Los Angeles Dodgers: 2017 Team Preview
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Dodgers have become one of the more polarizing teams in all of baseball. A team that, just several years ago, was practically bankrupt has turned into one of the highest spenders in the league.
Sure, the Los Angeles Dodgers have turned into what they hated a few years ago, but that does not take away from their success on the field. The Dodgers currently hold the longest active postseason streak, dating back to 2013. This four-year span has seen them win their division each year, the first time in club history, and has them constantly atop the favorites list for World Series champs.
However, being a Dodger fan, I can tell you nothing is more agonizing than constantly being in the picture and never winning it all. Every year is full of optimism, and every year ends in agony. However, like I say every year, this year is different!
So, with spring training fully underway, we are previewing each team’s season here at Call to the Pen. So, with that being said, how is 2017 shaping up for the Los Angeles Dodgers?
The Crazy Horse
Perhaps the most intriguing story, like every single season, is how Yasiel Puig will play throughout the season. Puig has been rumored on the trade block every year since Andrew Freidman took over, and rightfully so. Despite having an immense amount of talent, Puig often gains ridicule for his childish on the field antics.
This season is no different, however Puig may have finally taken that big leap into a big league moniker. As you may or may not know, Puig had a baby boy during the off-season. Although Puig already does have a kid, adding that baby dynamic back into his life may straighten his focus.
Plus, as we saw with his tremendous bat flip, Puig looks so much more comfortable at the plate. Puig looks so much more comfortable, loose, and his mechanics genuinely made an improvement. Although his average has dipped considerably since his bat flip, he is not striking out as much. If anything, that is a step in the right direction for Yasiel Puig.