MLB Playoff Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers
2013 NL West Champions – Current record 90-66
Offense
Before the season started the Dodgers were thought to have one of the strongest offenses in the National League. With the late season acquisitions of Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford in 2012, complementing the likes of Adrian Ethier and Matt Kemp, there was definite potential for LA to be an offensive juggernaut.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers, for the first 2 months of the season, fate was to take them down a different path. Hanley Ramirez was injured during the World Baseball Classic and did not return from injury until May, and has been in and out of the lineup because of injuries ever since. Matt Kemp has only just gotten fully healthy recently and Carl Crawford has dealt with injuries throughout the season too.
In early June, things were looking bleak for Dodger nation. At one stage, LA was 12 games behind the NL West division leaders. Then, Yasiel Puig emerged, the whole lineup suddenly fed off the enthusiasm and fire of the Cuban phenomenon, and Puig and Ramirez led the resurrection of the Dodgers’ offense.
In early-mid September, injuries again played their part, with Puig (hip) and Ethier (ankle) as well as Hanley Ramirez and Carl Crawford all missing some playing time. The key to the Dodgers postseason success could be how many of these key players they can get healthy.
Key Hitter: Although Yasiel Puig has understandably taken a lot of the headlines, Hanley Ramirez has been an even bigger contributor to the Dodgers’ success. In 2013 so far he has hit, .351 with an OPS of 1.059. Hanley has 20 home runs and 57 RBIs in just 81 games (320 plate appearances)
Starting Pitching
In the 2012 offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers made it an aim to improve their starting pitching. They did not disappoint their fans signing former Cy Young Award winner Zach Greinke, and South Korean sensation Hyun-Jin Ryu, to form a very formidable threesome.
Apart from the infamous shoulder barge from Carlos Quentin to Zach Greinke, this trio of aces have remained healthy for the most part and have more than met expectations.
The Dodgers also acquired Ricky Nolasco to be their fourth starter just before the 2013 trade deadline, after a spate of injuries to the likes of Chad Billingsley and Josh Beckett and others, which left LA short of backend starters. Nolasco pitched well in his first seven starts in Dodger blue but has struggled in his last two starts.
Clayton Kershaw is on his way to another Cy Young award, as well as cementing his status as the best pitcher in Baseball, by going 15-9 with a 1.88 ERA and 0.922 WHIP. Those numbers don’t even tell the whole story as Clayton has suffered from poor run support at times, which means his win/loss record could have been even better.
Zach Greinke has exceeded expectations by putting up a 15-3 record and 2.75 ERA.
Ryu has also had a terrific year, garnering a 13-7 record with a 3.03 ERA.
Key Pitcher: Hyun-Jin Ryu – Don Mattingly a few days ago refused to name his third starter in the NLDS. Going by numbers alone, it would very likely be Hyun-Jin. Although Ryu has had a great regular season the postseason is a whole different beast. The fact that Don refused to name Ryu as his third postseason starter, must also raise some questions. I’d be very surprised however, if Ryu isn’t pitching in an NLDS game 3.
Bullpen
The bullpen has been a source of frustration and even at times anguish for the Dodgers this year.
The LA bullpen rank a lowly 19th in MLB in bullpen ERA with 3.65.
Brandon League started the season as the closer, but lost the spot after blowing 5 saves in 19 chances. The season has not got much better for him as he currently sports a 5.43 ERA.
League was replaced by the electric Kenley Jansen. Jansen has been a revelation at closer for LA converting 27 saves in 31 chances, with a 1.95 ERA and a miniscule WHIP of 0.84.
Bullpen stalwart Ronald Belisario has also struggled putting up a 4.07 ERA, but Paco Rodriguez (2.21 ERA) and J.P Howell (2.12 ERA) have provided great support for Kenley.
Key Reliever: One pitcher I haven’t mentioned yet is former closer Brian Wilson, who now pitches for his former arch nemesis, the LA Dodgers. Some have doubted, his ability to return to his previous effectiveness after he had a 2nd Tommy John surgery. So far, Wilson has confounded his critics pitching to a 0.79 ERA, although admittedly in a small sample size of 11 and two-thirds innings. If Brian, truly is back, he could be the shutdown 8th inning setup guy the Dodgers are looking to put behind Jansen
Prediction
The Dodgers definitely have the starting pitching to go far into the playoffs. The trio of Kershaw, Greinke and Ryu is probably the best starting pitching trio on the NL side of the playoffs.
Injuries to key hitters, especially Hanley Ramirez could hinder the Dodgers, as they look like a different lineup without Ramirez in it. The wildcard in all this could be Matt Kemp, if Kemp returns to his 2011 MVP calibre self, that could be enough to off-set the injuries to other hitters.
The bullpen is the Dodgers achilles heel, and unfortunately for them, having a great bullpen in the postseason is a pre-requisite for success. The weaknesses of any bullpen tend to be exposed under the intense microscope of the playoffs.
Overall, I’d rank the Dodgers as the 2nd best NL playoff team, if it all comes together, I could see them going to the World Series. However, I think they do just have too many issues right now to make it all the way to the big show.
A very respectable run to the NLCS could be a sign of greater things to come in the future for Dodger nation.