Dodgers Pace To Playoffs
Los Angeles Dodgers to the playoffs? As of August 25, 2015, the Dodgers are holding the spot of first place in the National League West Division. The San Francisco Giants are creeping up right behind them with 2.5 games back in the West.
In August, the Dodgers have recorded 10 wins and 11 losses. However, in the second half of the season, the Dodgers have lost it and the fans know it. The fans can either be frustrated with Mattingly or the players. There are multiple possibilities.
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In 2009, the Dodgers lost the NL Championship Series to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games. In 2013, the team reached the NL Championship Series and lost two games to four against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was deja vu in 2014 when the Dodgers faced the Cardinals in the NL Division Series.
It seems as if there is “The Curse of the Bird” whenever the Dodgers try to advance in the playoffs. Many fans are fed up with it and want to see a change as soon as possible.
Despite, Greinke’s 13 wins and three losses and his 1.67 ERA and Kershaw’s 10-6 record, the offense is not helping out their pitchers.
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Rookie sensation Joc Pederson is on the chalking block with the Dodgers. He recently lost his starting position in center field to Enrique Hernandez this past weekend and was also filling in for Howie Kendrick’s spot at second.
Hernandez’s average as of August 26th is .338 and has shown the Dodgers organization what he has. Pederson’s average has been deteriorating since April. He started off with a .298 batting average, and in July he hit for .169. This month he has batted .122 and Mattingly finally benched him.
Don Mattingly has tried to help out Pederson as well as Dodgers’ hitting coach, Mark McGuire. The solution may be to send him down to the minors to correct his swing. Pederson is just having a slump the way all players do in some parts of the season and he just picked the wrong time to have this batting slump.
Aug 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson (31) reacts after scoring in the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Some prospects that the Dodgers are looking at are Julio Urias, a 19-year-old left-handed pitcher with the Tulsa Drillers, an AA farm team. The Dodgers feel that Urias can help elevate the bullpen. He is the number two prospect in the Dodgers farm system right below Corey Seager from the Oklahoma City Dodgers.
With the acquisition of Chase Utley at second base, the Dodgers have veteran players like Utley and Rollins who have been in post-season play and know what to do. Can they bring the Dodgers’ spirit up?
The Dodgers will need to think of something quick to demolish the NL West if they want to see the playoffs or even the World Series in their future. Or I think we will see a team with different faces next season.
Next: Dodgers' Ace Clayton Kershaw Urges Team To Show Some Urgency