The Los Angeles Dodgers are the reigning three-time National League West champions, having accomplished the feat for the first time in franchise history.
However, all the Dodgers have to show for it are fond memories of celebrating the division titles, and a new manager for the first time since 2011 when Don Mattingly replaced Joe Torre. In their three trips to the postseason under Mattingly, the Dodgers were a mere 8-11.
Los Angeles reached the NL Championship Series just once, in 2013, and were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals in six games.
The Dodgers have faced plenty of scrutiny for their shortcomings in the playoffs, particularly given their bloated payroll under the Guggenheim group.
However, the magnitude of winning three consecutive NL West titles isn’t lost on A.J. Ellis, via Jorge Ortiz of USA Today:
“I feel like I have to constantly remind people what we’ve accomplished these last three years,” said catcher A.J. Ellis, who has been with the club since 2008. “But when you enter each season with maybe an outside perspective of, ‘World Series or bust,’ those postseason defeats seem like huge disappointments.”
While there were sweeping changes in the front office and now managerial and coaching turnover, much of the Dodgers’ roster has remained the same over the past three seasons. Ellis added he’s hopeful others on the roster feel a sense of urgency to reach their ultimate goal:
“You understand the window is starting to close each and every year for this particular group,’’ Ellis said. “I know individually, hopefully collectively, for that core group, the sense of urgency might intensify a little bit to help create maybe that added edge we need to push it over the top.’’
With rising prospects in Jose De Leon, Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Julio Urias, among others, the Dodgers figure to remain a team in contention for years to come. It’s a vision president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has stressed, though also been criticized for.
Looking back at the Dodgers’ 2015 roster
The Dodgers elected against breaking the bank to re-sign Zack Greinke, and instead signed Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda. With Brett Anderson undergoing back surgery that will sideline him for the next three to five months, the Dodgers’ philosophy faced further scrutiny.
As for Ellis, he re-signed on a one-year contract to avoid arbitration, and again will back up Yasmani Grandal. Last season, Ellis batted .238/.355/.403 with seven home runs, nine doubles, 21 RBIs, a .336 wOBA and 116 wRC+ in 63 games.
