Dodgers rise, fall and revival

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ roller coaster of a regular season ends as they enter the playoffs with over 100 wins, clinching the National League West Divison (NL West) title for the fifth consecutive year.

The Dodgers were not the only team in Major League Baseball (MLB) with over 100 wins. Alongside them was the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians.

The Dodgers went from holding a high winning record to holding the longest losing streak in Dodgers history over the course of the season.

This season, fans saw the Dodgers rise with the most wins thus far and fall with a 16-game losing streak. This was the longest losing streak in Dodgers history, as they lost 16 out of 17 games.

“After winning so many games I forgot what it felt like to lose,” said CSUSB senior Maribel Manjarrez. “The losing streak was a humbling experience for myself and many Dodgers fans that we could have lived without.”

MLB teams in the past that have won over 100 games have historically not won the World Series. The Oakland Athletics won over 100 games in 1988, but lost the World Series to the Dodgers.

This season, the Dodgers were close to making team history with the most wins compared to the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers who ended the season with 105 wins.

“Winning the NL West means nothing if the Dodgers cannot make it to the big show,” said CSUSB junior Juan Miranda. “The Dodgers have a tendency of choking when it matters.”

Dodger fans have witnessed five consecutive NL West titles, and this season, they are expecting a ticket to the World Series.

“Dodger fans are expecting consistency for the postseason and hoping to go to the big show,” said Manjarrez.

This year, the Dodgers added right-handed pitcher, Yu Darvish, from the Texas Rangers to their roster to bolster their starting rotation and kept Kenley Jansen, who has recorded over 40 saves this season. Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers No. 1 pitcher, missed several games but the Dodgers managed to win games without their ace.

“Adding to the pitching staff has given the other pitchers time to adjust while taking care of the bullpen,” Miranda said. “The Dodgers have players who can play multiple positions and still execute, like the rookie Cody Bellinger.”

Their young players such as Bellinger, Chris Taylor, and Corey Seager have kept their bats and defense alive. The vets, like Darvish, Curtis Granderson and Chase Utley have been vital to the team as the young players have taken on different positions.

With all the new additions and positioning players, the Dodgers are lining up to potentially rise or fall in what Dodgers fans hope to be a Blue October.

The Dodgers have not made an appearance in the World Series since they last won it in 1988 over the Athletics.

“We have more than an adequate team; we just need to take it game by game,” said Miranda.

The Dodgers swept the Diamondbacks in the National League Divison Series to move on to the National League Championship Series. They will face the Cubs in a best of seven series.