves, 3.69
ERA and 45 strikeouts in 39 innings.
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| Dodgers' lefthander Clayton Kershaw |
Prediction: The Dodgers have had their
chance and didn’t take advantage of it. As mentioned before, Greinke's departure leaves a big void and while Kershaw is a perennial Cy Young candidate, the
other pitchers pencilled into the rotation don’t have what it takes to match
Greinke’s numbers. The offense will be dangerous, provided Puig concentrates
more on playing hard and less time being a cancer. But a slip back into second
place is on the horizon and it could be an even farther drop if the
Diamondbacks improve as much as expected.
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