Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are. Yes, I am having a missing Meatloaf minute, but the team that should be scared is the Dodgers. How is it that the Dodgers are only a few games up on both the Padres and the Diamondbacks? Let’s remember one thing and that this Dodgers team is built for one thing and that is to win the World Series.
The offseason was a total domination. Every big fish in the free agent pond went to the Dodgers. They made trades, and on paper, the lineup was amazing. The best player in baseball with Shohei Ohtani. Followed by Betts, Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez and so on and so on. The staff had Yamamoto, Glasnow, a returning Kershaw, and other arms like Beuhler, and May set to make their return from injury. This Dodgers team was built for the long MLB season and beyond, so what the hell is going on in Hollywood?
Let’s look at the Dodgers record by month:
March 4 – 2
April 15 – 11
May 17 – 10
June 16 – 10
July 11 – 13
Besides July, the Dodgers have been consistent. Let’s have some fun. If you take the first month of the season out, here is what the standings would look like. San Diego would be one up on the Dbacks and two up on the Dodgers. What does that tell us?
Injuries have been an issue. Beuhler, Betts, May, Kershaw, Taylor, Muncy, Yamamoto–this list is an all-star list of players, so sure the Dodgers have injuries. But, pick any other team and the injuries list is expansive as well, so that can’t be the problem. The Dodgers are the deepest team in the league.
The division has not been that competitive. The Rockies, Giants, Padres, and D-Backs seem to bow down to the fact that they can’t beat the Dodgers in the regular season, so the Dodgers don’t get pushed. But that push is coming and coming hard. Are the Dodgers worried? Well I think yes. Look at all the moves they made at the trade deadline.
The Dodgers are getting healthy and will that be the difference? Maybe, since they only play the D-backs four more times and the Padres three. I still think the Dodgers will hold off the division for the title, but I have no confidence that this team has what it takes to win the world series. That means the Dodgers are all revved up with no place to go. Yes, I miss Meatloaf.
