Dodgers: Comparing the 2013 Dodgers to This 2017 Team

Hitting

One stat says just about everything you need to know when comparing these two teams in the box. The 2013 Dodgers total home runs was 138. This year, so far, the Dodgers have 152 and are on their way to breaking the club record of 211.

Not only is there a greater emphasis on putting the ball in the air for this team and league wide, the Dodgers simply have more firepower to do so.

The top two home run hitters in 2013 were Adrian Gonzalez (22) and Hanley Ramirez (20). Cody Bellinger surpassed both of those in the first half and may come close to having more dingers this year than they had combined.

Just giving the rosters the eye test, this years team is stacked compared to 2013. I mean, Skip Schumaker, Nick “Shredder” Punto and Jerry Hariston all had over 200 at bats. As grateful as we are for Punto bringing the still used walk-off celebration for the Dodgers, this year’s team is in a much better place.

Replace those three with Kike Hernandez, Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor and the difference is clear. Not only can the players this year swing it better but they are just more dynamic players overall. 

The details are important for rounding out a team, but the middle of the lineup guys will always make or break you. 2017 (Seager-Turner-Bellinger) is far superior to 2013, which didn’t really have a clear cut three hitter for the whole year. A-Gon and Hanley had very nice seasons, but besides Puig, at times there was never really a third option.

Those three had 61 home runs combined, and even though injuries limited them, the 2017 trio will be way over that total.

Overall, the offense is just too deep in 2017 and seems to have a new player step up every night to get it done. 2013 just didn’t have that mojo, it had some signs of it, but the offense eventually was part of the reason their season came to a close in the NLCS.

With just over 50 games to go, it will be interesting to see where this Dodgers team has its numbers lands amongst the best teams in club history. Every slot in the lineup this year has produced, and that has really set this team apart from the few years prior. Plus, this team hits lefties, which was something they were crucified for not doing last year. 

Pitching

On the mound, especially now with the moves made at the deadline, there is a pretty vast difference between the two teams.

First off, think about where the staff was in 2013. Beyond Greinke and Kershaw at the helm, it kind of seems amazing that the team won 92 games. Ryu had a nice breakout season and seemed to be on track to be the third man in the rotation, but that question is still being asked today. Beyond those three, there were a ton of question marks.

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Remember that at the start of the 2013 season there were still debates about the Dodgers closing role going to Javy Guerra or Kenley Jansen. That is insanity looking back today.

Chris Capuano started 24 games for that team and fans today are unhappy with this year’s team when they have five starters with more than 15 starts each with an ERA below 3.85.

J.P. Howell was arguably the best arm in the pen beside Kenley that year, and despite him pitching well, a low 80’s lefty should never be the go to option to get high leverage outs.

Looking at how far Dodgers fans have come with their expectations is kind of funny looking back on all that. Going from 2013, a year where Stephen Fife, Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley all started games, to now? What a four year run it has been for the boys in blue.

Just like the hitters, from top to bottom, the Dodgers this year have a deeper and more talented staff. Adding Darvish is one thing but getting Watson and Cingrani at the deadline only solidified that thought and bolstered the confidence of what many believe to be the best bullpen in baseball. Cingrani obviously didn’t get off to the start the team imagined last night, but Watson seems very comfortable so far in blue. 

In 2013, Brandon League had an ERA of 5.30 and pitched in 58 games for that team. Ronald Bellisario led the team in relief appearances. This year, the only two relievers with an ERA above 5 rarely throw anymore, and the majority of the pen is dominant, touting a 2.96 ERA. 

The only thing that the 2013 staff has over 2017 is – MAYBE – a better Clayton Kershaw. No doubt healthier at that time, Kershaw enjoyed an ERA just above 1.80 en route to a 16-4 season.

What 2017 Kershaw gives up in durability, he makes up for in experience and grit. 2013 Kersh was still coming into his own as the best arm in the league, and the murmurs of his playoff falterings were only getting louder. 

2017 Kershaw is on a mission to dominate the postseason; there is little left for him to accomplish during the regular year, which was not true back then. This Kershaw has dealt with both playoff success and failure and can now use that in what will certainly be his biggest postseason yet. 

When he is healthy, he is the best pitcher on the planet. As the postseason inches closer,  Kershaw knows he will have his hands on the Dodger playoff success as much as anyone else. The difference is he also knows he has a strong team around him and he doesn’t need to carry all the weight. Ricky Nolasco started a playoff game in 2013, and the Dodgers will certainly not be relying on anything like that this year, Yu know what I mean?

Next: Potential Playoff Bench

The 2013 team ended its season with a record of 92-70 and lost in six games to St. Louis in the NLCS. This Dodger team seems destined for more, but until then, all we can do is compare.