The Dodgers will most likely have the NL MVP this year. Ohtani had a historic season. His only real competition came from Francisco Lindor during the Mets push to the playoffs. 54 homers, 130 driven in, 59 stolen bases. Just an unreal season. And he hasn’t even pitched yet. If he does get the award, he will be the 13th Dodger so honored. Campanella is the only multiple MVP winner in Dodger history. He won 3, 51-53-55. Brooklyn winners, Jake Daubert, 1913, Dazzy Vance, 1923, Dolph Camilli, 1941, Jackie Robinson, 1949, and Don Newcombe, 1956. LA winners, Wills 62, Koufax 63, Garvey 74, Gibson 88, Kershaw, 2014 and Bellinger 2019.
The awards season is always fun to watch and speculate on who will take home the various awards. Outside of Ohtani, the Dodgers do not have many candidates for any of the major awards. This is mainly due to the number of injuries the team had to deal with throughout the season. As a result, none of their pitchers piled up sufficient innings and stats to be considered for the Cy Young or Rolaids relief award.
The Dodgers got the big prize, the World Series win, this is the one trophy the fans feel like they are a part of. But just for fun, I am going to look back on some of the winners in Dodger history. One category they lead in by a bunch is Rookie of the Year. They also had a stretch where they had four consecutive ROYs, and then another when they had five in a row. They also had the first ever ROY, Jackie Robinson, and now the award is named for him. They also had four of the first seven ROYs. Robinson, Newcombe, Black and Gilliam.
LA’s first ROY was Frank Howard in 1960. Since then, Lefebvre 65, Sizemore 69, Sutcliffe 79, Howe 80, Valenzuela 81, Sax 82, Karros 92, Piazza 93, Mondesi 94, Nomo 95, Hollandsworth 96, Seager 2016, and Bellinger 2017. Since 2017, most of the rookies have been on the mound. Rookies on the 18 squad did not get chances to be starters. Even when Seager went down, they ended up trading for Machado.
In 2019, the two rookies who played the most were Verdugo, who played in 104 games, and Will Smith. Matt Beaty was also a rookie then, but as a utility player, he did not see regular time at any position. Smith came up and made an immediate impact in his 54 games. But neither he nor Verdugo garnered any ROY votes. In 2023, James Outman would finish 3rd in the ROY voting.
Don Newcombe was the only Cy Young winner in Brooklyn. He also won the MVP award that year. First Dodger pitcher to do that. Koufax and Kershaw would also earn both awards, Sandy in 63, and Kersh in 2014. Koufax has 3 Cy Youngs, 63-65-66. Drysdale in 62, Mike Marshall in 74, Valenzuela in 81, also the only player to win ROY and Cy Young in the same year. Hershiser 88, Gagne in 03, and Kersh in 11-13-14. In 2015, Greinke finished 2nd and Kershaw 3rd. Kersh finished 2nd in 2017 and Scherzer was 3rd in 21. Buehler finished 3rd in 19 behind Ryu who was 2nd.
Batting titles for Dodger players have been few and far between. Brooklyn had nine of them. LA has had 3, and one of those, Trea Turner in 21, did most of his work with the Nationals. Turner did not join the Dodgers until August 7th. At that time, he was hitting .321. He would finish at .328 and win the title. During his 52-game stint with LA, he hit .338 with 10 homers and 28 driven in. He stole 11 bases in LA and also won the stolen base crown and he had the most hits in the league. He finished 3rd in the MVP voting.
Tommy Davis, who won back-to-back batting titles in 62-63 is the only other LA Dodger to win a batting title. Norm Larker finished 2nd to Dick Groat in 1960. Jake Daubert won 2 in Brooklyn. Wheat, O’Doul, Reiser, Dixie Walker, Jackie Robinson and Carl Furillo were the other batting leaders. Likewise there have only been seven HR champs for the Dodgers. Fournier in 24, Camilli in 41, Snider in 56, Green in 01, Beltre in 04, Kemp in 11 and Ohtani this year.
