With a record approaching all-time highs in the past 50 games, the Los Angeles Dodgers are beginning to look like the exciting and talented team everyone was waiting for once their new owners took over. After several high-priced acquisitions began to click and a sensational rookie by the name of Yasiel Puig joined their ranks, the Dodgers are the strongest team in baseball and the favorites for the 2013 World Series. hope for the other contenders?
Of course there is. Pushing the odds against the Los Angeles Dodgers is the fact that they haven’t been to the MLB Playoffs since 2009. But that’s about it. Right now, the talent on this team is pretty incredible, and whether they win it all this year or not, the Dodgers will become a family team in playoff baseball every October.
Its initial release is formidable. Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu are pitching very well and each has more than 10 wins on the season. Relief pitching has been solid, and incoming closer Brian Wilson could be in the mix late in the season.
But the most exciting part of the Dodgers has been the hitting. Yasiel Puig has been sensational and may well become the leading hitting talent of the new generation. His .352 average is among the best in the majors and his power makes him one of the most dangerous players on the field. His call-up sparked this incredible run for the Dodgers, and he is the heart and soul of the team and its fans. That’s a lot of pressure for any 22-year-old rookie, but so far Puig has led the team with confidence and brilliant play. His defensive work is also top-notch in the outfield. You can take this team far.
Other hitters have also gained momentum for the Dodgers, including Hanley Ramirez. Although injured during the first half of the season, Ramírez has returned and has added figures similar to those of Puig. With two dominant power players, the Dodgers’ lineup is menacing.
The rest of the team is solid too. Adrián González is a hitter close to .300, while up and down the lineup are capable players who hit in the upper .200s. This makes the team quite solid and well prepared even if Puig stutters in the playoffs from nerves or the cold. The talent is well distributed throughout the lineup to handle any potential opponents.
So is there any reason to feel like the Dodgers won’t be bouncing and bouncing on their way to the World Series? October baseball is sure to bring drama and will have its ordeals ahead for the Dodgers. It is not the only team with a great track record. The Atlanta Braves are solid, as are the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals; And those teams are ready for the National League pennant! But no one is more attractive than the Dodgers right now, and I have a feeling they are not slowing down any time soon. It will be a pleasure to see what the most exciting team in baseball will bring to the MLB Playoffs this year!