Dodgers vs Astros: Why the Dodgers have fallen behind

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Yuli Gurriel
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Yuli Gurriel
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Yuli Gurriel
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Yuli Gurriel /

The Dodgers were even with the Astros as they went to game 7 of the 2017 World Series. Since then the Dodgers have fallen behind the Astros.

In the 2017 World Series, the Dodgers and the Astros were two even MLB juggernauts as the two teams played one of the best World Series ever and it went seven games.  Ever since that game seven, the Astros have pulled ahead of the Dodgers and have won one WS title and will have another if they win game seven tonight.

Like Houston, the Dodgers have been to two World Series except they have lost both of them.  The Astros, on the other hand, are 1-1 and could be 2-2 depending on how game seven goes.  Sure the Dodgers made the 2018 World Series and the Astros didn’t, but like the Dodgers, the Astros suffered the same fate as they lost to the Boston Red Sox.

Now the Dodgers sit around and wait for another hack at ending a World Series drought that is now over thirty years old.  Meanwhile, the Astros can lose Gerrit Cole in free agency after winning their second World Series title in three years.  Why have the Dodgers fallen behind?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 27: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 27, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 27: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 27, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The Astros have core players that are clutch in October

Like the Dodgers, the Astros have had their share of offensive struggles this postseason but their homegrown players have consistently delivered in the clutch.  In the ALCS against the Yankees, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve both delivered walk-off home runs to help push the Astros to their second World Series appearance.

The Astros’ core group of Bregman, Correa, Springer, and Altuve have combined to hit 15 home runs this postseason.  The Dodgers have clutch hitters in Justin Turner and Max Muncy but it was not enough with Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager struggling.  Both Seager and Bellinger have consistently underperformed in the postseason and if the Dodgers are going to win a World Series with this group they will need big contributions from both.

Not only is the Astros’ core group of players more talented than the Dodgers’ core but when the postseason rolls around they continuously deliver in the clutch while the Dodgers don’t.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: Manager Dave Roberts walks to the mound during a pitching change in the fifth inning of game four of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: Manager Dave Roberts walks to the mound during a pitching change in the fifth inning of game four of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The Astros have the better Manager

This one hurts a bit to type as I am a fan of Dave Roberts.  I think he does a tremendous job of managing the clubhouse and he can relate to every player in the locker room.  Roberts was not a star player so he can relate to the 25th man on the roster, yet he is a World Series champion as a player which gets you the type of respect needed to be a big-league manager.

The part where Dave Roberts still needs to grow is in-game managing.  Particularly getting a feel for his pitching staff.  Roberts has repeatedly pulled Rich Hill too soon in postseason games and made very questionable moves such as using Clayton Kershaw in game five of the NLDS.  Facing Eaton was fine but going against Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto?  Puzzling.

Dave also tends to only trust certain pitchers in his bullpen.  In the 2017 World Series, he wore Brandon Morrow down throwing him in every single World Series game.  Then this year he used Joe Kelly for two innings rather than going to Kenley Jansen who actually did well in his limited postseason work this year.  If a pitcher cannot be trusted, they should not be on the playoff roster.

Dave Roberts is a young manager and his players have not always performed to expectations in October but he has still made several moves that contributed to Dodger playoff losses.  The Astros have the better manager in AJ Hinch and it has shown.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: President and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Stan Kasten, speaks to President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Andrew Friedman, before game one of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: President and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Stan Kasten, speaks to President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Andrew Friedman, before game one of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Dodgers front office has not been very bold

First off, let’s get this out of the way: This is not a bash party on the Dodgers front office.  I believe Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers’ front office has been very good at developing a deep roster that will compete for many seasons to come.  The homegrown talent they’ve developed and the under the radar moves they make rival any front office in the game, including the Astros.

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The one area where the Astros’ front office is far ahead of the Dodgers’ is at making bold moves. In 2017 the Astros took a risk on Justin Verlander and it has paid off big time.  This year they took on Zack Greinke who is now 36 years old but he has also helped fuel the Astros’ rotation that seemingly has only three starting pitchers.  For Gerrit Cole, the Astros dealt two top-five prospects including a former top 100 prospect in Joe Musgrove to Pittsburgh.

The Astros traded three top-five prospects this summer for Greinke and while it may hinder their future, it resulted in their second World Series.  The Dodgers have made big short-term upgrades at the deadline like Machado and Darvish, but those moves were not as bold.  Machado became a necessity when Corey Seager went down and Darvish was traded for a top prospect the Dodgers knew had no position in the NL.  The Machado trade involved prospects outside the Dodgers’ top ten.

Next. The top 3 free agent starters after Gerrit Cole. dark

The Dodgers have a stockpile of pitching and catching prospects so this is the off-season for Andrew Friedman to get bold.  Whether the Dodgers get back to the World Series in 2020 and win could depend on if the front office finally gets aggressive this winter.  If they choose to make minor moves then this team may fail to make the World Series again in 2020.

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