LA Dodgers, Angels On Different Paths

Who would’ve thought 2015 would be when the LA Dodgers took a serious stand and headed for the next chapter?

With guys like Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw on the mound and available to go pitch, you would expect the LA Dodgers to be able to win big games.

And to an extent, they’ve done just that.

As for the Angels, they have Albert Pujols and Mike Trout to power their offense, but that seems to be about all that’s really going for them

Speaking from the divisional perspective, the Angels have watched the AL West literally slip out of their grasp.

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First, the up-and-coming Astros surged to the top and then most recently the Texas Rangers surprised absolutely everybody as they now rule the top spot in the AL West.

And the Angels’ ship just seems to continue to sink.

Los Angeles is four and a half games out of first place and two and a half games out of the second AL Wild Card spot, currently, held by the Houston Astros.

What it would take for the Angels to make the playoffs — and have remotely any momentum — is nothing short of a miracle.

It would mean Houston, New York, or Texas would have to have a collapse all their own.

And then on top of that, the Twins would have to slip up before season’s end.

That’s just to get in, not even have a chance of winning any playoff series.

And it’s not like they forgot about how last season ending.

Contrary to them is the LA Dodgers.

A team that finds themselves in first place of the NL West but still on a losing streak of four games and hopefully no more.

While the Dodgers show great evidence of a team that is apparently trying to still find a strength or identity, the fact that they are in control of their division I think speaks for themselves.

Especially when they’re ahead of the defending champion Giants, who also happen to be a team that’s won three of the  last five world championships.

It’s in that respect that I don’t think a lot of credit — or enough credit, I should say — is given to the Dodgers.

Yes, there are plenty of times that they blow our minds with a terrible play call, horrendous bull pen, or whatever it might be any given game night, but they’re up on the Giants.

And for some fans, that speaks volumes enough.

The biggest conquest for the Dodgers, though, remains in October.

None of this season will truly matter to the star players if they can’t at least get over one hump and oust the New York Mets.

Bottom Line: This is where the hunters become the hunted.

But if they can find a way to get past whatever NL Central team they face in the NLCS (yes, the NL Central is already a lock — they’re that good), Los Angeles will go absolutely nuts.

And maybe, just maybe, the Dodgers will find a way to get back into serious championship conversation.

And better yet bring the glory home where it belongs.