Three Dodgers have won the pitching triple crown, ERA, Wins, Strikeouts, Dazzy Vance, Kershaw and Koufax, who won it three times. No Dodger has ever won the batting triple crown. No NL player has won it since Joe Medwick in 1937. Last AL player to win one was Miguel Cabrera in 2014. Ohtani missed by 4 points, .314-.310. 26 different players have earned Gold Gloves. The team has 39 as a whole. 14 of the 39 have been won by first basemen, with Parker getting 6.
They have 21 different players with Silver Slugger Awards. That should go up by at least 1 this year. They have 31 total Silver Slugger Awards as a team. Mike Piazza has the most, 5. Nine different players have been World Series MVPs with Koufax the only player with more than one. Four players have been All-Star game MVPs. Wills, Sutton, Garvey and Piazza. Eleven Dodgers earned Comeback Player of the Year awards, the last being Nomar in 2006.
Kenley Jansen, 16-17 is the only reliever to win the Trevor Hoffman reliever award, Kershaw and Garvey have won the Roberto Clemente Award. Lasorda, twice, and Roberts, 2016 were NL managers of the year. Sporting News Manager of the year, Durocher, 39, Alston, 55-59-63, Roberts, 2016. Associated Press Manage of the year: Alston 59-65-66-74, Lasorda 77-81-83-88.
RBI leaders: Nine, last one, Ohtani, 24, Doubles: Four, Freddie with 59 in 22 the last one. Runs Scored: Thirteen. Surprisingly, Duke Snider is the only one who led more than once. Freddie and Mookie tied in 22 and Ohtani led this year. Nine RBI leaders, again, no one more than once. Eighteen times they have had a stolen base leader, Wills did it six times. Sixteen triples’ leaders with Lux being the latest in 22.
Twenty times Dodger pitchers have led the league in ERA. Koufax did it five straight years 62-66. Four saves’ leaders, Jansen the last in 17. Twenty-one strikeout leaders. Vance won the crown seven years in a row 1922-28. Koufax still holds the NL record with 382. Kersh was the last leader in 2015 when he struck out 301. Finally, they have had twenty leaders in wins. Last one was Urias in 21.
Ove the next couple of weeks we will see who adds hardware to their collection. I believe there will be a Silver Slugger or two, and Ohtani should be a shoo in for the MVP. Roberts will get some serious consideration for Manager of the Year.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Ohtani is a lock for MVP.
Judge is a lock in the AL.
Doc had an amazing year and has my vote for Manager of the Year. We all had moments when we questioned some of his in-game decisions, especially with the bullpen. There were lots of amateur comments about Doc saving bullpen pieces in games we trailed in the playoffs. Some semi-pro managers wanted to empty the chamber in close games when we trailed. Doc and the staff’s insight and good judgement prevailed and we played it perfectly.
It’s really extraordinary to win a World Series with 3 starting pitchers who had their moments but didn’t dominate.
The move that I finally bought into, was the concept of match-ups for the bullpen. That is a commitment to sticking with a new philosophy instead of having a pitcher for the 7th, 8th and a closer. Seeing Kopech in the 5th inning would have previously been a head scratcher. It makes a true closer for the 9th inning role, unnecessary. We don’t need an Edwin Diaz.
That worked with this team and these arms to a tee. No more worrying about Kenley Jansen getting his feelings hurt, if he wasn’t the closer.
The trick is obviously choreographing the match-ups using scouting and data.
I acquired a new appreciation for this strategy……because it works.
At least it did with this team.
Doc stuck with it, sold it to the players and won a World Series, with a lot of great execution by the players put in those situations.
All the previous second guessing and criticism is in the past and Doc deserves to be Manager of the Year for 2024.
Roberts is my choice.
This is a team that was constructed to score. And score they did. Even with the offensive disappointments, they scored. And one can only imagine what this season would have looked like with only the league average number of injuries.
It would appear to me the Dodgers, and the league for that matter, will still be teaching velocity and spin to miss bats going forward. The Dodgers collect arms like Bear collects bobbleheads. Draft, sign and develop, and be ready for the plethora of injuries that are sure to follow. Would eventually like to hear your take on what appears to be a never ending expectation of pitcher injuries and how that reality could affect length of contracts going forward.
