It’s an easy mistake to make. When a team is as dominant as the Los Angeles Dodgers have been for the past decade (seven straight National League West titles, three NL Championship Series appearances, two World Series appearances), it’s natural to assume that the reign would end soon.
In fact, in most peoples’ minds it’s a given. In order to assert this kind of dominance, the Dodgers must have mortgaged the future at some point (see: San Francisco Giants).
But here’s the problem: it’s just not true.
In fact, not only are the Dodgers set up to dominate for the foreseeable future, it seems like an argument could be made that they are on the verge of getting even better. It all clicked when coming to the realization at one point this season the Dodgers had four players on their Major League roster who were born in 1996.
That would be Julio Urias, Alex Verdugo, Caleb Ferguson and Dennis Santana.
When you look at those names you see why there’s reason for optimism. Urias has been impressive this season and has the capability to start or pitch out of the bullpen.
Verdugo is getting his first taste of regular playing time with the Dodgers and has responded with positive results. Ferguson fell off of late and now has an oblique injury but had been pitching well.
Santana, who saw the least action of the quartet, didn’t fare quite as well over three appearances (7.20 ERA in five innings pitched).
If the list stopped there, most teams would be thrilled about the future. The Dodgers? We’re just getting started. Walker Buehler — who is just 24 — has been serviceable and has not yet reached his expected level of dominance this season.
How about offensively? Well, there’s Cody Bellinger, who has been the best player in baseball this season with 14 home runs and a slew of Dodgers and MLB records to go with it.
Then we’ve got 24-year-old Corey Seager, who is still finding his groove after missing most of last season, but already has two All-Star Game selections, a Rookie of the Year Award and top-three MVP finish to his name.
Still not done.
How about Joc Pederson? He’s hit 10 home runs and produced a .974 on-base plus slugging percentage. Kiké Hernandez? Five home runs and his current slump aside, batting well for a second baseman.
Then there is the Dodgers’ farm system. While most teams would die to boast a collection of players 27 and under — apologies to “old guys” Chris Taylor (28), Max Muncy (28), Austin Barnes (29), Ross Stripling (29) and Dylan Floro (28) for just missing the cut —- they’d probably have emptied their farm system to get there.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, boast the league’s seventh-best farm system that includes four top-100 prospects according to MLB.com. And that’s despite trading prospects for Yu Darvish, Manny Machado, Brian Dozier, Logan Forsythe and others in recent years.
Talk about an embarrassment of riches.
The point is that the Dodgers are in the best position a team could possibly find themselves in. Ready to win now with the hope of future dominance just as real.
If the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner and others start to fade, the Dodgers have prepared themselves for the next wave of stars.
Better yet, it appears as if they’re already here.
