Dodgers' best winning formula: Beating the pulp out of division opponents
If a team wants to be the best in its division, it has to beat the other teams within its division. Like the bully on the block. Like Alexander the Great on the battlefield.
A simple enough approach, and one the Dodgers worked to near-perfection last season in capturing the National League West.
The Dodgers went 95-67 last season, a winning record built mostly upon taking care of teams within the NL West.
The Dodgers went 46-26 against teams in its division last season, and 49-41 against everyone else. And won the West by three games over the Rockies, a team that went 33-39 in the division.
This year the Dodgers are on the same track, going 9-3 against West teams. The only other team within the division to have a wining record in the West is the first-place Padres (11-6).
The Dodgers’ biggest problem this season has been everyone else. They’re 8-14 against teams outside the West.
Every victory counts the same, but if you’re beating a divisional foe you’re accomplishing two things at once by tagging them with a loss that would otherwise be out of your control.
The only team in the West the Dodgers haven’t played this year are the Padres. They meet them in five of their next seven games.
A perfect time to continue exercising their divisional dominance.
-- Steve Dilbeck
A simple enough approach, and one the Dodgers worked to near-perfection last season in capturing the National League West.
The Dodgers went 95-67 last season, a winning record built mostly upon taking care of teams within the NL West.
The Dodgers went 46-26 against teams in its division last season, and 49-41 against everyone else. And won the West by three games over the Rockies, a team that went 33-39 in the division.
This year the Dodgers are on the same track, going 9-3 against West teams. The only other team within the division to have a wining record in the West is the first-place Padres (11-6).
The Dodgers’ biggest problem this season has been everyone else. They’re 8-14 against teams outside the West.
Every victory counts the same, but if you’re beating a divisional foe you’re accomplishing two things at once by tagging them with a loss that would otherwise be out of your control.
The only team in the West the Dodgers haven’t played this year are the Padres. They meet them in five of their next seven games.
A perfect time to continue exercising their divisional dominance.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Yes, it would be great if the Dodgers could dominate the division as they did last season. Sure, they just swept the Diamondbacks and all appears well, but I don't think they'll be having their way with the Giants and Rockies the rest of this season. Sorry, but I don't trust the pitching...it's simply not good enough.
Posted by: bob cuomo | 05/13/2010 at 12:23 PM
Steve, as much as I agree with your philosophy - that a team should beat its divisional opponents in order to secure a spot in the playoffs, or a division crown, it seems unlikely to me that the Dodgers can hope to replicate their 2009 "dominance" within the division. Both the Padres and the Giants possess far superior rotations to the Dodgers, which should eventually have an impact on the inter-divisional games. Additionally, the Rockies have been beset by a number of injuries, especially to their pitching rotation. However, we'll have a better idea of how the division records will play out after the next two series between the Dodgers and the Padres. It will also be interesting to see how the Dodgers lineup fares against a pitching staff that held a fairly potent lineup (the Brewers) to a minimal amount of runs.
Posted by: Griz | 05/13/2010 at 01:53 PM
dont let any current stats fool you, the NL West is weak, weak, weak ....
and the fact that these dodgers consistently kick (butt) within said division is proof enough.
Posted by: These Dodgers Suck | 05/13/2010 at 03:30 PM
The Dodgers are about to run into a band saw in SD!
The Pads are playing excellent baseball!
Posted by: Rick rezac | 05/13/2010 at 06:52 PM
The Gnats are not a problem. Their only consistent winner is Lincecum. The others know how to lose.
Posted by: WBB | 05/13/2010 at 08:46 PM