When Andrew Friedman took over as president of baseball operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers he assumed control of a franchise and fan base that has been starving for a World Series since they last won it in 1988.
Friedman and his front office have assembled one of the most complete rosters in all of baseball and revamped a farm system that once produced five consecutive National League Rookie of the Year winners. While success has been had in each of Friedman’s first three years with the team, a championship has escaped him.
In past years the Dodgers haven’t made the splashy trade that fans clamored for at the deadline, instead hanging onto top prospects Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Julio Urias, and the like. Bellinger and Seager have gone on to play a key role, while Urias was earmarked for the same before a season-ending surgery.
The Dodgers’ reluctance to part with a notable prospect or two changed this year, however, as the team packaged Willie Calhoun to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Yu Darvish.
To some, it was viewed as the team essentially pushing their chips in for a run at World Series. And although it could be perceived as succumbing to pressure, Friedman explained the importance of eliminating that sense, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“People can put themselves in position to make really bad decisions if they feel a tremendous amount of pressure. So we do everything we can to eliminate that as much as we can, knowing that we have an awesome responsibility, and there’s nothing more than we want to do than to deliver a world championship to what are, in my opinion, the best fans in professional sports.”
Friedman previously touched on feeling a sense of responsibility and pressure to guide the Dodgers to their first World Series in 28 years. He explained the sentiment was self-induced and not necessarily the byproduct of a rabid fan base.
The Dodgers finished this season with the best record in the Majors at 104-58. It also marked the most wins for the team in Los Angeles franchise history. Of course, it all will be viewed as a wash if the Dodgers are unable to claim a World Series title.
