Dodgers Honesty Hour
Dodgers Honesty Hour
My thoughts on the potential playoff run for my Boys in Blue
Being projected in the preseason to win 110 games, and spending National Debt in the offseason after acquiring huge assets like NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a hell of an expectation, and rightfully so. While the record of 89-61 is definitely under expectations, especially with the NL West race that has gotten so close over the last few months, keep in mind there are no MLB teams on pace to win 100 games this season, something that hasn’t occurred since 2014.
I love ragging on Dave Roberts, and I believe if there is no World Series Ring on Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani’s hand in the next two years, he should be gone. Yes, the Dodgers roster should win a World Series year in and year out, but it’s baseball. The weirdest and most beautiful game in the world, and we just saw the DBacks make a historic run in 2023 while the Champions of 2023 didn’t sniff the playoffs this year.
I give Roberts some kudos in 2024, the management around all these injuries can only be described as hell on Earth. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at all the players that missed significant time this year, and you’ll agree with me when I say, if this team didn’t have Ohtani, there’s a significant chance they would be a wild card team (eat that Lindor).
Mookie Betts
Walker Buehler
Tyler Glasnow
Dustin May
Max Muncy
Bobby Miller
Freddie Freeman
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
River Ryan
Tony Gonsolin
Clayton Kershaw
Gavin Stone
Emmett Sheehan
Ya, it’s been a rough year. I’m very adamant about not leaning on injuries as an excuse, but it’s hard for me to blame Dave Roberts (this year) for the cards he’s been dealt.
So, the question begs, how do I feel about this team heading into the playoffs? Not good to say the least. If the Brewers beat them out for the two seed, the Dodgers will draw none other than the scariest team in the NL bracket in the San Diego Padres. The starting pitching is going to be a massive issue for the Dodgers come the postseason, as the rotation should look like Yamamoto, Buehler, and… (?). That’s my point, the stars have not aligned in 2024 for a big run. If they draw San Diego, they’ll likely face Dylan Cease, Michael King, then Yu Darvish, might as well be a death sentence.
The hope is they slug their way to a title, but it’s going to be tough with a struggling bullpen as well other than Michael Kopech.
The Padres also were leading the MLB heading into September in ‘high leverage’ wRC+ by over 40 points. This feels like a team that is built for October right now, and Dodgers just don’t.
This is not to say that they won’t win a series or even make it to the World Series, but I just don’t believe in this roster, given the injuries, specifically on the pitching side. If someone up top decides to rush Shohei Ohtani back to the mound in the postseason, I will disown this team. You paid the man $700M, and you’d even think about taking the risk of having him throw in the most high-leverage spot of the season? I pray they’re not seriously considering it, and it’s just a press stunt.
All of this is to say that the Grim Reaper is approaching. It’s been a tough season, with plenty of frustrating baseball played, but the injuries in the pitching department have been far too much to get this team a ring. I’ll be locked in, but awaiting an early exit and more Dodgers coverage in the offseason and 2025.
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