Phillip Medina
Dodgers Hoping To Reach Ultimate Goal
There are three weeks until Opening Day. There is new hope with the same goal. After two consecutive seasons coming to heartbreaking conclusions at the hands of the St Louis Cardinals, the Dodgers have been very active this off season. They are re-tooled in hopes of finally overcoming the final obstacles keeping them from their first World Series championship in 27 years.
As if the drought isn’t painful enough, the Dodgers and their fans have had to sit back and cringe as their most hated rivals from the north have made it almost comical in the way they’ve been able to win 3 WS trophies in the last 5 years. (Their fans pretty much pencil in even year celebrations at this point).
Last, as both teams entered the playoffs playing well, it almost seemed destined that the bitter rivals would meet in the NLCS in an epic battle for the chance to represent the “senior circuit” in the Winter Classic. A fast ball to the ribs of since departed shortstop Hanley Ramirez all but derailed that dream two years ago, as the St Louis Cardinals went on to defeat the Dodgers and ultimately lose to the Giants. The Dodgers bullpen faltered in the NLDS last year, thus causing Kershaw to come in and pitch on short rest.
The Dodgers hope this season will end on a much higher note. Popular players such as Hanley Ramirez and Dee Gordon have been replaced by veterans Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick, while Don’t Mattingly hopes to find a suitable replacement for superstar Matt Kemp who was traded to San Diego.
Change was needed as it’s difficult to maintain a high level of performance without some tinkering here and there. The Dodgers still have the best pitcher in baseball in Clayton Kershaw, who needs to overcome his playoff demons if the team hopes to take the final step.
Dodger brass is confident he will learn from his past difficulties and lead the franchise to the promised land. Dodger fans deserve it. The city deserves it. Summer is closing in, and with it a season of new hope. The Dodgers are hoping to finish the 2015 season with a long overdue championship celebration. If they do, the struggles of the past will all seem worth it.
