Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shut down Spring Training and delayed the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season, the Los Angeles Dodgers appeared primed for another successful year and trip to the World Series.
Not only do they return the core of a talented team that won a franchise-record 106 games in 2019, but they also had a very productive offseason in which they improved many of their weaknesses.
The big additions were Mookie Betts and David Price, of course, but L.A. also improved their bullpen with Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol.
Then there is top prospects such as Gavin Lux, Will Smith, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, who gained experience last year and figured to assume larger roles.
The talent in the Dodgers organization is not lost on ownership, and in an interview on “Lunchtime with Roggin and Rodney” on AM 570 LA Sports, Magic Johnson stated he believes the team can break through and finally win a World Series:
“I think we’re ready to really say, ‘Hey, we can win it all. This is going to be our year.’ I think the guys were pumped up, the fans were pumped up. I’m hoping we can get baseball started again, whenever that is. So we can see this team, and we’re going to be on local TV, so that’s good for our fans as well. Everything is lined up for us. Now we’ve just got to go out there and play the games.”
Johnson also recently put his faith in Dodgers’ long-time ace Clayton Kershaw, saying he hopes the left-hander can experience the thrill and benefit of becoming a champion and being beloved in L.A. forever. Johnson would know a thing or two about that as a former L.A. Lakers legend who won five championships during his playing days.
When that can happen remains to be seen though as there still is no telling when the MLB season will get underway. One of the most recent plans included teams playing in Arizona, Florida and Texas with no fans in attendance, although the state of the pandemic needs to continue to improve in the United States for that to be possible.
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