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Why the Dodgers Won the West

By Daniel Beattie |
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After 157 hard fought games, the Los Angeles Dodgers are officially the National League West Champions for 2015.

I’ll just pause while that sinks in….

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Ok we good? Lets get back to it. For the third year in a row the Dodgers have outpaced the rival Giants to capture the Western Division and earn a ticket to the National League Division Series. It certainly wasn’t pretty as the Dodgers limped across the line (both literally and figuratively) having won just 2 of their last 10 coming into last nights game. Injuries certainly took their toll on the squad with Carl Crawford, Yasiel Puig, Howie Kendrick, Hyun Jin Ryu, Brandon McCarthy, Chris Hatcher, Joel Peralta and Kenley Jansen all missing significant time with injuries. However, none of that mattered on Tuesday night as the Dodgers proved too much for Madison Bumgarner, even at AT&T park, winning by a convincing 8-0 margin after knocking out the Giants ace in the 6th.

Winning a division takes much more than throwing a lot of money around, or being able to put the best names on paper – Just ask the Nationals. To be successful over a 162 game season it takes a balanced, deep roster, smart in season moves, good management (hold your critiques), veteran leadership… I could go on for ever. There are any number of factors that can create a winning team, let’s look at what did it for the Dodgers in 2015.

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The Front Office

Spending a lot of money doesn’t have much of a correlation with success. However, the Dodgers spent their money wisely this off-season and it has nothing to do with the product on the field. Dodgers ownership signed Andrew Friedman to a 5 yr, $35M deal in October last year to the title of President of Baseball Operations, making him the highest paid front office executive in baseball. This was then followed by the hiring of other well respected personnel most notably Farhan Zaidi (GM) and Josh Byrnes (VP of Baseball Operations).

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Three of the most respected minds in the game, the trio got right to work, making moves that people never saw coming. From the dividing Kemp trade, to the Howie Kendrick acquisition and the acquisition of draft picks in return for international signing slots, the front office has been spectacularly creative in their decisions this year. In doing so, they have created a talented, balanced, sustainable core to build on and great depth to compliment it with.

Before anything gets done on the field, it’s the decisions of these individuals that is so pivotal to both the short and long term success of this organisation.

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The Kershaw/Greinke Duo

The numbers here speak for themselves. The Dodgers have had Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke pitch consecutive starts 28 times this year.

They have lost both starts just twice.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Other than that both pitchers will finish in the top 3 in Cy Young voting, as Kershaw continues his historic run and Greinke makes his return to the ‘best in the business’ conversation. On the year Kershaw has thrown 229 innings en route to a 2.16 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 294 strikeouts. If Kershaw can find another 6 K’s in his next start he would become the first pitcher to reach the 300 strikeout mark since Curt Schilling in 2002. Greinke meanwhile, has compiled a 1.68 ERA, with a 0.85 WHIP and 192 strikeouts in 31 starts.

Greinke can opt out of his contract at the end of the year (I personally don’t think he will) so this duo can’t be relied on forever. Kershaw is locked up until 2020, while potential superstars Julio Urias and Jose De Leon are waiting in the wings.

In any case with a tandem like this, its tough to have a bad year.

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Depth, Depth, Depth

With all the injuries mentioned above, plus all the other minor ones not mentioned, the depth of the Dodgers roster has been a huge component to their success. Both the rotation and the starting lineup has been decimated at times, but thankfully there have been capable backups to fill the gaps.

Starting with the rotation, injuries to Brandon McCarthy and Hyun Jin Ryu left the rotation exposed. However, Mike Bolsinger (who just gave up a two run shot to Matt Duffy) and Carlos Frias filled in admirably to combine for 11 wins until reinforcements in the form of Alex Wood and Mat Latos arrived at the trade deadline.

On the other side of the ball, any conversation about depth has to start with Enrique Hernandez. The kid who can play anywhere, Hernandez is far from your typical utility man. In somewhat limited action this year, Hernandez has hit .316 with 7 HR, one of which a 430 foot shot of Madison Bumgarner in the clincher. He is 4-7 with a HR since returning from the DL.

Also of note, are young phenom Corey Seager, Scott Van Slyke, Alex Guerrero, Justin Ruggiano, Carl Crawford and A.J Ellis. All of the above players have provided above average production off the bench this year, and are a major weapon going into the postseason.

These are just three of the reasons the Dodgers have won the NL West for the third year in a row but without them we may not be celebrating.

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