Los Angeles Dodgers: 10 years in postseason represent a golden age

The Los Angeles Dodgers will have clinched their 10th straight postseason appearance and their ninth NL West division title in 10 seasons. It’s an unprecedented run of success for the franchise that’s only been surpassed by the 1990-2000s Atlanta Braves (14) and New York Yankees (13) in all-time baseball history.

Beside the nine division titles, the Dodgers have won three pennants and a World Series title in their last five seasons, and this year they’re on pace to surpass their franchise record for wins in a season for the third time. Since 2017, the Dodgers have won over 100 games three times and will make it a fourth this season. Before then, they’d only won 100 games five times in the modern era of baseball.

The Dodgers have not had this kind of success since Jackie Robinson integrated baseball in 1947. The then-Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 to 1956 won six pennants and their first World Series back when eight teams in each league vied for one spot in the Fall Classic. Thanks to a wealth of resources and an investment in development, the modern Dodgers have surpassed their predecessors.

In their last 10 seasons, the Dodgers’ 916 wins and counting are the most in baseball, besting the St. Louis Cardinals by 78. The Dodgers have done it with their bats, ranking second in OPS (.761) and runs per game (4.8), despite playing half their games in Dodger Stadium, a pitcher’s park.

The Dodgers have done it on the mound as well, leading all of baseball in ERA (3.32) and FIP (3.56) during the last 10 seasons. They’ve struck out the most batters (13,554) and given up the fewest free bases (3,990). In essence, the Dodgers have dominated from both sides of the plate on a consistent basis.

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The dominance has to be appreciated by Dodgers fans of a certain age. If you’re like this writer, who remembers the Cinderella World Series-winning 1988 season, starting your fandom in that season it seemed like the Dodgers would be title contenders for many years.

Consider this: between 1989-2012 — 24 seasons — the Dodgers won just two playoff series and appeared in just six over that span. They were swept three times, going 1-12 in playoff appearances between 1995-2006.

That’s why what Dodgers fans are seeing today is a golden age for the franchise — it’s consistent winning baseball from both sides of the plate in addition to postseason success (despite the many shortcomings).

Another World Series win and the Dodgers can claim one of baseball’s greatest runs, surpassing the aforementioned Braves, putting them in the conversation with the Yankees’ dynasty run.

But another postseason failure … and they might not be remembered at all.

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