MLB Preview 2015: Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers 2014 record: 94-68

Team Overview:

The Dodgers have been and should continue to be prime World Series candidates in this 5-10 year span. They are pumping in money and prospects and have a core that won them the last two division titles. Two straight upsets from the St. Louis Cardinals and the Dodgers decided it was time to tinker with the lineup. They made some notable changes but at the same time didn’t change much.

Due to their depth in the outfield they were able to trade Matt Kemp, and add depth in pitching and a starting catcher Yasmani Grandal. Grandal is a major upgrade when considering AJ Ellis was the former starter. The depth that made Kemp expendable starts with what makes the lineup tick, Yasiel Puig. Puig at age 24 has produced well in his past two seasons and is in prime position to progress. He is just now entering prime years and while ESPN had broken him out a year or so ago, this could be a real break out season. He is joined by a group of Carl Crawford, Joc Pederson, Andy Van Slyke and Andre Ethier. Crawford and Pederson look to get the most playing time but have their questions. Crawford at 30 is a liability against left handed pitching and has slowed down on the bath paths although he is still a problem for pitchers. Pederson is a rookie and has major upside, but at 22 he certainly can see growing pains, even if only to the extent in which Puig saw at 22. The two projected to start beside Puig are left-handed and gives a role for Van Slyke to be a right handed bench outfielder.

Luckily for them, the infield seems to have a brought in a veteran core in the to help the two young outfielders in the clubhouse. They have their rock in Adrian Gonzalez and I don’t think he should fall off much at all. He is the power to back Puig in the lineup. To back Gonzalez with the defense is infielders Juan Uribe, Howie Kendirck and Jimmy Rollins. Uribe comes back with strong defense and an underrated bat, but at age 35 they know they aren’t getting 162 games out of him. Fortunately a young prospect, Alex Guerrero can be a utility infielder and play third in a chance to eventually force Uribe out. The team forced out Dee Gordon and Hanley Ramirez to gain Kendrick and Rollins and that will be the big buzz around the team is how the swap eventually works out. I think they see the two they currently have as better clubhouse players and veteran leaders. Although I look for players to fall off at a certain age, at age 36 I can’t help but think being back in a winning environment can inspire at least one more strong year out of Rollins. He has speed although not be compared to the young Dee Gordon but he is more consistent in terms of health than Ramirez and is also the stronger defensive short stop. Kendrick adds a vet and I expect him to add defense that Gordon did not bring, and another role model to help the young studs, Puig and Pederson. All together it is a sound lineup with enough depth to get through a season. I personally like Ramirez and Gordons’ talent but I can’t knock what the Dodgers are going for in their swap this offseason.

The pitching has the top to match anyone and will have the team fighting for October, but doesn’t have that depth that the lineup has in 2015. We have to spend time and mention the fact that Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in the MLB. He sadly has two innings in October that he has to forget about but he is the guy they need to win a World Series and I still think the 27-year-old stud is fully capable. Behind him is the strong second punch of Zack Greinke. The veteran Grenike, combined with the super star Kershaw give arguably the best 1-2 in baseball. There could be a strong trio if Hyun-Jin Ryu stays healthy but he will already start the season on the DL. It may be a good thing to rest him early and save his arm for late, but they will need consistent pitching after the two to stay competitive. Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson both look to be strong back end candidates but lets be honest both are major injury concerns. McCarthy finally got 30 starts last season at age 31, and seemed to have come around, but it has to be a concern when relying on him for a full season. Anderson at age 27 still has not been able to shake of the injury bug and he has put in nothing close to a full season. Brandon Beachy may return this summer from Tommy John, but even before the surgery he had his injury concerns, but with a nice farm system it may just be enough to get them to August. Unfortunately the bullpen also will start with Kenley Jansen and Brandon League on the DL and that hurts their bullpen. While it is fun to look at Greinke and Kershaw leading the charge, it should be noted the back end and bullpen will be rotating and adjusting while they attempt to win the division.

What To Watch For?

The big what to watch for is the huge elephant in the room which is Andre Ethier. The team has its 3 hopeful candidates and has a righty off the bench in Scott Van Slyke to match their left handed Crawford and Pederson. Sure the left handed Ethier can give Puig nights off versus righties and go three left handers in the outfield, but what will that be like 10-14 games? You don’t want to sit Puig, you have the bench outfielder, and here sits 33-year-old Andre Ethier plenty able to play for an MLB team. He may not draw close to what they got for Kemp but a low-end pitcher or a bullpen piece is more useful than a high paid 5th outfielder. I would guess that in July a team who needs a left handed outfielder would be willing to pay more than what we think they would today and the Dodgers could find themselves with more options in the farm system.

Where Do They Rank?

Sure the Dodgers have questions but they have the resources to do what is needed to put them in contention throughout the summer. I think the NL West has potential but I would take the Dodgers versus the field to win the division and I will rank them #1.

#MLB #2015 #baseball #sports #NationalLeague #NL #LosAngeles #Dodgers