Bregman had bone chips removed from his elbow and Adames says he is willing to move from SS. How about playing third for LA>?
Which one?
But Fred, if we had either Bregman or Adames playing third, where would Max play? 😊
(I’m expecting your answer to be the name of another MLB city)
Granted, there aren’t many guys still on the team from the Houston cheating series, but I just don’t see AF taking a chance on bringing Bregman here.
I’m guessing Adames would really like to play for the Dodgers with big crowds every night and the whole Hollywood celeb scene. He won’t take a lot less to play here, but he might take slightly less (and make it up with his playoff cut every year).
K City. I always want to meet your expectations.
Bregman career K rate is 13% with a career line of
.272.366.483.849
Soto would be fun to watch.
Saw this on MLB Network;
Ohtani powers his swing with left arm whereas a righty hitting from left side more typically powers his swing with his right arm. That doesn’t bode well for a left labrum tear.
You guys are killing me, I love Max
Muncy is not going anywhere. He will be our 3B in 2025.
Most likely he might be back in 26 if he has a bounce back season in 25. His team option for 26 is only 10 mil.
I am a little worried about Ohtani. we all know what happened to Bellingers hitting after he tore his labrum.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bellinger had a different problem. His shoulder had been dislocated several times before the incident with Kike in the 2020 playoffs. Ohtani will be fine.
ram, I have previously posted Bellinger’s history, a couple of times. His hitting woes were started before by his shoulder injury.
In October of 2020, he injured his shoulder while celebrating his NLCS-winning homer, forearm bumping with Kike.
The 2nd half of 2019 was the beginning of his downward spiral. In the 2019, 5 game post season, Bellinger hit .211 / .549 with 0 homers.
Bellinger had a slow start in 2020, going 5-for-36 in his first eight games. Unlike in previous years, Bellinger was making weak contact with pitches, leading to a large number of groundouts.
His numbers for the whole season saw a drop-off from the previous year: in 56 games of the shortened season. Bellinger hit only .239 /.789 with 12 homers. In the post season of 18 games, Belli hit .212 / .770 with 0 homers and a 33% K rate.
Bellinger’s injured should is a convenient excuse for his hitting woes, but it’s not true.
I would think that AB, if he hits the market, is much more likely than WA
Per Ardaya:
The Dodgers are planning to move Mookie Betts back to the infield, Brandon Gomes said today.
Per Heyman:
Marlins are close to hiring a new manager. Dodgers 1B coach Clayton McCullough remains in the mix.
right now with Mookie at 2nd:
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts 2B
3. Freeman 1B
4. Smith C
5. Muncy 3B
6. Pages RF
7. Rushing LF
8. Edman CF
9. Rojas SS
right now with Betts at SS:
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Smith C
5. Muncy 3B
6. Pages RF
7. Lux 2B
8. Rushing LF
9. Edman CF
Bluto, I personally see no way Mookie will ever again be the everyday SS. I’m good with him either at 2nd or RF. That completely depends on what deals we make for an outfielder and / or SS. A big name right fielder can move Mookie to 2nd AND we trade Lux. I like that idea.
First and third are covered.
I could live with Edman and Rojas at SS but I will go against the the usual opinion about Edman at SS. He is adequate. I think Rojas is better defensively. But I know the rap on Miggy is his age. And maybe his defense will decline. And maybe not. I haven’t seen that yet. But I am a huge Miggy fan and want him back even as a utility guy and great teammate.
I like Edman better as a centerfielder.
There are too many moves that will dictate everything like a new SS, signing Teoscar and Soto / Robert conversations. And what are we going to see with Pages, who is best suited for rightfield, Outman, Rushing and maybe another youngster who comes out of the woodwork.
I think there could be plenty of surprises ahead.
Cool!
In your first scenario, I don’t think you could count on miggy making through a whole season, and I hate the idea of Mookie being our everyday SS.
Bluto is WRONG again!
Watford if RIGHT again!
