For the second straight season, the Dodgers found themselves getting knocked out of the playoffs in the NLDS against a division opponent. It also marks the third time in the last five seasons that LA failed to make it out of the first round, adding to the long history of postseason collapses.
After winning 100 games once again, many believed that this Dodgers team was different. But in fact, they were more similar to those of the past, and maybe even more tragic since they were swept out of the postseason.
President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman spoke at the end of the season press conference and gave thoughts on the season. Within he said that LA wasn’t going to overreact to the team collapsing in the postseason for the second straight year.
“So a lot of it is just looking at what the team did in the regular season, how it played out in the postseason and okay, that unfortunately didn’t play out in our favor. Let’s go back in, look at different aspects of what can be improved and how much of it is noise and making sure that we don’t overreact to some aspects of it too because we’re all disappointed and it hurts the fact that we didn’t win. But to do an overcorrection is also not helpful in that way.”
Per Andrew Friedman
While Friedman is correct in not overreacting, something does need to be done. The Dodgers have found the recipe for regular-season success, but now they need to find a way to get it over the finish line.
LA prepares itself in the best way that it believes is possible, but there is a clear disconnect between that and what happens on the field. The team has done the same thing for years, and it has resulted in just one World Series win in all the years of success they’ve seen.
“Watching the way these guys prepared, cared, did everything they could put themselves in the best position to go out and have success. Now, we didn’t do it. And that is ultimately what matters most. And so to figure out from that, but I think Doc and our coaching staff did an incredible job this year and none of us did a good job for those three games against Arizona.”
Per Andrew Friedman
The Dodgers set themselves up to have the ability to go all-in this offseason, and it’s time for them to do just that. There can no longer be any excuses with the resources that LA has at its disposal.
Fans are tired of this franchise underperforming each October, and it has been a very frustrating experience for all involved. The team needs to do something this offseason that will reenergize this fanbase, otherwise, it could be a hard sell if they continue with the status quo.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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