Sure, the Dodgers aren’t going to match or set the all-time single-season wins record in 2017. And no, they might not even end up with home-field advantage in the World Series if the Indians outplay them during the final week of the season.
The Dodgers are the first to 100 wins in 2017
Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images
However, the Dodgers are far from helpless and even further from finishing their season looking like the year was anything but a success. Los Angeles is the first team in 2017 to notch its 100th win of the season, and this came just days after clinching its fifth-consecutive NL West title.
It’s easy to forget just how dominant the Dodgers are capable of being thanks to their horrid run from late August through too much of September. But the reality of the situation is they have as good a chance as anyone, if not a better one than all or most, of winning it all this fall.
Yu Darvish pitching like the guy the Dodgers hoped they were acquiring at the trade deadline is a good reminder of this. As is being able to look up at the triple-digit win total Los Angeles has managed in spite of having the longest losing streak of any team in baseball this year.
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On the other hand, maybe we shouldn’t read too much into their win total, since the Indians are right behind them, while the Nationals and Astros also have an outside shot at 100 wins.
When it comes to the postseason, regular-season wins are just a number. The 2001 Mariners didn’t even make it to the World Series despite matching the single-season wins record. The 2006 Cardinals won 83 games and also the World Series. The last Giants World Series championship came in a season in which the Dodgers finished ahead of them in the NL West.
That’s not to say the Dodgers are in trouble or 100 wins is meaningless: They’re great, and 100 wins is special. But just like with the dominant summer and the awful run they had a few weeks ago, none of that is going to matter much once October comes around. So appreciate it as the exclamation point on an incredible regular season, but get ready for the Dodgers to be on even ground with everyone else once the NLDS rolls around.
- Aaron Judge’s second-half slump sure seems to be over, as he followed up Sunday’s two-homer performance with another one on Monday. The second of those had Judge pass Mark McGwire for the most homers ever by a rookie and also made him the first rookie to mash 50 dingers.
- Bruce Maxwell isn’t asking for much. He just wants you to listen. Let Grant Brisbee explain.
- If you’re looking to complain that Maxwell is making baseball political, well, we’ve got some bad news for you about baseball and politics.
- Chris Archer explained why baseball took so long to participate in the protests Colin Kaepernick started. You should listen to him, too.
- The Twins are going to make the postseason, and we don’t appreciate that enough. From worst to...well, not first, but there’s always 2018.
- With that in mind: Who should Minnesota be starting in the wild card game?
- The Indians clinched home-field advantage in the ALDS with Boston’s loss to the Blue Jays.
- On a related note: How concerned should everyone be about Drew Pomeranz’s recent performances for the Red Sox?
- Speaking of Judge, he’s re-entered the MVP discussion.
- Addison Russell destroyed the nachos of a Cardinals fan making a catch, so he bought another order as a peace offering.
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