Per Jack Harris:
Other Dodgers news from the GM Meetings:
— Shohei Ohtani’s labrum surgery won’t have any big-picture impact on his pitching, but could push back his pitching timeline this offseason. Means he’s uncertain (if not unlikely) to be ready to pitch by opening day
— It’s a “fair bet” the Dodgers will go with a six-man rotation next year, per Gomes, given Ohtani/Yamamoto’s six-day schedules
— Related: Dodgers will be in the market for starting pitching
— Dodgers other big need is outfielders, especially with Mookie Betts moving to the IF (again I’m bemused by the lack of position specificity.)
— Re-signing Teoscar Hernández, of course, would help address their OF need. Gomes said they will be talking with his camp “ASAP”
— Dodgers will work on a contract extension for manager Dave Roberts (whose current deal is up after next year) but are focusing on the roster first·
— Despite not QO’ing him, Dodgers remain interested in Walker Buehler. Gomes said what he did in the playoffs “does not go lost on us.” But they’re gonna see how his market develops first
— Gomes declined to discuss Roki Sasaki, since he’s still under club control in Japan
What’s the word on Flaherty? He projects 29 starts and 164 innings of 3.7 ERA. He’s 29. Wants to pitch here. We signing him?
I think he’s looking for term, why wouldn’t he be, not sure the Dodgers are going to offer anyone term other than the Sasaki.
I think they are all looking for long term contracts. You know, like the ones already handed out by the Dodgers.
But possibly what is best for the team at this point is to find another Teo type deal, a player (or players) that want to be a part of something big, and maybe something they haven’t experienced yet. I know those players are rare but they are out there. Would Fried and Flaherty both take shorter deals to play important roles in a dynasty?
It is early but deals have already happened. I think Teo is a great fit here. I also think a blockbuster for guys like Robert and Crochet is absolutely possible. I believe Adames is a fit here. I think Edman is the perfect utility guy and CT3 could go. In my crystal ball Lux is on his way to Chicago in that Crochet/Robert deal.
It’s going to be a long winter. For me, they all are.
I don’t think that’s what Teo was looking for at all.
his agent has said as much. His market didn’t develop so he took as much as he could get on the shortest term.
i look for the Dodgers to try and do the same with a pitcher and with a corner OF.
Maybe too many HRs given up, Badger. He kind of fell apart towards the end. Lots of other possibilities out there.
True, but his overall numbers for the year are impressive. And he’s only 30. I think he can keep doing it for 3 years.
That is big news about Betts moving back to the infield. I have to believe it will be at second base, thus making Gavin Lux expendable. Although I love Edman in center field, I have to believe he has more value to the team with his ability to play multiple positions. So, I think they will sign at least one free agent outfielder, a starting pitcher, and retool the bullpen. We already know Hudson is done, Treinen and Kelly are free agents. I would love to see LA sign, Tanner Scott. MLBTR seems to think they will go after former Brave, AJ Minter. It is going to be a very interesting offseason. And this year, they open the season in Japan. How many think they will start Ohtani and Yamamoto in that series? Or, if Sasaki is posted, how about him>?
AJ Minter falls more in line with what the Dodgers generally do with relief pitchers. The KJ contract did not age well. The Dodgers are not neceessarily looking for a closer (Tanner Scott), but more likely high leverage relievers (AJ Minter), and not more than two years. Scott is going to get more than 2 years. If the Dodgers look for a closer, I believe they will call the Brewers about Devin Williams.
Williams will require an overpay as Milwaukee knows that the price goes up at the deadline for relievers. I am guessing that it will cost a top 100 prospect + to acquire Williams.
Bear, I agree that if we can fill center field and sign a new SS (the Adames name has been kicked around like a soccer ball for at least 2 years), move Mookie to 2nd and Lux gets dealt, I’m way good with Edmon being a utility player. But just how many utility guys do we need?
Kike’s future with the Dodger is in limbo, Rojas I expect to back as a utility infielder, you’ve mentioned your thoughts on the value of CT3, which I don’t share. His contract for 25 and option for 26 is a huge overpay for what he contributes. But I think AK keeps him around. Add Edman to that group and there are 4 utility guys.
