Third Time's the Charm
By Peyton Schultze
For the third straight season, it’s a World Series win or bust for the Los Angeles Dodgers (via The Sporting News).
“Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success”
The scene is dark and gloomy. Another year and another World Series loss for the Dodgers, this time to the overpowering Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of the World Series. The season seemed like it was the Dodgers to lose; it had to end with a title, right? Nope. Instead, the Dodgers headed into another offseason as World Series losers and failed to capture the organization’s first world championship since their epic and magical 1988 season.
It was a strange and lethargic offseason for the Dodgers at times even, with effects of the World Series being felt even more than after their other World Series loss to the Houston Astros in 2017. The roster went through several major changes, including sending fan-favorites such as Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the Cincinnati Reds. Signings like Joe Kelly and A.J. Pollock seemed to inspire some confidence, yet the ended up missing out on superstar Bryce Harper after rumors of a landing spot in LA. The faces of their past six NL West titles have come and gone throughout the Dodgers’ locker room, and it seemed if fans began to doubt if the 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers were going to be able to compete for that elusive World Series trophy that the city’s fans and the organization so desperately crave.
But on Thursday, March 28th, a fresh wave of hope and optimism will shine upon the beautful outreaches of Chavez Ravine.
The Dodgers’ regular season will once again open up behind 56,000 strong at Dodger Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks (via Dave’s Travel Corner).
Over the past six seasons, the Dodgers have put together a major run of success that has made the Dodgers one of America’s most popular teams. Six straight playoff berths, all resulting in a NL West title. Two World Series, including two straight. Yet one thing still remains: the absence of a world championship.
But cut the organization some slack in the regard that Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers’ front office has constantly built a solid on-field product that has capture the interest of one of the world’s largest fanbases in the second largest media market in the United States. The front office and the owners have put all their chips on the table for the team to win it all, leaving some enormous pressure on the 40-man roster and every coach in the organization to finally raise a banner again in Los Angeles.
With the Lakers suddenly falling apart and the Rams still slowly building an emerging fanbase, the Dodgers remain Los Angeles’ favorite and most interesting team at the moment. The team possesses some of baseball’s brightest stars that have helped the team reach back-to-back World Series and have sent fans through the turnstiles and into the ballpark every single night over the past several seasons. This is the Dodgers’ greatest chance to rally the city of Los Angeles together and bring some to one of the game’s most historic ballclubs. They were oh-so-close in 2017 before falling in the last possible game of the season, yet never seemed quite the same in 2018 despite their success. In 2019, this is it. The Dodgers must win the World Series in order to establish the legacies of several figures throughout the organization and bring a championship back to a title-hungry town.
The Dodgers look forward to getting back their All-Star shortstop, Corey Seager, on Opening Day after missing most of 2019 with Tommy John and hip surgeries.
Position Players
Even with the major urge to win now, the Dodgers certainly have the players and tools necessary to finally accomplish their task at hand. The Dodgers’ offense was once again near the top of the league last season, and Dave Roberts and Co. look to put out another solid product on the field that should certainly rank among the league’s best:
CF A.J. Pollock
SS Corey Seager
3B Justin Turner
1B Max Muncy
RF Cody Bellinger
2B Kiké Hernández
LF Joc Pederson
C Russell Martin
Bench (Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes, David Freese, Alex Verdugo)
In 2019, the additions of A.J. Pollock and Russell Martin figure to be a major part of the Dodgers’ potential success. Martin’s return to Los Angeles figures to be a delight that could inspire a sort of career resurgence similar to Matt Kemp’s in 2018, but the Dodgers could also look towards Austin Barnes to platoon with Martin behind the plate. In the case of Pollock, the outfielder is a solid all-around player that caused major damage at Dodger Stadium while a member of the Diamondbacks. He will likely be the near the top of the Dodgers’ lineup if he can manage to stay healthy. Meanwhile, the Dodgers will look to bank on the 2018 success of breakout star, Max Muncy, who took the league by storm with his immense power. If he is unable to replicate his success, the Dodgers will look towards veteran David Freese or youngster Cody Bellinger to fill the role at first base. Bellinger did not have a great 2018, but had some huge playoff moments that flashed his superstar potential. This year, Cody will look to replace Yasiel Puig in right field, where he will be counted on to produce solid defense and big power numbers in the middle of the LA lineup.
