Saturday, January 30, 2021

Los Angeles Dodgers Dream team

 

Every sport evolves with each passing generation -- from the

size and athleticism of players to game strategy. 


Baseball’s evolution, however, is both historic and unique given

the pre-integration and dead ball eras. For the former, full

segregation took place from 1887-1947. Full integration, which

was a gradual process, came in 1959. The Deadball Era was a

period in the early 20th century when baseball was characterized

by low scoring and emphasis on pitching. 


There was the Steroid Era, which has no definite start time though

it is generally assumed that the era ran from the late 1980s until

the late 2000s. This era was defined by shattered home run

records leading to exorbitant salaries. 


The Los Angeles Dodgers have existed since 1890, beginning as

the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. The franchise went by various monikers

before being branded as the Dodgers in 1932. The franchise’s

home was Brooklyn until 1957 before moving west to Los Angeles.

The Dodgers are in selected company as a flagship franchise,

winning their seventh World Series title in a pandemic shortened

2020 season. The Dodgers have also won 24 pennants and 19

division titles. They have twice appeared in the postseason as a

wild card team. 


Today, I formed a Dodgers Dream Team in 26-man roster format but

with a twist -- the Los Angeles era, which began in 1958. In an earlier

piece, I constructed an all-encompassing Dodgers Dream Team:


http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2021/01/all-encompassing-dodgers-

dream-team.html


For openers, to make this roster, four years as a Dodger are required.

No exceptions. With the free agency era, I’m not going to cheapen

this roster with 1-3 year rentals. 


I’m forming a 12 man pitching staff, five starters and seven relievers.

For the latter, I want at least one lefthander in the bullpen. For position

players, I am taking what I believe is the best of the best regardless of

era. For the bench players, it’s the best of the rest with versatility being

heavily considered. Merit achievements such as Hall of Fame, All

Star appearances and Gold Gloves are considered but not

guaranteed. General impactfulness on the franchise is also

considered.


Generational reminders


If you played on a World Series champion and/or contender, there is

no guarantee of landing on this roster. If you played during a bad season,

that does not deter you from being on this roster. Off the field baggage

is not a deterrent to landing on this team, nor is any Steroid Era affiliation.

This is baseball, not the Boys Scouts. 


Starting pitchers

Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Don Sutton, Clayton Kershaw, Orel

Hershiser


This starting rotation has an embarrassment of riches with four Hall of

Famers and a likely one with Kershaw. Drysdale was an intimidating

pitcher and a nine-time All-Star who played a significant role in three

World Series Championships. His scoreless inning streak of 58 2/3

innings was a major league record until broken by Orel Hershiser in

1988. Drysdale could have been even more dominant if his career

weren't cut short by a shoulder injury. Sutton was the epitome of

durability, never missing a single start and his 23 years as a Major

League pitcher mostly with the Dodgers. Sutton owns numerous

franchise records, not to mention nobody could rock the man perm

like he could. 


Koufax might be the most dominant pitcher in Major League history.

Koufax helped lead the Dodgers to four World Series Championships

and was the World Series MVP on two occasions. Kofax's three-hit

shutout in the 1965 World Series on two days' rest remains stuff of

legend. Kershaw exercised a huge demon in 2020 and finally got a

World Series championship. Kershaw, however, has been a perennial

All-Star and no left-hander has more career wins in Dodger history

than Kershaw, including Koufax. Hershiser May lack the Hall of Fame

resume that the other four have but remains a legendary Dodger.

Hershiser was a three-time All-Star with his banner season being

1988. That year, Hershiser was the National League Cy Young

Award winner, NLCS MVP, World Series MVP National League wins

leader and recorded a Major League Baseball record 59 consecutive

scoreless innings on the way delivering a World Series championship

in 1988.


Bullpen

Closer -- Kenley Jansen

Eric Gagne, Rick Honeycutt, Jim Brewer, Jay Howell, Ron Perranoski,

Jeff Shaw


The Dodgers starting pitchers that we chose probably wouldn't take

too kindly to being replaced by a relief pitcher but we put together a

bullpen anyhow. Jansen has pitched for the Dodgers for 11 seasons.

He is a three-time All-Star and the 30th pitcher to reach the 300 career

save plateau. Gagne pitched eight seasons for the Dodgers and was

a converted starter turned reliever. In a Dodgers uniform, he was a

three-time All-Star with 2003 being his banner season. That year, he

was the National League saves leader and the National League Cy

Young Award winner. Honeycutt pitched five seasons with the Dodgers

and was a solid left-hander out of the bullpen. During his time with the

franchise, he fashioned a 3.58 ERA.


Brewer’s screwball turned him into a top-shelf relief pitcher. Brewer

pitched 12 seasons with the Dodgers, helping them win the World

Series in 1965 and become an All-Star in 1973. Howell recorded 55

career saves in five seasons with the Dodgers. He was a member of

the 1988 World Series team and recorded the final out against his

former team, the Oakland A's. In some circles, Perranoski is only

remembered for his role as the Dodgers pitching coach under manager

Tommy Lasorda. However, in eight seasons he recorded 100 saves

in a Dodger uniform and a 2.56 ERA. Shaw had a short-lived career

with the Dodgers at five years but in that span recorded 129 career

saves and two All-Star appearances.