I’m good with 2. They would be Rojas, utility and backup infielder and Edmon as a utility and backup inf / of.
Both Kike and CT3 would be gone. If it came to the 2, I’d keep Kike. But I’d let Kike walk and eat what CT3 money I had to.
Sign Teo / power bat outfielder, Pages in right and see how Outman, Rushing and other youngsters compete for a role.
Leave some room on the roster to get younger. We could use some youth on the bench and it keeps prospects moving and hopeful in the organization.
If Lux.gets traded what do they want in return? CF,SS,LH Pitcher, Pitchers with options? Packaging Lux with players like Knack, Miller,Grove and Cartaya could bring back one good player and open roster spots to reserve for Kershaw, and players that need protecting from Rule 5 Draft, plus Sasaki etc
Friedman also tries to exchange depth pitchers who are running out of options for new ones. Those players we could trade would be starters for many teams and help them rebuild.
Have to think Lux, Miller & Outman are on the block. I’d like to give Knack a chance as a swing man and Cartaya might be needed in 2026 to replace Barnes.
I feel like Rushing’s only path to a starting job with us is LF. If we bring back Teo and put Pages in RF, maybe he’s available in the right trade too.
Dion – hope you’re good.
I think Bobby Miller has a very high ceiling and projects as a #2 or 3 Starter if he can return to his form of early last year before his shoulder injury.
I hope AF gives him a good look in ST like he did with Gavin Stone in March after a disappointing end to his 23 campaign. That turned out ok!
I think it’s way too early to give up on him, and young, controllable Starting Pitching is like gold dust.
Sign the Japanese guy, or if not bring back Flaherty and we should be fine.
If Sasaki is posted, most of the pundits believe the Dodgers will be where he lands.
All those names were examples of who could be added in a package w Lux. It obviously can come down to who the other team wants. But it is a numbers game and we have, imho, too many pitchers who are running out of options so we have to move some of them.
Dodgers need to resign Kike and cut Taylor loose. I know, I know, probably not gong to happen. But it should.
Give CT a couple of months next season. If he does not cut it DFA him. You have to pay him anyway but if he does not produce at least use the roster spot on someone who helps.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
His current spot is bench sitter. Who better would fill that position?
The only player under contract who was cut loose, and they ate the rest of his deal was Carl Crawford. He was released during the 2016 season and he was still owed his salary for 2017. Dodgers ate close to 43 million. It would be easy to cut Taylor loose, but his performance improved a bunch after his last IL stint, he still showed he had value to the team. With Edman, Miggy Ro, and Taylor, already locks for next year’s roster, Kike is redundant. I doubt they carry four utility players this season. The other problem is it once again makes the lineup RH heavy. The only LH bat they had off of the bench was Kiermaier. And he did not exactly put a scare into anyone. One reason I wished they had kept Heyward. He at least showed some power.
Lux is the former #2 prospect in the game who’s still young, has shown a nice skillset, and has shown he’s a quality defender at 2b.
I’d think a fair return for him is a young, talented but not yet proven outfielder who we may be able to maximize the talent out of. An outfielder version, or a pitcher version, of Gavin Lux is what I’d guess his value is.
And I’ve been a huge Lux supporter, but I’m also of the opinion he needs to get out of LA to really maximize his talent, and if Mookie takes over 2b, he has no spot on this team.
So ship him elsewhere, and let Friedman and Co. get a young, talented outfielder or arm that also may need a change of scenery.
“Lux is the former #2 prospect in the game”
Though true that was what feels like a long time ago. He’s got 4 years in the Majors, he decomposed at shortstop and has OPS’d .709 in 1490 plate appearances. He showed promise in ‘22 and hopefully that will play well in trade talks. I think going back to the Midwest would be good for him. Milwaukee or, my choice Chicago. Put the package together for Robert and Crochet, with Lux being in the mix. Mookie is going to second base. Time for Lux to go.
