By Rory Carroll
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – After successful final season’s World Collection in a COVID-shortened, 60-game dash, the Los Angeles Dodgers are assured they’ve the roster, and the starvation, to repeat as champions when their marathon 162-game marketing campaign begins on Thursday.
The Dodgers ended a 32-year title drought in Arlington in October and hope to turn into the primary group to win back-to-back titles because the New York Yankees received three straight between 1998 and 2000.
Outfielder Mookie Betts mentioned the group, who added hard-throwing Trevor Bauer to their already fearsome beginning rotation within the offseason, had the personnel to get it accomplished.
“We’re working exhausting and doing our greatest to repeat as a result of it hasn’t been accomplished in so lengthy,” Betts informed reporters this month.
“I believe we now have the roster to make it occur, now it is simply time for us to go play.”
The Dodgers, who’ve received the Nationwide League West eight years operating and appeared in three out of the final 4 Fall Classics, even have loads of firepower with the bat, reminiscent of World Collection MVP Corey Seager and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger.
And whereas loads of championship-winning groups have suffered hangovers the next season, the truth that the Dodgers didn’t get to play in entrance of followers or maintain a parade resulting from COVID-19 restrictions makes all of them the extra hungry to win all of it once more.
“The give attention to successful feels the identical because it did final yr, which is superior and all we might ask for at this level,” Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman informed MLB Community.
“In our minds what we completed final yr was extremely particular however we did not get to rejoice the way in which that groups traditionally have gotten to. The life reminiscences that come from that, just like the parade.
“That is one thing everybody is absolutely centered on. Simply doing every part we are able to to take pleasure in that hopefully this October and November.”
Standing of their approach within the NL are the steadily enhancing San Diego Padres and the loaded Atlanta Braves, whereas the Yankees are favored to win the American League pennant.
The Dodgers start their season on the highway with a four-game sequence in opposition to the Colorado Rockies and a three-game sequence in opposition to the Oakland Athletics earlier than internet hosting the Washington Nationals of their residence opener on April 9.
(Enhancing by Peter Rutherford)
