Los Angeles Dodgers: Dissecting how special this team really is

The 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers may be the best Dodgers team we have seen in decades. However, it is hard to believe how special this team really is.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have never won a World Series in my lifetime – or even made it to one. As tough as a pill that is to swallow, you learn to embrace cheering for a team that constantly gets your hopes up, only to be outmatched in the postseason. I vaguely remember 2008 and 2009 and distinctly remember the past four postseason eliminations.

At least as Dodger fans we can say that we lost to great teams. The Phillies and Cubs were phenomenal, and every team LA lost to in the NLDS went on to the World Series outside of the 2014 Cardinals. Those were good teams, and while it sucks to lose, fans can hold their heads high about that.

The 2017 Dodgers are different though. This isn’t Mannywood, this isn’t the past four seasons, this is a new wave. These Dodgers are the most talented we have seen in quite some time, but most importantly, they are the most unified.

We have seen the Dodgers go on runs in the past. The most memorable is the team going 69-38 after the debut of Yasiel Puig in 2013. 2017 has been compared to 2013 in many ways, with Cody Bellinger now being the knight in shining armor. While it is similar, and both teams put together great runs, this team is so much better.

The hard case for the Dodgers is that they do not have any one player that is absolutely dominant. Sure, Bellinger, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood can all make their case for at least some MVP votes, but no guy stands heads and shoulders above the rest of the league.

In many ways, this team reminds me of the 2014-15 Kansas City Royals. That team had a never die attitude, one that led them to two consecutive World Series and their first World Series trophy in 30 years. However, that Royals team was resilient yes, but this Dodgers team is dominant.

The Dodgers pitching staff, led by Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood and Kenley Jansen (who combined have a 1.78 ERA in 257.2 innings pitched), is absolutely remarkable. Los Angeles ranks first in pitching WAR, first in ERA and first in WHIp. Arguably the three most important pitching metrics the Dodgers dominate.

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Yet it is the performance of the offense that has caught my eye. Every day a new hero seemingly steps up to the plate and delivers a clutch hit, something that has led to this team’s success.

Los Angeles has three batters that have posted a 2.5 WAR or better, something only the Houston Astros have replicated.

Better yet, the Los Angeles Dodgers have four pitchers that have posted a 2.2 WAR or better. The most by any other team is two as the Dodgers have just under 20% of the top 21 pitchers in baseball.

There have been breakouts with Bellinger and Wood, there has been consistent production from Seager, Turner and Kershaw. There have been clutch home runs by Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig. The bullpen has been lights out, the bats have been hot and quite frankly, this team is special.

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Whether it is three consecutive home runs in the ninth inning, four walks, or a three run blast down to their final strike – this Los Angeles Dodgers team has been special.