The Dodgers are currently without their star shortstop, their star pitcher, and...three of their OTHER star pitchers. So...the only way to go is up, and damned if they're trying to get some upward momentum.
First of all, without Corey Seager, they're struggling to find a marquee star, and with Justin Turner only recently returning to the lineup, it was, for a while, Chris Taylor who had to step into the spotlight and carry the team. Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson were...to be honest, giving Mondesi, Karros and Hollandsworth a run for their money in post-ROY ineptitude. Okay, Puig's not doing THAT bad, but they're not owning the team like they did in their younger years. If anything, older players, like Yasmani Grandal, Chase Utley and Matt Kemp have been dragging the team back to third, with Kemp having one of his best seasons since he left the Dodgers, hitting above .300 and with only 7 home runs (compared to his usual 5 zillion). Taylor, in his versatility, has been giving consistent numbers at multiple positions, and giving some high WAR that is slightly reminiscent of their 2017 season.
The pitching has some holes, but Ross Stripling and Walker Buehler have come up in a big way, making up for some fallen veterans, joining Alex Wood and...no, wait, Kershaw's gone again. Ah well, he'll be back in the next week or so.
This team isn't perfect, and at times it feels like it's falling apart, but Taylor is trying to carry everything back to where it was. I don't know how successful he'll be, but...this Dodger team is too complex to be completely out of the race.
Coming Tomorrow- In November, the rumors were saying he'd be headed to St. Louis, and I shook my head in shame. Then, when we found out where he was REALLY going, I shook my head in shame...until I realized how awesome it would be.
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