The Los Angeles Dodgers fell short of their goal in 2017, as they were defeated by the Houston Astros in a classic seven-game World Series.
Despite the loss, the Dodgers organization still has a lot to be happy about in regards to the season they had. They boasted the best record in all of baseball at 104-58, their win total was most in Los Angeles franchise history, and they extended their franchise record with a fifth consecutive National League West title.
Furthermore, the Dodgers reached the Fall Classic for the first time since 1988. The team is in good standing moving forward, as they return their core nucleus of players.
While there is some room for roster tinkering and improvement this offseason, Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi believes it may very well come from within the organization, via the Petros and Money of AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio:
“Sometimes the improvement has just got to come from within. It’s got to come from Joc getting back to what he did in the first half of 2015 when he was an All-Star, Toles coming back from his surgery, Julio Urias who we hope is going to be around for the second half next year, a kid like Walker Buehler who we got to see in September and has a chance to make his way into our starting rotation at some point this season. There’s a high bar for us. We can’t just go out and add average players and expect to improve a 104-win team. It’s a delicate balance, and I think one of the things we’re trying to make sure of is creating some continuity with a team that had so much success last year, and let’s just try to add around the edges if we can.”
A lot has to go right for a team to win 104 games in a season, as the Dodgers had the best 50-game stretch in over 100 years at 43-7 at one point.
While that may not be obtainable again in 2018, claiming another division title and getting back to the World Series and winning it will once again be the goal for the Dodgers. They will need contributions from many different players, like Zaidi mentioned, to do so.
