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Dodgers: The Dodgers Award Winners at the Halfway Mark
The Dodgers didn’t start off the season the way they hoped, but after the first half, they are exactly where they want to be: the top of the NL West. They did so with some phenomenal first half performances, let’s take a look at the Dodgers mid-season award winners.
2018 has been a roller coaster. With a Dodger team seemingly hungover early on in the season after a gut-wrenching Word Series loss to end 2017, since falling to 10 games under .500 in Miami (16-26), business has picked up for the boys in blue. Since that 16-26 record, the Dodgers ended the first half with a 37-17 run and placed themselves atop of the NL West.
Dodger fans were spoiled last season with the division never really being close last season. In 2017 the Dodgers went into the break with a 7.5 game lead in the West and by the end of July, they were up 14 games. This season is going to be very different. The Dodgers do lead the division, but only by a half game. Add to that arguably the toughest second-half schedule in baseball and you have yourselves a dogfight to win the tightly contested division.
However, if the players who showed up in the first half continue to play well the Dodgers should be up to the task. Also, some reinforcements might be on the way with reports indicating all-star shortstop Manny Machado is all but a Dodger. Even with Machado, the Dodgers would like to see the same production from the other guys.
Best Reliever: Kenley Jansen
Despite his lackluster start and finish to the first half of the season, Jansen gets the nod here. He has once again proven he is one of the top closers in baseball. He is tied for the NL lead in saves and made the all-star team once again. Jansen is as solid as they come at the back end of the rotation.
Last season Dodger fans were spoiled with Jansen. He had one of the greatest seasons for a closer ever. Jansen was an absolute monster last season. Though he still spews that same confidence in 2018, the outcomes are not quite the same.
The problem with Jansen may have been fatigue. His velocity has been up and down this season and it could be a result of HEAVY usage in the post-season. Also not to be forgotten is how different his spring was this year. Not getting as much work this spring may have factored into his rough start.
Either way, Jansen settled down and has produced a nice season. This is a good season, the problem is as the great Vin Scully once said: “Good is not good when better is expected.” That has been the case for Jansen this season. A good season for a normal pitcher is not the same as a good season for Jansen.
Even with his “poor start” Jansen has easily been the best and most reliable piece of that Frankenstein of a bullpen the Dodgers have. Jansen will hopefully garner his strength over this break and return to the second half even stronger than the first-half.
Honorable Mention: Scott Alexander
Cy Young: Ross Stripling
Well, this is a surprise, isn’t it?
After starting the season in the bullpen, Ross Stripling saw himself reach the rotation after the opening day starters went down like flies. Since his integration into the rotation, Stripling has been nothing short of remarkable. Posting a 2.08 ERA and 1.08 WHIP en route to his first-ever all-star game appearance.
He has pitched so well, that despite what Joe Buck an John Smoltz might be saying, Stripling will remain in the rotation because of how well he has pitched in that role this season. Stripling is a class act and it is a joy to watch him have the type of season he is enjoying.
This success is thanks in large part to the Rick Honeycutt and the rest of that staff. Helping him develop more of his secondary pitches has been a huge reason for this breakout season for chicken strip. Not to understate what Ross has been doing, but that staff does deserve some credit.
Ross was predominantly a 2-pitch pitcher up until this season. Fastball/Curveball. Now he has developed more pitches and has used them to his advantage. He has always had a nasty curveball with that patented 12/6 action. He has since added a changeup with filthy movement to his arm side. Also, a nice slider to go along with the rest of his repertoire.
Those pitches have always been in his arsenal, they just have been improved upon and it has shown. That increase in pitches keeps hitters guessing and helps his 92-93 MPH fastball play up. Stripling his having a terrific season and deserves all the recognition he gets.
Honorable Mentions: Clayton Kershaw and Kenta Maeda
Co-MVP’s: Max Muncy and Matt Kemp
Well, this is an even bigger surprise, isn’t it?
Pre-season predictions could have never guessed this. My guess would have been, Seager, Bellinger or Turner, not someone I just learned about this spring and a revamped romance with a veteran. But here we are, easily the 2 best players on this team have been Matt Kemp and Max Muncy.
The trade for Kemp was supposed to be a salary dump. With Kemp constantly proving expectations wrong. “He’ll be traded before spring training” wrong. “He won’t even make the roster” guess again. “He won’t get a starting spot though” umm he did. “He won’t be productive” only Dodger position player on the all-star roster.
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Kemp leads the team with 60 RBI’s. That number is usually not a good gauge of how productive a player is because it relies heavily on hitters in front of you to get on base. However, Kemp is so important to this team because of that number. The reason that number is so high is that he is one of the best hitters in baseball with RISP hitting .429 with runners on second or third.
Now onto Muncy. Perhaps the biggest surprise of this 2018 season. After nearly quitting baseball Muncy has refined himself into one of the best hitters in baseball. He currently leads the NL in OPS (min 225 AB’s). Muncy has been one of the only consistent hitters on this team outside of Kemp.
Max has mashed 22 bombs as a Dodger after hitting a total of 5 home runs with the A’s during his 96 games in Oakland. It was on par with Chris Taylor last season. Muncy is one of the main reasons the Dodgers stand on top of the division. He should have been an all-star. Hopefully, that adds another chip to his shoulder and he continues his career-changing path in 2018
Least Valuable Player: Logan Forsythe
Next: Dodgers Quick Hits: Machado, Baez, Bullpen
Very disappointing season from the veteran. I was one of his few believers entering the season and he has since given me a reason to hop off the wagon. Forsythe has been unwatchable at the plate and uncharacteristically bad defensively. He will be lucky to even stay with the big club after Machado makes his way over.