Los Angeles Dodgers: Could the team be even better in 2018?
By Derek Snyder
The Los Angeles Dodgers had an incredible run in 2017, but are they headed for even better pastures in 2018? Take a look at what ESPN had to say.
The Los Angeles Dodgers came one game short of winning the 2017 World Series, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have one heck of a year. Remember, this was a ball-club that ended up winning 104 games in the regular season and had one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Still, at the end of the day, it wasn’t enough to bring a championship to the west coast.
With the offseason in full swing, it’s time to start discussing how successful this team could potentially be in 2018. The Dodgers have some young superstars, but in major league baseball, nothing is guaranteed – ever.
That said, take a look at Los Angeles’ projected trajectory in 2018, according to David Schoenfield from ESPN:
"Los Angeles Dodgers (Projected record: 93-69)The Dodgers have a few more obvious concerns than the Astros and Indians, in part because they had more surprise contributors — particularly Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor — which is why their projected win total at the moment is a little lower.On the other hand, FanGraphs also projects Bellinger and Taylor to be worth just 4.7 WAR after they combined for 9.0 in 2017. I’ll take the 9.0 again over the 4.7."
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Personally, I’m not a huge fan of FanGraphs projecting the Dodgers to win 11 fewer games this upcoming season than they did in 2017.
With a young, talented and potent lineup, I don’t see any reason why this team can’t get better this winter and come back even stronger next spring, especially if they stay healthy.
Schoenfield also mentions that Los Angeles is one of the teams that could be in play for a “big splash” this winter as well after losing in Game 7 of the World Series last October.
If that prediction indeed comes true, then I fully expect the Dodgers to be a better team in 2018.
Will it mean that they win over 100 games again? Probably not.
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However, it could mean that they finally get over the hump and win their first championship since 1988.