Los Angeles Dodgers: 2017 Team Preview
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.
Key Acquisitions
Perhaps the best acquisitions the Dodgers made last season involved retaining the talent they already had. Yes, there is the obvious trade that we will get to later, but bringing back the core of the Dodgers was their biggest move this off-season. While they did re-sign Rich Hill and Chase Utley as well, bringing back Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen is huge for the franchise.
First of all, Justin Turner is easily one of the best third baseman in the game of baseball. A ton of people seem to overlook that fact and don’t realize how influential he is for the franchise. Last season Turner batted .275 in route to slugging 27 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Turner is a key part of the middle of the Los Angeles line-up that only makes Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez better.
Then there is Kenley Jansen, who is one of the most dominant closers we have seen. With a cutter that hitters have compared with Mariano Rivera, Jansen logged 47 saves which was good enough for second most in the league. Jansen’s production is unparalleled, and it was something the Dodgers could not afford to lose.
Then there is the obvious big acquisition in Logan Forsythe. Forysthe, at the time, filled a massive hole as second base as Enrique Hernandez was slated to be the every day starter. Now, with the signing of Chase Utley, the move may not be as important. However, Forsythe does bring to the table something the Dodgers lack – hitting left-handed pitching. Forsythe batted .270 against left-handed pitching last season.
Key Loses
For the most part, the Dodgers didn’t really lose much. They did make a trade that I was very displeased with in dealing Howie Kendrick to the Phillies. I understand that Kendrick wanted more playing time but he was likely going to be the every day second baseman and played in 146 games last season.
They did also deal the likes of Carlos Ruiz and Jose De Leon, but neither really had a significant impact on the team. Also, both of those moves were done with the intents on making the team better, so in that department, bravo.
The only significant loss the Dodgers had was Joe Blanton. They did lose the likes of J.P. Howell as well, but Blanton is the significant departure. Blanton appeared in 75 games last season, tossing 80 innings for a 2.48 ERA. Blanton proved all season that he was the most consistent option out of the bullpen for the Dodgers, and they did lose that.
Projections and Predictions
Quite frankly, the Los Angeles Dodgers this season aren’t much different from last. This may seem like a completely revamped ball club, but that is simply because they don’t have 100 players on the DL, well, yet. Lets knock on some wood, and look at the team projections and predictions for 2017.
Projections:
Rotation:
Bullpen:
Middle Relief: Luis Avilan, Adam Liberatore, Javier Baez, Josh Fields, Chris Hatcher
Long Relief: Ross Stripling, Grant Dayton, Brock Stewart
Setup: Sergio Romo
Closer: Kenley Jansen
Batting Order:
Andrew Toles
Corey Seager
Justin Turner
Adrian Gonzalez
Joc Pederson
Logan Forsythe
Yazmani Grandal
Yasiel Puig
Clayton Kershaw
Record Predictions:
Fangraphs: 94-68
Bovada: 93.5 Wins
Personal Prediction: 96-66
I don’t think Fangraphs nor Bovada shied much from what the Dodgers will actually do next season. They are a team that could easily win 100 games, but for whatever reason never does. As for their batting lineup, it is hard to predict because we all know that Dave Roberts will have a different line-up on the daily.