The LA Dodgers stayed in the top ten of Bleacher Report’sweekly MLB power rankings— barely.
Despite having one of the top five win/loss records in all of baseball at 56-44 through the century mark of the season, no one seems to be fooled by the Dodgers’ latest follies.
Los Angeles needs a more solid pitching core more than anything else — something echoed by other LA Sports Hub writers before this article.
If the Dodgers can’t get things together and pick up anybody that will help them down the road in a playoff stretch or pinch then they might as well kiss all of the championship talk good bye.
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Sounds harsh, I know, but it’s better to be realistic than to have wishful thinking.
It gets you nowhere, really.
Take also into consideration that the San Francisco Giants have crawled all the way back up to within a single game of challenging the Dodgers for the title of NL West champion.
The Giants just know how to play baseball at the right time and when to get hot — with the Dodgers it feels like they often invent new ways to lose.
Justin Turnerhas been the biggest weapon for the Dodgers as of late and is a big reason that LA isn’t sinking to the bottom of the division or collapsing just yet.
WhileJonny Cuetois no longer an option, ashe was dealt to the Kansas City Royals, per ESPN, other big arms remain in sight withDavid PriceandCole Hamelsstill out there for the taking.
Hamels recently threw a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs — something that would nice to see happen in white and blue.
Aroldis Chapman, currently still with the Cincinnati Reds, is a closer that LA could potentially lock up and throw in the rotation for some deep playoff baseball.
While the Dodgers sorting themselves is one issue, another frame of reference to keep in mind is the mental toughness within the dugout.
Too many times this season we’ve seenClayton Kershawgo lights out for most of a game only to have the closing pitching staff and poor decision making or ill-timing ruin it all.
If that happens even once in the playoffs it could cost your team as much as a shot at destiny.
Nobody should ever want that to be the case.
Per aCBS report, it also looks like we’ll be seeing more and more of youngYasiel Puigin a Dodgers uniform and he won’t be part of some last minute deal that the team would’ve potentially put together.
It was highly speculated, especially last week, that the Dodgers could be parting ways with their Cuban-born super star.
Bottom Line: Smart moves now mean more room for October baseball
Citing reasons like lack of offensive consistency, a serious drop in his numbers on any stat sheet, and the opportunity to shine the spotlight on Joc Pederson, the new boy in town, everyone wanted an answer.
Sometimes it’s not what you thought it would be, though.
But that’s baseball.
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