The Dodgers Have Yet to Lose a Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off of a 2–1 win against the Seattle Mariners, ensuring that they aren’t going to lose the 4 game series. 24 games into the regular season (6 games short of the halfway mark this season), they have been absolutely rolling and firing on all cylinders. They haven’t lost a single series against any of their opposition. Seeing as though we aren’t in October it begs the question, does it even matter?
I said at the beginning of the season that this team is absolutely insane. I hate how much hope this team is giving me this early in the season. It tends to be this way every. single. year. Win the regular season (division), then lose in the postseason. I can’t put faith or hope into this team until I see that amazing baseball being carried over as the seasons change and calendar turns. I know it’s a “first world problem” as a sports fan and perhaps I should be more grateful, but I can’t help it after all the playoff heartbreak.
What I will say is that this team is good at baseball and it just truly feels different this year. They have been playing incredibly consistently on both sides of the ball. Also, it isn’t just one player who has been red-hot all season, but a variety of players on the field have been absolutely dominant. The Dodgers have really just been kicking everyone’s
On the offensive side of the field, the Dodgers have 3 players who are hitting at or above 0.300 (good thing in baseball); Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, and Austin Barnes(WHAT????). Seager has had a return to form early in 2020 and it’s a beautiful sight as he struggled a bit in his ’19 season. As for Austin Barnes, I am at a loss as to how we are getting him to produce at all, but I’m not mad at it. Other notables: AJ Pollock showing remnants of panning out as the player that we signed last season. Justin Turner is still unbelievably good. Rookie Edwin Rios looks like a promising addition to this barrage of a Dodger lineup. Only negative is that Cody Bellinger seems to be hitting a slump of sorts, but I expect him to work out the kinks and be back before the calendar turns to October.
As for pitching, the entirety of the Dodger staff has an ERA of under 3.00 (good thing in baseball). The young arms, Julio Urias and Dustin May, seem to be finally coming to form; panning out as prospective starters in the rotation for years to come. Kershaw (2.65 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 17 innings) is being Kershaw. Last notes: Kenley Jansen is 7 for 7 in save opportunities and Joe Kelly returned from serving his 5 game suspension (reduced from 8 game) for doing what needed to be done.
Aside from Cody, all seems to be right in the world for Dodger fans. It really does feel like the team is on pace to be more consistent throughout the entirety of the 2020 season. Regardless of how good the teams were in past years, the teams always felt a bit more inconsistent. They would often either show up to play or practically not at all. There would be a select number of players who would catch fire for a number of games and carry the torch for the team for a stretch of games. I don’t see that as much with this years team as they’re just playing beautiful baseball all across the board.
If the Dodgers keep this pace for the regular season, we will have to see what October brings for a (possibly) mustached Nick (I may need to confer with other superstitious fans and see if the playoff-stache is bad juju). This promising team has my hopes up (SLIGHTLY) in finally witnessing a Dodger Championship in my lifetime. Maybe 2020 will finally be the year that the playoff-mustache will be blanketing a champagne soaked smile? If it doesn’t happen and/or they lose in heartbreaking fashion, please give me a 24 hour buffer before sending this to Cold Takes Exposed. Thank you for your consideration in advance.
Songs played while writing:
Sango — SANGOZINHO [Album]
Mac Miller — Swimming