Per Plunkett:
Clayton Kershaw confirmed on Instagram that he had foot and toe surgeries as scheduled on Wednesday. Thanked the doctors for “fixing them!”
“Planning to crush some rehab and be good as can be next year. Thanks for all the prayers and support! World Series champs!”
per Baseball America:
The top 19-year-old hitters in the minors this season according to our Hit+ metric?
The list is loaded 😳
1. Kevin McGonigle, @tigers
2. Josue De Paula, @Dodgers
3. Demetrio Crisantes, @Dbacks
4. Zyhir Hope, @Dodgers
5. Walker Jenkins, @Twins
Per Eno Sarris:
Stuff+ revamp coming soon. Here are the top free agent relievers by new Stuff+
1) Yimi Garcia (!)
2) Clay Holmes
3) Tanner Scott
4) Lucas Sims
5) Tim Hill (!)
6) Kenley Jansen
7) Aaron Bummer
8) Jeff Hoffman
9) Paul Sewald
10) Ryne Stanek
B. Kuntz on the AFL
I’m still enjoying the Dodgers’ World Series victory. Going into the playoffs, even with all their position talent, a championship seemed to be out of reach because of the lack of starting pitching. Again.
So many times during the Andrew Friedman years it became frustrating for me with the lack of multiple WS titles. Sure, they had the 2020 Covid title, but it was considered tainted because of the shorten season. The excitement of a World Series was absent with the lack of fans and no celebration parade waiting for the Dodgers and their fans.
Then there was the 2017 stolen WS by the Astros. It always seemed like there was something to keep the Dodgers from carrying on their regular season success in to the postseason. No matter how much money they spent or the addition of quality players, it never seemed to be enough.
Baseball changed the playoff format in 2021 that made it even more difficult for the division winners to have success. With two early exits in 2022 and 2023 after winning 111 and 100 games. I thought, “what the hell does it take to win a World Series”? How much more can they possibility spend? What combination of players was it going to take? Could the Dodger stars be productive with the bat? Will they make a change with Roberts? That was all answered this year.
The starting pitching was a real concern going into the division series with the Padres. One could look at the Padres’ staff and look at the Dodgers’ staff and think that there was a real advantage for the Padres. That proved to be not true. For the most part the Dodger stars did what they were expected to do offensively.
The Dodger starters were effective and gave the team some unexpected innings. The bullpen was the key to the series victory. This formula, for the most part, carried through the rest of the postseason.
Dave Roberts had to be congratulated for his management of the team during the challenging regular season and the path to the World Series championship. With the very limited starting pitching going into the playoffs, I think it gave the front office, Roberts, and the coaches the chance to actually setup the bullpen for each game. The relievers were projected to enter the game depending on the batters to be faced as opposed to a particular inning.
The upper and field management developed a plan with their pitching and the position players. Fortunately, the players did their part to make that plan successful. For the most part the offense had different players stepping up with each game. The only consistent one was Freddie who hit two run HR in the first inning in three straight games. This was after he hit a grand slam to win game one.
The BP was very consistent throughout the playoffs. I wanted to point out the performance of Landon Knack in the bullpen game 4. He went into the game and ate up four innings and allowed Roberts to keep the top relievers for the rest of the series.
So, I was finally able to see what it takes for the Dodgers to finally win a full season World Series. Excellent strategy, the stars producing, the pitching better than expectations, some luck, and poor play by the opposition. That’s a lot to have happen.
On to the 2025 offseason. What AF and the front office is going to do I have no idea. I’ll wait and watch. And, of course, read all the rational ideas here at LA Dodger Chronicles!
Carry on.
Okay this is what the Dodgers need for next year Anthong Santdamalto play rightfield move edman to cebterfield sign Addame at shortstop resign Teoscar and sign Max Fried then you hE Pages and Rushing as bench outfielder and Chris atulor and Rojas and Barnes on the bench. Would rather have KiKi then Taylor but that’s what they should do and Betts plays at secindbase.
Holy fuck was this hard to read and borderline 2nd grade level English/grammar.
No kidding.
Bluto I was typing on my phone you jerk face. Was that clear enough for you to read.