Infield 

Catcher -- Mike Piazza, First base -- Steve Garvey, Second base --

Davey Lopes, Third base -- Ron Cey, Shortstop -- Maury Wills


Piazza did not have a pleasant split from the Dodgers but was the best

hitting catcher of the modern era. In his seven seasons with the

Dodgers he was an All-Star six times and Silver Slugger Award winner

six times. He was also the National League rookie of the year in 1993.

Garvey's career with the Dodgers spanned three decades from

1969-1982. In a Dodger uniform, he was an eight-time All-Star, National

League MVP in 1974 to time NLCS MVP, one is a Dodger, four-time

Gold Glove Award winner and helped the Dodgers to a World

Series championship in 1981. Lopes spent 10 seasons with the

Dodgers including the 1981 World Series championship. All four of

his All-Star appearances came in a Dodger uniform. He was a Gold

Glove Award winner in 1978 and a two-time national league stolen

base later. 


Cey was also World Series MVP. On the way to a Hall of Fame career,

Reese excelled offensively defensively and on the bases. Reese was

a 10-time All-Star and helped the Dodgers to two World Series titles.

He was the National League stolen base leader in 1952. Wills

popularized the stolen base. Only one switch hitter, Vince Coleman,

has more stolen bases in a single season. Wills was a seven-time

All-Star and helped the Dodgers win three World Series

Championships. He was also a six-time National League stolen base

leader, two-time Gold Glove Award winner and National League MVP

in 1962. 


Outfield

Leftfield -- Dusty Baker, Centerfield -- Duke Snider, Rightfield --

Reggie Smith


Even though Snider was never a league MVP, he was a very vital

cog in his 16 Seasons as a Dodger. During which time he was an

eight-time All-Star and helped the franchise win two World Series.

Snider was the National League RBI leader in 1955 and home run

leader in 1956. Smith was a solid all-around player who was an All-

Star in three of his five seasons with the Dodgers. Smith also helped

deliver the Dodgers 1981 World Series championship. Davis played

14 seasons with the Dodgers and was a three-time Gold Glove

Award winner. He also made two All-Star appearances and helped

the Dodgers win two World Series Championships. While Baker

never had more than 100 RBIs in a season, he was a consistent

offensive and defensive performer throughout his eight years with

the Dodgers. In that span, Baker helped the Dodgers win the 1981

World Series, NLCS MVP in 1977, two-time All Star and two-time

Silver Slugger Award winner and was a Gold Glove Award winner

in 1981.


Bench

Mike Scioscia, Wes Parker, Justin Turner, Bill Russell, Willie Davis,

Matt Kemp


Scioscia was known more for his defense than offense because he

absorbed many collisions while blocking home plate. Scioscia was

also a terrific leader of the Dodger defense and pitching staff and

helped deliver two World Series Championships. He was a two-time

All-Star. Parker won six consecutive Gold Gloves and offensively

led the National League of 47 doubles in 1970. Parker could also

play all three outfield positions. Turner has made just one All-Star

appearance in his seven seasons with the Dodgers but his

leadership and clutch hitting are undeniable. Turner was the NLCS

MVP in 2017 and helped the 2020 Dodgers win the World Series.

Russell's career with the Dodgers spanned three decades (1969-

1982).  


In the Los Angeles era, no Dodger has played in more games in

franchise history than Russell and only Zack Wheat has played in

more games in franchise history combining both LA and Brooklyn

eras. Russell was versatile in that he can play shortstop and all

three outfield positions. Kemp, who spent the 2020 season with the

Colorado Rockies, was a Dodger for nine years and the ultimate

five-tool player. With the Dodgers, Kemp was a three-time All-Star,

two-time Gold Glove Award winner, two-time Silver Slugger Award

winner. He also led the National League in home runs and RBIs in

2011. Davis played 14 seasons with the Dodgers and was a three-

time Gold Glove Award winner. He also made two All-Star

appearances and helped the Dodgers win two World Series

Championships. 


Manager

Walter Alston


Alston managed the Dodgers for 23 years, overlapping both the

Brooklyn and Los Angeles eras. Alston had a very calm demeanor

and was known as a steady hand. Alston was named manager of

the year six times and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in

1983. Alston retired with 2,040 career victories and led the Dodgers

to four World Series Championships. 


Assistant manager

Tommy Lasorda


Though Alston is the easy choice for manager, Lasorda deserves

a spot somewhere. In 21 seasons, Lasorda managed the Dodgers

to 1,599 regular-season wins and two World Series Championships,

including the Dodgers improbable title in 1988. You could not find

two polar opposites than Alston and Lasorda. The former was a

calm and steady hand. The latter was brash but also molded a

tremendous nucleus of players throughout the years. 


Team

1965

In the regular season, the Dodgers went 97-65, edging the San

Francisco Giants by two games for the National League pennant.

Dodgers were led offensively by Maury Wills with 94 stolen bases

with the pitching staff being anchored by the dominant 1-2 tandem

of Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax. In the postseason, the

Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Braves and three games and edged

the Minnesota Twins and seven games to win the World Series.


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