All Time Dodgers

All Time Dodgers

              The Los Angeles Dodgers, once the Brooklyn Dodgers, are one of the more storied and successful franchises in baseball history. As a franchise they have won six World Series, 23 pennants, 17 West division titles and 2 wild card births. There’s too many players to name that have made the Hall of Fame for the Ddogers, and I think we’ll see a few here. I’ve got big expectations for this team, as it’s the first true historic powerhouse we’ve profiled. 

This lineup is indeed a scary one. They might fall a bit short of the Rockies, although this lineup provides a much deeper lineup that can do plenty of damage. Jackie Robinson leading off might provide one of the more impressive cards in the game with 10 OB, 23 speed and 13+ being guaranteed extra base hits. Hell, with that speed you might as well consider 10 an extra base hit with the single+. He’s followed by a great Turner card that has 18 speed and only 2 outs, a bit of a surprise in Duke Snider with the best card for the Dodgers with 10 OB, 3 outs, 17HR, a triple and two doubles. He’s got protection in one of my favorite players in Gary Sheffield’s great 2001 card.

One of the surprising things, I think, is there are three hitters in the lineup with 9 OB, although all three of those cards are absolutely filthy and between them and the other 10 OBs the back half of this lineup will provide no rest for opposing pitchers. While there isn’t a ton of speed in the lineup, there is enough to do some damage, and similarly, their defense isn’t jump off the page outstanding, however it will do more than enough to keep you in ballgames. That being said, with how good their rotation is, they won't even need the amount of run support this lineup can produce. Their rotation is absolutely filthy. They have a great lineup and a disgusting rotation? Makes sense they’re one of the historically best teams in the big leagues.

Headed by Koufax and Kershaw this is might be one of the most talented rotations we’ll see out there. The Diamondbacks were able to boast Schilling and Johnson, and this is every bit as talented on the top end, but supported by better back end pitchers. Koufax’s Classic card trots out a 6 Control, 7 IP, 17 walk and 18-20 singles for a no doubles, 7 IP card of dominance. Only a small step back is Kershaw’s 2014 card, which has 5 Control, 18-20 single for 7 IP.  Then it’s followed up by Drysdale’s 8 IP, 4 Control, 18 to get on with no doubles, Pordres’ scary 2 Control, 7 IP, only gives up a walk unique card and closed out by the classic 2000 Kevin Brown who runs out there with the traditional ace look of 5 Control, 7 IP, 17 to get on base, 20 as a double. The fact that Kevin Brown’s card is the 5^th starter shows you how dominant this group is. I’d definitely get a bit scared by Podres’ 2 Control, however against a weaker hitting team he can definitely get the job done with half decent rolls. While their bullpen isn’t quite as dominant, it’s definitely no slouch either. Jansen’s card is one of the better ones out there (although is 2017AS is THE best reliever card, but doesn’t count here).

Jansen is the ace is this bullpen far and away, with a 5 Control, 19 walk, 20 single he provides the ace type card you need to lock down games. After that there’s definitely a large drop off, though Perranoski gives you the 6 control although his chart isn’t ideal, but he’s a great option with a few run lead. Shaw might be more appealing due to his no doubles chart, but they both are reliable pitchers that shouldn’t give up much. Baez, Brewer and Fetters give me a bit more hesitation, and I think they’d only see game time after this dominant rotation and lineup put the beat down on another team. This leaves us with 3 spots to fill on this roster, and our top three choices for hitters are Dave Hansen’s 2001 DH card…you read that right. He had a DH position playing for a National League team. Fun fact, in 2000, he set a Major League record with seven pinch-hit home runs. Gil Hodges’ 1954 season card is next which is only 8 OB but hits bombs with 15-20 HR and finally Jim Gilliam’s ’53 card with a wonky 4 triples and no HR. Mike Fetter’s 2001 card is the top reliever up with 4 Control, 17-18 BB, 19-20 1B, and Alex Wood’s ’17 card which is 3 Control, 6 IP, 19 BB & 20 2B is the top starter. I think I’m going to take the three hitters due to Hodges’ defensive upgrade over Muncy and monstrous HR chart and Gilliam’s +3 2B/3B flexibility. Who would you take? Krueter’s C+7 ’01 card is the top catcher replacement, otherwise I think there’s plenty of defense to go around.

The lineup comes in at 4,110 points, the rotation at 2,960, bullpen at 1,360 and the bench at 970 for a total of 9,400 points!

Hitters

SP

RP

Now to continue on with what players we are missing, and there’s a lot here due to the long history of the Dodgers. The top seasons for WAR are Robinson’s ’51, Beltre’s ’04 and Robinson’s ’49 (which we have the card for), Snider’s ’53 (we have ’55), and Dan Brouther’s 1892 which doesn’t count. Offensively Piazza’s 1997 season leads the way in which he had 40 HR, 124 RBIs, 104 runs and hit .362 and led the majors with a 185 OPS+. Matt Kemp’s 2011 is tied with Snider’s ’53 at 8.7 OWar, and Robinson’s ’49/51/52 and Snider’s ‘54/55 cards follow right behind. Beltre’s 04, Pedro Guerrero’s 82/83/85, Roy Campanell’s 51 all pop up as cards that could add value to this lineup. For pitching Koufax’s ’63/66 cards top the charts, split by Dazzy Vance’s 1924 season in which he had 30 CGs, 262 Ks, 2.16 ERA and 28 Wins. Greinke’s 2015 card comes in behind these guys, coming in at 19-3, 1.66 ERA, 200 Ks and a 222 ERA+. Aside from that season, Kershaw and Koufax it’s all pre 1920 until Orel Hershiser’s ’88 season. Gagne unfortunately was a starter during this time, but his 2003 card should get made in the OG style to add a dominant arm to this pen! What other cards do you think should be made?