While the team was a slightly-above .500 ballclub on the field, the off-field craziness of the Frank McCourt saga distracted from some really good things happening at Chavez Ravine for the Brooklyn originals.
WHAT WENT RIGHT
Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw. (Oh, I have to write why? Crap.)
Kemp SHOULD be the National League MVP. He was almost a 40-40 player this season and was the most dynamic player in baseball once he stopped dating Rhianna, while also leading the National League in WAR at 8.7. It was as if he and Jacoby Ellsbury decided to have a contest to see who could be the better center fielder this year. He should be in line for a LARGE extension thanks to his remarkable 2011 and should get some hardware to prove that extension was worthwhile. Meanwhile, Kershaw was unbelievable all year long, striking out a batter an inning, leading the league in both strikeouts and ERA, not to mention being brilliant in the advanced stats like FIP (2.47), WHIP (0.98) and SIERA (2.66). He SHOULD be the National League Cy Young Award Winner and hasn’t even hit arbitration yet.
Also, Kenley Jansen led the league with a 16.1 K/9 IP ratio and should emerge as the closer for 2012.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Everything else for the Dodgers in all facets was average or below. Andre Either and James Loney both were middling, with Loney bordering on pathetic before a late surge saved his season (albeit by a small amount). Hirooki Kuroda and Chad Billingsley took steps backward in 2011 and Ted Lilly nearly fell off the map (and is the highest paid pitcher on the team). Jonathan Broxton imploded and might not pitch again for the Dodgers. Juan Uribe got paid $7 million to do basically nothing.
SURPRISES
As talented as he is, I don’t think even Matt Kemp saw his 2011 season coming. But the biggest surprise was Broxton, who was a can’t miss closer in 2010 before turning into a pumpkin in 2011. Elbow issues seem to be the culprit, but even if Tommy John surgery comes in 2012, that will be a year of free agency wasted for the 300 pounder smokethrower. Andre Either’s continued league-averageness was surprising as well, although his defense improved very well (improving from -20.9 UZR in 2010 to 6.8 in 2011 while committing 0 errors), probably equally as surprising.
DISAPPOINTMENTS
Obviously Broxton, who could have parlayed a strong 2011 into a big contract. Billingsley’s decline was also a disappointment, although his ceiling was as a #2 starter anyways. The biggest disappointment actually stems from the whole Dodger ownership ordeal that saw Frank McCourt basically do everything he could to keep the team in his hands outside of declaring bankruptcy. But then he DID have to declare bankruptcy and the team was put into MLB control. Now, word comes out that Frank McCourt stole nearly $190 million from the team during the ordeal and nobody knows what to make of it. For such a proud franchise to see something like this happen is probably the biggest disappointment of them all.
2012 CHANGES
Ownership, obviously, and that new ownership will have quite the mess to clean up. They need to pay Kemp a lot of money to keep him from free agency for a few years. Ditto Kershaw. On top of that, they need to figure out how to improve an anemic offense and an underperforming pitching staff that needs to pay Lilly nearly $20 million over the next two seasons. I’d like to see Dana Eveland get a shot at a regular rotation spot, as his fly ball tendencies work well in that ballpark, while elsewhere, you have holes to fill at catcher, left field and second base. Jamey Carroll should get re-signed on a 1-year deal to be the every day keystoner, but they need to look into the market for the other two spots. I’d love to see them give Willy Mo Pena a shot every day in left for starters, but what I’d LIKE to see happen is Trayvon Robinson get a shot and move Kemp to left, where his bat still plays and his defensive woes wouldn’t be a problem as much (He’s always been a minus-level UZR guy in center) and it would…wait, Robinson was basically given away to the Mariners in that Erik Bedard three-way deal at the trade deadline? Wow. Maybe that should have been under disappointments.
POSITION BATTLES
None to report at this point, as internally there aren’t many overages at the key positions. Looks like they’ll be looking into the free agent market for some help at a lot of positions on the field, mostly likely at the three spots above right away. They also need another starting pitcher if Kuroda does indeed go back to Japan like it has been talked about at some point. If that’s the case, the Dodgers will be looking for a #3 starter to slot in behind Kershaw and Billingsley.