Yet the Dodgers most significant “addition” for the 2019 regular season will be the anticipated return of All-Star shortstop, Corey Seager. As one of the game’s elite all-around players, the Dodgers will count on Seager to provide the same kind of production that he had before losing most of the 2018 season to Tommy John and hip surgeries. In addition, Justin Turner and Kiké Hernández had great springs and look to be in for another year as Dodger fan-favorites at Chavez Ravine. Turner is one of the game’s best third baseman and the Dodgers’ most crucial player to their team success, while Hernández is one of the team’s leaders and a solid contributor that can play any position around the field (#LetKikeCatch).
Rounding out the rest of the Dodgers’ outfield are players such as Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor, and Alex Verdugo. Pederson had a pretty solid year in 2018 by mashing against right-handed pitchers, and looks to get the majority of playing time in left field to open the season. In the case of Taylor, the Dodgers’ plan to use him as a Swiss-army-knife that can replace any starter on any given day especially now that Hernández has locked up the second base job. However, Taylor has struggled in spring and must cut down on his strikeout totals. Lastly, Verdugo looks to finally make the Dodgers’ major league roster after several years of minor league ball as a top prospect. Verdugo is a great defender with a great eye at the plate, who plate discipline was noticeable in his time at the major league level. Even if he does not start up with the ballclub at first on Opening Day, Verdugo will surely get his time soon enough in 2019.
Walker Buehler looks to take off alongside Clayton Kershaw at the top of the Dodgers’ starting rotation (via Los Angeles Times).
Starting Rotation
Despite a depleted rotation facing several key injuries to begin the regular season, the Dodgers look like they will again have a great rotation with several moving components. After posting some big numbers last year, look for the Dodgers’ starters to once again be one of the best throughout the league:
LHP Clayton Kershaw
RHP Walker Buehler
LHP Rich Hill
LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu
RHP Kenta Maeda
Utilities (Ross Striping, Julio Urias)
Another year and another opportunity for the Dodger organization to flash their arsenal of starting pitching arms at the rest of the league. The Dodgers truly have a luxury once again in 2019, as they have several expendable starters that will move in and out of the rotation and the bullpen, including Kenta Maeda and 2018 All-Star Ross Stripling. Maeda has been steady since arriving in Dodger blue several seasons ago and will likely be called upon to carry some innings when the Dodgers need him to. This also applies to Stripling, one of the Dodgers’ wild cards. Stripling can start games, pitching in long or short relief, and in big moments, making him a pitching weapon for Dave Roberts. With that being said, watch out for Julio Urias in 2019 after a great Spring Training this past month. The youngster had some huge moments in October last year and will likely be called upon to make some key starts should any top starter go down with an injury.
In addition, Roberts will look for continued success from Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu. While Hill will begin the year on the injured list with a hurt knee, he has proved to be a major punch in the Dodger rotation that is capable of pure dominance with his mix of windups and wipeout curveball. In addition, Ryu was outstanding for much of 2018, especially when pitching behind the home crowd at Dodger Stadium. Ryu will get his first Opening Day nod due to several Dodger injuries, so he will be tested early on in 2019. With this, the Dodgers also expect a huge year from one of 2018’s breakout players in Walker Buehler. Buehler was flat out dominant over some stretches last year, including in a wild and sensational performance in Game 3 of the World Series. Although he is not at the top yet, Buehler seems to be a Cy Young candidate for the foreseeable future, so look for him to continue his run from last year into this season.
However, the Dodgers’ most interesting player heading into 2019 is certainly the All-Star and future Hall of Famer in left-handed pitcher, Clayton Kershaw. Throughout his storied career, Kershaw has consistently been known as one of Major League Baseball’s elite pitchers year in and year out. However, 2018 was a major challenge for him, as he faced several injuries and developed a diminishing fastball that has to be a major cause for concern throughout the organization. Even now, Kershaw is battling a shoulder injury that will hold him out for the beginning of the season. There are major question marks all around Kershaw this year, from his health to his postseason legacy, and the former MVP will certainly be motivated to answer all of them and silence any critics with a dominant season in 2019.
