ESPN’s Buster Olney Ranks Dodgers Among Top-10 Teams by Vincent Samperio | Dodgers Nation -- 5 hours ago With less than a month until pitchers and catchers report, it’s the time of year that preseason predictions and rankings begin. ESPN baseball analyst Buster Olney has been doing so the past week, with the Los Angeles Dodgers making his rankings in a variety of categories. The Dodgers transformed their team this winter, from an offensive-minded approach to a balanced team with a more defensive approach. Olney ranked his top teams in baseball and had the Dodgers ranked at number two: 2. Los Angeles Dodgers Not only do the Dodgers have a strong rotation again, as well as greatly improved defense, roster functionality and — they believe — clubhouse culture; they also have the ability and the willingness to fix problems during the season, with their stacks of money and solid farm system. There might well be blips along the way, with the reconstruction of their bullpen around Kenley Jansen, with the development of new center fielder Joc Pederson, with the health of their rotation. But L.A. is in far better position than any of its division rivals to add during the summer, and this year, Andrew Friedman will have a real shot at being able to make in-season upgrades. It will be up to the team to determine how the season ends up playing out, but the Dodgers are in position for their third straight NL West title and overcome the hump that is the postseason. It will be interesting to see how all the new players mesh together, and whether manager Don Mattingly will finally be able to pull it all together. With a rotation consisting of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu, a lineup with Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and Howie Kendrick, and an improved bullpen, the Dodgers will be looking to bring home their first World Series since 1988.
That's too bad about this prediction...based on last year's pre-season predictions, it sucks to be rated at the top, come the bottom line in October. They suck at it, and we have had pretty good pre season status for quite a while now, and have done the proverbial "doesn't amount to a pile a shit" in reality. Unless of course "being elite" and individual awards are the trophy. I'd rather get rated like, say....the Giants have been, and win it all.
Insider meh ESPN thinks they're so great that they actually charge people a fee to read their "inside" information and articles. What a laugh.
I'm happy we aren't #1. Too much hype and pressure. Trust me, SC was ranked #1 pre-season 2012 and that didn't go to well. The only way I'd be OK with it is if we'd won already and had a STRONG coach, and that goes for any sport....I'm looking at you Pete
imagine if the Dodgers weren't among the best teams in MLB. where would your disgust level be? Lol i'll take #2..shit could always be worse.
Well there it is fans, if Buster Olney has us ranked number two it can mean only one thing. The Dodgers finish the season DFL (dead fucking last).
I might have to subscribe to Insider. That Olney must be one hell of a writer if I need a subscription to read his article. :thinking:
I've always wondered who pays for that crap. Even if it was $0.99, I still wouldn't pay, just on principle.
I have Insider :dizzy2:. But it's only because I love their HS basketball recruiting stuff. Worth the price alone.
