Dodgers Win Regular Season, But Hunger For More

The Dodgers ended the season in the same way they began the season…with a convincing win.  Sandwiched in between were 41 more victories, for a season record of 43-17.  That calculates to a 116 win season in a 162 game season.  That is a pretty good year.  The Dodgers were 6.0 games better than San Diego, the team with the 2^nd best record in the NL.  The Dodgers were 3.0 games ahead of Tampa Bay, the team with the 2^nd best record in MLB.  As it turns out, San Diego has the third best record in MLB.

Things looked precarious on September 14 when the Padres beat the Dodgers to move within 1.5 games.  The Dodgers then went on a 10-2 run and that was that.

• The Dodgers lost only one series in 2020 (Colorado), but won every season series.  They just have to win the next four.
• The Dodgers won every month.
• The Dodgers road record was 22-8, while their home record was 21-9.
• The Dodgers played on DH in 2020, and won both games (against SF – two shutouts, 7-0 and 2-0) 
• The Dodgers were 5-1 in extra inning games.
• The Dodgers were 7-5 in one run games.
• The Dodgers were 27-13 in NL West games.
• The Dodgers were 16-4 in AL West games.

• The Dodgers as a team hit .256/.338/.483/.821
• The Dodgers led MLB in run differential (+136) – Padres #2 at +84
• The Dodgers led MLB in runs scored (349) (Average 5.8/game) – Braves #2 with 348
• The Dodgers led MLB in HRs (118) – Braves #2 with 103
• The Dodgers led MLB in SLG (.483) – Braves #2 also at .483
• The Dodgers #2 in MLB in OPS (.821) – Braves #1 at .832

• The Dodgers led MLB in ERA (3.02) – Cleveland #2 at 3.29
• The Dodgers led MLB in WHIP (1.06) – Cleveland #2 at 1.11
• The Dodgers led MLB in BA Against (.213) – Cincinnati #2 at .215
• The Dodgers starters were #2 in MLB in ERA (3.30) – Cleveland #1 at 3.17
• The Dodgers starters led MLB in WHIP (1.07) – Cleveland #2 at 1.08
• The Dodgers starters were #2 in in MLB BAA (.219) – Cincinnati #1 at .216
• The Dodgers relievers were #2 MLB ERA (2.83) – Oakland #1 at 2.76
• The Dodgers relievers led MLB in WHIP (1.06) – Oakland #2 at 1.15
• The Dodgers relievers led MLB in BAA (.210) – Oakland #2 also at .210

I called my agent friend who advised me that the Cardinals were going to need to play the DH tomorrow in Detroit because it could have an impact on their seeding.  He told me that is what he was advised.  He also indicated that there may be some hard feelings because now the Braves draw the Reds because St. Louis did not play their full 60 game schedule.  Chances are that St. Louis would have won at least one of the games, and by the tie breaker the Cardinals would have been the 2^nd place finisher in the NL Central. MLB apparently decided that they did not want St. Louis to have to play a DH two days before the Wild Card series begins on Wednesday.  It has no impact on the Dodgers, so it matters little to me.

Brackets

• National League
• #1 Dodgers (Buehler) vs. #8 Brewers
• #2 Atlanta (Fried) vs. #7 Reds (Bauer)
• #3 Cubs vs. #6 Marlins
• #4 Padres vs. #5 Cardinals

• American League
• #1 Tampa Bay (Snell) vs. #8 Toronto
• #2 Oakland vs. #7 ChiSox
• #3 Minnesota (Maeda) vs. #6 Houston
• #4 Cleveland (Bieber) vs. #5 NYY

AL starts on Tuesday.  NL starts on Wednesday.

I know there are some who are disappointed that San Francisco did not beat the Padres to get to the #8 seed, but I am very happy.  I wanted no chance for the Giants to beat the Dodgers in the 3 game series.  That would have been absolutely unlivable up here in Northern California. 

I will comment on the series with the Brewers as we get closer to Wednesday.  Doc did say that he was going with 12 or 13 pitchers in the first round.  I cannot see Doc accepting 12, so I would assume that the number will be 13.  With 15 position players, Joc will be on the roster for the first series.  After that, we just do not know.  With 15 position players and 13 pitchers as the parameter, this is what I see.

• 1B – Muncy
• 2B – CT3
• 3B – JT
• SS – Seager
• LF – AJ
• CF – Belli
• RF – Mookie
• C – Smith
• DH – Rios

• Bench:
• Designated CK catcher – Barnes
• C – Keibert Ruiz
• Util – Kike’
• 2B – Lux
• 1B/3B/OF – Beaty
• OF – Joc

• RHSP – Buehler
• LHSP – Kershaw
• RHP – Gonsolin
• RHP – May
• LHP – Urias
• RHP – Floro
• RHP – Treinen
• RHP – Graterol
• RHP – Baez
• LHP – Gonzalez
• LHP – McGee
• LHP – Kolarek
• Closer – Jansen

Wednesday is the start of the march to 13 victories and the long awaited WS Championship.