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Los Angeles Dodgers: Worst moments of the 30-year drought

By Jamaal Artis

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws his glove after he was unable to catch a ground rule double hit by Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros (not pictured) during the eighth inning in game two of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws his glove after he was unable to catch a ground rule double hit by Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros (not pictured) during the eighth inning in game two of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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1996 West Division Race:

It could be argued that from 1995 to 1997 the Los Angeles Dodgers had the most talent in the NL West. They boasted sluggers like Mike Piazza and Eric Karros, a pitching staff with an international flavor led by pioneering Japanese born pitcher Hideo Nomo.

Yet with all that talent the Los Angeles Dodgers flaws caused them to be in a tight race for the division title every year. In 1995, the Dodgers managed to stave off the challenge of the Colorado Rockies and take the flag.

In 1996, the Dodgers came up short in the west division race that hinged on an inability to get hits with the runners in scoring position (sound familiar) that would have lead to a win and division title.

In 1996, trying to stay ahead of the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers found themselves tied in the standings on the last game of the season, with the winner getting the division flag and the loser the wild-card berth and a chance to face the dominant Atlanta Braves.

The game was tied in the ninth inning with men on 2nd and 1st and no outs with Piazza and Karros next up. The teammates combined for 206 runs batted in that season proceeded to strike out and hit into a double play. That was the Dodgers best chance.

They would lose the game in the 11th inning when former Dodger Chris Gwynn hit a two-run double, dropping the Dodgers into the wild card spot. They would be swept by the Braves in the National League Division Series.

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