Joe Kelly will be a major addition alongside Kenley Jansen in the Dodger bullpen in the upcoming season (via Flipboard).
Bullpen
The Dodgers’ bullpen was solid for most of 2018, but looks to improve even more with the addition of a player that dominated them in last year’s World Series against the Boston Red Sox.
RHP Pedro Baez
RHP Dylan Floro
RHP Yimi Garcia
RHP Joe Kelly
LHP Scott Alexander
LHP Caleb Ferguson
Closer Kenley Jansen
Throughout 2018 and even in parts of the postseason, members of the Dodgers’ bullpen showed true flashes of becoming one of baseball’s best units in that department. Heading into 2019, several Dodgers will look to replicate their success from last year, including Pedro Baez, Dylan Floro, and Scott Alexander. Although Baez has had some poor moments as a member of the Dodgers, he showed a ton of success as the Dodgers’ best right-handed reliever at the end of last year in a spark that seemed to revitalize his career. In additions, Dylan Floro burst onto the scene last year for LA and was consistent for much of the season when called upon. Alexander had a mix of Baez’s and Floro’s seasons: a lot of good moments, but a lot of bad ones as well. Although he is a veteran lefty out of the ‘pen, the Dodgers will need him to be much more consistent this season.
Younger players such as Yimi Garcia and Caleb Ferguson will also likely see their numbers called by Dave Roberts after successful springs. Garcia has had some ups-and-downs in his pro career, but looks to shed his label of inconsistency that has developed. Ferguson was great for the Dodgers last year, proving to be a gem out of the bullpen in short and long relief. His passion and fire on the mound will serve him well as he continues to develop this year. The Dodgers will also greatly benefit with the signing of setup man, Joe Kelly. Kelly, a member of last year’s Red Sox squad, dominated the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series and will look to help Roberts and company fill a previous hole in the Dodger bullpen that often resulted in several late-inning blown leads. His mix of dominating fastballs and wicked curves have left hitters off-balance throughout his career, and should play well in the pitcher-friendly confines of Dodger Stadium.
Kenley Jansen once again returns as the team’s All-Star closer after a tough 2018 season. Jansen had heart surgery in the past offseason after a tough physical year in 2018, and showed up to Camelback Ranch lean and in tip-top shape. Jansen has once again looked great, and it is a pleasure to see him healthy and well. As for on the field, Jansen must find a way to regain his confidence that seemed streaky throughout last year. Part of this was due to his health and the fact that he missed all of Spring Training last year, which was not the case at all this March. Look for Jansen to have a big and healthy year as one of the game’s best closers.
The Dodgers’ path to a world championship begins Thursday after a successful Spring Training (via True Blue LA).
Outlook
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2019 may be their best chance at breaking their World Series championship drought before their window of NL West dominance begins to slowly close . Opportunity is not something many organizations receive year in and year out, which adds even more pressure to the Dodgers this year. Every fan, player, coach and executive knows one thing heading into this year: it’s now or never.
This team has all the makings of making it back to the Fall Classic, making expectations even higher than ever before. But like any team, the club has some questions that they will be forced to answer. Will Corey Seager be able to stay healthy and return to his All-Star form? Can Cody Bellinger replicate his power from 2017 and wash away any doubts from 2018? Will Walker Buehler take this next step in his star-powered development? Can Clayton Kershaw finally have some sustained October success to solidify his status as one of the league’s all-time pitchers?
All these questions and more await the Dodgers heading into this year. It’s a lot to ask for, but the Dodgers at least have the experience and knowledge of knowing what it takes to reach near the top. It will take a monumental effort to finally get to the peak after two straight failures, but after all, determination chases success.
Note: The Dodgers open up Thursday at Dodger Stadium at 1:10 PT against the Arizona Diamondbacks (Greinke vs Ryu, Watch on ESPN or SNLA).