NLWest_Los Angeles Dodgers

2014 Houston Gameday HQ

Los Angeles Dodgers 5-YEAR SCORECARD 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 WINS 92 86 82 80 95 RUNS PER GAME 4.01 3.93 4.00 4.12 4.81 RUNS ALLOWED PER GAME 3.59 3.69 3.80 4.27 3.77 OPENING-DAY PAYROLL (millions) $216 $105 $119 $102 $100 2014 STRENGTHS: • Balanced hitting • Strong pitching • Good defense 2014 WEAKNESSES: • Slow season starts • Weak up-the-middle defense It’s been two years since Guggenheim Baseball Management bought the Dodgers. Since then, they have gone on $177 million (2012) and $254 million (2013) spending sprees that would have made the late George Steinbrenner blush. As sports chemistry majors know, third year is normally the charm and that’s what Dodgers ownership is banking on in 2014 at the cost of an MLB-topping $216 million. HITTING The Big Blue Wrecking Crew boasts a 2-thru-5 portion of the lineup that can measure up with anyone in baseball, with past-andpresent MVP candidates Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez, each having 100-run or RBI potential. That quartet only played 532 individual games in 2013, and L.A. still won 92 games. Imagine what could happen if they played 600 individual games in 2014. Tack on standout outfielders Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp, who is recently back from an ankle injury, and you’re talking about team depth that is tough to top. Glue guys Juan Uribe and A.J. Ellis are back in the starting lineup as well. The Dodgers also went on an International shopping trip when they acquired Alex Guerrero, a top-flight shortstop from Cuba who has both power and speed. Guerrero will begin the year in the minors as he transitions to second base. Clayton Kershaw NL WEST POOL/GETTY IMAGES SPORT


2014 Houston Gameday HQ
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